Best Tacos in Manhattan

Los Tacos No. 1

A counter inside Chelsea Market that runs a real vertical trompo for al pastor — pork shaved to order, pineapple on top, tortillas pressed by hand a foot away from where you stand.

Because the trompo here is the genuine vertical-spit setup (not pre-cooked pork tossed on a flat-top), the tortilla is hand-pressed within view, and the pineapple-marinated pork has the right balance of sweet, smoke, and char.

Order Two adobada tacos with everything (cilantro, onion, salsa verde) and a horchata.

Order from the back of the counter rather than the front — the back line is where the trompo sits and the meat goes onto your tortilla within ten seconds of being shaved.

Birria-Landia

The Manhattan location of the Bronx-born birria-truck operation that essentially started the New York birria-quesadilla wave — Tijuana-style, dipped consomme, parked under the L tracks.

Because the consomme here is rich and properly skimmed (not a watery dipping cup), the cheese melts inside the quesadilla rather than on top, and the price has stayed at street-truck level even as the line grew.

Order Three quesabirria tacos with a side of consomme for dipping.

Bring cash if possible — the card reader works but the line moves twice as fast for cash orders, and the truck closes early on weekdays once the meat runs out.

Tacombi