HATE THIS PLACE....They say after Sandy that Highlands is still struggling and to come down and support the restaurants there....Well I went here last night and it wasnt crowded at all, No one greeted us at the door we kind of stood there like hello....SERVICE IS AWFUL!!! I understand when the restaurant has friends or loyal locals come in and you want to give them the best service possible and sit and chat with them but all night? It took forever for the waiter to come and take our order, we waited 45 minutes for our food and the drinks were weak and weird. My boyfriend ordered a frozen margarita with salt and he got one with no salt and something kind of fruit he drank it because who knows when we were going to see the waiters again. We ordered fajitas very little meat and a ton of veggies mostly onions - I understand onions are a vegetables but it was mostly onions hardly any peppers and they had carrots in it too too weird. FOOD AWFUL Then we asked for the check and waited 20 minutes for it and as we were leaving the owner was like hey thanks for coming. Really now you acknowledge us..... YOU just lost any future business from us and our friends - you should treat every customer the same and give them a great dinning experience so they will want to come back and tell their friends. I WILL NEVER BE BACK read more

Finally made the trip to Highlands, NJ to check out Chilango's. I forgot my camera so no pictures but maybe next time. Chilango's is an upscale version of the traditional Mexican Restaurants that have recently sprung up all over NJ. In fact the restaurant wall sports two pictures of the staff with Bruce Springsteen and Mr. Springsteen's wife Patti has a review that she wrote for a local publication posted. The food is prepared fresh and took a little longer to come out of the kitchen. We all enjoyed our meals although one person was a little disappointed with the taco salad that she ordered. I probably would not come to Chilango's for a taco salad. My meal came with sauteed cactus. It sounded interesting but ended up tasting just like the peppers that also came with my meal. So much for being an adventurous eater. Next time I go I am going to try the desserts. It is easy to rack up firsts when you stay out of the big cities. read more

This is an amazing Mexican restaurant! Sit at the bar and have a conversation with the bartender. He has great recommendations for tequila and even some homemade infused ones available. Not only that but the food is great and large portions! read more

Chilangos is one of the reasons I moved to Highlands. I get treated more like family there than any other restaurant I've ever been to. The food is always fresh and everything on the menu is amazing. I read another review where the reviewer said the salsa came out of a jar, when I know for a fact it is made fresh daily. They also have 220 different kinds of tequila and Juan makes the best margaritas I've ever had. If/When you go, you MUST try the Tres Leches Cake. It's an old family recipe and it is the best cake you will ever have in your life. read more

I Love this place! Hands down one of the best Mexican restaurants in Jersey. The place is small, but cozy. The food is great, but the service is not the best. Definitely grab a mojito, try the fish tacos made with fresh cod, and finish it off with the tres-leches cake. (yummy) Don't forget the coronas! read more

Chilangos Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Highlands, New Jersey

I love this place. It is very reasonably priced. The bartenders are great and very friendly as is the waitstaff. My favorites are the fish tacos, the wings which have a spicy rub on them and the guac and salsa. The margaritas are also very good. I have sent many friends here and everyone always leaves happy : ) read more

Chips. Salsa. Margaritas. Check. Check. Check. Everything a place serving authentic Mexican food should be without all the gimmicky nonsense you see in the chain places. Glad they reopened. read more

Chilango's has been a family favorite for YEARS! Enjoyed taco Tuesday tonight and couldn't ask for better, fresher food & drinks! I Chilango's! read more

Is really good ! Recently they have $12.99 lunch special for everything you could eat , I went two times food and service really good , only one things they always have something out of choice list of menu deserts only one choice of dessert available from 4 choices of them ! read more

Went to Chilangos and ordered beef tacos. FANTASTIC. Leo the owner offered me a tamale of which I was unfamiliar. WOW. Best Mexican food in NJ . Don't miss it. Great food and great owner. read more

Pretty much the worst food, and certainly the worst " Mexican" food I've ever had. The beef in my dish was just...beef. No salt, pepper, cumin, garlic, nothing, nada. No flavor.No soul. Service took FOREVER, so the waitress kept bringing the lame salsa-from-a-jar and chips. Horrible. Oh, and they have only picnic tables. When you wait over 35 minutes for your food, you get the free aching back . Dreadful, go somewhere else! read more

I don't want to give it a one star because I never even had a chance to sit down as the hostess was not capable of seating the patrons on a first come first served basis. It is also difficult to go in the restaurant when it is busy as the hostess stand is maybe 3 steps from the door not allowing no one in and out of the restaurant very easily. Not sure if I have the patience to try it again. read more

*chicken empanada (fried handmade corn tortilla stuffed with chicken and cheese topped with lettuce, pico de gallo, and cream; OMG!!! This was fabulous! The chicken was super moist and there was a whole bunch of it in there; thoroughly enjoyed the handmade tortilla, it was crispy, savory and had the perfect flavor to it; the stuffing was creamy and I can't even describe to you how good this was!) *Chilangos mofongo (the plantains were nice and ripe, but there wasn't enough plantains in proportion with the pork on the plate; the pork was cooked nicely but definitely a little salty; there was too much pork mixed in with the mofongo; the chili sauce they added on top of the mofongo and pork was interesting; it tasted liked dried chilis that were pureed into a thick sauce; the refried beans were alright but I think they needed more salt; the rice was pretty good and cooked perfectly; the salad that came with it was surprisingly one of my favorite things on the plate, it had a nice vinaigrette mixed with it; overall, I thought the dish was good and very filling but the Havana Central mofongo is the best!!!) *fish taco (let's talk about this taco!! Corona beer battered cod fish that was filled with lettuce, tomato, cream, cheese and guacamole; this was awesome!!! the batter was nice and crispy and flavorful, it had the perfect crunch, the fish was moist and flaky; I loved the guacamole which was definitely homemade; this taco was super good; definitely 100% better than Jose Tejas but different than Taqueria) *tres leches cake (it was decent; I thought it was WAY too sweet and there wasn't enough milk in the cake and on the plate; it was good but definitely the one at Senorita's in Bloomfield is better) *vegetable chimichanga (not bad, the veggies were cooked nice) *red sangria (yummy!!!! not too strong thankfully but very refreshing after a day on the beach, not a lot of fruit inside the pitcher but fruity enough when you're drinking it) Never in a million years would I think I would be back at this restaurant but it was good both times I went despite the gap in time which means that they have been consistent in putting out good food, if I'm in that area, I would go back! read more

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Love it here .. atmosphere is nice ...food is amazing! Try Leo's mofongo! Ask him for it and you will not be disappointed! Owner and his wife are always around and this is truly a family restaurant. My whole family loves this restaurant. read more

Love this place. Good food. Over 100 different tequilas and the tequila flows freely. Great margaritas and prices. Best of all, Leo (the owner) and everyone who works here make it such a welcoming environment and are so friendly. read more

Chilangos Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Highlands, New Jersey

I can't say enough about this place! Great Mexican food, fun atmosphere, great drinks, and the staff is always friendly. They rotate through a few specials menus- always good. The restaurant is not big, so if you're coming with a group I would call ahead for reservations. One of our favorite spots in the area! read more

Awesome place. Great mojitos and chips/salsa. Ordered a chicken chimichanga and it was excellent. Wait for the food was a bit long but 100% worth the wait. Amazing atmosphere! read more

Arrived at 4 pm, opening time, doors locked..had to wait until 430 until someone let us in.. Ordered large picture of margaritas, 60 ounces. Tasted margaritas, had absolutely no tequila in it. Pointed it out to the waitress and she brought over two extra shots of tequila, still very weak and watery. Ordered a large taco bowl, although huge in size, the meat lacked any seasoning and was particularly bland. Had very little cheddar cheese in the taco bowl. My wife ordered the fish tacos. Although somewhat tasty, there is more breading than fish inside the tacos themselves. We've been coming here for several years and were totally disappointed. Will try the Italian restaurant down the street next time read more

SEE THE EDIT BELOW THE BREAK. O-M-G! I am so hooked on this place. And I live down the block so it's becoming a problem. I have not had one thing on their menu I haven't liked. In fact, it's encouraged me to try other dishes beyond my Mexican standards - expanding my horizons and love of Mexican food. The place prides itself on their stock of over 150 tequila's. I'm not much of a tequila drinker but it becomes a bit like a wine tasting, you can't help but become intrigued with the different "hints" of flavors across different tequila's. In a very authentic Mexican restaurant, one of the most authentic offerings. I can't say I'm a big fan of the frozen margarita's, I find them a bit icy, but if you want to try you should ask about their different flavors such as cucumber and mango. I ask the bartender Juan to make me a strawberry mojito when I'm there. Not something on the menu, something I modified, but it's delicious every time. When sitting at the bar Juan is fun and an excellent barkeep who adds to the authenticity there. The table-service is a bit inconsistent. Sometimes timing is a bit of an issue. If the place is very busy the service can be slow. That should be your expectation. But the servers are very kind. Food always arrives hot! That's a pet peeve of mine. When you're waiting in a restaurant for your food and it doesn't arrive piping hot. You can taste how fresh the ingredients are too. Sometimes I opt for sauces on the side. The sauces are delicious but it keeps crisp food crisp throughout the meal. Primarily I use Chilango's for takeout, and here is where I deduct one star. It is rare that they get the entire order correct. Their guacamole is to-die-for. We always order a side of chips and guac. Always. On a couple of occasions they've forgotten the guac. It's a major bummer. Me being a lover of hot food, we then go back down to get the guac which is a major major bummer as the food is cooling. If you are ordering takeout check your orders before you leave. We've had apps forgotten as well as desserts on occasion as well. Plus, for takeout, get all sauces on the side, especially with Burritos and Chimichangas. And check to make sure they are there before you walk out. - 1 star. Prices are good to fair. Definitely on par with what you're getting. Servings are generous. Atmosphere can be cramped if it's crowded, but certainly not as cramped, hot and uncomfortable as probably the closest competitor in Red Bank. Some of my faves: Tostada app, Fish taco app, Beef or Steak Chimichanga, Steak Burrito, Chicken Quesadilla. I find on occasion their chicken can be a bit dry so if you're on the fence go with the meat. Their steak is always delicious. On the lighter side, go with a taco salad with steak. Use salsa and some guac as your dressing. ________________________________________ This is my second time editing this review. The first to take off stars for forgetting guac again and when I called back they were rude laughing and hung up on me. Now to fill in 5 whole stars. After Hurricane Sandy Chilango's, along with the 20+ restaurants in town, was destroyed. The day after they were able to salvage a lot of uncooked food that was still good. A LOT. They drove it up to the local high school - now a shelter. The owners and employees drove the streets of town to make sure they knew that a hot meal was available at the shelter. That they would be cooking as long as the food would last, and to please tell all of our neighbors. Thank you Chilango's for taking care of your community! ________________________________________ 3rd Edit: Please STOP FORGETTING YOUR SAUCES. And refrain from dropping ice down the take-out order takers back while on the phone so she doesn't burst into laughter and hang up on me. Unprofessional. Oy. read more

Absolutely my favorite Mexican restaurant hands down.Amazing fresh food, great service and Juan the bartender makes the best margaritas!

We love Chilango's! Sopas appetizer is great, any entree, and all desserts! I love the staff especially Diana and Juan.

Had such and awesome experience my first visit to this restaurant and will definitely be back. The bartender Juan made us perfect margaritas. The food is amazing! The best fish tacos EVER. We tried an appetizer special -crab stuffed jalepeno poppers that I will never forget. The fajitas came out sizzling and delicious. Our server Tatyana was awesome and made us feel so welcome. The owner Leo came over and introduced himself and offered some laughs, such a nice touch, really made us feel special. If you haven't been here you must try, it will definitely become one of your favorite places! read more

Great drinks; the sangria rocks. Food not so outstanding. Tri-color chicken chimichangas were absolutely bland and tasteless. read more

Chilangos Restaurant - Great mojitos! - Mexican Near Me - Highlands, New Jersey

Really solid Mexican restaurant. The food was delicious (even if it took a loooong time to come out). Highly recommend the chipotle burrito (flavorful without being overly spicy), and the mango margaritas. I wasn't impressed with the burrito, but I was the outlier in my group. The nachos were heavily laden with beef, and our waitress was helpful. I'd go back with a smile on my face. read more

The chicken in my chimichanga was incredibly dry. There wasn't really much else in the chimichanga either, besides raw peppers and onions. There was also barely any cheese or sauce. It's such a cute place and has a really nice bar with tons of different tequilas. But the food is just subpar. It was so bland and Mexican food should be anything but. read more

Chilango's is a local neighborhood hotspot for Mexican food in the Highlands that was recommended to me by people that live/work there. The prices are in the low-to-mid teens range, and they offer "authentic" Mexican cuisine. The salsa had a little too much lime in it for my liking, but dinner here was a good experience. I much rather prefer the Charrito's locations in Hoboken for Mexican food, but if you're in the Highlands area, Chilango's is a good spot to check out. read more

I am from Mexico and I am always looking for any restaurant that reminds me of my mother's cooking. Chilangos has a very unique style. The owner made us feel at home and had exceptional attention with our table. I personally enjoyed the sopes and the chiles rellenos. I will definitely recommend this restaurant. read more

Chilango's is a fantastic place to head to if you're in the mood for some chips and salsa and margaritas. The food is good, I just have to admit I wasn't completely blown away on my last visit. I think maybe I should have ordered something a little more exciting though.... I had the spinach quesadilla lunch special. If the tortilla's had just been cooked to where they were made crispy, I think I'd have posted 4 stars. I like a little crunch. My sister had the fish tacos which were really tasty. The people here are so friendly though. The service was really great and I can't get enough of the vibe. The decor has been really nicely amped since the storm. Split a pitcher of the cucumber margarita with friends. Delish. read more

Was here last night again with the hubby and our 15m old. We walked this time as its a 4 min. walk from our house. I had the Chiles Relleons 17.99 Egg battered poblano stuffed pepper, filled w/ chicken, raisins, almonds, pineapple & plantain, covered w/ tomato sauce & smothered w/ cheese. I lovvvvvvve stuffed peppers and this was perfect and Eden perfect today for lunch! We also ordered chicken tapas, Mexican pizza, a shrimp app, and the chicken quesadillas for our son. My second favorite was the quesadillas, and probably my favorite quesadilla I've ever tried!! read more

Ordered from Dash and got the wrong tacos. I called them up and they were very nice and I went and got my tacos. Other than having to drive to get my food... when I paid for delivery it was not so bad. Good food. read more

Amazing food, ranging from authentic Mexican to experiments from the owners travels. They treat everyone like friends, and their Friends like family. The owner and his wife fed the town of Highlands for weeks after Sandy. Amazing food and amazing souls. Can't find better Mexican!!! read more

Excellent food and service. Great sangria and love the daily specials. Service is always on point. Try the red sangria.

Very long wait. Women on the phone said 40 minutes, and the wait was 1 hour. More importantly, the kitchen staff doesn't consistently wear masks. Wearing it around your chin is useless. Also, If you're there for delivery pick up, they make everyone crowd around one pickup area inside. And the food is really unimpressive. save your money and time and avoid this tourist trap. read more

Off the beaten path and not a big restaurant churning out ho-hum meals. This place is fantastic. Authentic to the max. Fresh, delicious, great specials, wonderful service. We will never come to the beach and not stop here. Best Mexican we've had since we moved here from the west coast. read more

Love this place! They treat you like family & food is awesome! Margaritas on point! My favorite is the spicy margarita!!

This review is LONG overdue. About 2 years ago, on the last day of a 4-day family gathering to celebrate Grandpa's after his passing, we decided to find a place for one last meal before we went our separate ways. We decided on Mexican and by chance ended up at the front door of Chilangos. Finding it closed, we were discussing where to go next when a friendly man and his wife walked up behind us and gave us a hearty hello. As it turns out, we were talking to Leo, the owner, who was just arriving to begin his day. He invited us in, offered to fire up the kitchen early to prepare a memorable meal for us before we hit the road. We were blown away by his offer and readily accepted. Leo made us feel like we were members of his own family. He seated us on the outside patio and told us about his time in Mexico City and his passion for cooking as he delighted our taste buds one amazing dish at a time. Thinking back on the meal, my favorite was the pork wings. We also had 1 vegetarian and 1 person who is allergic to wheat in our party and they both loved their food. In fact, the vegetarian raved about how good her food was all the way back to the car. When Leo mentioned that there were over 250 tequilas behind the bar, I couldn't resist ordering a margarita. I consider myself to be a bit of a margarita aficionado but Leo brought me the very best cucumber margarita I have ever had...in my life, no joke. Every aspect of this dining experience was completely memorable in the good kind of memorable way. In the last few years it has come up in conversation many times. I haven't been back because it's a 4 hour drive from home but it's become a running joke when my wife asks me where I want to go for dinner that my answer will regularly be "Chilangos!". Do not miss this place. Leo is awesome, the food is fantastic, the margaritas are amazing and the hospitality simply can't be beat. read more

Very good food I recommend this place to whoever likes Mexican food and the tequila selection is great with many unique choice

Normally a decent in person restaurant but I have been disappointed by multiple take out orders. Food arrives soggy and no matter how many times I ask for chips and salsa it's never in my bag. Even when ordering an order a guacamole there are no chips giving. How do you eat guac with no chips? read more

The food was ok but the server acted like she was doing us a favor to wait on our table. When my food arrived, nearly an hour after we arrived, I asked for utensils. Our server brought a handful of silverware and threw it on the table and walked away. I was served the wrong entree but I was hungry and had no confidence in this place getting it right in a timely manner so I ate it. I heard this place was on the decline... I guess it's true. read more

This was my 3 and final visit. The drinks weren't bad but the food and service were terrible tonight. The Cinco De Mayo menu was way too limited and what came to the table was below Taco Bell quality. The inflated prices for Cinco De Mayo left me insulted. Eff me once - bully for you, but you won't get me again. read more