Tacos Leales opens in Eastport

After less than a year, El Che BBQ, a fledgling Eastport eatery specializing in Argentine barbecue, has been succeeded by Mexican restaurant Tacos Leales. 

Pablo and Teresa Leal, and their family, have run a taco-centric catering business for about five years, but this is their first brick-and-mortar location; it opened about a month ago.

A full panoply of tacos is available, from the standard carnitas (braised pork), asada (grilled beef), chorizo (sausage), al pastor (grilled, marinated pork with pineapple) and camaron (shrimp) to less common Milanesa (cutlets) of beef or chicken, tripa de res (beef tripe), cecina (salted beef) and barbacoa (smoked goat). I was impressed by my order of cecina, barbacoa and carnitas, which were served with radish, two hot sauces (green and red) and grilled scallions.

The menu also features tortas (sandwiches), quesadillas, burritos, huaraches, sopes and more which you can takeout or consume in the small dining room (almost everything is under $15).   There’s also a small but well-stocked market offering ready-to-grill meats plus Mexican groceries.

Tacos Leales offers delivery and, as ever, catering for events large and small. Daily specials are announced on Facebook.

Tacos Leales is open Monday to Thursday from 6 a.m to 9 p.m., Friday to Sunday to 10 p.m. at 491 Montauk Hwy., Eastport, 631-801-2010, facebook.com/tacos.leales