c/o NY Mag

1116 Manhattan Avenue
(at Clay Street )
Brooklyn NY, 11211
view map
718.349.8429

Cuisine: Mexican
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★
Cards: All major
Price: $
Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am-10pm; Sat-Sun, 9am-10pm
Booze: Beer and wine
Subway: G to Greenpoint Ave.
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c/o Buffalo Cantina

149 Havemeyer Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211
view map
718.218.7788

Cuisine: Mexican
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Price: $$
Hours: 11am-11pm
Booze: Beer and Wine
Subway: L to Bedford Ave. or Lorimer Ave.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Yes
NY Mag says:

Buffalo Cantina’s Mexican menu has a twist: an extensive wings section. In classic Buffalo, BBQ, and teriyaki flavors, this wings here are served hot, hotter, and suicidal (and they aren’t messing around). You can order them in, but a hundred-count party bucket is ideal takeout for a lowbrow gathering, and a pan-fried tofu substitute ensures that no one has to miss out. Massive burritos and smaller tacos come filled with more than a dozen proteins and wrapped in flour, spinach, wheat, jalapeño or tomato tortillas. The chicken mole comes slathered in a smoky chocolate sauce while the jerk chicken is accompanied by subtly sweet plantains. American influences reappear in the form of sloppy-joe sliders, burgers, fries, and onion rings as well as the bizarre Little King, a buffalo burger crowned with fried chicken and topped with cheese, onions, spinach, tomato and ranch dressing on a bun. South-of-the-border desserts include cinnamon-fried churros, sopapillas, and a pair of banana-and-fudge chimichangas, more than enough to share. With no table service, step to the counter to choose from the large menu boards above. Until your food arrives, you can pass the time with a selection of board games and books or people watch through the restaurant’s glass façade. Three small tables in front are available for outdoor eating.

Citysearch says:

In Short – This casual spot satisfies the neighborhood’s appetite for hearty party fare, i.e. Buffalo wings, nachos, burritos and more. Most customers favor delivery and takeout, so there is always a spot to sit in the fairly large dining area. Everything from jerk chicken burritos to teriyaki wings to fish tacos spice up the menu, although the Buffalo wings (available in quantities of six, 12 or 24) are the main attraction. Mexican beers sit alongside Jarritos, sodas and more in the restaurant’s small refrigerator.

Cafe De La Esquina

225 Wythe Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211
view map
718.393.5500

Cuisine: Mexican
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★
Price: Expensive
Cards: All Major
Booze: Full Bar
Hours: Dinner: 6pm-12am; Brunch (Sat-Sun): 11:30am-4pm
Subway: L to Bedford Ave.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Yes
Time Out New York says:

Nolita’s Mexican hot spot brings its tacos and tortas to this 1950s Williamsburg diner. Like the Manhattan original, this outpost is divided into distinct areas, including a takeout taqueria in front, an outdoor garden and a classic diner with brown booths. Retire to the candlelit backroom, featuring dark wood tables and mirrors painted with Mexican-style murals, for chef Akhtar Nawab’s menu of more-refined plates, like chile de árbol—braised-brisket taquitos with pickled cabbage and guajillo chili. You’ll also find the outfit’s signature dishes, including fish tacos, chicken tortilla soup, and grilled corn with lime mayo, chili and cotija cheese. Drinkers can choose from a selection of 100 sipping tequilas and mescals, such as Don Julio 1800 Coleccion, Del Maguey Pechuga and Casa Noble Crystal.

c/o Time Out New York

645 Manhattan Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11206
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347.763.2129

Cuisine: Mexican
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: All major
Price: $
Hours: Tues-Sun 11:30am-4am
Booze: Beer and wine
Subway: G to Greenpoint Ave.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: No
Time Out New York says:

Taco fiends listen up: We just got word that the three brothers behind the Eat Out-award-winning Cal-Mex street cart are set to open their second brick-and-mortar location tomorrow—this time, in Greenpoint tomorrow. The new 65-seat spot, featuring a diamond-cut steel facade reminiscint of its mobile outposts, will expand on the Calexico Carne Asada menu with new items like Baha-style fish tacos, elote (grilled corn with queso cotija and cilantro) and a 645 burger (a blend of brisket, chuck and short rib on a ciabatta bun with their signature chipotle “crack” sauce). For the first time, you will be able throw back a brew alongside your carne asada burrito. The joint will have a full bar serving both south-of-the-border and local beers, including house label El Barrio (a dark Mexican-style ale made by Six Points), and cocktails such as a Jalapeño-Mint Margarita and the Manhattan Ave, a riff on the manhattan blending Partida Anejo tequila, Carpano Antica, and rhubarb bitters. Come summer, the eatery—outfitted with formica tables, a 25-foot white oak bar and antique mirrors—will open a 50-seat garden, but for now, you can get your taco on indoors Tue–Sun from 11:30am–4am.

Calexico, the quickly expanding chain of local cart and brick-and-mortar outlets for the best Mexican food in NYC that has grown from its humble beginnings as a pair of Soho food carts to include a delicious spot in Red Hook/Columbia Waterfront District and a mobile unit at Brooklyn Bridge Park, has just opened its latest restaurant at 645 Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint. Looks like it’s going to be an all-burritos-n-tacos holiday menu for North Brooklyn this year.

Cariño

82 S 4th St
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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718.384.8282

Cuisine: Mexican
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Price: $$
Hours: Sun-Thur 11am-11pm; Fri-Sat 11am-Midnight
Booze: Full Bar
Subway: L to Lorimer St.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Yes
L Magazine says:

Well, it’s not that new… But thank crikey the geniuses behind beloved, now-shuttered Bedford Avenue mainstay Bonita (the staff and the cooks, to be specific), have managed to open a new spot just a block over on South 4th Street: Cariño. And boy is it good. The menu is simpler than Bonita’s, and the few specials seemed to reflect a trip to the market in Queens that very morning. We started with the house guacamole, a fantastic “more authentic” (we were told) version of the ubiquitous appetizer featuring a hard-to-get Mexican herb called papalo instead of lime juice and cilantro: it was peppery and bright, offering a complexity not often found in the more common recipe… (Unfortunately, papalo isn’t always easy to come by, so if “Ricardo’s Guacamole” is one of the specials, just order it.) We also shared a watercress, orange and jicama salad with a chipotle vinaigrette, a perfect balance of sharp and sweet.

We kept it simple with mains: fish tacos, and rajas (potato and peppers) tacos. Holy shit they were good. The (very fresh) fish was lightly deep fried and sat succulently (what’s with food writing and adverbs?) amidst the usual taco fixings, all fresh and finely minced, with a perfect drizzle of what must’ve been chipotle mayo. The same goes for my rajas, the finest, lightest version of it I’ve ever had.

c/o Thousands Bars

519 Metropolitan Ave
Brooklyn, NY 1121
view map
718.384.6429

Cuisine: Mexican
Our Rating: ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Price: $
Hours: 12pm-Midnight Daily
Booze: Full Bar
Subway: L to Lorimer St.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Yes
NY Mag says:

A restaurant claiming to serve Mexican “style” food usually warns off seekers of authentic eats, but if you hold off on the rush to judgment, first impressions are fortunately deceiving on this corner of an as of yet ungentrified chunk of Williamsburg. Past the slapdash streamers and liquor ads, a few well-chosen pieces of art dot the unassuming space. One sip of a margarita or mojito showcases an able hand at the bar, and a glimpse behind a curtained-off area reveals a comfy lounge, prone to playing contemporary Latin rock come nightfall. The menu proves itself in similarly small, impressive ways. Crunchy, El Paso-style shells on the taco plate are an initial turnoff, but a cautious bite delivers a stuffing of particularly well-seasoned chunks of beef. And while enchiladas Suizas may look sloppy and gloppy, the accompanying salsa verde is agreeably full of cilantro, and crema fresca as a welcome, authentic touch. The real finds, however, are the Ecuadorian specialties: Shrimp ceviche marinated in fresh tomato, lime juice, red onion, and cilantro, and weekend-only specials like goat stew pull out all the authentic gustatory stops.

Blackbook Mag says:

Fronts as Mexican, but actually serves South American versions of staples like salsa, enchiladas, and burritos. Hard-shell tacos and nachos. Probably best if you’re here to knock back a few margaritas and not eat at all. Cheap interior is actually comfy, with mellow wood, crimson walls. Loungey feel near the long bar, cranked volume on the sound system keeps things festive.

c/o NY Mag

N 7th st & Bedford
Brooklyn, NY 11211
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Cuisine: Mexican
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: Cash Only
Booze: None
Subway: L Train to Bedford Ave.
The Village Voice says:

Endless Summer is a taco truck owned by two dudes (seriously they’re dudes) named Jeff and Curtis. The joint venture is almost a year old, though has only been making waves on Bedford Avenue for a couple of months. I finally got to experience Endless Summer and was extremely surprised. My friends and I ordered a pork taco ($2.50), a chicken burrito ($5), a Mexican corn ($2.50), and a side of beans and rice ($2.50). They also sell vegetarian tacos and burritos. The first thing that stood out was the tenderness of the pork and it wasn’t greasy at all. The use of light sour cream and queso fresco in the taco really enhanced the pork’s flavor. The (big) burrito was a bit bland, but their salsa gave it that extra kick. And even though I’m not a fan of Mexican rice, this rice was superbly plump and the pinto beans were juicy (just the way my mom makes them). The corn was also yummy, although it wasn’t grilled which I don’t mind at all because the steam preserves the corn’s flavor and juices, they did overload it with chile powder but the side of lemon cools it off. Hopefully Endless Summer (without the brotherly bickering inside) will still be around this hot season.

NY Mag says:

They don’t yet have set hours, but bless ‘em, Bad Wizard front man Curtis Brown and The Jewish front man Jeffrey Jensen have finally parked their Endless Summer taco truck on North 7th Street and Bedford.

c/o Brokelyn

727 Grand St
New York City, NY 11211
view map
718.218.9441

Cuisine: Spanish/Bakery/Diner Food
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Price: $
Hours: Open 24 Hours!
Booze: None
Subway: L to Grand St.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Yes
We say:

Great cheap tacos (provided you aren’t a vegetarian).

Brokelyn says:

I get the chicken torta with everything on it—fresh Mexican cheese, avocados, refried beans, mayonnaise, blah blah blah. It’s open 24 hours. It’s easy to eat junk a lot when you’re eating on a budget so it’s nice that you can get a sandwich with vegetables for $5.50. Anything to break way from those really obnoxious cold-cut sandwiches. People get really turned off by the amount of meat in our sandwiches.”

Haab

202 Leonard St
Brooklyn, NY 11206
view map
718.388.4261

Cuisine: Mexican
Our Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Cards: All Major
Price: $
Hours: Sun-Thur 11am-11pm; Fri-Sat 11am-Midnight
Booze: Beer and Wine
Subway: L to Lorimer St.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Yes
Metromix says:

Taking its name from an ancient Mayan solar calendar, this second outpost of the Woodside-based Mexican eatery aims to please the Williamsburg crowd with a menu of south-of-the border classics. Think tacos ($2.50), quesadillas and enchiladas, plus platters like mango-papaya fish and red or green chilaquiles ($7–$11). The colorful hand-painted paper lamps and rainbow-bright sign should attract crowds to the 20-seat (plus 10 outside!) space. Bonus: Hungover hipsters can soak up a long night with a hearty Mexican brunch (chorizo-stuffed omelettes) on weekends. Owner Joaquin Velasquez plans to have his wine and beer license set within a few weeks.

L Magazine says:

Haab appeared tucked away on a forgotten stretch of Leonard Street a few months ago and it’s a shame more people haven’t discovered it. Owner Joaquin Velazquez came to New York from Puebla and opened the first Haab in Woodside, Queens, in 2004. His Williamsburg outpost is a modest but stylish affair, 22 seats in a narrow, bright space decorated with handmade paper lanterns from Puebla and rows of colorful Jarritos bottles in the front window.

The first thing I ever ate here was the burrito, one of the best in the neighborhood. All of the meat here is cooked to order; not high standards for, say, an upscale locavore restaurant, but a welcome guarantee from a tiny Mexican joint. The chicken here is tender and rich with the taste of herbs and guajillo chili, stuffed inside a soft tortilla with Monterrey jack cheese, sour cream, pico de gallo, rice and black beans. The al pastor isn’t bad either. They marinate the pork in pineapple juice laced with three different roasted chilies. If you really want to get crazy, you can opt for the Haab, featuring both the chicken, al pastor and grilled steak in one Frankenstein of a burrito. Wash one of those babies down with a couple of Bohemias or Negra Modelos and you’ve got yourself the impetus to one hell of a nap.

The tacos are equally as good as the burritos, while the tortas are a bit lackluster. Luckily, Velazquez is expanding his menu in the weeks to come to include entrees like chicken smothered in mole poblano and grilled rib-eye steaks. In warm weather, the 10 metal seats on the sidewalk patio get filled with neighborhood locals downing Mexican food and sipping red wine sangria.

Now, don’t get me wrong; this isn’t cutting-edge Mexico City cuisine or a New Brooklyn take on Mexican. This is simple, home-style Mexican food, made with care and sold at recession-friendly prices. It’s also the best of its kind in the neighborhood, a perfect place to fill up on burritos and beer without breaking your bank account.

c/o Flickr

L.A. Burrito:
287 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn NY 11211
view map
718.782.7728

L.A. Burrito II:
345 Graham Avenue
Brooklyn NY 11211
view map
718.388.8215

Cuisine: Flavorless Mexican
Our Rating: ★
Cards: All Major
Price: $
Hours: L.A. Burrito: Sun-Thurs 11am-10pm; Fri-Sat 11am-12am; L.A. Burrito II: Sun-Thurs 11am-10pm; Fri-Sat 11am-11pm
Booze: None
Subway: L.A. Burrito: L to Bedford Ave. L.A. Burrito II: L to Graham Ave.
Menu: Click Here
Delivery: Yes
We say:

Cliché Haight-Ashbury decorations adorn this bland burrito joint. Absolutely no attention is paid to food quality and preparation. These guys just wanna make a buck and apparently have no interest in pleasing the palate. A good place to go when you you are in a hurry, only have 5 bucks, and could give a damn about what you eat.

Cheap Ass Food says:

I go to this place so often that I figured it deserved a review here. I recommend most their tacos, which are fresh, filling, and cheap. You can get 3 regular tacos for 3 bucks!! But my favorite types of tacos are the chicken and broccoli. Keep in mind – this is Cali – Mex, not authentic Mexican. The tacos, quesadillas, and burritos are all excellent. This place is also health nut/vegan friendly. They have tofu sour cream, brown rice, and soy cheese options, and also lots of different vegetables you can add on to anything. I don’t know of that many cheap, healthy places in the Burg, so I end up visiting this place at least once a week.