Fans of El Primo Red Tacos can soon pig out at Tacos El Porky

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

There's a changing of the taco guard at 151 Avenue A between Ninth Street and 10th Street. 

After four months in business, the Miami-based El Primo Red Tacos will change over to its sister restaurant, Tacos El Porky, in the coming weeks. 

We hadn't seen El Primo open lately. Management confirmed the El Porky switcheroo in an Instagram message.

The new quick-serve establishment specializes in tacos al pastor. You can find their menu here.

El Primo Red Tacos, with its birria tacos, debuted on Sept. 7.

First sign of El Primo Red Tacos on Avenue A

Photos by Steven

Taco signage went up yesterday at 151 Avenue A between Ninth Street and 10th Street ... where the first NYC outpost of Miami-based pop-up hit El Primo Red Tacos is expected to open early next month. (Sept. 7, per Google.)

As the name suggests, El Primo specializes in "red tacos," which Eater Miami describes as "birria tacos dipped in a soup-like liquid that gives them a red glow." 

And more from Eater:

El Primo "focuses only on birria, a slow beef shoulder cooked in a “red” stew made with tomatoes and seasonings. The chefs then fill tacos with the beef, which also stains the tortilla giving them that red color, and then serves it with a side of broth made with the birria cooking liquid to dip the tacos in."

Reps for owner Frank Neri appeared before CB3 for a liquor license last August... there were concerns about full liquor here and the use of the backyard space. We're not sure where everyone eventually landed on this.

This north storefront at 151 Avenue A has been vacant since Mamani Pizza, a 99-cent slice joint, closed in June 2017. (Because someone will mention it: San Loco was in the south storefront at No. 151 until February 2014.) 

Updated:

Previously

El Primo Red Tacos primed for 151 Avenue A

Renovations continue inside the north storefront at 151 Avenue A, where the first NYC outpost of Miami-based pop-up hit El Primo Red Tacos is in the works here between Ninth Street and 10th Street.

As the name suggests, El Primo specializes in "red tacos," which Eater Miami describes as "birria tacos dipped in a soup-like liquid that gives them a red glow." 

And more from Eater:

El Primo "focuses on one thing only: birria, beef shoulder that is slow cooked in a “red” stew made with tomatoes and seasonings. The chefs then fill tacos with the beef, which also stains the tortilla giving them that red color, and then serves it with a side of broth made with the birria cooking liquid to dip the tacos in."

Reps for owner Frank Neri, who hails from Tijuana, will appear before CB3's SLA committee on Aug. 22 for a new liquor license for the space. According to the questionnaire on file with CB3, the quick-serve spot will have seating for 10 guests inside. They also plan on getting the backyard space licensed, which could accommodate 28 people. Proposed hours: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday, with a 3 a.m. close Thursday through Saturday. (The outdoor space would close at 10 p.m., per the questionnaire.) 

The questionnaire includes a menu from Miami...

El Primo's Instagram account lists a September opening for the East Village. 

The CB3 SLA meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 22. You can tune in via Zoom here.

This north storefront at 151 Avenue A has been vacant since Mamani Pizza, a 99-cent slice joint, closed in June 2017. (Because someone will mention it: San Loco was in the south storefront at No. 151 until February 2014.)