Here’s something new for The Black Laser: taco reviews. I eat a lot of tacos and tortas. They are easily my preferred fast food. And I don’t mean goddamned Taco Bell or some vile, hellish misinterpretation of the humble, noble taco. Instead I like to eat from trucks and carts and stands and restaurants. At one point I was going to do a spate of taco reviews for the recent insurgence of delicious taco joints in Williamsburg, Brooklyn for Steve’s Word. Alas, Steve’s Word is no more, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still plenty of delicious taco places out there that you, my lovely readers, need to know about.
I’ve been working at No6 Editorial for the last few weeks. When I lived on the South Side of the ‘Burg, I would take the J train to the F at Delancey and then get off at 23rd street and 6th Ave, just two blocks from the office. Since my move, however, I no longer have easy access to the J train, so I’ve been taking the G to the L at Lorimer and then just getting off at 14th St and 6th Ave instead of waiting for the F to take me one stop. I walk up 6th Ave now, an 11 block walk, and it’s totally fine. Nice even.
One day I noticed that there was a taco truck, El Carrito Rojo, parked on 19th Street at 6th Ave, just after the Bed, Bath & Beyond. A bell went off in my head. A taco truck! I must try it! Weeks passed and I walked past the truck every day, but I never actually ate there. Then, today, on my way in to the office, I figured I’d stop and buy a carnitas torta there. For 5 bucks I got what might have been the single best torta I’ve ever eaten. It’s not just that I was hungry or that it was beautiful outside or that I had a sandwich loaded with pork and beans. No, it was something else. It was the magical mezcla of salt and jalapeño and guac and beans and wonderfulness.
If you work or live or find yourself in the neighborhood here, I cannot recommend El Carrito Rojo highly enough. The torta was the perfect thing for a beautiful Saturday in the office. Go.
