NYC News
From Pushcart to Powerhouse: Chef Rodrigo Abrajan’s Journey to Casa Bond
May 29, 2025, 4:27.39 pm ET
“I started in the summer of 1993 selling tacos from a pushcart in East Harlem,” recalls Executive Chef /Owner Rodrigo Abrajan, from his the sleek, art-filled dining room of Casa Bond on the Bowery. “That’s how this whole great adventure began.”
Three decades later, Abrajan is at the helm of one of NYC’s most exciting modern Mexican restaurants—a vibrant celebration of regional flavors from the Pacific coast to the highlands of Sinaloa. At Casa Bond, the food is deeply personal and wildly refined: think Lobster Guacamole with heirloom tomatoes and habanero, Duck Confit in Mole Mixteco made with over two dozen ingredients, and the city’s first Aguachile Negro—a bold, Sinaloa-style beef ceviche with yuzu and avocado foam.
Photos: Casa Bond
The journey from a corner taco stand to this polished, Tulum-inspired destination wasn’t quick or easy. Abrajan built his reputation with the beloved El Paso Taqueria in Harlem, where his dedication to technique and flavor earned neighborhood acclaim. Today, his evolution continues with a menu that’s at once rooted in tradition and entirely his own.
Cititour sat down with Chef Rodrigo for an exclusive conversation about his culinary roots and the rise of Casa Bond in NoHo.
See the full interview here.
To learn more about Chef Rodrigo and Casa Bond visit www.casabondnoho.com
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