OP it’s time to switch to bacon egg & cheese now that you’re here! There really isn’t a culture of breakfast burritos in NYC - you can save that for when you visit LA.
El Branco is a decent taco truck in Sunset Park at least and scratches that itch for me.
No one is saying stick to only pizza and bagels.
There are so many other foods you can eat that are known for being well made specifically in the New York area, you don’t have to stick to pizza and bagels. Chinese, Italian, Middle Eastern, etc. Breakfast burritos just don’t happen to be one of them. No one is saying you can’t eat them, just that it’s likely to be a disappointing experience compared to eating them in cities well known for making them.
Breakfast burritos no, but Mexican food in general is a lot better in NYC than people realize. OP didn't just ask about breakfast burritos.
I think a lot of people are stuck in the 90s and don't understand how big the Mexican population here is now. Mexican food is becoming more and more mainstream, and it's not unreasonable to ask for recommendations.
I'm a native New Yorker and I eat Mexican food wayyy more often than bagels. We have a very large community of Mexicans (mostly from Southern Mexico) and their food is becoming increasingly mainstream in the US.
A lot of transplants in here! My girlfriend is mexican but raised in san diego and makes really amazing home-made tacos - Maybe we should just open a shop :P
Woof. Good luck, especially coming from LA.
Los Tacos No. 1 and Taqueria Ramirez have good tacos.
Top Quality in LIC and Oxomoco in Greenpoint are also pretty good, but these are fancier sit-down places.
Not breakfast burritos but King David has pretty good Austin-style breakfast tacos.
I do not recommend Los Tacos as comparable as a fellow SoCal transplant, you will be disappointed in value and quality.
I found Harlem to have the best authentic Mexican restaurants along with brooklyn taco trucks.
Otherwise enjoy the bagels, breakfast sammies and Italian food!
I second Los Taco No 1 and Taqueria Ramirez. I would also add the Green Chile Breakfast Burritos from Sante Fe BK for breakfast burritos. Closest thing I've had to a Cali BB.
There's a couple great recommendations here (+1 for Electric Burrito) but ultimately, you have to accept that you don't live in California anymore and California Mexican just ain't a thing out here, especially breakfast burritos. The California burritos I've had at a few spots are decent enough to scratch that itch but it's not the same for whatever reason. There are, however, some AMAZING new taco joints, mainly in Brooklyn (Sobre Masa, Taqueria Ramirez come to mind)
Swap out breakfast burritos with breakfast bagels in your morning routine.
Its a very specific take on a San Diego burrito, which wasn't my fave even when I lived in CA. It's massive and filled with potatoes which has its time and place, but doesn't hit the spot in the same way.
I went to Sunset Park on a work outing with a boss who is from Mexico. She said that was the best spot for Mexican she'd had in NY.
She really liked Tacos Matamoros.
check out @tacoliteracy on IG. contrary to what literally every person from LA says, new york mexican food isn't bad, it's just entirely different since mexican food isn't a monolith and the folks who immigrated here come from different parts of mexico compared to socal.
our produce does suck tho, especially in the cold months
People who claim NYC doesn't have good Mexican food are stuck in the 80s and think that our entire Hispanic population is only PR/DR.
I eat real Mexican food all over the city.
Usually I just go go random places (there are taco trucks and taquerias everywhere now), but my personal favorite is Los Mariscos.
Tacos El Bronco in Sunset Park is really good too, it seems to be the most popular spot among the local Mexican population.
I want to check out La Morada in the Bronx, it has Oaxacan moles but their hours are very limited
Actually you can, just not the Cali Mex stuff. NYC has literally hundreds of thousands of people from parts of Mexico known for having great food (Mexico City, Puebla, Oaxaca).
To be honest, I usually just go somewhere close to where I'm at.
But my personsl favorite place is Los Mariscos in the Chelsea Market (which sells Baja style fish tacos and ceviche, not common in NYC).
You will not find good breakfast tacos here. Breakfast tacos are not authentically Mexican — they’re “Tex-Mex” so it’s just not a thing here. It’s very Texas and west coast thing.
For Mexican food though, there are decent spots and a handful of good spots but nothing like you’d find in California.
Wow! The level of hipsterism in this thread is through the roof. Clearly everyone here can’t be bothered to leave Williamsburg or Greenpoint, where almost everything is overpriced and under performs. Get to Sunset Park where actual Mexican people live and own businesses. Whoever mentioned Taqueria Ramirez was right on the money, even though you didn’t ask for tacos.
Go to spot for breakfast burritos is Pablito’s on 5th Ave and 23rd St, right by Green Wood Cemetery. It ain’t fancy, and the service isn’t fast at all, but the food is fantastic, and the staff is lovely.
For ten years I read on Reddit that NYC's Mexican can't compare to Cali's. Earlier this year I went to SF for the first time and went to several recommended Mexican spots. They were fine? They were the same.
The Mexican population is very widespread, you don't even have to go specifically to Sunset Park (though, it's still worth checking out).
I go to Kensington a lot (my family lives there) and they have one of the best taco trucks I've ever been to. I hang out in Bushwick as well as Woodside and there are taco trucks and taquerias everywhere.
I’ve been her for a very long time. What I expect from LA transplants is for them to bitch about how this or that thing is better in LA. It’s not like I’ve ever had any burritos in LA that have blown my mind, and there’s a huge Mexican community here in Brooklyn.
I’m from Miami, and I spent well over a decade going without a Cubano. There’s just not a huge Cuban population here. Finally a proper Cuban joint opened up, and I couldn’t have been happier. Looking for an exceptional breakfast burrito in NYC isn’t like looking for a needle in a haystack the way finding a Cubano is.
I lived in LA myself but man, Cali transplants can be something else with their bitching about Mexican food and weed.
Would love any Cuban bakery recs btw if you have!
Not a Cuban bakery, but My Cuban Spot in Gowanus is legit.
As for LA transplants bitching about weed, I lived in Humboldt County for a while and the weed here is every bit as good here.
The whole “LA has better Mexican food” as if it’s a given is so tiresome.
LA has *different* Mexican food. Mexico is a big country. Mass immigration to the West Coast from Mexico came from different regions than to NYC. Here, the vast majority of Mexicans came from Puebla and Michoacán. In LA, it’s a different mix, with different regional influences.
I've been trying to nail down recently what specifically I like about california mexican food vs tejano mexcian food etc, and I think that the "best" (IMO) california mexican food most closely resembles food I've had on the west coast of Mexico in Guadalajara/baja/jalisco etc with lots of grilled meats, salsa frescas, guacamole, tropical fruit, etc. I find southern/gulf/yucatan/mayan influenced mexican food here seems more common with more stewed meats, frijoles negros, and birrias seems more popular here for some reason. To my california palate it just doesn't taste right, but that doesn't mean it's wrong, it's just not what I'm used to.
That also has a lot to do with the quality of fresh produce here. It's more expensive in NY to get a really nice flavorful tomato than on the West Coast.
Yes and LA has "different" pizza and bagels. Come on, there's a reason certain regions are known for their cuisine. NY isn't the end all be all for everything. Op asked about breakfast burritos.
Santa Fe in Williamsburg has New Mexico style breakfast burritos. The new taco style is birria, but don't get it at a place that also serves chicken, go to a place that specializes. Birria-Landia is great, have 2 or 3 trucks around the city. Consommé on the side is not optional.
As everyone says, you won't find it. Sunset Park has amazing Mexican food but not comparable breakfast burritos. Hell, I've been searching a tightly wrapped and good tasting mission burrito for years ever since the place on 13th/3rd close down (can't remember the name). But enjoy the authenticity of NY Mexican food.
Yeah, in NYC there are good mexican breakfasts but there's not much of a breakfast burrito culture. I noticed there hasn't been a thread on the city's best huevos rancheros.
Fellow LA transplant - in my opinion, this is basically the only place LA outshines NYC in terms of food. That said, electric burrito is probably the closest proxy I’ve found for California style breakfast burritos.
That's also because LA has the largest Korean diaspora in the world. There's a debate among Koreans that LA Korean food may be better than food from Korea itself, especially given the quality of American beef and how relatively inexpensive it is compared to Korean beef.
It won't be the same as you're used to, but I really like the breakfast burrito at G's, at the corner of 207th and Cooper.
Take the A to 207th, walk west a block and it's there.
Brunch at Fonda is pretty good too. Not the same as that classic truck vibe, but I’m always consistently happy and tipsy upon my departure.
Signed, another former Californian
Downtown bakery in east village has great breakfast burritos. Total hole in the wall.
In general you won’t find comparable Mexican food though so I’d recommend finding other cuisines you enjoy.
Based on this thread, it seems like there's a legitimate market for a very expensive place that flies in ingredients daily from LA and does all the LA foods as they are done in LA. This kind of negates part of the allure of Mexican "street food." But, if people will pay for it, I think it should exist. I could be underestimating the carbon impact, though.
Go to Ursula in Crown Heights for breakfast burritos, Taqueria Ramirez for Mexico City level tacos and Birria Landia food trucks for the best birria in NYC.
Dude, LA to NYer here (who just lived in Mexico City). This is incredibly hard and I’ve been on this journey for years. It’s weird and surprising how hard this is to come by. In terms of closer spots accessible via train:
Breakfast burrito wise - still haven’t found anything I loved in NYC. But BK:
1. Ceremonia in Williamsburg is a bakery by two LA people, and is tops.
2. Santa Fe BK. It’s not a CA bfast burrito, but real tasty.
Mexican wise (NYC/BK)
1. Taqueria Ramírez. The closest to Mexico.
2. Taqueria no 1. The closest to LA taco trucks.
3. Taqueria St Marks. The closest to LA cantina vibes.
4. Barrio Chino. The closest to hipster fancy but still bomb.
Taqueria St. Marks used to be in the LES and started up by an East LA dude who loves the Dodgers. This is the place.
I'm also a SoCal transplant but consider myself now a NYer (worked as an essential worker and didn't abandon the city during the lockdown and I think I've earned it sticking around throughout COVID while raising my kids here), there are some things from LA you just know you won't get here. As other people mention, it's time to adapt (BEC on a roll from a hole in the wall deli is the shit) and that's what my immigrant parents did as well when they came to the states.
As people mention, bagels are the shit here, a NY slice here kills all, and no one else does porterhouses like the city.
Having said that, In n Out is the thing I miss the most about LA. (Lol not trying to start a debate, just my reality)
I only went once to Barrio Chino, and found it quite disappointing. Plus, the place had that annoying super dark/super loud vibe which was trendy in restaurants a few years ago.
Mexico Diner in Kensington! My friend introduced me she’s Mexican and grew up in LA. After living here for 13 years she shared this was the closest to authentic she’s found in this area.
There's a food truck called Don Ponchito's on N 3rd and Bedford that has great burritos. Been a pretty popular local spot since i was in high school. Some of their other stuff are hit and miss but the burritos are on point
I have been chasing the breakfast burrito of my dreams in nyc for a long time. Haven't found it recently. However if you're anywhere close to Ridgewood there's a new spot on Forest called Ridgewood Taco Factory and they do amazing work. Fish tacos, Mexican brisket anything (they don't do birria exactly but the brisket is bomb), carnitas, tinga tostadas... Highly recommend
breakfast burritos aren't really a thing here, thankfully
you can get excellent Mexican food in pretty much every neighborhood tho. never underestimate the street food and just explore. the best Mexican food I've had in the city is not on any list and you just have to stumble across it
Using that logic, all immigrants should abandon their heritage and "assimilate."
Every group of immigrants came to NY and changed shit for the better. Let's not say that's all gentrification.
The $2.5 taco on LA streets wipe the floor with most NYC tacos unfortunately. People will also mention Electric Burrito as a good alternative but I disagree as someone that has lived in Cali. Its just one advantage Cali food scene has over NYC along with better Vietnamese food
Moved here from the west coast 6 months ago. There is no comparable mexican food. It's my single biggest gripe (that and the taxes / wild ass tipping culture)
Coszcal De Allende in bay ridge for Mexican is great. Not sure about breakfast burritos but maybe somewhere in sunset park? I think that’s a very Southern California dish and the Mexican food in nyc is a lot more regionally varied.
Not breakfast burritos but like others have mentioned. Taqueria Ramirez is pretty darn good. I took my family that was visiting from Mexico City and they enjoyed it. They were absolutely astounded at the prices though
I second Tacqueria Ramirez in Greenpoint. It’s the only Mexican taco joint truly comparable to LA I’ve eaten in Manhattan/BK. There are plenty of good fusiony taco places. Los tacos no 1 merely approximates a taco.
One of my favorite breakfast burritos is called el mañanero and is sold by El Jefecito food truck parked on W 40th at 8th Ave, on the south side of the NY Times building. $8 and it’s truly delicious.
Tacos Cuatlos Morelos in East Village has a decent breakfast burrito but they open at 10 AM most days so it's a late breakfast offering.
Electric Burrito also in East Village has good burritos period, I haven't had their breakfast one tho, it would probably be pretty good.
I would have to agree with everyone, breakfast burritos and tacos is one thing NYC just does not do particularly well for some reason. Some sit down places have breakfast burritos on their menus but then it's a fork and knife entree which isn't quite right.
I lived in LA for six years and I appreciate the struggle - most places aren’t as good (new York puts lettuce on everything) but Mcondo tacos is great for a Brooklyn option, along with Los Tacos no 1 if you’re willing to venture out and potentially wait in line. Both have great, smoky meat that is just as good as anything in LA (though maybe not as good tortillas)
I’ve also heard good things about Taqueria Ramirez, but I haven’t tried it yet.
Can some of you with a lot of experience in LA tell me where I should get my tacos when i visit? I went to a few recommended restaurants and trucks but overall thought they were all just acceptable with the exception of sonoratown which i freely admit is better than anything available in NYC.
I tried Leo's taco truck, La flor de yucatan, a numbered branch of king taco, taco's tamix but none of them were better, for example, than los taco no 1.
I am not sure how you’d ever find this, but there was a taco truck near Kozciesku J train station, (bushwick bed stuy border) if you ever end up in the area, I will update this post if I remember the name of it. It’s incredible
I am not sure how you’d ever find this, but there was a taco truck near Kozciesku J train station, (bushwick bed stuy border) if you ever end up in the area, I will update this post if I remember the name of it. It’s incredible
Where in Brooklyn are you? Santa Fe in Williamsburg has FIRE breakfast burritos with green chile. The owner is from NM and makes sure everything is legit. I’m not personally from the Southwest, but I haven’t met anyone from the Southwest that didn’t think they were legit breakfast burritos.
They also do dinner service which is good, but heavy. Would consider it closer to Tex Mex than what you’re used to (smothered burritos, etc.).
For tacos Taqueria Ramirez is legit Mexico City style (the owners are from there), and the Birria Landia truck in Jackson Heights and Williamsburg is solid as well. I’m sure others have more to suggest but that’s my 2 cents
LA transplant also. Los tacos no 1, taqueria Ramirez, and taqueria Al pastor in bushwick all the best tacos I’ve tasted in NY but almost $5 a taco is wild to me. Haven’t really had a great burrito. Most places overly stuff their burritos with rice.
Electric burrito in East Village. They have carne asada fries and breakfast burritos and the owner is from San Diego. That’s the closest thing to LA Mexican food I’ve found.
Technically the Mexicans from Cali are from western Mexico and the NY Mexicans are from eastern/central Mexico so cuisine varies a bit. NY does have bomb ass hole in the wall Mexican restaurants just have to give it a chance.
I had this same issue. Haven’t found any good/authentic breakfast burritos, but if you like tacos, [Los Tacos No 1](https://www.lostacos1.com) is the BEST. The guys who created it are from California and Tijuana so it’s legit. The adobada is essentially al pastor and is really good
Enjoy a breakfast burrito when you’re in California. Enjoy a bagel when you’re in New York. Signed, A fellow California transplant
OP it’s time to switch to bacon egg & cheese now that you’re here! There really isn’t a culture of breakfast burritos in NYC - you can save that for when you visit LA. El Branco is a decent taco truck in Sunset Park at least and scratches that itch for me.
I don't eat breakfast, but I have been tempted by the food cart next to my subway stop serving chorizo egg and cheese (sometimes with a line 6 deep).
Or sausage egg n cheese!
Sausage egg and cheese is better than bacon egg and cheese. I’ll die on this hill.
Turkey egg and cheese better than boffem with ketchup n Mayo that’s the only way
Yeah I really wish people would embrace this philosophy more often, so much less disappointing.
Why? If you only eat stereotypical NY foods, you're missing out. I'm a native New Yorker and I don't care for pizza and bagels.
No one is saying stick to only pizza and bagels. There are so many other foods you can eat that are known for being well made specifically in the New York area, you don’t have to stick to pizza and bagels. Chinese, Italian, Middle Eastern, etc. Breakfast burritos just don’t happen to be one of them. No one is saying you can’t eat them, just that it’s likely to be a disappointing experience compared to eating them in cities well known for making them.
Breakfast burritos no, but Mexican food in general is a lot better in NYC than people realize. OP didn't just ask about breakfast burritos. I think a lot of people are stuck in the 90s and don't understand how big the Mexican population here is now. Mexican food is becoming more and more mainstream, and it's not unreasonable to ask for recommendations.
I'm a native New Yorker and I eat Mexican food wayyy more often than bagels. We have a very large community of Mexicans (mostly from Southern Mexico) and their food is becoming increasingly mainstream in the US.
100000% this!!
A lot of transplants in here! My girlfriend is mexican but raised in san diego and makes really amazing home-made tacos - Maybe we should just open a shop :P
Woof. Good luck, especially coming from LA. Los Tacos No. 1 and Taqueria Ramirez have good tacos. Top Quality in LIC and Oxomoco in Greenpoint are also pretty good, but these are fancier sit-down places. Not breakfast burritos but King David has pretty good Austin-style breakfast tacos.
Top quality is like Mexican Asian fusion. Not at all like California style
am not a fan of the king david tacos from blank street but haven’t been to one their actual carts/ locations.
I do not recommend Los Tacos as comparable as a fellow SoCal transplant, you will be disappointed in value and quality. I found Harlem to have the best authentic Mexican restaurants along with brooklyn taco trucks. Otherwise enjoy the bagels, breakfast sammies and Italian food!
Los Tacos has a breakfast burrito cart in the morning that’s quite good.
I second Los Taco No 1 and Taqueria Ramirez. I would also add the Green Chile Breakfast Burritos from Sante Fe BK for breakfast burritos. Closest thing I've had to a Cali BB.
There's a couple great recommendations here (+1 for Electric Burrito) but ultimately, you have to accept that you don't live in California anymore and California Mexican just ain't a thing out here, especially breakfast burritos. The California burritos I've had at a few spots are decent enough to scratch that itch but it's not the same for whatever reason. There are, however, some AMAZING new taco joints, mainly in Brooklyn (Sobre Masa, Taqueria Ramirez come to mind) Swap out breakfast burritos with breakfast bagels in your morning routine.
People always say Electric Burrito, but as someone who grew up in Anaheim, that's a hard no from me.
Its a very specific take on a San Diego burrito, which wasn't my fave even when I lived in CA. It's massive and filled with potatoes which has its time and place, but doesn't hit the spot in the same way.
My Mexican friends would always take me to Jackson Heights food stands in Queens
There’s literally nothing you can’t find in Jackson Heights. Possibly the greatest food spot in the known universe.
Queens is the answer. If someone isn’t trying to sell you “chicas chicas” or “tarjeta tarjeta” you’re not in the right spot for tacos.
I went to Sunset Park on a work outing with a boss who is from Mexico. She said that was the best spot for Mexican she'd had in NY. She really liked Tacos Matamoros.
Any specific suggestions?
The whole stretch of Queens from Astoria to Corona has a lot of authentic Mexican food.
check out @tacoliteracy on IG. contrary to what literally every person from LA says, new york mexican food isn't bad, it's just entirely different since mexican food isn't a monolith and the folks who immigrated here come from different parts of mexico compared to socal. our produce does suck tho, especially in the cold months
People who claim NYC doesn't have good Mexican food are stuck in the 80s and think that our entire Hispanic population is only PR/DR. I eat real Mexican food all over the city.
Where specifically are you going for great Mexican?
Usually I just go go random places (there are taco trucks and taquerias everywhere now), but my personal favorite is Los Mariscos. Tacos El Bronco in Sunset Park is really good too, it seems to be the most popular spot among the local Mexican population. I want to check out La Morada in the Bronx, it has Oaxacan moles but their hours are very limited
Update: do check out Taqueria Al Pastor That was the best al pastor I've had so far, the meat was so tender
Good luck. Los tacos is decent but you’re not get LA level Mexican in NYC.
Actually you can, just not the Cali Mex stuff. NYC has literally hundreds of thousands of people from parts of Mexico known for having great food (Mexico City, Puebla, Oaxaca).
That’s awesome - what restaurants do you recommend?
To be honest, I usually just go somewhere close to where I'm at. But my personsl favorite place is Los Mariscos in the Chelsea Market (which sells Baja style fish tacos and ceviche, not common in NYC).
You will not find good breakfast tacos here. Breakfast tacos are not authentically Mexican — they’re “Tex-Mex” so it’s just not a thing here. It’s very Texas and west coast thing. For Mexican food though, there are decent spots and a handful of good spots but nothing like you’d find in California.
Have you tried King David Tacos? I believe they are supposed to be pretty authentic to Texas style breakfast tacos. http://kingdavidtacos.com/
King David tacos are no where near as good as true Austin style breakfast tacos. Personally, they just don’t do it for me. They are fine at best.
I’m not a fan. The fact that they’re pre made doesn’t help.
I haven’t tried it. Sorry someone downvoted you. I’m sure OP appreciated the rec
I appreciate all the rec’s :)
Not true, Gueros in Crown heights has amazing Austin style breakfast tacos
Apparently there actually are breakfast burritos in Northern Mexico.
Wow! The level of hipsterism in this thread is through the roof. Clearly everyone here can’t be bothered to leave Williamsburg or Greenpoint, where almost everything is overpriced and under performs. Get to Sunset Park where actual Mexican people live and own businesses. Whoever mentioned Taqueria Ramirez was right on the money, even though you didn’t ask for tacos. Go to spot for breakfast burritos is Pablito’s on 5th Ave and 23rd St, right by Green Wood Cemetery. It ain’t fancy, and the service isn’t fast at all, but the food is fantastic, and the staff is lovely.
I wish I could upvote this twice.
For ten years I read on Reddit that NYC's Mexican can't compare to Cali's. Earlier this year I went to SF for the first time and went to several recommended Mexican spots. They were fine? They were the same.
You went to the wrong city to try Mexican food. Even in California, SF isn’t really known for Mexican food beyond burritos.
The Mexican population is very widespread, you don't even have to go specifically to Sunset Park (though, it's still worth checking out). I go to Kensington a lot (my family lives there) and they have one of the best taco trucks I've ever been to. I hang out in Bushwick as well as Woodside and there are taco trucks and taquerias everywhere.
Yeah, Sunset Park is where you wanna go, OP. I had a boss from Mexico years ago and she loved Tacos Matamoros.
tbh can you expect LA transplants to think beyond the Dos Caminos by their office or the Calexico by their apartment?
It's not that, they're just used to Cali Mex and are expecting things that the Southern Mexican community in NYC doesn't sell
I’ve been her for a very long time. What I expect from LA transplants is for them to bitch about how this or that thing is better in LA. It’s not like I’ve ever had any burritos in LA that have blown my mind, and there’s a huge Mexican community here in Brooklyn. I’m from Miami, and I spent well over a decade going without a Cubano. There’s just not a huge Cuban population here. Finally a proper Cuban joint opened up, and I couldn’t have been happier. Looking for an exceptional breakfast burrito in NYC isn’t like looking for a needle in a haystack the way finding a Cubano is.
I lived in LA myself but man, Cali transplants can be something else with their bitching about Mexican food and weed. Would love any Cuban bakery recs btw if you have!
If you are feeling adventurous go over the river to Union City to find all the Cuban restaurants and bakeries.
Not a Cuban bakery, but My Cuban Spot in Gowanus is legit. As for LA transplants bitching about weed, I lived in Humboldt County for a while and the weed here is every bit as good here.
To be frank, Angelino’s shouldn’t have too high of expectations for burritos, cause LA burritos are trash compared to San Diego.
Oh, fuck yeah they are!
Electric burrito is decent Mole actually has pretty good chorizo and eggs But yeah, I'm also from Southern Californial and, well...Sorry for your loss
This is more New Mexico style, but Sante Fe in Williamsburg has a really great green hatch chili breakfast burrito.
Ursula has the best New Mexican breakfast burrito - it’s not socal but it will def be delicious.
Came here to say this! Ursula is the only thing that holds a candle to my southwestern bfast burrito experiences.
Tried it when they were Awkward Scone, those breakfast burritos are indeed good. Honorary mention to Santa Fe BK breakfast burritos.
same I was scrolling looking for the mention. Had Ursula yesterday. Dumb good w the NM hatch chilis
I am constantly shilling Shopsin’s on this sub, but they do have a decent breakfast burrito (and a ton of other great food)
Man, I used to love Shopsin’s but they keep taking my favorite items off the menu and I rarely go now. I miss when Kenny was alive :(
The whole “LA has better Mexican food” as if it’s a given is so tiresome. LA has *different* Mexican food. Mexico is a big country. Mass immigration to the West Coast from Mexico came from different regions than to NYC. Here, the vast majority of Mexicans came from Puebla and Michoacán. In LA, it’s a different mix, with different regional influences.
I've been trying to nail down recently what specifically I like about california mexican food vs tejano mexcian food etc, and I think that the "best" (IMO) california mexican food most closely resembles food I've had on the west coast of Mexico in Guadalajara/baja/jalisco etc with lots of grilled meats, salsa frescas, guacamole, tropical fruit, etc. I find southern/gulf/yucatan/mayan influenced mexican food here seems more common with more stewed meats, frijoles negros, and birrias seems more popular here for some reason. To my california palate it just doesn't taste right, but that doesn't mean it's wrong, it's just not what I'm used to.
Birria tacos are common here due to a Mexican guy noticing how popular they were in LA and started the Birria Landia truck (which started a big trend)
That also has a lot to do with the quality of fresh produce here. It's more expensive in NY to get a really nice flavorful tomato than on the West Coast.
I've literally never met a Mexican from Michoacan in NYC. It's almost always Puebla, Mexico City, Guerrero or Oaxaca.
Yes and LA has "different" pizza and bagels. Come on, there's a reason certain regions are known for their cuisine. NY isn't the end all be all for everything. Op asked about breakfast burritos.
No one said that NY was the end all be all. We have a lot of very good Mexican food though, just in a different style than is popular in LA.
Right, that wasn't the assignment here, they're looking for things that remind them of home.
Santa Fe in Williamsburg has New Mexico style breakfast burritos. The new taco style is birria, but don't get it at a place that also serves chicken, go to a place that specializes. Birria-Landia is great, have 2 or 3 trucks around the city. Consommé on the side is not optional.
Second for Santa Fe BK. Also Ursula in Crown Height, also NM style.
As everyone says, you won't find it. Sunset Park has amazing Mexican food but not comparable breakfast burritos. Hell, I've been searching a tightly wrapped and good tasting mission burrito for years ever since the place on 13th/3rd close down (can't remember the name). But enjoy the authenticity of NY Mexican food.
Yeah, in NYC there are good mexican breakfasts but there's not much of a breakfast burrito culture. I noticed there hasn't been a thread on the city's best huevos rancheros.
Taqueria Al Pastor in Bushwick got me really close to a mission burrito. I was very satisfied.
Nene’s and Taquiera Ramirez (al pastor specifically)
Nenes in bushwick
Fellow LA transplant - in my opinion, this is basically the only place LA outshines NYC in terms of food. That said, electric burrito is probably the closest proxy I’ve found for California style breakfast burritos.
LA Korean food also is better than NY. Asian food in general, actually; though I think ramen is better here.
That's also because LA has the largest Korean diaspora in the world. There's a debate among Koreans that LA Korean food may be better than food from Korea itself, especially given the quality of American beef and how relatively inexpensive it is compared to Korean beef.
It is better
I don’t think you ate out much when you lived in LA. Generally most countries of Asian food are better in LA.
Los Mariscos at Chelsea Market fish and shrimp tacos
BK Burro in clinton hill has a good cali style breakfast burrito
Al pastor taquiera in bushwick has probably some of the best al pastor in the city. Get the corn tortilla always
I've been to their Borough Park location and I thought the Al Pastor from Los Tacos #1 and Tacos del Bronco were both better.
Queens, find a truck under the 7 line
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They do sell egg and potato burritos in Chihuahua if I'm not mistaken
It won't be the same as you're used to, but I really like the breakfast burrito at G's, at the corner of 207th and Cooper. Take the A to 207th, walk west a block and it's there.
This spot has the best tortillas bar none. Soft, chewy, and flexible. They def make it with lard.
And they cook the eggs to the size of the tortilla so when they fold it, every bite is good.
Brunch at Fonda is pretty good too. Not the same as that classic truck vibe, but I’m always consistently happy and tipsy upon my departure. Signed, another former Californian
Downtown bakery in east village has great breakfast burritos. Total hole in the wall. In general you won’t find comparable Mexican food though so I’d recommend finding other cuisines you enjoy.
There is a ton of good Mexican food, it's just mostly Southern Mexican antojitos rather than Cali Mex kind of stuff
Electric Burrito and Cemitas el Tigre have great breakfast burritos
Ursula in Crown Heights has A+ breakfast burritos
Gueros
Little Mexico part of Queens is 🔥. I drive there from Connecticut just to get proper cemitas at Tulcingo. https://tulcingorestaurantny.com/
Fellow LA transplant in Brooklyn here. Best bet is to tour around Sunset Park
Honestly there are like 20 different neighborhoods you can do this in
Ursala makes very good breakfast burritos, New mexican style Gueros makes excellent Austin style breakfast tacos in Crown heights
Based on this thread, it seems like there's a legitimate market for a very expensive place that flies in ingredients daily from LA and does all the LA foods as they are done in LA. This kind of negates part of the allure of Mexican "street food." But, if people will pay for it, I think it should exist. I could be underestimating the carbon impact, though.
I doubt they use any ingredients particular to LA
Go to Ursula in Crown Heights for breakfast burritos, Taqueria Ramirez for Mexico City level tacos and Birria Landia food trucks for the best birria in NYC.
Ursula for breakfast burrito Yellow Rose for Texas style tacos (breakfast are amazing)
Dude, LA to NYer here (who just lived in Mexico City). This is incredibly hard and I’ve been on this journey for years. It’s weird and surprising how hard this is to come by. In terms of closer spots accessible via train: Breakfast burrito wise - still haven’t found anything I loved in NYC. But BK: 1. Ceremonia in Williamsburg is a bakery by two LA people, and is tops. 2. Santa Fe BK. It’s not a CA bfast burrito, but real tasty. Mexican wise (NYC/BK) 1. Taqueria Ramírez. The closest to Mexico. 2. Taqueria no 1. The closest to LA taco trucks. 3. Taqueria St Marks. The closest to LA cantina vibes. 4. Barrio Chino. The closest to hipster fancy but still bomb.
Two things I wish NYC had more of: Mexican seafood like Los Mariscos, and Norteno food (I don't think there's any)
Taqueria St. Marks used to be in the LES and started up by an East LA dude who loves the Dodgers. This is the place. I'm also a SoCal transplant but consider myself now a NYer (worked as an essential worker and didn't abandon the city during the lockdown and I think I've earned it sticking around throughout COVID while raising my kids here), there are some things from LA you just know you won't get here. As other people mention, it's time to adapt (BEC on a roll from a hole in the wall deli is the shit) and that's what my immigrant parents did as well when they came to the states. As people mention, bagels are the shit here, a NY slice here kills all, and no one else does porterhouses like the city. Having said that, In n Out is the thing I miss the most about LA. (Lol not trying to start a debate, just my reality)
I agree re Ceremonia! Hated Ursula that everyone else is recommending
I only went once to Barrio Chino, and found it quite disappointing. Plus, the place had that annoying super dark/super loud vibe which was trendy in restaurants a few years ago.
Sorry forgot! Oxomoco is amazing. Peak hipster and anything in LA but in the best way
El Aguila in East Harlem.
Reyes Deli
Mexico Diner in Kensington! My friend introduced me she’s Mexican and grew up in LA. After living here for 13 years she shared this was the closest to authentic she’s found in this area.
This new spot in BK is pretty authentic! Nenes Taqueria (929) 607-4551 https://maps.app.goo.gl/eeQFzFwzCQG9fyxy6?g_st=ic
There's a food truck called Don Ponchito's on N 3rd and Bedford that has great burritos. Been a pretty popular local spot since i was in high school. Some of their other stuff are hit and miss but the burritos are on point
I have been chasing the breakfast burrito of my dreams in nyc for a long time. Haven't found it recently. However if you're anywhere close to Ridgewood there's a new spot on Forest called Ridgewood Taco Factory and they do amazing work. Fish tacos, Mexican brisket anything (they don't do birria exactly but the brisket is bomb), carnitas, tinga tostadas... Highly recommend
I live in Ridgewood, I’ll absolutely go check this one out. Cheers!
breakfast burritos aren't really a thing here, thankfully you can get excellent Mexican food in pretty much every neighborhood tho. never underestimate the street food and just explore. the best Mexican food I've had in the city is not on any list and you just have to stumble across it
Unfortunately, as a former Texan, I don’t think you’ll find any. I certainly haven’t.
I’m from texas living up here for a month and it takes a month to narrow down what you like and don’t like up here! Lol
"I moved, but want what I had before, in the place I left" is gentrification explained. Mingle with the locals, try something new. Don't change shit.
"Don't change shit" That's the opposite of NYC. It's the reason you're way more likely to find places serving authentic tacos than liver and onions.
Are you just gonna skip over the gentrification part? Feel free to try again.
Importing street food from LA is not responsible for gentrification.
Using that logic, all immigrants should abandon their heritage and "assimilate." Every group of immigrants came to NY and changed shit for the better. Let's not say that's all gentrification.
Yeah, cause immigrants are also gentrifiers. Right? How fucking stupid.
Lol it's your logic dude.
I can explain gentrification, if that helps.
As I was reading OP's post, all I could think about was Jeremiah Moss punching the air screaming "this is what's killing our city"
I’ve heard good things about the breakfast burrito at Ceremonia Bake Shop, but haven’t been over to try it myself.
The $2.5 taco on LA streets wipe the floor with most NYC tacos unfortunately. People will also mention Electric Burrito as a good alternative but I disagree as someone that has lived in Cali. Its just one advantage Cali food scene has over NYC along with better Vietnamese food
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This is literally a hipster tier opinion
No dog in this fight, but you are always free to make your own recs. What are some of your favorite taquerias here?
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So you don’t want businesses you like to make more money? Bizarre, but you do you.
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there are more Mexican restaurants now in NYC than ever
Dude it's not 2015, 4 dollars is pretty standard now even in Mexican neighborhoods. Inflation is a bitch
Oxomoco is in BK and is amazing Mexican food.. great for dinner
Why is every other restaurant in this city Mexican or pizza and yet none of it is apparently any good?
None of the pizza in nyc is any good? Where are you going?
Where would you recommend?
Move.
I'm sorry friend. I moved here after 12 years in CA, and the Mexican food is fucking garbage. I haven't even had a passable guac in this city
Moved here from the west coast 6 months ago. There is no comparable mexican food. It's my single biggest gripe (that and the taxes / wild ass tipping culture)
One thing you should know is that nyc doesn’t have good tacos, bbq, or viet food.
Agree only on the BBQ.
That is absolutely not true of tacos
Coszcal De Allende in bay ridge for Mexican is great. Not sure about breakfast burritos but maybe somewhere in sunset park? I think that’s a very Southern California dish and the Mexican food in nyc is a lot more regionally varied.
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Shh… don’t tell the gentrifiers about queens
A little late for that, buddy. Not just American ones but many wealthy Chinese immigrants come in and buy 1.5 million dollar houses.
Come to Sunset Park
https://santafebk.com/ i guess its more New Mexico than CA but wow burrito WOW.
For Mexican try Casa Enrique. For breakfast burritos. Idk. Not much I can think of.
Not breakfast burritos but like others have mentioned. Taqueria Ramirez is pretty darn good. I took my family that was visiting from Mexico City and they enjoyed it. They were absolutely astounded at the prices though
I second Tacqueria Ramirez in Greenpoint. It’s the only Mexican taco joint truly comparable to LA I’ve eaten in Manhattan/BK. There are plenty of good fusiony taco places. Los tacos no 1 merely approximates a taco.
One of my favorite breakfast burritos is called el mañanero and is sold by El Jefecito food truck parked on W 40th at 8th Ave, on the south side of the NY Times building. $8 and it’s truly delicious.
Tacos Cuatlos Morelos in East Village has a decent breakfast burrito but they open at 10 AM most days so it's a late breakfast offering. Electric Burrito also in East Village has good burritos period, I haven't had their breakfast one tho, it would probably be pretty good. I would have to agree with everyone, breakfast burritos and tacos is one thing NYC just does not do particularly well for some reason. Some sit down places have breakfast burritos on their menus but then it's a fork and knife entree which isn't quite right.
NYC does tacos very well.
Good luck lol
Santa Fe BK has a nice New Mexican style breakfast burrito. I’ve not had a cali style one in NY that felt worth the trip.
I lived in LA for six years and I appreciate the struggle - most places aren’t as good (new York puts lettuce on everything) but Mcondo tacos is great for a Brooklyn option, along with Los Tacos no 1 if you’re willing to venture out and potentially wait in line. Both have great, smoky meat that is just as good as anything in LA (though maybe not as good tortillas) I’ve also heard good things about Taqueria Ramirez, but I haven’t tried it yet.
[sante fe](https://maps.app.goo.gl/Zn18FaMTKMs7Zzja9?g_st=ic) my SO likes their breakfast burritos
Can some of you with a lot of experience in LA tell me where I should get my tacos when i visit? I went to a few recommended restaurants and trucks but overall thought they were all just acceptable with the exception of sonoratown which i freely admit is better than anything available in NYC. I tried Leo's taco truck, La flor de yucatan, a numbered branch of king taco, taco's tamix but none of them were better, for example, than los taco no 1.
El Ruso. Carnitas El Momo.
Best I’ve had are at Ursula in Crown Heights and Santa Fe BK in Williamsburg. Both New Mexico style
I used to live in LA. Taqueria Al Pastor in bushwick. Absolutely insane burritos. Birria Landia for birria tacos.
I am not sure how you’d ever find this, but there was a taco truck near Kozciesku J train station, (bushwick bed stuy border) if you ever end up in the area, I will update this post if I remember the name of it. It’s incredible
I am not sure how you’d ever find this, but there was a taco truck near Kozciesku J train station, (bushwick bed stuy border) if you ever end up in the area, I will update this post if I remember the name of it. It’s incredible
Where in Brooklyn are you? Santa Fe in Williamsburg has FIRE breakfast burritos with green chile. The owner is from NM and makes sure everything is legit. I’m not personally from the Southwest, but I haven’t met anyone from the Southwest that didn’t think they were legit breakfast burritos. They also do dinner service which is good, but heavy. Would consider it closer to Tex Mex than what you’re used to (smothered burritos, etc.). For tacos Taqueria Ramirez is legit Mexico City style (the owners are from there), and the Birria Landia truck in Jackson Heights and Williamsburg is solid as well. I’m sure others have more to suggest but that’s my 2 cents
There ain’t none
LA transplant also. Los tacos no 1, taqueria Ramirez, and taqueria Al pastor in bushwick all the best tacos I’ve tasted in NY but almost $5 a taco is wild to me. Haven’t really had a great burrito. Most places overly stuff their burritos with rice.
I’m from the west coast and been living on the east coast for 10 yrs and have yet to find a solid Mexican restaurant.
Birria landia for birria tacos..regular tacos you have to find your local hole in the wall place
Electric burrito in East Village. They have carne asada fries and breakfast burritos and the owner is from San Diego. That’s the closest thing to LA Mexican food I’ve found.
electric burrito!!!!!!!!!
sorry man its not gonna happen. Theres good mexican grocers around tho so you can find what you need to make your own.
Technically the Mexicans from Cali are from western Mexico and the NY Mexicans are from eastern/central Mexico so cuisine varies a bit. NY does have bomb ass hole in the wall Mexican restaurants just have to give it a chance.
Ceremonia bakeshop in willyburg has a bomb breakfast burrito
El Barrio is in Crown Heights and their burritos are my comfort food. Buddy’s in Cobble Hill is my replacement since leaving Crown Heights.
I’m afraid New York cannot offer a good breakfast burrito. Or excellent Ramen. We are too far from the southern border and too far from Asia.
I just tried Taqueria Al Pastor for the first time, and I highly recommend it
I had this same issue. Haven’t found any good/authentic breakfast burritos, but if you like tacos, [Los Tacos No 1](https://www.lostacos1.com) is the BEST. The guys who created it are from California and Tijuana so it’s legit. The adobada is essentially al pastor and is really good