Favorites
Mexican
Worth a Visit
- Acapulqueños Mexican Grill, Long Branch, NJ
- Bahia De Acapulco, Freehold, NJ
- Barrio Costero, Asbury Park, NJ
- Don Jose, East Hanover, NJ
- El Mariachi Loco, Hammonton, NJ
- El Matador, Bloomfield, NJ
- El Tule, Lambertville, NJ
- Joyce's Bakery & Taqueria, Bound Brook, NJ
- La Costeñita, Hillsborough, NJ
- Lupita's, Orange, NJ
- Parilla La Nueva Fogata, Berlin, NJ
- Restaurante El Mariachi, Trenton, NJ
- Selenita, Pompton Lakes, NJ
- Senorita's Mexican Grill, Bloomfield, NJ
- Surf Taco, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
- Tacos Cancun, Lambertville, NJ
- Tacos Matamoros, Clifton, NJ
- Villalobos, Montclair, NJ
- Órale Mexican Kitchen, Jersey City, NJ
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On My List to Try
- Acapulco, Raritan, NJ
- Agave, Newark, NJ
- Amor, Somers Point, NJ
- Azteca, Belmar, NJ
- Baja Taco Express, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
- Beana's, Rahway, NJ
- Carvajal, Perth Amboy, NJ
- Casa Comida, Long Branch, NJ
- Charrito's, Weehawken, NJ
- Chilangos, HIghlands, NJ
- Cinco de Mayo, New Brunswick, NJ
- Cocina del Sol, Frenchtown, NJ
- Costa Chica, New Brunswick, NJ
- Dia de Los Burritos, Pitman, NJ
- Don Jose Rojo's Tacos, Ocean City, NJ
- El Aguila, Passaic, NJ
- El Aguila Dorada, Bayonne, NJ
- El Campesino, Toms River, NJ
- El Chilango, Jersey City, NJ
- El Costeño, Somers Point, NJ
- El Familiar, Toms River, NJ
- El Jose Mexican Food, Manahawkin, NJ
- El Meson, Freehold, NJ
- El Michoacano, Vineland, NJ
- El Molcajete, Freehold, NJ
- El Oaxaqueno 2, New Brunswick, NJ
- El Oaxaqueño, Lakewood, NJ
- El Paso Mexican Grocery, Englewood, NJ
- El Senor Frog, Manahawkin, NJ
- El Taco Loco, Perth Amboy, NJ
- El Tapatio, Dover, NJ
- Fiesta Mexicana, Hammonton, NJ
- Franco's Taqueria, Riverside, NJ
- Garibaldi Peru Mex, Parsippany, NJ
- Jose's Mexican Food, Spring Lake, NJ
- Juanito's Bakery, Red Bank, NJ
- La Cita, Cherry Hill, NJ
- La Esperanza, Lindenwold, NJ
- La Mexicanita, Newton, NJ
- La Nueva Placita, Freehold, NJ
- La Placita, New Brunswick, NJ
- La Rienda, Long Valley, NJ
- Las Lomas, Hammonton, NJ
- Leyendas de Mexico, Parsippany, NJ
- Los Papagallos, Long Branch, NJ
- Lucy's 1967, North Brunswick, NJ
- Maddy's Mexican Grill, Parsippany, NJ
- Mexican Mariachi Grill, Ewing, NJ
- Mi Pequeño Mexico, Newark, NJ
- Mi Pueblito, Kearny, NJ
- Mi Rancho Mexican Grill, Newton, NJ
- Mis Amigos, Dunellen, NJ
- North of the Border, Red Bank, NJ
- Pancho's, Atlantic City, NJ
- Plaza Tapatia, Asbury Park, NJ
- Punto. Y Coma,, New Brunswick, NJ
- Riviera Maya, Branchville, NJ
- Riviera Maya Mexican Cuisine, Bogota, NJ
- Rokamar, Long Branch, NJ
- T-Bone Taco, Hammonton, NJ
- Tacos Bravos, Bridgeton, NJ
- Taqueria Downtown, Jersey City, NJ
- Taqueria El Mariachi, Trenton, NJ
- Taqueria Los Gueros, Bloomfield, NJ
- Taqueria Maria's, Jamesburg, NJ
- Taqueria Mi Mariachi, Jersey City, NJ
- Taquitos Buenaventura, Long Branch, NJ
- Tenampa, Toms River, NJ
- Tortilla Press, Collingswood, NJ
- Viva Mexico, Flemington, NJ
Barrio Costero – Asbury Park, NJ
Mexican
Ortega Taco Dinners were my Italian-American childhood introduction to “Mexican” food. Since then, I’ve sampled the wide range of Mexican cuisine as it exists in Mexico, from Yucatan’s cohinita pibil (marinated pork slow roasted in banana leaves) to Puebla’s chiles en nogada (stuffed chiles in cream sauce), to Baja California’s fish tacos. I have learned that Mexican tacos are wrapped in soft, handmade corn tortillas, and can be filled with pork or lengua (beef tongue). The best chiles rellenos are coated in fried egg. Mexican hot chocolate, thick with a hint of chile, is not to be missed.
Our all-time favorite Jersey Mexican was a taquería in Hoboken on First Street. (Spectacular chiles rellenos, served with an intense red mole.) That place has closed, but there are plenty of Mexican food options in New Jersey.
Torta @ Lupita’s – Orange, NJ
Authentic Mexican restaurants have sprouted all over the Garden State, from South Jersey to Passaic, Middlesex, and Monmouth Counties. More than 200,000 New Jersey residents claimed Mexican ancestry in the 2010 Census, the second largest Hispanic ethnic group after Puerto Rican. There are so many Mexican-American communities in New Jersey, I’m sure the best taco is at a local spot we would never find on our own.
Tell me your favorites spots for Mexican food. I’ll add the most popular to the list, and to the map.
Links
Blitzing Through New Jersey in Search of the State’s Best Mexican Food
Comida Mexicana Al Gusto
Good Mexican in Northern NJ?
Mexican home cooking making its way around South Jersey
Real Mexican Food in New Jersey
Search for Jersey’s best tacos takes Munchmobile from Montclair to New Brunswick
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Xochimilco in West New York – there are actually many good Mexican restaurants in WNY, NJ, but this is one I’ve eaten at plenty of times bc it is on my block, genuine Mexican fare but used to be a bit cheaper before the renovations (and “more genuine” – ‘la lengua’ used to be on the menu but I guess there weren’t too many takers), bakery next door isn’t bad either, same owner.
Mexican restaurants in Elizabeth, NJ:
Taqueria Brenda Lee
Taqueria Nealtican
Los Compadres
Taqueria Al Pastor
La Cabana
Taqueria Los Gueros
Los Jarritos
Mi Pequeno
China Poblana
Lupita’s Restaurant
El Portal
I am not a big fan of any of the chains, but Surf Taco seems to be a step above. For some real Mexican tacos, try La Valentina in Long Branch.
I was super bored by food at Surf Taco. Not bad, just, “meh.” My favorite is Bubbakoo’s around TR/Brick, and Chipotle if mI’m north a bit more.
Thanks for the tip – I’ll check it out.
You should check out riviera maya in bogota. Check them out on yelp. Great reviews and great authentic fresh food
Meade,
Appreciate the barber recommendation but let’s stay on topic – Jersey’s best ethnic food.
Thanks.
Check out Reds in Freehold. My Barber, Ray owns it. Southern style chicken & ribs with a Filipino twist.
A lot of people like Super Pollo Chicken in Brick in the Kennedy Plaza strip mall by Costcutters. Many people say it’s the best rotisserie chicken they’ve ever had. They have huge burritos and great tacos. Huge portions and dirt cheap. Real deal Mexican. They’re not afraid to kick it up if you like spicy.
Try costa chica in new Brunswick NJ. It’s really good!
Dude.. Grill Pablano in Rutherford. Tongue and Cactus tacos are to die for… everything is… its awesome.
Looks good. Just added it to the map. Thanks for the tip!
You have to try Costa Chica’s in new brunswick on handy st. it’s like being in Mexico! By far my personal favorite!
Thanks – Definitely have to try El Meson. Do they serve tacos?
El Meson in Freehold is a personal favorite. Weekend chef specials are consistently fabulous, fresh and flavorful. The service is never lacking and with the warmer weather you can enjoy patio dining. Locally, this little restaurant has a widespread reputation for excellence!
There are Cuban places on the map. Use the drop down search box in the upper right-hand corner. Not enough for a “featured” category yet. We do need to find good Puerto Rican restaurants. Where’s the best mofongo in NJ?
How come there’s no spot for Puerto Rican or Cuban food?
I have to give a local shout out to Surf Taco in Toms River & Point Pleasant. Zagat rated & featured in NJ Monthly as the number one spot for best cheap eats. My personal favorite is the Jenk’s Wet, which is a burrito with beans, pico and sauce. The chicken soft tacos are excellent. For the brave, try the tsunami challenge.
There are a bunch of authentic-looking Mexican places in downtown Plainfield, I just haven’t tried any yet. Two that get mentioned on the web: Tia Alicia (420 Watchung Ave.) and El Gitano (164 E. 2nd Street). If you try any, please report back!
I grew up in Plainfield, and haven’t been there in decades. I took the Google Street View tour, and all I remember from it is all the Mexican restaurants. Have you tried any of them? I’d like to eat somewhere in downtown Plainfield and not have to drive up to the highway, but if there’s somewhere on Rt. 22, then okay.
I’ll have to try MexicaliRose again – when we lived in Montclair (1996-97), it was just OK. Just added Charritos to “On My List to Try.” Thanks.
Just tried Charritos in Weehawken. Pretty good food, lots of it. They make the guacamole at your table and let you choose how jalapeno-y you want it, and let you taste test it first.
MexicaliRose in Montclair reopened with a new owner a few years back and it is great!