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    Tacos 1986

    4.0 (43 reviews)
    ModerateTacos
    Open • 11:30 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 1 month ago

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    TACOS 1986 ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Tacos 1986

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    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.

    Pollo bowl
    Max H.

    Ordered two bowls for pick up and they were fine. Nothing particularly special and was a bit disappointed by the portion size. Not great value for the money in my opinion. Employees seemed nice based on my limited interaction.

    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.

    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

    Carne asada burrito
    Sean L.

    I really would rate this place over a 4 more like 4.5. The food here is really good and authentic. I tried the spicy pork burrito and it was so epic well seasoned with great depth of flavor. Not too spicy at all I would recommend anybody to try it for the flavor. The secret is to add rice to tone down the spice and add more heft to the burrito. The tortilla has a great chew and is perfectly toasted to to compliment the flavor of the contents of the inside. I tried the carne asada as well was perfectly cooked juicy not too chewy well seasoned my actual favorite. The x factor is the sauce bar where the sauces bring it to the next level I could drink the green sauce so tangy and zesty takes all the food to the nxt level all the sauces are super authentic and flavorful limes are fresh Guacamole is included The horchata is smooth and well balanced with a distinct cinnamon flavor not too sweet

    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.

    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

    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!

    2 Al pastor + 1 carne asada

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    Victor D.

    Thank you Brian, really appreciate your feedback.

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    5 months 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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    1 year 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

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    Los Tacos No. 1 - Carne Asada Taco, Adobada Taco

    Los Tacos No. 1

    4.6(476 reviews)
    1.8 mi•Midtown East, Murray Hill
    •$

    We were sending off a friend and wanted to have them try something classic to NY so brought them…read morehere. Like was long per usual but it moved pretty well and we were at the front in time. Everyone we interacted with was friendly and fast/efficient. We ordered several carne asada tacos and quesadillas in addition to chips/guac. As always, everything was delicious - there's a reason they're so popular and considered one of if not the best tacos here. Similar type of location and layout as their other spots on the city. It's quick, loud, small, but efficient- quite fitting of NY. Always a good time and good food.

    You know a taco spot is going to be good when there's a line out the door! While we were waiting,…read moreyou could hear both locals and visitors talking about how amazing this place is, which only made me more excited to try it for myself. The hype was absolutely worth it. The adobada tacos were hands down the best tacos I've ever had. The homemade corn tortillas were fresh and flavorful, and the adobada was perfectly seasoned, juicy, and packed with flavor. I also tried the carne asada tacos, which were good but definitely overshadowed by the adobada. Each taco came topped with onions, cilantro, guacamole, and salsa. Just a heads-up--the salsa packs some serious heat! Overall, this place completely lived up to the hype. If you're in the area and don't mind waiting in line, it's absolutely worth it.

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    Los Tacos No. 1 - Where you pick up your food.

    Where you pick up your food.

    Los Tacos No. 1 - Chorizo breakfast burrito, with eggs and cheese

    Chorizo breakfast burrito, with eggs and cheese

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    Carne Asada Quesadilla

    Tacovision

    Tacovision

    4.1(485 reviews)
    2.5 mi•Midtown East
    •$$

    I stopped in here while visiting NYC for a couple days with my 11yo. It was a great spot for happy…read morehour (frozen margs)!! The birria tacos were really good (or so my son said) but sadly the taquitos were terrible. They literally just had unseasoned shredded chicken (but serves me right for ordering something so basic). The salsa also tasted more like tomato paste than actual salsa. But again, the goal for this stop was a frozen marg(s) and that mission was accomplished and then were good . The atmosphere was also fun and lively and our server was attentive and never tried to push us out the door despite sitting there for a while!

    Unfortunately, this place had little to offer. The staff seemed uninterested--either they didn't…read morewant to serve customers, didn't want to be there, or both. The energy was flat, and that lack of enthusiasm carried right into the food. The menu needs a complete overhaul. I'm not sure if it's trying to be "different," but the taco options were unappealing just from reading the descriptions. I managed to choose the two best-sounding items I could find, and honestly, they were so bland I don't even remember what they were. The setup and decor were basic. This spot could be a fun hangout, but it would take a better menu and staff who actually seem to care. It feels like just another restaurant that's lost sight of creating an actual experience for guests. The lack of vibe is obvious--if you don't want customers, just say so. I'm giving 2 stars out of respect for the fact that people have to work for a living.

    Photos
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    Tacovision
    Tacovision

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    Tacos 1986 - tacos - Updated October 2026

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