Mexica Taqueria food truck rolls into Shirley
A loaded Mexican hot dog at the Mexica Taqueria food truck in Shirley. Credit: Newsday/Melissa Azofeifa
Latenight weekends just got a whole lot tastier for night owls in Shirley. The Mexica Taqueria food truck is serving street hot dogs, tacos and more on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Owner Geoff Miranda started Mexica Taqueria as a catering only business about 2½ years ago — after he and his partner moved to New York from his native Santa Barbara, California. The truck launched three weeks ago.
Owner Geoff Miranda at the Mexica Taqueria food truck in Shirley. Credit: Newsday/Melissa Azofeifa
"I really missed the food now that I have a permanent home over here," Miranda said. "I’m a night owl — the options are very limited when it comes to food after 11 o'clock, there’s nothing but fast food and burgers and stuff."
Mexican hot dogs ($5) come as a bacon-wrapped sausage with sauteed pepper and onions, mayo, ketchup and mustard. Tacos include al pastor ($3) birria ($4) and tacos dorados ($16 for 4) which are crispy chicken tacos topped with lettuce, onions, cheese and sour cream and salsa.
Miranda, who has worked at the now-closed Monsoon in Babylon and as a chef at Las Vegas casino-hotels, said he prefers wood-smoked meats and cooks his carne asada and al pastor at a commercial kitchen in Farmingdale. He plans to soon add pastel Azteca, or Azteca pie — which he likened to lasagna — although his recipe uses corn tortillas instead of noodles, along with pulled chicken, poblano peppers, manchego cheese and beans.
Mexica Taqueria, 39 Surrey Circle, Shirley, 310-622-9361, mexicataqueria.com. Open 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Melissa Azofeifa is a restaurants reporter with Newsday's FeedMe team. Having grown up on Long Island, she loves talking about food and its impact on culture. A graduate of Stony Brook University, she joined Newsday in the fall of 2024.
