Tony's Tacos opens in Garden City; Quiero Tacos debuts in Mineola

If you like Mexican food and live in Nassau, you’re in luck; two new spots dedicated to tacos have opened, and they couldn’t be more different. In Garden City, Italian-Mexican fusion chainlet Tony’s Tacos has opened a fourth Long Island location — its largest — in a former Capital One space, while over in Mineola, Quiero Tacos has quietly set up a storefront offering a full Mexican menu that spans not only tacos but burritos, fajitas, tortas and more.

Tony’s Tacos, Garden City

118 Seventh St.

When Tony’s Tacos opened in Floral Park in 2020, defining itself as an "Italian cantina," diners might have been skeptical. Fast-forward four years: Italian-fusion tacos have found an audience.

After immigrating to the United States in 1988, owner Mike Scotto trained alongside Umberto Corteo — of Umberto’s — rising to the rank of executive chef. He tried his first taco at 29 — he wasn’t impressed.

"I tried three carne asada tacos," he recalled. "I didn’t like them at all. The meat was dry, the corn tortilla was too sweet for my taste and it was falling apart." But he could see the appeal, likening a tortilla to "a piadina," or an Italian flatbread that originated in the Emilia-Romagna region of his home country. Scotto’s version is made with 00 Italian flour, no yeast, and is toasted in garlic and oil.

Scotto stuffs them with rotisserie chicken, sausage and broccoli rabe, meatballs and, of course, chicken Parm. The concept was just wacky enough to stick. After Floral Park came another location in Huntington in 2021, then Franklin Square in 2022. Now, a 4,000-square-foot storefront in Garden City with indoor and outdoor dining, complete with a dedicated tequila bar makes four. The new location is also introducing its trademarked Taco Box, with 21 individually boxed tacos ($115). "We’re doing 80,000 tacos a week between all locations," Scotto said.

The menu boasts more than 40 tacos made with chicken, pork, shrimp, fish and vegetables. Combinations include chicken Milanese (fried chicken cutlet, queso, burrata, arugula, pico, pesto and balsamic glaze), Italo-Americano (shredded tender beef, pico, breadcrumbs oreganata, shredded cheese, sour cream) and a cauliflower taco with a mozzarella tortilla. But it’s the Italian riff on birria tacos ($21 for three) — smoked mozzarella, Angus beef, quattro formaggi and pomodoro sauces, plus cilantro — that is worth checking out. Tacos start at $6.25 each.

In addition to tacos, there are also "pizzadillas," a similar twist on quesadillas, bowls with rice or lettuce bases, nachos, rice and beans, guacamole and chips, and churros.

More info: 516-998-1803, tonystaco.com; Open Monday through Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Quiero Tacos, Mineola

52 E. Old Country Rd.

If you’re a purist when it comes to Mexican food, the new Quiero Tacos — translated to "I want tacos" — is for you. With its extensive menu of Mexican classics, you would be hard-pressed to encounter a taco with anything other than onion and lime as a topping here.

The cozy space — with Day of the Dead décor, two booths, two tables and some counter seating — serves tacos in platters of three ($14-$18). All are served on double corn tortillas and accompanied by the typical Mexican garnish of onions, cilantro and radish, plus a dollop of guacamole.

Varieties are common to Mexico and include pollo, chorizo, lengua — or tongue — al pastor, carnitas, fish and birria. But it would serve you to move past the tacos and opt for some other traditional selections including sopes ($15-$17), or open-faced mini tortillas, pinchos, or skewers ($19-$22), burritos, tortas, quesadillas, fajitas, bowls, nachos and larger format plates including al pastor "trompitos" (pork and pineapple skewers), carne asada, and at lunch, specials from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. that are all under $16.

More info: 516-280-2114; Open daily 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Closed Tuesdays.

By Marie Elena Martinez

marieelena.martinez@newsday.com@mariesworlds

A global freelancer who has checked her suitcase to raise her young daughter on her native Long Island, Marie Elena will always make time for good mezcal, even better tacos and killer conversation. Preferably, in a corner bar seat. She can be found on Instagram at @mariesworldeats.