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    El Tenampa

    4.5 (120 reviews)
    InexpensiveMexican, Salad, Soup
    Closed 11:30 am - 9:00 pm

    El Tenampa Photos

    EL TENAMPA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - El Tenampa

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    Quesadilla con carne Horchata  Pozole de pollo

    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.

    Bistec and chicken tacos with cream and queso fresco, guacamole and salsa roja on the side. Mouth watering delicious.
    Crystal V.

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

    Tacos.
    Wendy W.

    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.

    Outside
    Chris E.

    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.

    Tacos con una Sidral
    Veronica C.

    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!

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    7 months ago

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    9 months ago

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

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    2 years ago

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

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    6 years ago

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    2 years ago

    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

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

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

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    4 years ago

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

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    3 years ago

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

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    5 years ago

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

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    Chela Park Slope

    Chela Park Slope

    4.5(779 reviews)
    0.8 miPark Slope
    $$

    Went for a friends birthday and it lived up to our expectations (we're all from Texas) - the…read morechilaquiles looked excellent and something I'd have to try next time. We were told their mole is excellent and our buddy concurred. The fish tacos and guacamole were delightful and paired well with the margarita. Cheers!

    Absolutely a phenomenal experience from start to finish. Came here on a recommendation and it did…read morenot disappoint. Our reservation was for 8:30pm, but we arrived early and Alejandra, the hostess, was incredibly welcoming and accommodating. Even though she was ready to seat us, we decided to hang at the bar until the rest of our party arrived and that was the perfect move. Alkarys behind the bar was top-tier. She recommended the Siempre Reposado, and let me tell you... smooth, clean, dangerously good. If you're into tequila, that's a must. Now let's talk about the food. We ordered the quesadilla, rajas, tamales, tacos, and the queso fundido and every single dish hit. The queso fundido came out bubbling, rich, perfectly melted with that pull you want when you scoop it up. The tamales were moist and packed with flavor, wrapped beautifully and clearly made with care. The rajas had that perfect balance of roasted pepper sweetness and savory depth. The tacos? Authentic, well-seasoned, and layered with flavor, no shortcuts. Even the quesadilla stood out, crispy on the outside with that perfectly melted interior. Everything felt traditional, elevated but still true to its roots. You can taste the authenticity. Service was attentive without being overbearing, the ambiance was super casual and laid back, the kind of Brooklyn spot you pull up to for a real dinner experience, not just a quick bite. Highly recommend this place if you're out and about in Brooklyn. Definitely coming back for the tequila, the queso fundido, and round two of those tacos. I'm gonna try eating at the bar to check out the spot in the front of the house.

    Photos
    Chela Park Slope - Fresh Made Guacamole

    Fresh Made Guacamole

    Chela Park Slope - Queso Fundido

    Queso Fundido

    Chela Park Slope - Fish Tacos

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    Fish Tacos

    Xixa - Charred Edamame

    Xixa

    4.4(720 reviews)
    3.9 miWilliamsburg - South Side
    $$$

    4.4 and rounded up. Ambiance 4 stars…read more Food 5 stars. Service 4.3 stars. AMBIANCE: Walking to the restaurant from the subway, it's located on an unassuming block at the corner of 4th St and Havemeyer in Williamsburg, front of store doesn't particularly stand out. Walking in they've decorated with creative, crafty (in a good way) touches--the multitude of ropes draped from the ceiling add dimension to the ceiling and the bar back wall is composed of wood pieces forming a multi-colored herringbone pattern. Textured glass pendant lights hanging from the ceiling throw mini geometric patterns across the dark walls, and vibrant canvas artworks add pictorial interest along the walls. FOOD: YUM. I can see why this place was jam packed on a Saturday night, and reservations are needed. Strong recommendation for their tasting menu at $58 pp, what a delightful meal! 8 sharing dishes and 3 desserts were perfect for a party of five, and drinks are separate though you can add a cocktail pairing for $47. For each main they provide a serving per person, and the desserts are shared. I came hungry and was so full by the end of the meal--everything was delicious! - grapefruit guacamole w/house-made chips: the grapefruit chunks were "meaty" and surprisingly went really well with the guac, it added a different citrus element than the usual lime. Comes with a small bowl of maybe 6-7 chips and we asked for two chips refills since the chips to guac and salsa ratio was low. - spicy faroe islands' salmon tartar: tasty and I liked the latin flavors and corn, snow peas, a touch of wasabi. Flavors of the sesame-soy-truffle-lemon vin and crema got a little muddled. Relatively more "generic" dish of the evening though I was here for it! Any dish with fresh tender salmon, I can't complain. - blue crab and carrot tostada, generous shredded crab salad on top of freshly crisp blue corn tortilla. Topped with pumpkin seeds, dill, cilantro, and saffron-orange aioli. - three cheese & artichoke 'queso fundido': served in a very hot ceramic pot and super melty and delicious, eaten with the fluffy grilled pita and green apple slices + salsa. One of the top picks of the evening. - roasted bone marrow and chorizo, served as tacos with fresh blue corn tortillas, and added a sprinkle of pickled onions--does that sound amazing? Bc it was AAHMAZING. - spicy chipotle-guajillo shimp 'diablo' (not spicy): served with pumpkin tortillas and three accompaniments on the side--mushroom chile crisp, horseradish crema, celery 'salsa macha". Part 2 to make your own tacos was another hit! Our entire table agreed if they sold the sauce for the shrimp we'd all buy it. - heritage pork osso bucco 'carnitas' with Fall-spiced black mole, sour cherry mostardo, calabrian chile pesto: cue drooling now. This part 3 of the tacos was served on pumpkin tortillas; the meat was practically falling off the bone, tender, juicy and flavorful. - buffalo-style com 'elote: sooo good too! A little messier to eat since it comes drizzled with spicy hot sauce butter, feta, lime aioli, cilantro, though totally worth it! - Desserts: --green tea matcha churros: comes with two little pots of spiced mexican chocolate & passion fruit sauce. Warm, sugary and crisp without being too sweet. --pumpkin spiced-vanilla flan: topped with sour cherries, cocoa nibs & toasted seed 'trail mix", if you love flan you'll love this, so smooth and creamy with a bit of crunch and tang from the cherries. --pistachio tres leches cake with cream cheese frosting, raspberry, using an olive oil cake: we all agreed this was probably the best tres leches we've ever had. The pistachio nuttiness and the creaminess from the milks paired well. SERVICE: Very friendly and attentive service though it was very loud in the restaurant and they had to really shout. There was a delay in the middle of our meal I think bc kitchen was slammed, after the entree we waited about 35 min for our desserts. Considering they limited the seating to 2 hours and about half of our party arrived 20 min late, and accounting for the long wait pre-dessert, they did us solid by extending our table time by about an hour in total. Also great that they brought the first dessert out with a candle for my friend's birthday.

    A trendy spot for modern Mexican eats! Everything was baseline yummy, standouts include Blue Crab…read moreTostada, Shrimp and Scallop Tacos and Tiramisu Tres Leches. Vegetarian options were super great too, and decent selection. We ordered à la carte, but there's a chef's tasting menu for $63 which feels well worth.

    Photos
    Xixa - Seating inside

    Seating inside

    Xixa - Venison tatare

    Venison tatare

    Xixa - Bar wall

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    Bar wall

    El Tenampa - mexican - Updated May 2026

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