Searching for a Good Taco: El Barrio, East Harlem

East Harlem, the neighborhood bordered by 96th and 125th Streets between Fifth Avenue and the east river, is referred to as El Barrio because it has been a predominantly Puerto Rican enclave. It literally means “the neighborhood”. Some people would even say it goes all the way to 142nd because Dominicans and other Caribbean groups ...

Cafe El Portal

05. November 2007 Mexican, SoHo 0
174 Elizabeth Street between Spring and Kenmare 212/226.4642 $32 for two, without drinks, with tip ♥ ♥ ♥ Good Mexican food is hard to come by in New York City, so when I find a place I like, I try to go back whenever I crave Mexican food that’s more filling than one taco off ...

Harlem Tamales

26. December 2006 Mexican, West + East Harlem 5
Corner of 145th Street and Edgecombe Avenue no phone number $1 for each tamale ♥ The Dr. texted me at 7am, an ungodly hour, to let me know that the tamales lady was there. It took me another 30 minutes to get out of bed and put on my jeans over my pajamas. I schlepped ...