These are great tacos. Which is good news, because you're not coming in for the ambiance, which is kind of middle school cafeteria-esque. There are no frills, so don't come here if you are a particularly frilly person. Walk through the back of the grocery store, and you'll find fluorescent room with surprisingly high ceilings, and inexplicably, a red(ish) carpet leading to the taco window. Place your order for whatever you're into (I always want al pastor and carne asada and carnitas and chorizo), and wait. Now, you can get cemitas or tortas or tostadas or whatever, but I've only gotten tacos thus far. I imagine it's all good. They'll give you your tacos shortly, and you can load them up at the salsa bar. The al pastor is not carved off a trompo as far as I can tell, so it's not going to be the best thing you've ever tasted, but everything is VERY tasty all the same. Great tacos. read more

El Tenampa - Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I've tried many Mexican restaurants in Sunset, and while many are very good, the food at El Tenampa never misses. The. Best. Guacamole. - hands down, no argument. read more

The most cantina like atmosphere in Jackson Heights. The regulars are friendly and the waitstaff customer focused. The occasional itinerant musicians lend a live music vibe. The jukebox selections offer a wide range of regional Mexican and most other musical styles. The food is good, I had an amazing salchipapa (hotdogs and french fries). Something I wouldn't have tried except I was invited to a table by some regulars (customary) and i was so surprisingly tasty ( just a delicious hot greasy mess, and I mean that in a good way) that I ordered a second plate. read more

I've been coming to this establishment for over 10 years. Not once has it disappointed me. A gem to be quite frank with you. You could have almost about everything here and it'll taste delicious. read more

Jesus Christ these tacos are good! Holy moly! Never had such perfect tacos! Need 85 characters minimum!

These really are the best tacos in Brooklyn! The tacos Al pastor are delicious and so is their caldo de mariscos!

Didn't tried the tacos but the quesadillas were missing cheese. The pozole was really good and you could add the spice you wanted meaning green or red chile. read more

El Tenampa - Quesadilla con carne Horchata Pozole de pollo - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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10/10 best tacos in Brooklyn. Authentic local gem, hidden in the back of a Mexican grocery store. 100% recommend. read more

El Tenampa - Bistec and chicken tacos with cream and queso fresco, guacamole and salsa roja on the side. Mouth watering delicious. - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I can't believe I'm about to thank the MTA, but when they closed my subway station last summer for renovations, I had to walk in the opposite direction for another one. As a result, I ended up passing El Tenampa every day, and ever since my first visit I've been a loyal fan. It can get very busy, especially on weekends, but if you go on a weekday at around 6-7 p.m. you should be able to find a table. You can't come here without getting some quality tacos. I love Tacos El Bronco, but El Tenampa's tacos provide some stiff competition. The tripe is my favorite. Great crispy texture but still chewy and a bit softer inside. You also can't go wrong with the al pastor, filled with chunks of pork and a little sweetness and tartness from grilled pineapple, or the spicy pork. The tongue was my least favorite because the meat was quite dry. Make sure to hit up their fantastic toppings bar so you can load up your tacos with all the fixings. You can scoop up your fill of guacamole, spicy peppers, salsas, cucumbers, radishes and more. I haven't tried much from the rest of their menu, but the chiles rellenos de queso is a very comforting, filling dish. The roasted poblano peppers are stuffed with cheese and topped with a tomato-based sauce with tender, cooked down onions, then served with rice and beans. El Tenampa also has a good selection of aguas frescas. I usually get the horchata or melon. The large size comes in those plastic takeout soup containers, and you get a lid with a slit to stick a straw in. During summer I'd stop in just to pick up and down one of these. read more

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When your restaurant is located in the back of a deli and in a neighborhood with the likes of taco kings Tacos El Bronco and Tacos Matamoros, your prospects of succeeding do not seem very promising. However, El Tenampa defies the odds and not only can go toe-to-toe with the best of them, but might very well be THE BEST out of all of them! When we first approached El Tenampa, we were a bit confused because we didn't see a restaurant. We thought we were going a bit cuckoo since Yelp told us it was a restaurant, but all we saw was a deli. We only noticed a deli storefront and some aisles, however all we had to do was head further in and we were in the presence of a true hidden gem! There was an open space, multiple tables, chairs and a kitchen with a counter in the back. We approached the kitchen and scanned thru the paper menus sitting on the counter. Like many of the Mexican restaurants, tacos seemed to be king here, but there were also tortas, cemitas, salads, burritos, tamales and entrees on the menu too. Since it was our first experience here we went with tacos and a single tamale to share. The awesome thing about this restaurant was that everything was made and prepared in front of us. We had the pleasure of looking thru the kitchen counter window and watching them work their magic. Contrary to a review I read, the order was cooked up quickly. We ordered 7 tacos and the single tamale and it didn't take more than 5-8 minutes to come out. There was no waiter service, which was fine, so we picked up the order from the counter when they called it out. FYI, you pay after you finish eating. One thing we absolutely noticed was the salsa bar next to the counter, which was completely unexpected! We had never seen a condiment/salsa bar at any of the Mexican restaurants we had visited in Sunset Park. There wereu unlimited sliced cucumbers, radishes, hot and mild salsa to add, green peppers and, most surprisingly, guacamole! The guacamole was a bit watered down, but still, it was guacamole! As for the tacos, to summarize, they were the freshest I had ever tasted anywhere. They had just come straight off the grill and the tortilla and meat were actually hot when I bit into them, which is a real rarity at most of these small restaurants. The meats were very flavorful too and it didn't hurt that we put a ton of condiments in the taco. Now that I've had a few days to reflect on this glorious experience, I must say this is now my new favorite taco joint. No disrespect to the other taco titans in the neighborhood, but there's a new king in my mind .... and it's the restaurant inside the deli, El Tenampa. read more

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I've legit gotten into fights with strangers on the Internet who insist that "nEwYoRk CiTy DoEsN'T hAvE gOoD mExIcAn FoOd," over this place. It's that good. These tacos are EXCELLENT. I usually go for the enchilada (spicy pork) but can also vouch for the carne asada, the pastor, and the cecina (salty beef.) Once you get your tacos, you can load up at the free salsa bar* which has a myriad of delicious options including guacamole, several different salsas, radishes, limes etc. (*Unsure what the Covid situation is with the salsa bar at the moment since I've only gotten delivery lately but hopefully they've brought it back!) I've also enjoyed the tortas here and they make one of the only serviceable (and MASSIVE) burritos I've had on this coast. They're located at the back of a great little Mexican grocery store so there isn't a ton of indoor seating but the tables usually turn over pretty quickly and it's kept very clean. I miss living a few blocks from here but am glad I'm still close enough to get delivery on the regular. The best! read more

OMG!!!!!! I love this place. Very authentic!!! Very clean food!! The quality is amazing I discovered el Tenampa when I lived in the neighborhood and now every time I come to bk I have to stop by. From the tacos to the sauces and the guacamole so fresh and taste amazing! ! Don't underestimate this place! read more

I got take out on a Sunday. I got the chicken, beef, and Al pastor tacos. They give generous amounts of guacamole and a spicy red and green sauce on the side. The tacos are solid and delicious. Great for a lazy Sunday lunch. Prices are great for tacos in this area. I would definitely come back here for my taco fix! read more

I always overlook El Tenampa when I go on my taco crawls, but no longer! You know a place is legit when it's located in the back of a Mexican grocery store. Just walk through to the back and order - it was obviously once a sitdown joint, but with COVID, you just gotta get it to go. No real outdoor seating to speak of, so be a vagrant and eat on the sidwalk. We were unlucky enough to get in right after a woman placed a giant catering order, so we were waiting around a bit. Not all that bad since we had to pace ourselves and it gave us the time to check out all the specialty groceries (they have a TON of dried peppers). Ended up getting our goat and cabeza tacos. The goat was the better of the two. Nice and crispy. Plus, they'll throw in guac for free if you ask! read more

Best tacos in Brooklyn! What a hidden gem! The Al Pastor are some of the best I've ever had and the Lengua is absolutely to die for

One of the tastiest and best taco places in Brooklyn! Unfortunately I can only give them 4 stars because of their service, that's definitely something they need to work on and especially one of the owners attitude. I once called and he had picked up the phone with a stern "BUENO" ummm..... did I call your house or did I call your business? There was also another in-person incident but I'll let that one go too because the food is just too damn good. Food is great, tacos are banging (alongside the perfectly grilled onions) and guacamole is freaking delicious! I always drop a big scoop on my tacos. Oh yeah, they have a station of condiments right next to the counter. Aside from him and his attitude, the place is in the back of a deli but definitely enough room to sit down and eat. The cooking station is behind the counter and it actually looks kind of tight back there,so I guess it makes sense why service might be slow. Still, when I don't eat there, I do pick-up so I like to call ahead (especially on the weekends) so I would recommend to do that to avoid the wait. So if you live in or visiting Brooklyn, definitely check this place out! read more

El Tenampa - Tacos con una Sidral - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

This is the sort of place I don't want to review because I don't want it to get over-run by all you jerks out there (you know who you are). But this place is great and if you happen to be in the area picking out a casket or getting your hubcaps replaced then it's definitely worth stopping in for lunch. I've eaten lunch here a few times now and what it lacks in atmosphere and charm it more than makes up for in quality and flavor and value. Everything was absolutely delicious. If I lived nearby this would be a go to spot for me. I'd be eating this food at least 3 times a week. read more

Everything fresh and tastyBarbacoa De Chivo TacosSuaderoSopes I recommend them 100 %. Tasty and fresh .fast delivery amazing service

Hidden Mexicana Restaurants in Sunset Park. All freshly served & where locals only know & go to eat.

The best Mexican Food I have found in NYC. I love the salsa bar. The tacos and tostadas are amazing.

Hands down the best Authentic Mexican tacos I've ever had . Better than taco trucks . Love the small bar with different toppings . Guac, lime, jalapeño,hot sauce, green sauce, cucumbers, etc. It does take some time for them to make your order, but well worth the wait . read more

El Tenampa - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Had a steak burrito and it was great. The burrito was filled with beans, cilantro, cream and rice. I opted for all three sauces (red, green, and avocado). read more

The tacos here are the most legit in Sunset Park. I have been coming here for over 10 years and I saw them when they started in their smaller location, there was like two tables back then and super cramped. You enter and it looks like it's just a deli but in the back is the good stuff. This place is truly authentic Mexican and furthermore a Sunset Park Gem. Make this your go to taco spot. They charge more than your average Mexican spot but it's worth it. My go to is tacos de suadero but they got beef and pork. My dad like their "cóctel de camarón" which is Mexican style seafood soup. I tried the Torta here but it's not all that, I would stick to the tacos. Seriously, just writing about their tacos right now is making me hungry. read more

Absolutely love this place! Tacos, platters, and quite frankly ,as I can imagine, anything else on the menu is so good. Never once have I had a bad experience with the staff or the quality of the food. Always consistent. The place has a deli front which turns into the restaurant as you walk further to the back. A real hidden gem in my eyes. This place would have a 5/5 if it weren't for the excessively long wait times for your food. Just for two tacos I could be waiting a total of 40 minutes and up to an hour for a platter. Even if you order ahead of time the wait is still long unfortunately. Otherwise I highly recommend this place. read more

I had the steak burrito today and it was delicious ! I've very picky when it comes burritos but this one had a lot of flavor and the size was just right I also got a a banana shake. Other times I've went I've gotten the pastor which was a surprise for me because I found amazing flavor in it! Chorizo is another usual I would get because I love the flavor that has as well. The salsa and guacamole bar is a tremendous plus to the whole restaurant because you get endless cucumbers, radishes, pico, and gauc! read more

El Tenampa - Bistec Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

How should I do this? Spanish? It would only seem appropriate. But, what about my readers? Would they get my intended message? Also, i don't want to offend anyone. If i start off with 'yo quiero grabar los titulares' all the non-native speakers are going to flip their poo thinking that I'm writing a song like 50 cent about getting my grope on- but rest assured, all that means is 'i want to record the headlines.' I swear. As to not offend, I'll keep it relatively easy. I.e. I'll use English first. I'm at a loss for Words. Can't. Find. Them. Me: Where are you, words!!?! Words: .... (they don't speak. You see, they're silent) Having grown up in so cal, I like it when i walk into a local taco joint and soccer/futbol is being played on the TVs in Spanish. It makes me feel like I've done something right. That's generally a good sign... better than growing up when it feels like i was constantly on the fail tip. another good sign is when the only other non-Hispanic person in the joint has been brought by his Hispanic gf. F yeah! I see you beck! Thanks for making an appearance... now i know this is about to be some dope shit! (For the record, beck wasn't there- but a pasty white look alike reminiscent of a peri-pubescent Beck has graced us with his presence. wondered how he'd take to the hotter of the salsas- homie did ok. Well played, beck imposter. Well. Played.) And, alas, young lass.... it surely was EPIC!! The band and i gorged on tacos and burritos while charging our boosted boards and chatted it up with the staff. It's in the back of a Mexican supermarket (even more assurance that this would be an epic meal). And guess what... it exceeded expectations beyond words. I want to go back today although they're apparently closed. I'd like for them to open. Prices were more than fair. I left thinking 'hey, there actually IS decent mexican food in ny! ... you just have to leave Manhattan to find it.' VIVA LA COMIDA MEXICANA Y TODOS QUE PREPARARON MI COMIDA AYER!!! How about that for a titty grabbing headline!!!?! read more

After growing up in California and spending 9 years of my adult life in Arizona, I've grown quite the appetite and love for good Mexican food. Until I moved to Manhattan and found only shit, inauthentic, overpriced wanna-be tacos. Gracias Dio I found El Tenampa!!!!!! I almost don't want to write a review for fear of this under the radar taqueria becoming overrun and losing its special touch. Love that it's both a Mexican grocery to buy my hot sauce and tortillas, and the deli/taqueria in back. Keep up the delicious work and good service! $2 tacos, tortas, beef soup with chayote, aguas frescas... there's something for everybody. read more

El Tenampa - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Such a hidden gem in Sunset Park. Truly the best Mexican food in the area. Worth the travel if you're up to it. The salsa verde is spectacular and just the right amount of too spicy read more

A few friends invited me for taco tuesday night. And I have to be honest I was hesitant at first. BUT this place is the real deal. You want authentic mexican grub go NOW. It's a tiny place with a 3-4 cooks working their magic. They don't have any american mexican taco bell like food. I mean, not to crap on taco bell but if you want real food this is your place. They have a salad bar where you can serve yourself guac, pico, hot sauce, radishes, cucumbers etc. to your hearts content. Everything is pretty much self service. They take credit cards but $10 min. I am sure they prefer cash. PROS: FOOD, service, FOOD. CONS: I wish they had a person just to man tables and clean them. It's quite busy and you go up to a counter to order your food and get it yourself too. BUT the tables get filled up quickly and not wiped down fast enough. Recommendations!: Tongue Taco, Barbacoa de Chivo (goat) Tacos, ANY TACOS REALLY. I can't wait to try their tortas. I love their tamarindo. My husband enjoyed their mango shake and banana shake. Squash blossom quesadilla a.k.a Flor de Calabasa- yes you read right they have squash blossoms and they taste like heaven in your mouth. I hope this place stays a gem and gentrification doesn't pump their prices up too much. :) read more

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Best tacos in NYC. Definitely some things that could be improved, but the al pastor tacos are by far the best I've had here. The pollo tacos were very good as well. Located in what appears to be the back of a bodega, you might not be expecting much. But you'd be wrong. Place was super crowded, every table packed with local families. Service was nice although a tad confusing in that you order at the counter, get your food, and then pay. Plentiful sides, including cucumbers and radishes which go so well with tacos. A few sauce options, I really liked the salsa roja. Weak spot may have been the tortillas. They were quite good but in comparison to everything else a little lackluster. Definitely will eat here again! read more

Average tacos, and if they don't like you, they may have a Tenampa Tantrum. I was here as part of a Brooklyn food tour about 10 months ago. It was my second attempt at getting tacos here because the first time they had closed earlier than expected. I ordered tacos, of course. Like the Mexican Deli down the street... the tacos here were pretty mediocre, nothing that I would go back for again. And the woman was pretty rude to me and especially to my friend. I'm not sure what the problem was, but it's 4 stars for the average tacos, minus one for the abrasive attitude. She seemed perfectly friendly to the Spanish speaking customers. I actually speak Spanish, so maybe I should have attempted to, I have no idea. Maybe that wasn't the problem. Maybe I just look like someone that deserves ire. My mother is from Ireland after all. read more

These tacos are to die for. From sausage to the steak to the al pastor. Every meat I have tried has been absolutely delicious. The burrito is also so yummy. It's huge filled with cilantro sour cream rice beans and obviously your choice of meat, literally a chefs kiss! I also love that it is in the back of a grocery store. Some would find that to be strange but after experiencing you would understand. I'm giving four stars because service isn't the best. Some of the cashiers can be rude but I understand because they be busy af. Either way I'll take the rude interaction for some banging' Mexican food! Ok I'm done, go give this a try, thank me later!! read more

Finally, great tacos in New York!! As a Los Angeles native, the bar for tacos is set pretty high. I came here on a whim and am SO glad I stumbled upon it!! I just hope this place stays a hidden gem. Their $2 small tacos are delicious, and the meat (I got chicken and beef) was not fatty as is sometimes the case with taco truck/stands. And they have a salsa bar with all the staple salsas (verde, rojo, pico de gallo, avocado & cilantro, radishes, likes, cucumber)--so much yum and enough options for both spicy and non-spicy people. Also, their horchata is awesome. I'd probably get their large next time. Small is like, 12-16 oz & their large is a bucket, no joke. read more

El Tenampa - Two pollo and two carne asada small tacos plus pico de gallo, avocado, & lime - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I grew up in Sunset Park before it was gentrified, so I know Tacos. And this place, has the bomb diggity when it comes to tacos. It has similar quality to Tacos Matamoros and Tacos El Bronco (the other two good Taco joints in the hood). Although it doesn't have the aesthetic of Matamoros, this place has the salad bar that you pick from yourself - guac included. Yep. THE GUAC IS UNLIMITED. As well as radishes, salsa, limes, etc. You can't find a better deal than that, especially considering it's the same quality and price as the other places. P.S. Note that this "eatery" is located behind the deli. P.S.S. IDK What other reviews are talking about, they were nice to me (as an Asian) even though I wasn't hispanic. Just come here with a smile and leave your gentrification ways behind. read more

Best tacos in the neighborhood, eassssssily. Whenever i see flocks of Mexican families in a hole in the wall spot I already know the food is going to be amazing(I am a Mexican National, born there, be jealous). It's fast paced, even though there's always a line and a crowd of people waiting and just sitting and enjoying. They have like 5 people pumping out the most delicious food I've had in years. I had the carne asada, chorizo and al pastor, I can't describe how delicious everything was. Aguas frescas on deck too. The front is basically a deli, but with Mexican products. It's like a mullet, business in the front and partayyy in the back. Good job guys, dios los bendiga. read more

IMO - one of best taco places in the neighborhood. THE SHORT - great place to have a quick taco fix! you can do your laundry next door, eat tacos and see what Mexican snacks the grocery part of the store has to offer. Win, Win, and WIN! Small tacos are good for 2 bites, 3 bites for the Large. if you order one or ten tacos, they will always says "Ten Minute", when your order is almost ready they will hand you small containers (for take-out) to fill your need of salsa verde, salsa roja?, guac, and jalapenos! Salsa verde is spicy but amazing, dont care for the red sauce but its not that spicy and somewhat smokey, guac is amazzzing since its pretty much free. also with your tacos you get some green onion/scallions. Ordered 9 tacos, take-out, didnt know left from right, just ate everything, truly satisfied! THE LONG BUT INTERESTING - the tacos are very flavorful, smells amazing, and sometimes the meat can be overcooked but thats anywhere you go. they cook most of the meat in a big circular flat pan/wok type of thing. they place green onion/scallion where its slightly elevated in the center area, the ordered meat around the scallion and all the juices flow to the edge of the circular wok/pan. Cover it, let it cook for a couple of minutes, the aroma of the onions is infused into the meat while the juices are keeping the meat moist! Very Smart way of cooking! Someone ordered the shrimp soup, looked interesting but pricey for $10 for a small portion. i noticed that it was very hearty, good amount of shrimp, half of a crab, with a tomato base. Very basic setup if you decide to dine there, seats about 20 people or so. has 2 tvs, one showing latin novella and the other with soccer. $1.75 small taco, $3 for large. $10 camarron sopa! read more

El Tenampa - IN ADDITION TO THE GREAT TACOS, THEY HAVE AMAZING LITTLE SNACKS WHILE.U WAIT FOR TACOS - Mexican Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Huge selection of food in this deli! Tacos have good flavor. Not enough onions and cilantro, but they make up for it with as much sauce or guacamole as you'd like. Big plus! Their meats and tortillas have great flavor and texture! Lots of table if you want to sit in! read more

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Love love love this hole in the wall! One of the best taco spots in the area. Try the steak tacos, they're exquisite.

I'll start by acknowledging I have standards from my regular restaurants where i live as well as my in-laws cooking and eating habits. While they do have good quality ingredients, I do not agree with their version of their menu. The red and green hot sauce are almost identical to restaurants in my area, green always best! And my order came with about half cup of guac which was a delicious surprise. But as for my order, I looked everywhere to find sopes and thought I finally found it here! What I received tho was a sad attempt at a chicken sopes, and outrageously overpriced. At first glance it's amazing and huge, but there's just 2 tortillas with beans, chicken and shredded mozzarella. Sopes is the refried beans, then the meat, lettuce and queso fresco on a a thick corn tortilla-like masa cake made from masa. So I have a mixed review because food is good but it's just not correct... read more

Definitely a new go to- we got six small tacos at $2.50 each. Had the bistec, al pastor and chorizo with grilled warm tortillas that made everything even better! Chorizo tostada was crispy and fresh. Plus little sides of guacamole come with everything. The tamales were also excellent and huge - oaxaqeño and mole, beware there are bones in the tamale which was a bit odd at first but the deliciousness to me made that a minor issue. Also the best tamarind agua fresca I've had- tasted freshly made! No pictures since we inhaled it all. read more