Can I give this no stars? I used to love this place. I'll be quick. Nutmst be new owners...... This place is awful for 4 reasons. 1. They nearly doubled the price. And don't give me the inflation excuse. No need to double your prices. 2. Not only did they double in price but they made their portions smaller. You can't do both.... 3. As if the 1st two things aren't bad enough they took a bunch of stuff off the menu AND a LOT of things are "extra" now. Complete bs.... 4. No candy for the kiddos after the meal. Crossing this place off the list for good. It was good while it lasted....... Don't bother. Trust me.... read more

As much as I used to love this place a lot has changed Good vibe good service. Price hike isn't appreciated with an accompanying reduction in the amount of food. It a shame it used to be affordable with generous portions. Now they are high prices with small portions. read more

Great from beginning to end. Great drinks, good service and really great food!! Jose's was recommended to me while I was visiting for the weekend and it lived up to its expectations. Drinks are strong, salsa spicy how I like it and the food was largely portioned and very reasonably priced. Everything was flavorful and spiced very well. The restaurant is large inside (bar too) as is the outdoor dining area, but this place is so busy (as it should be) that the wait is quit long. Additionally, they will not sit you unless your whole party has arrived. A definite go-to next time I'm in town or of if you're looking for something new, I definitely recommend. read more

Jose Tejas - Margarita Grande - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Iselin, New Jersey

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Pandemic or not, pandemonium reigns here at this centrally located Tex-Mex feed bag. Whenever I've come there are lines out the door and too many family members who insist "the wait is worth it." It's not but why risk a family rift on such small stakes. It's just far easier to let my brother-in-law continue to believe that Cool Ranch Doritos were invented in Guadalajara around 1870. From what I can gather, the secret salsa here is finally getting in and being so ravenously hungry that dipping the menu in the picante sauce becomes a feast. Service is assembly line average and what the menu lacks in originality they make up for in sheer volume. The portions are humongous but my desire to return is decidedly less so. However, in the future I'm sure I'll have no choice. A review proof restaurant if there ever was one. Three stars. read more

There was a huge crowd of people waiting for a table, but once we got to the front, we were pleasantly surprised that our wait time was only 20 minutes for a group of 6! We dined outside during rush hour, but it still felt like we had a lot of privacy. We all LOVED our food (especially the crispy fries). Our waiter was extremely attentive and came by frequently to refill all our drinks and bowls of chips. We also brought along a cake for our friend's birthday and they were kind enough to store it in their freezer as we ate. I HIGHLY recommend coming here!! read more

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I go with my family We love it You should go too The food is fast and service is good read more

Jose Tejas - Pastelitos - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Iselin, New Jersey

First time from Midwest, food was good, Chips were hot and delicious. Ordered vegetarian enchiladas, server was ok, it was rush rush rush. Overall good experience. read more

Jose Tejas - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Iselin, New Jersey

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Love this place. Affordable and casual and the food is so good. Also really like their margaritas. The place is fun and loud. Not a romantic place but a good time read more

I was in town this week, and was pleasantly surprised when I visited one of my old favorite restaurants. Twenty five years ago I used to take my small children here when I lived in the area and I always enjoyed it. I'm happy to say I had the same great experience yesterday, We stopped in and there was a crowd of people waiting outside but we were seated within 10 minutes! The staff is still great and the drinks and food was just as good as I remembered. And I love the decor inside, and it strikes me as funny since I live in the southwest and see these kind of places all the time. But I'm happy to say Jose Tejas doesn't disappoint. The salmon tacos were awesome, and the fajitas fantastic. read more

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Jose tejas... you come out of there smelling like that food for days but you know what the food is amazing! The prices are phenomenal the portions are huge and everything on the menu is great! I personally love the queso, the tostada grande salad with chicken, the tejas chicken and the burros! The chips always come out piping hot in a good way! The staff really does know what they are doing! I also think they make their own dressing because it's literally so fresh and doesn't taste processed! read more

Always expect to have a wait. Jose Tejas doesn't take reservations and it is always popping any day of the week, but that is because it's so good. The food is always delicious! The tables are spread out inside and there are large dividers between all of them for Covid safety. They also have a half converted patio for more seating. We had two waiters, as one was currently training. They were both very nice. Of course we ordered guac and queso and they were both delicious. Everyone got margaritas at our table. Two people got frozen strawberry margs, but they tasted just like strawberry daiquiri mix without alcohol, so that was disappointing. For food, we all got different things and everything was delicious! They give big portions and no one was able to finish what they had. It seems like typically waiters ask how you want the check to be split up these days, but our waiter didn't ask and brought out the entire bill. It was no biggie, they were busy and I understand that it can take longer and be confusing to split the bill. It is always nice to have the option though. Overall, great atmosphere and great food. read more

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Food is good, drinks are large, and you have plenty of space even if you are in a large party. Good quick and go spot for drinks and simple food read more

Dishes were delicious. The first time around I ordered the blackened chicken and it was a little too salty for my taste. However, the 2nd time I dined here I ordered the grilled chicken and Carne Asada along with their sangria and the dishes were very flavorful and satisfying. The service was also rather quick, kind and very accommodating. read more

Jose Tejas - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Iselin, New Jersey

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Ok so this place for as long as I can remember is constantly busy no matter what time or day you go! Swarms of people come here and I know I have had to wait for a table. Place is pretty big and seats a lot of people Last time I came was a Tuesday night like 9:30pm - in middle of winter and this place was still packed Plenty of parking but usually packed since so many people come . Food is affordable and comes out fast but definitely not the best Mexican food I've had . It's average at best . Margaritas are wayyy too sweet for my taste . But people love to come here ... and I'm not hating but I just don't get it lol read more

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Salmon Tacos are soooo delicious! I go there just for that and always get that my favorite!!! Quick Service!

Gigantic portions of delicious Tex-Mex food & drinks at insanely low prices with a party atmosphere equals 5 stars from me!! I couldn't understand why it's always so crowded here and people gladly wait over an hour for their table... until I finally went there myself! This place is incredible, the size of the portions, the quality of the food, the service and the incredibly low prices makes this a place you have to go! If you're reading this you should plan on going there this weekend! Of course their bar is incredible, they make margaritas and other drinks as good as they come. We were hanging out with a group by the bar waiting for a table, and they were drinking so many margaritas they decided to skip dinner and just eat chips and salsa and drink at the bar lol! Oh I should mention that there is a self-serve chips and salsa station next to the bar that you could help yourself to while you're waiting for your table to be called. The place is on the loud side, so it's definitely a party atmosphere! And the portions are huge, so definitely not a date night here lol! You'll be stuffed when you're finished here, and not regret a single bite! Probably one of the best group or family locations I've seen around to eat, especially if you're watching your wallet! Super highly recommended! If you're not sure what to do tonight go here! read more

Jose Tejas - Seafood enchiladas with Cajun crawfish, shrimp, crab meat, and Jambolaya on the side! Smothered In a creamy seafood sauce! Heaven! - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Iselin, New Jersey

Great Cajun- Mexican food blend in the area, you won't find one similar. I had the gumbo and baja shrimp tacos today and it absolutely hit the spot. Enjoy for a lunch or a dinner, and have a corona and a margarita. The service is always great and I love the open environment. Also enjoy their outside seating, the only issue is you cannot make a reservation, because its always packed. read more

Jose Tejas has always been a go to for Tex Mex for me. The food, drinks and service is usually good (occasionally the food can be a bit salty). This location I feel like is ALWAYS crowded. I have lived here for 20+ years and can't remember how long we've been coming here, but unless you come for lunch on a weekday it'll be probably have a wait (and in the summer a long wait). There is a good vegetarian selection and some our favorites include: the black bean and corn empanadas, queso appetizer, taco salad and the margaritas are always a hit! read more

Jose Tejas - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Iselin, New Jersey

Went to Jose Tejas yesterday with friends. It was a miracle that we go table immediately. They always have 40 mins to an hour wait. * * I am not a big fan of Jose Tejas. The food is always very salty and I the taste to be overpowering and strong. * * I took the Jim Bowie last night. It was not too bad but salty. The fries served were very dry. * * Food : 3 stars Ambience: 3.5 Stars Service : 4 stars read more

Jose Tejas - Filet Mignon Jim Bowie - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Iselin, New Jersey

Pina colada are amazing Chips are great Food i guess I'm not a fan of tex mex Lines to enter ridiculous Hyped overall read more

Always good food. Clean surroundings. Great servive. Not expensiv. Definitely try it.

This was our first time here, it was highly recommended by friends, and it did not disappoint. The food was very good, we also ordered shrimp appetizers...mmmmm good! The servers are very attentive, and the large dining area is nice and casual,great place to bring your family. It was busy, but the wait was worth it! read more

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The last time I had Jose Tejas was when indoor dining was still shut down. The time before that I had a terrible experience with customer service. I think the pandemic may have helped them with relearning how to serve and treat their guests. While there is always a wait of around 30-40 minutes, this time it was understandable due to the reconstruction of the indoor dining area and limitations of seating arrangements. Usually the place is crowded with people and you can hardly squeeze into your seat without disturbing the people in the table next to you. Due to covid, their menu has been limited. My boyfriend was sad to notice the chimichurri steak was removed from the shortened menu and they couldn't make it off menu. The smaller crowds allow for better service. Our waitress was very attentive and the food got to us rather quickly. The chips and salsa were fresh, coming directly out of the fryer and onto our table. We order the gaucho chicken and the blackened salmon. The blackened salmon was amazing. Perfectly cooked and a extremely generous portion. The avocado and pineapple salsa it came with were phenomenal, surprisingly the best thing on the plate. The Jose rice and beans were perfectly seasoned and delicious as well! I'm glad to say that we really enjoyed our time at Jose Tejas this time and are looking forward to coming back! They definitely have changed a lot in their approach to guests for the better! read more

Jose Tejas - Blackened salmon with some sort of grilled avocado amazingggg - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Iselin, New Jersey

Food has gone down hill while the prices have skyrocketed. They also include a gratuity on the bill. I was actually going to leave a larger gratuity but since they insisted on adding to the bill then thats all they get. I think they are under new ownership and it killed their business. Not coming back read more

Gonna start this out by saying that I only had to wait 30 minutes for a table but I know on weekends, people can wait an hour or more. (I wouldn't wait this long for any meal since I get very impatient) The guacamole was mediocre at best- lacked any real flavor. Tejas Chicken was good, the blue cheese really made that appetizer. My beef enchiladas and white rice was good. My boyfriend loved his beef fajitas a lot. We had two rounds of the strawberry margaritas that tasted AMAZING but I'm not too sure how strong they really were. The staff was really attentive and friendly. Our waitress made sure we always had water and chips. And came by to ask if we needed anything at the right times. Based on my wait time, this place gets 4 stars. If I had happened to come on a night where I needed to wait longer, they would have gotten 3 stars bc the food isn't worth a very long wait. read more

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Great food , the smell is intoxicating. Can be a long wait and no reservations, try to go at off times. Authentic food in party atmosphere

Prices have gone up a tad with inflation (rightfully so) but this is still one of my favorite spots in NJ. Nice size portions, very reasonable pricing and the food is always good. Depending on the time of day you may have a wait but it's worth it. Not many places work harder than Jose Tejas to get you seated, fed and out in the amount of time they do. The service is really quick. Definitely recommend this Central Jersey favorite. read more

Came here for lunch after hitting up Sandbox across the street and it smelled great like a hot grill entering the parking lot. Ambience is a typical Tex Mex decor. We waited less than 15 mins for a table which I thought was great considering the line which is also a good sign. We were seated in an area that was well lit and heated for those cold winters that we typically get on the East Coast. The food is pretty good here. I ordered a margarita to start which was excellent zesty and salty the way I like it. I also ordered the salmon tacos which were grilled to perfection served with rice n beans and a mango salsa. Others in my party ordered the fajita which was hot and tasty and a burger with guac on top with fries. All of the food served were large proportions and tasty. All in all a great place to eat! read more

Went for dinner with a friend on a Saturday night and there was a long wait time. The waitress was nice enough. read more

Jose Tejas - Shrimp tacos with fries - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Iselin, New Jersey

always super busy and there's always a wait which sucks but if you don't mind hanging out a few minutes the food and drinks here are AMAZING and it's really nice inside. I come here with my family every few months and the prices are very fair as well. read more

Let me start off by saying that Jose Tejas is OK mexican food. It's not the best around but it's definitely a nice stop for a bite to eat. Try to stay away from prime hours or you'll be waiting a while. Everything I've ever eaten from here was delicious and always came out exactly as it should be. There's not much else to say. read more

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This review is strictly based on food due to the fact that i dont drink alcohol.The food here is hit or miss but they mostly miss.The servers are overwhelmed with work because they over stuff the customers here. Like cattle in a barn. The servers forget if you ask for something because theyre jogging all over the place. I dont eat beans but i got it as a side because my server messed up the order and the refried beans were hard and looked like dry mud on the bottom of construction boots I ordered a chicken quesadilla and the flour tortilla was so greasy it came out like a wet napkin.They served me a heart attack on a plate. People rave about this place which lets me know that not everyone knows mexican food Go to buenos tacos in chelsea market nyc Its a hit everytime and better tacos than some of the ones you get in mexico Let that sink in read more

Good food, but always too busy. Make sure to give your self an head start and get there an hour early.

My family, friends, and I have frequented multiple Jose Tejas locations for about 15 years. Tonight, we had the displeasure of having Sean (short, side swept hair) as our waiter. He took our order and wrote nothing down (reportedly he's been working here since February, 2022). He returned with the incorrect drink. When I acknowledged the inaccuracy he rolled his eyes, but corrected it. Next, the food came out and I noticed Jose's rice on my plate. Before the plate was placed in front of me, I told him I ordered white rice. He told me I didn't order white rice and I had ordered Jose's rice. I have been a patron here long enough to know Jose's rice is cooked in pork stock - that's why I have never and would never order it. Sean proceeded to place the plate in front of me anyway with the directions to "order correctly next time" as he sauntered away. I requested to speak to a manager. The manager came over, corrected my meal,and assigned a new waitress (Amilya). We then saw Sean reassigned to 3 additional tables. He never apologized for his unprofessionalism and appear to continue without consequence. My husband asked to speak to Yahira (a different manager - she said she was going to write her name down for proper spelling but never returned). She asked my husband what he wanted done and accused us of "making it personal" (which added an additional layer of disrespect to an already disrespectful event). As business owners ourselves, we understand both sides of this situation. Nonetheless at no time should a staff member be permitted to be blatantly disrespectful to a paying. When asked for the number to corporate or the general manager, I was given the number to the restaurant...they actually wrote it down with the GMs name on it. The audacity is astounding. read more

Jose Tejas - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Iselin, New Jersey

We picked the perfect rainy day to have dinner here which made it easier to get a table in 5 minutes. Have been here few times but never managed to write a review probably cause of the long wait at all times and ever rushed meal. This place has been around for eons, kept the same location and never changed their menu decor or their drinks. Most of the food is Cajun /creole /southern than Tex mex.Appetizers & entrees are Cajun spiced or blackened with options of chicken or fish . To start with they serve complimentary chips and salsa. Salsa served at our table was over salted. Our waiter Kris was kind enough to bring us more from a different batch which was much more balanced in flavor . Chips was a bit too browned for my taste and the salsa didn't have much flavor. We ordered 3 different margaritas - 1800. Avion Respo and Mango, all of them oversized and one sweeter than the other . They are margaritas after all so so how can it go wrong ? All 3 were good, but by my kind of Margarita should be bit more tequila forward , not too sweet and slightly sour . Popcorn shrimp served with a sweet and savory dip was a fun appetizer to start the meal. Blackened chicken fingers was cooked really well and had a good coating of the blackened seasoning. The marmalade it's served with is delightful and helps cut through the salty seasoning. I couldn't eat more than a few pieces as the seasoning was a bit overwhelming and for me. Camp-town shrimp was something different. Grilled Shrimp served over French bread soaked in a rich modello based brown sauce.They give you an extra piece of bread to dunk, but the sauce is simply awesome that we needed something more to soak up the leftover sauce. Eureka.... Tortilla chips coated with the camp-town sauce = Delicious Camptown Nachos . Jose Tejas , here's a new item for your menu - wink wink . Your chef can add fixings of choice to make it extra delicious. Blackened Catfish fajitas, Blackened salmon and Blackened sword fish were the entree choices. Black is beautiful and everything blackened was not by choice, but that's the best pick from the menu at Josè Tejas. Sizeable portion sizes makes the entrees shareable. if you indulge in appetizers you should consider sharing an entree for two. Kris our waiter was spot on in his service. Food was served in time. It was the right temperature , looked appetizing and tasted as good as it looked. We had told them it was a birthday dinner and asked for a cake at the end. Kris bright out a cute ice cream cake with confetti like icing with a candle. It was a bit hard to cut through as it was right out of the freezer but it tasted good. One of those rare meals where we didn't have any left overs to box and take home . They are so moderately priced that you feel stuffed after a sumptuous meal but it doesn't leave a huge dent in your wallet . Cheers to Jose Tejas ! read more

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Came to Jose Tejas for a girls night out and had such a great time! It was pretty busy on a Thursday evening around 6pm, we waited around 30 mins (they are not doing reservations). They take down your number and text you when your table is ready. Ambiance: You can't miss this spot as there's a big light up sign on it. They currently serve indoor and outdoor dining. Tables are spaced out for social distancing and if you're outside all tables are under a tent which is great for rainy days. They have a good system when it comes to to-go orders, waiting for a table, etc. so kudos to them! Food/Drinks: My friends and I started with margaritas ($9). I ordered the frozen strawberry margarita which was delish! Complimentary chips and salsa were given which was great so I ordered a side of guac to go with it (a little over $5). For an entrée, I ordered the blackened salmon tacos which came with rice and beans. The tacos were tasty it came with 3 in an order. The rice was kind of spicy if you like spice. I ordered a side a fries but didn't like them since they were like shoestring fries. Overall, I would come back to try other dishes! Parking: It was packed! I circled around the lot for a couple minutes before I was able to find spots. Since they used part of the parking lot for outdoor dining, parking got a little tighter which is okay due to the circumstances. Service: We had a cool waiter who was funny from the moment we met at the hostess table. He shared jokes with us, made sure our drinks were filled, checked up on us multiple times; it was nice to have a waiter so personable! I think his name is Rico. Great time at Jose Tejas! read more

it's happened... the burger is BACK and i am sooooooo incredibly happy. literally. had it again the other day and it's so delicious. perfection. everything i've been waiting for. i was nervous it wouldn't be the same, but it lost 0 quality. 100% best burger, thank you for bringing it back!!! read more

Ordered a shrimp dish and they were gray (uncooked). The server said they were "very busy" and couldn't correct it at that moment. Paid for our drinks and left. Never again. Never got compensation either. read more

I love Jose Tejas! The worst part about Jose Tejas is their wait. I've been on random week nights and had to wait the minimum of 30 min. No matter how long you wait the food is 100% worth it! After waiting for so long and slightly dying from hunger Jose Tejas has the solution- delicious tortilla chips and salsa! They bring these chips right to the table and will give you as much as you want! As far as drinks go I love their margaritas. I have tried different flavors and they were all tasty! When it comes to service it's always super fast! I don't think I have ever complained about my food taking too long! My favorite dish is definitely the fajitas! I have had both chicken, & Cajun catfish fajitas which are so good and filling! Definitely give Jose Tejas a try if you've never been! Just FYI they don't do any call ahead seating. If you really hate waiting just give them a call, and see what their current wait is at the restaurant before going in. read more

Jose Tejas - Chips and salsa. - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Iselin, New Jersey

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Giant and tasty portions with a vibrant and fun atmosphere. Love the giant drink cups. Great service as well.