Guelaguetza Reviews

Guelaguetza
4.5 star rating
43 reviews Rating Details

Category: Restaurants Mexican Mexican [Edit]
526 W 47th St
(at 11th Ave)
New York, NY 10036
Neighborhoods: Hell's Kitchen, Midtown West

1. Most important: The picture with the red awning that says "La Rosita Gro.." is not this place. I thought that someone was trying to trick me when I saw the actual place. (See my picture.) The place actually looks like a tiny bodega / mini-mart.

The food was absolutely amazing. It all seems to be made by this one lady in this tiny little kitchen area. The tacos are soft tacos on corn tortillas, kind of in the same style as Chipotle, except that your food is made fresh when you order it instead of... When does Chipotle make the meat in the metal bins? La Rosita also puts a ton more meat in the tacos.

Their quesadillas were outstanding, too. I also loved the touch of authenticity in that even their bottles of Coca-Cola seemed to be imported from Mexico. They also had a "tamarindo" flavored soda, which I tried. I assume that tastes like tamarind, but I don't know what a tamarind is. It was pretty good, though.

Things you'll want to know: They have three tables that seat two people each. One of the tables will most likely be taken by one of the owners' kids. So either plan on getting take-out, or hope that a table opens up while you're waiting for the lady to make your food. They also don't appear to have a public restroom (although I didn't actually ask). Since soft tacos are a little messy, you'll want to remember that you can clean your hands with lime juice from the limes that come with the tacos.

I highly recommend La Rosita. If you don't come here, you're probably stupid and a terrible person. (Either that, or HK just isn't convenient to where you live / work. I'm not going to pretend to know all about your life.)

2. I just moved to New York from LA and Ive been experiencing some serious taco withdrawal. Tacos used to be a major staple of my diet, and have been thoroughly disappointed by what Ive found here on the east coast. NYC tacos are some of the worst messican eats Ive ever experienced. Theyre big, theyre disgusting, and theyre packed with lettuce (wtf?).

Enter La Rosita. Wow, shit isnt *the best*, but its the best Ive had in New York thus far. I had 1 chorizo taco and 1 spicy pork ($2.50 each), and my oh my were they delicious. The family that runs the joint is quite friendly, aside from their daughter who upon my arrival to their restaurant, walked straight up to me and punched me in the leg. Unfortunately beating on other people's children seems to be frowned upon by society, so I restrained myself from kicking her across the room.

I'll be back.

3. My friend introduced me to this hole in the wall Mexican place a few days ago, and I ended up thinking about tacos all night. The next morning, I had the craving for more tacos, and made the trek from Central Park South to Hell's Kitchen once again in order to satisfy my deepest taco urges.

Now, I've lived in the southwest for quite some time. I've had amazing tacos in my day, and these tacos are simply one of the best I've had in the city. At La Rosita, I haven't had anything else other than the chorizo and carnitas tacos and the breakfast burrito, but all I can say is that the tacos are absolutely fantastic. On top of the double layered corn tortilla they use for the tacos ($2.50 each), the chorizo is just super awesome. My friend ordered the tex-mex quesadilla ($5.00 each), and said it was amazing as well. The breakfast burrito is meh.

All the food is freshly made, and you can tell based on the texture and taste. I would come here every day if I could, but alas, the one hour round trip trek takes a toll on my weak legs.