Mexican Food in NJ

RE: Mexican Food in NJ (Johnd2876)

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:20:58 GMT

If you want Great Mexican food take a trip to Passaic, NJ. Passaic has a large mexican community, with alot of good mexican spots. One of my favorites is
El Aguila its on 334 Monroe St. and its open 24 hrs. Trust me you won't be dissapointed. ENJOY..

Re:Mexican Food in NJ (CoachG)

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:30:58 GMT

Juanito's in Red Bank was always solid when I lived in the area. Parking was occasionally challenging but the food was usually top notch. Dining outside during the summer months was nice as well. I believe that it was BYOB.

http://www.exit109.com/~mstevens/juanitos.html

Man, I miss Jersey.

Re:Mexican Food in NJ (cameron074)

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:13:20 GMT

NYPIzzaNut

Do they offer horchata at these NJ places? Or tongue or goat?

I remember Pancho Villa offered goat as a filling for the tacos, but I'm not sure about Tu Tierra.

RE: Mexican Food in NJ (NYPIzzaNut)

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:09:00 GMT

fattybomatty

I remember tijuana joe's in north plainfield, but it got raided years ago by INS and now is a drug store

That happens in Ohio at Chinese restaurants sometimes.

Re:Mexican Food in NJ (NYPIzzaNut)

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:06:34 GMT

Do they offer horchata at these NJ places? Or tongue or goat?

Re:Mexican Food in NJ (bartl)

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:09:52 GMT

As long as we are talking about Route 46, has anybody here tried El Norte?

Re:Mexican Food in NJ (cameron074)

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:54:26 GMT

Pancho Villa on Main St/Rt 46 in Hackettstown was very nice. Stopped in last night. Not feeling super adventurous I ordered a few chicken and steak tacos. They start you off with tortilla chips and a very tasty, not too spicy homemade salsa. When dinner came we were surprised we hadn't noticed the garnishings area. Several homemade salsas, thick and chunky, some creamy, others spicy and thin. All very good. There was also some onions and cilantro I believe.

Small menu, standard mex fare, but they make it very very well. The steak was delicious, not overcooked and the chicken was incredibly tender and seasoned wonderfully. All the taco shells looked homemade, and tasted very fresh. I paid $6 for 5 of these and they were worth it.

8 out of 10

Re:Mexican Food in NJ (bartl)

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:47:40 GMT

There are several Mexican restaurants in Bergenfield (not to mention a couple of Mexican markets where you can buy hard-to-find ingredients like Mexican oregano for genuine chili). My favorite is Chapala Grill; if you want to see a review on my website, here it is.

Re:Mexican Food in NJ (1bbqboy)

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:19:43 GMT

Is naming a restaurant Pancho Villa's in NJ like naming an American Restaurant
in Iran George W's?

Re:Mexican Food in NJ (cameron074)

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:47:50 GMT

2 restaurants have quietly opened in Hackettstown, Tu Tierra and Panco Villa. I tried Tu Tierra a week or so ago, it's located in the strip mall across from Hometown Hardware on Route 46/Main St. Small, quiet place, very colorfully decorated. They serve Costa Rican, Mexican, and Columbian fare. I tried the sopes with beef, the thick tortilla was very tasty. The beef was a little under-seasoned in my opinion, but their green chile sauce is very, very good. My girlfriend had fried chicken quesadillas, and she said she enjoyed them. I tried a bite of them and was also quite happy. I'll go back, their menu is too big to only go once. Cash only currently, and BYOB.

At some point we'll try Pancho Villa and try to get a few pictures. I've heard from several friends that their tacos are very good.

Tu Tierra

Pancho Villa

Oh one more thing: Smokehouse BBQ (yes I know, BBQ) on Route 46 in Hackettstown has been doing Taco Tuesdays since Cinco De Mayo. $2 large tacos, very, very good. Hard and soft shell. I've been there almost every single Tuesday.

Re:Mexican Food in NJ (Dog Boss)

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:16:50 GMT

abby's, downtown MATAWAN,NJ not far from the train station, afew trips not bad, english is a problem..........

PACO TACO, RT. 520 @ RT. 79 Malanpan,nj 2 two trips so far, been good, worth a trip, nothing like i'm used to, i still perfer califorina taco stands for my fix., they have a very large display of hot sauces. many many flavors to chose from.

they also do there sauce in a sample bar.

RE: Mexican Food in NJ (ellen4641)

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 02:01:26 GMT

Hi Harriet,
That Los Amigos in Atlantic City has been open for a long time..
Back in the early days of casinos, I used to take the casino bus down from north Jersey...(particularly in early 80's, before I ran off to live in Vegas!)

I would then venture away from the casinos to get the tacos over at Los Amigos. It was hard to find Mexican food in NJ at the time, so this was a real treat...

went back a few more times recently; some menu items I liked, some I did'nt.... but overall, it's a good joint...

RE: Mexican Food in NJ (harriet1954)

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:05:19 GMT

I personally do not eat Mexican food, but I know many people who do, and I read restaurant reviews with fervor. Here are two local places who've been around a long time and have wonderful reputations:

http://www.mexicanhope.com/ I tried to type in the name while I was using the "link" feature and it wouldn't work. The name of the restaurant is La Esperanza. It's in Lindenwold, NJ, straight down the road from where I live about 10 minutes without traffic.

The other one is http://www.losamigosrest.com/Berlin/ Los Amigos. It's on Route 73 on the Northbound side, in Berlin, NJ. I just saw when I looked at their site that they opened one in Atlantic City, too!

Anyway these places come highly recommended.

RE: Mexican Food in NJ (Food_Fan)

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 18:54:28 GMT

ken8038,
Thanks for the tip.

Your statement about daylight made me realize why I've never been past there during those later daylight hours. I've been sitting having a drink looking at the ocean or a river or both. I'm a sucker for a water view.

RE: Mexican Food in NJ (ken8038)

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 09:17:15 GMT

<<I have reservations about parking a block or two away

It's not really in the worst part of the Port. I'm sure you know that some of the streets down the road a bit can be very dicey. We parked about a block away and didn't really worry about it, and my wife and I are sort of yuppie-looking. Growing up in Brooklyn and often going off the beaten path for ethnic restaurants, we are used to bad neighborhoods, and just try to stay street-smart. So far so good. Daylight helps.

It was late May when we went to Manolos and it was still light out when we were walking back to the car at about 8:30. Maybe that's the time of year to go there.

RE: Mexican Food in NJ (Food_Fan)

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:30:27 GMT

Re: Manolo's

Both of my parents grew up in E-Port and I have watched the changes over the years. I've driven past Manolo's several times at night and the small parking lot is always full. Even though so many people have told me that the place is good I have reservations about parking a block or two away. I don't have a carry permit.

RE: Mexican Food in NJ (ken8038)

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:30:41 GMT

<< I don’t know anything about Basque cooking except for what I’ve read....Can you recommend a place to visit?>>

I'm pretty sure Jai Alai bills itself as a Basque Restaurant, although they don't have a website that I can double check. As I said, I'm not an expert and it seems to me that Basque and Porteguese food is similar. In any event the food and service at Jai Alai was good and I'd recommend it.

The only other Basque Restaurant I've been to is Manolo's in Elizabeth (obviously much closer to Roselle) at 91 Elizabeth Avenue. Food was good there too, but a little on the expensive side.

I have been to Quiet Man for beers, nice place. Another place in Dover I've been meaning to try is Atillio's. I was there a couple of times when they were in Denville and it was very good. They moved to Dover a couple of years ago, and went a little more upscale:

http://www.attiliostavern.com/

RE: Mexican Food in NJ (Food_Fan)

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:53:49 GMT

“I'm not the expert on this, but the food was Basque/Porteguese, not Mexican. Anyway, it was very good and reminded me of the Porteguese Restaurants in Newark's Ironbound.”

Ken8038,
I don’t know anything about Basque cooking except for what I’ve read. It’s said to be the best in Spain and is heavy on seafood. Since Basque Country is on the border of and continues into the Aquitaine region of France I would think that there would be a bit of a blend. I would love to taste authentic Basque food. Can you recommend a place to visit?

I’m not trying to be a wiseacre I just want to learn.

As far as I know 99.8% of the restaurants in NJ that call themselves Spanish are really Portuguese and NOT Spanish.

I know this is off topic but I think that you might enjoy this restaurant in Dover. I always did. It’s called The Quiet Man. The bartenders and servers were always friendly and the atmosphere warm and comfortable. All their food is good.

http://www.quietmanpub.com/

Here are their photos:

http://www.quietmanpub.com/picture.html

It’s on Rt. 46 East on the right side. The building is on the corner but faces the side street.

Good place.

RE: Mexican Food in NJ (ken8038)

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:53:07 GMT

Nice list Food_fan. I don't have too much experience with Dover but I did eat at Jai Alai last year with a couple of friends. I'm not the expert on this, but the food was Basque/Porteguese, not Mexican. Anyway, it was very good and reminded me of the Porteguese Restaurants in Newark's Ironbound.

I also loved the location, tucked away on a side street under a highway overpass. Totally off the beaten path, but it can be very crowded on weekends.

Afterwards we took a walk around Dover and probably passed several of the places on your list. It would be good to know which ones are worth eating at.

RE: Mexican Food in NJ (Food_Fan)

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:13:36 GMT

Thanks Lee, Bard of Brick (too bad you don't live in Avon), but then if you did we would be looking for you to write in couplets:

The hot dog was served on a bun so fair,

but the hamburger was way, way far too rare.

I've been on other forums, the last of which was an Islamic terrorist sympathizer forum. They ARE insane!!!

This one is a pleasure to read and I enjoy making contributions.

RE: Mexican Food in NJ (leethebard)

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 12:51:00 GMT

Hey, thanks for taking the time and effort to post this comprehensive report...that is the epitome of whar roadfood.com should be!!!! Thanks so much!

RE: Mexican Food in NJ (Food_Fan)

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 12:13:50 GMT

I thought that this thread would continue for a while so I prepared the following post – might as well post it now.

I was on the road in NJ for years and the last time I was through Dover 70% of the people on the downtown streets were Mexican or S. American. I figure if you want Mexican food you go where the Mexicans are. Here’s a list of the Mexican and probably a few S. American restaurants that are in Dover”

El Puerto (973) 366-5264 - 3 E Blackwell St, Dover, NJ
Taqueria Pancho Villa (973) 361-4003 - 7 N Essex St, Dover, NJ
La Costilla de Pedro (973) 361-3400 - 57 N Sussex St, Dover, NJ
Punto Sabroso (973) 328-9905 - 21 E Blackwell St, Dover, NJ
Las Tres Marias (973) 361-0434 - 88 N Sussex St, Dover, NJ
Cancun Fiesta (973) 366-2015 - 47 E Blackwell St, Dover, NJ
Internacional (973) 442-7550 - 157 W Clinton St, Dover, NJ
Juanchos Diner & Perrada (973) 442-5959 - 150 E Mcfarlan St, Dover, NJ
El Marino (973) 659-0402 - 130 Mount Hope Ave, Dover, NJ
Mambo Bars & Cafe (973) 328-3004 - 90 Belmont Ave, Dover, NJ
Sole Mex LLC (973) 442-2448 - 301 Mount Hope Ave # 2111, Dover, NJ
Sabor La Tino (973) 537-0777 - 17 W Blackwell St, Dover, NJ
Pollos Pucalor (973) 442-9272 - 85 E Blackwell St, Dover, NJ
Jai-Alai (973) 989-0916 - 73 W Blackwell St, #1, Dover, NJ
El Jaroch Restaurant (973) 989-4088 - 59 E Blackwell St, Dover, NJ
La Carreta Restaurant (973) 361-0291 - 121 E Blackwell St, Dover, NJ
El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant (973) 537-0833 - 29 E Blackwell St, Dover, NJ
Azteca Restaurant (973) 989-8442 - 17 E Blackwell St, Dover, NJ
Taqueria Brenda Lee Restaurant (973) 328-6262 - 7 N Warren St, Dover, NJ
Mexican Buffet‎ -(862) 397-4440 - 45 W Blackwell St, Dover, NJ

Since I’m half Gallego from La Corruna in Galicia in Spain I think these should be Spanish but who knows:

Restaurant Galicia (973) 343-7969 - 59 E Blackwell St, Dover, NJ
Galicia Restaurant (973) 343-7035 - 9 E Blackwell St, Dover, NJ
Valencia Delicatessen (973) 989-9055 227 - Richards Ave, Dover, NJ

Although some of the above may be South American this one is obviously Colombian:

Tierras Colombianas Restaurant (973) 328-4443 - 39 W Blackwell St, Dover, NJ

This one is Brazilian:

Floripa Grill LLC (973) 989-5100 - 55 E Blackwell St, Dover, NJ

http://floripagrill.com/

RE: Mexican Food in NJ (Food_Fan)

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 08:02:39 GMT

ken8038, thanks.

I started hanging out in New Brunswick when the entire block across the street from the train station was nothing but a 10’ deep hole in the ground. One of the first business’s to appear across the street from the train station was Marita’s Cantina: http://www.maritascantinanewbrunswick.com/ they had at least 40 brands of Tequila behind the bar.

The next Mexican one to appear on that side of the tracks was one where you had to go down 3 or 4 steps to enter. The bottoms of the windows were level with the sidewalk and it was on a corner. (Can’t remember the name)

New Brunswick became a great date destination for me. With so many restaurants and theaters it’s a nice place to take a lady.

RE: Mexican Food in NJ (ken8038)

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 22:48:46 GMT

<<Hey, KEN8038, you had to remember TICO TACO, too !!! Right??

Hi Ellen, you must have me confused with those NJ Natives. I've only been here since 1985, so I'm still considered a newcomer by the locals here. But I do remember Tico Taco from a cross-country trip I made in 1976, it seems they were very popular in the midwest at the time.
Re; Casa Maya: Interesting place, been there a couple of times. I especially like the location, sort of at a crossroads in the middle of nowhere but only a few miles from the chaos of Rt 22. And of course the Great Swamp trails are nearby for a walk if you eat there in the daytime.
Food_Fan, I'm enjoyinjg your posts, keep it up, although the one time I was at Casa Comida I wasn't impressed with the food or the service.

RE: Mexican Food in NJ (Food_Fan)

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:52:19 GMT

Tico Taco was an Americanized Mexican restaurant and I almost forgot another one in Long Branch. I used to go there with friends after the beach. It’s Casa Comida:

http://www.casacomida.com/

You can get there from 7 Bridges Rd. in Little Silver or Rt. 36 in Long Branch (Shorter).

Another one that I forgot is:

Carlos O'Connor Mexican Restaurant (732) 530-6663 - 31 Monmouth St, Red Bank, NJ

This place has been there for years and the last time I was there it was small and the walls were covered with all sorts of Mexican decorations and strings of small lights were strung across the ceiling. I liked it a lot.

RE: Mexican Food in NJ (ellen4641)

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:14:53 GMT

ScreenBear

I too miss Tico Taco on #22 in Greenbrook, N.J.

Casa Maya in Meyersville, N.J. is pretty good.

The Bear

I've been reading a LOT of good things about that Casa Maya...
I need to try it! Glad you mentioned it, screenbear...

Hey, KEN8038, you had to remember TICO TACO, too !!! Right??

RE: Mexican Food in NJ (ken8038)

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:52:25 GMT

I agree that authentic Mexican Food is hard to find in NJ. In fact, while I usually avoid chains, On the Border on Rt 1 in South Brunswick is the place we usually go when we're in the mood for Mexican Food.

That being said, my family and I had a great Mexican meal recently at Costa Chica, 314 Handy Street, New Brunswick. We shared a terrific Mexican Pizza and several tasty and authentic appetizers. The only drawback was somewhat of a language barrier with the servers, which in a way I consider a plus rather than a minus. Mixed clientele of Hispanics and Rutgers students and one sort of Yuppie-ish looking family of 4 from Scotch Plains. We will definately be back.

RE: Mexican Food in NJ (Food_Fan)

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 10:54:21 GMT

I remember Tico Taco. I really liked the style of the building. The rocks mortared into the exterior walls were a unique style that stood out on Rt. 22. I was only able to eat there once or twice and I remember that the food was good.

The glider tables were a unique feature as well. After they closed, a Mexican restaurant opened in New Brunswick across the street from Greasy Tony’s corner on Easton Ave and it had the same glider swings. I think that it might have been named Tico Taco but I can’t remember for sure. This was after J&J bought downtown New Brunswick and re-did the streets, the sidewalks, relocated businesses (Like Tumulty’s etc.). I don’t think they lasted that long.

Greasy Tony’s was good. “No charge for extra grease”.

RE: Mexican Food in NJ (ScreenBear)

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 19:34:27 GMT

I too miss Tico Taco on #22 in Greenbrook, N.J.

Casa Maya in Meyersville, N.J. is pretty good.

The Bear

Re:Mexican Food in NJ (californyguy)

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:46:13 GMT

As a former jersey guy who hopes to get back there before long, rest assured that Mexican in NJ would be on the bottom of my list,,,go to a good neighborhood pizzaria , enjoy an Italian Hot Dog or some BoardwaLK food , seafood,or some jersey corn or tomatos.....Jersey has such wonderful food!