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The Taco Project’s menu features tacos with fillings like classic ground beef, free-range chicken, skirt steak, tempura-battered shrimp, and fish tacos with choice of sauteed or battered and fried cod.
Mojo pulled pork tacos by ATC South St., a new taco bar in Litchfield by the owners of @ The Corner.
Tacos and tequila by ATC South St., a new taco bar in Litchfield by the owners of @ The Corner.
A traditional falafel taco and turkey schawarma taco on pita are served at Falafel Taco in Greenwich, Conn. Wednesday, July 20, 2022. The new fast-casual restaurant, located at 28 Greenwich Ave., combines Mexican and Israeli tastes featuring dishes like the turkey schwarma taco, chicken mole on laffa, pita nachos, and of course the classic falafel taco.
Birria ramen and tacos from MilSabores in Bridgeport, which specializes in Mexican and Venezuelan food.
Fish tacos with chipotle mayonnaise, pickled cabbage, apple and habanero with mint from Happy Monkey in Greenwich.
October 4 is National Taco Day, and Connecticut has just about every type of taco you could ever want, from delightfully dippable, beefy birria to intriguing fusion taco options featuring Asian and Mediterranean flavors. You can even find locally-produced versions of the Choco Taco, which Klondike discontinued this summer.
Here’s a roundup of 10 new taco joints in Connecticut, from traditional to creative.
Don’t forget to check out Connecticut Magazine’s list of best Mexican restaurants, and find out more about the the 2022 Connecticut Taco and Margarita Festival, coming to Bridgeport Oct. 15.
Birria quesitacos from MilSabores in Bridgeport, which specializes in Mexican and Venezuelan food.
MilSabores started out as a popular Norwalk-based Mexican and Venezuelan food truck in 2019, and its success with trendy birria tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, tortas and even ramen helped owners Edwin and Yohana Mondragon open their first brick-and-mortar in November.
At the small and casual Bridgeport storefront, with just a few dine-in tables, the Mondragons showcase dishes from both their cultures. Edwin is Mexican and Yohana is Venezuelan, and tacos, burritos, nachos and tortas share equal menu space with arepas, empanadas operadas and patacon (sandwiches made with fried green plantains serving as “bread.”)
2043 Fairfield Ave., 203-345-2747, @milsaboresct.
Clockwise from top; Sizzling shrimp, warm tortilla chips, three salsas and sweet pea guacamole, passion fruit margarita and basil jalapeño margarita from Happy Monkey in Greenwich.
Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten opened Happy Monkey, his new Latin-influenced eatery, June 24 on Greenwich Avenue. The menu features shareable snacks, small and large plates, crudos, salads and tacos complemented by sangrias, margaritas and tequila.
At Happy Monkey, guests can expect some signatures from Vongerichten’s popular ABC Cocina in Manhattan, like arroz con pollo and grilled maitake mushroom with goat cheese and Fresno chiles. Vongerichten said guests have so far enjoyed a Gulf shrimp “aqua diablo” crudo dish with banana and almonds, a squash blossom quesadilla, sweet pea guacamole with sunflower seeds, heirloom tomato salad and all of Happy Monkey’s tacos, with fillings like crispy fish, shrimp with spicy citrus peanut slaw and roasted mushroom with sour cherry mole and mint.
376 Greenwich Ave., 203-405-5787, @happymonkeygreenwich.
El Santo in West Hartford Center, which opened in May, specializes in tequila and mezcal, with a menu inspired by the dishes of Mexico City. Diners will find tacos filled with ribeye, al pastor, birria, fish and shrimp, along with entrees like enchiladas, fajitas and cochinita pibil. A particular emphasis on seafood dishes spotlights ceviche and aguachile, arroz con mariscos and pescado zarandeado (grilled whole fish.) Cocktails include a mezcal-based Negroni and a smoked Paloma, as well as six specialty flavored margaritas.
970 Farmington Ave., 860-206-4698, @elsantoct.
Tacos and tequila by ATC South St., a new taco bar in Litchfield by the owners of @ The Corner.
The team behind @ The Corner opened ATC South St. in mid-November, focusing on tacos with proteins like Tajin-braised chicken thigh, mojo-braised pulled pork and chipotle-marinated skirt steak; small plates (passion fruit ceviche, pepita-crusted goat cheese croquettes, tamales) and desserts, including Nutella-filled churros and a tres leches cake with popped candy corn and key lime syrup. Cocktails highlight spirits like tequila, rum, mezcal and Litchfield Distillery’s own vanilla bourbon with tropical flavors.
3 West St., 860-567-8882, @atcsouthst.
The Taco Project’s menu features tacos with fillings like classic ground beef, free-range chicken, skirt steak, tempura-battered shrimp, and fish tacos with choice of sauteed or battered and fried cod.
The Taco Project opened in Stamford April 12, with a menu of tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, salads, desserts and cocktails.
Tacos are available with 10 different fillings: classic ground beef, free-range chicken, skirt steak, tempura-battered shrimp, and fish tacos with choice of sauteed or battered and fried cod. Others include BBQ pulled pork, marinated in housemade barbecue sauce; chorizo with potatoes, braised pork belly with pineapple glaze and a Cajun salmon with wasabi slaw.
This is the fifth Taco Project, with four others in Westchester County (Bronxville, Pleasantville, Tarrytown and Yonkers.)
1111 High Ridge Road, 203-703-9495, @tacoproject.
Tony Camilleri adds a new fast-casual Mexican spot, Toro Mexican Street Food in West Hartford, to his collection of Spanish-inspired restaurants.
Tony Camilleri adds a new fast-casual Mexican spot to his collection of Spanish-inspired restaurants (Toro Loco in Farmington, Toro Taberna in West Hartford). His new street-food eatery is built for quick meals, takeout and delivery, offering tacos, quesadillas, burritos and bowls, salads, burgers and family meals. Other specialties include antojitos (small bites like street corn esquites, pork belly and fried plantains), and a Mexican-style corn dog with chorizo wrapped in corn masa. Like Camilleri’s other restaurants, Toro Mexican’s menu is fully gluten-free.
22 Raymond Road, facebook.com/ToroMexicanStreetFood, @toro_mexican_street_food.
Lucky Taco’s new Vernon location offers its signature fusion-style tacos, burritos and quesadillas, with fillings like kung pao chicken (pictured), island jerk pork, Nashville hot fried chicken and Korean brisket with kimchi.
Lucky Taco’s second restaurant opened in mid-November, offering fast-casual counter service, beer and margaritas. Like its Manchester flagship, the Vernon menu features creative fusion-style tacos, burritos and quesadillas, with fillings like kung pao chicken, island jerk pork, Nashville hot fried chicken and Korean brisket with kimchi.
81 East St., 860-454-4791, @luckytacoct.
Mari Cruz Rivera, sous chef, slices meat in the kitchen of Los Rivera Cafe, at 1 Ives Street, in Danbury, Conn. The restaurant is owned by her daughter-in-law, Diana Rivera , who opened the restaurant, after her husband came up with the idea because of his mothers great cooking. The restaurant serves authentic Mexican food. Wednesday, December 29, 2021. Chef Juan Ladino watches.
Los Rivera Cafe, which opened in December, spotlights authentic Mexican food: tacos with fillings like grilled steak, pork al pastor, fish, shrimp and tripe; bistec Azteca and chicken in mole sauce. Quesadillas, tostadas, burritos and enchiladas round out the menu, with brunch offerings including huevos rancheros. A molcajete dish with assorted meats, rice, beans and nopales (cactus) is served in the traditional stone mortar and pestle.
1 Ives St., 203-826-7931, facebook.com/losriveracafee
A Chile Relleno at the new VivaZ Cantina Mexican restaurant at 161 Park St. in New Haven Feb. 10, 2022.
The former Viva Zapata is home to a new Mexican restaurant. VivaZ, which opened Jan. 6 — Three Kings Day — aims to continue being a great place to hang out and drink margaritas, mojitos, micheladas and such, owner Bernardino Lanche said.
This new iteration in the space offers authentic Mexican specialties, such as costillas en salsa verde (Mexican pork ribs in a green tomatillo sauce) and quesabirria (a spiced beef quesadilla served with beef consommé for dunking.)
161 Park St., 475-238-6390, @vivaznewhaven.
Chicken tacos on corn tortillas are served at Falafel Taco in Greenwich, Conn. Wednesday, July 20, 2022. The new fast-casual restaurant, located at 28 Greenwich Ave., combines Mexican and Israeli tastes featuring dishes like the turkey schwarma taco, chicken mole on laffa, pita nachos, and of course the classic falafel taco.
Falafel Taco, the newest entry in the dining scene on Greenwich Avenue, represents the fusion of two cultures that many might be surprised to find going hand in hand when it comes to cuisine.
Owners Jonathan Langsam and Rosie Hernandez Langsam married the Israeli-style of cooking with the Mexican style, creating what their family calls “Mex-Raeli” food. Traditional favorites with a twist are on the menu, including a chicken schnitzel taco with a fried cutlet; French fries; an Israeli salad; a turkey schawarma taco; a sabich taco with fried eggplant and hummus; a Tel Aviv taco with fried fish, cabbage, hummus and Mexican brown rice; and the traditional falafel taco with chickpea falafel, tahini sauce and hummus.
28 Greenwich Ave., 203-485-0088, @falafeltaco.
Leeanne is the food and consumer reporter for Hearst Connecticut, handling coverage of restaurant openings and closings, trends, events and general news about CT food and beverage businesses.
She’s been working in Connecticut news for more than 15 years, most recently as the food and dining reporter for the Hartford Courant. A native of Worcester, Mass., she holds a master’s degree in journalism from Quinnipiac University.
Julia Perkins has been a reporter with The News-Times since June 2016 and covers the towns of Bethel and Brookfield. She also has covered breaking news for Hearst Connecticut on weekend mornings. Graduating from Quinnipiac University in 2016, she served as the editor-in-chief of The Quinnipiac Chronicle, the weekly, student-run newspaper. She is a huge “Harry Potter” fan.
Mark Zaretsky, a Chicago native and longtime New Haven resident, is an award-winning reporter and music writer for the New Haven Register and Hearst Connecticut Media. His beats include East Haven and Branford, regional issues and occasional blues and roots music stories. He also makes a point of knowing where all the good ethnic and hole-in-the-wall restaurants, bars and bakeries are — and is an unapologetic Cubs, Bears, Blackhawks and Bulls fan. In addition to his work as a journalist, Zaretsky is a front man for The Cobalt Rhythm Kings and The Chicago Dawgs and occasionally performs with Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Mark Naftalin and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band.
Ken Borsuk has been a reporter for Greenwich Time since 2015 but has been covering Greenwich news since 2000. He has extensively covered local government including the Board of Selectmen, Board of Estimate Taxation and Representative Town Meeting.