Two brothers, Oliver and Leo, traveled from California to the East coast and they had the biggest cultural shock ever in NYC! There were no real Taqueria (taco stalls) in NYC! Certainly not like the ones they loved in their native Northern California. Hence they decided to remedy this dramatic situation, and Dos Toros was born!
Dos Toros Taqueria: finally a fast-casual restaurant where vegetables are fresh, where real chicken is on the grill, and where all the meats are 100% naturally raised, antibiotic- and hormone-free.
In America, there are added hormones and antibiotics in the meat which is allowed by the USDA, yet more and more Americans are concerned about the quality of food sold in supermarkets. In Europe, adding growth hormones and antibiotics is totally forbidden. In 2014, the European trade commissioner told Washington that the transatlantic free trade agreement would in no way allow USA beef with hormones to be imported into the European Union.
As a European, I’m particularly concerned about hormones in meat, and I try to buy naturally raised animal meat as often as possible. So when I saw a restaurant, a fast-food chain no less, using natural products, I got very excited to try it!
Besides the meat, Dos Toros affirms that there are no GMOs in the flour tortillas, corn tortillas, and rice and that they compost all kitchen food waste. Their utensils are all compostable: cups, straws, bags, and plates.
The décor is very farm-like. The chairs, tables, the counter, and paneling are all made from reclaimed wood, meaning wood that is recycled and used in new buildings or furniture. The kitchen is made of stainless steel, making it very hygienic and easy to clean.
It was 1 o’clock in the afternoon when I decided to have a bite at a Dos Toros. The line was quite long when I arrived but they are many behind the counter and they work fast.
The menu offers tacos, burritos, salads, and quesadillas. All are offered as vegetarian, or the customer can add chicken, beef, or pork. All kinds of vegetables, crudités, and sauce can also be added. While I was waiting for my quesadilla I could see the cook grilling the chicken and the pork. I wanted to take a picture to show you that the meat is actually real, but two charming ladies photobombed! Oh well, I have two smiley faces instead!
I ordered a pork quesadilla. An assembly line started with one person who warmed the tortillas, then another one served the meat and passed my quesadilla to the vegetable station, where I chose the vegetables, cold or hot, and the last server asked for my choice of sauce. He wrapped my quesadilla in aluminum foil (the only non-recyclable item in the store) to keep it warm and I was ready to pay! All of it took only a few minutes.
I was able to grab a seat at the window and savor my quesadilla. It was really tasty and felt homemade. The portions are big and the filling very generous. I took a picture of the salad my neighbor ordered. It looked very good.
There are ten Dos Toros Taqueria locations in Manhattan and two in Brooklyn. You can find the locations on their website. I’m sure Manhattan will soon have a Dos Toros on every corner!
Dos Toros Taqueria
636 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10022
📞 (347) 486-5856
Price: $
