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    Chili Willie's Mexican Restaurant

    4.0 (246 reviews)
    ModerateMexican, Tex-Mex
    Open 11:00 am - 2:30 pm, 3:30 PM - 9:00 PM

    Order Chili Willie's Mexican Restaurant Takeout or Delivery

    Chili Willie's Mexican Restaurant Photos

    CHILI WILLIE'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Reviews With Photos - Chili Willie's Mexican Restaurant

    Two Crispy Tacos - one beef, one shrimp with jalapeños delicious
    Ameil S.

    You're going to love this place. It is a small hole in the wall but you know these are the best places for food. They have been in business since 1987. This husband and wife team have been doing their thing. Do you hear me. It is delicious. Customer service is impeccable. She is just wonderful. Your food comes out quickly and it is delicious. You will definitely be taking food home so be prepared for that. You're not eating it all here, but you will enjoy it. I really like this place Stop by you all regret it.

    Queso Flameado con Chorizo
    Anton K.

    Chilly Willies has been a family run and operated Mexican restaurant on Main Street in Boonton, New Jersey since longer than I can remember. Boonton is a charming little town and Chilly Willies is a charming cozy restaurant, as well. The laid back, don't rush atmosphere makes this restaurant a great place at the end of a work day. They have chips and salsa to begin your meal which are fresh and have a snap. I ordered the Queso Flameado con Chorizo ($23.95). The meal consisted of Chorizo sausage sauteed in onions, peppers, mushrooms, garlic, cheese, served with rice, sour cream, tortillas and pico de gallo saIad. love the chorizo sausage. It paired well with the beer I brought with me but than everything pairs well with beer. This place is BYOB. If you are looking for Mexican food, this is a solid choice.

    Chips and salsa

    On the Main Street of Boonton is this cute little restaurant. The ambiance was quiet when we first walked in and very welcoming. The service was excellent very attentive and loving. As the next group of people walked in they were greeted and orders remembered. Great to customers who return often. The food was delicious and plates plentiful. There were options for children too, which was a win. All in all superb experience.

    mexican decorations
    Steve S.

    It's been almost ten years since my last visit to Chili Willie's and I refuse to allow another ten pass before my next visit. My daughter and her boyfriend come here quite often and she wanted to eat here before heading back down to Virginia. Any place that's BYOB is always a plus in my book sine I never have to be disappointed in the beer selections. The place was packed when we got there, but a table opened up right away for us. We started with their chips and salsa...I have no willpower when they are dropped on the table. For food, three of us had the Cowboy Burrito, one had the Chili Willie Burrito Supreme and my wife had the Steak Florentine. The burritos were amazing and for normal people they are easily two meals...however my daughter and her boyfriend are in ridiculous shape and always hungry...they hammered theirs. My wife didn't love her meal, but really it was because she was disappointed she didn't choose a burrito or fajitas. The owners and wait staff here are absolutely amazing and I can see why every other person in the place was a regular and known to the owner. I wish they were a little closer, but I'll be back soon!

    Monterrey beef enchiladas

    Been to Chili Willie's many times over the years. The staff is wonderful. The atmosphere is cozy and makes you feel like you are in Mexico. The place is always busy, but we never seem to have a wait. It is a BYOB in case you are wondering. The chips and salsa are excellent and the food is great. Never had a bad meal there. It is located in the middle of town so parking can be a little challenging during peak season, but finding parking is rarely a problem. Would definitely recommend Chili Willie's for authentic Mexican food.

    Harvest Moon Burrito
    Kayla V.

    Food was amazing. Huge burrito for a great price. Ordered online and picked up, was super quick and the workers were very friendly! Happy that there is a great Mexican place in walking distance!

    Fun little Mexican place.
    Janey G.

    The tiny restaurant with a comprehensive menu surprised us with excellent quality of food. The portions were huge and we received great service too. We showed up just before closing on Sunday night and we were welcomed cheerfully and not rushed at all. Would recommend to friends and family.

    Takeout. Combo chicken taco and ground beef burrito platter. Comes w rice/beans and pico de gallo.

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    10 months ago

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    11 months ago

    Service was good food was amazing they make the spiciest salsa I've ever tasted at a Mexican resteraunt

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    We ate there a couple years ago. The food was extremely bland. I don't know if they've improved, but I will not go back.

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

    The best authentic Mexican restaurant in boonton Main Street. So delicious and fresh, owners are super friendly and employees.

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

    No lard...no bueno. What self-respecting Mexican restaurant tries to be healthy. Praise the lard!

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    6 years ago

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    La Bamba Grill

    La Bamba Grill

    4.7
    (26 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    Boonton, NJ - my relationship with La Bamba began with abandonment issues, when I inadvertently…read moreleft my to-go bag on a counter while busy taking photos for my Yelp review. Wah wah! It wasn't until hours later when, stomach growling, I traipsed over to the fridge excited for the remnants of my enchiladas de mole, that I realized to my dismay that my comida had desaparecida. I've made up for this absent-minded first experience since, and La Bamba Grill 2 now ranks among my top 3 favorite casual Mexican restaurants in this region. My dining companions and I have variously enjoyed tacos, tostadas, pozole, churrasco, and other dishes. The chicken quesadilla, something I normally only order for the kid and am disappointed by 9 times out of 10 in most restaurants, gets my adult endorsement and also passes the ultimate test: toddler approval. As you can see from my photos, it's stuffed with cheese and chicken (we opted for grilled chicken but you can get the marinated shredded version which is a little spicy). I've trauma-bonded with the aforementioned mole enchiladas, which again, is full of chicken, in a very good and well-flavored mole sauce that's better then most other moles I've had in the area. The platters are huge, with generous amounts of everything. The interior is colorfully and cheerfully decorated with Mexican-themed artwork and adornments, with cozy booths as well as a diner counter. That's because it used to be a classic diner (Boonton Diner), installed in a converted vintage train car! And if the thought of street parallel parking makes you break out in hives, you'll be glad to know this is one of few restaurants on Main St. that has a parking lot. 5 stars. Would forget my takeout order here again!

    I liked it better here when it was called Leyendas, but it's still decent-to-yummy whenever I stop…read moreby. One of my go-tos is the chicken quesadilla, which has a perfect tortilla - crisp on the outside, but gluten-y on the inside - along with stretchy, gooey cheese, which could stand to be more salted. Recently I went with the steak tacos, which had OK flavor, but which I wish were juicier. The chopped onions bring a lot for texture and freshness. I'm such a sucker for their thick, freshly fried tortilla chips. When parking on Boonton's Main Street is full up, La Bamba is easy to recommend because it has its own parking lot! At my last visit, at 1p on a Saturday, takeout orders were flowing, but only two tables inside were occupied.

    Photos
    La Bamba Grill
    Chicken quesadilla (cheese, guacamole, pico de gallo, sour cream)
    Chicken quesadilla (cheese, guacamole, pico de gallo, sour cream)
    Pork chops

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    Pork chops
    Jose Tejas

    Jose Tejas

    3.8
    (1.5k reviews)
    7.4 mi
    $$

    We've been going there since 2008. It is our family go to for Tex-Mex. The quality of the food has…read morealways been good. I can't remember a single bad experience with the possible exception of when they were first figuring out how to serve to go orders during COVID and they forgot part of our order. Expect a wait during peak hours but that should tell you something. Not the absolute best I've ever had, but you won't be disappointed.

    Parking: Plenty of parking available…read more Service: There was about a 20 minute wait when we went at 6:30pm on a Saturday. My husband put our name in for a party of four and gave his phone number for the text notification but the hostess accidentally entered us as a party of two. Thankfully, the table that was ready was large enough for four but it could have caused an issue. As a note, she remembered and realized she mistyped it and apologized immediately. Our waiter was friendly, though the service had a few hiccups. My chicken quesadilla (which I ordered as my entrée) came out well before everyone else's meals. When boxing leftovers, he asked whether I wanted the sides, sour cream, and salsa included. I said no, but when I opened the container the next day, everything had been packed together anyway. Food: The chicken quesadilla was delicious and generously filled with shredded chicken. Drinks: The frozen strawberry margarita was excellent. It was filled to the brim and stronger than what you typically get at a restaurant. Overall, I'm chalking the service issues up to it being a busy Saturday night. We'd still happily return to Jose Tejas whenever we're in the area.

    Photos
    Jose Tejas
    Jose Tejas
    Spicy marg | #intenselypassionatephotography

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    Spicy marg | #intenselypassionatephotography
    Sazon Latino Restaurant

    Sazon Latino Restaurant

    4.8
    (450 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $

    Sazon Latino, located on Main Street in Boonton just a few steps from the NJ Transit station, is…read moredefinitely a hidden gem. It's a very casual, cafeteria-style spot with a semi-open kitchen, but don't let the simplicity fool you -- the food is incredible and the staff here is friendly and patient. The highlight of the experience is the small buffet that features a variety of freshly-made Latin cuisine -- including pulled pork, chicken and beef stews, and other traditional Latin entrees and sides. You can build your own plate by selecting one or more entrees and sides - which are priced accordingly. As a 'gringo' who wasn't entirely sure what everything was, I really appreciated them taking the extra time to explain all the different options and give me their honest recommendations. The counterstaff is bilingual and were pretty patient with my elementary school level Spanish vocabulary and grammar. I ended up going with the pulled pork platter with two sides ($7) and it was terrific -- the perfectly seasoned and tender pork, black beans and rice, and macaroni salad were delicious and very filling. You can tell they use fresh ingredients, and the portions are very generous for the price. If you're looking for authentic, home-style Latino food in a laid-back setting, this is the spot! PRO TIP #1: Bring a bottle of wine or beer from home to enjoy with your meal. Sazon Latino is a BYOB establishment and does not serve alcohol. PRO TIP #2: Sazon Latino offers free off-street parking in a small lot behind the restaurant and there's plenty of free on-street parking on Main Street.

    Outstanding experience featuring delicious food, excellent presentation, and exceptional service…read more Every detail seemed thoughtfully handled, creating a memorable evening that exceeded expectations and encouraged a return visit.

    Photos
    Sazon Latino Restaurant
    Pernil
    Pernil
    Sazon Latino Restaurant

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    Fat Cactus Mexican Cantina

    Fat Cactus Mexican Cantina

    3.9
    (165 reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    Visited a Fat Cactus for the first time and I was impressed…read more The restaurant is located right off of Route 46 and is HUGE! After being seated, I walked around the premises and saw a large room for private events, a vast area for outdoor seating, very nice wall artistry, and even a good-sized individual room for a private meal. Shyam was an exceptional Server. He took very good care of us and contributed to an enjoyable meal. I started with a Classic Margarita and it was served in a LARGE glass. So large, that I had to hand over the car keys, afterwards. The Fat Cactus complimentary chips and salsa was AMAZING. First, the salsa had chunks of tomato, onions, and lots of basil. It was so throughly enjoyed, that we asked for a second helping, which they gladly obliged. Our selections were: Chicken Tortilla Soup (Rich chicken broth flavored with onions, tomatoes, corn, black beans, finished with a dash of cream, crispy tortilla chips, avocado, sour cream, and cheese). This soup was served in a deep bowl, had a very nice presentation, and every spoonful was flavorful. The next item was the Burrito Michoacano (Shredded chicken seasoned with authentic Mexican spices, Mexican rice, black beans, pico de gallo, cheese, and chili arbol sauce). This Burrito was huge, all of the ingredients were well seasoned, and I took some home to enjoy during the NFL playoffs. The final item was the Tamales Chicken Pastor (Homemade masa tamales, stuffed with Chicken Al Pastor, served with red enchilada sauce, and topped with creamy sour cream). I'm glad, that I discovered Fat Cactus and will definitely revisit and/or dine at their New Brunswick location.

    You charge a cover and you don't even have AC working. It was hotter inside the restaurant than…read moreoutside. The food was decent.

    Photos
    Buffet area
    Buffet area
    Wings
    Wings
    Mezcal margarita and a lime margarita

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    Mezcal margarita and a lime margarita
    Don Jose Mexican Restaurant

    Don Jose Mexican Restaurant

    3.7
    (382 reviews)
    6.9 mi
    $$

    Very good Mexican food, Service is always good…read more Ambience is truly Mexican along with a strolling minstrels

    I love Mexican restaurants! This spot was so cute! The decor was bright and colorful. The night we…read morewent, they had a whole mariachi band! The band walked around to the tables for song requests and would sing next to the table as well, really cute! My mom requested a song for my grandma, which made her tear, it was really sweet. Most of the staff seemed really warm and friendly, unfortunately not the same could be said from the waitress we got. She seemed to be pretty absent, didn't seem knowledgeable when asked about details on dishes. At one point, she accidentally dropped guacamole on a little girl's arm at the table next to us and she apologized once and walked away, leaving the guacamole on the floor and splattered all over her coat as well as mine. All other staff we interacted with were nice and helpful. On to the food! The salsa was really flavorful and the chips were fresh and crispy. I got the cheese enchiladas which were pretty nice. It came with rice and beans which ended up being eaten by my daughter. She got an order of rice and beans and the portions were quite big for just being sides which was really nice. Mom and grandma had soups which they said were quite flavorful. It is BYOB so all their drinks are non alcoholic which is cool for everyone. I got the lime Margarita which was very limey, very delicious. Overall, I would definitely recommend this spot for some good Mexican food.

    Photos
    The "Vibe" at Don Jose's
    The "Vibe" at Don Jose's
    BLACKENED CHICKEN FAJITAS
    BLACKENED CHICKEN FAJITAS
    Churros

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    Churros
    La Cocina De Maria

    La Cocina De Maria

    4.7
    (27 reviews)
    3.5 mi

    TLDR: friendly staff but underwhelming flavors…read more The team at La Cocina De Maria are incredibly friendly and attentive. They're knowledgeable about the many items on the menu and kept our waters and chips topped up throughout the meal. The actual food wasn't as great. I tried some barbacoa street tacos and some fried fish tacos. Everything was fresh and well cooked but lacking in flavor - each dish could be seasoned a bit more. I'm hopeful for the restaurant, and I may try it again if they try new recipes or something different to season their food.

    My steak burrito was ready very quickly. Gooey cheese, chewy and only mildly flavored steak, lots…read moreof starch flavor from the beans and rice. I do feel everything would have benefitted from salt, and I wish that as a dine-in customer my burrito had not come wrapped in to-go paper. To give you a sense of the ambiance: the Spanish-speaking cashier/cook was reading a book when I walked in, and the television on the wall was blaring a Spanish-language TV show. I was one of only two customers when I went for a Saturday lunch around 1p. The other customer was also conversing in Spanish with the front of house. I appreciated that a bottled green habanero sauce was at my table, along with Cholula. It helps add to the authenticity. All that said, maybe don't come here for the tex-mex. If I came back I'd try one of the five different kinds of tacos they offered.

    Photos
    Dinner room
    Dinner room
    Chorizo Deep and chips
    Chorizo Deep and chips
    Posole rojo

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    Posole rojo

    Chili Willie's Mexican Restaurant - mexican - Updated July 2026

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