A Trendy Place To “Load” Up On Mexican
By Francesca Bartolomey 
July 28, 2010 
14 Comments
Loading Dock
170 Tillary St
(between Flatbush Ave Ext. & Gold St)
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Tel: 646.355.7518
Website
One of the best things about interning in Brooklyn this summer is that I’m getting the chance to experience food in a borough I wouldn’t otherwise have many opportunities to travel to. This past week, my fellow interns and I paid a visit to a little-known taco truck smack dab in the middle of an urban industrial area of Brooklyn. The surroundings aren’t pretty, but looks can deceive and in the case of Loading Dock, you shouldn’t judge a place by its drab surroundings.
Loading Dock is a hidden gem in Brooklyn that you have to see to believe. You step up to the cashier and order from a small but varied menu. The food is prepared in a small trailer and you have the option of eating outside, literally on the loading dock, or inside their – wait for it – art gallery.
It being about a trillion degrees outside, we decided to eat in the art gallery at a long table situated next to a birdcage with live birds in it. Having heard amazing things about Loading Dock’s guacamole, I ordered it with chips and a carnitas taco. The guacamole did not disappoint. I could tell I wasn’t the only fan when my fellow interns started to get grabby with the guacamole. It was the perfect combination of avocado and onion, lime and salt – more sweet than hot and apportioned generously for the price.
The food came out relatively slowly and each of the six of us was served in succession, not simultaneously. I suppose this is because each item is made to order and carefully prepared one by one.
For the uninitiated, carnitas is pork. As I said before — although, I’m sure my credibility on this point is probably wearing thin since it seems that I’m constantly eating it — I’m not a huge pork fan. But I had heard such great reviews of the carnitas taco that I had to give it a try. And I’m so glad I did! The taco was so packed with meat and veggies that it could barely be contained and some minor acrobatics were required in order to hoist the taco to my mouth and take a bite without casting all its contents overboard.
As is custom, I tried the first bite sans sauce. It was perfect: the meat was tender and juicy and just slightly spicy and the veggies added the requisite complementary cooling crunch. My taco was not long for this world and disappeared shortly after being placed in front of me.
I didn’t scavenge on anyone else’s plate but everyone was well satisfied with their meal – with one exception. The chicken taco left something to be desired as the chicken itself couldn’t hold a candle to its cow and pig compatriots. It lacked any distinctive flavor and failed to leave an impression on anyone’s palate. But minor chicken-related setbacks aside, the Loading Dock delivered. I heartily recommend it and I would gladly go back!
Photos by Francesca Bartolomey for Appetite for Good.
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The burrito looks mighty awesome! And I love the combination of onions, cilantro and lime. Soooo yummy!
Yeah, you should definitely check this place out if you’re ever in the downtown Brooklyn area!
Lovely pictures
Thanks! And thanks for stopping by!
If only this was closer! why is brooklyn SOOOOOOO FAR
bo0o0o I’m always looking for a good mexican place in the city! im convinced it does not existttttt 
You should get over your Brooklyn bias and get out there sometime. :-p
haha for crabcakkkkkkkkkkes
I’m glad there are such great Mexican restaurants up there. We hear often of other foods that are available in New York, but rarely Mexican. Being in the south, we have plenty of authentic Mexican food and I can’t imagine being without it!
It is hard to find good Mexican in New York. Thanks for stopping by!
Great photographs. I wish you’d tried the fish taco. Next time I’m in Brooklyn I’ll have to take care of that detail myself.
The fish taco is definitely my next stop next time I’m at Loading Dock!
I love carnitas. I’m not sure any chicken can compete with a well-cooked pork.
Also: what is that white head on the left wall in the first picture. It looks like a polar bear!
Hmm…excellent question. I have no idea, but it’s definitely not a polar bear. I have a bigger version of that image on my computer and it’s definitely a smaller animal. It kind of looks like a…white badger. In any event, it doesn’t look real at all.
Barbacoa would have been nice as well probably.