TLDR: Small shop but some very tasty tacos. The trompo/pastor tacos seem to be the fan favorite. Personally for me it's the suadero/lengua. Jamaica is also a perfect drink to go with your order. I was in the area and had El Chato bookmarked. It's quite small, questionable if you'd even be able to sit down but I fortunately was able to. Got a taco vampiro pastor, taco campechano, taco suadero and taco lengua. The tortillas are a bit on the smaller side but they are packed with meat and plenty of onions and cilantro. The vampiro is basically a crispy tostada with a cheese skirt. The pastor is sliced off the trompo and I can see why people like the vampiro. It is a bit on the saltier side but very tasty along with the thin slice of pineapple. The campechano is brisket topped with chorizo, with all the fixin's this was very tasty. A bit of smoke/spice from the sausage. Taco suadero was so luscious, it's a cut between the belly and the leg. I really enjoyed this along with the salsa roja which is quite spicy as the sign warns you. The taco lengua though was ridiculous. So incredibly tender, if anything I might get this vampiro next time. Definitely will be back again. read more

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High quality, authentic, and affordable tacos! I came on a Friday later afternoon (3:30p) and ordered at the kiosk and was able to dine in on the counter seats. The establishment is quite small so most people get food to go it seems. Tried the asado, mushroom, and suadero tacos. The mushroom could have been a bit better marinated but it was still good. The asado was my favorite and extremely tender. The saudero had cubed marinated meat but it was a tad dry and could have used more tenderness. I thought 3 tacos was sufficiently filling but did not think they pilled on meat the way other reviews say. Each was $5-6. There are a bunch of molcajetes fulled with sauces and fixins for tacos (grilled peppers, salsa roja, salsa verde). Be warned the salsa roja is extremely spicy!! Thankfully we also ordered the Jamaica (hibiscus sweet drink) to wash down the spice. read more

Taqueria El Chato - Tacos Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Taqueria El Chato is a Mexican restaurant in New York, known for its tacos, crispy vampiros, and cheesy quesadillas made with fresh, handmade tortillas. The menu includes the al pastor, flavorful chorizo, and savory suadero tacos, all topped with succulent pineapple and self-serve condiments at the condiments bar. I've heard this spot ranks among the best tacos in the city, so I decided to compare it with Taqueria Rameriez and Los Tacos No. 1. I went for the popular Al Pastor Tacos, topped with juicy pineapple. The flavor was delicious, though more seasoning on the meat would have elevated it even further. The pineapple's sweetness and texture added a nice touch. The toppings are customizable, so you can spice things up just how you like. read more

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I first heard about Taqueria El Chato through influencers and decided to check it out for myself. When I arrived, the place was packed, which is usually a good sign. It seems like most people either take their food to go or manage to find a spot in the restaurant to dine inside. Seating is very limited and it can be difficult to find a place to eat inside during the busy hours. A few things to note is that there's no water unless you pay for it. Bring your own or purchase one. There's no public restrooms. I liked how they had a condiment station where you can put different toppings and sauces on your tacos. As for the tacos, they were definitely good and worth trying. I wouldn't say they're the best tacos I've had in nyc. But they are in the top five or ten. Overall, Taqueria El Chato is a solid choice if you're craving tacos and don't mind some place that's really busy. read more

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Really great tacos. I get Al Pastor tacos everywhere I go. These are some of the best ones I have had. The meat did feel a little dry but the flavor was great and the pineapple and presentation really made it. What I really liked was the value. They put so much meat and filling and the price was good especially for NYC. Service was friendly but nothing special. And not a lot of seating so not great for large parties, but great for a quick bite with a few friends. read more

Taqueria El Chato - T AL PASTOR T ASADA - Tacos Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I can confidently say these are the best tacos I've had in New York. The flavor is so bold and vibrant. If you order Vampiro style, they're cooked perfectly on a crispy tortilla with a nice layer of cheese underneath the meat. The Campechano is cooked so well, with a nice juicy braised beef, and the al pastor packs a great authentic flavor. I love how they have self-service for the sauces and the caramelized onions. That is a great touch. I do wish they had more than one ordering kiosk, as that can cause delays and long lines. While the inside of the restaurant is small, they do have a good amount of counter seating. read more

Taqueria El Chato - Inside - Tacos Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Decent spot for the area - great if you're waiting for a reservation elsewhere and need a quick bite! The service is fast - you order on a kiosk and there's maybe 10 or 12 bar stool seats. Definitely not a place to stay long or with a big party. They bring the tacos to you quick and there's a self serve sauce station on the side with jalapeños and sauces. I got the Al pastor taco ($5) and the beef lengua taco ($7) It honestly was just okay for me! It's a very decent protein to everything else ratio, but it just felt like it was missing something for me personally. read more

Taqueria El Chato - Tacos Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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A delicious experience! I arrived a few minutes before they opened. It smelled amazing! I ordered a chicken quesadilla for my kid and a trio of tacos for myself including chorizo, carne Asada, and chicken. I helped myself to some of the fire roasted jalapeños and fresh salsa. My mouth was on fire in the loveliest of ways. Everything was delicious. Def could have eaten more but will def come back for the carne asada. My daughter absolutely loved the quesadilla. Will def come back. The tacos are amazing. read more

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Kinda wanna gatekeep this but I don't live in Brooklyn so whatever LOL. This spot makes some of THE best tacos I've ever had. Ingredients are fresh and I love that each taco tastes different from the others. Also the sauces and roasted pepper station they have on the side are bomb, the orange chipotle is my favorite. Will definitely be coming back here! They take all payments and they do have some limited indoor and outdoor seating. read more

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My go to taco spot in the greenpoint area. el chato michilan star proves the worth while of the place. Having the option for ordering on line or using the kiosk if things are busy in the kitchen. All tacos being served under the $7 range makes this an automatic go to place. Though seating limited you can always walk down to the park for seated eats. Though I would loved a seated area the small intimate shop reminds me of the quick eats factor New York always brings read more

Taqueria El Chato - steak tacos - Tacos Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Tacos are AMAZING here -- the Al Pastor is not to be missed, also enjoyed the Suadero. Tortillas made to order, generous filled, salsa options on the side! read more

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Tacos so good I genuinely can't even. A neighborhood spot, just a couple of blocks from where my partner lives, and it delivers every time. Yummy, filling, exactly what you want from a good taqueria. No frills needed when the food speaks for itself. read more

4 stars for the tacos. Definitely worth a try. Each taco is about 4 smallish bites Tried the carne asada, suadero, and al pastor. The actual trompo isn't used fresh for each order. I think it's cut off ahead of time and then whenever they need it. Ordering took no time but it took 20 minutes to get the order. They don't provide the pickled veggies sauce in take out orders read more

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Wow - amazing taco joint in Greenpoint. Visiting from LA and had to get my taco fix. Walked by El Chato and got two vampiros, one chorizo and one carnitas. The tacos are assembled very well. Meat and salsa flavors are out of this world. And the portions are filling (I was scared by the $5 price tag compared to $2 street tacos in LA, but you get your money's worth here!). Relaxing interior to eat in. Clean, good music, and plenty of additional salsa available. Thank you for a great meal! read more

Still loving this taco place! Last time, we skipped the tripa but I'm here to report that that was a mistake. The tripa might be the best! When we came this time, they were initially out of lengua. By the time we were wrapping up, the lengua reappeared so we put in a second order (including a second tripa lol). This time, instead of being pulled/shredded, the lengua was in slabs. The texture and flavor were still good, but I much prefer the nonslab version! It was nice that it wasn't as crowded as last time. Yay weekday! read more

Amazing addition to Greenpoint! I love Aldama and knew this spot from them would be great. Three of us came at 1 pm on a Sunday and there was no line, plus we were able to grab stools by the window. Lengua, trompo and chorizo were all great, and the al pastor was phenomenal. Need to try a quesadilla next time. Better than Ramirez imo. Go before the lines are just as long. read more

Taqueria El Chato - Tacos Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Sooooo good definitely recommend! The pastor taco was amazing and the owner was so nice and talking to us about how it just opened. read more

Taqueria El Chato - Tacos Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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F***** delicious. Wow. Lengua, pastor, and Asada are incredible. Quesbirria version adds a heap of melted cheese. Definitely coming back read more

Taqueria El Chato - Tacos - Tacos Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Delicious delicious delicious!! Come early so you don't have to wait too long. Made that mistake once.

Wow! I'm very impressed by the flavors of these tacos! Just got two tacos to try - al pastor and mushroom. The Al pastor were thinly slice and packing with spice and flavor, the juices were dripping - always a good sign. The mushrooms were chunky and absorbed a lot of flavor so to me it was a tad bit too salty. It comes with one corn tortilla instead of two which I'm a fan of and still holds everything well. Can't forget their sauces on the counter! Would recommend! read more

Taqueria El Chato - Al pastor and mushroom - Tacos Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Limited tacos but tastes bomb. Can't go wrong with any taco. The fresh accompaniments elevated the taste to another level. Loved every bite of the taco. read more

The tacos were good, and I really liked the sauces. It's a small place, but the food itself was solid. I'm giving 2 stars because, even though the food was enjoyable, the atmosphere wasn't. We went early, and it was just the two of us. One of the owners or managers was there, and he was speaking very loudly to another person. The way he talked to the employees made me uncomfortable and honestly took away from the whole experience. read more

Happy to see another great taco spot in Greenpoint! The lengua is the best one I've found in nyc so far - not every spot has lengua and too often, it ends up gamey - but not here. It's perfectly tender and even though the corn tortillas are small, they pack a solid amount of meat in each taco. Texas-tier in my books. The trompo and asada are solid too and I can't wait to come back to try the rest. I prefer the pastor at Taqueria Ramirez, but the asada is one of the better ones I've had. My partner got a chorizo taco, which he reports as nicely charred but a touch salty. I got the trompo and the asada in quesadilla form (flour tortillas, folded in half, with cheese) but the cheese muddled the flavors of the meat and these were a bit salty (especially the trompo), but I'm not sure if it was the meat itself or the cheese so I'll have to come back for another try in taco form. Flour tortillas were great though, and I'm happy to see another spot with flour in addition to corn. They also offer up vampiros (corn tortillas, cheese, open-faced). And if you are a fan of corn tortillas, the ones here are pretty tasty and made in-house - not too rough and flavorful without the corn overtaking the overall taste. The salsa bar has limes, red salsa, grilled onions and peppers, and a pickled mix of what looks to be onions, radish, and cucumber. I do wish they had a green salsa to go with the red and some pico or more onions and cilantro. Overall, a great addition to the neighborhood and the city's taco scene and I'm sure I'll be back soon to try every meat they offer. If you're someone in New York who cares about tacos, this should be in your regular rotation even if it's not your first stop. read more

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Delicious tacos, self service at the register. I ordered mushroom, tripa and pastor. Wish the al pastor came with pineapples, ours didn't have any at the time. read more

Taquería El Chato is a new taco shop in Greenpoint, conveniently located right off the Nassau Av G stop. The store itself is quite small, with maybe a dozen seats facing the wall (or out the window, if you're lucky). When you enter you immediately see the menu and register, as well as people standing around waiting for their tacos. The shop is open late and surrounded by nightlife, I could imagine it becoming quite hectic inside at night, with the bar around the circumference of the shop serving its purpose well late at night. The menu is meant to be inspired by central Mexican tacos, with sudadero, chorizo, asado, lengua and mushroom comprising your choices; aside from drinks, that's it. On my initial visit I wasn't sure which would be best, so I ordered one of each (mushroom aside, I don't care for mushrooms). Once I had ordered, along with a Mexican Coke, my tacos took maybe 10 minutes to come out. Once you have your tacos, there is a salsa bar with red and green salsas, as well finely diced pickled red onions (something I can't recall seeing before, very neat) and grilled jalapeños (another excellent touch). The asado stood out as my favorite, while the chorizo was probably my least favorite, though still fairly good. Overall, a solid taco experience though leaving I felt a bit troubled by the experience. In short, the price point felt confusing. The tacos, though delicious, were 2-3 bites each, quite small. Four tacos and a Coke has come out to around $30 without tip. I had spent $30 on dinner and still felt a bit hungry. I could see the idea that perhaps it was more of a late night snack, rather than a full meal, but then the price still feels high, especially compared to what else is available in the area at street food vendors. I'm not one to shy away from paying for quality, but I felt myself wanting more from the meal. Will I return? I'm not in a rush. Late night after a night out drinking? Perhaps. Ultimately, a solid entry into the Greenpoint food scene, but one that could improve. read more

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Easily the best taqueria in the area. You really can't go wrong here but the suadero, lengua, and tripa tacos are my favorites. Big fan of the quesadillas as well, but their tacos are the star of the show in my opinion. Careful with the red sauce they aren't messing around when they say it's extra spicy! read more

sooooo good omgggg the mushroom quesadilla YUMMM i went back for seconds and my business partner also was addicted. i will be back here 100%

Tacos were not bad but I would say very average. Definitely not on par with Taqueria Ramirez or Loc Tacos #1. The meat was bland and really needed that salsa. Further, tacos were so tiny that you basically needed 5 tacos per person. Which is over 30$ per person defeating the whole concept of street tacos which are supposed to be cheap. Again maybe if tacos blew my mind I would think otherwise overall there are better taco places around. read more

Incredible, went for the first time this past weekend I got the Asada and my typical go to Pastor. Personally I feel like NYC does Al Pastor better, but I have finally found my go to Asada spot. So much so I just left and got 2 Asada! Incredible the meat like melts in your month! Hands down the best Asada taco I've ever had in this city! read more

Taqueria El Chato - Asada and the Pastor, Asada is the WAY TO GO! - Tacos Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Alright I am San Diego born and raised and lived in LA endlessly hunting for taco stands in east LA. This without a doubt is the best tacos in nyc. Blows Ramirez out of the water I'm freaking out I only tried trompo (Al pastor) so far and it's on the spit with some juicy pineapple on top. I'm standing outside of the restaurant on the street writing this review nearly about to turn back around and try tripa next read more

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Stop by to get your tacos fix cause my tacos craving were definitely satisfied and can't wait to come back! We kept talking about the tiny sliced onions as if they were Michelin grade lol flavors of the bites all come together well, nicely charred meats and nice kick from the sauces. I'd start with the asada first since the others were more flavorful. Tripa, definitely get one of those, flavorful and crunchy, my fav first bite! Trompo (el pastor), juicy, nice charred, hefty chunk of pineapple, delicious. Too bad the lengua wasn't ready for another 2 hours but will be back next time later in the day to try that. The suadero's meat was on the drier side but flavors were good. Definitely will try the chorizo and trompo as quesadilla next! read more

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Tacos were delicious but TINY! Ordered the pastor ($5) (which I believe used to be called the trompo) and the asada ($6). My friend also got the hibiscus agua fresca ($5). The meat was so tender & juicy. The salsa bar on the side was great, just be forewarned that the orange salsa is REALLY spicy, but I loved the pickled onions and green salsa. Space is tiny, can only fit like 7 people with counter seating. My main gripe is that the tacos are quite small for the price compared to ramirez & esse & los tacos. So, while delicious would prefer other options in the area! read more

Taqueria El Chato - pastor & asada tacos - Tacos Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Low key such a gem, no trouble getting in and the set up is very similar to taqueria Ramirez. I am surprised this place is not as busy. The price is good and the size of the taco also good. read more

Good, good stuff - very pricey, but I like it anyway. They've got no tripe anywhere to actually serve which is sad because I've been dying to try it since I adore it. But that's ok. Maybe another time. read more

I enjoyed this. It is a taco or quesadilla of good quality, recommend the brisket. Not my favorite in the city but a good option if you're nearby. Can't go wrong. read more

One of the best tacos I've ever had. I got the brisket and chorizo taco with guava juice. It was authentic, delicious, and affordable. There was no wait time and workers were friendly. It's very small and a niche find but so worth it. Very cozy and homey inside. Definitely recommend. read more

"This is an amazing restaurant--everyone should try it! The tacos are absolutely worth the drive--mouthwatering and unforgettable. A must-try! read more

Really good tacos! The tripa was my favorite, super flavorful with good bite. The trompo was also a standout. Also really appreciated that they had a bunch of salsas and charred chiles and onions. Service was a little slow -- it seems like they are definetly understaffed. The two people working were very nice though! Would have been nice to have some music. Will be back! read more

Amazing tacos. Glad it's in the neighborhood. Will definitely be coming back. Love all the sauces they have out too read more

Taqueria El Chato - Tacos Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Best quesadilla I've had in New York. Order Ahead and take it to go, ideally go eat in Mccaren. Great spot