Tinga Taqueria
110 Central Ave, Westfield, NJ, 07090
Tinga Taqueria Menu
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Address :
110 Central Ave
Westfield, NJ, 07090 - Phone (908) 301-0100
- Website https://www.tingausa.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Maureen E.
I love this place. It's my restaurant of choice for work lunches, when it's my birthday or a special occasion and I get to pick. I've been here outside of work as well, though I think it's a bit pricey when not buying off the lunch menu. I've had almost all the burritos and the Tinga Wrap, as well as a few other items, and they've all been really good. My only complaint is that they recently jacked up their prices. I don't think we'll be coming back with the lunch crowd. I would've given them 5 stars if it wasn't for that. The increase was pretty huge and rather disappointing.
(3)Marc M.
I decided to order Tinga from GrubHub hoping it would have been better than going out searching for food. Ordered a few thing nothing complicated to my orders and everything went swimmingly. Delivery time was much shorter than my email confirmation said. I unpacked my food and looked at the naked vegetarian chili burrito. I looked at the to-go container and it looked depressing. It was one scoop of chili and one scoop of rice. I ended up going through my refrigerator to add more things to the depressing burrito. Once I started eating it I could tell they did not make the chili themselves. It tasted like they just opened a can of vegetarian chili and heated it up. In then end I would not recommend this even on a drunken night.
(1)Rajendra M.
Tinga Taqueria is a casual Mexican restaurant in the affluent leafy suburb Westfield NJ. It is popular among the locals, especially the kids, so decided to give it a try. We were mostly disappointed. The decor was banal, food pedestrian and service harried - albeit polite. We decided not get adventurous and ordered standard fare of burritos, enchiladas, etc. The food was very ordinary and you could tell that the ingredients were mostly from frozen packs and cans. One of us ordered frozen margarita and again it was obvious that it was made from concentrate purchased probably from local supermarket. It's BYOB. Prices are very reasonable. There is limited outdoor seating. In a nutshell, Tinga Taqueria in Westfield disappoints. I would not repeat. There are much better local Mexican restaurants like Jose's in New providence or Casa Maya in Gillette.
(2)Katie P.
I just love this place. Never disappoints when you're having a serious burrito craving. It's fast, it's fresh, and the portions are enough to fill you for the rest of the day. So many vegetarian options so you don't feel limited to a couple items (even the nachos grande come with vegetarian chili unless you request meat). I've had so many things in the menu and have never been disappointed, although I'm extra partial to the Californian burrito. Inside is small but the service is fast so the wait isn't usually too long. There is outdoor seating as well and it's BYOB.
(4)David M.
Surprisingly good for a chain restaurant. Food tastes fresh; prices are reasonable and there are outdoor tables. I think of it as well above Chipotle at similar prices and with table service. Good choice for kids or those on a budget.
(3)Meera S.
I read some of the reviews and am surprised at the negative experiences of some! I have been coming here for a few years and have had consistent quality of food and service. The food: chips and salsa are always crispy and tasty, the fish is always fresh, and the meat is tender. I love the variety of food and combinations and am always excited that they have a few types of fish tacos! The food is not just your standard american-mexican. By this I mean that their blackened catfish tacos are topped with cabbage and cheese, with a spicy mayo and spicy chopped pickles on the side (and of course rice and beans). Definitely not your standard fish tacos!! Try the avocados fritas....lightly breaded and fried slices of avocados....I've never seen that on another menu around these parts. Try their Jarritos...Mexican Sodas...so many flavors, my favorites are mango and tamarind. They have like 6 or 7 flavors, possibly more! The service: ALWAYS friendly, engaging, and attentive. Waiters and waitresses have clarified orders and taken the time to talk to us. Prices are relatively affordable considering the town its in! All in all, I will continue to come and enjoy this little gem!!
(5)P B.
We were seated promptly, asked for our drink order and served chips and salsa. I ordered a spinach quesadilla, my husband ordered a chicken burrito. He was impressed with the amount of filling and it wasn't just rice like the chains. Mine was tasty, the portions are very generous. You can get non alcoholic margaritas and Mexican sodas.
(3)Sam H.
So we just moved the Westfield around the time of my birthday. I had no idea what I wanted or where I wanted to eat. We were walking around town and Tinga had music on outside. So I picked there. It was a little bit of a wait but not too bad. The server (I forgot his name) was awesome. I asked for a chimi changa which they didn't have but he told me how he just learned what that was! I was so surprised since we were both from Hispanic decent. But there was so much food! You def get what you pay for. Then they came over to sing happy birthday to me. My boyfriend explained when we left that he asked for them to sing. And they said they usually don't do that but they did. Which was really awesome! I love this place great food, great atmosphere, and great people!
(5)Tom L.
I enjoyed it. For a Saturday evening it wasn't crowded at all. Sat right down, the waitress got our drinks very quickly, and the food came out quickly as well. I got the chicken burrito and it was pretty big and tasted good. The chicken was great and the ingredients were all fresh and cooked well. Everyone was very nice and brought us refills and more chips. Not too expensive either. If you want something different than the countless pizza places in Westfield I'd recommend this place. I'd go again.
(4)Kirsten F.
Classic Chicken Burrito-- bar size-- with the side salad and homemade honey mustard dressing is out of this world!
(4)Rich M.
First time and last time ordering from here.... Where to begin, Ordered delivery of Nacho's Grande with Beef Peccadillo and the desert Churro's. The delivery took an hour, ok you told me it was going to be just that...no problemo. So why one star? buckle up here we go! The laundry list is as follows. -Food was Ice cold. -Chips( or rather chip crumbs) were from bottom of a very cheap bag of chips and were soggier than a wet napkin. -Guacamole had slice of pit and unripe chunks of avocado. -5 piece of churros ? try ONE CHURRO CUT INTO 5 PIECES for $3.25 -$1.50 Delivery fee that was not mentioned anywhere. So the 12$ nacho's that I ordered were in my professional opinion were overpriced by approximately 9$ because for the 3$ I could have gone to Taco Bell and received the exact same dish...with chips that had crunch. The flavor of the food is severely lacking. The Churro(singular) was horrendous.The Nacho's high point was the Pico Di Gailo, the chili/beef combination was reminiscent of Hormel canned chili in both flavor and appearance. The guac was passable although the crunchy snap of a obviously unripe wedge of avocado and slice of the pit took any pleasure derived from the flavor and put into the waste basket along with the churro that ended up there. Too bad I had high hopes. So much for taking a night off from cooking(my profession) and ordering from an establishment that I had hoped cared as much about the food that comes out of it's kitchen as I do for the product that leaves mine. Should have stuck with the mediocre Ted's Las Pinatas...the devil you know and all that
(1)Nikkie P.
Tinga's has been and will remain one of my favorite local BYOB Mexican restaurants. Although it is a small chain, the menu does not lack in freshness and authenticity. I highly recommend the BBQ Pork Tacos & Carne Asada Burrito. Also their Sunday brunch is the BOMB! The decor is quaint. The string lights, bold colors, and beautiful accents of the dining room really pull the entire dining experience together. I love it! The service and food have always been great.
(5)Adrienne S.
We stopped in at Tinga during a recent shopping trip to Westfield. I was great Tex-Mex, which Tinga definitely offers. As a Bound Brook resident, I have plenty of access to authentic Mexican and South American food but sometimes the craving for Tex-Mex hits. The waiter recommended the Pork BBQ Tacos with the promise that I wouldn't be disappointed. He was correct! The Pork BBQ Tacos were excellent. They were a compelling mix of sweet, savory, and piquant. The pork was tender and not dry or lukewarm.
(4)Kevin M.
Dam.. I wasn't expecting to eat the best Mexican meal of my life, but I wasn't expecting the worst either. While passing through Westfield, I stopped here for a bite to eat. It's a small place off the main strip in Westfield and has a unique look on the inside. The food was very unique as well, but not in a good way.. The chips and salsa that they bring out for the table was the only decent thing about this meal. I had a basic burrito with rice, beans, corn etc.. The beans looked like they had been sitting out in the open for a whole day and they tasted that way as well. Dry and pasty is the only way I can describe them. The rice was bland and everything about the burrito was forgettable. I was starving going in here and I didn't even finish half my meal. Service was good and the waiter was very nice, but they have seriously got to revamp the menu or start putting effort into their food. For an area this nice, they should definitely be putting more into the quality of their food. I love Mexican food and I've never seen the ball dropped to this extent. However, this should be something that's easily fixable and I hope they do.
(2)Jim J.
I've been coming here once in a while for the past few years. I think their quality has gone down a little from what I remember. The salsa served is clearly from a container and not fresh, which is a huge disappointment. Truth be told, I get sick of chipotle and come here when I'm in the mood for something different. Their steak tacos are pretty good and I get a craving for them from time to time, but everything else is just ok. Owners could spice it up (heh, get it?) a bit by making their own salsa, and relying less on pre-cooked meat and more cooked to order options. I'd gladly pay a little extra if the quality was enhanced further. Introduce more entrees!
(3)Alan H.
We have been frequenting this restaurant for many years. The best thing I can say is that I NEVER walk out disappointed. We are vegetarians and they offer us a great amount of choices. We love the burritos,enchiladas and quesadillas. But most of all, we adore their nachos. We usually ask for extra cheese, which makes them mind blowing. Despite them being a chain, I would put their nachos against some of the fanciest Mexican restaurants in the NY/NJ area. And their prices are extremely reasonable.
(5)M G.
False advertising. This place advertises $5 and up lunch specials. The lowest priced one are $6.99. Even that parts a lie as the menu has these at $6.70. If you are eating at restaurant chips and salsa are free, but if it's to go fork over $4.95. The prices are not unreasonable but lying about a $5 lunch special is, then further lying about the actual printed price.... Do you want to eat food prepared by untrustworthy company, what is really in the food is it safe? On the food got a chicken & beef taco. Really not anything special. Neat that they used a hard taco inside a soft taco but the flavor was not very good on either. The salsa tastes canned, the chips are fine. The atmosphere pleasant with outside seating also available. But it was completely empty despite peak lunch time hours. Other restaurants in town were very busy. Have a complaint or suggestion, better be on Facebook because that and a phone are the only ways to contact them. There are much better options for Mexican in Westfield just based on taste. Combined with fact this place is intentionally misleading its patrons on multiple levels sealed the deal - we won't be back.
(2)Hardy K.
very good food and the service was amazing along with the cozy atmosphere. Best Mexican I've had in a long time. The food actually fresh and by the looks of it everything is prepared there. The food is also at a very reasonable price and for the quality amazing.
(5)Kim E.
Very bland food. Cold chips and salsa to start with. I got the chicken enchiladas and it tasted like plain cooked chicken rolled in a cold tortilla. My husband got chicken quesadillas and it was literally chicken and cheese, no seasoning- nothing. Very very bland food. But it is cheap so I guess you get what you pay for.
(1)Michael K.
Disappointing. The food here is just OK. It is fairly bland and blah. I feel like I am eating at a big chain restaurant.
(2)Jgirl U.
We ordered burrito, a wrap and churros. Everything was good. I love the fresh cilantro flavors and garlic. I'm only giving it 4 stars because of bad music.
(4)Becky J.
Ugh. Used to love this place, but no more. Went yesterday for lunch and found a small roach in my food. When I told our server she simply took my food off the bill. No apologies from any management. Disgusting. Will not return.
(1)Michael W.
Average food at Wally Westfielder prices. Had the steak burrito, it was good. I mean comparable to any other place. But no chips? Really? Cause I took to go? In their defense, the rents are so high in Westfield, it must be close to impossible to compare to restaurants in surrounding areas.
(2)Anna H.
One of my favorite restaurants! I discovered this restaurant by accident about 9 years ago when I was pregnant with my first daughter! She just turned eight and I still go there once a week or at the very least once every other week. Now I bring both daughters there and they love it. They make the best black bean quesadilla(la quesadilla) . The food is amazing and it is byob! Great, low key place!!!! Love it!!!
(5)Fr H.
I am not one to write bad reviews. However, I could not hold back because it really bothered me and the others that ordered take out from here. The key issue I have with this place are taste and the quality of the food. I spent about 6.95 for a tiny wrap that all the ingredients in there did not taste fresh at all.
(1)Pat R.
This place reminded me of the "hole in a wall" places in New York. It gets points for nice decor but really not a lot for points for the food. The Mexican fare was without spice there. We ordered boneless chicken wings- they were soaked in vinegar- I don't know why. They are boneless. - definitely a pass. Then we ordered tacos with beans and rice. The food was bland to say the least- beef taco and fish tacos lacked flavor and distinction - it's like they were afraid to spice them up. Chicken taco was a little better but that's because I poured hot sauce on it. The waitress was nice, but I did feel a bit rushed to finish my food. She asked if we wanted dessert and coffee but we were not that adventurous- we passed.
(3)M D.
Very expensive for what you get. Food and service subpar. There are so many better restaurants in this area.
(1)Elisha B.
If you are looking for great tasting Mexican food, DO NOT go there. My boyfriend and I went last night for the first time. We love the downtown area of Westfield and more importantly we love Mexican food so why not right? Wrong, The empanada's were horrible and judging from the inside you couldn't tell if it was beef or chicken. When we got the tacos, we were also highly disappointed. I ended up having the send the beef ones back to try the chicken. Now the chicken was seasoned well but it was not the type of chicken that belongs in a taco. With that being said, and as everyone else is saying, proceed with extreme caution. Other than that, the Mexican soda's are a delight but you can honestly get those anywhere. We won't be going back.
(2)Steph E.
The chicken taco salad was delicious and you can't beat the price! Service was good and fast.
(5)Chris M.
Our entire order tasted like it was from a collection of cans. The salsa that came with our tortilla chips was terrible and the rest of the meal was just awful. We will never eat here again. Stay Away!
(1)Liang Z.
Ordered the shrimp avocado bacon wrap for lunch, there was barely any bacon or avocado, the count of shrimp was adequate and excellent. It also didn't come with any chips or fries which I was disappointed with, c'mon man. The burritos were humongous so I suggest give that a try.
(3)Lee D.
Ordered take out the other night and food was good! Prob not the most authentic Mexican but the quesadilla was tasty and the fish tacos did the trick. Buffalo chicken salad had huge pieces of chicken, enough for 2 meals. They also were pretty quick which is always nice. Only downfall is they don't deliver.
(4)A B.
Holy moly I took one bite and put my burrito down, wife took one bite of her enchilada and put it down, 35 dollars down the drain, and we never waste food, like the other reviewer said, everything tasted like it came out of a can, the sour cream looked like spoiled milk. This place deserves zero stars, I feel scammed.
(1)Agustin K.
Poor quality tex mex. Food came in super fast and tasted like microwaved food. Definitely not freshly made. Portion is large but we didn't even want to bring home the leftovers. Service was also subpar - the food did come fast but we had to ask for water and ask for refill. Don Jose is 10x better for tex mex food.
(2)Kris P.
I am honestly shocked at all the negative reviews of Tinga on Yelp! Since moving to Westfield a year and a half ago, Tinga is one of my favorites! Is it 5 star dining? No, but it is pretty decent Mexican food at a reasonable price. I have ordered the Californian burrito (my favorite), cheese enchiladas and quesadillas and have never been disappointed. I am a creature of habit so although we either go or get delivery from here once or twice a month, I tend to order the same thing. The salsa bambino is great and we always order extra (or scarf down 2 bowls of chips if we are dining in). If you are dining in, food always comes super fast and the staff is always wonderful. The only negative I have is that there isn't a ton of diversity on the menu but if you are like me and are happy finding something great and sticking to it, it isn't a huge deal. If you have never been here before give it a chance! I read no reviews before my first time there and am happy I hadn't. I love Tinga!
(5)Michael D.
We eat here a couple times a year due to the kid friendly atmosphere and the draw for some mexican munchies at times. The tacos are okay, salad is okay and ships and salsa are okay. I wouldn't say it's awesome or great, but it's okay to eat for an occasional meal but nothing special. They do have some great kid promotions like balloon making for the kids on certain days and very cheap lunches.
(3)Dahoniel P.
I have truly had better. I came here in dyer need of a properly prepared Mexican dish and left with a below average taste. It was a sunny afternoon in the neighborhood and I decided to sit outdoors and take in the fresh air. The service was the only thing I would say was nice. Our waiter was very attentive and we struck a nice conversation that flowed well with the transition of the food experience. I ordered tacos that weren't bad, but they simply weren't original or over the top at all. My taste buds accepted the food and I would say it was just okay. I've had better, I wanted better, I got meh. Not a place I would recommend or go out of the way to get to at all.
(2)Kevin Y.
I have been coming to eat at Tinga regularly for many years, and their food never gets old!!! My favorite is the Californian Burrito, vegetarians heaven! Rice, beans, cheese and guac!! All staff is very friendly, and if you come regularly; you almost become good friends with them. Service is always quick and food is even quicker. I will continue to come here throughout my years!
(5)Stefany D.
First time here and I'm not disappointed Great steak burritos! The service was fast and the waiter was really nice
(4)Kimberly C.
I'd been wanting to eat at Tinga for a while. My cousin's movie premiered at The Rialto so we decided to order food from here since it was so close. We looked at the menu online, but when we got to the restaurant, we discovered that a a page or two was missing from the online menu. Weird. Thursday is balloon night so if you have kids, the Balloon man can make them a cute Penguin or a motorcycle. We ordered food for about 8-10 people so our bill came out to around $81.00. The food was neatly packaged, but not labeled nor did they included napkins OR forks! Fortunately one of our friends walked back to grab some forks and napkins. I had the Vegetarian tacos. They were good, especially since I was famished. The tacos had a soft shell on the outside and a hard shell on the inside. They had rice and beans inside and the 2 tacos came with a salad. They also included sour cream, salsa, and dressing. But, I wasn't too impressed with the food. $8.25, a bit steep for tacos that I could make on my own. I probably won't return.
(3)janice s.
Not at all what I remembered! Either I've lost my marbles or my taste buds have become snobbish over the years. So where do I start? How about the chips and salsa served at the beginning of the meal? Well the chips were bland with little to no salt and the salsa taste like what you get out of a Tostitos jar on a drunken Saturday night in college. That's right I said it, but it's true. I will say that the Guacamole was good, certainly not the best I've ever had, but better than the salsa for sure. For dinner my friend and I both had the Chicken Fajita Burrito. Oy...not much to say here. The black beans had no flavor, the chicken and vegetables were tender, but no great flavor there either. All in all it was just a pretty bland meal. Now on to the service. It was like being in the twilight zone! While the waitress was nice, she was complaining how that if the kitchen didn't start cooking she would do it for them. Did I need to know this? Maybe that should have been a sign that the food would be mediocre at best. But then the whistling started...that's right I said whistling...I couldn't even concentrate on what my friend was saying because it was so loud. A man, who we would later learn was the owner, literally whistled while he worked. Now I know you might be thinking "why would you complain about someone enjoying their job?" Well it it was really loud, the place is small and it just wouldn't stop! When my friend asked the waitress why he was whistling so loud the girl let us know it was the owner. She then proceeded to say something to him in front of us about how we said he was whistling too loud. No it's true...it really happened two feet away from us. You just can't make this stuff up!
(1)L L.
Why the bad reviews? I love this place - the atmosphere, the staff (kudos to Maria and Josh), the comida ("food" in case you've never taken Spanish 101), and the BYO!! I come here very frequently and I've never been disappointed- it's the go-to spot for fresh-Mex. Yes, the food is fresh (contrary to previous reviews). Just select a table by the kitchen and you can WATCH them make everything. The salsa is yummo- one of husband's friends who came here with us referred to it as "smokey," and that it is. The chicken is moist and flavorful- no trendy seasoning needed. The pico is consistently good- crisp tomatoes, excellent flavors. Roll in with your own wine or beer, or bring a bottle of tequilla to add to their margaritas. You can get your beers put on ice - just ask. In the warmer months, they offer outdoor seating. And for the indoor meals, the decor is awesome and the feel is relaxed. My point? Me gusta mucho Tinga!!
(5)Diane M.
They staff was very friendly. The food came out quickly. To me the place didnt feel super clean and its very tiny, boarderline claustrophobic. The chips had no salt but salsa was good. Black beans and rice had no flavor at all but the pulled chicken i got in bbq sauce was absolutely delicious!! Food was served hot. Price was reasonable not cheap but also not crazy expensive. There are other mexican places i do like a bit better.
(3)Jean B.
I don't know how this place only has 2.5 stars. Tinga is delicious. The atmosphere is great. The staff is so nice. The prices aren't bad. It's BYOB in an area that has a Trader Joe's (cheap wine and beer!). I love this place.
(5)Benson Y.
Seeing the previous reviews, I'm really surprised that my girlfriend and I enjoyed this place as much as we did today. We had passed by before and filed it under one of those "Maybe another time." things on the way to Trader Joe's. Today we sat down and had a wonderful lunch here. The decor is a lot of wood and tin plating that looks like it came from an old building. One wall has a large mural painted on it with influence from Mexican folk art. We sat by the window where there's a bench with a nice cushioned seat and several tables. The rest of the restaurant has tables going back in several rows, easily seating about twenty plus people. The rest room was quite large and had a beautiful molding around the door along with very clean and well kept facilities. Kudos to the decor and atmosphere. It's comfortable, festive without being overwhelming. We were seated and taken care of very quickly. The servers all seemed to be locals so they spoke English just fine and seemed eager to please. We were checked on at least twice during the meal. Being hungry, we ordered fast. My girlfriend had the spinach and beef salad while I had the "low carb" chicken with sauteed spinach side. We also ordered their guacamole with nachos. You're given nachos with salsa as soon as you settle in. Overall, it was quite a bit of food! The nachos are addicting. Fresh and salted with sea salt, we wound up devouring our entire basket. The guacamole was super fresh and tasty, with nice big chunks of avocado in it. My chicken was well seasoned and tender, and I added a bit of kick using the red and green habanero sauces on the table. The spinach was nice and bright and tasted great with onion and garlic. Cheese was melted on top, giving it an extra dimension of flavor. My girlfriend's beef was tender and also well seasoned, but I preferred my chicken. Note: while we sat there, at least three people came in for take out and three other tables had gathered outside. Everyone who came in seemed to be a regular as they seemed very familiar with the staff, that tends to breed confidence for me when trying a restaurant for the first time. It seems the other reviews here are not so positive to "ok" for this place, but my girlfriend and I both agree it's a place we really enjoyed and intend to visit again. The best thing to do of course is to judge for yourself if you visit Westfield.
(4)Rich P.
I had the ribs which was plane but when I asked for BBQ sauce they were excellent. They are extremely accommodating with excellent service.
(4)Julia S.
Stopped by to grab something to eat quickly; found their menu to include alternate items other than just Mexican food. I was a bit surprised by the choice of having a buffalo chicken wrap available but I guess its accommodate those not interested in the Mexican palate. Tinga's décor was appealing, the service was a bit sporadic, and food was just okay. I may go back to give it a proper chance since I didn't have a full meal and experience all that Tinga has to offer.
(3)Leonor Q.
So I took Moms out for lunch and place looked interesting. " lets try it out'. We ended up very disappointed and disgusted.Ordered 2 burritos one of carne asada and the other of bbq pork.....YucK!!! They both looked messy no flavoring, def not fresh. After 2 spoons I was done and my mothers face said it all. Don't bother coming here you will regret it for sure. The staff didn't care and to make it worse pricey.. Go find yourself a Chipotle 100 times better.
(1)Steve G.
Have eaten here many times. Tasty and fast, and they don't rush you out. Usually packed. Service is good. A perennial favorite.
(4)Finis E.
Worst restaurant in Westfield, and that is sayin' something. I had the enchilada platter with green sauce and beef picadillo. It was terrible -- dry tortillas (most likely microwaved) covered in a tasteless sauce. To make matters even worse, halfway through my dinner I found a piece of plastic *in* my enchiladas -- it turned out to be a piece of Heinz Ketchup packet. I don't even want to think how it ended up there. Never going back, and would actively dissuade people form giving it a try.
(1)Danielle Y.
I had a solid experience at this place. I am pretty much always in the mood for anything that Approaches Mexican as long as they do a good job, and they did! From pleasantly answering our questions re: margaritas (no liquor license, which is pretty standard in Westfield) to graciously seating us and our newly acquired bottle of wine the service was a pleasure for such a small casual place. They even didn't seem annoyed when they had to return to ask us what we were ordering about five times (lots to catch up on with the ex-roommate). As for the food: A key to note is this is a strange mix of foods (Picadillo tacos? BBQ ribs? What?), so if you desire from-the-cart Mexican street tacos, this is not the place. BUT! I had picadillo and chicken tacos and they were really yummy. Hard & soft shell on the SAME TACO? A texture extravaganza! The chicken tacos were perfectly acceptable, but the picadillo was a standout. I have thought about it many times since. The price: Fantastic. Especially in light of the generally very expensive restaurants in the area. Two meals and a bottle of wine was cheaper than some of the entrees at the other places. Of COURSE, of course it is hard to compare a super casual tiny Mexican-ish restaurant to a fancier-sit-down italian-y place. The other reviews: I find it hard to fit my experience in with some of the other reviews. Maybe it was what we ordered? Maybe there's been a change in management? Maybe the picadillos tacos are a shining beacon of food glory in the midst of a mediocre menu? I don't know. All I can say is that this place is certainly on my "go to anytime I am going to Trader Joe's/visit S/Westfield in general" list.
(4)Sandra S.
Just what you need for a decent supper after work. Great burritos! Everything that we have had has always been tasty! But do bring your own wine! Service was very attentive, too!
(4)Samira S.
If this restaurant wasn't as cute as it is, it would have most certainly gotten one star from me. The food came out WAY fast..like, way too fast. Maybe less than 10 minutes after we ordered, which scares me. I can imagine every dish just sitting back in the kitchen, waiting to be microwaved. Yuck. The enmoladas I ordered with pork were probably the worst thing I've ever paid for and eaten. Seriously. I was confused because I don't honestly think I've ever been so completely dissatisfied with a meal. The pork was super dry and unseasoned, the tortilla was hard and bland and that god awful mole sauce they drenched them with was so thick and sweet and just UGH. I ate anyway, somewhat salvaging the meal with some sour cream and the bottle of delicious green hot sauce that was on the table. My date's burrito tasted better than what I ordered thank goodness. The chicken was more moist and flavorful. Service was okay. My waiter was polite, not really friendly. Seemed to enjoy horsing around with his co-workers so I know he's not a complete ice prince. The place is BYOB, which may be the only light in the tunnel for Tinga, so I was able to drink away my annoyances with the meal. There were many people in the restaurant as well, but considering this seems to be the only "authentic" Mexican spot in Westfield, it doesn't seem like residents have any other spots to go to anyway. Tinga's food quality really needs to be reevaluated if they expect people to come back for more.
(2)Robin R.
Better off going to chipotle's for Mexican. Not sure how you can have a burrito and pulled pork sandwich from the same place and expect either one to stand out. On the bright side the staff was friendly and the place was super clean.
(2)Julie I.
It is what you pay for. Cheap decent Mexican food. Coming from the city, we definitely had our share of amazing Mexican food. And I wouldn't call this place amazing but its decent. The portions are huge. My husband I have only ever gotten the Burrito and we share it - it's that big. And Chips & Salsa? How can you mess those up. Our favorite part? It's BYOB and we bring our own bottle of Tequila, they give you the frozen margarita and you make it how you want it. Can't complain! A good, cheap, fast meal.
(4)William V.
Food is completely awesome. The food is cooked fresh and is served very quickly. The burritos are huge and stuffed with great meats, beans, and cheeses. Service is great and waitstaff is very friendly. We eat here at least a couple times a month. I would recommend to everyone. Not sure why others are saying the food is microwaved. If you sit by the back of the restaurant by the kitchen, you will see everything made fresh in front of your eyes. Love Tinga!
(5)Candace B.
The food is either tasteless, overpowered by garlic, or drenched in sauce.
(1)Cinthia G.
Horrible!!! First my chips for my chips and salsa they put on my table were so cold and the salsa tasted disgustin... I got the BBQ chicken burrito which I thought was Chicken grilled on the bbq but it was only tasteless chicken smeared in cheap BBQ sauce. It's really cramped in there too so you're basically listening to everyone's conversations without even realizing it. The waitors there were so dull to me and didn't even ask me if I wanted a Margarita which I didn't know they served until someone else ordered it... to be honest Chipotle is better than this place and Chipotle isn't even real Mexican food. Save your money and go to Jose Tejas on Route 1 in Iselin.... much better food!! (and they actually warm the chips they give you for your salsa)
(1)Mariana L.
has a pretty huge selection of items for vegetarians and vegans (unusual for a Tex Mex). in fact, I'm pretty sure they've expanded their options since I'd last been there a couple of years back (that time in Millburn). I also like that they offer tofu sour cream as an option -- but omnivores have just as many (more, really) to choose from, so everyone can get something. staff is really pleasant and willing to take the time to answer questions. my husband really enjoyed his chicken tinga burrito, and it was huge -- he had the second half for lunch the next day. I had the grilled veggie platter and a side of tofu sour cream. my problems with Tinga (because based on the vegetarian-friendly menu, I really think I would've given it four stars otherwise): they have a selection of (somewhat overpriced), very bland salsas as sides, and the only "free" option is el yucateco hot sauce, which I don't love to begin with, but had also just read about having an unusually high lead content, and because we went while I was pregnant, I didn't want to risk eating it. I asked our waiter (who was from mexico, and I lived in Mexico for several years as a kid, and we talked about that a bit; I made it clear to him I like Mexican-spicy, not fake spicy -- and I don't even want to bother eating Mexican OR Tex Mex if it isn't spicy) what the hottest salsa was, and he said none was actually spicy in his opinion. he brought me a sample of what he said was considered the spiciest for the restaurant, and I agreed with him -- there was no heat level at all, just some smoke, which, while better than nothing, isn't what I was looking for. so I wound up having a somewhat disappointing meal, as Mexican/Tex Mex's biggest appeal to me is heat. my husband even suggested running out to a store and buying me hot sauce or salsa, since he knew I wasn't happy, but I declined. I would go again because there were a bunch of vegan items i would have liked to try (and, frankly, like that so many are available in one place at all), but I'd have to bring my own hot sauce, I guess. We did mention the el yucateco issue to the guy at the register, who may have been the manager, and he was very open to listening to us and even looked at one of the articles about it and apologized for not having been aware of it/said he wishes he'd known as their goal is not to get people sick (and really, I would have just used some if I hadn't been pregnant, but I wasn't comfortable with it then).
(3)Janet M.
Had a wrap on their lunch special...good size and good flavor, especially for the price. i wish they would toast the whole wrap though...they just threw it on the pan for a second after wrapping it to give it color and to save time...lame. Chips were good but the salsa tasted like it came out of a bucket....make it fresh guys i mean really! Want me to give you a recipe?
(3)Heather T.
I haven't been here but only got a delivery order, so my rating is only based on phone/delivery and food quality. I can't account for in-house service. The server on the phone was pleasant and my order arrived exactly as I ordered and really quite quickly. The burritos were huge and they were packed with filling - not just rice but plently of chicken too. So, they didn't short me on what I was actually paying for. I got a kid's meal too and it's nice that it come with a side and drink included in the price. I did think the burrito was a bit on the dry side and due to the size it was a fork and knife affair only. However, it was a pretty decent meal all around and I'd order from them again. I'll edit if I ever get time out of the house to actually go there and eat out.
(3)Jason S.
AVOID! If you like frozen beans, rice and bland food out of a bag than this place is for you. When we complained about the food quality the waitress took our food and brought us our check with only a 10% discount ($3.00). The manager never came out to talk to us. We left hungry, disappointed and $30 poorer. I only wish I could nominate this place for Restaurant Impossible. Next time I'll check yelp before eating out.
(1)Ann S.
Stoped here for a quick dinner. Service was fine, it was a slow night which was strange for a Sat night in Westfield on a nice summer night, now i know why. The salsa and chips were ok, not much flavor. I orders a steak quesidilla with peppers and onions for an additional buck fifty. The entree came out in 5 minutes, no accompaniments that would typically come out with a quesidilla, no sour cream, no guac, nothin. There was so much cheese that i literally dug out the steak peppers and onions from the blob of cheese. The steak peppers and onions tasted like they were just fried with oil. No flavor whatsoever! It was so greasy that i just picked out the steak and left everything else on the plate. Should have gone to Qdoba or Chipolte!
(1)J S.
I really like this place for good, affordable, Mexican cuisine. I usually get the steak tacos or some type of burrito. The tortilla chips, salsa and guacamole are all pretty good and I really like the hot sauces they have. The only thing I don't like is the burritos are open on both ends. I try to close it so I can pick it up but except for this place, I've never seen an open-ended burrito.
(4)R P.
Used to like this place. But the last time we went, we decided it was indeed our last. Quality of food changed. Eh, what happened?! I miss the old salsa..it had that extra-something you get at a Mexican spot. The veggie chili changed, too -- tasteless now. Booooooo!
(2)Rachel C.
We walked in and kind of were cramped into a little table for two next to a baby. I didn't mind since it was lunch time on a friday and the restaurant was busy. As opposed to other reviews here, our server was polite (though not friendly), got our orders right, and brought our food quickly. The free chips and salsa to start was a nice touch. my friend had a burrito which she liked and I had the chicken quesadilla. It was HUGE and tasty, but I had to ask for sour cream on the side as it did not come with any sauce. my friend could have used some salsa with her taco as well. It is definitely pricier than qdoba nearby, but the food is better.
(3)Bill S.
I can't imagine why anyone is giving Tinga less than 3 stars. I eat here on a regular basis and the food is delicious, the staff is accommodating, and the atmosphere is warm and inviting. It's not the number one Mexican place I've eaten at *cough cough* Red Cadillac in Union *cough cough* but it's definitely second. The pico, guac, and rice are all delicious and honestly you can't really go wrong with anything on the menu. I give a strong recommendation to anyone looking for a solid Mexican meal.
(4)David N.
great guac, rice, and beans, cheap lunch option
(4)michael k.
Not a good place! Chili, my favorite, is a D+. service is really lacking. Good salsa,though.
(1)Michael K.
I ate here a couple of times and was not impressed. Last time, the server couldn't speak English, and did not do what I asked, which was to assemble my burrito to go, and roll it up properly so that I could eat it out of hand. Instead, when I got it, the tortilla, filling, lettuce, salsa, and sour cream were all packed separately, so that I had no way to eat it without sitting down at a table with utensils and having to painstakingly put it all together myself. It wasn't like the cook was rushed; I was the only customer in the place. The food at Qdoba, around the corner, is better, and the portions are larger.
(2)Lindsay W.
I'm not sure how this place can justify charging upwards of $8 for a burrito that hardly has the flavor of one you can find at Chipotle or Qdoba for a few dollars less. (Note: they do have a large sign in their window advertising $5 burritos, but this is only during a short time window at lunch) The only thing you get for your extra money is sit-down service, but who wants this at a fast food place pretending to be more? The last time I ate there, the service was terrible. I had to approach the cash register several times to request items that were supposed to be included in my meal because our waitress ignored us the entire time. When she had to bring something over that we requested, she seemed rather annoyed each time. Sure, the atmosphere is warmer and more fun than other generic burrito shops, but after paying more for less (and having to tip), I didn't leave very happy.
(1)Ryan M.
Gross..wife & I got sick
(1)Robyn S.
This Tinga has fallen from my good graces. This had usually been a 1-2 times a month place for us, but the last few times have not been great and we are now officially taking a break after yesterday's lunch. Lately, we have experienced less than stellar service and inconsistent food - and yesterday, the food was just bad. The black beans, which are usually really good, had no flavor - I think they dumped a can of beans onto our plates (without heating them, even), and then there were enormous chunks of onions in everything else. It wasn't even recognizable as the same food we've been eating for years. Not good.
(2)Ryan L.
Service wasn't great, the space was dive-y and cramped, but it was good Mexican food for lunch. Portion was good and the bill didn't hurt my wallet.
(3)Susan G.
This place has such potential - Quaint restaurant with a good location and nice menu. But the food is just not good. The portions and price are awesome, yes, but out of the three of us, only one liked the food and two of us didn't even want to eat our meal! Chips tasted stale and the guacamole lacked any flavor. Plus, the waiter had a hard time understanding us and did not refill our drinks. I probably will not return.
(2)Beth S.
I have been to Tinga on numerous occasions and each time I have had a positive experience. I have had several of the burritos (the california and the shrimp), which have been good, and the "la casadilla" which was all right. Every time I have been there the waitstaff has been friendly and attentive, and will refill our chips, salsa, and water regularly. I felt the food fit the price, as everything was tasty and portions left me more than full. I am also excited to try out their delivery service now that we are moving nearby.
(4)sumi s.
I went based on someone's recommendation. The ambiance is fun and lively and the service is good but the food is bland and not the truly Mexican. They leave their vegetables in a vat of water and nothing is fresh it just gets reheated when you order. Qdoba was a much better experience.
(1)Michele H.
Having spent some time in Mexico and having lived in San Diego and Colorado, I wouldn't call it Mexican food. I will say it is the best guacamole I have had in NJ/NY area. The food is not spicy but good for their take on Mexican. My daughter and I are both gluten intolerant, so here is what we eat (eating out is risky but we have never gotten sick here) She eats a side of chicken (it is enough chicken for 2 kids to share), a side of shredded cheese and 2 soft corn tortillas. She makes her own quesadilla (that's what she calls it.) I eat either the Tinga chicken burrito (naked- all the fillings come on a plate that they will smother in cheese unless you tell them "no cheese please!" ) or the naked (or minus the flour tortilla) chicken burrito. The chips are fine as well as the salsa. Thursday night is free balloon night. Don't forget to bring along a bottle of wine - I always forget.
(3)Christopher O.
went to this place for the first time since we was trying to find the 25 burgers in westfield that does not exist.so I went to tinga on central avenue and ita a small restraunt but nice I had buffalo wings for an appy and they were awesome.I then had a steak burrito for the mains and it was good I would def go back if I was on a date
(4)Ed L.
Not good. I can't believe they still get crowds here. This isn't real Mexican - not sure what to call it. Big, fatty burritos with no flavor.
(1)Luba R.
The worst Mexican place I have ever tried in my life. I eat out at various ethnic places throughout the week. A friend of mine took me here today because neither of us has been here before. I was very apprehensive because I have tasted the fast food end of Mexican cuisine and the Mom and Pop types. This is a chain, so it falls somewhere in between. So I'll get straight to the point. The service is horrible, the guy that came to take our order looked miserable. He looked and acted as if he owned the place but when asked, told us that he was an employee. He was getting upset that we were taking a while to decide what to get. Honestly, there wasn't much to choose from, either tacos or burritos. There weren't any appealing platters or fajitas like at other Mexican places. The chips that were served were stale and the salsa was clearly out of the can! The food came out in literally 3 minutes and I knew that something wasn't right. The tacos were cold and stale. The shredded beef in the taco was dry and tasteless and reminded me of construction paper! They didn't even bother concealing the stale food with a sauce of any type. When confronted, the owner wannabe/waiter got very defensive and said, "I don't agree with you", "I like the food here, what do you want me to do about it!?" They charge and extra for everything like: pico de gallo and tiny spoon of guacamole! What a disgrace! There was a Chipotle around the corner that we should have gone to instead. We didn't eat the food and left hungry, sick and upset. Buyer beware, this place doesn't give Mexican cuisine justice. If you like Mexican chains, I would recommend: On the Border, Chevys, Jose Texas, and even Chipotle. This place sounds appealing because it's located in the downtown, but looks can be deceiving! Trust me, I learned the hard way!
(1)Ralph M.
I've had a couple meals here. My first meal wasn't great, so I went again thinking if I tried something different I would get a better response. Sadly, I didn't. Food is dry, and lacking flavor. I hate to say it, but if you're in Westfield you're better off going to Q'doba for a burrito.
(2)Alpesh S.
Generic Mexican-like food, which is sadly better done and cheaper at chains like Qdoba or Chipotle's. They were polite and the place was clean but the food was just bland and generic.
(1)angela g.
bad food. bad service. the attitudes there super sucked and we had to practically beg for our check.
(1)Andrew H.
This place is cozy and has great food. They have EXCELLENT guacamole, and are generous with it in their burritos unlike some other local places. I'm a big fan of their California burrito (often get it without rice) and the creamy black beans. I think some other reviews think Q'doba is better, but I've never been a fan of that place. Personal preference I suppose...
(4)