Restaurant Radar: Pork Stomach Tacos Are Ready to Become Your Best Friend at Amigo by Nai

The pandemic might be shutting down old standbys near you, but that doesn’t mean ambitious chefs and owners aren’t using the opportunity to stop business plans. The latest example of people who refuse to believe NYC’s restaurant industry is completely dead? Chef Ruben Rodriguez and Juan (aka Billy) Acosta, who are collaborators on Amigo by Nai, a restaurant that opened this past week for dinner service. Though Los Angeles has been on a tear in terms of food media praise and new restaurant openings, the Big Apple’s taco scene needs desperate help, which may have been the pitch needed to convince Acosta to give this a go. Rodriguez, the chef at Nai Tapas, is teaming with Acosta to deliver on Carnitas El Momo’s reputation for serving killer carnitas tacos. The recently opened restaurant also offers the West Coast’s beloved birria style tacos along with cocktails (nice move getting that full liquor license ready folks). Amigo by Nai offers dine in service as well as grab and go, which let’s be honest is a necessity in this day and age. What we’re most excited about however in addition to the pork stomach tacos is that this collaborative restaurant might a sign of things to come as restaurant owners attempt creative partnerships in order to get people to dine out in droves. Combine one of LA’s most popular taco destinations with a NY fine dining tapas spot? This is only the beginning of what we’re about to see, and if looks anywhere near as delicious as the menu here, we’re going to com out of this fine. And full.

Here’s a quick look at some drinks and tacos you could be eating now instead of reading this.