| Author | Message | ||
     MC0218 Citizen Username: Mc0218 Post Number: 12 Registered: 5-2006 |
Where can we get good mexican takeout around here? SO, WO, Maplewood, or anywhere SOMEWHAT close is fine...delivery or pick up. Thanks! | ||
| mickey Citizen Username: Mickey Post Number: 475 Registered: 10-2001 |
Tinga 321 Millburn Ave Millburn 973-218-9500 Take out and/or delivery www.tingausa.com | ||
| Alleygater Citizen Username: Alleygater  Post Number: 2584 Registered: 10-2004 |
You can take out from Tinga. I'll argue whether it is actually "good" though. I'd classify it as edible but not too much more than that. Also note worthy is that they deliver to MO. I haven't found a GOOD Mexican restaurant in the area yet. Best so far is Senoritas in Bloomfield...I guess. | ||
| Jason Citizen Username: Jason Post Number: 175 Registered: 3-2004 |
Los Tapatios on Main St in West Orange has a good reputation for serving authentic mexican food. Check out the following thread on eGullet - http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=79832 | ||
| Alleygater Citizen Username: Alleygater Post Number: 2590 Registered: 10-2004 |
I called Maplewood, MO in my post above. Funny. Maybe I meant M/SO??? | ||
| Wendyn Supporter Username: Wendyn Post Number: 3250 Registered: 9-2002  |
Further afield is Jose's Cantina in New Providence (and Warren). Eat in or take out. Yummy. Agree with Alley's assessment of Tinga. The kids love it. I find it edible. Hubby requests that we go ANYWHERE else. | ||
| Eats Shoots & Leaves Citizen Username: Mfpark Post Number: 3613 Registered: 9-2001  |
Wendy--I am with your husband on that one. Tinga food is bland and disappointing. There are mixed reviews on MOL about Toro Loco in South Orange, but I like their margaritas a lot, which makes up for a whole lot of sins. The food is hit-or-miss depending on the day, but some dishes, like the caudillo (big bowl of seafood in tomato sauce), are consistently okay. The service is excellent, and on Saturdays they often have a guitarist and accordianist, which my kids love (even if they play the same five songs over and over). They do a brisk take-out business, and the servings are good sized. Los Tapatios is very authentic, and the pipian sauce (pumpkin seed) is quite good. Jose's cantina is a little more Tex-Mex in some of the sauces, but also solid Mexican food and not really all that far away. Alley, how to you get to Senoritas? I have heard lots of good about it but have not made it there yet. | ||
| Alleygater Citizen Username: Alleygater Post Number: 2600 Registered: 10-2004 |
It's not exactly FABULOUS so don't go with super high expectations. As for how to get there...? I usually go the back way which got me sufficiently lost and TS pissed off so I wouldn't reccomend my detailed directions if I was you. Bottom line is it's off of Bloomfield Ave which you can take the GSP to get to quite easily. It's like a stones throw from the Bloomfield train station. Best bet... go here: http://www.senoritasmexicangrill.com/ Oh yeah, one more after thought, pay extra for the SUPREME HIGH END margarita if you order one, because the cheap house frozen one was pretty nasty. | ||
| Innisowen Citizen Username: Innisowen Post Number: 2385 Registered: 3-2004 |
In my opinion, most so-called Mexican restaurants in our area serve a version of Tex-Mex. That's OK if you want T-M, and it's usually good as such, but there's not much Mexican fodder to be had here. | ||
| Alleygater Citizen Username: Alleygater Post Number: 2602 Registered: 10-2004 |
Luckily for me I adore Tex-Mex. Unfortunately there aint no good Tex-Mex around here either. | ||
| I'm Only Sleeping Citizen Username: Imonlysleeping Post Number: 246 Registered: 8-2005 |
Y'all are gonna think I'm nuts, but I actually really like the food at Chevy's (on Rt. 10). Yes, it's a chain, but it's a California chain, so their standards are higher for Mexican food. And they make their own tortillas and empasize fresh ingredients. Very good fish tacos, among other things. I like it a whole lot better than Tinga, although it's obviously much, much farther away. | ||
| joel dranove Citizen Username: Jdranove Post Number: 1021 Registered: 1-2006 |
The Tapatios bar is the real thing. A friend from Mexico told me, at the bar, after a few rounds of, err, coffee, that this is like home. I don't know if that included the Brazilian barkeep-ettes. Didn't matter. jd | ||
| MC0218 Citizen Username: Mc0218 Post Number: 14 Registered: 5-2006 |
thank you all for your suggestions. we're really looking for a place that will deliver or be good for takeout (we've been to Senoritas and love it!) and Los Tapatios sounds perfect. does anyone know if they deliver? | ||
| Zoesky1 Citizen Username: Zoesky1 Post Number: 1664 Registered: 6-2003  |
You know, I have to chime in with I'm Only Sleeping in that I am embarrassed to admit it, but I am starting to like a chain restaurant. There, I said it. It's the Chiles on Rt 10. Mr Zoesky1 and I have recently taken to a late afternoon margarita there --- it all started on the way back from a satisfying golf ball-hitting sojourn down the road at Anchor Golf, and not wanting to end the afternoon. We discovered that the food there is actually not bad. Granted, it is engineered to taste good in a lab somewhere, wherever they invent and market Chiles food, but it's not bad. Now our margarita breaks have started to add new fun to a trip to the Rt 10 Costco! | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 3769 Registered: 5-2001 |
I love Chili's but it isn't Mexican. I would best describe it as Southwestern USA cuisine, which is a delightful multi-ethnic blend of native, mexican, western, etc. Best tex-mex I've found is at Don Jose on Route 10 in East Hanover. Their atmosphere is also very similar to many of the old traditional mexican places in practically every Texas town I ever visited. I also very much like Los Tapatios in WO (Mexico Mexican, I think, but I'm not sure what region), Casa Maya in Meyersville (Yucatan style), Chevy's (Californian as noted above). Tinga is OK, but not great. (I do like their guacamole and some of their other items, but they are actually sort of an amalgam of mexican and barbecue.) We didn't like El Bandito in Orange (Mexico?) but probably should try again sometime as it was a long time ago and maybe we just got there on a bad day. When I moved here from Texas twenty years ago, I had severe Mexican food (and Chili's) withdrawal, but things have definitely improved in the intervening years. However, I still don't take Texan visitors to eat Mexican when they are here as they can do better (and for much less cost) at home. Thread drift - I still have barbecue withdrawal after two decades. Famous Dave's isn't bad, but pretty price-y considering it isn't nearly as good as the barbecue places back in Texas, and the lines are often pretty bad there. If you're ever in Houston, be sure to go to Goode Company for barbecue - fabulous! | ||
| Alleygater Citizen Username: Alleygater Post Number: 2607 Registered: 10-2004 |
OK, Don Joses got so many rave reviews on MOL that EVEN THOUGH it's right next door to Penang (one of my all time favorite restaurants in the entire area) I went. I was so disappointed. Was it bad. No. Was it good? I saw little to no difference from it and the plethora of other totally mediocre Mexican places's like El Bandito or Toro Loco to name a few. If you EVER go down rt. 10 I would suggest going to Penang and getting the Kari Mee with Shrimp. It's like an $8 bowl of soup with noodles and shrimp that is so unbelievably flavorful (with this yummy curry base with star anise and other exotic spices that you will find at the bottom of the bowl), you will go bonkers. I don't care if you are in the mood for Mexican that day. I don't care if you don't want Asian food. Go to Penang. I'd rate the Kari Mee as like a 9.5 and Don Jose as a 4. | ||
| Wendyn Supporter Username: Wendyn Post Number: 3254 Registered: 9-2002 |
Hands down best guacamole in the area is at Salsa in Chatham. Other food is ok, prices are high. But they do have a bar. | ||
| Kevin Supporter Username: Kevin Post Number: 850 Registered: 2-2002 |
If you are on Rt 10 near Chili's, the next entrance past Chilli's (Target entrance) will take you to Baja Fresh. It's a 'fresh mex' chain owned by Wendy's. They advertise: No Microwaves, No Can Openers, No Freezers, No Lard, No MSG It's a good place to throw into the food rotation of Rt 10. They have another location on Rt 22 in Watchung, which we think is better most times over the Rt 10 location. http://www.bajafresh.com/ | ||
| Wendyn Supporter Username: Wendyn Post Number: 3256 Registered: 9-2002 |
One other option is Quadoba (sp) at the Short Hills Mall. Food seems a bit better than Tinga IMHO. Atmosphere is lacking, but for take out it isn't bad. | ||
| blackcat Citizen Username: Blackcat Post Number: 763 Registered: 6-2001 |
Baja Fresh rocks! Last time I had Tinga, they screwed up my order-gave me shrimp instead of spinach- and it was horrible. I'm hoping because it was a summer Sunday afternoon and the good cooks were all off. It happens. | ||
| Darren Say Grrrrrrrr Citizen Username: Darrensager Post Number: 550 Registered: 11-2001 |
Qdoba has the BEST burritos! Ever since I've been there we haven't gone back to Tinga or Baja Fresh. There's no comparison when it comes to taste. | ||
| Alleygater Citizen Username: Alleygater Post Number: 2615 Registered: 10-2004 |
I'm a sucker for fastfood Mexican. I was raised on Taco Bell before I knew any better. I am now vegetarian and can barely eat ANYTHING at TB but I still love it. In my blood I guess. Anyway that is my disclaimer. I too like all things fast food Mexian like Baja Fresh (still go to Penang and order the Kari Mee if your on Rt. 10 if you have any common sense at all), Chipotle (in the cities only) and Qdoba (although I find myself in the Westfield location most often). Lalalalove it!!! Keep that in mind next time you read one of my food related opinions on MOL so you can take my reviews with a serious pinch of salt.  | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 3775 Registered: 5-2001 |
I think that many kinds of food, notably mexican and pizza, are very much a matter of taste. What I like here is that, although I may not agree with the assessment, I always get ideas of new places to try from this board. | ||
| Virtual It Girl Citizen Username: Shh Post Number: 5017 Registered: 5-2001 |
Agreed, Baja Fresh & Qdoba to me are a great Burrito experience. If either was closer by I'd be there all the time. | ||
| cmontyburns Citizen Username: Cmontyburns Post Number: 1993 Registered: 12-2003  |
We eat at Qdoba way, way too much. For "fast food," the quality is way up there. I generally favor Mom & Pop establishments, but I'd kill two overpriced bakeries and a gourmet cheese shop to get a Qdoba in town.... | ||
| Copperfield Citizen Username: Copperfield Post Number: 377 Registered: 1-2004 |
Titos Burritos www.titosburritos.com in Summit is excellent Cal-Mex, much better than Tinga (which is Tex-Mex) And with the surf magazines on the counter, it almost feels authentic. RIght on Springfield Avenue. | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 3781 Registered: 5-2001 |
I had forgotten about it earlier, but another fast-food mexican option is "Fresh Express" (or I think that's what it is called.) A whole different thing that Taco Bell, maybe more like Qdoba, but not so burrito-focused. There is one in the center on Rt. 10 in front of Target and there is also one on Route 22 in Watchung in front of the BJ's there. It is actually pretty good, but not so very convenient for us. | ||
| Camnol Citizen Username: Camnol Post Number: 474 Registered: 3-2005 |
Sac, those are Baja Fresh stores. | ||
| Wendyn Supporter Username: Wendyn Post Number: 3257 Registered: 9-2002 |
I keep forgetting about Titos. Great for takeout...not great for eating in though. | ||
| sac Supporter Username: Sac Post Number: 3786 Registered: 5-2001 |
Right - Baja Fresh. I've only been a couple of times, since they aren't very close, but I really liked the food there! I wish that they would put one in a bit closer to home! | ||
| MC0218 Citizen Username: Mc0218 Post Number: 15 Registered: 5-2006 |
Thanks again for all of your suggestions. We ended up going to Los Tapatios and really enjoyed it...that will be our takeout place from now on. |
