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Anyone who knows me knows that my two greatest inspirations in the world of being a foodie and/or being the go-to person for food recommendations are 1. my GOAT, Anthony Bourdain (obviously), and 2. Action Bronson. I've been a fan of Bronson's since before the days of F*ck, That's Delicious when I was downloading his mixtapes off the internet in high school. Recently on his show, Action did a NYC taco crawl, and Santo Taco was featured on those episodes. The moment I saw the Santi's Steak Trompo on my TV, I literally turned into this emoji . I was not leaving NYC without this taco. And I didn't. The steak trompo was everything I thought it would be. We're talking prime NY strip steak and top sirloin on a spit, grilling for hours à la al pastor. How can this not be delicious? The Maillard reaction from the rendered fat mixed with the acid of the lime and avocado salsa. It's otherworldly. The habanero salsa is deadly, but it's the better choice than the salsa morita, topped with the pickled onions, makes for a perfect taco. Idk what else I can tell you to convince you to go here. Maybe the fact that there's complimentary chicharrones for you to snack on while you wait for your food. We were doing a bit of a food crawl ourselves; otherwise, the agua santa and zucchini taco were calling my name. Next time, you're mine.
The best tacos I had in my life. It's so well balanced. Layers of flavor and texture. I do wish the ribeye was a little bit more rare. Every bite is full of flavors.
It's kind of an average taco given the prices. The carne asada and carnitas were both better than the steak trompo. I really wish they had cilantro
The steak trompo is a must try - it's just steak and avocado salsa but with a little lime!? It slaps. At $6.95 pretax it's a little steep but worth trying once. There's a bunch of sauces and chicharone as a topping when you go pickup your order, and I thought it was so cute they have a little modelito or coronita for $4.95! There's a hand wash station too along the wall, and both table seating and standing room. This location is way bigger than the one on Kenmare.
If rather go to Los tacos #1 but a good spot still! Fun decorations to bedazzle your taco with. I got a pork carnitas taco just to taste. Speedy service. Nice dining inside. It didn't wow me, didn't regret it.
Fresh delicious tacos. There's a lady making the corn tortillas right at the side of the open kitchen, doesn't get fresher than that. Small menu but good variety. We had the steak trampoline (my favorite) , carnitas, carne asada and mushroom ( very good veggie option) . We opted for mini beer but they have spicy margaritas and aqua fresca. I love that there's a hand washing station right in the dinning room. The bathroom is located downstairs so if you just need to wash hands you dont have to make the trip down. There are tables/chairs in the front and standing tabletops if you just a quick bite. At the toppings station along with the sauces and pickled onions they have chicharon , that was a nice extra treat. Staff is really friendly, we enjoyed our time here and will return.
Tacos here were decent. Liked the steak ones the best, but flavor was missing and could've used a lot more pop and spice. Cool interior, staff were fine.
I heard this place was supposed to be as good as Los Tacos no.1, so I stopped off here and got a steak trompo taco, carne asada taco, and a shrimp taco. Shrimp Taco: WAY too salty, a little heat from chili pepper Steak taco: tender and juicy, not bad. Tortilla was meh. Carne asade : meh, wasn't bad, but not really that great. Again tortilla was meh. Also: Yelp says there is a salsa bar, there is not. You order the food that comes with the salsa. I told them I didn't want avocado salsa and told them I wanted tomato. They gave me a little, whereas los.tacos you can choose any salsa. Overall: Likely won't go back, just not all that.
Great tacos! Tried one each of the zucchini, chicken, carne asada, steak trompi, shrimp and all of them were absolutely delicious! Carne asada is nicely smoky, steak trompi so flavorful and juicy, shrimp perfectly cooked and crispy, chicken very good. My one small gripe was the zucchini taco which was very very oily but still tasty. Def coming back for many many more tacos :)
One of my new favorite taco spots in the city! Get the first three on the menu as those are their best sellers and specail shout out to the one with steak smashed into the tortilla which was just sooo juicy, tender, and delightfully charred. The flavors marry extremely well together and it is BETTER than Los Tacos No. 1! The sauces are also def spicy and have bold and complex flavors. The chicken was properly tender and juicy as well, and the pork was also really delicious and a highlight! The free chicharron topping was a nice touch and the space was quite large - wishing them all the success and really glad to see NYC getting some much needed love to its suffering taco game. I used to be ashamed of our tacos while we tout amazing food from all cultures - Santo Taco helps fix that!
I brought a group of out of town friends here and we all thought these were pretty good but not to die for. I thought it was going to be a transcending experience but nah. I got shrimp and steak trompo.. solid but the seasonings weren't giving. I do love that they have chicharon at the snack bar. The design of the spot is cool though. The big simple menu, makes you want to order one of each. I feel like maybe I didn't try the right ones so I'm interested to come back and go down the list before making my final decision.
Santo Taco is my favorite spot in the city for a steak taco. Their steak trompo taco will always have my heart, this trip I added a shrimp taco to the order and it might be my new favorite. If you haven't been to Santo Taco and are seeking an authentic Mexican taco it's definitely worth checking out they do not disappoint!
I'm trying to get through all the places on my to try list and santos tacos was my next target. I went to the one in union square and happy that I did because I enjoyed the vibes of it all. They have a limited menu, but with the staples. I decided to get the carne asade, pork, and steak taco. The steak was their fan favorite and definitely the best thing I had on the menu. I thought the other tacos lacked flavor and was a bit disappointing, but not horrible. It just does not hit like their competitor los tacos. I would come back though! Definitely want to try their tuna tostada
Reviews are largely positive. People praise the steak trompo taco and shrimp taco, enjoy the fresh ingredients, and like the unique sauces and toppings. Service is friendly and quick, and the space is clean and modern.
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4 months ago
The simplified menu and minimalist decor feel very 2010, but I'm nostalgic for old Union Square so I'm happy to hop into a little time machine. This place keeps it simple and does tacos quite well. Here's a breakdown of what I ordered: chicken taco: made with chicken thigh, pineapple marinade, and avocado salsa, this all came together nicely, had a generous amount of protein that felt high quality and seasoned well. shrimp taco: often shrimp tacos come with piddly little shrimp, but they use sizeable, high quality wild caught shrimp and it shows in the flavor. The salsa macha chili oil is fragrant and gives the taco a little kick. zucchini taco: grilled zucchini just screams summer and something magical happens when zucchini is paired with oaxacan cheese. The poblano peppers also complimented this taco well. tuna tostada: perhaps the platonic ideal of a tuna tostada, with salsa macha and a healthy portion of tuna I appreciate the fast casual format and the fact that it wasn't too crowded on the Wednesday evening I visited. We made subsequent orders and our food came out very quickly. They're running an efficient operation! read more
Santo Taco in Union Square was just okay for me. The setup is pretty casual and convenient. Once you walk in, there are seated tables along one side, a handwashing station on the other, and standing tables in the middle. You order directly at the cash register, and they also serve alcohol. I was told that the Steak Trompo Taco was the one to get, so of course I had to try it out. Unfortunately, I thought it was just alright. I also tried the Chicken, Pork Carnitas, and Carne Asada tacos, but overall, nothing really stood out to me in terms of flavor. One thing I did like was the condiment area. They have onions, peppers, different sauces, and even pork rinds that you can grab to go along with your tacos. They also have a public restroom, a handwashing area, and tap water available, which is definitely convenient, especially in Union Square. Overall, Santo Taco wasn't bad, but it wasn't memorable for me either. I wouldn't mind eating here again if I was in the area, but I probably wouldn't go out of my way for it. read more
4 months ago
Fun introduction to Santo Taco... they extended their Great Nosh festival collaboration with Katz's Deli for one day in their NYC locations. This special taco , pastrami with habanero avocado salsa, half sour pickles escabeche should be a regular on their menu ($8.95 plus tax = $9.25). Quality ingredients, huge flavors, can't wait to try other items. Not 100% sure, but portion size seemed similar to Los Tacos No. 1, Tacombi, Taqueria El Prieto etc. read more
Anyone who knows me knows that my two greatest inspirations in the world of being a foodie and/or being the go-to person for food recommendations are 1. my GOAT, Anthony Bourdain (obviously), and 2. Action Bronson. I've been a fan of Bronson's since before the days of F*ck, That's Delicious when I was downloading his mixtapes off the internet in high school. Recently on his show, Action did a NYC taco crawl, and Santo Taco was featured on those episodes. The moment I saw the Santi's Steak Trompo on my TV, I literally turned into this emoji . I was not leaving NYC without this taco. And I didn't. The steak trompo was everything I thought it would be. We're talking prime NY strip steak and top sirloin on a spit, grilling for hours à la al pastor. How can this not be delicious? The Maillard reaction from the rendered fat mixed with the acid of the lime and avocado salsa. It's otherworldly. The habanero salsa is deadly, but it's the better choice than the salsa morita, topped with the pickled onions, makes for a perfect taco. Idk what else I can tell you to convince you to go here. Maybe the fact that there's complimentary chicharrones for you to snack on while you wait for your food. We were doing a bit of a food crawl ourselves; otherwise, the agua santa and zucchini taco were calling my name. Next time, you're mine. read more
The steak trompo is a must try - it's just steak and avocado salsa but with a little lime!? It slaps. At $6.95 pretax it's a little steep but worth trying once. There's a bunch of sauces and chicharone as a topping when you go pickup your order, and I thought it was so cute they have a little modelito or coronita for $4.95! There's a hand wash station too along the wall, and both table seating and standing room. This location is way bigger than the one on Kenmare. read more
Fresh delicious tacos. There's a lady making the corn tortillas right at the side of the open kitchen, doesn't get fresher than that. Small menu but good variety. We had the steak trampoline (my favorite) , carnitas, carne asada and mushroom ( very good veggie option) . We opted for mini beer but they have spicy margaritas and aqua fresca. I love that there's a hand washing station right in the dinning room. The bathroom is located downstairs so if you just need to wash hands you dont have to make the trip down. There are tables/chairs in the front and standing tabletops if you just a quick bite. At the toppings station along with the sauces and pickled onions they have chicharon , that was a nice extra treat. Staff is really friendly, we enjoyed our time here and will return. read more
3 months ago
Tacos here were decent. Liked the steak ones the best, but flavor was missing and could've used a lot more pop and spice. Cool interior, staff were fine. read more
I heard this place was supposed to be as good as Los Tacos no.1, so I stopped off here and got a steak trompo taco, carne asada taco, and a shrimp taco. Shrimp Taco: WAY too salty, a little heat from chili pepper Steak taco: tender and juicy, not bad. Tortilla was meh. Carne asade : meh, wasn't bad, but not really that great. Again tortilla was meh. Also: Yelp says there is a salsa bar, there is not. You order the food that comes with the salsa. I told them I didn't want avocado salsa and told them I wanted tomato. They gave me a little, whereas los.tacos you can choose any salsa. Overall: Likely won't go back, just not all that. read more
4 months ago
Great tacos! Tried one each of the zucchini, chicken, carne asada, steak trompi, shrimp and all of them were absolutely delicious! Carne asada is nicely smoky, steak trompi so flavorful and juicy, shrimp perfectly cooked and crispy, chicken very good. My one small gripe was the zucchini taco which was very very oily but still tasty. Def coming back for many many more tacos :) read more
9 months ago
One of my new favorite taco spots in the city! Get the first three on the menu as those are their best sellers and specail shout out to the one with steak smashed into the tortilla which was just sooo juicy, tender, and delightfully charred. The flavors marry extremely well together and it is BETTER than Los Tacos No. 1! The sauces are also def spicy and have bold and complex flavors. The chicken was properly tender and juicy as well, and the pork was also really delicious and a highlight! The free chicharron topping was a nice touch and the space was quite large - wishing them all the success and really glad to see NYC getting some much needed love to its suffering taco game. I used to be ashamed of our tacos while we tout amazing food from all cultures - Santo Taco helps fix that! read more
I brought a group of out of town friends here and we all thought these were pretty good but not to die for. I thought it was going to be a transcending experience but nah. I got shrimp and steak trompo.. solid but the seasonings weren't giving. I do love that they have chicharon at the snack bar. The design of the spot is cool though. The big simple menu, makes you want to order one of each. I feel like maybe I didn't try the right ones so I'm interested to come back and go down the list before making my final decision. read more
5 months ago
Santo Taco is my favorite spot in the city for a steak taco. Their steak trompo taco will always have my heart, this trip I added a shrimp taco to the order and it might be my new favorite. If you haven't been to Santo Taco and are seeking an authentic Mexican taco it's definitely worth checking out they do not disappoint! read more
I'm trying to get through all the places on my to try list and santos tacos was my next target. I went to the one in union square and happy that I did because I enjoyed the vibes of it all. They have a limited menu, but with the staples. I decided to get the carne asade, pork, and steak taco. The steak was their fan favorite and definitely the best thing I had on the menu. I thought the other tacos lacked flavor and was a bit disappointing, but not horrible. It just does not hit like their competitor los tacos. I would come back though! Definitely want to try their tuna tostada read more
Upscale tacos with upscale vibes. If you're looking for an old-timey, divey taco place, this isn't it. Newly renovated, this spot has pleasing, bougie greys, creams, and pastel light green colors. It's very designer but it also felt a tad sterile. I felt a pang of nostalgia for something more cozy while here. The ingredients are fancy. "NY Strip", "avocado salsa", "shiitake mushrooms", etc. I tried a few of the tacos and they were delicious. Flavors were complex. Service was counter service, and was kind and efficient. Tacos came out pretty quickly. They are, after all, tacos. Bathrooms: clean, modern, functional. read more
Quick service and chill vibes in the restaurant. A unique feature is that they have pork skins for you to snack on near the dip station as you wait for your tacos. The pork taco was my favorite, but the thinly sliced steak was great too both came out very quickly, and it was fairly crowded for a Wednesday evening on a cold night. Only con is I wish they allowed order ahead instead of order in person. read more
Huge fan; decided to stop by, and I'm really glad I did. I ordered the chicken and carnitas tacos, and let me keep it short and sweet - these were perfect tacos. The perfect amount of meat + accoutrements ratio. The only thing I don't like about the restaurant is the seat situation; there aren't a lot of seats so it's kinda like the hunger Games (no pun intended), and I don't like standing to eat cause I'm in my upper 30s, I gotta think about my digestion. But I would definitely go back read more
I was so pleasantly surprised to come across Santo taco. My boyfriend and I were walking around looking for somewhere to get a snack and we decided to do some tacos. What sold me was the michelada made with Valentina and draft modelo negra, at a super reasonable price in comparison to other bars. We ordered that, along with a chili marg and two tacos to start. We enjoyed it so much we went back for another two menu items. -The carne asada taco is delicious, tender steak and juicy -The shrimp taco is amazing, this one might be my favorite. The slaw on it is crunchy and adds texture. -The tuna tostada is my boyfriend's favorite. I think it could use some salt or extra flavoring. It's very mild in flavor but the freshness makes up for it. -The chicken taco was just okay, nothing crazy. There are better options for sure. - chili marg is delicious, just a little disappointing how small the cup is. - michelada is exactly as it should be ! Service was a delight, Elizabeth at the front was a pleasure to speak with, she even recommended things and welcomed us for our first time. The ambiance is cute and street vibes. There's tables to sit and to stand and eat. Music is a vibe. We came back another time for cinco de mayo and got the mushroom taco which is mind blowing. We also tried the agua Santa, which we tasted alone and then added the chili marg into it. Overall we loved everything about it. Including the lil Chicharron they have at the self serve station, next to the sauces. Which by the way the darkest sauce is DELISH. I recommend this place. The only thing is 7$ for one taco is crazzzzyyyyyyyy. I'm just happy to support the workers I see while I wait for my food. They all seemed happy to be there. read more
Santo taco was soooo good!!! The santi's taco trompo was seriously insane. But I want to also add that the carnitas with PORK BELLY????!!! 10/10!!! And the chicken was perfect and juicy. The only complaint for me was that the shrimp taco was a tad bit too salt for me but everything else I would come back for again. There's areas for first come first serve seats or you can stand by their built in bar to eat. Wash everything down with an iced cold coke was phenomenal. FYI!!!! There's a sink for you to wash your hands before and/or after eating. This is probably the best thing ever!!!!! I can't wait to come back and eat more !! read more
If you are hoping that this will be as good as Los Tacos you will be disappointed. And if you know what a good taco should taste like and how much they cost you'll be even more disappointed. I showed this pic to someone and they said that's a "sad taco." $15 for two tacos. No bueno. read more
6 months ago
Upscale, classic taco shop with the food to match and the vibes to be social with friends or eat tacos alone at one of the counters. The steak was phenomenal, flavorful and tender. The shrimp were well cooked and perfectly seasoned. The hot sauces were great and surprised chicharons to pick at. Would go again. Some of the best no frills tacos I've had in NYC. Below is how your plate will look. read more
Side note: New to this location is a Shrimp Taco (or rather camarones) with shrimp, cabbage, and salsa macha for $6.45. You can find an IG post here- https://www.instagram.com/p/DQKJrI6kdDV/. Tacos range from $5.45 (most veggie to $6.95 (steak trompo.) Originally home to the bustling and slightly dimly lit Tortaria, this is the 2nd location of this fancier Mexican taco joint, with them making the lighting much brighter, getting rid of a lot of the seats, and in general just making it much more modern-looking. Opened by the same folks behind Cosme, which I'm not that big a fan of, this was a pricey but tasty taco, with the size also being a bit larger, so I didn't really mind the price as much. The guys working here are friendly. They have a couple of fun/more unique extra things to top the tacos compared to other places, including chicharron, pickled onions, and a variety of salsas. The salsas included a morita salsa, which was medium heat and tasted fine, and a solid habanero one, which is listed as hot (I didn't see a mild option, but apparently there is a jalapeno one at least in the other location.) Said habanero salsa is dark, and judging from the black color and flavor, I presume it's well roasted, but it was not that hot for a habanero base (then again, I have a very high spice tolerance,) but was easily my preference due to the smokiness. I went with two tacos, their steak and carnitas, along with their agua santa to drink. The Santi's Steak Trompo is their signature and their most expensive at $6.95 and is topped with strip and sirloin, and avocado salsa. The steak was cut thin and exceptionally juicy, with a bit of char and a bit of saltiness, and the avocado salsa was mildly spiced. It felt a bit rich, but adding the freebee pickled onions helped with the richness. I also liked the habanero salsa with it, with the slight smokiness and a bit of spice helping as well. This taco was well worth it for the price point, and I definitely would get it again. The Pork Carnitas for $5.95 with pork belly & ribs, avocado salsa, and tomato martajada salsa was alright. I have had better carnitas with other spots adding a bit more texture, but the pork belly was pretty flavorful. The avocado salsa felt less necessary here, but I was a fan of the tomato-based one, which was chunky with some good spices. This was alright, but as said, I prefer the carnitas from some other places. The Agua Santa for $6.00 with kiwi, cucumber, lime, and palo santo was unique. I would compare this mostly to an agua de pepino, a cucumber agua fresca, which isn't as common here compared to the usual horchata, tamarindo, or jamaica. I found it primarily refreshing, presumably from the cucumber. There was also a bit of lemon and a mix of nice citrus flavors, which was presumably from the mixture of kiwi, lime, and the palo santo wood. It was nice to have, especially with the richer steak taco, and even at the price point, I would go here, especially in the summer or something, and get one of these. A person might look at the menu here and scoff at the prices, but for the portion size and for the changing NYC taco landscape, I didn't mind. This is especially the case with other spots like Los Tacos, costing more and more (and my favorite al pastor spot, Al Pastor Taqueria,) also being pricier. If the steak taco was not so good, I'd probably give this place a 4, but I'll give her the benefit of the doubt based on the general quality to bump it up a bit. read more
Very quick service, with yummy food. Nice scenery in there, very modern looking restaurant. I got a mushroom & a pork belly taco. Both were flavorful & great, especially with the smoky salsa from the salsa bar. Next time i have to try the steak taco- looks insane. read more
4 months ago
What a great addition to the neighborhood! Very affordable fast casual taco spot. Very cute inside with some seating. I'm sure they will do a ton of carry out with the proximity to Union Square. The steak trompo is definitely the star in comparison to the chicken and asada tacos. Loved the salsa bar with other toppings to dress the tacos. Also a fan of the agua santa. Will be back. read more
7 months ago
nyc's mexican food game has been slackinggg for quite some time but this place finally has changed the game! think of it as fast food but great quality. the ingredients taste fresh. the sauces are unique and delicious. i didn't have a bad bite. i also liked that you could stand at a bar/counter instead of sitting at a table. seats are limited so you may have to take your tacos elsewhere. i really enjoyed this spot! read more
8 months ago
8 months ago
From a distance it looks very mid and influencer kind of taco spot but food was 20/10. Kind of pricey but definitely worth it! Service was 10/10 as well! read more
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