Enjoy fresh, from scratch tacos. From the corn tortillas all the way to the sauces and toppings everything is fresh at Otto’s in the East Village, NYC.
By Chris Cockren
There are few joys on this planet more substantial and perfect than the taco. And even in a city full of places slinging out these irresitible bundles of bliss, Otto’s Tacos just may be one of my favorites. Actually, it is. It is one of my favorites. It’s earned that coveted spot. Typically, Californians know tacos. And they are pretty darn particular. Most taco joints in the city are slammed and ripped apart by their derisive rhetoric. And although I’m not really a fan of Yelp, most people agree that Otto’s Tacos are legit. Even the Californians. All the tortillas are made in-house on the extremely cool tortilla-making machine at the front of the taqueria. And typically you see corn tortillas being doubled up in order to provide adequate structure to the inner fillings. Nuh-uh. Not here at Otto’s. Although on the small side (about 5? in diameter), the thicker-than-normal tortillas only require a single appearance per taco. If we’re being completely honest with each other, I’m not a huge fan of corn tortillas. Flour is my preference. But these corn tortillas are something special.
And yea, everything else is also made fresh, from scratch, daily in-house. The salsas. The guac. The marinades. And it’s high quality stuff. The tacos are about $3 a piece, and you’ll probably need 3 to constitute a full meal. Each one is topped with onions, cilantro, and one of their salsas. And if you’re rolling deep during your visit, feel free to add on guac to each taco for $.35 each. It’s worth it. So $10 for a meal. 
You have 5 filling options. The chicken and carne asada are both great and fully enjoyable. The carnitas is probably an even better choice, considering its incredible juicy tenderness. Normally vegetarian options are throwaways. But not here. The mushrooms are hearty, woodsy, and full of flavor. A solid choice even for meat lovers like myself. The shrimp just might be my favorite, even though I’m not what you would consider a shrimp fan. That serrano cream is so good. Grab a Mexican Coke while you’re there. It makes the taco-eating experience even more enjoyable.
141 2nd Ave
(between St Marks Place & 9th Street)
New York, NY 10003
(East Village)
646-678-4018
