Cinco de Mayo has become a universal celebration. While we enjoy authentic Mexican fare and hang traditional Mexican decorations, it’s important to keep in mind that Cinco de Mayo originated on May 5th, 1862 through the Battle of Puebla Day. It marks the Mexican army’s victory over France in the Franco-Mexican War. Cinco de Mayo is an opportunity for everyone to commemorate and celebrate the rich Mexican culture and heritage that have helped shape the country’s diverse identity. So if you’re looking for a way to celebrate and honor this year’s Cinco de Mayo, read on for the list of authentic Mexican restaurants in Hoboken and Jersey City.
Hoboken
Baja Mexican Cuisine | 104 14th Street
A traditional Tex-Mex destination since 1987, Baja Mexican has no shortage of savory dishes. Some of Baja’s best-sellers are chile con queso with chips, the fajita salad, the Burrito Texano, fresh guacamole with chips, and the grilled skirt steak quesadilla. Other delicious options include the ceviche, caldo de Camarones, the caldo xo-chili, and a whopping eleven options of quesadillas. Vegetarians have at least ten dishes on the menu to choose from, including enchiladas de espinaca, chimichangas and vegetables, fajitas, tacos, and burritos.
Read More: Best Spots For a Margarita in Hoboken + Jersey City
Orale Mexican Kitchen | 1426 Willow Avenue, Hoboken + 341 Grove Street, Jersey City
Orale’s epic decor is just as popular as its dishes. The restaurants serve up a range of options from hearty dinners to delicious brunches, or a quick bite for when you are on the go. With a large cocktail lounge boasting the authentic Mexican experience serving signature cocktails full of flavor and with a fiery bite, Orale quickly became a fan favorite after it opened in 2013. Orale has outdoor seating in Hoboken and Jersey City, in addition to the spacious dining rooms.
Jersey City
La Brujeria | 200 Summit Avenue
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Roberto Islas has been a resident of Jersey City for over 22 years and has worked in the Jersey City culinary scene his entire career. Roberto and Chef Santos Xochiua worked collaboratively to create a very authentic menu, staying true to real, original Mexican flavors that they feel a lot of places in the area don’t always stay true to. Plus, everything on their menu has some “Brujeria” in it, of course. The menu features items like birria, carnitas, chorizo, flautas, and tostadas, among other dishes.
Los Cuernos | 499 Washington Boulevard
The owners of Taqueria Downtown and Taqueria Downtown Catering Co. decided to take their expertise to the next level by opening this upscale, massive Mexican restaurant. You can find all the Taqueria Downtown favorites featured in this spot plus other dishes like Cecina (a salted flank steak with chilaquiles), picadillo (ground beef simmered with peas and potatoes), and seafood options including red snapper with grilled tomatoes, bell peppers, capers, olives, and onions, or a garlic grilled shrimp dish over Mexican rice.
El Gallo De Oro | 360 Ocean Avenue
For old-fashioned, delicious tacos with no extra twist, this is the spot. The tacos are generously packed with meat and the prices are modest. Other dishes to consider are the enchiladas verde de pollo, carnitas soft tacos, and the taco salad with chicken. The guacamole and chips are homemade with fresh ingredients. Don’t forget to ask for the spicy sauce.
Los Tres Chilitos | 456 Central Avenue
This popular restaurant is known for Mexican comfort food, large portions, and low prices. Some of the popular menu items are the chicken gorditas with chipotle sauce, pollo flautas, and pollo enchiladas. Another fun treat is Las Tlayudas, a huge crunchy corn tortilla topped with lettuce, black refried beans, cream, Oaxaca cheese, shredded cheese, avocado, pico de gallo, and diner’s choice of meat.
Mezcal Kitchen | 665 Newark Avenue
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With choices like Mexican-style corn on the cob, quesadillas, tacos, molcajetes, tostadas, burritos, and enchiladas, this is a go-to for Mexican fare. Try the carne asada tacos, fish tacos, or the pollo burrito. Other dishes that are sure to be a hit are the flautas (four crispy rolled tacos topped with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, sour cream, and cheese with rice + beans), as well as the mole enchiladas (three stuffed tortillas topped with cream, queso fresco, onions, radish, cilantro, avocado, and mole sauce with rice and beans).
Mi Mariachi Taqueria | 213 Sip Avenue
Mi Mariachi Taqueria is serving up classics like burritos, enchiladas, chilaquiles, and 11 taco options. Some of the taco options include classics like carnitas, al pastor, carne asada, and others like barbacoa de chivo (pulled goat), lengua (tongue), and campechano (a hearty taco). Try the shrimp fajita, Mexican sausage huarache, or one of the Mexican breakfast platters like the huevos rancheros.
Molcajetes Mexican Restaurant | 520 West Side Avenue
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With nine quesadilla options, you can’t go wrong. Some of the quesadilla options are quesadilla con barbacoa de res (steamed beef with cheese on a homemade tortilla), and the quesadilla con hongos (mushroom and cheese on a homemade tortilla). Don’t stop there, there are twelve burrito options including carnitas and basa fish options. Some of the main dishes include steak over salad and grilled basa fish with rice and beans.
My Mexico | 720 West Side Avenue
Some of the sought-after menu items at My Mexico are the steak tacos, tinga nachos, carnitas tacos, and the camaron burrito. For refreshments, My Mexico serves up traditional Mexican drinks like horchata (rice water), and tamarindo (tamarin). Choices of shakes include platano con chocolate (banana + chocolate with milk), banana + papaya, and strawberry, among other options.
Pico Taco | 418 Baldwin Avenue
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The cooking at Pico Taco is similar to Greek gyros — slices of marinated meats are stacked tightly on a long skewer and cooked under a broiler. Some of the popular menu options are birria de res tacos, fish tacos, and huevos rancheroes, among other items like Mexican sodas and aguas frescas.
Sol Azteca Restaurant | 328 Montgomery Street
With an emphasis on fresh salads, there are plenty of options for vegetarians who want to indulge in some Cinco de Mayo fun. Some of the salads include the Kitchen Cafe Salad (mesculin, romaine mix with marinated shredded carrots, cucumbers, cabbages, tomato, avocado, with chicken, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, balsamic vinaigrette) and Spanish Portobello mushroom salad (spinach, portobello mushroom, tomato, cucumbers, marinated shredded carrots, cabbages, smoked Gouda cheese, and balsamic vinaigrette to complement your protein). Some of the unique tacos include the grilled cactus, grilled veggies, chipotle chicken, and beef tongue.
Tacos Victoria | 324 7th Street
Known for authenticity, this Mexican restaurant is a hidden gem. Some of the popular menu items are the chicken, steak, shrimp, and al pastor tacos, carne asada burrito, chicken flautas, and tamales. Other unique menu items that’ll impress your guests include lamb tacos, Cajun steak tacos, beef tongue tacos, a tilapia burrito, a fried pork bowl, and Mexican sausage chilaquiles.
See More: Taqueria Los Gueros: A Must-Visit Authentic Mexican Spot in Bloomfield
Taqueria Downtown | 236 Grove Street + 354 Grove Street
This Mexican spot is best known for carnitas, steak, and chorizo tacos, strong margaritas, and homemade guacamole. Other tasty options include soup, chicken tamales, and chicken flautas. This spot is perfect for a fun celebration like Cinco de Mayo or a date night indoors.
10 Must-Visit Amenities at SoJo Spa Club in Edgewater, NJ
This article is sponsored by SoJo Spa Club.
On a freezing day in February or March, New Jersey is hard to romanticize. Most of us can't hop on a plane and head to a tropical destination (we can dream) — but we can drive just 20 minutes to a spa that feels just like one. You’ve probably heard of SoJo Spa Club, located at 660 River Road in Edgewater, which is a day spa and hotel experience open all year round. (We’re pretty much obsessed.) With thermal pools and baths, recharging saunas, and a host of massage treatments, it’s one of our favorite getaways without getting away, no matter the weather — and perfect for the winter blues (or uglies). Keep reading to learn more about SoJo Spa Club, a wellness retreat in North Jersey.
10 Things to Do This Winter at SoJo Spa Club
Don’t let the snow stop you from enjoying the great outdoors. And by outdoors, we mean the rooftop infinity pool at SoJo Spa Club — just one of many amenities at SoJo Spa Club all year long.
SoJo Spa Club is a day spa and hotel experience, with options for day trips or longer stay-cations. The sprawling space has heated pools, soothing saunas, and stunning Manhattan skyline views, making it the ultimate winter retreat for anyone looking for a mini escape.
During the colder months, the spa has tented walkways for guests to comfortably travel to and from each of the outdoor amenities (and then into the heated steam room, sauna, and volcanic sand baths, obviously).
Some of our favorite pools and baths include:
- Infinity Pool: an outdoor, heated infinity pool overlooking the Manhattan skyline.
- Hydrotherapy Pool: combines three of nature’s most powerful therapies: heat, water, and air to provide restorative properties.
- Hinoki Bath: provides a smooth surface texture and exudes a soothing lemony fragrance, which acts as a natural antibacterial oil that tranquilizes the body and mind.
- Silk Bath: uses state-of-the-art Japanese white ionization technology that infuses hot spring micro-bubbles directly into the water to nourish body tissue and improve skin elasticity.
- Carbon-Rich Bath: the warm bath water is enriched with a high concentration of natural carbon dioxide, which increases blood oxygen levels and improves circulation.
Other outdoor amenities that you NEED to visit while you’re there are the foot massage path, dry sauna, and separate men’s and women’s warm baths. All walkways are tented for your comfort.
Saunas and Experiences at SoJo Spa Club
Indoors, things are just as relaxing. And if it’s your skin that needs some TLC, SoJo Spa Club has a host of signature massages and traditional Korean body scrubs, a tried-and-true antidote for dry winter skin. These treatments will help you to feel invigorated, moisturized, and relaxed all at the same time.
There are various saunas uniquely designed to recharge and revive. Here are some of the saunas you can expect:
- Himalayan Salt Sauna: constructed of purified Himalayan salt, known for its anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties.
- Charcoal Sauna: harnesses the natural detoxifying powers of charcoal.
- Red Clay Sauna: features red clay that can help with fluid retention and circulation.
- White Clay Sauna: features white clay high in silica that promotes gentle detoxification.
- Ganbanyoku Sauna: an authentic Japanese “bedrock bathing” experience that targets aching joints + provides pain relief.
- Far Infrared Sauna: promotes health benefits of natural sunlight without the hazardous effects.
The spa also has an ice room, hot stone beds, a bathhouse, an indoor dry sauna, a steam sauna, a fitness center, a coworking space, and more.
SoJo Spa Club is located at 660 River Road in Edgewater.
Call 833-SoJo-SPA (865-6772) or visit the website to plan your visit or for more info.
