Welcome to New Jersey! Every five years or so, we find a kind of food that has enough restaurants that we can do an A to Z list of good food. We did Pizza A to Z last time and now we’re wrapping up NJ Tacos A to Z! Pizza was good but the taco journey has been even more fun. There are so many types of taco fillings and ways to present a taco that we aren’t tired of them yet (like we were with pizza).
Special Bonus: Nearly every place we mention here has at least one tv and a World Cup match is practically guaranteed to be playing on it with the sound on.
Here is a list taco joint spots (not in A to Z order!) within easy driving or Ubering distance from the stadium:
Sol Azteca, 2 Kearny Ave., Kearny
We simply love Sol Azteca is Kearny, just 10 miles from the Meadowlands! Everything is good here, even the chips and salsa. We love their Al Pastor tacos (grilled pork with pineapple) and their Aztec tacos (mixed beef and chorizo), easily some of the best we’ve had. The staff are extremely friendly and their enchiladas and fajitas are also stellar.
Just Tacos, 65 River Drive, Garfield
This place in a nondescript strip mall in Garfield is a gem. One of our favorite ways to order tacos is to mix it up and order “one of each” and Just Tacos just happens to offer this benefit. So that’s exactly what we did.
Here we go: carne asada (steak), carnitas (pork), nopal (cactus), al pastor (pork with pineapple), longanzia (sausage), pollo (chicken), pulpo (octopus), cameron (shrimp), mahi mahi and surf and turf. So many varieties we were happy to have Ed’s mom along for this one. All are delicious but the various seafood tacos were outstanding. Great staff as well.
Xochimilco Mexican Restaurant, 321-323 61st Street, West New York
Gorgeous and colorful restaurant just east of the stadium in West New York with an incredible menu of tacos, tortas, and tamales. Parking isn’t easy here but if you’re Ubering here, that’s not a problem. This whole neighborhood is vibrant and the food at Xochimilco is second to none. We had the Bien Mexicanos (beef and chicken with avocado, up front) tacos as well as the lengua (beef tongue) and al pastor (pork and pineapple) tacos. These tacos were stuffed to the max and amazingly delicious. They also have a Mexican grocery and bakery next door!
Acapulco Plaza Deli, 618 Broadway, Bayonne
We went all the way to Acapulco for these tacos…via Bayonne! Acapulco Plaza Deli is on Broadway in Bayonne and a much easier drive from MetLife Stadium than getting to the Pacific coast in Mexico. You have to walk through the grocery at the front but some tasty tacos await you in back. We had the chorizo tacos which were perfectly seasoned and spiced, bursting with sausage-y excellence and the pastor tacos with tenderly cooked, spicy pork with pineapple. And they certainly don’t skimp om the meat! Excellent spot.
El Gallo, 197 Diamond Bridge Avenue, Hawthorne
This is an old favorite. El Gallo in Hawthorne serves some of the best Mexican food around. Their fajitas tacos are so delicious with yummy diced steak, sauteed peppers and onion and pico de gallo on flour tortillas. Their Taco Bandera tacos are the star of the show for us. Crispy, breaded chicken with two incredible sauces, honey-chipotle and ranch with lettuce and pico de gallo. You really MUST try these!
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