New York City has never had a shortage of tacos, but Santo Taco NYC is making a pretty convincing argument that there is always room for one more—especially when that taco involves steak, handmade tortillas and a little bit of Mexico City magic.
Santo Taco was created by Santiago Perez, the Mexico City native and former co-founder of Cosme, who decided to trade some of the fine-dining world for something considerably more portable: tacos. The first Santo Taco opened in Nolita at 114 Kenmare Street in 2025, quickly becoming one of the city’s buzziest taco destinations.
The star of the show is the steak trompo taco, made with ribeye and strip steak layered onto a vertical spit before being shaved into tender, juicy pieces and tucked into a fresh corn tortilla. It has already earned serious attention from NYC food critics, including a spot on The Infatuation’s list of the city’s best tacos.
And Santo Taco isn’t staying put. The restaurant now has locations in Nolita, Union Square and Greenwich Village, giving New Yorkers considerably fewer excuses to cross town when a taco craving hits. The Union Square location at 94 University Place is the bigger sibling, with an open kitchen and more room to actually sit down and enjoy your tacos without accidentally becoming someone’s backpack hanger.
The menu keeps things focused, with favorites including steak trompo, carnitas, carne asada, chicken and vegetarian options, plus a shrimp taco available at the Union Square location. The tortillas are pressed to order, which may explain why the simplest-looking taco suddenly becomes the one you’re thinking about three hours later.
So, is Santo Taco one of the best tacos in NYC? With critics, foodies and increasingly hungry New Yorkers saying yes, it’s certainly making a strong case. Just order the steak trompo. Actually, order two.
