Taquerea Y La Fonda Mexicana   

The city's tiny taquerias, hole-in-the-wall restaurants, are inexpensive and generally serve the most authentic regional cuisine. On most nights, especially weekends, the tables at Taqueria y Fonda get packed with people pining for Southwestern Mexican food in a no-nonsense environment to the backbeat of a Spanish jukebox. Snack on the homemade nachos brought to your table and sip Mexican beer to start. Then skip the burritos and go straight for dishes like chicken chile ajo or chicken with pumpkin seed sauce and cilantro. The deep fried taco dorados are also delightful, and can be stuffed with a usual suspect like carnitas or something more subversive like oreja (pork ear), tripa (tripe) and sesos (beef brains). With cheap prices and a super casual atmosphere, it's a magnet for both nearby students (Columbia, Fordham) and downtowners sick of the same old Burritoville thing.