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New York Burger Shack is going off-road.
The popular food truck, which debuted in January along New York York State Route 112 in Medford, is moving into a steps-away storefront, with hopes of opening in the second week of October.
“That was always really the goal of ours, to have a storefront,” said Kaly Alzate, the chef and part-owner of New York Burger Shack. “The truck was to get our feet wet, to get the menu down, to let the people know who we are.”
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The shift into a brick-and-mortar location down the block — “We’re literally moving 30 seconds away,” Alzate said — will bring an expanded menu that is going to include milkshakes in 12 flavors.
“They’re all ready to go full throttle on this,” Alzate said of business partners, Jay Donovan and Mike Torres. “It was now or never and we’re just betting on it.”
The food truck remains stationed at 2215 New York State Route 112, but was rebranded a few weeks back as New York Taco Truck.
“You can never go wrong with tacos,” said Alzate, who studied at the Institute of Culinary Education in Manhattan before going to work on Long Island.
The truck offers seven variations on its namesake dish, including steak, chicken, birria and veggie tacos, along with burritos and quesadillas. Among the side dishes are empanadas, sweet plantains, rice and beans.
Alazate, who grew up in Bay Shore, said the changes came as a surprise to customers.
Foodie photos from New York Burger Shack
“People came in looking for burgers and were like, ‘Ohhh,’” she said. “But a lot of them, especially those who have been with us since the start, they understand we’re doing something new and they are excited to come check us out.”
Regulars won’t have to wait long for New York Burger Shack’s revival if the new location opens as planned. Alzate said the expanded menu at the burger joint will offer new items that extend beyond milk shakes and patrons will be able to dine in at booths and tables.
“Now we have a restaurant and there’s a lot more food involved, there are employees,” she said. “It’s a whole different challenge.”
But Alzate said diners can still count on the fan favorite burgers from the food truck’s earlier incarnation, including the All-American (two beef patties, thick-cut bacon, American cheese, topped with lettuce, tomatoes, onions and pickles) and the Backyard Barbecue (beef patty with cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and pickles).
“We can’t wait to get going,” she said.
New York Burger Shack will open at 2080 New York State Route 112 in Medford.
Original reporting
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Top: Exterior of the new New York Burger Shack opening soon in Medford. (GLI Photo/Nicholas Esposito)
