LOS TACOS No.1
Three friends, two from California and one from Mexico, opened this Tijuana-style taco stand inside Chelsea Market in 2013, and there is still nowhere to sit.12
Why go
Chris Stang reviewed it for The Infatuation in January 2022. His case is about the setup as much as the food: a roadside operation dropped into a luxury food hall. You stand at a counter and dress your own tacos at the salsa bar.1 The company now runs ten Manhattan doors, and this is the first.4 Bryan Kim used it as his yardstick against Tacos 1986 in the West Village, writing that its al pastor isn't nearly as crispy as the version at Los Tacos No. 1.
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Order this / avoid
- Order: the marinated pork on a corn tortilla, which is the house pick.1
- Order: a quesadilla alongside.1
- Order: horchata or tamarindo to drink.1
- Avoid: starting before you have hit the salsa bar. Once you are holding a plate there is no going back for it.1
What locals & experts say
- Chris Stang, The Infatuation (13 January 2022, 8.2), on the quesadillas:
These are more like soft tacos from the griddle with a lot of melted cheese on top.
1 - The company on its own cooking:
The authentic taste comes from family recipes and from fresh, simple and tasteful ingredients straight from home.
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Good to know
- Booking: none. Order at the counter.1
- Which door: this page is the Chelsea Market stand at 75 9th Avenue. Nine other Manhattan addresses trade under the same name.4
Verdict
could-visit — Expect a line whenever you turn up; The Infatuation says you will find one any time you go. Talk to whoever ends up beside you. The radio is on and that is what this counter does to people.