The 16 best Mexican restaurants in NYC

What is it? A taqueria that takes nose-to-tail dining quite seriously. 

Why we love it: Coming off of the popular Greenpoint taco stall, Taqueria Ramirez, Tania Apolinar and Giovanni Cervantes's second act in the East Village channels the power of the pig. And we mean the whole thing. Just take a look at the white lettering on the glass divider that reads "Barriga" or belly, "Oreja" or ear and "Cuero" meaning skin. Snout, brain and uterus also make appearances. If that's too much, they also have a "gringa" special with their signature al pastor pillowed in a flour tortilla bed. 

Time Out tip: No matter what, ask for chicharrones crumbles on your tacos. 

Address: 210 East 3rd Street, New York, NY 10009

Hours: Mon and Tues closed; Wed and Thurs noon–9pm; Fri and Sat noon–10pm; Sun noon–6pm 

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What is it? A Michelin-starred revue that deals in Oaxacan cuisine.

Why we love it: Claro continues to shines on Third Avenue, where it makes cheese, chorizo, masa, mole and tortillas on-site for its Oaxacan seasonal tasting menus. A multi-course dinner might include tostada de remolacha (beets), uni empanadas, mole almendrado with soft shell crab or mole rojo with pork cheek and churros or chocolate mole cake for dessert.

Time Out tip: We highly recommend the accompanying mezcal flight ($50); plus a seat in the patio out back, a peaceful spot to enjoy a swordfish mole verde.

Address: 284 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Hours: Closed Tues and Wed; Fri and Sat 5:30–10pm; Sun, Mon and Thurs 5:30–9pm

What is it? Alonso Guzman's seafood stand whose fiery aguachiles and ceviches have drawn quite the crowd. 

Why we love it: When we spoke with Alonso Guzman, owner of Mariscos El Submarino last year, he told us one that one of his deepest dreams was to bring his coastal Mexican cuisine to Times Square. While that hasn't happened quite yet, he and his wife Amy Hernandez have certainly introduced it about town, with locations in Queens, Brooklyn and Jersey. But with Mariscos El Submarino's massive molcajetes becoming a favorite to locals and catching the eyes of The New York Times, we see Guzman's dreams coming to fruition in no time.  

Time Out tip: The rumors are true, there is spice to be found here. Order a Michaelada or Marg to try to tamp down your taste buds. 

Address: Multiple locations 

What is it? A Michelin-rated Mexican restaurant highly regarded for its high priced duck tacos. 

Why we love it: Enrique Olvera’s elegant high-gear plates—pristine, pricey and market-fresh—are among the most coveted in New York dining. Tacos make a solitary appearance on the menu, in an atypically generous portion of duck carnitas. But Olvera’s single-corn tortillas pop up frequently, beginning with a complimentary starter and accompanying entrées elsewhere.

Time Out tip: It's just not a trip to Cosme without a spoonful (or six) of that stunning corn-husk meringue.

Address: 35 East 21st Street, 10010 New York

Hours: Sun–Wed 5–9:30pm; Thursday and Saturday 5–10pm

What is it? Justin Bazdarich's love of wood-fired everything takes on Mexican cuisine in Greenpoint. 

Why we love it: Another Michelin sparkler, Oxomoco’s wood-fired oven turns out terrific crab, tender artichoke and toothsome barbacoa tacos—not to mention one of the best Wagyu bavettes we’ve had in or out of dedicated steakhouses. We’ve always been partial to its frozen drinks and plenty of other cocktails, wine and beer options are available as well.

Time Out tip: We always love the sunny cantaloupe-and-mandarin freshness of the Ixmand frozen drink, no matter the time of year. 

Address: 128 Greenpoint Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Hours: Mon–Fri noon–10pm; Sat and Sun 11am–10pm

What is it? The first Mexican restaurant to receive a Michelin star (yes, ever). 

Why we love it: The owners of Bar Henry branched out to Queens with this 40-seat Mexican eatery, specializing in the regional cuisine of Cintalapa, Chiapas. Brothers Cosme and Luis Aguilar pay homage to their late mother with traditional plates, including chicken mole and cochinito chiapaneco (guajillo-marinated baby pork ribs), which are based on her recipes. The white-painted spot leads a garden out back. 

Time Out tip: In the Mole de Piaxtla, you'll find a rich mole flavored with dry peppers, almonds, raisins, plaintain, sesame seeds and chocolate blanketing chicken and rice. 

Address: 5-48 49th Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101

Hours: Sun–Thurs 5–10:15pm; Fri–Sun 5pm–10:30pm

What is it? A favorite bodega of the neighborhood that makes some of the area’s most excellent tacos.

Why we love it: This family-run operation is a known haunt for its tacos. They come two to an order for $6.50-$8.50. Choose from fillings like beef, chorizo, carnitas, or egg ‘em in the a.m. burritos, quesadillas and nachos are also all on the menu, and, although there are a few seats available in the back, plan to take it all to go, just in case. 

Time Out tip: Toluqueño eggs (with chorizo, avocado, queso blanco and salsa roja) on a roll—your hangover will be cured.

Address: 532 4th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Hours: Mon–Sat 7am–11pm; Sun 8:30am–2:30pm

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What is it? A Cosme spinoff that is more casual than its Flatiron sister, but still makes an impact all its own.

Why we love it: Imbued with cues from Mexico City’s all-day restaurants, the 60-seat space features sleek black and oakwood furniture, a white terrazzo tiled bar and verdant vegetation lining the walls. Start with the guacamole and chilaquiles, add a couple shrimp, Brussel sprout or suadero tacos, dip into the selection of three salsas and you’ve fashioned quite a feast. 

Time Out tip: If you have any room left, we impore you add the Churros Con Chocolate to your table. You won't regret it. 

Address: 372 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10012

Hours: Mon–Fri noon–10pm; Sat 11am–10pm; Sun 11am - 5pm

What is it? A taqueria mini-chain with eight locations and counting. 

Why we love it: Small, scratch made corn tortillas puff up on the grill like blowfish at this west coaster–approved taco counter, deflating before they’re piled with superbly juicy adobada pork. The red-chili-marinated pig is trimmed shawarma-style from a glistening spit, its natural sweetness jacked up with shards of pineapple and a squirt of lime.

Time Out tip: The original Chelsea Market location perpetually has a queing line of tourists. So try one of its other eateries around the city if you hate waiting. 

Address: Multiple locations

What is it? A family-owned restaurant that grinds and nixtamalizes its own corn in-house for its northern-leaning Mexican food.

Why we love it: Over a two-day period, Leonile Cazares and her husband Carlos Vazquez mill and nixtamilize corn down in the basement of this family-owned operation in Astoria. Executive chef Gerardo Duarte uses the resulting masa to complement his coastal Mexican fare, not just in tacos and tostadas, but churros and meringue. 

Time out tip: With a name that is taken from the goddess of agave, the restaurant has a pretty hefty stock of mezcals and tequilas. Explore the collection at one of its monthly mezcal and masa dinners. 

Address: 3207 34th Avenue, Queens, NY 11106

Hours: Mon–Fri 4–11pm; Sat and Sun 11am-11pm

What is it? A bright blue building in Brooklyn that houses some seriously awesome Oaxacan cuisine. 

Why we love it: This Park Slope shop named after Frida Kahlo’s famed homebase is run by a tight knit family with origins in Oaxaca. While the menu isn’t extensive—that’s by design—there is an obvious focus on doing things well and with love here.

Time Out tip: The homemade daily tamales are always a good idea, as are the tequila flights—of which there are several carefully curated options to choose from.

Address: 369 7th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Hours: Tues–Fri 4–10pm; Sat and Sun 11am–10pm

What is it? Chef Ivan Garcia (Mercadito) explores his Mexico City roots at this Williamsburg eatery.

Why we love it: Named for the neighborhood where he grew up, Mesa Coyoacan's cuisine echoes the multiregional snacks you might find on the capital city’s streets: A trio of tamales presents versions from Oaxaqueño (chicken and mole), Chiapaneco (pork, fruit and nuts) and Veracruzano (fish of the day with guajillo salsa). 

Time Out tip: Other preparations come straight from the chef’s family, including a secret-recipe shrimp ceviche fragrant with tomato, onion, avocado and cilantro. 

Address: 372 Graham Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Hours: Dinner: Sun–Thu 5–10pm and Fri and Sat 5–11pm; Lunch and Brunch: Sat and Sun noon–4pm

What is it? When you look up who started the birria craze, much of the lore points to chef Andrés Galindo Maria's taqueria. 

Why we love it: Orange tinged, birria tacos are the name of chef Andrés Galindo Maria's game, so much so it earned him the nickname of "the Birria Taco King of Brooklyn." Yes, you order the birria. Yes, get a horchata. And yes, grab some napkins because that consommé has a way of dripping on everything we know and love. 

Time Out tip: You can find iterations across the menu that still use up all that shreddy beef, from birria ramen to a showstopping (and possibly heart stopping?) birria pizza. 

Address: Multiple locations

What is it? A taco standout since 1991. 

Why we love it: The East Harlem outpost makes a strong showing for the title of NYC’s best al pastor tacos. They’re sliced to order from a rotating spit crowned with a hunk of grilled pineapple, and the tortilla-to-meat ratio is perfectly balanced. Several other options are also on the menu, along with burritos, quesadillas and nachos. 

Time Out tip: Should go without saying, but you have to have that textbook-perfect al pastor. 

Address: 234 East 116th Street, New York, NY 10029 and 610 Exterior Street B Building, Level 4, The Bronx, NY 10451

What is it? A fleet of trucks specializing in tacos dunked in consomé.

Why we love it: Birria has existed for centuries in Mexico, but the beloved red taco dipped in consomé (a thick, savory broth) now has a firm hold on us stateside. With locations in four boroughs (and a brick and mortar set to drop this spring), Birria-Landia’s interpretation is by far the city’s best, offering another limited yet outstanding menu of just four items. Turn the experience into a neighborhood food tour with stops at the nearby elotes (corn) and churros carts before and after birria. 

Time Out tip: The titular consomé, which is equally delicious when drank as a soup or used as a taco-dunking vehicle.

Address: Multiple locations 

What is it? Chef Arturo Leonar's spot where he recreates food from his childhood in Mexico City. 

Why we love it: Chavela’s is a longtime Crown Heights favorite for fresh and familiar Mexican flavors. It’s as great a spot for just drinks and apps (crab tostadas, taquitos de birria) as it is for a multicourse meal. 

Time Out tip: Whatever you do, do not miss the smoked trout guacamole, which is simultaneously creamy and umami-laden.

Address: 736 Franklin Avenue, Brooklyn, 11238, USA

Hours: Daily 11am–11pm