A friend and I were doing a multi-day bike ride and got hungry in the small town of Babylon, NY. We saw a few deli's that weren't really doing it for us and kept riding around a bit until we saw an alley with a sign advertising tacos and margaritas. We had wanted some tacos for a few days, so we immediately turned down the unassuming alley to find this tucked away taco shop. I looked inside and thought that I had been temporarily transported back to a SoCal taco spot. I got homesick instantly. After talking to the staff a bit, we learned the owners were a husband/wife team from San Clemente and it all snapped into focus. It's as if someone airlifted a neighborhood taco shop across the country; even down to the details of the surf signs for Swami's, Cardiff Reef, San Onolfre and Tressels. (which were even cooler to me cause I had just surfed each of those spots in the last month). They had two TV's with surf videos playing on a loop. I even recognized some of the spots from back home. So, the ambiance was spot on and the people were super friendly. They were very interested in hearing about our bike adventure and we talked to them most of the meal. Great people. Our server first put some fresh, homemade chips down in front of us with some of the best verde sauce I've ever had. I put it on everything I ate during our visit. They coached us into ordering the three taco special for lunch. We each had a fish taco, a beef taco and a carnitas taco. All three of them were delicious, but I would say the carnitas was probably my favorite. The tacos were warm, light and delicious, the meat was tender and flavorful and the vegetables were fresh. Everything was spot on. If I ever find myself back in Babylon, NY, I can't wait to hit up Swell Taco again. read more

Swell Taco is one of the greatest little places in Babylon Village. I'm not a taco fan but this little place is awesome not to mention the food was super good. I think they need to expand. The only downfall with swell taco is the waiting time but overall the wait is worth it. All the food is fresh very tasteful. I would recommend this place to everyone I know. read more

Great food, awesome atmosphere. Our server was extremely busy but she made it a point to always check in with us, and make sure our table of 6 was doing alright. read more

What a great casual california-Esqe Tex mex spot. The ingredients are fresh and delicious! The San Clemente burrito is my all time favorite but you can't go wrong with any of the taco choices !! read more

Swell Taco - Mexican Near Me - Babylon, New York

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The food is always excellent! Always fresh and always delicious, the only downfall swell taco has is the size of the restaurant and the wait times. If your heading here on the weekend, prepare for a wait but the food is worth it read more

Swell Taco - The T-Street Burrito- Marinated streak, refried pinto beans, rice chop mix, cheddar cheese, sour cream and salsa verde - Mexican Near Me - Babylon, New York

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Finally got to check out this place with my cousin and loved it!!! We arrived around 5:30PM on Thursday since I've heard it gets packed. Started off with the chips and green salsa which was SO good. I ordered the San Clemente burrito and my cousin got three of the tacos. Reasonable prices as well. The burrito was HUGE!!! Would definitely come back and try other stuff on the menu! read more

One of my favorite places to sit down and eat, or order takeout. It is not true Mexican, rather SoCal inspired. The tacos are great, but the pulled pork quesadilla with salsa verde is the best thing on the menu. Make sure to try the margaritas- they are smooth but strong! If the weather is nice, remember to ask for an outside table. Tuesday's and the weekends are the busiest times to visit, so account on a wait time as there is always a line to get in ( for obvious reasons!) read more

Swell Taco - BRO-rito, epic breakfast burrito - Mexican Near Me - Babylon, New York

I really want to like this place but they just keep making it impossible to do so. The only positive is that the food is very good. Unfortunately, you'll have to wait forever to get it. I ordered one burrito for lunch at 2:45 in the afternoon on a Saturday. They told me 30 minutes, I showed up at 40 minutes because I never got a text and the food didn't come out until 3:41. The place wasn't even packed. They had 3 open outdoor tables and about 4 teenagers standing around doing nothing. Maybe they should hire more kitchen staff? The management needs to address the order times and fix the problem. I saw two other people come by to pick up their orders, which weren't ready either. This type of food shouldn't take this long to prepare and unfortunately this isn't the first bad experience I've had there. read more

Been back a few times now, food is still excellent and staff is very pleasant. Free chips are always a plus! For a great taco and on the cheap side, check out Swell Taco! read more

Awesome tacos, guacamole and margaritas. Great vibe. Nice staff. Reasonable prices. Only hang up is having to wait for a table.

It has taken this taco place a couple of months but I think they are getting it! Their fish tacos are the best I've ever had on the island. The wait time has definitely improved. The owner is extremely friendly and has educated me on all the homemade items on the menu and behind the bar. Their drinks are all made from ingredients and not mixes. The guac is made every day from fresh avacados and is delicious. My favorites are the special tacos for taco Tuesday. I had a pulled pork taco that was so amazing and flavorful, I'm begging them to put it on the full menu. The cooks make up fun salsas for Tuesday specials that combine pineapple flavors with various meats. I love the vibe in there. It is a very relaxed setting with a great SoCal feel. When you go there, which you all should, keep in mind that it is a taco joint, not an upscale restaurant. The times I have been in there, I haven't seen any bugs. The place was clean but the tables and floors have a more rustic feel which is okay with me. I enjoy going there for lunch and sitting at the counter. There is always someone to talk to. I enjoy watching all the changes this little place goes through. I know they will keep improving and adding to their menu for the better. Well done swell taco! See you soon for lunch! read more

Glad to see they have expanded the seating area to accommodate all of us that want some of that delicious food! Carne asada and hippie tacos never fail! read more

I love this place! Really cool atmosphere and food is great! Tacos are decent, but the burritos are great. Get the pulled pork and guacamole nachos....you won't regret it! Update: this place is seriously one of my favorites. The margaritas are wonderful, and I get one. Every. Damn. Time. Crispy chicken taco? Need I say more? Shrimp taco? Drool. Swell also renovated and expanded not too long ago. I just absolutely love this place, especially for lunch or a day at the beach and you just want some food and drinks to cool off. read more

Love Swell Taco! Especially because they let me bring my dog when we eat outside and always bring her a water bowl. Tacos are yummy and we'll priced. read more

My husband and I absolutely love swell taco in babylon!!! Best tacos, nachos and margaritas! We love the ambience. It's affordable and the food is delicious every single time!!! It's great for take out and also to go and sit down to eat. I love supporting this small business. It's worth every penny. The only downfall is they're always so busy it's sometimes hard to get through to place a to go order so sometimes you just have to take the ride there to place an order. Grab a drink and wait for your food. You will love it! read more

In all honestly this place shouldn't say that they serve Mexican food, that's not to say that the food was bad it's not what I would call "Mexican food" the steak was seasoned the same way which was salty, the chicken was alright, nachos were non impressive they were ehh and the service was alright. I'd rate the food at a 6.5 out of 10 but worth the visit read more

I ate here after returning from a job site near Fire Island. One of the guys there suggested it and I was not disappointed. It took us a bit to find the place. The GPS map will bring you to Deer Park Ave but the restaurant is actually located behind it next to the inner parking lot. When we entered every single one of the staff showed us attention. I have to say that this is one of the friendliest places I have ever been to. The staff is really easy to talk to and seems to really enjoy what they do. The food is good. I ordered three tacos. Pineapple pulled pork, coconut mahi mahi, and something called the crunch and munch. All were very tasty. My favorite was the pork which was one of the specials that day. I will definitely be back to experience more of what this SoCal influenced taqueria has to offer. read more

Swell Taco - Breakfast menu - Mexican Near Me - Babylon, New York

I LOVE Swell Taco! They are the very best. The wait can be long some times but absolutely worth it. Their tacos are amazing and their burritos are equally as good. The ambiance is very relaxed. You can go in shorts and a tank top and feel right at home. The music is very good. And I love the decor. Overall Swell Taco is always a great time. read more

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So I love this place, I am not sure if this is their fault or the idiots at Door Dash but I was wronged either way. I ordered to pickup on Door Dash to the BABYLON location and when I got to Babylon. They said they don't do door dash, your order is at Patchogue so naturally I called and asked if I can cancel the order. The gentleman told me absolutely, you have to go through Door Dash and we will confirm with them. Called Door Dash and they would not refund me even after I told them the restaurant will confirm with you. This needs to be fixed as I lost 35 dollars. Last time I ever do Door Dash and now Swell Taco because nobody actually helped the situation. Thanks guys read more

The vibe is always perfect. The food is great and the staff are all fantastic. Easily on my top 3 favorite spots

I've lived in the area for over two years and finally tried Swell Taco. I got the Big Papa burrito, which was delicious. Some of my colleagues got the Buffalo Soldier burrito, which looked amazing as well. What I really want to comment on is the service here. Today, I was in charge of ordering and picking up a large order for work. It was an order containing five burritos, two salads, six tacos, and a quesadilla for just over $100. It turns out there's a second location of Swell Taco in Patchogue and I had called the Patchogue location to place my order for pick up. When I arrived at the Babylon location and they told me there was no phone orders waiting to be picked up, I realized my mistake. The staff at Swell Taco didn't miss a beat. They called over to Patchogue, got my order from them, verified the whole order with me, and then remade that entire order. I felt so bad about having done that to the Patchogue location, but the staff at the Babylon location were pros. I'm sure it was frustrating for them, but they made me a fan. If someone from the Patchogue location reads this, I'm really sorry I wasted all that food. I hope you cut the burritos up and passed out samples or something. read more

Talk about being a 'hidden' gem. Went here after consumer copious amounts of wine at Barrique. We were going to wait the 30 minutes for a table, but ended up liking the people behind the bar so much, we stayed there. I'm mixed on the food. Some of the tacos are really good, some are mediocre, and some of the starters are just okay. What is great though, their margaritas. Whew, talk about delicious. It's worth stopping by. read more

Swell is the best!!! Strong margaritas man!! They recently expanded the dining area!!! Love the ambiance of the place!! Chill surfer atmosphere. Only gave 4 stars bc the ground beef can be a bit dry at times otherwise it's all around a great place to dine! read more

Always a joy to go to Swell! Margaritas are better than Mexico! lol great staff, excellent prices and the food is delish!

I'm giving these guys four stars because the service is good. However, I didn't really think the tacos are that great - they're not bad just had higher expectations. I mean almost everyone at the bars in Babylon village and Main Street area in Farmingdale kept telling us that it was so good. We tried a few times and the waiting times were ridiculous and we ended up going to Del Fuego. Anyway, last night we were in luck. We were told initially it would we a 40min wait and we were like what the heck we have try it. Fortunately, ten minutes in we were able to find 2 seats at the bar area. Tortilla chips and a green deep was given to us. It was good, wasn't warm but good. We had a margarita, which was slightly sweet, but that's how the old lady likes it. I know I said in another post I don't usually do mixed drinks, but as I went to order her drink at the bar I saw the seats opened up and she was still at the front waiting area. The place was packed so I couldn't take the chance to lose the seats, hence I ordered the two drinks to hold the seats. We ordered two of the specials tacos, el pancho or something to that effect the bartender mentioned with mahi-mahi fish - that was really good. I also tried a buffalo chicken taco and the ground beef taco. They were both just OK. Chicken was tender and well sauced but it reminded me of a quesadilla and the ground beef tasted like I made at home with a pack of taco seasoning from the grocery store. Again, I'm not saying that it's bad, but I just had such high expectations. I guess that was part of my let down and I don't think it's worth the wait. I suggest you order them to go and see for yourself if you haven't tried it yet. read more

Swell Taco - Tortilla chips and the green salsa dip... - Mexican Near Me - Babylon, New York

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Guacamole was so salty we couldn't eat it, tacos were soggy and unimpressive. Would rather go up the street to Del Fuego

Cool place, good vibe, good beverages and good food but not my type of taco place. Too Americanized with the SoCal vibe but no real Mexican tacos. No el pastor, chorizo or lengua. I would go back with a party but have gotten spoiled by places that serve the real mcCoy. . read more

Such a great place! The food and service was awesome ordered three tacos which was just enough food...the crispy chicken taco on special was the best taco I ever had with slices of cucumbers and chipotle sauce! Put this on the everyday menu!!!! Can't wait to come back and try more! read more

Swell Taco - Loaded beef nachos and pulled pork guac nachos - Mexican Near Me - Babylon, New York

The best tacos at reasonable prices. Friendly service. Nice outdoor seating. It's in the back of Main Street down an alley. Parking in the back is easy. Highly recommended. read more

I enjoy the Swell Taco the most out of any standalone Taco restaurant. One nice change is its affordable and tasty. I personally only eat seafood but there options are always fresh. One nice touch is they actually clean they shrimp which you dont see often read more

Definition of a hidden gem!! Great menu- chicken fish pork steak beef veggies shrimp- something for everyone. Super affordable and good service. read more

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Bottom line: Delicious food, communication for catering could be painful. I deleted my previous review because I felt it was premature and insensitive. However, the only regret I have is deleting it. Communication was still lacking after I was told it is not how Swell does business. I had met with Emily to discuss catering/ truck options for my engagement party. We were told during the tasting that their days book fast so it was important we communicated to them as soon as we could the day to hold. Tasting was awesome, we even stayed for lunch (the waitress said Emily didn't tell her we were staying so we sat and waited almost 20 mins before we waived someone over). It was a lot of empty promises to call me and set up final details or payment, delivery, etc. She told me a personal reason had come up (understandable, life happens, she was apologetic). It felt like it was me chasing her via email every few days and via Yelp review before I was called back. I emailed her twice about making sure my payment was received and again twice I was told, "the card will be charged today", it wasn't for several days. To be fair, from what it looked like, there was no support from her leadership team in her absence. FYI. Swell does not include any serving ware or utensils with their catering. Information was not provided, I had to ask after payment was given. Frustrating process, however Emily did waive our delivery fee and provided her number for "emergency reasons". I have paid other restaurants and catering companies less for higher quality customer service. Delivery guys were great though. Real nice, quick to set up and apologetic for running late. **This was the most painful review to write because we all should be given second chances, but this was the most stressful part of planning my engagement party**. read more

One of my favorite restaurants!! It's such a chill beach vibe. I love coming here for happy hour. Once you walk in you'll feel like your in a bar in a tropical island or something. The staff is always super friendly. There is usually a wait but totally worth it. The berry margaritas are a must! The prices here are unbeatable. Just writing this review is making me want to go there haha. If you love tacos, great drinks, and want to have a casual place to hang, this is your place. read more

Delicious food have never had a bad meal from swell have gotten it with friends and family hope the rest of the days will be nice and ez

Honestly the best taco's I've ever had. The food is consistently amazing. They always get modifications correct.

Food is good just not my cup of tea. The food is just the same and the drinks aren't that good. I prefer AvoTaco.

Came in on a busy Saturday afternoon to try some tacos & drinks. Heard about this place on Instagram & I had to check it out! Great decor (felt like I was back in California), food & drinks were great but service was lacking. We saw our waitress like twice & then had to ask some other random employee if we could have our check after waiting a while to see if she'd ever gome back. Besides the service, would definitely com back for the food & atmosphere. read more

Love love love this place! Chill vibes and the food is so delicious. They always have good music and skiing/surfing up on the TVs to watch. Great lunch and dinner spot! Highly recommend :) read more

Obviously the Margs are delicious but the Guacamole, fish and the shrimp tacos are my favorite in the island. The vibe is great the team is great and I love every visit. So reasonable with pricing. It is a smaller location so wait times are always a bit long but perfect for a Marg before you sit! read more

I found the food unexpectedly lackluster. I found their nachos flavorless and their tacos bland. The interior decor had a lovely surf-shacck vibe - but without the pleasant surprise at finding great quality cuisine. I will not be returning. read more