Taqueria Diana’s Nachos, One of Our 100 Favorite Dishes

Dish no. 26: Nachos from Taqueria Diana (129 Second Avenue)

At Taqueria Diana, a sliver of a restaurant on Second Avenue that holds a counter and enough dine-in space for about seven people, a sheet tray of nachos will set you back less than $10. Quality has not been sacrificed for quantity here, either — a mound of just-fried chips, fat with oil, is layered with white cheddar; jalapeños; sour cream; pinto, black, or refried beans (we’d go refried); and a meat of your choice (we recommend the juicy carnitas). Globs of guacamole crown the stack, and you should add salsa from the squeeze bottles sitting in a caddy. The habanero variety, in particular, adds a nice, bracing bite. You’ll want a beer to wash them down, but alas, Diana has no liquor license. Suck it up and have a soda. These may very well be the best nachos in New York City.

In advance of our 2014 Best of NYC issue, we’re traipsing through the boroughs and divulging our favorite dishes of the year. They’re presented here as a countdown, but we’re listing them in no particular order. Consider this a guide to what’s good to eat in this town right this very second.

See all of our 100 Favorite Dishes.

See the map of our 100 Favorite Dishes.