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Santo Taco Brings Bold Flavor to La Esquina Space
May 30, 2025, 12:30.05 pm ET

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Photo: Cititour.com

In a city that runs on tacos, Santo Taco has found the sweet spot—literally. Opened by one of the founders of Cosme, this tightly focused taqueria has quietly taken over the iconic street-level space at 114 Kenmare Street, just above the still-operating La Esquina restaurant below.

The setup is classic NoLiTa: a sliver of a kitchen buzzing with energy, counter seating for a front-row view of the action, and a few tables outside perfect for peak people-watching. The menu? It’s all about restraint. Santo Taco offers just five tacos—but each one is a standout.

There's the Steak Trompo with New York strip and sirloin, plus creamy avocado and fiery salsa. The Pork Carnitas is pure richness, thanks to a mix of pork belly and ribs, finished with avocado salsa and a bold tomato martajada. The Chicken taco is pineapple-marinated thigh meat with pickled red onion and a cool avocado salsa that balances sweet and heat. For vegetarians, the Mushroom taco (shiitake and cremini with squash blossoms) brings depth, while the Carne Asada loads grilled steak, potatoes, avocado, and salsa into a single tortilla.

Sides include guacamole with totopos and that same smoky tomato martajada salsa. Housemade agua frescas—in pineapple, cucumber lime, and palo santo—keep things refreshing, while a small cookie selection offers a sweet finish.

Tight, punchy, and quietly confident, Santo Taco proves that sometimes less is more. Just make sure you order more than one.


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