The Gluten & Dairy-Free Review Blog: Taco Dumbo Review

My recent travels by rail to New York City have led me to discover the The Pennsy, a food hall just above Penn Station that has quickly become a go-to as I am arriving to the city and my final stop before I leave. On a recent visit, Taco Dumbo caught my eye, with a menu full of gluten-free options. With my curiosity peaked, I made sure the this stand would be my first stop on my next visit.

If you have followed my blog for any length of time, you might have caught on that tacos hold a particular place in my heart- I can never get enough of them! Taco Dumbo's approach is inspired by the foodie ethos of California, the ingredients are real and locally sourced and the vibe is laid back- a refreshing break from the relentless pace of the city.

Taco Dumbo is a 100% dairy-free establishment, and notes gluten-free, raw, and vegan options. Because I visited at 11am, and was one of the first to order that day, I knew cross contamination would be minimized, nevertheless I confirmed with the staff that everything I ordered was indeed gluten-free.

The chicken tacos are stuffed with tender, pulled rotisserie chicken in a rich, spicy sauce. Tangy, sweet pickled onions provided a wonderful contrasting flavor to the chicken and the cilantro and a squeeze of lime rounded out the flavors perfectly. The soft corn tortillas were strong and easily managed the generous serving of toppings they were tasked with holding. I adored these tacos- while they featured familiar ingredients, these tacos were a refreshingly bold.

Wanting to try another taco variety, I selected the vegan spice-rubbed cauliflower tacos. These come with a cabbage slaw, carrots, cilantro and pickled onions. I wanted every bit to love these tacos, but the cauliflower was rather bland and spice-less. The other toppings were good, but the taco just didn't have the "wow" factor that the chicken tacos had.

Taco Jumbo definitely impressed me, and as I finished my meal, I was already anticipating my next visit. I can't wait to taste around their menu, and will definitely plan to order one of their homemade cold-pressed juices. I am so excited that I discovered Taco Jumbo at The Pennsy, as it's menu and convenient location make it an notable choice for any gluten-free foodie visiting the city.