Carniceria Mexicana

MÉXICO 🇲🇽

First of all, if you are not following @tacoliteracy on Instagram or elsewhere, do it now. Besides having a real job as a professor, the owner of this account branches off into Queens eating, mostly Mexican in Jackson Heights and Corona. A couple weeks ago an interesting "house taco" and "house quesadilla" popped up there and immediately a trip was necessary. Northern Boulevard can be a slog from the 7 train in this summer weather, but Carniceria Mexicana joins the ranks at the top of the area's market kitchens and is open 7 days a week starting early for breakfast.

Sitting here for about 45 minutes total, it could not be discerned whether this was more of a meat market or a restaurant. They seem to be thriving at both just about equally. From the moment you enter the attitude is friendly and positive, and the hand-written signs are welcoming.

Don't jump the gun and order too fast, take a look to your left and right and on every surface that might have another item available for order. Those tacos and quesadillas de la casa jumped out on this visit for us as well, but for good measure the torta de la casa was thrown in to go.

Tacos here are all $3 and gigantic. The meats and ingredients are good enough not to need that heavy blob of guacamole that too many taquerias put on their larger "con todo" tacos. The taco de la casa ($3, above and below) revolves around fresh and thicker than normal cecina with small strips of cactus. A few strips of rajas, green Poblano peppers, give the taco a slight kick, but be sure to use their lovely house green salsa which ties all the flavors together.

Those rajas also show up on the torta de la casa ($8.50, below), a small blanket covering a thin strip of carne asada and a halved salchicha. The most noticeable item when the sandwich is cut in half is the white Oaxacan cheese, used in a very generous portion.

As seen in all these photos, it is further satisfying to eat these foods off of real plates instead of styrofoam or other disposable items. As with their meats, many of which are advertised as organic, Carniceria Mexicana seems to have a real interest in sustainability and stewardship.

The quesadilla de la casa ($6, below) is a meaty take on the classic quesadilla de flor de calabaza. In addition to these squash blossoms, they add crunchy bits of chicharrón and extra flavoring from epazote. Lettuce, onions, and more cheeses are on top and the whole things is wrapped in a beautiful homemade corn tortilla.

The rest of the menu items seem to be interesting flavor combinations like these, different takes on the standard antojito fare we all know and love. The few tables in the back are constantly full of various types of diners, some of whom are also enjoying larger plates of meats with rice and beans.

Another hand-written sign is taped to the window offering extra weekend tacos of suadero, oreja, and lengua, but seemingly unstated by pen is the barbacoa which I was told about during a brief conversation before leaving. Any day is a good one here at Carniceria Mexicana, but maybe those Saturdays and Sundays would be even greater draws.

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CORONA Queens

105-09 Northern Blvd

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