Santo Taco

This Union Square spinoff of the beloved Nolita original brings the same commitment to quality that made the first location a neighborhood staple. The space is larger and feels a bit more polished, but the heart of what makes Santo Taco special remains unchanged: tortillas pressed fresh for every order that transform even the simplest filling into something memorable.

The steak trompo taco is the undisputed star here. Layers of ribeye and strip steak rotate on the trompo, seasoned with nothing more than salt, cooking until they become impossibly tender and rich with rendered fat. When those slices hit a warm tortilla, the boundaries between bread and filling blur into one cohesive, craveable bite. Most people who order just one find themselves right back at the counter for seconds.

Beyond the signature steak, the pork carnitas delivers with its ideal balance of fatty richness and crispy bits, while the location-exclusive shrimp taco brings something special—fried until crisp, tossed in fiery salsa macha, then tempered with a cool, creamy slaw. Vegetarians shouldn’t overlook the zucchini option, sliced impossibly thin and blanketed in melted chihuahua cheese.

What sets this location apart is the bar program. Swing by after work for margaritas made with their signature agua santa and spiked with spicy tequila or mezcal, all priced well below the neighborhood average. Add some five-dollar mini beers and a plate of the city’s best tacos, and you’ve got yourself a proper happy hour.