Description - Authentic Mexican cuisine. Casual dining. Entree price range $6-$10.
Menu From AllMenus.com Services - tacos, tamales, flautas, enchiladas, burritas, quesadillas.... Dine In, Take Out Hours - (Please confirm) Tue-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 11am-9pm, Mon Closed, Sat & Sun Mexican Brunch Address - 236 Grove Street, Jersey City, New Jersey ( NJ ) 07302 Google Map Mapquest Map Telephone - (201) 333-3220 Updated on 2007-12-08 Change or remove this listing
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Editor's rating of this review - 5/5
Review - Nice place for above-average, quality, homemade Mexican food. No waitstaff, it's order your food and take a seat. The cafe-type setting is casual/relaxed and doesn't feel like a restaurant. The food is fresh and very tasty but sparse- they should give a little more. I had a flank steak special for lunch - quite salty and literally paper-thin. For $11 I expected a little juiciness, and rice with my beans instead of tortilla strips, however their salsa verde, which it also came with, won me over. I'll be back soon, even if I can't stuff myself there.
Food - 40/50 Decor - 35/50 Customer Service - 30/50 Reviewed by - Danno (2006-10-14 )
Editor's rating of this review - 5/5
Review - As of this review, we've been here at least 5 times. Easily the best and closest Jersey City has to authentic Mexican food. They proudly boast in their menu that they do not have nachos, guacamoles and fajitas. Although those may be considered as staples by many, they're not missed since Taqueria has plenty of good food. As evident from the other reviews, their tacos are very good. We've tried the pecadillo (ground beef) and steak (very good but can be spicy) tacos. The steak and onions is quite excellent. Their chicken soup is also quite surprisingly good and is quite hearty. Their brunch/breakfast dishes is very good as well. We ordered the scrambled/sausage dish. Only drawback: somewhat small portions. Make sure you finish w/their flan, which they refer to as the Bomb (although we think the best flan can be found at The Hard Grove).
Food - 40/50 Decor - 50/50 Customer Service - 40/50 Reviewed by - DM (2006-03-07 )
Editor's rating of this review - 5/5
Review - this may be the best authentic ethnic value downtown except for ibby's. andrea and phil, young entrepreneurs originally from mexico and california, are a welcome addition to the downtown, van vorst, paulus hook neighborhoods. there tacos are reminenct of baja taco stands and big wave homemade snacks. try the picadillo tacos or the enchilada with the excellent mole (sauce)
Food - 40/50 Decor - 35/50 Customer Service - 45/50 Reviewed by - jotaman (2005-11-27 )
Editor's rating of this review - 4/5
Review - Okay - The food is amazing and I love the rock and roll decor. The vibe in there is akin to the Seinfeld soup-Nazi episode. My husband and I have been scolded for standing in the wrong place to order and a lot of trouble was caused when we tried to call in an order for pick-up - apparently that is a no-no. They should relax in there but I guess they figure the food is good so they can get away with it. I think they should show a little more appreciation to their customers - a smile can go even further than a good taco. Despite the vibe, I am a returning customer usually for take out.
Food - 50/50 Decor - 50/50 Customer Service - 25/50 (2009-05-28 )
Editor's rating of this review - 4/5
Review - I find myself at this place often for the food. The best authentic Mexican food on the east coast by far, and being from the west coast I think it beats a bunch of places there as well. The portions are small but that doesn't bother me at all. The tacos are great, taco truck tacos at it's best, with out having to stand on the street corner. Brunch is always good. I've been a customer for a year now and am in at least once a week, and they aren't friendly, never say hello good to see you. Definitely not the best customer service but fortunately or unfortunately their food makes up for it.
Food - 50/50 Decor - 45/50 Customer Service - 25/50 (2008-02-09 )
Editor's rating of this review - 4/5
Review - I guess its time to joint the echo chamber....
Born and raised in San Diego. This is not only the best taqueria in JC, its the best in the NYC metro area that I have had, and I have had dozens. In fact, their carnitas tacos would be well above average even if the place was in southern California or Baja California I can say for sure. THe only difference is they are a bit pricier for the modest size they give you here....but hey- that's a small premium to pay for the best tacos this side of the Missisippii.
Food - 50/50 Decor - 35/50 Customer Service - 35/50 (2007-06-15 )
Editor's rating of this review - 4/5
Review - Ok,here is the real review from another real Mexican food chef and citizen; All the tex-mex and cal-mex food can be considered good if you do not have any other point of reference; but never as authentic as Andrea and Felipe offer at La Taqueria. I guess if people have not visited Mexico City, they can certainly take a culinary and flavorful trip by eating here! We love it and consider it a little place of home far away from home, and the Husband loves it! He can not believe we can eat taquitos Mexico style so close to home!!! And the prices are to keep eating for! Don't forget to try any of our Mexican curious candies, as Andrea and Felipe have quite a selection of typical childhood candies! And, thanks for adding the HORCHATA! It is fantastic! If only we can serve it in larger glasses!!! :o) Come if you love Mexican flare!
Food - 50/50 Decor - 50/50 Customer Service - 50/50 Reviewed by - Barbara (2006-08-08 )
Editor's rating of this review - 4/5
Review - Because I travel to L.A. frequently, my standards for authentic Mexican food became very high. This is the most authentic Mexican spot I know in the Jersey City area.
The server was extremely friendly and open to my suggestion of adding horchatas permanently to the menu (a mexican rice water drink that is great to accompany the spicy food).
Try the Fish Tacos.....they are excellent!!
Food - 45/50 Decor - 40/50 Customer Service - 45/50 Reviewed by - gail (2006-06-16 )
Editor's rating of this review - 4/5
Review - The best Mexican food outside of Mexico. The food has the original Mexican flavor. The selection is good, still expanding. I love the taco de nopales (cactus tacos), and the torta de milanesa (breaded meat sandwich). They also offer Sunday brunch.. really recommended if you are hangover !!
Food - 50/50 Customer Service - 50/50 Reviewed by - Paula (2006-04-21 )
Editor's rating of this review - 4/5
Review - This place serves real Mexican food, not the Chi Chi's version. Try the fish tacos, anything with pork, the quesadillas and tamales are flavorful and filling. However, if you want vegetarian, the cuisine is authentic - which means they use lard in many dishes. Excellent little find.
Food - 40/50 Decor - 30/50 Customer Service - 40/50 Reviewed by - Irene (2006-01-15 )
Editor's rating of this review - 4/5
Review - The best thing to have happened to downtown Jersey City: an inexpensive, quality restaurant that's not pretentious and serves real Mexican food! What an amazing combination. My personal faves: pork tamales, chicken enchiladas with some of the best mole I've tasted (and I've tasted), tacos picadillos. Yum!
Food - 50/50 Decor - 40/50 Customer Service - 45/50 (2006-01-11 )
Editor's rating of this review - 4/5
Review - We're from Southern California, so we have VERY high standards when it comes to mexican food. It's gotta be cheap and yummy. This place produces just this. Our only issue with this place is that they are a little too snobby on the authentic front. They don't have nachos because they say it isn't authentic. Whatever! Nachos are yummy. Also, why no guacamole? And you can get fried tacos in Tiajuana, but not here. They refuse to adapt to what people want, but I guess what they make is pretty darn good, so we'll deal. It's the one place I can get me some taquitos (they call them flautas) and a real tostada made fresh. Hopefully they will expand to include some of my other favorites (and take my American Express). Highly recommend the chix taquitos (flautas), the cheese enchiladas, the tostadas (any kind!!!) and the chorizo quesadilla. My mouth is watering just from writing this.
Food - 47/50 Customer Service - 30/50 (2005-12-22 )
Editor's rating of this review - 3/5
Review - tacqueria downtown is hands down one of the best places in j.c. my boyfriend and i love the food and super friendly staff. once you go just once you will never eat mexican anywhere again!
Food - 50/50 Decor - 50/50 Customer Service - 50/50 Reviewed by - tiana (2009-06-29 )
Editor's rating of this review - 3/5
Review - Food at this place is exceptional. Best mexican food i've had since our honeymoon in Mexico. The people are friendly too... We usually get the pork / steak / beef / cactus tacos or tamales though we've never had anything here we didn't like. Also don't forget the flan - it's by far the best I've ever had.
Food - 50/50 Decor - 40/50 Customer Service - 45/50 Reviewed by - Tim & Carly (2008-05-10 )
Editor's rating of this review - 3/5
Review - This place is really cute. I love the outdoor seating in the back! The food is pretty good also. I haven't found very many good taco places in the city so it was refreshing to find one here in JC. The carnitas tacos are really good. The tamales and steak tacos are ok, but nothing to go crazy over. Overall the food is good and I would definitely eat here again.
Food - 40/50 Decor - 40/50 Customer Service - 35/50 Reviewed by - Syphrite (2007-10-05 )
Editor's rating of this review - 3/5
Review - Very simple menu, but sometimes that is better than an extensive menu of just ok good. Have the cactus tacos with Sidral apple soda.
Food - 45/50 Decor - 40/50 Customer Service - 45/50 Reviewed by - Claudia (2007-02-12 )
Editor's rating of this review - 3/5
Review - This place kicks the crap out of any Mexican restuarant this side of the border. The prices are great and the food is better. Although I do love Guac (I they make a point of not serving it) I can always go down the block to Baja's for that. Give it a try, you won't be sorry....unless you think ChiChi's is good Mexican....
Food - 50/50 Decor - 25/50 Customer Service - 50/50 Reviewed by - The Beef (2006-04-20 )
Editor's rating of this review - 3/5
Review - Looove this place! Finally I can stop having to treck to Jackson Heights for real mexican tacos! Andrea is really friendly and I like the little trinkets they have at the counter to entertain yourself with while placing your order. I like that they won't serve nachos or fajitas, after all, every other restaurant in town does. Went there Friday night and they were the busiest I've seen them and the quality of the food suffered a little, hopefully as they grow they will hire more cooks / learn to keep their food quality high as the volume increases. Overall, my favorite restaurant in town, I dread Mondays because they are closed :)
Food - 50/50 Decor - 40/50 Customer Service - 40/50 Reviewed by - Taco Addict (2006-01-28 )
Review - I love the food especially the fish tacos. But the staff is kind of rude. My friend and I were about to order brunch at 5 minutes to 4pm and the girl rudely took the menus away and said it's not brunch anymore we still have 5 minutes to order! They need to be better at customer service
Food - 5/50 Decor - 3/50 Customer Service - 1/50 (2010-11-05 )
Review - A quick correction to the restaurants service description - They do not offer delivery in/around Jersey City at all. Have called them 2-3 times over the last few months after reading reviews on this site, to no avail. Lack of parking around grove street has made them a 'try em next time' option for me.
Reviewed by - JCFoodie (2010-09-06 )
Review - Taqueria rocks! I'm new to the area but lived in NYC for last 10 years. I'm Mexican and originally from California. How I missed my mexican food so bad and have always been disappointed that while some of the Oaxacan-based mexican food in NYC is good as well as the upscale Rosa Mexicano and Dos Caminos, I found no place like back home...until I discovered Taqueria! It's authentic California mexican food. Only place I have found the real mexican chorizo outside of the west coast/southwest and not the hard spanish style chorizo.
Food - 50/50 Decor - 40/50 Customer Service - 45/50 (2010-02-21 )
Review - Best Mexican Food on the East Coast.
Food - 50/50 Decor - 50/50 Customer Service - 50/50 Reviewed by - Desmond (2007-05-25 )
Review - THIS IS THE BEST MEXICAN FOOD ON THE EAST COAST! The Friday special chile rellenos are amazing! All of the food is perfect!
Food - 50/50 Decor - 50/50 Customer Service - 50/50 (2006-10-08 )
Review - I went in at a very bizarre time around 3:00 pm on a Tuesday, but the service was excellent, and the tacos were wonderful. I would recommend it highly.
Food - 50/50 Decor - 25/50 Customer Service - 50/50 Reviewed by - RBK (2006-03-25 )
