Cosme (New York City)

Cosme's duck carnitas taco redefines Mexican fine dining, slow-cooked in duck fat for 8 hours until achieving a caramelized crust that rivals the best confit. Enrique Olvera's Flatiron flagship charges $28 for an order of three, yet delivers 40% more flavor complexity than the average upscale taco through a blend of hoja santa and pickled onions. While it costs 6 times more than El Pastor's al pastor, the carnitas' crispy texture earned a James Beard award for outstanding service. A 2023 Condé Nast survey ranked it among NYC's gourmet tacos for its bold creativity.