Charrito’s Restaurant

Charrito’s Restaurant
121 Washington Street, Hoboken
201-418-8600, loscharritos.com

Hours: Sun–Thurs, 11:30 am–10 pm; Fri–Sat, 11:30 am–11 pm

Price: $$

Style: Serving authentic Mexican cuisine, this tiny, colorful restaurant always packs a crowd.

Don’t Miss: Before you even glance at the menu, order the guacamole, whipped up tableside ($10), to complement the free chips and salsa. In addition to a variety of quesadillas, nachos, and burritos, popular entrées include, fajitas Charritos, a sauté of chicken, steak, onions, peppers, and tomatoes served with fresh flour tortillas and sides of rice, refried beans, sour cream, and guacamole ($19). Try duo d’enchilas, two enchiladas (chicken, beef, or shrimp) served with crema Mexicana, cheese, refried or black beans, rice, pico de gallo and either salsa verde, ranchera, or the classic mole sauce. One of the eight house specials is cochinita pibil, shredded pork loin marinated in orange juice and served on homemade tortillas with spicy marinated red onions and white rice ($18).

Heads Up: It’s the delicious food that makes this place so popular, but due to its size, you’re usually in for a long wait. Use the time to stop at a nearby liquor store and pick up wine for Charrito’s BYO sangria. The cramped space opens up more in the warmer months when outdoor seating is added.

The Scoop: Immigrating in the early 1980s from Oaxaca, Mexico, the Arias family opened the first Charrito’s in Union City in 1992, followed by this downtown Hoboken location ten years later. The ever-expanding chain now includes locations in Weehawken, Jersey City, and an additional Hoboken restaurant uptown to accommodate its many fans. The menu varies slightly based on location.