50 Best Mexican Restaurants near Carteret

“My boyfriend and I stopped by Waves of Wine for a quick drink and loved the chill vibes. The atmosphere was super relaxed, perfect for unwinding after a long day. Great spot if you’re looking for a laid-back place to enjoy a glass of wine and good company. We’ll definitely be back!“

“My family attended the Easter celebration. We had a blast.“

“Tried their dessert - love chips - amazing!“

“buena atencion y rica comida mexicana“

“Food is awesome. Service is top notch.“

“My friends and I had a fantastic time here and will definitely be coming back soon! Be sure to check out their specials!“

“delicious!! so good.Birria and empanada are best ever had.“

“Todo muy delicioso lo recomiendo llegar a comer todos los platillos“

“Great food nice atmosphere.“

“What a phenomenal experience! Just two men handling the counter, and they handled it AMAZING!! From the food, to the customer service, everything was wonderful. I’d highly recommend this Qdoba to anyone. My wife and I live in Woodbridge and stopped ordering Qdoba from the Iselin location because it’s so bad! This place has officially brought us back to being loyal Qdoba customers!“

“gracias por una buena atención la comida 10 de 10 siempre que boy me si ento bien consentida 😍😍🥰🥰 excelente servicio lo recomiendo 👌 al 100% bendiciones a todos“

“I don’t want to say what I ordered because I don’t want to set expectations for others… but I will say it was the best I have ever had, including california and south america. Food took a bit of time, but I knew from smelling the food when we arrived that it was going to be good. What made it so great was the flavor of the meat. I am so happy we found this place. Coming back often!“

“Delicious with excellent service.“

“Some of the best authentic Mexican tacos in the area! I've tried a few taco places within 10 minutes of here but this place is the best. Always get my Al Pastor tacos from here. Love the green sauce they provide. Super easy to place an order for pickup over the phone. Very reasonable prices compared to other taco restaurants.“

“Alyssa our server was very attentive We had an Awesome experience! The drinks were out fast and our food was Great!“

“recently ordered catering from District Taco - Clark, and I couldn’t be happier with the experience! The food was absolutely delicious — fresh, flavorful, and a big hit with everyone. They also included all the supplies we needed, which made setup easy and stress-free.

On top of that, the customer service was outstanding. The staff member who helped me over the phone was friendly, patient, and incredibly helpful throughout the ordering process.

Overall, fantastic food and excellent service — I would definitely order from them again and highly recommend their catering!“

“Drinks and music is great“

“Authentic, delicious Mexican food. We came for lunch and both had tacos which were incredible. Felt like I was in Mexico City. Very good in house chips and salsa verde. Their hot sauce is incredible too. Our waitress was super friendly and put up with my very poor Spanish lol. I will definitely be back.“

“10 out of 10!!! Absolutely delicious! We had the chicken, steak, and chorizo tacos. Nachos. Mexican street corn and Churros. Everything was made to perfection! I’ll definitely be recommending!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟“

“I went to the up town one yesterday for happy hour. Emilio was great welcome to me right away. Let me know about the happy hour specials. Then I spoke with the owner. I congratulated her on the success of her business. Her husband and her opened this restaurant, and the one on 412 Broadway after many years of working at Hendricksons as a cook. It’s nice to see hard hard-working people become successful n keep their business local. Very inviting and friendly place. Great margaritas. Great ppl:) I also had the chorizo queso. It was delicious. But everything on the menu us. All in all had a nice experience:)“

“Always our favorite Mexican food spot in HarrisonCounty!“

“El desayuno salvadoreño estuvo delicioso y fresco. La atención fue muy buena. Recomiendo este lugar!!! The food is so delicious and the service was amazing 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼“

“Food was very good. Had Fajita Duo and Cheese Nachos. Prices were decent. Menu was limited. Problem was the flour pancakes were very small (Maybe 6" round (4) for the dinner we had. Six Tortillas would of been fine for that dinner. We asked for more and they gave us 3. Noticing the bill I WAS CHARGED for the 3 extra ($2.50)? That's Not Good Business. I have never been charged for a few extra tortillas. I will not go back or recommend. Disappointed. It was freezing in there.“

“It’s funny that some of the reviews here complain about servers not speaking English...it’s an actual authentic Mexican restaurant what do you expect? The menus are in both English and Spanish and have descriptions if you are not familiar with Mexican food. I love this place and you really can’t beat the prices. The food is great and I always wind up taking some home (maybe because I fill up on all the chips and salsa they give before the meal).“

“Upon answering I was greeted and seated. The appetizers which were the nacho chips tasted freshly made and the chicken and steak tacos were delicious. I also had the Elote corn which was so good comes with three.. and I love the piña colada but I had it without alcohol.. they do have an open bar. Def would go back.“

“Sooo good! Better than chipotle and qdoba. It is around the same price as the other restraints mentioned. Very flavorful meat. Honestly, I was very surprised of how good this was. They gave good portions as well. The only negative thing is that it took them so long to make the order and we were like the only people there… but other than that I loved it. I wish they open a location closer to me!!“

“👎👍👍👍👎👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍“

“f you’re craving bold flavor and a vibrant atmosphere, Maize Cocina & Cocktails absolutely delivers. From the beautifully plated dishes to the handcrafted cocktails, every detail feels intentional and elevated. The menu offers a modern twist on traditional Latin cuisine, with rich flavors and fresh ingredients that make each bite memorable.

The ambiance strikes the perfect balance—energetic yet intimate—making it ideal for date night, brunch with friends, or a celebratory dinner. The staff is attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely warm, enhancing the overall experience.

Maize isn’t just a meal—it’s a vibe. Highly recommend for anyone looking to enjoy great food, strong cocktails, and even better energy.“

“Dinner was delicious! The food came quickly and the kids were thrilled with their quesadillas. Guacamole was good. Chicken enchiladas verdes was great. Service was pleasant and attentive. If we lived in New Jersey we’d go back for sure!“

“This place has the best tacos I’ve ever had…🇲🇽“

“Amazing place and delicious food“

“Phenomenal Tacos! I bet everything else is equally delicious but I love these tacos!!“

“Brewed Awakening is the perfect spot for breakfast, brunch, or lunch. The food is consistently delicious, and some of my favorites include the BLT Sandwich (always made to perfection), the omelettes, and their Apple Caramel Butter Latte—a delightful seasonal treat. I first discovered the latte through a social media post a few weeks ago, and now Brewed Awakening has become my go-to spot every Sunday for a relaxing meal. The service is always warm and welcoming. Annie, the owner, often makes an appearance on the floor, either serving or checking in with guests to ensure they’re enjoying their visit. Her kindness and genuine hospitality make the experience even more special. I highly recommend stopping by Brewed Awakening for a delicious meal and a cozy, inviting atmosphere. You won’t be disappointed!“

“We had a really long wait for food however other than that we are extremely happy.

Huge portion sizes, lots of meat, absolutely delicious, really authentic food. 100% would recommend this place.

Sorry we didn't get any pics we just went straight into eating 😂 next time we'll try to remember to take pics before.“

“I haven’t had Qdoba in so long so when I walked in, I was indecisive on what I should get. Lily was so sweet and patient. She allowed me to taste test two of the items that I was thinking about ordering so I can get the best one I liked. Also Maritza and Gabe was very patient and helpful too! They were all kind, very approachable, and very friendly. This customer service that I received today from this crew at the this location couldn’t go unnoticed! Give them all raises, I love that they love to make their customers happy. THANK YOU Lily, Maritza, and Gabe! You matter, keep up with the AMAZING customer service!“

“Outstanding food and service! Will definitely be coming back here.“

“I recently hosted my birthday dinner at Casa del Rey for a group of 20, and it was absolutely wonderful! The staff went above and beyond to make the evening special, from allowing us to decorate a beautiful table setup to their gracious hospitality and attention to detail. Everyone was so kind, accommodating, and genuinely welcoming. The food was delicious, the service was seamless, and the atmosphere made it feel like such a joyful celebration. I’m so grateful to the entire team for making the night unforgettable. Highly recommend Casa del Rey for any special occasion, they truly know how to make you feel celebrated! 🎂✨🤍“

“so authentic and amazing service. such a hidden gem. Drinks were also great. The Twice as Nice was perfect for the summer!“

“Food was delicious but if you have a dairy allergy beware of the butter used in the rice and vegetables!!!!“

“I like to go to this mexican / tex mex restaurant. The food is always fresh and they quick on serving your food. Also the flavor of the dishes are really yummy. And the breakfast is a kick to start your day. Specially the torta de milanesa which is my favorite“

“So I found this restaurant on “Perth Amboy Eats” website and wanted to try their $1 tacos and empanadas Tuesday special I payed $8 in total but they missed a taco which is ok because I understand the are busy! Overall the empanadas were good the tacos were underwhelming with flavor (all the flavors) but service was fast and good, and it’s a $1.00 but I’ve had better flavorful tacos for a $1.00 somewhere else, but it’s ok 👍🏽“

“@Todo muy limpio y sobre Todo la comida super sabrosa😍😍😍😍😍😍Estoy muy feliz por encontrar este lugar cerca 😘😘😘“

“The food here is SO GOOD! Best Mexican food I’ve had on the island. Chill spot. They have all the delicious Mexican drinks. The Gordita is incredibly fresh. Crunchy on the outside, soft inside. The enchiladas verdes , amazing. The tacos de bistec, tender and flavorful. I can’t wait to eat here again.“

“this food was awesome! We will def be back again! Very Fresh food!!“

“The host n waitress were great!“

“My sister told me about her local go-to for tacos. I tried the 3 tacos de birria. It was absolutely delicious. Sizeable portion (I was full with 2) and it came with a consome that you could dip the tacos.

Also, the owner is so kind. She wrote a get well note for my mom on her order. I had mentioned that had been sick.

Before leaving the area, I am heading back for another order. Definitely recommend.“

“The servers were great, helpful and a pleasure to work with Milina and Xavier in Staten Island on hylan blvd.“

“Everything was incredibly fresh and delicious. The portions are generous and the prices are very reasonable. I ordered the beef quesadilla — the tortilla and the meat were excellent, and the guacamole was perfectly balanced. We also received a complimentary basket of cookies with our Thanksgiving order, which was such a nice touch. Great service and great flavors. Definitely a 5/5.“

“It is hard to find a Mexican restaurant with a real Mexican flavor. I was surprised but food was delicious and that Tamarindo margarita was yummy. Service was excellent!
Oh btw the tres leches cake was so good and very moist 10 of a 10.“

“So when you walk in ignore the cash only sign - that is for lunch only. This was one of the best Mexican meals I have had on the island - might be best on the island right now. Nachos were excellent - seemed like they took their homemade tortillas and fried them to make the nachos toppings were fresh burritos absolutely delicious the Mexican sausage has a touch of cinnamon in it and it pairs perfectly with everything. Even the side salad was vibrant and fresh. 10/10 go eat this restuarant. Need to keep the mom and pop shops open!!“