Taqueria El Chato

Taqueria El Chato opened on Manhattan Avenue in late summer 2024, in the small space that once held Screamer's Pizza, and within months it had a place in the Michelin Guide's 2025 New York selection. Behind it are chef Gerardo Alcaraz, a former James Beard semifinalist, and Chris Reyes of Williamsburg's Aldama, and their idea is a tight, Mexico City-minded taqueria: a short list of tacos, vampiros and quesadillas done very well. Meat burbles in a choricera and spins on a trompo by the counter, and the room is small, quick and lively. The Greenpoint shop is the original; the team has since added a West Village location and a stall at Time Out Market in Union Square.

New York Turk shared a lunch break here with a stranger in 2025. The order to beat is the trompo al pastor, which The Infatuation named the best thing on the menu, rich and edged with pineapple; get it as a taco first, then again as a vampiro, a tortilla grilled until crisp and topped with cheese and meat, or as a quesadilla. The suadero, a Mexico City favorite that simmers in the choricera, is the other must, and adventurous eaters can try the tripa. Tacos are priced for ordering in rounds, so start with two each and go back for more. Seating is limited, which suits a quick lunch better than a long dinner.