The kid was craving Mexican food so we searched Yelp and found that this place has good reviews…read more The photos of the food looked good. We decided to try it. There is no parking lot for this place. There is a Municipal parking lot about one block over behind the post office. We lucked out as there was street parking directly in front of the restaurant. We ordered agua de Jamaica. Huge glass for $4.95. I would guess that it's 16-20 ounces. Gigantic. Well priced. We ordered guacamole which was good too. They didn't give us any salsa for the table like they do at other Mexican joints. For our mains, we ordered their mixed fajitas with shrimp chicken and beef. It was about $21 and it was a huge dish. It's not the usually fajitas that I've had at other places. Theirs comes in a delicious sauce which we thoroughly enjoyed. It was a generous portion and the flavors were on point. We recommend it. Our other dish was the El Rinconcito which came with grilled items: pork cutlets, beef, chicken, shrimps cactus, Spanish cheese rice and beans. It was an alright eight. We prefer the saucy fajita dish more. We def plan to go back. Next time, we are going to order their molcajete which is listed at $34.95 so I assume it'll be a huge dish for two based on the price. From the owners description, it Comes with all kinds of meats steak chicken shrimp pork sausage. I'm trying my best not to go back two days in a row but I may swing by for Lunch later. Good is good as is service. Good came out quick and she asked a few times whether we needed anything else. I believe they give some sort of cash discount or charge to use credit card because she asked how I was paying. They add an auto tip of 15% which I didn't mind. Gave her a few bucks more. All in all, it was a good meal. Appears to be a small mom and pop store and I'm happy to support local small business. It helps that the food is delicious too.

The best guacamole and pico de gallo anywhere. Reasonably priced and very good lunches.read more

I thoroughly enjoyed their skirt steak fajitas entrée tonight. The medium rare skirt steak was…read morecooked to perfection. Very tender & tasty. The entire dish was not only well prepared but had plentiful portions of beans & rice as well. My requested substitute of zucchini for peppers was also appreciated. Worthy of a return trip!

What a cool place as soon as you enter you feel like your in Mexico…read more The staff is great, we had a table for 13 without any errors. All the food was delicious from street corn to the fajitas all fresh and hot. I will be back

Quick afternoon stop for some super authentic tacos. They really do have such good food! The…read morerestaurant is more of a grocery store with some tables that you can stay and have some food at. Not a fancy spot at all more of a hearty lunch for the taco luvin kinda place. Service was friendly and amazing. Loved our meal and looking forward to coming back to try other dishes soon.

Had dinner here yesterday for dinner with my buddy for the first time. The place is tiny and no…read morefrills. The food was delicious. Our server was friendly and our food was served promptly. . In addition the chips and their dips were good! I'll definitely come back again for seconds!

Absolutely beyond remarkable food. Yelp did me right again! Second best tacos I've had in my 45…read moreyears. As authentic Mexican and FRESH as can be. The employees are so nice and attentive. Cheap! - - It's like they missed the inflation memo. Also large portions.

Fresh authentic delicious! There is nothing at this location you should NOT try!!! Everything is…read moresoooo good here. Try all the tacos ! Chicken, chorizo.... Steak. The service is table side casual or you can do takeout. The drinks are authentic - horchata and juices available.

Chicken was crispy, juicy and fresh as always. Perfectly seasoned!…read more Enjoyed the handmade tortillas!

So this spot has been open for a year and is in the former chicken holiday location. Now called La…read moreRanchera, it primarily serves authentic fresh Mexican goodies. Hubby and I tried chilaquiles with green salsa and eggs aka huevos. The green salsa was so fresh tasting and a little sweet. Hubby tried chorizo with eggs and red salsa which packed a little heat and was also delicious. Owner shared that they are going to have new menus soon and update the signage this year. He also said their food is made fresh and we can see it was by the taste of it. Sorry no pictures because we ate fast. Will return!

I tried Lenora's for the first time over the weekend and I had an alright experience. I ended up…read moreordering the tingadilla -- a chicken quesadilla with avocado inside. The quesadilla itself was fine: the meat was juicy but could've used more flavor. We did order a side of guac which was pretty yummy. In terms of our dining experience, the place felt really cramped and it got loud very easily. Our waiter was very nice and brought out the food really quick. If I came back here, I'd likely try an item off the breakfast menu next time.

Delicious food, very clean tables/floors/utensils, personable owner and staff, ample street parking…read more- these are very good reasons why one should try out this diner. The combination of good food and excellent service make this a go-to place anytime of the year. Personally I'd rather go to small business owners who are compassionate in their craft and take time out to ask how the food was and talk a little about themselves and when they started their businesses. These are the backbone of our economy. Would I go back to Lenora's Cafe? That's for sure and try out more mouth-watering dishes anytime of the year!

Delicious food, accommodating and friendly staff!…read more We had made plans to go to another mexican restaurant in the area for a family birthday get together for seven of us. Athough we had called ahead the day before and were assured everything was fine, we got there and the place was locked up and it looked like a private party was being prepared for. No signs indicated anything... it was just locked and dark. Thoroughly depressed and embarrassed, I Googled for "Mexican restaurants near me" and El Ranchero popped up less than 1/2 a mile away! We piled into our cars and headed right over. I saw the place looked small, and looked like a take out place with a few tables (think Chinese takeout type vibe) so I went in first and asked the young man behind the counter if he could do a party of 7. No problem.. a staff member helped me push to tables together and I went outside to wave my party in. Staff was all smiles and Sal, the young man, helped us navigate the menu and took our order complete with some custom requests. No hassle, no nasty looks... just pleasant service and a great vibe. They even brought us an ice bucket for our BYOB sangria without being asked. The food itself was delicious and as fresh as can be... get the guacamole! I dont think it's on the menu as a stand alone item, but it was great! The portions are VERY generous and many containers were taken home! I'm disappointed that the other place screwed us that hard, but it was worth it in the end because El Ranchero came through epically and is now at the top of the list for my next Mexican food urge.

I'm extremely jealous of the other houses and apartments on 1st St. that now have El Ranchero as…read moretheir neighbor. They specialize as a taqueria, with a variety of options to choose from. In addition, they make cemitas, burritos, enchiladas, and even pizza. The owner is extremely friendly and will help you navigate the menu, as well as suggest other off-menu dishes. You can't go wrong with their tacos al pastor (marinated pork with pineapple, cilantro, onions). The salsa verde and salsa roja are both excellent accompanying sauces to the tacos. Check their FB page or inquire about daily specials, such as pozole, mole enchiladas, and more.

MATAWAN: if you are chasing one of the largest beer selections in New Jersey, Maloney's Pub is the…read morespot and they now welcome leashed & friendly pups on their huge outdoor patio. Maloney's is legendary in the beer world. Over 125 taps, plus an ever‑changing lineup of drafts, cans, locals, imports, cider, mead, basically anything you can think of. Add in food specials, events, and you have got a must‑visit destination. Their outdoor space has two vibes: sunny seating right along the building, or the covered tent area for shade. Brie got her own water bowl and plenty of love from the staff, which always earns bonus points. The menu hits all the American‑style favorites: burgers, salads, flatbreads, appetizers, and hearty entrees, perfect for pairing with whatever you are sipping. This downtown Matawan staple has been going strong for 20+ years, this is the place to be.

Brunch, Great Food & 125+ Drafts? Yes, Please!…read more We stopped at Maloney's Pub & Grill in downtown Matawan for brunch, and let me tell you... this was the best idea ever! The first thing that grabs your attention when you walk in is the massive lineup of draft beers. Maloney's is known for its incredible rotating draft selection, with more than 125 taps featuring everything from IPAs and stouts to ciders, meads, Belgian ales, German lagers, and more. And if you're staring at that wall of choices thinking, "How in the world am I supposed to choose?" -- no worries! They're happy to let you sample a beer before committing. Now THAT is my kind of place! The restaurant has a really comfortable setup with plenty of seating. You'll find booths that are perfect for a date night, an open dining room for larger groups, outdoor seating when the weather cooperates, and of course plenty of seats at the bar if you just want to grab a drink and relax. And while the beer selection is definitely a major attraction, the food deserves just as much attention. Their menu goes well beyond typical pub food, with steaks, seafood, burgers, sandwiches, salads and more. They also offer Sunday brunch from 12-3 p.m. What We Ordered: Steak & Eggs A nicely grilled NY sirloin served with two eggs and home-fried potatoes. A classic brunch combination done right. Chicken B.L.T.A. Grilled chicken, bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado and ranch dressing. This was loaded with all the good stuff and packed with flavor. Salmon Piccata North Atlantic salmon fillet with lemon, capers and a white wine sauce, served with mashed potatoes. The lemon and caper combination really worked with the salmon. Blackened Ahi Tuna Salad Blackened ahi tuna over mixed greens with avocado, sesame seeds, red onion and a house lemon-herb vinaigrette. A great option if you're looking for something a little lighter without sacrificing flavor. Crispy Chipotle Chicken Sandwich Panko-crusted chicken breast with chipotle ranch spread, cheddar cheese, avocado, lettuce and tomato, served with tater tots. Crispy, creamy, cheesy and satisfying -- what's not to like? Everything came out hot, fresh and in a timely manner, which is exactly what you want when you're dining with a larger group ordering several different dishes. And honestly, just thinking about that meal has my mouth watering all over again! A special shout-out to our server Jeanette, who was fantastic. She was friendly, pleasant and attentive without hovering, checking on us throughout the meal and making sure we had everything we needed, including keeping those water glasses filled. Great service can make an already enjoyable meal that much better. Maloney's has been part of downtown Matawan since 2005, and I can definitely see why it has become a local destination. Whether you're stopping in for Sunday brunch, meeting friends for dinner, looking for a great burger or steak, or simply want to explore their enormous rotating beer selection, there's plenty here to keep you coming back. (maloneys⁠) If you're in the Matawan area and looking for a brunch spot with great food, a fun atmosphere and an unbelievable selection of drafts, put Maloney's on your list! We'll definitely be back -- next time, I'm exploring more of that beer list and trying something else from the menu!