[Photograph: Jessie Pascoe]

Chipotle and Taco Bell, take note: this is how you do quick, fresh and tasty Mexican food. Named after Lucha Libre—a Mexican wrestling style known for its colorful masks and flamboyant tactics—La Lucha brings together a fun and diverse menu of appetizers, tacos, desserts and drinks. Equaling this culinary creativity is the space's decor: an intimate space with four-top booths and two-top tables, the cozy interior provides views of Tompkins Square Park.

But for fans of fried food, consider the Rayo de Jalisco tacos ($12): three tacos with a choice of meat—we went with the recommended carnitas—wrapped in salty fried cheese. Cheese, juicy pork, pickled onions, fresh tortillas, and house-made chipotle and tomatillo salsas make for some filling tacos. No wonder this dish was named after the famous Mexican luchador Rayo De Jalisco: fueling up on these tacos is enough to make you feel like a champion.

La Lucha

47 Avenue A, Manhattan, NY 10009 (map)
212-260-0235
Laluchanyc.com