Restaurants We Know You Want to Put on Your Radar: Gordo's Cantina

You may have heard of El Chapo the cartel leader, but what if we told you there’s an El Chapo made of bacon and hot dogs instead of cocaine? There is, and it’s available at the recently opened Gordo’s Cantina in Bushwick, Brooklyn. A hit vendor that’s been a fixture during summer festival season at places like Hester Street Fair, Gordo’s first brick and mortar location in Long Island City, Queens closed a year ago. That’s why we’re happy to see owner JR Savage find a spot in the five boros instead of taking his business to another city.

El Chapo. Photo: Gordo’s Cantina

At Gordo’s latest location in the charmingly gritty enclave of Bushwick, you’ll find plenty of tacos with carnitas, cochinita pibil, and other grilled meats, though we typically snag a taco gobernador because we like more obscure taco toppings, especially when they involve melted cheese on shrimp. If you’re feeling adventurous, consider an entree like the fish in mole sauce and stock up sides like elote or the ensalada aguacate. Finish your meal with fresh churros, and be thankful this restaurant found a way to stick around.

Ensalada Aguacate

Fish in yellow mole sauce

The new Gordo’s Cantina, which should be easy to spot thanks to those lights.