Coney Island’s Dona Zita Crowned Best Mexican Food in NYC

It was a hot July day in desolate Coney Island. Forty three members of the Secret Society of Mexican Culinary Science met socially distanced apart on Bowery St. They ordered from a small stand numerous variations of tacos and burritos before heading to the famed boardwalk. 

SSMCS has been in existence for over 25 years. They have delegates from each state in the U.S. meet once a year to rate Mexican food in a high concentrated area of the country. This year as a result of Covid restrictions only forty three of the fifty delegates were able to make the journey to NYC. They arrived Memorial Day weekend and each member had the task of visiting three Mexican restaurants throughout the five boroughs each day.

However, this year something special happened. For the first time in it’s 25 years in existence the society all choose the same exact spot for being the best in the city for casual Mexican food. That place is Doña Zita, located in Brooklyn’s famed Coney Island.

According to Ray who is a society member from Las Trampas, New Mexico, Dona Zita had the juiciest shredded chicken, the freshest taco shells as well as the most extensive variety of toppings found in NYC.

Sadly, Coney Island had a dismal summer season as the Governor of New York would not permit any of it’s amusement attractions to open. However, Dona Zita is one bright spot in a challenging 2020. The Mexican food stand plans to stay open, weather permitting, through October. Now that a Taco Bell has recently opened on Surf Ave could this be competition for Dona Zita? “Absolutely not!” says Ray. “Doña Zita not only serves the best casual Mexican food in NYC also most likely the East Coast.” 

Visit Doña Zita and judge for yourself. 

1221 Bowery St, Coney Island, Brooklyn