I am a sucker for tasting. I’ve always loved hors d'œuvre, tapas, dim sum, appetizers, and whatever other small bites I can get my hands on, mainly because I can taste several different options without ever having to settle on just one entree.
This may be why tacos are my favorite Mexican snack. Buy three and you have a meal, and you can mix and match so that you never have to commit to one flavor.
While Bed-Stuy doesn’t have as many Mexican eateries as some other neighborhoods in Brooklyn, you can definitely get your fair share of Mexican food, especially in the more northern parts of Bed-Stuy. Tacos are generally fairly inexpensive, so you can buy several and try different kinds to make up a meal.
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I love the additional toppings, whether it’s pico de gallo, salsa verde, lime, cilantro, guacamole, or onions (or all of the above) because they add a refreshing kick to the otherwise salty and slightly greasy food.
It makes for a good meal on a hot day and definitely satisfies my cravings, while the temperatures slide up to the 90s and early 100’s.
Chinantla Restaurant - 647 Myrtle Avenue
Although the chorizo in this Chorizo Taco is slightly dry, the slightly sweet flavor with a cinnamon tinge made up for it. The meat is topped with cilantro, onion, lime, and a light, saucy guacamole that added moisture to the meal, and encased in two soft corn tortillas. A great salty-meets-refreshing snack for a hot day at only $2 a pop.
Punta Cana Coffee Shop and Restaurant - 490 Dekalb Ave
This Steak Taco has tender but firm chunks of steak in abundance, topped with onion, cilantro, lime, and salsa verde (my favorite kind of salsa). The onion and salsa keeps it spicy, the cilantro keeps it fresh, and the meat is simply delicious. Each taco is $2.25.
Taqueria La Placita Puebla - 830 Broadway
While I don’t eat cow tongue all too often, I was really impressed by the Lengua Taco at this small Mexican restaurant on Broadway. The meat is extremely soft and tender, without being chewy at all, and the mild flavor of the tongue went well with the cilantro, guacamole, and onions. Here you can opt for a normal taco at $2.25, or a taquito at $1.50.
Salva Vida - 291 Greene Avenue
Walk about ten steps over the Classon Avenue border of Bed-Stuy to Greene Avenue and try the Fish Taco. It's a little pricey at $3.50, but well worth the extra money. The fish is marinated flounder that is then grilled, and is moist with a buttery flavor and grilled taste which I love. The chipotle mayo is creamy and only slightly spicy, a great addition to the fish, pico de gallo, and shredded lettuce.
Alcatraz - 344 Franklin Avenue
The Beef Brisket Taco here is an incredible luxury, at $4 each. The brisket is slow-cooked for over twelve hours, giving it a soft, moist texture and light smokey flavor. Topped with thick guacamole, pico de gallo, and lime, each individual flavor is not too strong, but together creates an incredibly tasty dish.
