No disrespect to the Costco Guys, but a second “boom” is warranted to welcome yet another popular food chain making its long-awaited Long Island debut.
Just ahead of Cinco de Mayo, first-time restaurant owner Janav Aggarwal has reset the best local burrito narrative with the Jersey Shore-founded, laid-back and surf-positive “Bubbakoo’s Burritos” — located at 7 E Jericho Turnpike in Huntington.
“I Believe in a Thing Called Love” –holy throwback–scored my entrance into the barely a week-old storefront expansion of a 2008-established brand squeezed within a tight shopping center between a Jersey Mike’s Subs and a Mathnasium Learning Center.
Such was either pure coincidence, or they knew exactly who was about to stroll through the door. This sometimes restaurant-reviewing rogue journalist suddenly became entranced with beyond-baseline optimism as he recalled Taylor Swift and beau Travis Kelce duet-belting The Darkness’ signature song at last year’s U.S. Open.
After assessing their menu boards overlooking the countertop for perhaps longer than the cashier and line cooks would have preferred, I selected a “build-your-own-burrito” of the Hibachi Shrimp, Tomato, Shredded Cheese, Corn, Lettuce and “Boom Boom” Sauce variety.
No regrets.
A relax attack in the form of Bob Marley’s “Buffalo Soldier” subsequently rescued any residue skepticisms kept alive by the miniature Mike Reistetter’s rampantly filing and shredding thoughtful paperwork within my head as I tried my best to swallow the inflation-nation $14.11 spent.
Somewhere between bites 2 and 6, the underrated, modern alt-pop song “Lonely” by lovelytheband took over the playlist. Apropos, as this is precisely what I’m feeling as the lone patron of what should be a madhouse during grand opening week, right?
Do not misinterpret this as a dig. Public Tex-Mex munching can become a messy ordeal. Therefore, takeout here is recommended. And had I known I was due for an audience-less late lunch, maybe I would have gotten one of the following: Sour Cream, Guacamole, or Queso. But certainly not all—I don’t get paid till next Friday.
What’s more: the selections that did make the cut contributed to a wrap that fell apart halfway through, anyway. It is to be noted that Bubbakoo’s tortilla still earns resiliency points, however.
The testament of a strong burrito is not exclusively its hang time and compact sturdiness, after all; it’s also how quickly it can put the entire team back on its back—or in a burrito’s case, back within itself—after every protein and veggie smothered in the pico de galaxy dropped to the tin-foiled floor.
I was equally taken aback by the eclectic taste of Bubbakoos’ soundtrack point-person as I am by the arm hair-raising, yet supremely digestible combo of “Boom Boom” and a “Chipotle Fire Red” bottle I spotted next to the fountain drink station. These flavors have a fiery kick that leaves an everlasting and distinguishable impression, setting Bubbakoo’s apart from their competitors.
As Nirvana’s rebel anthem “Smells Like Teen Spirit” brings my shift to an end, I say goodbye to no one; look to my left and see the Mathnasium kids turning the entryway into a chalkzone; then look back and momentarily long for the short-lived days of Santa Fe Grill in my hometown Hauppauge. Teenagers literally ran this joint. RIP a bygone era.
With only a dozen seats to offer in their 1,600 square feet location, the ceiling for a place like “Bubbakoo’s” could never really compare to “Chubbie’s” from “Boy Meets World,” or Bubba’s Burrito’s Bar of Bay Shore in reality. We are aware.
Take away this mass migrative movement to all things extra fixings and specialty offerings. You don’t need nor even desire a social revolution, pageantry out the wazoo or optical sensations galore with every meal. Sometimes, you just want a burrito.
And that’s exactly what I got on Wednesday. Was it glorious? No, but it was definitely good. Next time I’ll probably just get a platter from Shah’s Halal Cuisine, though, because $10.35 is the new bargain.
BONUS POINTS: their men’s restroom has a mirror. Hallelujah. Bubbakoo’s’ final grade—lifted from “solid” to “top-tier.”