Guac Shop Mexican Grill opens location in New Hyde Park

The hunger for Mexican fast food never seems to falter. Just when you think the space is filled to bursting, a few more burritos, tacos, and quesadillas arrive on the scene, as do new twists on the salad and grain bowls that have become the Americanized imprint on the cuisine.

Riding that never-ending wave is the group behind Guac Shop Mexican Grill, which began in 2018 with a location in Garden City and, within the past year, has opened three new Nassau County spots, in Wantagh, Freeport and most recently, New Hyde Park.

When Sergio DeCiantis, his father Carlo, and friends Patrick O'Halloran and Matthew Tesoriero partnered on that first Guac Shop in the spring of 2018, their formula had legs: Diners chose from a rota of proteins — including barbacoa beef or carnitas — garnishes, cheeses and salsas for tacos, burritos, quesadillas and salad bowls quickly prepared to order.

Rolling with the pandemic, the group opened a virtual kitchen in Seaford in spring 2020 (it has since closed), as well as a sit-down location in Jericho around the same time. Wantagh followed in spring 2021, followed by the tiny Freeport shop (it has two tables) about a month later, in the storefront where Liberty Links used to be. New Hyde Park opened in February.

The namesake guacamole ($4) is still one of the sides, as is queso ($5) and Mexican street corn ($4). Over time, the roster of "performance bowls" (starting at $8) has grown to include a vegetarian bowl of beans, sweet potatoes and other veggies over romaine; plus "paleo" and "keto" bowls that can be topped with steak, chicken, shrimp or other proteins.

The newest Guac Shop is at 271-18 Union Tpke. in New Hyde Park. The phone number 516-274-3380 serves all locations, and orders are taken online at guacshopmexicangrill.com or via the Guac Shop app.