New Mexican restaurants on Long Island

If you've been paying attention to the Mexican food scene on Long Island, you might have noticed that there's been something of an explosion. The sheer number of Mexican restaurants scattered across the Island is getting harder and harder to keep up with and now, there are eight new ones to add to the list. 

From budget-friendly, fast casual concepts that are committed to quality and fresh ingredients like Curbside Mexican Grill in Plainview, to lively cantinas focused on agave cocktails like La Cantinita in Levittown, to oversized burrito bars like Shrimpy's Burrito Bar in East Islip, there's a new Mexican spot for everyone.

Tepache 

47 Franklin Ave., Valley Stream

Tepache is a pre-Columbian elixir that was sacred to the Mayans, and this lively Valley Stream restaurant celebrates the iconic Mexican drink. Rather than fermenting the pineapple, they cook it down with piloncillo cane sugar to create a simple syrup, and then shake it with Buchanan's Scotch and mango. The Tepachito cocktail ($16) tastes like fresh pineapple juice brimming with pulp. Owners Pablo and Luzdey Fuentes and their son Juan created an energetic space with salsa music and a bright, tropical theme. Get the tableside guacamole, mixed to your spice preference with jalapeño, chopped red onions and tomatoes. Tepache also serves tacos and other entrees like Oaxacan mole, enchiladas rojas and chile rellenos, and has a large patio area in the back. More info: 516-400-9238, tepachetasteofmexico.com

Taco Tuesdays

28 Woodcleft Ave., Freeport

This fast-casual taqueria on the Freeport Nautical Mile is a great place to chill by the boats. Food truck owners Jonathan and Jessica Melendez moved into the building last month from their walk-up window down the street. The small indoor space allows them to serve margaritas and craft beer, including a hoppy Nautical Mile IPA from the nearby BrewSA. Jonathan, who grew up at his family's chain of Don Juan Mexican restaurants, takes a detailed approach to the menu with his cheesy taco hybrid, the quesito (three for $15). A soft corn tortilla is smacked with melty Muenster cheese before the cook adds your meat and fresh pico de gallo. Sizzled cubes of Spanish chorizo add a savory bite, but since you're on the water, you'll want to get this with a tender hunk of grilled flounder. More info: 516-632-0091 

Curbside Mexican Grill

164 Manetto Hill Rd., Plainview

Vibrant skeletal mariachi murals evoke The Day of the Dead at this small, casual Mexican storefront, but it's the poblano crema and pineapple salsa that really stands out. Joining the original South Hempstead location, which shuttered briefly last year due to a fire, brothers and owners Brandon and Ryan Porcasi are at it again at Plainview’s new Curbside Mexican Grill outpost. Start with avocado fries ($8.50 — be sure to add the chipotle ranch), loaded nachos ($12.95) or birria egg rolls ($8.95) before moving on to the signature crunchwraps (from $12.95). Across between a burrito and a quesadilla, crunchwraps are stuffed with outrageous combinations of fillings like fried chicken, chorizo, mozzarella, black beans, onion rings, and spicy Diablo sauce (the “Chupacabra” wrap), mac-and-cheese, skirt steak, corn, scallions, and mozzarella (the “Smack” wrap), or the most popular (and most plain), birria. There are also customizable tacos, quesadillas, burritos, salads and bowls, as well as an extensive gluten-free menu. More info: 516-513-1097, curbsidemexicangrill.com

La Cantinita

2715 Hempstead Tpke., Levittown

Inside the nondescript building on Hempstead Turnpike there's actually a pulsing world of Mexican street art and reggaeton music. La Cantinita is the kind of place you'd expect to have a multicolored flight of margaritas garnished with a giant sparkler, but the kitchen at this new Levittown bar also impresses. . The menu is big on Mexican sports bar bangers — super nachos and loaded carne asada fries, spicy wings doused in mango habanero and mole sauce. The queso fundido ($14) arrives in a cast iron skillet with a boatload of crumbled chorizo on top, finished with chopped cilantro for a pop of color. To drink, get the bubbly cantarito in its traditional clay cup and try not to get spicy Tajín all over your lips. Refreshing and fruity like a paloma, the icy drink is spiked with tequila and Squirt, and rounded out with limey grapefruit juice. More info: 516-862-8444, lacantinitany.com

Cactus Cafe

212 E. Main St., Huntington

The fairy tale cottage on East Main Street is hard to miss as it's painted a vibrant canary yellow with turquoise trim and a warm, red door. Inside awaits a kitschy, colorful Latin food wonderland for those craving a combination of tortillas, corn, cheese, guacamole, plus rice and beans. The cheesy, smothered chicken enchiladas ($12.50) served with creamy refried beans will not disappoint, and neither will the Tex-Mex spot's beefy tacos, crunchy, salty tortillas, tangy pico de gallo, and guacamole. The menu runs mostly Mexican with nachos sitting alongside burritos, tacos, enchiladas and quesadillas. Past Mexico, the spicy Peruvian rotisserie chicken platters (half chicken, $13), and arroz con pollo ($12.75), offer alternatives. Tacos start at $2, while burritos and enchiladas top out at $12 and $14, respectively. Mexican beers, as well as fresh- made sangria round out the beverage list. More info: 631-318-9920, cactuscafetexmex.com

The Taco Spot

1920 Jericho Tpke., East Northport

“You Had Me at Tacos,” exclaims a neon blue sign that runs the length of the exposed brick wall at The Taco Spot, which opened late last year. This swanky joint, decorated with hanging plants, subway tiles and bright yellow banquettes offers sit-down service and an expansive bar, as well as takeout options. The paper menu, designed to mimic a newspaper, is extensive. One side is dedicated solely to margaritas, mojitos, sangria, and all things agave. The other has an equally voluminous listing of tacos, quesadillas, burritos and bowls, salads and starters. Every kind of taco is represented — from an excellent ahi tuna ($5.75) and bang bang shrimp to classics like birria, pork carnitas ($5.50) and Baja fish tacos. If you like to assemble your own meal, sizzling fajitas can be filled with shrimp, chorizo, or steak, or skip the carbs and make any taco into a salad for $12.99. More info: 631-486-7843, thetacospotny.com

Shrimpy's Burrito Bar

322 E. Main St., East Islip 

This fast-casual outlet known for its funky fusion burritos and "shrimpy sauce" recently opened its third location, in East Islip. The strip-mall space has a bright, beachy vibe with a playful menu of tacos and quesadillas as well as desserts like fried Oreos and sweet chimichangas. In true Cal-Mex style, Shrimpy's burritos pile on the ingredients with rice, pico de gallo, black beans and sour cream. Seared on the edges for some crisp, they arrive cut in half to showcase the off-kilter combinations. The Legend burrito ($13.99) is packed with the contents of a fried combo appetizer platter. It comes with chicken tenders, mozzarella sticks and French fries wedged around a creamy dollop of macaroni and cheese with melted queso and bacon. More info: 631-888-3671, shrimpysburritobar.com

Burrito Blvd.

1274 Montauk Hwy., Oakdale

With a recent opening in Oakdale and another upcoming in Coram, these two new fast casual shops join the already popular Mineola  franchise. The most akin to Chipotle of this bunch, Burrito Blvd. features steam tables waiting for diner customization of leafy salads and rice bowls, hefty burritos, tacos, quesadillas and nachos. Pick your base, protein and condiments, then move on down the line. Portions are large; the pollo asado bowl ($11.95) came piled high with juicy chicken, lettuce (or rice), beans, cheese, salsa, and guacamole ($2.25). Don’t forget a pineapple Jarritos to wash it all down. More info: 631-319-6033, burritoblvd.com