Where Are We Getting Tacos Later?

Whalebone Magazine Readers Pick Their Favorite Mexican Food Joints

We asked you to tell us your favorite joint to get Mexican food and maybe enjoy some margaritas at—be it hitch trailer, taco truck, stall, bodega, bar, or white-table-clothed fine-dining establishment. Were we curious about your lives? Perhaps. Were we looking for recommendations of places to try next time we find ourselves in Raleigh and have a hankering for decent al pastor at midnight? Most definitely. And now we know to check out the truck run by two little ladies across from the Bed, Bath and Beyond on Glenwood Extension—so, thank you.

Were we looking for recommendations of places to try next time we find ourselves in Raleigh and have a hankering for decent al pastor at midnight? Most definitely.

If we mapped these responses, and we might if there weren’t so damn many, they’d cover the country from Ventnor to Venice and back, with stops in Houston, Phoenix and Boulder then book a flight to Tulum and head back to Connecticut, take a ferry and stop in Greenport. There was one answer of “my kitchen,” which we would have honored had they said, “mi cocina.” There was even a nostalgic vote for Sag Harbor’s shuttered Superica (appropriately, that entry came in as “RIP Superica”).

What’s in a name?

We want to give Tacoway Beach in, of course, Rockaway an honorable mention for having the punny-est name along with 5 Burro Cafe in Forest Hills. Also another honorable mention to Lucharitos for having the most both adorable and bitchin’ mascot. Look at this little guy.

While we are on the subject of 5 Burro though, now is a good time to mention that it was one of the most submitted joints, but not the top vote-getter. That honor goes to Swell Taco in Babylon and Patchogue, which nearly 200 people wrote in to tell us about.

So what was it about Swell that the people seem to like so much besides the crossed-surfboards-and-anchors logo?  We asked you that, too. You called out its “taste of SoCal on the South Shore,” and in addition to the many, many comments lauding the food and vibe there were tons of callouts for the surf and skate videos playing on an endless loop in the background. Perhaps this comment best sums up the feelings about the crew though: “Good food and the staff rips.” Also, someone says that they will straight-up drink Swell’s green salsa from a glass.

So, there you have it. In Whalebone Magazine’s inaugural, and likely last, informal Mexican eatery poll you chose Swell Taco in Long Island as your comida favorita.

Here are the top ten vote getters as tabulated for Whalebone Magazine by Price Waterhouse Cooper:

  1. Swell Taco, Babylon/Patchogue
  2. 5 Burro Cafe, Forest Hills
  3. Besito, Huntington, NY
  4. Verde Kitchen, Bay Shore
  5. Rosie’s, NYC
  6. TacoLu, Jacksonville Beach
  7. Barrio Chino, NYC
  8. Casa Enrique, LIC
  9. El Mitote, NYC
  10. Lucharitos Taqueria & Tequila Bar, Greenport

This all made us really hungry.