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El Idolo
Categories: Restaurants Mexican Restaurants Food Stands Mexican, Food Stands [Edit]
W 14th St and 8th AveNew York, NY 10011
Neighborhoods: Chelsea, West Village, Meatpacking District
- Nearest Transit:
-
8 Av (L)
14 St (A, C, E)
14 St (1, 2, 3)
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Alcohol:
- No
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
Our empanadas are the most incredible dining experience, awaiting visitors to New York's legendary Times Square. Nuchas takes the traditional Latin… read more »
71 reviews for El Idolo
Review Highlights
"I look forward to trying their tacos and sandwiches."
(in 39 reviews)
"It's nice to find such authentic truck food."
(in 43 reviews)
"The carne asada grilled EVER so perfectly and tender to the..."
(in 5 reviews)
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71 reviews in English
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Review from Cheryl T.
Manhattan, NY
11/23/2011
I love that they're open late. My roommate has been on the search for authentic Mexican food for a while, since she's been craving it. She was so excited to find this truck people the people actually speak Spanish, so we just had to try it.
I got the taco arabe and a chicken sope, for $3 and $2.50 respectively. The taco arabe was just plainly amazing. Heavenly. Perfectly spiced, and tasted even better doused with juice from the lime that was provided. The meat was juicy and tender. It was just perfect, even though it was messy to eat. The sope, on the other hand, wasn't as good. It was dry and tasteless.
I only eat the taco arabe from here, but the prices are definitely cheap. It's nice to find such authentic truck food. -
Review from JEWELe M.
10/16/2011
Despite just having some yakitori, the guys gave into the temptation of the taco truck parked outside!
I tasted their Burrito + Carne Asada tacos...delicious & definitely spicy!
This was my first food truck I have tried in NYC...it won't be the last! -
Review from elizabeth b.
New York, NY
9/9/2011
Yum!
This is what truck food should be like. Inexpensive (a whole sandwich for $2.50!), with a good variety of foods and salsas. Quick, hot, fast, fresh and very tasty. What more can you ask? -
Review from Brian B.
Richmond, VA
1/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Ordered chicken and pork tacos. Good thing they were inexpensive as they were some of the worst food I've ever attempted eating. After a couple bites of each meat I threw it away. Plenty of other trucks in NYC to spend your money at. Don't waste your time here.
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Review from Fred B.
New York, NY
8/2/2011
The best cemitas in Manhattan! 7 dollars. I usually get a few to last me for a few days, since I dont live nearby.
if anyone had better cemitas in Manhattan please let me know, i havent found a place yet.
(Its a north Mexican sandwich with mexican white cheese, peppers, your choice of meat, i get chicken, and a special type of a bun)
this place is open really late, i think 6 am, and opens late in the day, around 3pm.
The rest of the food I tried is nothing special: tacos, burritos etc. -
Review from Athena C.
8/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
We tried it the first time on a late Wednesday night and their tacos were all sold out. We were a little disappointed but not discouraged! We got their nachos with spicy beef and it was really big.
There were plenty of beef, beans, guacamole, and japapenos to keep you going for more. I look forward to trying their tacos and sandwiches! -
Review from alex m.
New York, NY
1/8/2012
REally delicious tacos, great home made spicy salsas. Its a little messy on the outside counter tho
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Review from Lovet O.
6/7/2011 3 photos
This place is not your authentic Taco Bell joint but whatevs lol j/k. From what I understand this is authentic Mexican food. My friend and I ordered a couple of tacos and refrescos.
The lime soda was good and light. And the taco was definitely different from what I'm used to but the meat was GOOD. I dont know what part of the animal they got that meat from but it was very good.
What threw me off though about the taco was, there was no sauce. I'm used to eating my tacos with salsa, sour cream...something. It was dry. But they do give you small cups of sauce but I didn't realize it until AFTER I finished my taco.
It was good nonetheless. Next time I have a late night cravng for some authentic Mexican tacos, I will be sure to pay them another visit and this time check the bag for sauce BEFORE I eat :-D. -
Review from Nick V.
New York, NY
7/10/2011
It's okay if you have to.
Overloaded on the cilantro, not enough onions.
Double tortilla is a plus.
Meat (bistec) was decent, but surprisingly not very salty at all. Could have used a touch to balance the spicy salsa verde.
Speaking of, they had great salsa verde.. not just great for a food truck, great in general. whassup with that? -
Review from Lily S.
10/3/2011
Got their sope with beef and it is absolutely tasty! Good thing I was walking around trying find a place to eat and decided to give this truck a try. Must have with spicy green sauce/salsa...yummy!
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Review from Ben M.
Jersey City, NJ
5/6/2011
Ok, so first, please know that I have never eaten from here in a condition where I am able to walk a straight line.
That said, I think the food is amazing. It's probably good in real life, but like I said, I am drunk when I come here and when drunk, this truck is top notch!
I think I usually get beef tacos.. -
Review from Truc V.
Brooklyn, NY
9/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
best food truck ive had so far in the city. I was starving before my ride back to brooklyn from 14th & 8th and here this taco gem was. I got the gordita (not your taco bell), for $2.50. cheap! but oh so delicious. as I type, going back for seconds.
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Review from Dea L.
New York, NY
1/22/2011
At first glance, this cart looks just like any other food cart around the block, unsanitary and the possibility that it gives a serious bang on your stomach, you know, that kind food cart. For one freezing & windy day, my laziness took a toll and my mind decided to try it out.
The food was not that bad, or simply put, it was better than I thought. I order #7 (?), meat on Sesame Bun, I don't remember the name for it, but it was $7. I chose chicken, but I didn't know it was spicy chicken (when I realized my mistake, it was too late to change it). When I took the first bite, it was fiery hot, I mean, it was extremely hot that my tongue felt like it can light a fire in survival camps. Then I looked at the bun, found out the cause of such misery is the big chunky pieces of red pepper. I dug out all the red pepper, drank plenty of water, and it became better. Thank god, I didn't have stomach problem afterward.
There was lots of chicken slices, me like! Soft Sesame Bun, me like! Red Pepper, bad! But I will definitely try more options from its menu. -
Review from Denean P.
2/6/2011
So often, I get off the L and the Taco Truck beckons me - Lengua tacos YUMMY!
I have a love / apathetic relationship with this taco truck. I am a Tex Mex, although I have lived in NYC for 12 years. I moved to the West Village recently and quickly discovered there was not any amazing Mexican restaurants nearby and so when I get a craving for some yummy Mexican food, the taco truck will do.
THE GOOD:
I love lengua (cow tongue) and they have it. I also like Chorizo and Chivo (Mexican sausage and goat) so in tacos all of this is pretty yummy. I feel like you can never go terribly wrong with tacos as long as the meat is cooked well and I always have some yummy spices at home to add to it if I want to adjust it for my needs.
I like that they put a cover around where you wait for your food to be made. If I had to eat on the street, I'd be comfortable to devour my tacos there. But I usually get them to go and walk a few blocks to my apt.
THE MEH:
I decided to try something different last night and ordered carnitas tacos, and it was way too salty for me. I have been going here since November, and every time the promise of horchata on their sign is just a tease. Each time I ask, if they have that or arroz con leche and am always greeted with a simple no... :( I should give up on asking, but I am a hopeful person. -
Review from Lisa D.
5/23/2011
If you are on 14th st and 8th ave and about to descend the stairs to wait an interminable amount of time for the A/C train to rear it's ugly head, a taco from the El Idolo truck just might make the wait a little bit better. I always get the Enchilada tacos, which consist of a double layer of (probably packaged rather than homemade) soft corn tortillas filled with spicy pork, diced onions, and cilantro with crisp radishes and a wedge of fresh lime on the side. These tacos aren't that spicy in themselves, but don't go overboard with the tomatillo salsa they provide on the side, as it is hot as hell (kinda like the A/C train). Service isn't by any means the speediest, as far as food trucks go, and the prices aren't as low as they could be, but you could do far worse in this neighborhood.
Listed in: Mexicana, Truckin' got my chips cashed…
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Review from Louise G.
Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY
9/15/2010
Are you guys nuts? Oh, that's right, most of you were drunk when you ate this crap.
No judgment - I had been drinking half the times I came here too - but after five (sober) "bad days", I've concluded it's just "bad food".
I've tried everything from the tacos, quesadilla, torta, 3 kinds of tamales; from vegetarian to chicken, pork, beef, goat, tongue and ear (yes, the latter three were the drunk nights).
Why try so often? Because I live across the road and I read all these positive reviews, which make me hungry. Now, I officially give up. If you see a tipsy redhead in line, please tell me to go home. Thanks. -
Review from lora c.
New York, NY
5/26/2011
The tacos and tostadas are good (we tried bistec and carnitas) but it's the tacos arabe that I would probably go back for. These aren't tacos that will change your life, but it's cheap, filling, and I enjoyed it. Toppings aren't too varied and the habanero sauce is pretty run of the mill but if you are in the mood for tacos, this will do the job. We took our food down an avenue to eat on the Highline, and it was the perfect meal on a nice day.
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Review from Alex P.
Manhattan, NY
10/21/2010 1 Check-in Here
My friend and I were craving tacos last night so we decided to try out El Idolo. This mexican food truck has everything from tacos, quesadillas, tortas, tamales, and burritos. I ordered the enchilada, asada, and lengua tacos as well as a horchata. The tacos were $2.50 each and the horchata was $3.50.
The verdict: The tacos were all right. The enchilada (spicy pork) was spicy, and in my opinion, was the best taco out of the three in terms of flavor. The asada (beef) was a little bland and the lengua (tongue) wasn't even that chewy like tongue should be. The horchata (cinnamon drink) was probably my favorite part of the meal. They give you A HUGE CUP of it (more like a small tub actually) and it just tastes so good when you're trying to cool off your mouth from the spices. The horchata is kind of pricy, but you definitely get what you paid for.
I want to come back and try the chivo (goat) to see what it tastes like. -
Review from M B.
NY
1/31/2008 ROTD 9/3/2008
El Idolo is a Mexican food truck parked at the corner of 14th St. and 8th Ave. that serves some of the BEST Mexican food in the city. It's only there after 9pm, and I still haven't figured out it's schedule since it's not there every night, but lately it's been there a lot.
How do I know it's good Mexican food? Actually, I don't. Having grown up on the east coast, I wouldn't know good Mexican from a Gordito. But the nearly all Mexican clientele is kind of a tip-off, as was the all Spanish menu plastered on the side of the truck.
When I spotted this for the first time, I thought, it can't be that bad. So I sauntered up to the truck, conjured up the remnants of my high school Spanish and said, "Yo deseo uno taco con chorizo!" thinking I was all down and shit ordering my sausage taco.
The worker looked at me and replied, "You want just one?"
Me: "Uh, why don't you make it two."
Damn good! The price for a taco, $2, is comparable to most places in the city but this place gives you much more bang for the buck- more meat, double layer soft flour shell, fresh toppings other than lettuce (radishes and limes). Ees goood.
Since then, they have added a second menu in English. I'm guessing they got tired of dorks like me. -
Review from Christopher I.
New York, NY
7/20/2008 ROTD 11/11/2008
Yeah--typical taco truck you'd find in LA. Only THIS ISN'T LA. And there aren't taco trucks zoomin all over the city parking wherever's convenient. So that's why, here in New York, El Idolo, and all the other taco trucks out there, are worthy of idol status. Plain and simple.
Had a carnitas taco here and it was spot-on. I hail from Southern California and miss the taco action just as much as anyone else. But unless you're destination dining for tacos in LA (see The Great Bandini taco blog) then this is a perfectly good taco. Nice crunchy, fatty pork piled on double corn tortillas, topped with a little chopped onion, cilantro and a few radish slices for good measure.
Light years ahead of any of these pathetic Mexican restaurants in the East Village/LES that just plain suck, because they should stick to the stuff they know--black beans and plaintains. No problem with that...love Caribbean food. But don't slap a big sign out front that says "Mexican Restaurant". But rest assured. El Idolo is not a false idol. You can worship freely, as you please. And I'll take a little hot sauce on that.Listed in: Cheapskate's Delight
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Review from Edward F.
New York, NY
You can find this Taco truck parked at the NE corner of 14th Street & 8th Avenue most nights after 7pm (they said they serve until 6am!).
I found this place accidentally while driving away empty handed from the 'Choke at 1AM (they were closing early on a weeknight, they sold out of everything). But when I saw the crowd of patrons lined up, I had to park and see what the commotion was about.
From steak, chicken, pork, "goat beef", tripe, and even a scrumptuous veggie taco -- they are all cheap at $2.00 a piece - see my pic for the complete menu http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
Note: They DO NOT have shrimp or fish tacos *bummer*
Almost all the patrons were speaking Spanish to the cooks, so I remembered my traveler Spanish and ordered, "Una carnitas y Dos Veggie tacos, por favor." His response, "You want a pork taco and two veggie tacos, yes? What to drink?" I also got a bottle of grapefruit Jarritos, paid him $8 and patiently waited.
Soon, many people were crowding around the taco truck and placing orders. So much Spanish was being spoken I couldn't make out everything that was said. But when my order came out I took it to the car and shared it with my partner-in-crime.
My first impression when I opened the styrofoam container was the generous size of each taco -- these aren't "two bite taquitos"! They come double wrapped in a soft-corn & flour tortilla (packaged, not homemade on premises). But more outstanding is how they fill these tacos with a generous heap of ingredients in the veggie taco: shredded lettuce, mexican rice, queso fresco (Mexican cheese), sliced tomato and avocado. The construction of the soft taco shell is also commendable: the tacos did not fall apart upon biting into it. The carnitas taco was also delicious -- the pork was flavorful and charred, and the crunchiness of the lettuce and the mildness of the queso fresco made this taco a tasty treat to savour.
Overall, pretty good food (I agree with Rocky P., if it's frequented heavily Mexican clientele, that's got to be a good tip off), incredible value. If it tasted this good while sober, I could only imagine how deliciously satisfying it would be after a night out drinking.
MENU: * * * *(NO FISH OR SHRIMP TACOS)
AMBIENCE: * * (what do you expect, this is street food!)
QUALITY: * * * * (Tasty!)
VALUE: * * * * * (C'mon, $2 tacos! You can't beat that!)
OVERALL: 3.75, ROUNDED UP TO 4-STARS -
Review from Geezy B.
New York, NY
11/17/2008
Could I ask you some simple questions?
Do you like your Carne Asade Burrito from a Taco Truck to be shaped like a fat ass wide load rectangle that falls apart in a styrofoam takeout container with the beans and sour cream on the side and not inside it? I don't.
Do you like your soft Chicken Taco & Beef Taco to be double-wrapped and taste like dry Home Depot wall paste? I don't.
Don't you like your burritos, especially from a Taco Truck, to be held tight in wrapped aluminum foil or greasy wrapping paper, shaped like a cot damn nuclear missile with the beans and sour cream inside the mutha-f*ckin joint?
DUH!!! -
Review from Lisa Q.
11/20/2008
The BEST FOOD in Manhattan.
The truck has moved to west 3rd St and 6th Ave though. It usually doesn't open until 9pm. This delicious baby serves up the real. The really real.
2.50 for a huge satisfying taco with the filing of your choice. They provide you generously with radish (to smooth out da heat) and limes. The taco has TWO tortillas backin' it up like a true real. Smother that puppy in homemade green salsa, never go home again.
HOME IS EL IDOLO TACO TRUCK
The perfect treat after work, drunk, studyin', walkin', chillin', eatin', breathin' oxygen.
Everything with cheese is cheeseylicious, gooey and stringy like a classic pizza. Each flavor is bright and fresh. The taco truck is god, the taco truck is my mother and my sister.
AH HAHAHAHAHA
PLEASE CAN IT BE TIME TO GO TO THE TACO TRUCK NOW?!?! -
Review from Chita D.
New Erection, VA
Updated - 10/13/2008
Wanting to give El Idolo a 2nd chance to redeem himself- I went back to see if they had Aguas Frescas in stock.
Guess what, kids? That would be a negative.
I guess my role-playing of being the pill-popping, booze-guzzlin' Paula on American Idol wasn't the best bet...I shall continue to be the wedgie-totin' Simon Cowell of Tacos (wiiiiith some booze-guzzlin' & mayhaps some pill-poppin' to add a lil' drama to the show...ya dig?).
El Idolo...you are NOT an American Idol...and you will NOT be making it to the next round.Listed in: In search of the Holy Land of…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/3/2008
Funny, I had been meaning to Yelp about this place, forgot about it & was divinely reminded via the… Read more »
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Review from John P.
4/26/2011 1 photo
I was starving while waiting for a friend and saw this truck. I wasn't expecting much, and they really surprised me. For $2.50 the tacos are pretty big, come with a double tortilla which is always appreciated, and comes with a bunch of radish and limes. I went with the bistec and enchilada. For a truck where you know the meat is just sitting around all day, it was very good. The bistec was a little dry but still not bad and the enchilada was great, a little spicy and very juicy. I'd definitely stop by this truck again if i'm in the area.
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Review from James F.
5/17/2009
BURNED!!!
Literally, I needed to add some flavor to the bland taco's I picked up here. I was obviously heavy-handed with the green sauce because I experienced the worst mouth burning I can remember. I wanted to stick my head in the toilet it was so hot.
BURNED!!!
I felt ripped off. I don't mind paying $10 for 4 tacos if they were good. These weren't. The 2 spicy pork tacos were flavorless, not spicy and rubbery tasting. The grilled beef was little better, but the meat was still tough.
I would normally attribute the poor quality of meat to being there quite late (3:30am) but they seem to cater to a late night crowd, it was busy while I was there. The service was fine, they spoke spanish and english.
This was lackluster drunk food, I can't imagine how bad it would be sober. -
Review from Michael F.
New York, NY
1/6/2010 1 Check-in Here
Nice xenophobia, John Q. You're a real prize. I think you left out a few stereotypes in your review, like the part about the Mexicans near the truck dancing around a sombrero while the mariachi band plays "La Cucaracha," or some such thing. You can always add that to an update at some point in the future.
What a do-ark.
Is this the most mind-blowing Mexican food on earth? No, but it's pretty good. For New York (thus far, John Q's recommendations notwithstanding), it's about the best I've had. No, their salsas don't touch the ones in SoCal, but they're decent and the pork tacos (Al Pastor, Carnitas or Enchilada) are pretty freakin' good, and WAAYYYYYY better than, say for instance, SUBWAY by a mile. Sheeesh.
Even better, they handed me a nice, fresh, brand spanking new t-shirt with my food when I went there this evening. Who does that??
I'll be back. -
Review from Álvaro M.
Jersey City, NJ
7/3/2011
Delicious vegetarian taco. Hot sauces are hot. Not exactly service with a smile, but who cares. The price is right.
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Review from Sammy B.
New York, NY
12/1/2010
I grew up in So Cal, born in Phoenix so i guess I am spoiled in the ways of Mexican food north of the border. The food at this truck sucks. It's not a jewel in the rough, it's just cheap food when you are in the MP district trying to save money because of the $15 cocktails you're paying for.
I live in Chelsea and when I'm broke and hungry I go here. Get something cheesy and spicy to cover up the bland flavors that dominate. -
Review from sean k.
New York, NY
The tacos on this truck are very good, but I just can't bring myself to give it a 4th star, because I've definitely had better.
I ordered the Spicy Pork taco. The pork was delicious, tons of flavor and a perfect kick. They serve the taco with just lettuce, no tomato. The two sauces they offer are a hot sauce (not too good) and some green sauce I didn't try.
The taco was $2.50, very reasonable and had a good amount of meat, considering I was assuming they'd hand me a bird's portion on a tortilla.
If I see this truck again, I'd definitely stop. But, I'm not going out of my way for El Idolo. -
Review from Kyle S.
Roselle Park, NJ
7/24/2010
Well the huarache with pork was good but the red hook ballfield cart does em better. The pork wasn't overly seasoned and it was moist. However, the horchata could've been better, it was a little bit thick and grainy but the flavor was good. All in all I'm glad that I stumbled upon El Idolo. It's a lot cooler than not eating decent Mexican food.
A bit of advice- Don't sit against the wall directly facing the cart. Me and my friend were getting hit with liquid droplets from the air conditioners in the apartments above us. No bueno. -
Review from Lauren B.
3/25/2010
I love the idea of street cart food. It's just fun. That doesn't mean that all cart food is deliciously awesome. This cart is pretty good, the food tastes authentic (and yes, I've been to Mexico, so referring to what this cart produces is based on my experience there) and the service is pretty fast considering everything is grilled and chopped and made right in front of you.
Also, great location, guys. Thanks for being about 200 feet from one of my regular bars. You are the best "drunk food" in the area, and so much cheaper than Cafeteria which I love to eat, but don't love shelling out for. And I mean sometimes you don't want to sit down and order with a waiter and wait for your food. After a night out I want my empanadas within minutes so I can hoover them, thank you very much.
This cart has good flavor, good eats and is cheap. All good things when its 3AM and I'm jonesing for something to help absorb all the vodka tonics in my stomach. Another positive sign? There is always, no matter what time of night I hit it up, a line. Moves fast, but the point is, people seem to like it, so why wouldn't you?Listed in: My Love Affair with Street…
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Review from John Q.
Brooklyn, NY
10/15/2009
Anyone who gave this god-awful taco truck more than two stars needs to make a trip out to Roosevelt Avenue.
If you're too lazy to venture into Queens then at least go up 10th Avenue a ways to Hell's Kitchen.
And if you're some poseur who "doesn't go above 14th street" you deserve to be stuck eating this crap and we deserve a filter that excludes your reviews.
I don't care if you saw a few low-paid English-challenged Mexican immigrants grabbing a bite to eat here. Were you expecting to run into them in Crispo?
I tried three different meats here. All dry, chewy, tasteless crap. The "hot" sauces? Putrid dishwater. The taco shells? Typical prepackaged ones and not worth mentioning.
Granted I didn't try any of the offal. No real "foodie" or "chowhound" has ever had any offal they didn't like. If you don't love whatever offal is thrown in front of you, obviously you know absolutely nothing whatsoever about food.
This taco truck wouldn't last a week in a below average H.S. cafeteria. Not even after mayor-for-life Bloomberg's and lame-duck governor Patterson's monumental budget cuts. Not even after Ronald Reagan's former school lunch czar is appointed Menu Director.
But some Mexicans eat here so the food must be amazing. Because no Mexican has ever put up with bad food out of convenience or because they didn't want to go out of their comfort zone. Only idiot Americans would do that.
All food in Mexico is spectacular and all Mexicans eat like reyes and reinas every day. They come up here and take crap jobs for lousy pay just for kicks.
Yes, Mexicans are choosing El Idolo taco truck because it's far and away the best available choice over the plethora of other dirt cheap options for Mexican food surrounding the corner of 8th Avenue & 14th Street.
El Idolo could almost get me to enter a Subway "sandwich" shop. Subway! If only I knew the stench of that nasty "bread" wouldn't render me unconscious the moment I walked through the door.
Well that, and because I'm not afraid to go out of my comfort zone.
Unless you're talking offal; no stomachs, brains or kidneys for me, thank you very much.Listed in: One Star Reviews Lead to Five…
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Review from d'N'L m.
Brooklyn, NY
3/27/2009
Raging hangover.. I found myself downtown.. Had to stop by Ottomanelli's to pick up a 14 pound pork roast.
I was l carrying this side of pig up towards Union Square Farmers market when i spot the truck..
I order the intestine taco, tripa... It comes out crunchy and cooked perfectly..
I take a bite and the battle for stomach supremacy begins. In the battle between whiskey and fried intestines, the victory can go either way.0
Spicy crunch tripa wins.. Fatality.
Dont get a burrito here just got a taco and keep moving to the next place -
Review from Dallas H.
Indianapolis, IN
5/18/2009
I like this place. They're open all night, hook it up fast, and have a nice selection of items, including gorditas, tortas, cemitas, burritos, and of course tacos. To the reviewers below bitching about the "bland tacos"--STFU! It's a TRUCK, not a fine dining experience. Think about what you're typing.
The vegetarian tacos are giant-sized, and the spicy pork taco is far from bland. Who could diss this spot? If you're looking for fast & cheap in Chelsea, look no further.Listed in: Top Taquerias
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Review from Johnny W.
New York, NY
6/22/2008
Was let down. The chicken tacos I had were on the bland side. My expecations were high though, cuz it had all the right things going for it.. open late night, taco served in a truck, hispanic patrons lined up, cheap prices, and the range of meat.
Great Burrito still serves the best tacos I know in the city so far. -
Review from justin p.
Jersey City, NJ
1/30/2009
I guess I went on a good night cause at 1230 1AM ish this place was pretty damn good.... I mean I was drunk but 3 Tacos con pollo for $5 dollars and they were actually pretty damn good. And I found the sauces that sit on the side to be spicy and good. I cant comment on the burrito but usually when I'm at taco truck I follow the old motto eat tacos. Oh and when at a Seafood restaurant dont order the chicken. I have been out to Arizona and I know its not quite west coast mexican but this places tacos are on par with the mexican food I found out there Or at least it was last night maybe this place suffers from inconsitency...
P.S. It probably helps if you order in spanish just a thought.. -
Review from Mathew T.
Brookline, MA
2/10/2009
I'll admit that I've never actually eaten at this place without being intoxicated. And while everything might taste better if you're drunk, the fact of the matter is that New York City has set a very low bar in terms of good Mexican food.
El Idolo easily passes the bar.
This would barely be memorable in San Diego, but it's as close as I can get to good, cheap, greasy Mexican food here. And while it won't make me want to go out and take Spanish classes, es muy buena. -
Review from Teri S.
Brooklyn, NY
5/4/2011
So, when I first tried it, I was blown away. Food tasted awesome! Way better than your average cart and a great deal. But then, about 30 mins after I ate, I could not stay awake! And I wasn't the only one! All 3 of us who had eaten there felt like they had slipped some ambient in our burritos. And it wasn't because I ate too much. I barely got through 2/3 of my burrito. Maybe it's MSG, maybe someone really did drop some sleeping pills in the hot sauce, who knows. Perhaps others haven't experienced this because they're eating it at 1 in the morning.
BUT, like I said, the food tastes awesome. SO, resolution is to only eat from Idolo late at night when I'm on my way home.
I couldn't decide whether to give them 2 or 3 stars in light of this. Awesome food, but not so awesome effect on the body. -
Review from Dan R.
Silver Spring, MD
6/18/2010
Thank you to everyone who recommended this place. I stopped by there on Wednesday night. I asked the cook what he recommended between tacos and the quesadilla and he insisted that quesadillas were the way to roll. In turn, I had the most fantastic, slamming quesadilla I've ever had. I remembered someone recommended the carne asada online and with the carne asada on the quesadillas, I was in heaven, or rather, imagining that I was somewhere in Mexico City.
Will still be trying the tacos and looking forward to exploring the whole menu. Viva El Idolo, el rey de 8th avenue!
