Carlos Mexican Food
71 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Little Falls
(973) 272-2162
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I stopped by this place for a snack because I had a few extra minutes while waiting for the bus and not only was the food super good and fresh but the kindness of the staff just made me happy!
My go to mexican restaurant. The food is delicious, well made, original, authentic.
Try their green enchiladas!!!! The best I’ve ever had!!!
Always excellent!
waited 20 minutes for three chicken empanadas. No real menu or staff one individual to take orders with two women working in the back at their own leisure. I guess you get what you pay for.
Carlos’s Mexican Food in Little Falls, NJ, is not a bad restaurant. That might sound like faint praise, and it is. But in a world of soggy quesadillas and menu items that taste like they were photocopied from a 1997 Taco Bell ad, “not bad” counts for something.
At this squat outpost on Newark Pompton Turnpike—wedged between a tattoo parlor and the ghost of mom-and-pop shops past—Carlos serves up Mexican-American comfort food with the kind of cheerful indifference that’s as comforting as it is mildly maddening.
Let’s start with the good news: the chips are fresh, the salsa is bright (though suspiciously heavy on the tomato paste), and the staff couldn’t be more friendly if they handed out hugs with every horchata. There’s a warmth here that can’t be faked. It’s the kind of place where every burrito comes with a smile and a “How you doin’, hon?”—which, in Jersey, is practically a Michelin star.
The menu is a novella-length declaration of culinary neutrality. You’ll find tacos, burritos, enchiladas, chimichangas—the whole gang. The Chicken Mole Enchiladas arrive bathed in a sauce so dark and mysterious, it deserves its own Dateline special. Unfortunately, the mole’s complexity doesn’t extend beyond “sweet with a side of cloying.” The balance, like a tipsy waiter, is off.
Carnitas, that glorious confetti of pork, should sing. Here, it mumbles. And while the rice and beans are generous, they feel like the culinary equivalent of a shrug. “Here,” they seem to say. “We tried.”
And yet… you’ll probably come back.
Maybe it’s the Margarita mix with just enough tequila to make you forgive the sins of under-seasoning. Maybe it’s the flan, which, against all odds, is creamy, eggy, and delightful—like a surprise ending in a predictable movie.
Carlos’s is the kind of place that isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel. Or even rotate the tires. But it doesn’t need to. It’s a neighborhood standby, the kind of place that shows up on your doorstep when your fridge is empty, your mood is low, and your cravings are predictable.
Would I drive an hour for it? No. Would I cross the street? Absolutely. Especially if someone else is picking up the tab.
3 stars — because comfort, even when bland, sometimes earns its own kind of praise.
The staff is very kind & the food is always delicious & fresh!
Best place for tacos in LF! You can tell that everything is homemade and fresh. Tacos are excellent and their salsa is incredible!
Dietary restrictions: Gluten free options
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tortilla Chips and Salsa, Tacos Y Quesadillas
It was not in service and the map said it was
First time here food was great so far the best , will come back again !! Order tamales and milanesa was so good 😊!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Flautas Con Ensalada
Restaurantji Recommends
Very good, I loved it, very friendly and the food was super delicious, 100% recommended.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great, a million and a half recommended👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Authentic, healthy, and tasty !!! Had green enchilada with steak and chili relleno with cheese, yum.
Must try ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Incredible service, worthwhile food at a good price, truly an excellent experience ❤️?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food is very good and the service is also good. 100% recommended place to eat authentic Mexican food.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
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