Holy Guacamole!

AVO TACO, a contemporary, new restaurant catering to numerous different diets.

If you’re ever in the Nassau County region and are looking for a quick bite, AVO TACO is the place to go. With live music, summer-time beachy decor, and a variety of options to choose from, AVO TACO has built in a name for itself, despite having only been opened a little over a month ago. Located on 2340 Jericho Turnpike in New Hyde Park, it is easy to get to by car or public transportation.

Starting off with their chips and guacamole, I was excited for the numerous different toppings you can chose to add to your guac. I went for the mango salsa topping, and was glad I did. The contrast between sweet and savory was delightful and the smooth, creamy texture of the guac with the soft bite of the mango was a great combination. The chips themselves were a bit oily, however they did go perfectly with the guacamole. The chips and guacamole by themselves are $4 and with the addition of the mango salsa topping are $6.

Next I had ordered the Cauliflower Brussels AVO Bowl. At $11, the bowl included cilantro-lime quinoa, roasted cauliflower, brussel sprouts, onions, almonds, red pepper sauce, and I asked to leave out the cotija cheese. Overall, the bowl was decent. The flavors went together well, however the red pepper sauce flavor was too overpowering, with the cauliflower and brussel sprouts being bit bland on their own.

Bottom Right- Cauliflower Brussels AVO Bowl $11, Bottom Left- Rastaman Taco $4, Top Right- Chips and Guacamole with Mango Salsa- $6, Top Left- Ami Shroomer Taco- $4 Credit: Harmeet Minhas

Bottom Right- Cauliflower Brussels AVO Bowl $11, Bottom Left- Rastaman Taco $4, Top Right- Chips and Guacamole with Mango Salsa- $6, Top Left- Ami Shroomer Taco- $4
Credit: Harmeet Minhas

The best part of the night was definitely the tacos. I ordered the Rastaman and Ami Shroomer tacos without the créma. They have numerous different types of tacos, each being $4. The Rastaman taco had panéed avocado, corn salsa, and slaw. Each ingredient had a distinctive  flavor that melted well together. The Ami Shroomer taco had roasted mushrooms and crispy onions. I preferred the Ami Shroomer taco due to the crunch and flavor of the onions. However, both tacos were the highlights of my order.
With numerous different bowls and tacos available to choose from, there is an option for individuals with numerous diet types. Whether you partake in a vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, or omnivorous diet, there is an option for everyone. With catering to all these different

diets, it must be hard to upkeep cross contamination between ingredients. As per Joseph Pedagno, the manager of AVO TACO, “Being a raw vegan  for 7 years, I understand the importance of working towards preventing cross contamination. We take that very seriously here, making sure employees change gloves after handling ingredients and using separate workstations. We want our customers to be vocal about their allergies and dietary restrictions so that we are able to take proper precautionary measures and to expand our menus and workstations accordingly.”

AVO TACO is an affordable spot for a quick bite with options for every person in a party. Its open everyday from 11AM to 10PM, except Sunday, where its open from 11AM to 9PM. Once you try their guacamole and tacos, you’ll be sure to make another trip back.

Harmeet Minhas

Hello! My name is Harmeet Minhas and I write for the food section for The Edison Light. I chose to write for the food section due to food being something that can bring people together and play important roles in people’s cultures. I have been vegan for over six years and this gives me an excuse to try new restaurants that cater to those who partake in plant-based diets. Besides writing, my hobbies consist of dancing, cheerleading, and going to concerts!