If anyone has driven eastbound on the service road of the Long Island Expressway, you’ve probably noticed the taco truck.
It sits on the corner of Hawkins Avenue in Ronkonkoma and appears to be in a desolate spot – next to an unpaved, vacant lot. This truck, owned by Right Coast Taqueria, is joined by picnic tables and a string of decorative hanging lights. While it may be out of place for its location, the line has those passing by wondering what the draw is. So, I had to stop.
It was 6:30 on a Sunday night, the truck closes at 7, and I was eighth in line. Let’s Taco-bout the Taco Truck! By Deana D. Boles I asked a patron in line if he’s been to the truck before.
“I started coming here with my job,” said Tim Liguori, who works down the road by the airport. “We now order from them once a week at work and I come here on my own too. I come for the Birria tacos, they’re the best.”
Taking his advice, and having the time to look at the menu, I chose to try a Mongolian Beef Taco, a Birria Taco, and the Nachos… and now I understand.
Talk about an authentic food truck! The Mongolian Beef Taco was arguably one of the most unique tacos I’ve ever tasted. Crispy beef, sweet ginger soy glaze, cabbage, chili sriracha aioli and scallions – all flavors and textures mixing in a crunch filled sweet with a hint of spicy joyousness.
The Birria Taco was another that was loaded with flavor. A seasoned corn tortilla, stuffed with beef, cheese onions and cilantro accompanied by consommé, which is a broth like dipping sauce. The Birria Taco had every seasoning working together and really delivering on its street style flavor. As for the nachos, I will say while most ingredients were rather basic and limited, I did order the Mongolian Beef for a protein, which was delicious, but a shredded chicken or beef would have probably been more manageable for nachos. The addition that really tied the nachos together, though, was the creamy cheese sauce that was included. To my understanding, this is one of their signature sauces that helps them attract repeat customers with ease.
“We opened here in December of 2021, and we are very busy, we do very well here” said Scott, the manager of the truck. “We also have a restaurant in Deer Park, and two upcoming brick and mortars in Mineola and Setauket. We’re the only truck other than a truck that you can rent for parties.”
The Right Coast Taqueria food truck also allows for you to conveniently order online for pickup at RightCoastTaqueria.com.
