8 Best Mexican Restaurants in NYC - Discuss.
 

A friend posted it on Facebook as he is a La Palapa regular (I've been there often with him as well as Toloache and Pampano -- all in the Traditional category)

Any comments on these (or other) restaurants? We're always on the look out for Mexican when we travel in the States.

http://www.newyork.com/articles/rest...-in-nyc-94451/

TIA

We have been to La Palapa numerous times. It is fine. There is a new restaurant that is the rage, that we have not been to called:

Javelina

http://ny.eater.com/2015/3/3/8142731...square#4682600

I really like Toloache . Haven't tried any of the others. Loved the service and food

The subject line makes me want to post "Best NY Deli in Cancun."

NY may be a great restaurant city but Mexican is first becoming interesting. The irony of that is so many terrific restaurants have Mexicans working in the kitchens. In fact so many are so skilled at sushi they invented a word a few years ago in Spanish for sushi chefs I think the spelling is susheria.

I really like Toloache, too, and have been there twice.

elberko - it was your recommendation that let us there!

Elizabeth, have you actually eaten there? I seem to recall they were closed when you went.

Our subsequent visit they were open!

One of the hottest restaurants in NYC right now happens to be a Mexican place, opened a few months ago by Enrique Olvera, whose flagship in Mexico City, Pujol, appears on the San Pellegrino list of "best restaurants in the world."

The name is Cosme. It is difficult to find a table but I plan to eat there this spring, although I was not entranced by Pujol. Cosme as recently awarded three stars by the NYTimes.



http://www.cosmenyc.com/


Apart from a few contenders to greatness, NYC is not known for Mexican food. There are a lot of small spots in areas of the city not usually frequented by tourists; if you are interested I can give you a few names but frankly, I would concentrate on other cuisines.

Eliz: Sorry, I did not realize it was your thread! A big hello. Do try to book at Cosme if budget allows. When will you be in NY? MAybe we can meet there!

I have never been to Toloache and my experience with Mexican in NYC is pretty limited apart from holes in the wall in outer boroughs. I did return to Mexico (I spent a lot of time there in my younger days) after a long absence and wrote a trip report, so see that is interested.

http://www.fodors.com/community/mexi...bla-oaxaca.cfm

We had an excellent meal at El Centro--and other people's food looked good, too.
Thought Rosa Mexicano was over rated.
Can't remember the name of the place in Greenwich Village--dumpy, noisy, expensive.

<<Apart from a few contenders to greatness, NYC is not known for Mexican food. >>

Yep. NYC is not where you'll find what a southwestern-to-Californian calls "Mexican." Nor what a Mexican probably does either.

Anyplace that's decent to good will, like Cosme, offer upscale "Mexican-inspired cuisine" (the quote is from Cosme's website, which shows it doesn't regard its own food as "Mexican" but is instead inspired by the food prep, arrangement, spicing and cooking techniques used in Mexican cuisine).

Anyplace that offers "traditional" Mexican or Tex-Mex is closer to being worthy of Ackislander's comment.

What does "traditional Mexican mean, in any case?"

This is like talking about "traditional Italian."


As I am sure that you all know, the nation is vast and there exists a medley of regional cuisines. So what you might find in Sonora, for example, is a far cry from what you will find on the table in Oaxaca. And even in Oaxaca, for example, the cuisine of the highlands and the city of Oaxaca will be very different than what the kitchens are turning out on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. And the food of coastal Sonora will not bear too in common with the cooking of the highlands.


Sorry to say this but most people outside Mexico have little idea of the complexity and the regional variations that can be found within Mexico.

Remember the days when "sophisticated" Americans sought out "Continential: cuisine?

Cosme makes no pretense of being a tradtional Mexican restaurant just as any number of "American' eateries in NYC do not claim to be "traditional" American. There are so many global influences at the top tables today.

Sorry to sound like I am lecturing as I know that you all are aware of this..somehow Mexican cooking is one of the last frontiers....remember when all Chinese places were Cantonese in spirit?

I agree with the opinions above that Manhattan (if that is what posters above mean by "NYC") is not a good place for Mexican food.

However, Jackson Heights subway stop in Queens, which is an easy subway ride from Manhattan, is home to several very very good restaurants serving a couple of different types of MX food. All within a few blocks of the subway stop. I have had some fantastic moles there. And Chiles en Nogada, and it is extremely hard to find a dish like that outside of MX, much less a really good version of that dish. Not Tex MEx, but real and delicate MX cuisine.

Take a subway ride to Jackson Heights.

Specifically, I really like Taqueria Coatzingo on Roosevelt, They have pork on the spit with a pineapple above it. FANTASTIC tacos Al pastor. And beef tongue tacos also. Very authentic and very good.

When in Paris I always seek out the best Mexican restaurants.

emd..I will go there for the al pastor..thank you for that tip.

Thanks everyone for new ideas!

eks - would love to meet at Cosme next time we're in NYC. The menu looks terrific. It's possible we'll be there in May - will keep you updated.

Article in Conde Nast on Cosme -- sounds great
http://www.cntraveler.com/stories/20...adbpr=17219108