Mercadito Cantina

172 Avenue B, New York, NY

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212-388-1750

By Chris Stang
May 6, 2009

If the day ever comes when I leave this city – voluntarily, by court order, or otherwise – my last meal in town might very well be a few margaritas, an order of plantains, and 1/4 kilo of pork tacos at Mercadito Cantina. The newest outpost of the Mercadito NY restaurants is all about tacos, and though the fish tacos have been the main focus of raves and praise for Mercadito Cantina, the pork offerings are not to be missed. Most everything on the menu is simple, well executed, and gives you that special kind of gratification you get from eating street food, yet the dishes are anything but pedestrian. The space has the feel of the Momofuku dining room … wood paneled, lively, and has a very similar seating layout. I have always had good luck getting a table on busy nights, and the staff is welcoming. Bring friends and come hungry … ordering the tacos by weight is definitely the way to go.

Food Rundown:

Paper Daisy
Believe it or not, this “margarita” doesn’t actually have any tequila in it. A mix of sake and agave serve as a stand-in and clever way around a liquor license restriction on hard alcohol. Nonetheless, the Paper Daisy goes down easy and still packs a punch.

Platanos Machos
These incredibly tasty fried plantains come accompanied by a ginger jalapeno dipping sauce. Order your own. Trust me.

Pollo Tacos
A minimal plate of two nice chicken tacos topped with grilled cactus and salsa. Though these are good, there are much better taco options on the menu.

Pescado Tacos
The celebrated star of the Mercadito Cantina menu, some say these are the best fish tacos in town. I have a hard time disagreeing.

Carnitas Taquiza
This one is my absolute favorite … not only at Mercadito, but as far as pork dishes in New York City go, it’s about as good as it gets. A 1/4 kilo is a lot of food for one person, so this is a good dish to share between two … you might want to upgrade to the 1/2 kilo for three or more. Served DIY style, the plate consists of a hot iron pot of shredded pork, warm taco sized tortillas, diced white onion, and your choice of two salsas. I recommend the verde and the veracruzana, but your waiter will happily walk you through each of the eight on the menu.