Favorite Dishes #92: Empellon Taqueria’s Fish Taco

Of all the tacos in New York, it’s the fish taco at Empellón Taqueria (230 West 4th Street, 212-367-0999) that most tempts our hunger. First, be sure to request the peerless house-made white-corn tortillas — it matters. Then get ready; the tacos are made to order, delivered mere seconds after tender, battered dogfish emerges from the fryer. The tempura-like crust shatters like Pop Rocks when you bite in, and each palm-size taco (three to an order; $21) has just the right balance of zingy lime mayo, subtly hot green salsa, sparkling-fresh shredded cabbage and jicama, and shaved radish. Accompany the tacos with one of the equally spot-on fresh-juice margaritas from the bar, and go ahead and cancel that flight to Baja.

Fork in the Road is counting down to our Best of New York City issue in October. We’re combing the city every day, one dish at a time, to guide you to the most delicious food in NYC. These are our 100 Favorite Dishes for 2015, in no particular order, save for the top 10.

Here’s our countdown up to now:
#100: Laminated Blueberry Brioche at Dominique Ansel Kitchen
#99: Egg Shop’s Golden Bucket Fried Chicken
#98: Ramen Lab’s Torigara Shoyu
#97: Cannoli at Ferdinando’s
#96: Breakfast Sandwich at Dimes
#95: Banana Royal at Eddie’s Sweet Shop
#94: Fletcher’s Burnt Ends
#93: Almayass’s Mante