After extensive personal research, I present to you the best tacos in each state of the New York-New England region. Yes, that region. The results and data supporting them are infallible.
New York - The state's best taco is made in the world's greatest city (and will be even when NYC and LI secede from the rest of the debacle). Cabrito's fish taco (Carmine Street in the West Village) is the ciudad's numero uno.
Connecticut - Thousands of people drive past Connecticut's best taco everyday and hardly notice it, so I don't have a problem keeping the name of this tasty joint in my current hometown a secret. What you need to know to get there is simple, though: get off I95 by the Ikea in the Have, go to the black truck on the South side of the highway near the harbor, and order the El Pasero. Boom goes the dynamite.
Rhode Island - Um. They make good pizza at Al Fiorno's?
Massachusetts - Although few good things come from Mass, Anna's Taqueria gets it done. According to one source: "Anna's Taqueria is the best and everyone will agree. If they don't, then they are wrong." Truth.
Vermont - Not only is Tacos Tacos the best taco locale of that name (the T-squared on Nantucket, of different ownership, couldn't even win the battle for last in Mass), but this spot on Route 100 in Ludlow also features the best tacos in Vermont. And the best nachos. And the best burrito. This is pretty much a mandatory stop for me when in state.
New Hampshire - I discovered this place entirely by accident on a long, cold and dark February night in 2002 on an even longer, colder and darker drive back to Maine from a trip that included stops in Jay Peak, Middlebury and Montreal with TCD fans "Vinny" and "Dwayne." J O B S. Margarita Grille. NH Route 302. Smack dab in the middle of the Whites.
Maine - Trick question. Maine's taco is technically the lobster roll. Perhaps the most significant psychological question of any lifetime is: what would you choose if faced with the tragedy of only being able to eat either a fresh pesque taco or a Maine lobster roll for the rest of your life? Deep thoughts. Anyway, the location of the best lobster roll in Maine is a highly, highly contentious subject. Personally, I think I make a damn good one when in state. Although this constitutes as cheating, the best lobster rolls in Maine can be found at Town Landing Market in Falmouth and Fat Boys in Brunswick.
All COMMENTS to the contrary will be considered by the author to be completely erroneous.
Great post and from the places on that list (ahem, Anna's) that I've eaten at, I'd have to say I agree. I just want to add a couple of things. Ski towns, full of bros, bums and people who love altered states of mind are also havens for brilliant taco/burrito production. Having lived in the great West for several years myself, I think there are 4 noteworthy places to mention.
ReplyDelete1. Teocali Tamale - Crested Butte. Hands down the best I've had. Might be some combination of the attributes I mention above but damn!
2. Azteca - Steamboat Springs.
3. Unnamed - Salida, CO. Best fish tacos in the least likely place to have good fish tacos. Hold in the wall place that does NOT look inviting. Brave it, it's worth it.
4. Illigal Pete's - SLC.
Sick Town Landing shoutout! Remember when Joshuas (Brunswick, ME) used to have the unlimited taco bar night every Wednesday with the purchase of one brew-ha? Though a fairly generic set up, it was nice to destroy 8 tacos and then unintentionally munson yourself on a Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteEl Rayo in Portland, Maine is the new gem of the Maine taco scene. Trick questions not necessary.
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