The Crus-Z Family Corp. – Best Tacos in NYC
New York City is slowly opening back up, and this weekend I was reunited with my favorite tacos in the city: panza de chivo from The Crus-Z Family Corp. Warm, fragrant goat topped with flavorful roasted onions, freshly chopped cilantro and your choice of salsa verde or salsa rojo. All held in a double layer of soft tortillas. And a fresh lime wedge on the side, of course!
If you are looking for authentic Mexican food in New York City, head to Jackson Heights and the bordering neighborhoods! In the 1990s the arrival of Latinx immigrants increased, and today’s Mexican communities in Queens can be found along the MTA 7 line in Elmhurst, Corona and Jackson Heights. On Roosevelt Ave, a main commercial shopping street, and you’ll find bodegas selling fresh corn tortillas, taco trucks, tamale stands, advertisements in Spanish and storefronts adorned with Mexican flags. Walk along Roosevelt ave from 74th Street to Flushing Meadows Park, and you will pass through many different communities of people from Little India to Nepal, to Colombia to Ecuador and, of course, Mexico. The largest concentration of Mexican vendors are between about 75th and 90th Streets.
Opened up on Roosevelt Ave 4 years ago, The Crus-Z Family Corp is serving up the best Mexican tacos in NYC. And, I have eaten many, many tacos (in the name of research 
)
The Crus-Z Perfect Taco Order
On the Crus-Z menu you’ll find tortas, cemitas, tostadas, tacos and more! So, what should you try first? Here is my recommended order:
Taco de panza de chivo con salsa verde (extra lime!)
Tostada de tinga de pollo
Side of fresh tortilla chips with salsa
Horchata or a Jarrito
Even better is to bring along a few friends or your family and order a variety of dishes to share! That way you can enjoy the tacos al pastor, nachos topped with chorizo or a queso taco dorado. There are vegetarian options, but they are pretty standard.
Panza de chivo is cooked goat belly, marinated in delicious spices giving it a robust flavor. This option is pretty mild on it’s own. Add the amount of green salsa that meets your desired level of spice. I love the slight front of mouth tingle that lasts a few seconds after each bite. A little heat to compliment the flavors of the meat.
Tinga de pollo is a shredded chicken dish using a sauce made with chipotle chilis, adobo seasoning, tomatoes and sliced onions. Crus-Z’s tinga de pollo tostada comes with avocado slices, freshly chopped onions and cilantro and a bit of crema on top.
Wondering where the name 'Crus-Z' came from? The printer of the restaurant's front sign actually made a mistake, but the family decided to go with it!
Getting to Crus-Z Family Corp.
Address: 87-09 Roosevelt Ave. Jackson Heights, New York 11372
The easiest way to get to Crus-Z is by subway. Take the 7 local train towards Flushing – Main St. Crus-Z is about a five minute walk from the 90 St-Elmhurst Ave stop. Note that sometimes on nights and weekends the 7 local train service is altered for station maintenance. If you’re coming locally from Queens, there are plenty of bus lines to the area, including the Q32 and Q33.
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Spots to Visit in the Area
If you’re headed to Jackson Heights for some tacos, here are a few other places to visit close by!
Louis Armstrong House Museum – A 20 minute walk away, visit the home of Louis Armstrong, the jazz musician legend!
Queens Museum & the Unisphere at Flushing Meadows Corona Park – Take the 7 train a few more stops to Mets-Willets Point.
Near the park, head to the Lemon Ice King of Corona for a sweet treat after your taco lunch!
Do you have other favorite taco spots in NYC? Let us know in the comments!
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They do look REALLY good! Growing up in Texas and going to college in upstate NY, I know it’s hard to find great tex-mex in the NE.
These tacos look legit! I have been living in Mexico for 2.5 years now, and I can see that these look quite authentic. Thanks for bringing this taqueria to my attention for the next time I’m in NYC!
Hi, Shelley – Thanks for stopping by! They are so good, and I am dreaming about visiting and eating my way through Mexico! But, for now I am trying all the local taco spots instead. So far Crus-Z is by far winner. I will definitely check out your blog when we start planning a trip.
Thanks for shoring your favorite Taco place! It looks sooo good that I craved for it. Visiting NYC is a dream and hopefully, I could try this place! Pinning this for later and more posts please.
Hi, Mikaela – Thanks for saving my post! I hope you make it to NYC. Let me know when you do, and I have plenty more tips & recommendations. 🙂
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