Gabino's Diner

Finding decent food of any kind can be a challenge on Long Island.  Part of the reason we all cook so much is because it is difficult to find someplace to eat that is not either ridiculously expensive or part of some terrible megachain.  Finding any sort of ethnic food is especially a challenge as Long Islanders seem content to line up around the block to eat at Olive Garden when there are some pretty good Italian places nearby.

Finding good Mexican food is especially challenging.  There are some local places that claim to serve Mexican food but unless you want the most boring burrito ever, Salsa Salsa isn't really going to cut it.  In the past, we've been known to drive all the way to Riverhead just to get some carnitas.  Luckily for us, there is Gabino's Diner.

On the outside, Gabino's looks like every other diner on Long Island.  However, while most diners around here are incredibly tacky and stupidly overpriced, Gabino's is fantastic, reasonably priced, and best of all, features some really awesome Mexican food.  Their menu includes some diner basics like burgers, scrambles, and pancakes.  And I'm sure all of them are really good, but there is no justifiable reason for getting normal diner fare if there are quasadillas (with homemade tortillas) and enchiladas on the menu ¹.

We didn't manage to get any pictures of the delicious food items because we weren't expecting everything to be quite so good ².  Needless to say, we'll be going back. If for no other reason than the fact that we got some free flan for being so excited about the food.


1.  Really, I mean it.  If you go to Gabino's for the first time and get a burger then all hope for you is lost and you have forfeited your right to eat delicious enchiladas.  Go to Burger King.  You don't deserve to eat at Gabino's and  I want to take your seat.

2.  Ok, so the pig's feet were a little weird.  I'm sure they are delicious if you know what your are getting yourself into (vaguely pork flavored gelatin cubes).  If you really love pork (and unless you are vegetarian, shame on you if you don't) Gambino's has a entree that is essentially pork, ham, bacon, and peppers topped with ham and cheese.  Not a typo, not an imaginary story,  pork topped with pork!