PrintYoung & Hungry: Tortas in Morningside Heights
Awhile back—mostly out of the laziness that kept me from venturing anywhere above 14th Street—I made a joke to a friend about having no good places to eat in his Upper West Side neighborhood. Suffice to say, I never heard the end of it from that offended friend (and no, it wasn't Ed). Now, having moved to just a few blocks from said friend, I've found myself eating my words.
And those words are delicious tortas from Taqueria y Fonda la Mexicana.
When I moved out of Brooklyn, I knew I would miss Yola's in Williamsburg, right across the street from my apartment. I'd miss the many nights I could throw on a sweatshirt over my pajamas just to snag a late night steak taco before bed and the tortas always outshone the burritos. Lucky enough, my friend recommended a great alternative: Taqueria y Fonda.
Located just around the corner from my place, in the opposite direction of Chipotle, Taqueria y Fonda is the kind of divey place that anyone—young or old, but definitely hungry—can hold near and dear to their stomachs. This time, I went with the carne enchilada torta: spicy red pork with beans, avocado, onions, hot peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, and queso fresco on a soft bolillo roll. The outside of the bread wasn't as crusty as I've had it before—but I'm no bolillo expert and it was still delicious.
My roommate had the Giant Burrito, which definitely lived up to its name. I really look forward to eating at Taqueria y Fonda la Mexicana, rather than slothing back to my dining room (couch in front of T.V.) if only to have a basket of the great looking chips and trio of salsas, and literally rub elbows with the Columbia kids at the cozy cramped tables.
Taqueria y Fonda la Mexicana
968 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10025 (nr. 108th Street; map)
212-531-0383
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6 Comments:
My parents made the same remark when I moved to the UWS for graduate school. They've been eating those words now for four years and counting.
VoraciousMatt at 2:31PM on 09/04/08
I just moved to the UWS and have begun to fear that those words are true - has someone put a comprehensive guide together either online or elsewhere to find more great places like Taqueria y Fonda on the UWS? I'm looking for hole in the wall to fancy, cheap to splurge (but mostly cheap), delivery, best dishes, all types of food. I've been trying to piece together an idea of where to go from various food blogs but am not making much progress. I'm hoping to eat my fears but right now I'm at a loss. Please help!
eating out at 6:38PM on 09/04/08
Comprehensive? I'd never claim any such thing, but I've been to more than a few places (plenty of them cheap) in Morningside Heights (where I live), as well as West Harlem and the nearby Upper West Side.
EatingInTranslation at 9:52PM on 09/04/08
Your blog is definitely helpful, thank you!
eating out at 10:23AM on 09/05/08
@eating out: Y&H will definitely be filled with every good UWS place I come upon. Just last night, I had Rack & Soul fried chicken and bbq from around the corner--really good.
Jenn Sit at 10:30AM on 09/05/08
Thanks Jenn, glad to hear it. I've walked past Rack & Soul, but when I perused the prices it didn't look so cheap - how much did the BBQ set you back? Please let me know if you'd ever like some company on your excursions up here, I definitely qualify as Y&H!
eating out at 7:02PM on 09/09/08