Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
Ethnic Eating Adventures: Taqueria Coatzingo In Jackson Heights
By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Aug 10, 2011
Modified Aug 10, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Aug 10, 2011
Modified Aug 10, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Welcome back to another installment of Ethnic Eating Adventures, in which we travel far and wide to discover the hidden culinary delights of New York City. Today, we're heading to Jackson Heights for some hearty Mexican fare at Taqueria Coatzingo.
Never mind the rumbling 7 train overhead and the gaudy neon decor inside: Taqueria Coatzingo, on the main drag of Roosevelt Ave in Jackson Heights, means serious gut-busting business. There's a smaller Coatzingo a few blocks up, but the one at 76th St is the main branch, and the best—and it's open until 3 a.m.
Get a load of the giant hunk of pork rotating on a spit in the window, topped with pineapple and onion to slowly marinade the meat while it turns—that's for tacos al pastor. Get an order, and maybe one of lengua (tender, beefy-tasting tongue) too. You'll be glad you did. Bonus points for corn tortillas that don't disintegrate under the weight of the taco juice. Then move on to a giant cauldron of posole, a traditional Mexican soup studded with oversized hominy (corn kernels soaked in a lime solution) and ribbons of fatty, salty pork, served with a DIY toppings bar of onions, cilantro and lime.
Other safe bets include the cemitas, giant sandwiches slathered with Oaxacan string cheese, refried beans, avocado, peppers, and various meats on eggy sesame-seed bread; or, simply point at whichever of the day's rotating specials look best. (Goat stew? Yes please.) For the ultimate Jackson Heights meal, waddle out from Coatzingo and head a few blocks north to Al Naimat, an Indian pastry shop with a rainbow-colored display of bite-sized sweets. It's fusion dining at its finest!
Tagged
ethnic eating adventures
jackson heights
queens
tacos
taqueria coatzingo
Jamie Feldmar
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published Oct 19, 2026
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
Food
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .