Dishes · Dinner · Side dishes
Pico de gallo: the rooster's beak
Pico de gallo means rooster's beak, and nobody knows why. Food writer Sharon Tyler Herbst thought people ate it by pinching it between finger and thumb. In Sonora, people say the serrano chile looks like a beak.
Cantina Rooftop
Dinner menu · Tuesday to Sunday from 5pm
Side dishes
- Arroz de la Abuela$8
- Frijoles Charros$6
- Pico de Gallo$7
- Totopos$7
- Chicharrón$10
Please tell your server about any food allergies.
Chopped, not blended
It's a raw salsa, usually tomato, white onion, fresh chile, cilantro, lime and salt. Chopping instead of blending keeps it crunchy and wet rather than saucy, which is why it also goes by salsa fresca or salsa cruda. Some people call it salsa bandera, flag sauce, for the red, white and green on the spoon.
Since it's raw, it gets watery if it sits. Put it on a taco last, or eat it with chips when you want something cold between hot bites.
It's a side on our dinner menu, listed with no ingredients. If you're avoiding anything, ask what's in it.
Keep reading
Pico de Gallo: questions
What's the difference between pico de gallo and salsa?
Pico de gallo is one kind of salsa: raw, chopped and chunky. Many other salsas are cooked or blended smooth.
Is pico de gallo spicy?
Usually mild, since the chile is spread through a lot of tomato and onion, but it depends on the chile and how much the cook uses.
How much for the Pico de Gallo at Cantina Rooftop?
$7 on our menu right now. See it on the full menu.
When can I order the Pico de Gallo?
It's on our dinner menu (Tuesday to Sunday from 5pm). We're at 605 W 48th St in Hell's Kitchen. Book a table.