The 10 Best Burritos In NYC
March 12, 2015, 1:52 p.m.
There are quite a few burritos that manage to impress even the most stubborn of Mission-style purists. Here are our favorites.
Though this city tops them all when it comes to bagels and pizza (shuddup Chicago), we admit our Mexican fare pales in comparison to some of the stuff available over on the West Coast. But don't be ashamed of your burritos, New Yorkers, as there are quite a few that manage to impress even the most stubborn of Mission-style purists. Here are our favorites in the city, and check out our list from 2013 for more great spots; as always, tell us what we missed in the comments.
B'KLYN BURRO: Lapsed San Franciscans tell us the burritos whipped up at this East Williamsburg spot are among the few in New York that come close to the ones back home (no, not as good, we know). The namesake burrito comes stuffed with your choice of meat (carne asada, al pastor, carnitas, pollo, camarones, chorizo) or a vegetarian option (chile relleno, veggie mescla), along with the standard rice, beans and salsa. If you opt for a Mission-style deal, they'll load the whole delectable thing with fresh avocado, cheese and crema, and it is a thing to BEHOLD. Absolutely do not wear pants.
B'klyn Burro is located at 90 Manhattan Avenue between Boerum and McKibbin Streets in East Williamsburg (347-689-3163, bklynburro.com).
TAQUERIA DIANA: This East Village taco joint makes a mean al pastor burrito, a tortilla-wrapped masterpiece stuffed thick with roasted pork, hot rice, beans and fresh salsa. The $8 little ditty is flavorful indeed, though if roast pork's not your thing, you can opt for chicken, carnitas, carne asada, vegetarian rajas or plain rice and beans. Pregame your burrito with one of their enormous nacho dishes, provided you plan on rolling yourself home.
Taqueria Diana is located at 129 2nd Avenue between 7th Street and St. Marks Place in the East Village (646-422-7871, taqueriadiana.com).
TRI MEXICAN TACOS: Sunnyside denizens crow about this taco truck, where you can score plump, fresh and tasty Mexican delicacies for cheap. The tacos are where it's at, but you can't go wrong with a burrito here, either. The al pastor is particularly good, though there are plenty of other meats on tap—the $7 babies come with rice, beans, cheese, lettuce, tomato, avocado and fresh crema.
The Tri Mexican Taco Truck can be found at 46th Street and Greenpoint Avenue in Sunnyside, Queens (347-828-4727).
BURRITO BOX: We raved about this Hell's Kitchen joint back in 2013, and it's Still Got It. Though the Burrito Box is nothing but a hole-in the wall, every one of their burritos is a massive monument to the miracle that happens when meat meets rice meets beans meets cheese meets tortilla. There's a slew of options here—BBQ chicken, chicken ranchero and chili con carne, to name a few, along with veggie alternatives like spinach & tofu and grilled portobello.
Burrito Box is located at 885 Ninth Ave between 57th and 58th Street in Hells Kitchen (212-489-6889, burritobox.com).
DOS TOROS: We got mixed feedback on this one last time around, but screw all the haters—this mini-chain makes a MEAN burrito, and we'll fight you on that. $7 to $9 tinfoil-wrapped burritos are stuffed with all the meats, beans, rice and veggie options you can dream of, and if you shell out an extra buck, they'll dump fresh guacamole into the mix. If you work or live near a Dos Toros, you will never eat anything else again, because all other foods will taste like dust and sadness.
Dos Toros has a number of locations in Manhattan and one in Brooklyn. Visit their website for details.
TAQUERIA TEPANGO: Bed-Stuy's Taqueria Tepango's another burrito mecca, where melted cheese caresses thick, fresh tortillas filled with everything from roast pork to shrimp to beef tongue. Embrace the red and green sauces, because they are true condiment treasures, and things like that should be cherished. Note that a burrito here will cost you $9-$11 and last for two days, either in your fridge or in your small intestine.
Taqueria Tepango is located at 568 Myrtle Avenue between Classon Avenue and Emerson Place in Bed-Stuy/Clinton Hill, Brooklyn (718-636-8878).
EL REY DEL TACO TRUCK: Astoria's premiere mobile feast spot, El Rey Del Taco Truck doles out gigantic meat/rice/bean monsters stuffed with chorizo, tongue, al pastor, pollo, carne asada and the like. Aside from the fact that these $6-$7 creations will keep you and/or several friends full for days, they're also available at off hours, since the truck tends to stick around to feed late-night workers and partiers yearning for a witching hour bite.
El Rey Del Taco Truck is located at 3301 30th Ave in Astoria, Queens (347-754-2966).
TAQUERIA TLAXCALLI: For prime burrito territory in The Bronx, look no further than this taqueria in Parkchester. Squeeze into the hole-in-the-wall home of deliciousness and pick up a bargain-priced bite to eat—a beautifully displayed, perfectly assembled burrito is all yours for a mere $6. Stuffed with chicken, steak, spicy pork , chorizo or avocado (or steamed tongue and goat if that’s more to your taste), you’ll even score a side of complimentary nacho chips. Come hungry, because Tlaxcalli’s burritos are huge—you’ll have more than enough food to split the meal with a buddy. (Jessica Warriner)
Tacqueria Tlaxcalli is located at 2103 Starling Ave in the Parkchester section of the Bronx (347-851-3085).
TACOS EL BRONCO: Tacos El Bronco (and its mobile buddy, the Tacos El Bronco truck) knows its way around an super-stuffed tortilla. Hearty burrito offerings here come with the usual suspects—steak, chicken, pork, veggies, etc.—and you'll never be stuck with meager offerings, since these babies are the size of my head. Expect to spend $6.50 to $10, but you'll never need to eat again.
Tacos El Bronco is located at 4324 4th Avenue in Sunset Park, Brooklyn (718) 788-2229, tacoselbronco.com).
TACO CHULO: It's a God-given fact that adding cheese to anything makes it taste better—that's especially true when said cheese is already in a molten state and mixed with spicy peppers. I'm speaking about queso, of course, the Texan equivalent to lowbrow fondue. At Williamsburg's Taco Chulo, they've got queso by the bowl; queso on nachos; and even a queso Egg's Benedict. But when they put it inside their Tex-Mex Burrito ($11), that's where the magic really happens.
The liquid cheese seeps between all of the other ingredients—which include refried beens, lettuce, salsa verde, crema and radishes—binding them all together in one supremely creamy and decadent gut-bomb. Personally, I think the steak option stands up best to other squishy ingredients, adding a nice grilled flavor and a little bit of chew. Be sure to ask for a side of both of their ridiculous hot sauces to drizzle on top if you're not fearful of the mouth burn. (Nell Casey)
Taco Chulo is located at 318 Grand Street between Havemeyer Street and Marcy Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-302-2485, tacochulo.com).