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    Tacos 1986 West Village

    4.1 (37 reviews)
    ModerateTacos
    Open 12:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 2 months ago

    Tacos 1986 West Village Photos

    TACOS 1986 WEST VILLAGE ATMOSPHERE

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    Quesadilla combo
    Mark G.

    Saw the mixed reviews and decided to try this place anyway as it is right near my old apartment. I ended up loving it and honestly has probably become my favorite taco place nearby (without the line). It's pricey at ~$20 for a combo but the steak and pork was super flavorful.

    Asada tacos
    Yazmine Q.

    The first time I tried Tacos 1986 was in LA, so when they came to New York I had to try them again. I ordered the asada tacos and they were super flavorful, especially with their red sauce it honestly made it taste even better and added the perfect kick. I also tried the mushroom mulita and that was surprisingly one of my favorites. So good, cheesy, and packed with flavor. Overall, the food is price-friendly, the quality is there, and it's definitely worth it. I'll for sure be coming back.

    Adobada and chicken tacos
    Bret F.

    The tacos are solid. Adobada was really good. Chicken fine (but they were huge chunks which you don't usually see). Perhaps this place was too overhyped so I was expecting out of this world. Just as good as tacos from a cart. Everyone working there was so nice. The food came out quickly. It's a tiny space with a small counter to stand at which fits about five. Loved that they had salsa bar. I prefer Paquito's in the East Village.

    Carne asada
    Savannah S.

    This place was absolutely amazing. I stopped here because I was craving tacos and they are open late at night. They're located right at a corner so easy to spot. They have an a la carte style menu, and I only wanted a small bite, but the taco was so good, I went back to order another. I had the carne asada taco, and it was so flavorful! They have a couple of stool seats inside, perfect for a quick bite! The food comes within a few minutes. The team members were all kind, and asked if I liked my taco. I felt very welcomed.

    Melissa G.

    This place opened up recently and the lines have been crazy. Thankfully, the line was minimal when I went to try but they have a good system down: they take your order and ask for your name/number. Once your order is ready, they send you a text. This definitely helps ensure it does not get packed considering the place is tiny. Love the location -- I ended up picking up the food and eating in the nearby park. The horchata was amazing, love that they come in bottles so it is super easy to shake. The tacos are very good, I tried the al pastor, chicken and steak. There is a mushroom option, as well, as a vegan option. The al pastor was very juicy, but would say the chicken was the best one for me. Definitely on the top 3 best taco spots in the city list!

    Al pastor/mushroom/steak
    Angela L.

    Tacos 1986 is the new kid on the block. I went at 5pm on a Sunday and didn't have to wait that long (maybe 20 min total). There's a little window ledge for people to stand and eat (can fit about 5-6 people). The service was okay but their TV screens weren't working. I used their menu online but they didn't have the combo meal sets yet. You order and can wait outside for the order because it's small inside. They'll send you a text or scream your name to notify you. I tried 1 of each of their tacos (carne asada, chicken, Al pastor, and mushroom $5 each), chicken quesadilla, and their Jamaica (Hibiscus tea). The carne asada and chicken was juicy but was lacking some flavor/salt (salsas helped). The mushroom was a little burnt on my end. The best was Al pastor- not too salty. Love their salsa bar towards the back. You can def try many kinds of salsas and can help enhance the tacos. The chicken quesadilla was better than regular taco because the saltiness from the cheese made it better. Sadly, my Jamaica drink was bland and watered down. Also, when I went, they didn't have any cup covers, so be careful with your drink. Overall I think tacos 1986 is good. I'll come back in a few months to re-try.

    Vaughn F.

    Lives up to the hype! I came on a Monday at 1:30 PM and the only people in front of me were just finishing ordering. I got the #1 Combo: 2 tacos, rice and beans, and a drink. After a short wait my order was ready and I parked at the counter to consume. Both tacos tasted phenomenal. The adobada, rich and spicy, paired nicely with both salsas I tried; the generous portion of guac on top was ideal for rounding out the flavor profile. The carne asada proved to be the rebellious bad boy of the duo, similarly sumptuous in conjunction with the various salsas. The fresh tortillas are worthy of praise and recognition, yielding tasty flavor, impressive texture, and surprising durability. This is peak culinary architecture. The rice and beans, while a little plain, turned this into a substantial (but not overwhelming) lunch. Washed down with cold cola from a glass bottle, a picture perfect dining experience. For me, this will be a go-to after screenings at IFC Center and a nice place to take visitors while strolling around the neighborhood. May the taco takeover of New York continue!

    Caroline W.

    Was able to try all 3 meats that were offered here and thought they all taste great The flavors were great and could tell that all the ingredients tasted very fresh If I were to go back I think I would get the bowl instead of the tacos because you get a huge portion of food The vibe inside was great and had a nice counter area to eat A nice place to stop by for a quick bite Everyone was super friendly too and staff were all very kind

    David N.

    Tried the carne asada, al pastor, and chicken tacos. All of them are great and a good size. (A good 4-6 bites per taco) The set up is a bit crowded inside with only enough space for 5-6 people to eat at the counter. It's hard to get to the salsa station too. It'd be nice if they had some standing tables outside to eat your tacos.

    Tacos, Quesadillas, and Mulita
    Emily Y.

    I came here on opening day and was pleasantly surprised by these tacos--they're perfect for a quick bite or snack! I wasn't able to try the burrito or burrito bowl on the first day, but the taco and quesadillas really hit the spot. Everything is made fresh right in front of you, and it's actually pretty fun to watch them assemble your food! The meat was super tender and tasted absolutely amazing. I would definitely get the steak again! One thing to note: the place is pretty small. It was extremely crowded when I visited, so you might want to eat on a bench nearby or even take your food to Washington Square Park (about a 5-10 minute walk away), since it can get packed inside.

    Anuraag R.

    Tacos were okay and nothing worth standing in a line for. I think los tacos number 1 has better pastor, but I do like the variety of the menu here. Small space but good tacos overall. Small space so plan accordingly

    2 Al pastor + 1 carne asada
    Heidi M.

    There's definitely a taco revolution happening in nyc now. 1986 is a pretty solid option if you're in the area, comparable to the OG los tacos no 1 chain. I had the pastor and carne asada today and enjoyed the former more. With so many other taco spots these days I'm not sure if this one stands out in any way but it seems like a pretty reliable option at $5/taco. Service was very quick around 1pm on a weekday - order was ready almost as soon as I paid.

    Hajir S.

    Not fancy but that's not the point. This is the best Al pastor in Manhattan! I realize that's a low bar, but NYC needed this so badly. The salsa tastes good, the pork is juicy, the service is fast! This is what you want when you're drunk, it's honestly like we broke the curse of Mexican food in NYC!

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    8 months ago

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    3 days ago

    I can't stop going back for the mushroom burrito - so flavorful and delicious and a great vegetarian/vegan option

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    Thank you Brian, really appreciate your feedback.

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    9 months ago

    Tacos are really really good. Very flavorful! Would put them above Los Tacos. Place has a cozy vibe and service was fast both times I went.

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    Ask the Community - Tacos 1986 West Village

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    Cinco De Mayo - Barria

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    Delicious every time!! I was told they used to add a free carrot cake slice. I wish they still did…read morethat because I love carrot cake!

    Cinco de Mayo landed on my radar when a bunch of us at work were looking for a place to grab some…read morelunch. We had our usual list of spots in Midtown East, but this time we wanted something a little different. We ultimately landed on Mexican, however even then there were several spots to chose from. One of my colleagues found CdM, and since we had nothing to lose we decided to check it out. In terms of physical space at CdM, there is very little; this is actually a walk-up spot hence it is solely a takeout restaurant. The menu is pretty straightforward - lots of Mexican staples with a good variety to choose from. The burrito bowl looked good so I decided to go with that - I was given choice of protein (I chose pastor) and types of beans (I chose black). The bowl was really good - all the ingredients tasted fresh and they were generous with the portion. They added sour cream to the top of the bowl and it came with a side of salsa verde which I thought was a nice touch. We also ordered some bags of tortilla chips to share - these were my favorite kind as they were semi-thick and super crunchy. Overall, I had a solid experience at Cinco de Mayo. It definitely hit the Mexican craving spot and I would have no qualms returning for another meal.

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    Came here for my bday brunch and it did not disappoint at all. What sets this place apart from most…read moreplaces besides their awesome Tulum aesthetics is the fact that not everyone has to participate in the bottomless alcohol option, so you can invite your non drinking friends. They also have an à la carte bottomless food option which even me would Jed have to participate in. This is one of the only places that offers a bottomless food option. The waitress was very attentive and the drinks were strong! Worth every penny and I will be back here again for sure. I thought I took more photos but I didn't, this place is a vibe. 5 stars

    What a GORGEOUS space. Whoever interior decorated this restaurant deserves their tens because it is…read morea spectacle. I had only seen daytime pics, but being there in the evening is a treat. If you are someone who is looking at an aesthetic place, this is a top contender. Unfortunately, I would say this place is better looking than the food is good. The food was fine, appetizers were all fresh but lacked any real depth in flavor. I wasn't too thrilled with the bone marrow I had either (but the tortillas come in the cutest basket). Personally, if it wasn't for the drinks and the space, I cant say this place is worth it - you're not coming here for the food. Another little complaint I have is the women's restroom on the second floor - right by the door is a floor to ceiling mirror which I understand was included to make the space seem bigger, but my friends and I agreed that it is a little misleading - I kept wanting to walk into it thinking there was more space there and not wall. I would recommend maybe putting a decal on it to clearly show its mirror.

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    Tacos 1986 West Village - tacos - Updated May 2026

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