The first thing to do to discover good cheap Mexican food in New York City is to get over the idea that New York City means "Manhattan plus neighborhoods one subway stop into Brooklyn and Queens."
Our neighborhood, Brooklyn's Sunset Park (two stops into Brooklyn on the N) is a major center of Mexican immigration, and it's absolutely full of brilliant tortas, tacos al pastor, fresh tamales, and much, much more. Not so much for the burritos, which are really a West Coast thing. But if you're looking for great Mexican street food, get your ass over here and walk south on Brooklyn's Fifth Avenue. I'd say start at around 36th St, although there's a clump of good stuff further north as well, just north and south of the Prospect Expressway.
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Our neighborhood, Brooklyn's Sunset Park (two stops into Brooklyn on the N) is a major center of Mexican immigration, and it's absolutely full of brilliant tortas, tacos al pastor, fresh tamales, and much, much more. Not so much for the burritos, which are really a West Coast thing. But if you're looking for great Mexican street food, get your ass over here and walk south on Brooklyn's Fifth Avenue. I'd say start at around 36th St, although there's a clump of good stuff further north as well, just north and south of the Prospect Expressway.