One of the best parts of moving to Brooklyn is the tacos. Ask anyone who knows me, I could eat Mexican food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Whether it’s juevos rancheros, burritos, tacos, or chips and guacamole, I’ll sign up for just about any Mexican food related endeavor. Liking tacos as much as I do, there wasn’t a much better place to be than getting, and subsequently devouring, three different tacos from Brooklyn Taco Co. Officially located at N.7th and Kent, you can usually find Brooklyn Taco Co. setting up shop at Artists and Fleas, at N. 7th and Wythe. Wherever you do find Brooklyn Taco Co., prepare yourself for a transcendent taco experience. Upon first glance, I really wasn’t sure what to get, and it didn’t help that my foodie-partner-in-crime, Ting Ting Guan, told me to get everything. Stopping a little bit short of that I landed on three tacos: Citrus Pork, Chipotle’d Chicken, and Brisket.
Upon glancing at each taco, I was struck by the clean presentation and crisp delivery, as well as the level of authenticity in all three of the tacos. Now, I have a feeling that very few tacos in Mexico have brisket, there was no white and orange cheese to be found, nor was the meat cut into neat little cubes. Instead, each of the tacos had meat that had obviously been slow roasted to perfection, complimented with steamed corn tortillas for maximum taco-awesomeness.
The best part about ordering three different things from Brooklyn Taco Co., was the variety of flavors each taco presented. First off, I dove into the Citrus Pork. Just the right amount of heat from hot sauce mixed with the citrus of the pork. Freshly diced onions crunched along in every bite, adding a nice bit of texture to what could have, but thankfully didn’t, become a soggy mess. While the aroma coming off the pork wasn’t too strong, the meat was tender and flavorful, to the point where my mouth is watering right now just thinking about it.
After finishing up my Citrus Pork taco, it was time for Chipotle Chicken. This thing was a stroke of genius, and I’ll tell you why. My tacos were prepared with plenty of hot sauce and chipotle, and in addition to onions the tacos also had diced up pineapple. Instead of the taco having potentially lethal levels of heat, each bite was a wonderful mix of sweet and savory. Even now, I’m struck by what a good idea the chefs had, instead of running to the nearest stand to get a drink, I kept on eating because the taco put out any fires it might’ve created with hot sauce and chipotle. Again, the chicken was savory, tender, and through and through, perfectly cooked.
Last up, I was faced with an imposing but delicious Brisket taco. Marinated and cooked with the right amount of cumin and other spices, the brisket reminded me of all the reasons I love my grandmother. Unfortunately though, about one bite into the brisket taco, I started hitting the wall. My task became less enjoying the amazing taco in front of me, more eating so as not to waste the amazing taco in front of me. Additionally, the taco-nirvana of the Chipotle Chicken left me a little dizzy, not fully able to appreciate the justifiably wonderful Brisket taco. On the good problem front, the portion of brisket was large enough that it took me about ten minutes to finish the taco. If I hadn’t of eaten two other tacos though, I’d have plowed straight through that thing.
Overall, Brooklyn Taco Co., left me full, satisfied, and hoping that every taco I eat can be as inventive and delicious as the tacos they gave me.
70 North 7th St, Brooklyn, NY 11211 | Check out Brooklyn Taco Co. here and here.
