A Tale of Two Pizzas for Cinco de Mayo

Aka the fastest redemption meal ever . . .

I’ve been fascinated with the idea of Mexican pizza for at least 20 years. I say the idea, because Mexican pizza didn’t really come into its own in New York City and Queens until very recently. Sure there were pizzerias serving tacos in the late 90s, but al pastor, birria, and carnitas had yet to be used as pizza toppings.

For a little while Pizza X was serving pretty good Mexican pizza in the back of a a grocery on Steinway Street in Astoria as was Taqueria Mercadito on Roosie in Jackson Heights. So when I heard on the Eat Something New in Queens Facebook group that Todo Rico, the pan dulce specialist from the Taqueria Coatzingo mini empire in Jackson Heights had started to serve pizza, I was quite excited, especially since it’s a 10-minute walk from C&M HQ in Little Thailand.

“I have a feeling we’re going to be taking one for the team,” I texted fellow Queens food nerd Jonathan Forgash along with a photo of some forlorn looking pies under a heat lamp. When he arrived we split a slice of pepperoni and a Hawaiana with ham and pineapple. The winner? Neither, the tastiest thing on the table was a rajas empanada of sorts. I’d totally eat the golden brown pastry filled with spicy poblanos and cheese again, the pizza not so much.

“Let’s take a ride down to Corona and Junction. There’s a place I have a pretty good feeling about,” I said. Five Dreams Pizza y Antojitos lies on a strip of Corona Avenue better known for Argentine steakhouses than pizza, although there was once an Argentine pizza spot across the street.