Los Tacos No. 1 in New York City
- Aug 2
- 4 min read
I remember when visiting New York as a kid, someone made a comment that a certain restaurant we were visiting "is one of those places where you have to know what to do." They were referencing the unspoken terror of holding up the line and getting publicly scorned by an angsty local for not having memorized the intricate flows of some fast casual salad chain.
But after about a decade living in New York, I now recognize that a restaurant with a "IYKYK operation" usually means you're either going to get your meal as efficiently as possible or you're in for a special treat (or both). Los Tacos No. 1 (pronounced Los Tacos Número Uno) is both.
Los Tacos was developed by three friends from Tijuana and California, on a mission to bring a respectable taco to the East Coast. Today, the taco shop has ten locations in lower Manhattan, including marquee locations inside Chelsea Market and near Penn Station, Grand Central, and Wall Street.
This makes perfect sense, because Los Tacos is the ideal spot for a 20-minute lunch break or for a commuter who had a few too many beers at happy hour and forgot to eat dinner. Important to its concept is that no location offers chairs. They hardly offer tables. Inside Los Tacos, you'll find a few long bars for you to saddle up to, but that's about it. Los Tacos is basically a to-go only restaurant with a few ledges.
When you walk into Los Tacos, there is going to be a line. That's ok. While sometimes the New York City line requires you to bring a fresh paperback, this line moves fast. As you make progress in the line, reference the menus written on the wall in what looks to be script from the largest marker ever. The menu is compact. If you're in the market for tacos, as the namesake might suggest, you're going to pick from four proteins: pork, chicken, steak, or cactus. Pick two different tacos if you're hungry, pick three if you are starving.
Here comes the IYKYK part: Once you reach the register, that is only step one. Let me walk you through each step.
Step One: Order Confidently and Pay
You've reached the front of the line. At this register, confidently and quickly request the items you would like to purchase. Don't ask for any specific toppings, substitutions, or alterations - that comes next. Make sure to order any drinks here, too. I suggest the house-made horchata, a cold milk-based drink with cinnamon, sugar, and vanilla. They'll ladle it out of the vat right in front of you. After making your selections, they'll hand you your drink and you'll pay for your order (all major credit cards accepted). Critically, you will be handed a receipt. DO NOT THROW THIS AWAY!
Step Two: Witness Taco Miracles
Next, progress to the taco-making line with your VIR (very important receipt). Usually, a kind Taco Guide (fka employee) will point you there. Here you will be bellied up to a bar where about a dozen line cooks are assembling the tacos. Here's what you do at this stage:
Pass the line cook your receipt
Answer: Corn or Flour
Edit the toppings: "Con Todos" means "with everything" and comes with cilantro, onions, guacamole, and salsa. If you want something omitted from that list, tell them.
From this vantage point, you'll see the back of house right in front of you. There are tortillas being hand-rolled, a massive spit of meat sweating and being carved, and a metric ton of cilantro being tossed in the air between orders. It's like watching a ballet, but comprised of hot meats and fresh veggies. Once your order is complete, you will be handed a tray. If you need a fork or lime, grab them at the bar before you leave.
Step Three: Adorn the Tacos
If you make it here, you're almost home safe. As a final step, look for the salsa bar, usually towards the back wall. Here you can add extra pico de gallo, salsa verde, or other toppings.
With the goods secured, find a small space at the standing tables, roll your sleeves up, squeeze a lime over your taco, and prepare to use about 10 more napkins than you anticipate.
Los Tacos isn't a place I would take your elderly grandparents, an early date, or a big group looking to have a long, intimate meal. It's a slightly messy, in-and-out operation, requiring you to stand, move quickly, and slouch over a dripping carne asada taco.
But its ritualistic movements, plus damn good tacos, make it a counter-service heavyweight. In a city that loves a Resy notify, a two-hour wait, and a members-only reservation, Los Tacos is a reminder that some of the best bites in this city can be had while standing up.
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