Tacos Malamadre opens in Mineola

One of Long Island's best restaurants has expanded with a second, clubbier location and new menu items. Tacos Malamadre has opened in Mineola as an extension of its sister spot in Westbury, Mala Madre Taqueria, currently on Newsday's Top 50 restaurants and best Long Island tacos lists. 

Owner Alejandro Nava, who hails from Puebla, Mexico, and lives in Queens, took over the former Right Coast Taqueria location. It's just 10 minutes away from the original Mala Madre in Westbury and required only minor renovations and he was off to the races with his new spot.

With a bigger kitchen, Nava expand the menu with new tacos, an excellent aguachile seafood dish and Mexican torta sandwiches, which are currently one of his top sellers. 

"There are two kitchens, one in the back, one in the front. It would be a shame if I don’t take advantage of it," he said. "Whatever you're trying right now, it’s not even 20% of what we are capable of." 

The roomier new space has a nightclub vibe with a neon light scheme and upbeat Mexican rock music on the speakers. And the two new taco selections are impressive: The pulpo and chorizo taco ($7) features crumbled and spiced chorizo with fat slabs of grilled octopus. Very northwestern Mexico. The second taco, inspired by a spot in Mexico City called La Once Mil, features a juicy slab of rib-eye ($8) with a cheese crust on a housemade hibiscus tortilla, made from the leftover flowers used to steep hibiscus agua fresca. The steak is so fat it sprawls out over the sides of the taco, each bite crispy and gooey with cheese. It's one of the best tacos you'll find on Long Island, worthy of the trip itself. 

Tacos Malamadre, 358 E. Jericho Tpke., Mineola, 516-699-3917, instagram.com/malamadretaqueria. Open noon to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, noon to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.