Local Taquería Offers Authentic Cuisine

Located off Kenilworth Avenue, in the Hispanic heart of Riverdale Park, is Taquería Tres Reyes, a popular restaurant frequented by Hispanic residents. It's the place to find authentic Mexican food – in smell, taste and flavor.

There is a continuous flow of customers in and out of the restaurant, and of those that stay to eat, it's in an environment with so much care its like they were in their own home.

Although most people may think of tacos when thinking of Mexican food, unlike its name this taquería sells gorditas – a corn pastry with a meat filling, cemitas – a Mexican sandwich or torta, pozoles – a pork and hominy stew, mojarras - seafood, pancitas – or tripe and huaraches – or tostadas.  If you're unsure of the ingredients, no need to fret, the employees are open to questions and respond to every one of them with patience and understanding, although the knowledge of Spanish language in a must in this place.

Because it is a taquería, you can't go wrong with ordering their famous tacos. They are small, but enough, with a filling of beef or chicken and adorned with ingredients like green onions and radish. If you're really hungry, however, the best option would be to get the quesadilla, a torta, or one of their delicious flautas.

The quesadillas are wrapped in large tortillas and filled with the your choice of meat and accompanied with chili. The torta, is a sandwich filled with a meat, but unlike an "American" sandwich it's filled with black beans, fresh cheese and a spice that gives it a special touch. Of these three foods the best would be the flauta or meat also wrapped in a tortilla, but it's fried and decorated with tomatoes, lettuce, and cheese and a spicy green salsa. It's simply delicious.

No matter what you choose to eat, for a full Mexican culinary experience Taquería Tres Reyes is a great choice. Mexico is living and breathing in Taquería Tres Reyes through the smells coming from the food being prepared in the kitchen, to the colorful décor, to the chatter of Spanish spoken by customers and employees.

Editor's Note: Sundays are the most crowded, so if you're trying this place for the first time, go on a weekday if you'd like to get a seat. When you enter, order at the counter in the back, and you'll be handed a number to take a seat, where they'll bring you your meal. There are a few salsas on the table, available for you to add to your dishes. The red salsa is tomato-based and is the most mild, followed by the darker green, tomatillo-based salsa. The light green sauce, looks mild, because of its guacamole-like color but is actually spicy, so taste it before adding it in dollops to your meal. There's another salsa on the table, similar to pico de gallo, but it has habeneros.