La Barra Cevicheria 250 Broome St. New York, NY 10002 between Ludlow & Orchard (Lower Eastside) 212.260.1607

Although this place is known for ceviche, just my luck I walk in on the night they had as a special a steak taco, and it was a damn good taco de bistec. The chef a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, made this creamy sauce that added an alta cocina touch to the taco.

If you go and the steak taco is not a special then I suggest trying a shrimp or fish taco.

Please note I am not a star f*cker for culinary school chefs, I grew up eating my aunt Maria-Elena’s home cooking which has been handed down to her since the days when worshipping Huitzilopochtli was en vogue. But, the chef at La Barra Cevicheria makes it all look very easy and simple (insert applause).

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Utah Edition: Red Iguana, 736 West North Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84116

I usually don’t do this but the Red Iguana was highly recommended by two New Yorkers and all I heard was “you have to go there if you’re in Salt Lake City.” I walked into a packed restaurant with strapping thickset red-blooded American men seated at each table. I thought to myself okay I have stumble on to something.

I won’t get into the overall menu because I didn’t have time to taste everything on it. I kept it simple and ordered a few dishes and I made sure I ordered tacos. Based on the waiter’s recommendation I sampled a Taco Don Ramon (named after the owner Ramon Cardenas), the corn tortilla was crispy as if it had been briefly dipped in flour and thrown on a pan then filled with grilled steak, pork chorizo, shredded lettuce and queso. This was too much for me, my thing is to keep it simple or make it seem simple. I honestly have to say I didn’t like it, the crisp tortilla and the chorizo was too much.

Next came the carne asada taco, not as complicated as the Taco Don Ramon, but the bad experience with the Don Ramon taco made it difficult for me to enjoy the carne asada taco.

I know this place has received rave reviews, but I have to say my taco experience here was mediocre at best (I'm not hatin' yo).

REVISED Los Hamptons Edition: LA FONDITA (open May-October), 74 Montauk Highway, Amagansett, (631) 267-8800

I mentioned La Fondita last summer, and I strolled by a few weeks ago and felt the need to make an amendment to my previous posting which you can read here. I think they got new cooks this summer because the food in general tastes better this year than the previous, do you think they read my review?

Anyway, definitely carne asada taco is king at this joint and in a tie for second place I have to say the pozole and torta de jamon.

LA FONDITA (open May-October), 74 Montauk Highway, Amagansett, (631) 267-8800


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Follow TacoNYC on Twitter yo!

Now you can follow me on twitter yo! http://twitter.com/TacoNYC.

Also hosting a Manhattan taco crawl in September, check back for more details.

Tulcingo Restaurant & Bakery 5520 5th Ave. (Between 55th and 56th Street in Sunset Park) Brooklyn, NY 11220 718.439.2896

There is something to be said about a place that serves cactus tacos… you know you’re in for a treat. The thing about cosmopolitan places like NYC is you can transport yourself to another country in a matter of minutes, and Tulcingo Restaurant & Bakery in Sunset Park is just that, another country and accepts all major credit cards. They even do catering for special events and can make you a wedding cake.

This place serves breakfast, seafood, entrees, and of course tacos. Tacos cost $2.25 with beef tongue and barbacoa tacos priced at $2.50. I ordered Tacos de asada and washed it down with an Eh-squirt (Squirt), my taco came with guacamole (always a plus) and was gone in less than 60 seconds.

What’s the scene like? Don’t expect a table cloth, it’s no frills.

Train: Take the N or the R into Brooklyn and get off at 59th street and 4th ave. Walk one Avenue over to 5th Ave and walk down 3 and 1/2 blocks.


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Oaxaca, 251 Smith Street Brooklyn between Douglass St. and Degraw St. (Carroll Gardens) 714.643.9630

I so didn’t want to like this place, why… just because it is located in Carroll Gardens! But, I have to admit Oaxaca served a good carne asada taco so I might be cruising CG more often.

Of all the taco places I’ve been to in NYC they cut their steak into thick cubes, giving it the feeling that you’re eating grilled steak that happens to be wrapped in a tortilla.

Tacos range from $2.95 to $3.95 for fish tacos. The best way to get there is the F or G Train to Bergen St., walk south for about 5 blocks.


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The View

I will upload my reviews from the taco crawl soon. On another note I just watched "The View" and the Exec Producer came out and gave Elizabeth a carne asada plate from "Frontera" restaurant in Chicago and according to him the best Mexican food is not found in L.A. or Texas but at this Shy Town place. Hmmmmmmm, not sure about that.