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    Esse Taco

    4.0 (117 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

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    Mushroom Tacos, Agua Fresca, Chips & Guac
    Marina B.

    My favorite taqueria in NYC, by a landslide. Esse gets a lot of things right, starting with their little corner shop: there's something charming and refreshing about standing at one of their outdoor tables, people-watching with an awesome taco in hand. The vegetarian option (mushroom) is packed with flavor, and my husband loves the steak tacos. The chips & guac, agua frescas, and margs are all great too. Just a hands-down awesome meal through and through! no fuss, just good (and maybe a little pricy).

    Churro
    Anne F.

    Do you know how invigorating it is to find honest-to-god, genuinely great tacos in New York City? Esse Taco brought me to life. My husband and I came here last night for a bite, and the food was so good, it had me dancing. I've said this before and I'll keep saying it again: the humble street taco is the best of its kind. Don't let the fancy versions at fancy restaurants with its fanciful iterations fool you. The best tacos are pared down to its essential yet quality ingredients, from the meat to the tortilla, even down to the onions scattered on top. Every element in the tacos from Esse was superb. The meat perfectly seasoned and seared. The corn tortilla, sturdy, holding all the toppings and salsas strongly together, folding easily without tearing. The onions pungent yet sweet. We also ordered the churro for dessert, which was the best textured churro we've ever had. While the exterior was incredibly crispy, the interior was so delicate and custardy. To have two polar opposite textures executed well together is impressive! Just writing this review has my mouth watering. If Esse opened a shop in my neighborhood, I'd spend all my money there.

    Robyn C.

    Stopped by for a little snack and ended up trying the brisket, ribeye and ny strip. Each one was delicious, but the brisket was EPIC. It was so tender and maaaaan I could've downed 5 without a single breath. So I guess, come for the Wagyu, stay for the brisket? Don't miss the salsa! Also ended up trying the churro as well... no regrets. Service was minimal, you order your own food at the screen and they call out your name for pick up. Not really much of an ambiance, no seating. What they lack there, the brisket makes up for over and over.

    Pork loin taco "Al Pastor"
    Marilu S.

    I went to Esse taco right before a concert. I ordered myself the pork loin al pastor taco. The service was great and pretty quick. The ambiance is laidback and it has a nice aesthetic vibe. My taco had so much flavor it was superb. I like that they have additional toppings on the side like adding more salsa to your taco and hot peppers. This is a really good taco restaurant in Williamsburg Brooklyn. 10/10 recommendation.

    Pamela P.

    When I heard Enrique Olvera was opening a taqueria in Williamsburg I knew I had to try it. I loved it. Wish there was seating, but the place is small, the brisket tacos are the winner, we also tried their other flavors but brisket were our favorite by far! The pumpkin soup was also very interesting and tasteful as were all the sauces available in the sauce bar. This tacos are expensive but Olvera is a 2 Michelin star chef in Mexico, so in my opinion, worth it. The bathroom could be cleaner. Drinks were good.

    Gloria L.

    Super casual drop in vibes! There's a lot of standing room inside to eat your tacos as well as a few sitting areas outside I ordered the chicken "poc chuc" and the rib eye steak. I was pleasantly surprised by the chicken taco and I really enjoyed it because the chicken was super moist and it had a lot of juices. I loved the picked red onions The rib eye steak, not sure if it's worth the $7 price tag. They have one piece of steak, the size of the tortilla but the cut of the steak was thin. I wish it was a thicker cut or cubes so there's a texture contrast. I did like the green onions that they added on top but they might have added a little too much because that was the majority of the flavor profile when I was eating it. Would've liked the flavor of the steak to pull through a bit more

    Tacos Hongos
    Heidi B.

    I consider myself a bit of a taco aficionado and I don't know why but I didn't have high hopes for this place. When I walk by something gives me frat party vibes. Came here with a friend and ordered the only vegetarian taco option which was hongos. And OMG they were amazing and I'm still thinking about them. Guac and chips also good, and salsa verde is flavorful. I noticed that they are unusually heavy handed with raw onions, didn't bother me but my husband hates onions so I noticed.

    Pork taco and chicken taco
    Nicolas L.

    Really incredible. I got to try Enrique Olvera's tortillas when I was in Mexico City years ago at Pujol and he really brought his all to this place. The tortillas here are just as excellent as I remember. The meat could not be more juicy and the salsa selection was fantastic. Highly suggest grabbing as many of the roasted peppers as possible from the salsa station! I grew up in LA so I'm a Mexican food snob--this is easily the best tacos I've had in the city. Do with that what you will!

    Tacos!
    Christine L.

    Cute casual taco spot in Williamsburg right off the L that always seems to be busy- and for good reason! Delish tacos- the brisket and al pastor were both super flavorful and filling. Also tried the horchata, very refreshing! Plenty of standing tables to chow your tacos down right there, or opt for takeout!

    Anna K.

    Amazing taco place! Visited there once with my friend's recommendation and it was good! Ordered beef tacos and it was delicious. Would love to try other things!!

    Pollo a la plancha
    Monica P.

    I've searched far and wide for decent tacos in NYC and finally found some at Esse- while they are delicious, they are certainly on the pricier side (between $5-$8)

    Pork Adobo and the Oyster Mushroom tacos, on corn tortillas and margarita
    Jane B.

    Tasty tacos in a casual, quick setting I've been to Esse a few times--it's a great casual taco spot right on Bedford, just a short walk from the L train. It's a quick, no-fuss kind of place where you order via iPads or directly from the staff, and your food is ready within minutes. There's no formal seating, but they have standing room at barrel-style tables both inside and outside. In warmer weather, they open up the space for a nice indoor/outdoor vibe. The menu is fairly limited, but what they do, they do well. I've tried the Pork Adobo and the Oyster Mushroom tacos, both on corn tortillas (a solid gluten-free option). The tacos are generously filled--two is usually plenty. The pork is crispy and flavorful, and the mushroom taco is a favorite for any mushroom lover. Their guac and chips are fresh and tasty, though the margarita if fine and on the small side. Overall, a great go-to for casual tacos and quick bites in the neighborhood.

    Ribeye steak taco
    Katherine N.

    Esse Taco is doing something right, because that ribeye steak taco? Unreal. Juicy, flavorful, borderline addictive. I'd go back for that alone. Also had the meringue sundae--crunchy bits in ice cream are my weakness, and this one hit the spot. There's no seating, so don't come expecting a long, leisurely meal. It's more of a stand-and-mingle kind of place, which honestly works with the high energy and social vibe they've got going. The staff is super friendly, which makes the whole experience even better. Not the cheapest taco joint in town, but if you're taco-hopping or just need a quick bite that doesn't disappoint, Esse Taco is worth the stop.

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    7 months ago

    Milton rocks ! And the carrot soup with the cheese is sooooooo yummy will definitely get again

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    Really solid guac, the mushroom breakfast burritos are on point, and all of the salsas are great. Wish they had fish tacos.

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    Nenes Taqueria - Birria pizza

    Nenes Taqueria

    4.4(186 reviews)
    2.9 miGowanus, Park Slope

    Found myself craving Mexican (specifically, Birria) one Friday evening after a long work week…read more Nenes Taqueria hit the spot in every way I wanted. I went on a Friday evening around 9:30pm. It was still fairly busy inside, but it was mostly people grabbing to-go orders. After ordering I snagged a spot at the counter. There's extremely limited seating, so I wouldn't bank on eating at the restaurant when it's busy. Be prepared to take your food to go. I got the Nene's Deluxe, which comes with a taco, a mulita, and an empanada - all with Birria of course. It was all delicious. The mulita was at the bottom of the box and got completely soaked with Birria. It was extremely messy to eat. Get plenty of napkins. I also got a side of fries and nacho cheese, because it was a long week and I deserved it. They had a seasonal strawberry horchata as well. This was okay. I also think I might just not love horchata in general. This meal definitely hit the spot. The Birria and consommé were top notch. I would return in a heartbeat.

    I tried their Birria deluxe set that comes with a Birria taco, Birria empanada, Birria Mulita, and…read moreconsome for $16. That's a great deal! The Birria taco was good! The empanada was not like the usual closed off empanada, it was like open like a taco but instead of a taco shell, it was like the empanada dough. I didn't try the mulita yet but it was huge. Filling between two tortillas and I saw some guac filling as well. The consome was good! Not too salty - and has general pieces of meat inside the soup. The tacos were good but I felt like it lacked a little depth. I added some of the mango(?) it was a sweetish salsa and that gave it a nice little kick.

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    Nenes Taqueria
    Nenes Taqueria
    Nenes Taqueria - Outside

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    Outside

    Birria-Landia

    Birria-Landia

    4.7(303 reviews)
    0.4 miWilliamsburg - North Side
    $$

    My coworker was raving about this place having the best birria. He had brought in some birria tacos…read moreto share. I was a little skeptical but after the first bite, I was wowed. Despite the fact that the taco wasn't fresh, I think it might've been a day old and the shell was a little stale. But the flavor of the birria - wow. It was so flavorful even without adding on any salsa. The consome was loaded with meat but I do think the consome was a bit in the saltier side. With how good the birria was despite not being fresh, I can only imagine how good it would be fresh.

    I got the birria tacos (chicken/beef) and ot was so so good. First thing, my tacos were full of…read moremeat and it was so juicy and they were small like so many places. It didn't come with a birria dip but my partner got the consume and omg, it was the perfect dipper and amazing on its own. The little things that are always a stand out for me is that they give you a hand full of limes. I'm sure that can seem like a small thing but lime is such an integral part of tacos for me and most place give you one or two for like it's the lime shortage of 2014. So to open my box up and see five, I was super excited. The price is really affordable too. I paid twenty two bucks for tacos, consume and a drink. Can't beat that! If you see this food truck around your way, check it out.

    Photos
    Birria-Landia - Menu and food truck

    Menu and food truck

    Birria-Landia - Tacos (top), Mulitas (bottom)

    Tacos (top), Mulitas (bottom)

    Birria-Landia

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    Taqueria al Pastor - Tacos: Carne Asada y Pollo Asado

    Taqueria al Pastor

    4.3(244 reviews)
    2.3 miBushwick
    $

    I got off the subway at Stanhope to walk to a different restaurant, but the scent of Mexican food…read moreradiating from this spot instantly had me craving. I came in late night on a Friday and there was a good amount of people at the restaurant. My friend and I both ordered quesadillas with al pastor and I was surprised at how fast the food came out! I think we waited barely 5min. I had the flour tortilla for my quesadilla. The quesadilla uses one tortilla so it's probably pretty small for the average person. My friend was still hungry after his, but the size was just right for me since I get full easily. I got my quesadilla with everything on it besides pineapple. The onions and veggies tasted fresh and there was a perfect amount of meat and cheese ratio. Will definitely be back.

    unfortunately, the quality of food at this location has gone down and the price has gone up (a tale…read moreas old as time ) the service is still great, the location is still lovely, but this is not my go to burrito spot anymore. the portion sizes are smaller, the flavors are less complex and simply not as appealing, and the price rose by almost 1/4. the al pastor burrito con Todo used to be my go to, but now I go for the burrito carne asada. it's not incredible but it's good enough on a late night when I can't cook. the late night hours are really the main reason I eat here anymore. this is still a lovely spot for a quick bite, especially late at night, but I just can't recommend it like I did before.

    Photos
    Taqueria al Pastor - Interior

    Interior

    Taqueria al Pastor - Tacos

    Tacos

    Taqueria al Pastor

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    Chela Park Slope

    Chela Park Slope

    4.5(789 reviews)
    3.5 miPark Slope
    $$

    Chela is one of the best Mexican restaurants that I've been to and I'm incredibly lucky that it's…read moreclose to home and has an extremely friendly and welcoming staff. Everyone that works there is super attentive and for how busy they are they always make sure to check up on your table. Their tacos are extremely delicious, they don't hold back with make sure each taco is full of any kind of meat that you get! Full of flavor and just looking at them reminds you why they're the best. Some other notable things that you should get is the quesadillas and the nachos they have. I'll have to keep coming back to try other things. Great place for sporting events as well as I was here with a group to watch Brazil vs Morocco and stayed to watch the Knicks win right after and become champions!

    I really enjoyed my experience in this establishment. Definitely was worth the trek from Uptown…read moreManhattan. This neighborhood gem offers an industrialized minimalist form of decor with pops of color and art. Cozy but roomy, the bar area had mostly 2 seater tables and a few with high chairs. We recently went for a birthday brunch. Restaurant Week was still in effect but we decided to choose from the regular brunch menu. Place was low key and giving neighborhood vibes. The service was 10 STARS! Our waitress was extremely attentive and kind. We were also checked on by a second staff member who I think may have been a manager but cannot be certain. We started with cocktails and they serve chips and salsa gratis. I had the Jalapeno and Hibiscus Margarita and my friend ordered the Pepper Margarita with Strawberry and Chipotle. Mine was a bit on the sweet side without a hint of tequila. My friend's drink definitely was the better of the two. Not overly sweet and definitely a flavor of tequila was present. We also ordered a guacamole. I must say it was quite small and barely served 2 people. I suggest if more than 2 guests are part of the experience, order more than one. For my entree, I requested a market salad and 2 veggie tacos with a side of birria consume. Salad was very fresh and I am sure was made to order as opposed to premade a week prior and waiting in a fridge to be served. My tacos were average but satisfying. The consume was a bit disappointing as it was more of a water/broth based and not of a typical gravy consistency. It was not exciting. My friend's entree was the highlight of the experience. She had the brisket quesadilla. Never have I seen a quesadilla with a crispy outside such as this. A culinary masterpiece indeed. She consumed it all and not one complaint afterward. Delish. We did receive a complimentary Churro plate for the birthday celebration. They were drizzled with caramel and berries. Served warm, they were a dream for the palate. I did use the bathroom which was a single stall. It was clean enough but not well lit. The biggest downfall of my experience was the temperature of the restaurant. I understand it is summer, however, there was no A/C and the inside was extremely hot. I sweated through my entire experience. Even the bathroom felt like 100 degrees. We did not complain but our waitress noticed and brough a fan out to circulate the air. They do have ceiling fans but honestly I did not feel them. The management/owner should consider more temperature control methods during the hotter months as it was quite uncomfortable. To sum it up, I thought this experience was mostly positive and would patronize it again.

    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

    Nenes Deli Taqueria - 2 Birria Tacos w Cheese ($3.50 each)

    Nenes Deli Taqueria

    4.4(256 reviews)
    2.0 miBushwick
    $$

    I had thought I discovered a hidden gem when I tried their Lengua taco for the first time in park…read moreslope. Turns out they have several locations and are extremely popular. I felt dumbfounded! Nenes is something like the in n out of nyc. When my friend and I saw the storefront, the line was out the door. Many years ago back in LA, I had a mediocre cactus dish at a diner and never looked back. My friend went for a cactus mulita and I took a bite that turned into two more big ones. The cactus was crazy delicious with gobs of pull apart cheese, crispy browned edges, thick corn tortilla flavor, and spicy mango salsa, and pickled onion. When you come to nenes, you forget the line and wait. You transfigure into sheep and are happily a part of the herd. The only thing everyone is thinking are the minutes on the clock before annihilating the food.

    This place is quite affordable, as it was $13 for a pretty well-sized burrito. The burrito was…read moregood. However, I felt like the meat was a little dry and could have used a little more flavor, but overall it was solid. I do really like the sauce bar they have! The orange salsa was sweet and smoky and spicy, and the green salsa was very solid, and I liked the pickled radish as well. The service is very efficient, and the ambience inside feels very no-frills and authentic. Overall, I would recommend this place if you're looking for a good quick value meal.

    Photos
    Nenes Deli Taqueria - All the staples

    All the staples

    Nenes Deli Taqueria - Birria Pizza with the consomé, complimentary sauces and veggies on the side

    Birria Pizza with the consomé, complimentary sauces and veggies on the side

    Nenes Deli Taqueria - Birria Empanada ($4)

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    Birria Empanada ($4)

    Esse Taco - tacos - Updated September 2026

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