September 20, 2007
A Slice of Mexico in Chelsea
Lately we've had tacos on the brain, particularly those that involve organ meats and creepy crawlies some folks consider to be Fear Factor fare. Given our taste for the bizarre, it may be hard believe that there are times when we crave nothing more than a simple pork or beef tongue taco.
Last night at about 1:30 a.m., we found ourselves in such a mood. As luck would have it we also found ourselves on W. 23 St.standing in front of Great Burrito, a hole in the wall that proudly bills itself as a spot for Tex Mexican Food, which the sign indicates consists of "Italian Pizza" as well as "Tacos and Tortas." Sure, we'd downed quite a few brewskies, but we were'nt going blindly into this self-proclaimed Tex-Mex/slice emporium. It was recommended by friends who know their way around a tortilla.
The majority of the patrons last night had a serious jones for Hawaiian Pizza, which made us doubt the quality of Great Burrito's "Tex Mexican" fare. Our spirits were lifted when we saw the beverage case brimming with Jarritos Mexican sodas and we promptly ordered up one taco de lengua and one al pastor. It quickly became clear that Great Burrito has very little to do with "Italian Pizza" or "Tex Mexican" food. It's a slice and taco joint. We couldn't help but smile when our tortillas were placed in the pizza oven. Using tomato sauce as a stand-in for salsa was slightly less amusing. That gaffe aside, the creamy beef tongue was quite good. Sure the al pastor lacked the subtle, sweet spices one finds in the taquerias of Jackson Heights, but Great Burrito still serves up Chelsea's best bargain Mexican at $2.50 a taco. We'll leave it to more adventurous eaters to evaluate their Italian Pizza.
Great Burrito, 100 W. 23 St., 212-243-0022
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This place sounds disgusting. What's next ... a review of Quiznos? Happy Taco? The side street deli cold food bar?
Quality stuff people.
"brewskies"?- nice one brohiem
The tacos in that picture look like something the pooper-scooper law was invented for.
I used to work across the street and I loved this place.
Pizza is a personal thing, and I am not trying to convince anyone of its greatness...but I think their pizza is delicious!
shit on a flour tortilla?
Pizza sauce on a taco is unforgivable.
"Using tomato sauce as a stand-in for salsa was slightly less amusing"
So i don't get it. You're talking about a taco joint that was crap and reccomending it?
Pizza sauce on a taco? Face it, NYC does not have good mexican food.
14th Street/8th Ave Taco truck is pretty damn good as well. Tacos are $2 but I don't think that they're at their location all week but Thurs thru Saturday night for sure.
Pizza sauce for salsa. Dios me salve!
Zaragoza Deli on Avenue A between 13th and 14th. That's all you need to know.
also i think the gothamist keeps posting pictures of tacos out of their own denial that good mexican food is hard to come by in new york. Each time they prove themselves wrong by posting pics that resemble cat shit/vomit.
By far some of the best mexican in NYC, and definitely in Chelsea, was for most of my life the Chelsea Kitchen on 8th and 20th.
Super tiny, filled with Mexican candy, trinkets, toys, and dried chiles, Chelsea Kitchen served one of the best burritos I've ever had. Unlike this place, all they had were chips, salsa, guac, and amazing burritos.
Unfortunately, it seems like Great Burrito will not be able to fill the void.
Gothamist proves that once again after a few "brewskies" they would eat anything. This looks like what I scooped and flushed out of the cat litter last night
I work right across the street from this spot. For Pizza, I recommend Maffei's. As for the Great Burrito, it's perfect as a post-drinking meal. Its mediocre and I would definitely go here over Chipotle. Sure it looks like vomit, but there are plenty of good foods out there that don't look that appealing. It's in Chelsea, I don't think Gothamist or NYers would expect this place to be amazing. For that, outer boroughs people!
Get off your high horse... NYC has plenty good mexican food. And its amazing how much we can complain when we are lucky enough to live in a city that has this many options.
Since when were we too good for tacos after drinking. I mean, McDonalds is no better. I don't drink and then want sushi at Nobu.
Thanks Gothamist, this is exactly the places I look for when I am drunk and don't have a stick up my ...
Silly eastcoast people, you know nothing of good mexican food.
I'm sure the pizza sauce substitution was due to the late hour. I eat here all the time and have never received pizza sauce on my taco.