So my initial Tour de Taco plan was to order only el pastors and compare all 9 tacos based on flavor, tortilla, quantity and presentation---but in the end, my plan was flawed.
Bicycling is definitely efficient, but we had a lot of ground to cover. By the time 5PM rolled on by we were only at our 3rd stop-- and thats when I had to bail for my supper club.
Luckily though, the first 3 tacos were the furthest and the only ones I would not have normally gone to. Here's my review--hopefully it will save you the trek.
Our fearless leaders: (center) Tishon (right) Emily
Our bike ride (I headed up with Anita) started off at 1030AM at Grand Army Plaza heading to Morningside Heights (12 miles). Scoring: 1= Lowest, 5 = Highest
TACO STOP #1: Taqueria y Fonda - Amsterdam btwn 107th & 108th, Manhattan
ORDER: El Pastor
COST: $3.75
FLAVOR: 2
TORTILLA: 5
QUANTITY: 5
PRESENTATION: 5
RECOMMENDATION: Pass. Too dry. Menu said pulled pork, but it was clearly cubed. Perks were the cilantro, huge grilled onions and pineapples. They also served tripe, lengua, cactus which sounded good-- but the plan was only eat el pastors. Would I ride 12 miles again for dry meat? Nope.
TACO STOP #2: Tortilleria Nixtamal - 10405 47th Av, Corona Queens
ORDER: El Pastor
COST: $2.00
FLAVOR: 3
TORTILLA: 1
QUANTITY: 2
PRESENTATION: 3
RECOMMENDATION: Pass. From Stop #1 to Stop #2 was 11 miles. I was starving by then. The grounded el pastor was a little too salty for me, but at least packed with flavor. Unfortunately the portion was itty bitty and the tortilla was hard. Would not come back.
TACO STOP #3: Papacitos - 999 Manhattan Av, Brooklyn
ORDER: Fish
COST: $2.00
FLAVOR: 4
TORTILLA: 4
QUANTITY: 4 P
RESENTATION: 3
RECOMMENDATION: Why not! Id come back if youd ask me to--even if they dont serve el pastors. Not as good as other places, but the most satisfying and worth the 8 mile bike ride.
So none of the first 3 stops won my heart-- or belly. But I rode 37 miles (home was 6 miles), and it was still worth the fun learning experience.
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