Taquería el Chato — Restaurant in New York

If you're mexican, you know tacos is an escential part of life, and it doesn't matter if you had them a day ago, you can still crave tacos ALWAYS. So it's no surprise, when I found Taqueria el Chato, I had to go in and try them.

Let me just start by saying, this place understands tacos. From the very first bite, it was clear they’re not cutting corners. The tortillas are fresh, warm, with that perfect softness EVERYTHING MADE IN HOUSE (I asked), which blew my mind. No factory-made tortillas here, and trust me, you can taste the difference.

What truly sets them apart, though, is the meat selection. As a Mexican, I’m always skeptical when I see Americanized taco joints offering the usual trio of chicken, steak, and shrimp. But here, I was pleasantly surprised. They have all the classics we love back home—suadero, pastor, asada, tripa, chorizo, and even lengua. Every protein is cooked with intention, properly seasoned, and, most importantly, handled with the respect it deserves. The suadero in particular was a standout: tender, juicy, and bursting with that rich, slow-cooked flavor that reminded me of late-night taco stands in CDMX.

Another surprise? The tripa tacos—crispy, clean, and flavorful. It’s hard to find places in the U.S. that get tripa right, but this spot nailed the texture: golden on the outside, soft inside, and with zero greasiness. You can tell whoever’s in the kitchen really knows what they’re doing.

They also offer homemade salsas that pack both heat and flavor. I didn't expect the red one to have that spicy touch that mexicans are always looking for; perfect for the carne asada tacos.

Everything about this place, from the tacos themselves to the aguas frescas and the little touches like roasted onions and peppers, feels authentic and a true bite of Mexico.

If you’re Mexican and craving the taste of home, go. If you’ve never had a truly authentic taco and want to know what the hype is really about, go. You’ll leave full, happy, and probably planning your next visit before you even finish your first taco.

Five stars without hesitation. ¡Gracias por traer un pedacito de México a NYC!

PS. I was so amazed by flavor and everything, I didn't have a lot of time to take...

I’m Mexican, and I’m constantly on the lookout for tacos that actually taste like home. Living in NY it’s not easy to find places that get it right, this taquería absolutely nailed it.

I’m not usually someone who leaves reviews, but this spot 100% deserves the love. The flavors were authentic, bold, and clearly made with heart. Tacos are perfectly seasoned, and the salsas had that real balance of heat and flavor that you only find in México.

From the smell when you walk in to the first bite of taco, it felt like I was back home. The vibe was warm, the staff was kind, and you could tell they take pride in what they’re doing.

If you’re craving real Mexican tacos in NYC, run don’t walk. I’ll be coming back, many...

We tried this, Carnitas Ramirez, and Santo taco all back to back. It was interesting to have in such close succession. El Chato is very good, a little messy and the tortillas could be better as these are definitely premade, but the meats are tasty and they have really good spicy in the salsa. The Al pastor was a bit too oily but the taste was good - similar for the asada, a bit overpacked and moist, but just super flavorful, fun to eat. The vibes are a little neat and tidy, maybe the restaurant lacks a little character, but it’s good, open late, a step up historically for tacos in the city. It’s a great spot, it might be third in our crawl, but it remains extremely...