9 dishes you need to order this fall on Long Island

Fall brings in a slew of seasonal menu additives to Long Island restaurants. What's worth it? Our food critics gathered up some of the best dishes they've tried so far this fall.  

Marie Elena Martinez's picks

Wagyu Beef Negimaki at Hoshi in Oyster Bay

34 Audrey Ave.

If you like your beef marbled and tender, this signature Wagyu appetizer ($28) at Hoshi, a new Japanese spot from the Stellina Hospitality Group, is for you. Rolled with scallions, truffle and mushrooms, and topped with a light, sweet sauce, these four soft and meaty rolls are a great starter for any meal, highlighting the beauty of Japanese beef. More info: 516-584-1046, hoshiob.com

Fall Favorites Dozen at Duck Donuts in South Huntington

723 E. Jericho Tpke.

There's something about fall flavors — apple, cinnamon, pumpkin, caramel — and the new Duck Donuts in Huntington Station has a collection of a dozen doughnuts that embodies everything wonderfully delicious about fall. For $26.99, this sweet, autumnal spread includes classic flavors like coffee cake, French toast and maple bacon doughnuts, as well as specialty flavors like glazed pumpkin spice, caramel apple pie, caramel pumpkin cream, and chocolate caramel crunch. Not sure which was my favorite; the dozen didn't last a day in our house. More info: 516-574-9994, duckdonuts.com

Erica Marcus' picks

Chirashi at Kurofune in Commack

77 Commack Rd.

If you’re trying a new sushi bar and it looks promising, ask them to make chirashi with the daily premium selection of fish. It’ll cost more but allows the sushi chef to spread his wings. At the venerable Kurofune (est. 1981), I was treated to two grades of tuna, local fluke, fresh scallop, sea urchin, spot prawn (tail raw, head fried) and pressed monkfish liver, among other delicacies. There was so much here, I couldn’t even finish and it cost $78, a crazy price for what was, essentially, omakase on a bowl of rice. Extra credit: They served regular soy sauce alongside the low-sodium kind. More info: 631-499-0400, kurofunenewyork.com

Onigirazu at Happy Noodle in Mount Sinai

29 Route 25A

Freshly made ramen and udon are the main events at Happy Noodle in Mount Sinai, but I was captivated by these onigirazu, "rice sandwiches" that are larger versions of the more familiar triangular Japanese rice balls called onigiri. Owner Misaki Sugimoto starts with a sheet of nori (the seaweed sheet used for rolling sushi) onto which she presses an even layer of rice and then adds fillings — sukiyaki beef; teriyaki chicken, salmon or tofu; tuna salad and omelet; Spam and omelet; barbecued eel and omelet — before folding it over into a delicious, two-handed treat ($4.95 to $12). More info: 631-223-9577, happy-noodle.com.

Melissa Azofeifa's picks

Ancho slow-braised short rib from Alma Cocina in East Northport

354 Larkfield Rd.

I will be thinking about the ancho slow-braised short rib ($45), with sweet potato and chipotle paste, from East Northport’s Alma Cocina, for a long time. The short ribs are so soft, as if they are the savory version of cotton candy. The sweet potato and chipotle puree is a prime combination of sweet and spicy. This is on Alma Cocina’s fall menu but it will be available all winter. More info: 631-623-6329, almacocinamex.com

Baked Apple French toast from Mighty Fine in Huntington

43 Green St.

There is hardly a better way to satisfy a sweet tooth than with Mighty Fine’s baked apple French toast ($15). You get the best of both an apple crumb pie and French toast with this cloudlike treat, without all of the heaviness that can sometimes bog down the breakfast dish. It will be available through the rest of the year. More info: 631-683-5500, mightyfinecafe.com

Andi Berlin's picks

Bone-in rib-eye at Hacienda Tulum in Long Beach  

198 Boardwalk 

There are two ways to do Hacienda Tulum, the Mexican steakhouse on the boardwalk in Long Beach. There's the taco and margarita route, and the blowout special occasion route. Most of the time I'll be doing tacos, but I have to say, the best bite of the night was a slice of devastatingly rare rib-eye steak ($98). The restaurant touts its membership in the Pat LaFrieda 850 Club, which claims to sell extremely high-quality marbled beef, from Black Angus cattle. We ordered ours medium rare. The steak does not come with flour tortillas but ask for a side of them anyway. More info: 516-882-4837, haciendatulum.com

Rib-eye taco at Tacos Malamadre in Mineola 

358 E. Jericho Tpke. 

Rib-eye tacos are the latest trend to come out of Mexico City and now there are at least three spots on Long Island to get them. Even this self-described carne asada evangelist can appreciate a fat slab of juicy steak on a corn tortilla. And Tacos Malamadre does it the best, because they're literally taking frozen rib-eye steak and slicing it on a deli slicer to create a delicate strip of beefy deliciousness. It's just a perfect bite, with the melted cheese costra and the purple hibiscus corn tortilla. And that snazzy avocado salsa — wowza! More info: 516-699-3917, instagram.com/malamadretaqueria

Salchipapas at Medayork Burger in Westbury 

1560 Old Country Rd. 

I came for the beans after seeing them on Instagram, but this Colombian fast-food spot didn't have the beans that night. They did make me a mean plate of salchipapas, a South American delicacy that consists of French fries and hot dogs with delicious cheesy sauces and a quail egg on top ($14 with chicharron). The French fries were so crispy I forgot about the beans altogether! But I wanted some spicy sauce and, thankfully, they came through with a squeeze bottle of aji verde, which looked like cream but actually packed some kick. More info: 516-280-2537, medayorkburger.com