Went here with my fiancée and we both got food poisoning (we both had chicken fajitas). Eat here at your own risk.

For people who love the extra dash of salt in the plate, it's the right place for you. All my friends enjoyed their dishes, unfortunately, the food is too salty for me. read more

Back after a year hiatus. Gonna try the shrimp and crawfish quesadilla. The worst part is always having to wait for a table. Granted it'll take 20-30 minutes, so be prepared to hang at the bar area (it's crowded there too) with a watered down margarita while they buzz you. In the end, the food is good....not great, and certainly not authentic. But if you're looking OK mexican food, with OK service, in an OK environment (but the decor is kinda cool) then this is the place. I'll probably be back since it's the only mexican food place in the area, but it won't be my first, second, or third choice. read more

LONG FREAKING WAIT. NO...REALLY. Be prepared to wait if you decide to visit on the weekend/Friday night. Aside from the long wait, Jose Tejas is pretty ok. The drink and food portions are decent. Service is ok and it wasn't too hard to get our server when we needed him. Once you are seated, you are given a bowl of chips and salsa. I tried the Chicken Bandera which is mesquite chicken served with shoestring fries, mango salsa, and grilled avocado. Husband had the El Pueblo (fajitas) with chicken and shrimp, sour cream, cheese and rice and beans. Everything was pretty tasty. The drinks were HUGE. We had lemonade and diet coke and both came in decent sized cups. The lemonade was super sweet and tasted like powdered stuff. Overall, pretty good experience, super crowded and noisy but worth it. read more

Best. Guacamole. Ever. Need I say more?! Ok, maybe I do. The food in general is great, & I usually have a good experience with the wait staff. The worst thing about this place is how long you may have to wait to get seated, but that's because of how popular it is, so I guess it's a trade off, right? The atmosphere is cool. Awesome for drinks too, especially if you're into margaritas. If you can ever get in for Cinco De Mayo, also pretty epic! read more

This place is a triumph, plain and simple. The food is phenomenal, the prices are phenomenal and the servers are phenomenal. If you haven't been here, do yourself a favour and go. Get the pastelitos as an appetizer.... or as a meal. I've had them as an app nearly every time I've been there. And the times when I'm not as hungry, I've had them as a meal with a side of Jose's Rice. The pastelitos are delicious... So delicious that as I write this review I'm sending a text to a friend to have them meet me at Jose's later today. read more

Expect a wait for a table. ALWAYS. Keep in mind that they want you to have your entire party present however I've gotten away with getting to the place before my party and putting my name on the wait list. As long as your group is there by the time your name is called there shouldn't be an issue. I love the classic margaritas here..on the rocks with salt! The chips and salsa are a must. I always get the guacamole too. My go-to dish is the beef tacos with rice and black beans with side of sour cream and guac. Yum!!! read more

Food is mediocre at best. The wait time is always insane. This restaurant is so poorly run it's hard to believe it's so busy. Also, the management is rude to both customers and their waitstaff. read more

Solid, cheap Mexican dine in. The chips are a little too salty so get unsalted chips. Salsa is good. The food is decent. It's not going to blow your mind, it tastes like what you would expect from a westernized Mexican restaurant. But the prices are good and the environment is also nice. Will recommend! read more

Terrible experience I have ever had in a restaurant. Long wait, cold food, one item we ordered was made incorrectly once we realized it we were ready to leave and asked for it to be corrected and the manager refused because at that point it would be considered take out. We have been here many times before and never experienced anything like this. Not even an apology, very poor customer service to say the least. We will NOT be returning. read more

Everything that I previously said about Jose Tejas is absolutely true, but I had to do this update even though it's from an experience from before COVID 19. While the service and food were awesome as usual the manager was not. I come to Jose's at least once a month, pretty much since they've been open, over 20 years. I know the menu, I know my margaritas. I ordered what I always order, their top shelf reposado tequila Cadillac margarita on the rocks with salt. What I received what horrible lime juice or margarita mix with what tasted like a mix of that and tequila, no Grand Marnier, definitely not reposado tequila. The sever was phenomenal about it and I don't think it was entirely on the bartender either, it was busy and it was someone else's table's drink and the juice or mix was bad! The server got a manager and the manager basically argued with me over what a Cadillac margarita was and that if they remade it it would come out the same. I received a replacement that still wasn't what I always get but at least the juice or mix was better. I'm dropping my 5 stars to 4 because I feel that the manager treated me like I was the problem and I don't think she handled the situation right at all. I've been in the food and beverage industry all my working life, over 25 years and I would never argue with a customer for one and I would've most definitely apologized and went and made the drink myself. I wasn't looking for anything for free. Just polite customer service and that was a disappointment. Other than that, we'll be back, like I said food and service are always otherwise amazing!! read more

Food was ok, the beef taste like rubber. Didn't melt in your mouth like most TEXas restaurant fajitas.

I love this location! Always consistently great food, I binge on appetizers and margaritas with my boyfriend and in my experience the waiters are always more than attentive to us! My favorite place to dine on the weekend! We come at open and the place is full 15 minutes later so I always suggest coming early if you can. read more

I had the steak (can't remember the actual name on the menu) it is the flank steak it's amazing! Lots of flavor and came with a side salad of lettuce, tomatoes and onions. Another side of black beans and white rice. I was unable to finish my entire plate of food. I did not try there drinks because I'm taking antibiotics but my friend had two strawberry margaritas and raved about them all night. read more

Jose Tejas - Couldn't even finish it - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Iselin, New Jersey

The food - great The decor - not. But the food makes up for it. There will most likely be a line if you go thursday - sunday. Nothing severe however; I have never waited more than 20 minutes. A word to the smell sensitive. Do not wear clothes that you do not plan to wash before wearing again; anything you wear here will smell like onions, peppers, and salsa after you leave. Even with all that, I love Jose Tejas. read more

Was planning to go there for a long time... I've been living in that neighbourhood for almost a decade !! Just as I was told...It was crowded as anticipated but got a table for 5 fairly quickly - 15 mins. The food choices were pretty good and the prices were a steal. The service was quick and good too despite the crowd. Will need to visit more often. read more

Prepare for a wait, especially on a weekend night. There's a reason, though. When we finally got seated, the complementary chips and salsa was yummy. Our server was quick with the orders and water (we were really thirsty since we came from the gym). I ordered enchilladas and the gumbo, both of which were full of flavor and kick. The portions were a good amount, too. Quite worth it. read more

Ordered the Chicken Fajitas with Jambalaya on the side - The Chicken was properly cooked and of larger portions, which made assembling the Fajitas a fun process. - The Chicken was also marinated with a tasty blend of spices. - As usual, their table Chips were hot and Salted just right. - The Jambalaya was slightly darker at this location than their Fairfield location, but was still part of a good mix of Chicken / Cheese / Lettuce / Jambalaya in my Fajitas. read more

Woodbridge, New Jersey is where I was born and raised. That being said in my 21 years of living here there's never been a negative moment in the walls of this restaurant. I've been here countless times and ever single time Tejas never ceases to please. Great, true, Tex-Mex flavor, lovely atmosphere and it's a perfect place to have an affordable meal. I love how things are priced here, which is fairly reasonably and I also love the quick service. Out of all the times I've been here, waiting for the food probably took, at max, 20 minutes. Best dish there to me? The empanadas HANDS DOWN. One thing that I love about this place is that they are super consistent. Sometimes when you go to a restaurant for lunch, it isn't quite the same as dinner, the food isn't as flavorful and you don't get a great dining experience as you otherwise would at night. However, at Jose Tejas, all the excellent components that you want in a texmex dish you'd get at dinner time, you also get during lunch. The only reason why I didn't give this place 5 stars is because it doesn't take reservations, the bathrooms are way too small compared how big this restaurant is and every single time I've gotten there pulled chicken it's been incredibly salty. Other than that, this place is definitely a highlight of New Jersey's iconic Route 1. Possibly the best restaurant on it I'd say. read more

OK, I feel really silly because I've been asked 11,922 times if I wanted to try this place and have always said no.. until two weeks ago, when I said, 'k, fine' and we stopped in for lunch. I thought this was just another tex-mex chain. Having moved here from Texas, I've just about had it up to ~here~ with disappointing tex mex food and such was the reason for my 11,922 denials to try this place out. First impressions: packed. People streaming out the door packed. Ug. Not what I wanted to see at 1:30 in the afternoon. But it gets better - just wait! So we waited. Fifteen minutes or so later, we sat and so began my handwringing over writing this place off. They have CAJUN inspired food! Yes, TASTY cajun inspired food! I'm amazed. They had me at jambalaya. I ordered the etouffee and was completely stuffed / giddy from the experience. We've been back and I've since ordered the cajun blackened chicken (just a little salty, but soooo tasty) and the chimichurri steak (also delicious). Service - super fast, super attentive. Prices are incredibly reasonable for consistently great food. Now, before anyone sends me any crazy messages, is this authentic-authentic? Nope, it's not. You won't be getting your red beans and rice classics here, but this Texan isn't complaining. Will return - many times over. read more

Love the food but I won't return until the manager Ryan is fired/let go for harassing his employee and being a general jerk.

Amazing food and worth the wait. My absolute favorite restaurant. My favorite dish is the Cajun popcorn, and blackened chicken tenders. Their chips and salsa is to die for and they have really good margaritas. read more

Did I mention the margherittas. Although their is always skittle wait to get seated, the drinks are amazing

Large drinks! Hot chips and tasty salsa! Nice variety of dishes! Seating comfortable! Yes there is usually a wait but the food never disappoints! read more

This is my favorite restaurant! The beef fajitas rock and the margaritas are AMAZING. 10/10!

First off let me say this is NOT Tex Mex! For all you people that think it is come to Texas and I'll show you some real Tex Mex! Lol Let me note that Cajun cooking is not from Texas but from Louisiana! We don't use jambalaya, or crawfish in our Tex Mex and the French quarter is in Louisiana also! Ok so the food was ok, nothing as special as the other reviews I read. My husband said the enchilada tasted just like the us army enchiladas, so if you were or are in the army it'll be a familiar taste. I was surprised that they have NO dessert, the waitress didn't have a clue what sopapillas were(come to tx and you'll find out) lol I was surprised when the bill only came to $19.98 though. All in all it was about as good as an el chirito tv dinner from the grocery store. I won't go back here that's for certain. read more

I love this place bc its so festive... it just makes u think of vacation or something! LOL. Especially when you have one of their yummy margaritas, sangrias, or pina coladas. Yesterday, we sat at the bar waiting for our table [which is never that long of a wait despite if u have 2 ppl or a group]. I was undecided what to have so the bartender suggested 1/2 pina colada, 1/2 strawberry daquiri. At first this sounded like it wouldnt mesh well, but... YUM! I have 2 complaints: By the time my entree came, I drank my whole colada/daquiri, ate some chips, and shared the chorizo mexicana with my boyfriend.... needless to say, I ate ONE BITE of my meal and had to take it home bc I was so full! [This is why I dont order appies, but my boyfriend was "starving"] LOL. My second complaint is the food, this time around, was extremely salty. Im not sure if they changed the cook or chef, but they should tone it down a notch bc the food is so great but I had to down at least 3-4 glasses of water before & after I left. But I'll be back because who doesnt love Tejas?! Its great ... cheap food, but yummy [minus the salt]. Theres always parking.... the wait is never long, and even when it is, who cares? The bar is right there and theres always something to look at [or someone] LOL... the drinks r great and the location is perfect [I live in SI]. Good for groups. Good for dates [might be a bit messy for a 1st date though and Im sure your stomach will be too full after to get "romantic"] LOL. Also, for the parents out there, it IS a good place for kids. They give balloons, crayons... even serve french fries. LOL. OLE! read more

Jose Tejas is always busy no matter the day or the time. Evenings are worst with lines out the door. It's a great place for kids since the atmosphere is very loud. No matter how rambunctious your kids get, no one can hear them. The food is ok, lots of cheese and very salty. Smart way to sell their margaritas which are good but always better with an extra shot of tequila. Overall the servers are usually friendly. Prices are good. Food ok, Drinks great. Lines not so great. Kid friendly. Not a good place to eat at often. You'll need to workout at least four hours to get rid of those calories! read more

Been here several times and the food is always good! Its comes out super fast and you never have to worry about being late back to work. The servers are always friendly and make sure you don't need anything. The servers do leave your check before you can ask for it but they never pester you to pay...its for convenience. The food portions are huge as well as the drinks! read more

I have been taking all of my New York friends here for the longest and we all think it's better than most Mexican spots in NYC. Although it's usually more than a 30 minute wait, no matter when you go, it's absolutely worth the wait! The service, food, quality, price are phenomenal. This gotta be the most popular spot in Central Nj! read more

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Been going here for 20 years and it's still never fails to make a foodie happy. Must haves: Blackened chicken fingers appetizers Blackened chicken catfish and or chicken fajitas Joses vegetables Veggie quesadilla Burrito that slips my mind r now :( Margaritas ! Joses fries are crispy and scrumptious Several other dishes that will make you come back for more. Too many to name . read more

Let me start by saying my family loves this restaurant for years, during today's visit as we walked in (at 12 o'clock )we were greeted by militant hostesses who seemed too engrossed with their own conversation. Because my wife was parking the car outside they said I had to wait to be seated. Plenty of room at the time, though. Food is good as always however after ordering appetizers this time I saw our waiter wipe off old food off the side dishes with his finger. My concern is that smallest mistakes could ultimately kill this restaurant. Hopefully, the management will pull back on the reins and refine the mistakes made here. read more

If a sign that a restaurant is good is that the line for a table extends out the door, then this place should be considered the best restaurant on Earth. Went there on a TUESDAY and the wait was an hour and a half...but SO. WORTH. IT. It's an oddball combo of Tex-Mex and Cajun-Creole that just WORKS. Prices are stunning for the amount of food you get. Kick-ASS gumbo and jambalaya. Eggplant Royale is a particular highlight. Warning...not a quiet place by any means, but that's part of the awesomeness. Dinner generally costs less than $25 with drink and an appetizer. read more

Its been awhile but i have been here a couple of times. Let me tell you, this place is always packed and when i mean always packed, everytime i drive ny on the highway this place is packed lol. Dont matter what the day or time is, its always packed packed lol!!!!! If you dont know, they are known for their margaritas here and they are the BOMB.com. I been here a couple of times and the food is good the service is good as well. No complaints here and even if its crowded or you have to wait, its worth the wait.. ill be dropping by soon because its been awhile but all the times ive been there have never been disappointed. read more

We have been visiting this place for years and love the food and ambience. But today's experience changes it all. We experienced Extreme #rude and #racial #discrimination by the general manager Tyler. He cursed , used foul language and threatened us in front of my kids 9 and 15 yrs ... tried to physically intimidate ... When my daughter asked him if it professional of you to curse and use foul language with customers he shamelessly said yes My son was scared and started crying I had to stand up for myself and refused to take this #bullshit ...he then threatened us and asked us to leave or he will call police ...when I asked him to call police as we were not at fault he backed off. I will ensure I post my experience on every social media website and share the same with Jose Tejas management, I am also seriously considering taking this to court. #Jose Tejas #racist #Tyler read more

Horrible service very mean bad and wouldnt sit is and when we got sorted they kicked us out

The wait is unbelievable so if possible I recommend going their a little earlier. Other than the wait this place is incredibly good and the food actually comes pretty quick. Their flour tortillas are perfect, warm, and fresh making them a killer component with sauteed veggies. A couple of days ago I tried their Swordfish with mango salsa; it was just the right amount of spiciness and was perfectly tender. It's a noisy place which makes it great for a group of friends. Enjoy :) read more

First of all, this place is a joke. The wait is way too long and the food is way too salty. This restaurant really has no true character. It's trying to be a Mexican/Tex-Max/Cajun restaurant, but does not do any of them well. Unfortunately, this is the closest food that you'll get to Mexican in NJ, even though it's a poor attempt at Mexican. If you're going to eat here, don't go with the mindset of wanting Mexican food, because you will be disappointed. Instead, just go in thinking that you're going to get some mediocre food at a reasonable price. Expect to wait at least an hour if you're going on a busy Friday or Saturday night. read more

Simply the best. There is not a better tex-mex place in Jersey. I've eaten here many times and have never had a bad meal. Everything from the chips and salsa to the margaritas are absolutely delicious. Their fajitas are exceptional. The way they season their beef is spectacular. Everything else I've had was amazing too - salad, chicken guadalajara, tacos, enchiladas, shrimp, etc. On top of it all, the service is great and prices are extremely reasonable. The downside? The WAIT! If you can come for lunch, it's great, but if you arrive after around 6pm, be prepared to wait 35-90 minutes for a table. Also, they DO NOT do take out, so waiting is your only option and due to the volume, parking can be a bit tough. Also since it is always packed, it is pretty loud inside, so it's not a great spot for an intimate outing. Finally, they don't accept Discover if that matters to you, but they do accept American Express, Visa, and Mastercard. Overall, the pros far outweigh the few cons. I highly recommend Jose Tejas to all. 5 stars! read more

The blackened salmon with jose rice and fresh veggies is TO DIE FOR!!! its a long wait if you go on a weekend so be prepared since they removed the option to seat yourself. Anyway fabulous experience. Strong margaritas, friendly staff, timely service, and great food. oh and the chips and salsa, so fresh and tasty Jen says GO !!! read more