This hip Bowery restaurant offers a somewhat refined take on Mexico City cuisine. The menu includes big-ticket entrees like poached lobster and a mixed grill plate, as well as smaller dishes like tacos, sopes, and quesos. One reader notes: "Hecho en Dumbo is a place that doesn't get the credit it deserves. People I know from Mexico City consistently praise its authenticity. I think the food is always great. Their fish tacos with smoked sable, octopus, shrimp and fish chiccharon are completely unique to NYC and delicious." Make sure to try the bone marrow and tongue tacos. (Krieger)

Tortilleria Nixtamal is the only places in New York that makes fresh masa dough, from scratch. Order the tacos and quesadillas to taste the nutty flavor of the tortillas, and make sure to try the tamales, which are also made from that fresh masa. For more on the Nixtamal experience, check out this video. (Yelp)

El Rey Del Sabor is one of the best options for Mexican food in Midtown. Critic Ryan Sutton chimes in: "I've been a regular at El Rey del Sabor (behind Bloomingdales on 60th Street & 3rd) for a few years now and I've yet to find a better spicy pork torta -- the cart's pickled carrots & jalapenos are what make the difference.And while I've had better tamales at, say, Empellon Cocina, these El Rey Del Sabor tamales are my everyday tamales. They cost two bucks are are, dollar for dollar and inch for inch, the most nutritionally dense source of fat, protein and carbohydrates I know of in the city. They will FEED YOU. And the lard ratio is just enough to keep things silky." El Rey Del Sabor has three locations to serve you. (Midtown Lunch)

At this Bushwick tortilla factory and restaurant, the tortillas come straight off the line and go directly to the kitchen. You can see the process through the glass walls in the dining room. The chorizo is the most popular filling here — it's made with cinnamon, dried chiles, and chunks of white potato. Order that in a taco or a torta, and make sure to buy a bag of tortillas to take home with you. (Photo)

Mexico City native Ivan Garcia spent time at Mercadito and Barrio China before opening his own place on Graham Avenue in Williamsburg. The menu at Mesa Coyoacan features a lot of small shareable plates like ceviches, tamales, and flautas, plus a long list of large plates like enchilladas and carne asada. The food here is considerably lighter than what you'll find at most neighborhood Mexican restaurants in New York. (Photo)

This growing mini-chain serves Northern California-style burritos, plus tacos, quesadillas, and platos. Dos Toros uses good ingredients, but more importantly, the burrito rollers know how to put it all together. The people at Chipotle could learn a thing or two from these guys. Bay Area expats absolutely love this place because it's the only restaurant in NYC that serves a faithful version of the NorCal burrito. (Photo)

One of the best dishes at this fun Williamsburg restaurant is the torta ahogada, which is two pieces of sourdough bread stuffed with beans and carnitas, topped with peppery arbol sauce. It's a real hangover-buster. The tacos and enchiladas are also very good here, and almost everything on the menu is under $11. (Photo)

One reader offers an endorsement of Las Margaritas out in Bay Ridge: "The best-kept secret for tacos is Las Margaritas on 3rd avenue in Bay Ridge. It pains me to let the secret go, but the people are the nicest and these tacos are the best i've had anywhere, at any price point."

One reader chimes in with a recommendation for El Sol Azteca, a sit-down restaurant in Jackson Heights: "I'm Mexican and I love Empellon, but I also like El Sol Azteca in queens. Great chiles rellenos and sopes!" In addition to meat dishes, tacos, tostadas and enchiladas, El Sol Azteca also serves monster cemita sandwiches.

Cascabel is a great place to go with a few friends, so that you can try several of the appetizers, tacos, and vegetable dishes. One reader notes: "Cascabel Taqueria on the UES hands down. Discovered it when it was just a hole in the wall and still stupendous and fresh even after its expansion. I live in Brooklyn and travel all the way up there for it." (Photo)

One reader shows some love to Taqueria Rancho Escondido in Kingsbridge: "Taqueria Rancho Escondido...is hands down the best Mexican I've had in New York City. It's a small, friendly place with incredible food - from the tortas to the tacos. Only downside, no liquor license." The Yelpers love the barbacoa.