NYCReview
photo credit: Noah Devereaux
Chilo's
Included In
If you live in New York, you've probably come to terms with a sad fact: the tacos in this city suck.
Not all of them, obviously. Amidst the vast majority of places selling a plate of bland lumps of meat on microwaved tortillas for $18 and calling it a day, there are a good handful of spots that make great tacos. But those gems are few and far between, and they've all been discovered. Right?
Unless you already knew about Chilo’s, wrong. Because these tacos are some of the best in the city. And if you’re like us, you had no idea.
Our first trip here, we looked around the place expecting everyone else to also be whisper-screaming obscenities into their tacos. But no, that was just us. Apparently, some people have known about Chilo’s. If you’re one of those people, please stop holding out on us.
photo credit: Noah Devereaux
Chilo’s is a taco truck parked permanently on the back patio of a divey, Mexican-themed bar on the Clinton Hill/Bed-Stuy border. And it’s proof that the only thing better than a killer taco truck is a killer taco truck parked in the back of a bar. You never have to worry that the driver decided to try his luck on a different street, and the margarita supply is unlimited.
You'll get your drinks inside the bar, then walk out back to order what you’re really there for. You'll want three tacos if you're hungry, but you could easily put away four. We’ve undergone the challenge of trying them all, and the smoked beef, carnitas, cochinita pibil, and fried fish are our favorites (more on the rest below). You’ll wait - in agony, but not for very long - until your name is called by a man that very well may be the jolliest chef in New York City.
And why wouldn't he be? He's spreading the gospel of actually-excellent tacos. His happy vibes, coupled with music ranging from blasting opera to Michael Jackson deep cuts, mixed with a crowd made up of obvious regulars, makes Chilo’s an awesome, laid-back neighborhood hang you’ll want to stick around for long after you’re done eating.
Chilo’s is doing its part to make tacos in this city suck less. Your civic duty is to eat them.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Noah Devereaux
Fish Taco
photo credit: Noah Devereaux
Smoked Beef Taco
photo credit: Noah Devereaux
Carnitas Taco
photo credit: Noah Devereaux
Cochinita Pibil Taco
photo credit: Noah Devereaux
Pork Belly Taco
Duck Taco
Chicken Taco
photo credit: Noah Devereaux
Breakfast Tacos
Avocado Tostada
photo credit: Noah Devereaux