New Jersey’s 25 best Mexican restaurants, ranked

¡Bienvenidos! New Jersey might be thousands of miles from Mexico. But that doesn’t mean the state doesn’t have a vast array of Mexican eateries.
And we’re not just talking tacos, burritos, quesadillas and birria. In New Jersey, you can get dishes like smoky mole poblano, savory enchiladas verdes and tangy sopes topped with fresh salsa — delights that truly capture the essence of Mexico’s culinary heritage.
Whether you’re hunting for a hidden gem with homemade tortillas, a lively cantina serving up rich mole and mezcal or a spot dishing out perfectly crafted tacos, we’ve traveled across New Jersey to bring you this ultimate statewide guide.
Check out the list below for the 25 best Mexican restaurants in New Jersey, ranked.
25. Blue Habanero, Neptune City, Perth Amboy and South Plainfield
This small, no-frills restaurant boasts some amazing traditional Mexican eats. Signature offerings include the tacos de birria and quesa-birria. Their biggest dish is the “Big Blue” burrito — a monstrosity double the size of a typical burrito, wrapping your choice of either chicken, carne asada or al pastor with rice, beans, sweet corn, sour cream and pico de gallo. But what really reeled my taste buds in was their “Special 3 Carnes Molcajetes,” filling a molcajete (a Mexican mortar and pestle) with grilled beef steak, chicken, marinated pork and vegetables and served with a side of rice, beans, guacamole, cheese and corn or flour tortillas. The menu says it’s fit for one person, but it’s definitely big enough to share. (LM)
24. Mexico Restaurant, Passaic
All three tacos I tried at Mexico Restaurant were stellar — unsurprising, coming from one of the best Mexican restaurants in a city filled with them. But the suadero and al pastor were outshined by the fatty, salty carnitas — yes, those are complimentary adjectives. The crispy yet chewy texture plus the flavorful pork made for an elite taco. The vibe is lively at Mexico Restaurant, and the menu is expansive. (JS)
23. AXO Restaurant, Lindenwold
AXO has made a serious name for itself in South Jersey since moving from an at-home operation into a fully functional restaurant space in Lindenwold in 2023. The Mexican-Asian fusion eatery serves unique dishes like birria dumplings, birria ramen, birria egg rolls, birria rice bowls and more. The menu also features classic Mexican items like tacos, burritos and street corn. The outstanding birria ramen is packed with flavor from its tender slow-cooked beef chunks, shrimp, cilantro and onions in a spicy broth. (CB)
22. La Mixteca, Butler
You can’t distill a restaurant down to the guacamole, but La Mixteca’s might be a cut above the rest. You can also add some jalapeño to it if you’re looking for extra heat. Their birria tacos are extremely flavorful and generous with the meat, as well. (MR)
21. La China Poblana, East Brunswick
If you’re looking for a place that has an extensive menu with fresh-tasting Mexican food, La China Poblana is the way to go. You can’t go wrong with their de carne asada tacos topped with onion, radish, and cilantro. Their quesadillas are massive, so you’ll most likely be snacking on them the day after. (MR)
20. Locos Tacos Birria Factory, North Bergen
Locos Tacos Birria Factory embodies the essence of traditional Mexican cuisine with amazing tacos, tortas, empanadas and an extensive birria menu. The small eatery is located along Broadway in North Bergen. A lovely aroma of grilled meats and vegetables hits your nose as soon as you enter the front door. Locos Tacos’ all-you-can-eat taco Tuesday promotion includes street tacos like picadillo, carne asada, carnitas, al pastor, carne enchilada and more. For $24.95 per person, diners can enjoy as many tacos as they can stomach for 45 minutes from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays. The birria tacos are just one of many birria items featured on the menu along with birria empanadas, nachos, burritos, salads and more. (CB)
19. San Lucas Mexican Restaurant, Camden
The menu at San Lucas is diner-sized. There are 31 kinds of tacos, more than 20 platters, 14 tortas, and 12 types of burritos. And that‘s only part of the menu. I’ll make it easy for you: order the carne asada or the pollo a la Mexicana which features tomatoes, onions, avocado, rice, beans, cactus leaves and cheese. The carnitas torta, is stuffed with crispy pork, Oaxaca cheese, lettuce, refried beans, onion, tomato, mayo, avocado and jalapeños. Specialties of the house include molcajete with chicken, Mexican sausage, steak, shrimp, hot dog, cheese and green onion. (PG)
18. International Mexican Food, Red Bank
Red Bank is one of the Jersey Shore‘s best food towns, and you would be remiss to not check out this tiny, bustling taqueria on Shrewsbury Avenue. Al pastor, bistec, chorizo, pollo, carnitas and mixtos tacos are all the menu, along with cemitas (sandwiches that originate from the Mexican city of Puebla) and more. Grab a seat at the counter and watch the chefs slice succulent meat straight from the trompo into your tacos. (JS)
17. Los Chulos Mexican Restaurant, Berlin
Los Chulos is a new kid on the block but has already established a reputation since opening in 2023. The small Camden County restaurant is tucked away on a little street between the busy Route 73 and Route 30 (White Horse Pike) but word of mouth has made this spot very easy to find. Los Chulos’ calling card is its taco Tuesday offerings which rotate weekly. The promotion is the best taco Tuesday deal in South Jersey for my money, and includes offerings of four pork al pastor tacos for $5, four chicken tinga tacos for $5, or four beef birria tacos for $10. I always rush to get the beef birria or the pork al pastor tacos when they make it to the taco Tuesday menu. (CB)
16. Sabor A Veracruz, West New York
Sabor a Veracruz may be the state’s most colorful Mexican restaurant. The wall is a riot of colors and characters — a sombrero-topped pepper playing guitar, margaritas, lucha libre (professional wrestling) masks, bottles of tequila and the neon-lit words “Feed me tacos and tell me I’m pretty.” The tacos are excellent — try the al pastor and steak. The restaurant is located on Bergenline Avenue, New Jersey’s greatest food street. (PG)
15. La Bamba, Brant Beach
“Only authentic Mexican food on LBI‘’ is how La Bamba describes itself, and I won’t disagree. It‘s a lively little place with tables inside and an outdoor patio. Think you’ve tried every imaginable shrimp cocktail? The coctel camaron, with shrimp bathing in a luscious cocktail sauce, shames pretty much every one out there. Also recommended: the mango habanero seafood with diver scallops, shrimp, rice and plantains, the chicken tortilla soup and the fish tacos. La Bamba made my list of LBI‘s 11 best restaurants, ranked for good reason. (PG)
14. Pancho’s Mexican Taqueria, Atlantic City
Pancho’s is easy enough to find — it‘s next door to legendary White House Subs. Pancho’s makes the best al pastor tacos in the state, and don’t try to tell me otherwise. The seasoning, the meat, the pineapple — not to mention the inexpensive price — make for a terrific taco. It placed second on our list of NJ’s best tacos, ranked. Pancho’s may be no-frills, but the flavors are big-time. (PG)
13. Fat Cactus Cantina, New Brunswick
This downtown New Brunswick restaurant is a hit among Rutgers University students, for good reason. Fat Cactus has a lively, party vibe with seating for more than 200 guests and television screens over the bar for big games. The restaurant has happy hour Monday through Friday with deals on several drinks, appetizers and tacos. The Fat Cactus menu features multiple guacamoles, including pineapple habanero and ghost pepper fajita guac. Birria pizza, quesadillas, fajitas, burritos and more are on the menu as well. The pork al pastor burrito is undeniably delicious. Fat Cactus also operates a location in Parsippany. (CB)
12. La Ingrata, Camden
“Your slice of Mexico in Camden” is the motto at La Ingrata, run by Karla Torres and Ernesto Ventura. “Imagine flavors that take you on a journey through the streets of Mexico City and Puebla,” the website states. They make their own bread and quesillo (flan) among other things. “Street food” items include huaraches (handcrafted tortilla with refried beans, queso fresco, cactus, and lettuce). There are 13 kinds of pizza. The Mexican pizza features jalapeño, onion, chorizo, bacon, ham and avocado. My favorite dish here is the Milanese torta with a choice of chicken or steak, stuffed with meat, cheese, onion, tomato, avocado and refried beans. La Ingrata made my list of Camden’s 11 best restaurants, ranked. (PG)
11. Meximodo, Metuchen
Meximodo has been open for a little less than two years but has already become a go-to eatery in Middlesex County. People keep coming back for their wide selection of eats including pollo con mole — adobo marinaded chicken, mole poblano sauce and white rice — and delicious guacamole that comes in a variety of flavors. The restaurant also received international attention by setting the Guinness World Record for the most tequila bottles. With that record, it’s no surprise their handcrafted drinks are can’t-miss. Their brunch menu is strong as well, especially the tres leches French toast. The mouthwatering dish stacks challah bread, tres leches (three different kinds of milk), berries and guajillo-honey butter all ribboned with a silky maple syrup. Additionally, they are opening a second location in Jersey City this spring. (LM)
10. La Cita Authentic Mexican Restaurant, Cherry Hill
Cherry Hill isn’t normally recognized as a hub for Mexican eats, but La Cita Authentic Mexican Restaurant is proof it should be. Tacos are the highlight of the menu, which also features Mexican classics like ceviche, fajitas, pollo en mole, enchiladas, burritos, quesadillas and more. You can’t go wrong with the carne asada or carnitas, My favorite is the al pastor, which has the perfect balance of spicy and sweet from its adobo marinade. The restaurant claimed the No. 6 spot on ’s ranking of Cherry Hill’s 11 best restaurants. (CB)
9. Taqueria Downtown, Jersey City
The first thing most people say when I tell them I live in Jersey City? How much they love Taqueria. The best-known restaurant in the city before Dan Richer and Razza came to town, Taqueria serves unassailably great tacos in a bustling downtown dining room filled with Southern California-themed decor. The margaritas are strong and the Pacificos are ice cold, perfect pairings with their carnitas, pescado and steak tacos. They aren’t fancy — simply seasoned meats served on a fresh tortillas topped with cilantro, onion and lime — and that’s all you need. The only real drawback to Taqueria is everyone knows how good it is and it isn’t a large restaurant, so waits for tables can be long. The backyard opens in the summer and helps alleviate those wait times, but if you’re in a hurry the pro move is to order at their take-out/catering location just a few blocks up at 354 Grove St., which has a few tables and a bar for savvy foodies. (JS)
8. Dona Julia Mexican Kitchen, Point Pleasant Beach
Dona Julia is in the same strip mall as a well-known New Jersey taco chain. When in doubt, go with the mom-and-pop place. I fell in love with tinga tacos (shredded chicken in a sauce of tomatoes, onions and chiles) because o fDona Julia’s take on the dish. They ended up No. 5 on our list of the the state’s best tacos, ranked. But there‘s more to like here — especially the Julia burrito, accented by a rich red sauce, and the steak torta, cooked just right (medium rare, of course). (PG)
7. La Fortaleza, Carlstadt, Clifton, Lodi and Passaic
Arturo Ortega founded the very first La Fortaleza in Passaic in 2001, which has now expanded to four locations in the state and one spot in New York. The atmosphere is captivating the second you walk in with live mariachi music on the weekends and a festive atmosphere accented by vibrant walls, decor and lights. Their huge menu also has countless beloved Mexican dishes imaginable like enmoladas (tortillas filled with various ingredients, covered in mole sauce, then baked) cemitas, chiles rellenos (poblano peppers stuffed with cheese and fried) and much more. (LM)
6. Central Taqueria, Morristown
Central Taqueria opened in 2023 and has already made a major name for itself in Morristown with some of the tastiest tacos in the state. Raul Santoyo was a banker in Mexico City whose job took him to New Jersey. And while he loved the Garden State, he couldn’t find tacos that compared to what he was used to in Mexico. So he stopped looking and decided to open his own taqueria, featuring incredible al pastor made with spit-roasted pork topped with pineapple. Cochinita pibil tacos are harder to find in New Jersey. The dish originated in the Yucatan peninsula, features pork marinated with achiote, orange juice, oregano, cumin and vinegar. It’s then covered with banana leafs and slow-cooked for more than eight hours. It has a kick, especially if you top it with their hot sauce and hot pickled onions, but the flavor is undeniable. Those tacos were named the best in the state by . Central Taqueria is a small shop with a modest menu — they also serve tortas, quesadillas, platters and appetizers like guacamole, black bean soup and Mexican street corn. But everything they cook is excellent and authentic. (JS)
5. Luna y Sol Mexican Restaurant, Moorestown
Jamaican margarita — that‘s where to start at Luna y Sol. Hibiscus extract, agave nector and lime. It‘ll take you right back to the island or somewhere blissful. It‘s one of six non-alcoholic margaritas on the menu. Oh, you want to hear about the food? The ropa vieja is a tasty take on the traditional beef stew. The tamal Oaxaqueno, chicken and cheese cooked in banana leaf, is not your run-of-the-mill tamale. And the tinga taco, among the street tacos, packs some serious spice and bite. But start with one of the margaritas first. The waitress asked if I wanted a pitcher of the Jamaican to go. I hesitated before saying no. (PG)
4. Los Barbaros Birria, Asbury Park, Belmar and Manahawkin
With various locations along the Jersey Shore, Los Barbaros Birria is the ultimate after-beach Mexican treat. The name of the establishment is accurate, everything on the menu is birria – tacos, quesadillas, pizza, sandwiches and noodles. Anyone can make birria, but not everyone can make it quite like this restaurant. I’ll keep coming back for the savory, cheesy and a slightly spicy “pizzabirria,” It can serve people up to four people. Los Barbaros also topped the list of 11 best Belmar restaurants, ranked. (LM)
3. El Ranchero Taqueria, Jersey City
El Ranchero Taqueria opened in 2021 in the space that once was home to the Lamp Post Bar & Grill. It didn’t take long for the restaurant to take the Jersey City dining scene by storm — eventually overtaking more established Mexican eateries in town and becoming a local favorite in any culinary category. I find myself eating here multiple times a month and I still have barely made a dent in the lengthy and impressive menu. Their tacos are terrific (and you get a fifth one free with your order on Tuesdays) but El Ranchero’s offerings dig much deeper than that. From saucy and crispy chilaquiles to flavorful flautas and overstuffed burritos, you could come to El Ranchero every day and still struggle to get through the menu. Their lamb birria burrito was No. 1 on ’s best burritos list — an even better take on trendy birria tacos, though they have those, too. The al pastor chilaquiles is my single favorite breakfast in Jersey City. El Ranchero has been a stalwart of my Jersey City restaurant rankings for a reason. (JS)
2. Juanitos Mexican Restaurant, Washington Borough
Burritos are often boring and bland. Not the one at Juanitos. The beef burrito is monstrous, but that‘s not its strongest point. It‘s loaded with fresh meat and rice, and topped with a tasty tomato sauce. I couldn’t get enough of the chicken norteno, enlivened with mushrooms, olive oil and white wine. But my favorite dish here is the ceviche with cilantro, onions, lettuce, avocado and tomatoes. It‘s the biggest ceviche I’ve even run across, and one of the tastiest. One more must-try: the cinnamon-dusted rice pudding, smooth and creamy. (PG)
1. Cantina46, Ridgefield
If you travel to the Ridgefield area often, you’ve probably seen Cantina46’s sign shining just off Route 46. Since 2023, the restaurant has been serving classic Mexican dishes with an upscale twist. Standout dishes include the guacamole pancita (a unique spin on traditional guacamole dotted with crispy pork belly), pulpo a la brasa (the most tender grilled octopus I’ve ever had served alongside a southwest salad) and the alambres, smoky hanger steak skewers with red onion, poblano, red bell pepper and bacon.
The sleek, modern interior is spacious with a lively bar shaking up cocktails that are as tasty as they are Instagram-worthy. Whether you’re stopping in for a casual hangout or celebrating something special, Cantina46 delivers both style and substance — the best Mexican restaurant in New Jersey. Just be careful not to back into in the giant molcajete guacamole statue in the parking lot like I almost did! (LM)
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Lauren Musni may be reached at lmusni@. Follow her on Twitter @Laurengmusni and on Instagram @laurengisellemusni.
Peter Genovese may be reached at pgenovese@. On Twitter, @petegenovese. On Instagram, @peteknowsjersey and @themunchmobile.
Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@ and followed on Twitter at @J_Schneider and on Instagram at @JeremyIsHungryAgain.
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