147 Avenue A (between 9th and 10th Streets)
212-260-0235
I read about La Lucha a few months back on Urban Daddy and have been procrastinating its trial because of their lack of a liquor license. I finally tried it last week before work with a co-worker. Inspired by Lucha Libre, Mexican style arena fighting, and the Mexican culture of street tacos, La Lucha is a hole in the wall on Avenue A that instantly transports you to Mexico City.
The décor is festive and centered on Mexican fighting; complete with a silent reel of 1960’s Lucha movies projected on one of the walls. Even the bathroom at La Lucha is plastered with old Lucha Libre articles. Service is just fine, with only a few tables and one waitress; I think Mexico’s laid-back culture of grazing slowly is fairly represented at La Lucha.
The menu itself is kind of a piece of art as well, but if what you’re looking for is a burrito, take a walk down the street to Benny’s, because La Lucha has a strict “no-burritos” policy.
The food at La Lucha was all authentic and satisfying. We started with the corn, which was just ok. All of the cheese and spices were great, but what you could actually taste of the corn was mediocre at best. Next we ordered a bunch of different tacos, all small portions, all very good. My favorite was the “Rayo de Jalisco,” literally a huge piece of fried cheese wrapped around your choice of meat. Cheese… Fried? Yes Please.
Overall, I would go back to La Lucha for a quick taco before work, or after a stressful day of lounging around Tompkins Square Park. The lack of a liquor license keeps the bill pretty low, the food is decent but not uncomfortably filling, and the themed décor is fun to look at.
BY: LAUREN BROWN
