An "Authentic" Taqueria Opens In Clinton Hill

For Clinton Hill residents yearning for Mexican food on the cheap just a stone's throw away from the Clinton-Washington A/C subway stop — look no further. 

Occupying a small storefront on Fulton Street,  opened up Friday afternoon, serving up south-of-the border basics like rice, beans and soft tacos filled with ingredients from nearly every culinary corner of Mexico.

Cochinita is the brainchild of owner and Clinton Hill resident Adam Frank, who named his new eatery after a slow-roasted pork dish commonly served on the Yucatan Peninsula — one of the many regions providing the inspiration for this eatery's diverse, yet simple, menu.

"There's definitely lots of different versions of Mexican food in the U.S," Frank said. "I'm trying to get back to authentic regional Mexican cooking."

Starting with the signature Cochinita, the eatery's other soft tacos include the Pollo (chicken), Cecina (steak) and Rajas — a vegan taco filled with Poblano peppers, potatoes and mushrooms.

Tacos are $3.50 each and come with a choice of free condiments like cebolla (onions), rabanos (radishes), cilantro and salsa verde.

Vowing not to leave without trying the taco that inspired one Clinton Hiller to make his first foray into the borough's rough-and-tumble restaurant scene, this editor cheated on his vegetarian diet and ordered the Cochinita. For his part, the tasty, well-cooked pork was well worth the lapse, as well as the probable indigestion to come.

Another patron eating in Cochinita's simply decorated sit-down dining area also praised the restaurant's soft tacos. 

"I'm impressed, I like them," said Rico de la Hoya on the Cochinita's opening day. "Fresh, simple, good ingredients... I like to taste as many tacos as I can. I never pass up a taco experience."

Cochinita is located at 922 Fulton St. between Washington Avenue and St. James Place in Clinton Hill. Hours are noon to 10 p.m. daily.