tacos

1.

Verde kitchen and cocktails | bay shore, ny | www.verdekitchen.com

I’ve been known to take a date or two here on occasion. Realism is key when we’re talking about Verde. You can find this spot right in Bay Shore. The guys here literally travel to Mexico to ensure that they create the most authentic tacos using true ingredients with every dish. When you visit here, try and get a table in their Green House in the back. You’ll find yourself at table surrounded by in house grown herbs which are incorporated in the dishes themselves. My tacos of choice are never the same here. From their Pescado tacos which consist of lightly battered local fish to their Barbacoa which holds a slow cooked chile rubbed charred brisket; I’m usually at a loss. From time to time you may find their grilled octopus tacos as well. Pro tip: get the octopus when it makes an appearance.

2.

swell taco | babylon, ny | www.swelltaco.com

With locations in the heart of Babylon and Patchogue, this is an absolute must stop. It’s safe to say that Swell is a staple on Long Island and it’s about as local as Long Island can get. You’ll get that surf and beach vibe instantaneously the second you open the doors. Accompanying some of the best tacos on the island, you’ll come across some great tunes or live music. If you ever catch me at Swell, you can best believe that you’ll see a plate full of their fish tacos, shrimp tacos, and buffalo chicken tacos while washing it down with their infamous house made margaritas. If I can’t decide what to order, I’ll just make it easy on myself and go with the “3 Amigos” which chooses the variety for me. Take it from me when I say that you would be playing yourself if you don’t start off the party with their chicken flautas, which consists of shredded chicken, cheddar cheese, and chipotle cream sauce rolled in flour tortillas and them perfectly fried for that crunch factor.

3.

right coast taqueria | deer park, ny | www.rightcoasttaqueria.com

Located right in Deer park near Tanger Outlet, you’ll walk in to a pretty cool setup here. When you get to the counter, you may see similarities to some fellow chain taco places but the food is on a level like you haven’t experienced before. The tacos here are addicting. With your choice of chicken, pork, steak, and more; it’s a taco destination for sure. With great prices for what you get, it’ll be easy to fill up your tray. With pieces of art from local artists to homemade sangria, you’ll feel right at home. Listen to me when I tell you to order a big side of their queso. I’ll pretty much drown whatever I have on my plate with their homemade queso dip. Also, make sure you accompany one of their tacos with their take on a pupusa which is a traditional Salvadorian dish made with your choice of cheese and meat stuffed in their handmade corn tortillas.

4.

Lucharitos Taqueria & Tequila Bar | greenport, ny | lucharitos.com

You can find them in Green Port, Aquebogue, Center Moriches, and Mattituck. I typically hit up the Green Port location because it’s the perfect spot to chow down when you are making a day out east. On the plate over here, I’ll crush their bbq pork tacos, chicken tacos, and coconut shrimp tacos. I definitely don’t stop at their tacos though. If you peep their menu, you’ll notice lobster guacamole, bourbon chili wings, and a shrimprito. I’ll let you guys make that decision on your own. Once you fill up, you can walk around Green Port at the many Mom & Pop shops or just grab some ice cream down the block at the local ice cream parlor.

5.

The Local | babylon, ny | localbabylon.com

Last but definitely not least is this spot located right next to the Babylon train station. Fun fact is that I briefly worked here so I saw exactly what was happening in the kitchen. The chef here takes absolute pride in his tacos and they certainly show. First off, it’s not an everyday taco but if you ever stop here and see duck tacos, get them immediately. Followed by duck, you should probably grab an order of the Korean Street tacos which have marinated short rib cuddled up in a tortilla or the Pow-Pow Shrimp tacos. Either way, you’ll make your way back to hit the rest of the menu. A really unique aspect here are the to-go drinks you can order. If you have city plans, you can get your choice of liquor or beer in to-go cans which make it really handy for that long train ride into the city!