Flatiron Lunch: Great Burrito’s Tacos Are Better Than Their Burritos (Go Figure)
Now that Downtown has its very own section of the site, what are we going to post on Fridays at 10am? Answer… how about a new column devoted to those lunches just south of the ML boundaries. Please give a warm welcome to Jason Lam from the blog Me So Hungry. Every Friday at 10am he’ll post about lunches in Murray Hill south, Grammercy, Flatiron, and everything in between… or as we’ll call it from now on: Flatiron Lunch.
Now that Zach’s out in L.A. eating amazing tacos in the sunshine, how about some taco love for our city in the snow? When my Californian friends tell me that a good taco in New York is nowhere to be found, I’d ask where they’re looking. They’d say, “You know, all you guys have is Chipotle.” Then I’d suggest they take a visit to many of the great Latino neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens. Or even closer, the eleven-floor elevator ride down from my office to the Great Burrito in Manhattan.
This tiny hole in the wall serves authentic Mexican fare –tacos, tortas, sopes, huaraches served with meats like al pastor or carnitas (pork), chorizo and even lengua (tongue). The tacos are served flat on two small tortillas with onion, guacamole, cilantro and hot sauce at $2.50 each. You’ll notice how the filling is loaded on when you attempt to pick it up without letting any of it spill over. It will spill over. The meats aren’t of high quality, but it all adds to that kind of flavor you get from those outer borough Latino neighborhoods …and may I dare say comparable to the tacos I had in L.A. this past Fall?
More pricier items include enchiladas ($9) and burrito ($7.50) which I do enjoy, but it wasn’t always a love-affair. It’s taken me some time to get use to the large grain mushy rice they use. The Great Burrito Style burrito is a good choice. It’s a combination of pork, beef and chicken. The enchilada is a big dish, but I have a hard time justifying if it’s worth $9 at a place like this.
They also sell pizza that often looks pale and dusty. Surprisingly, I always see someone ordering a slice or two. I took a chance this week at a regular cheese slice ($2.25). It wasn’t as bad as I expected. Not a great slice, but nothing like skating rink pizza. I’ve visited Great Burrito three days in a row this week and the pizza did look fresher every day, which makes me think it was all in the timing from when it came out of the oven. Wow. I can’t believe I just said I ate at Great Burrito three days in a row. No adverse reactions so far.
This taquería/pizza shop was mentioned by a few Midtownlunch readers back when I made my first Flatiron post. It’s been well-deserving of a write-up and I’m glad to bring it. Go for the tacos. Try everything else once you’re bored. Maybe limit yourself to two-days in a row …to be on the safe side.
THE + (What people who like this place will say)
- I love authentic Mexican-style tacos
- I like lengua tongue meat
- I don’t have to travel far for this style of Mexican food for lunch
THE – (What people who don’t like this place will say)
- I won’t pay $9 for enchiladas from a hole in the wall
- I won’t eat pale and dusty pizza
- I still can’t or won’t believe there is a good taco in New York
Great Burrito, 100 W 23rd St (btw. 6+7th), 212-243-0022
Posted by Jason Lam at 10:00 am, March 5th, 2010 under Flatiron Lunch.
16 Comments | RSS comments feed for this post
i went for their pizza once and wasnt a fan, now this gives me a little bit of direction when it comes to looking at their mexican food menu. ill have to try it again next week and see whats good