My Life in Meals

Dos Toros Taqueria

Do you like Chipolte? If so, your going to really love Dos Toros Taqueria, a more fresh and authentic version of the fast food giant. Although they have a very similar menu, if you want to have really really good tortillas, tacos, and quesadillas, you should definitely skip on the Chipolte and head on over to Dos Toros. Located near Union Square, this is a great $10 and under spot. Warning: it’s really small, so if your looking for a seat, be prepared to wait it out.

We started with the Soft Tacos with rice, black beans and guacamole (1 plain and 1 with steak). The rice was delicious, the meat seasoned to perfection and the tortilla had melted cheese spread across it, all making for a perfect pairing that melts in your mouth. We also got a side of the guacamole and chips, and although the portion of guac could be a little bigger, it’s extremely fresh and much more then you would expect from your average fast food joint. If you like EXTRA spicy food like me, then ask for the extra hot habenero red sauce (or ask for the milder green serrano and jalapeño sauce if you want just want a touch of spice). This hot sauce is a must have!

Next, we sampled the Carnitas (Pork) Quesadilla, which was undoubtedly better then most you’ll find in the city. The flour tortilla is crisped in front of you on the griddle with a thin slice of Jack cheese, and the pork (just like the steak) was extremely tender and seasoned to the tee. Unfortunately, they were not as crispy as the New York Times described here. The flavors were great but it was seriously lacking the crunch a great quesadilla requires. Maybe they were having an off day - definitely an item worth revisiting.

Last came the Vegetarian Burrito with cheese, black beans, guacamole, salsa and hot sauce. According to my vegetarian friend - Dos Toros accomplishes the rare feat of providing a satisfying vegetarian option, without the second class feeling she frequently feels that accompany vegetarian entrees when she is dining out. But, word to the wise for any veggies: skip the rice, as it is made with chicken stock. The staff was kind enough to inform us of this and provided extra black beans to make up for it.