An ambitious menu that crosses the usual boundaries of "Mexican" food. Fresh and authentic. Always. Period.

Nice looking and casual restaurant located in a great strip mall with plenty of parking. Many of the businesses or food establishments are open only during the day which leaves more spaces and less crowds for the evening. This restaurant was rated well and I thought what could go wrong? Although, service was fine there is a language barrier so I don't know what the dip with the chips was and it's definitely not the usual salsa. I had a salad delivered and it's a very simple salad with French dressing. I wish they jazzed it up with a poblano dressing or something in theme. My tostadas came with another bowl and I don't know what it was. My tostadas were bland and dry then suddenly a small amount of sauce appeared on the right side of my tostada. I wish it was on the whole tostada to take away the dryness. The dish came with potatoes which tasted fine but were so greasy. My husband ordered the trio fajita and wasn't impressed. He said his meal was tasteless and overall we weren't impressed. Unfortunately, we won't be going back. read more

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Tacos meets fine dining! You walk into a festive but slightly subdued dining room. It's nice but also hip. You can go in wearing jeans or dressed for an evening out. The tea law are set with table cloths and dinner wear and the staff are in slacks and vests. The two gentlemen serving us were excellent, very classy and professional. The menu has Spanish and Mexican cuisine. They have a wide variety from street tacos to Spanish entrees. I had the beef torta and the Mrs had a shrimp burrito. The food was outstanding and the portions were ample. Costs are fair. I believe it's BYO so bring won't libations and leave the rest to these guys. read more

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Small and cute restaurant. The food was delicious. The menu had a great selection. I had a chicken burrito which gave me a meal and some to take home. Every staff member was very friendly and gracious. We all commented when we left how we loved that place. Will definitely be going back! read more

Excellent food!! Service is great and would highly recommend this location. BYOB! Many choices!!

Great food, outstanding service, a place that feels like home. I recommend the restaurant . best Spanish food in this area , equal to restaurants in the iron bound section in Newark. Colts neck is a nice safe area, read more

Yes my dinner was good, the 8 free chips w salsa for a table of 4 was not plentiful but more of a funny moment but the biggest problem was the Waiter language barrier and he was stubborn and very short with his answers.... just tell us there's no substitutes , instead we got a big NO and a smirky smile then he bought us a side order of each item that we tried to substitute and when we told him we didn't order that, he just said YES... so his failure to understand cost us, the customer, more money and ruined a nice dinning experience for no reason, no one wants to complain when enjoying a night out...need better communication and understanding and this place will be a great spot....again food was good read more

Amazing food quality!!! I love the steak burrito. Made fresh and very delicious. I eat here as much as possible. So cheap for the quality and service you receive. read more

We came to La Candela Gellega for a private event and were blown away. The decor is very modern, clean, and open. The main attraction here is the delicious food. We started with the tacos de birria (beef with cheese and onions and cilantro) and guacamole both of which were great. The Mariscada had wonderfully cooked salmon, scallops, and shrimp in a garlic sauce that was divine. We enjoyed the most AMAZING fried chicken called Candela under the poultry section of the menu. Everyone was absolutely raving about it. Bonus points for them as they're completely BYOB with no corking fees so bring some beverages! For those who aren't drinking alcohol, they have a variety of fun mocktails as well. La Candela Gallega is owned by the same family that runs Azteca Grill in Red Bank NJ. These folks are wonderful and generous people with a delightful staff. Next time you're in the area or shopping at Delicious Orchards, you need to stop by. read more

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Nice authentic Mexican restaurant right in the center of Colts Neck. Service is excellent, and the food is very consistently good, service excellent, and BYOB. Prices are a little bit on the high side, but portions are also pretty large for most entrees. Kids menu is priced crazy high... they really should fix that. read more

Great food and fabulous service. Don't listen to Joshua and his one star review where he has left in all but one of reviews. There was probably cob webs from Halloween and he couldn't figure that out. Everything was perfect and timed well with generous portions. On top of that we received a great salad, bread and potatoes that is not usual at the local Mexican places. I know this also has Spanish food, but still very generous with their portions. I hope they continue their excellent service, we will be back. No cobwebs here!!!! read more

Delicious food!!!! Great service and a very nice ambiance. Fun and colorful, good Spanish music!!! read more

La Candela Gallega - What a lovely little restaurant! The food is delicious! We will tell our friends and we will be back. - Spanish Near Me - Colts Neck, New Jersey

BYOB Local Mexican. Not dined in but if the takeout is anything to judge, delightful. Not the usual Tex Mex. Actual Mexican food prepared well and with good flavours. read more

Best food in town great atmosphere service was amazing best Spanish food love the chicken ajillo and shrimp ajillo recommended

Food was very good. Appetizers,entrees and dessert was all great. Service was excellent! First time and will definitely be going back!

Nick: Great service, phenomenal food, lotta bang for ur buck. Little to complain abt Joe: Chip and salsa were fire Jack: Food was spectacular, lots of food with the orders. Salad was amazing, would get chicken enchiladas every time. read more

La Candela Gallega - Quesadilla Steak No. 3 Mexican Combinations - Spanish Near Me - Colts Neck, New Jersey

This place never fails to impress which flavorful dishes that are always amazing! The service is always quick and easy! The restaurant has an inviting vibe and a great place to go! read more

I drove 20 minutes on a Monday night at 6:30 PM only to find the place was packed and they told us it was closed. This did not make sense to me and I could only guess that because of the language barrier it was really a private party. They weren't very friendly and it was uncomfortable. I won't give this place a second try. read more

Terrible experience. Large spiderwebs all on the wall of Jarritos that we were sat in front of. The "nachos" were 6 chips with melted cheese on top arranged around a cup of chopped pickled jalapeños. The "fajitas" were chopped chicken in a greasy tomato sauce with cheese mixed in. The rice and beans were terrible. The server, who was very nice, said the food was taking so long because they had to boil one egg. They didn't have the corn that came on the salad and didn't tell us until after the food had arrived. Everything was overpriced, which isn't ever a problem if the food is good. read more

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The food came out fast, fresh and delicious. The employees were friendly and knowledgeable. I can't recommend this place enough. I'm looking forward to coming back. read more

Excellent ! Good food & nice owners Dishes are fresh , they give you a big amount Really great BYOB read more

Excellent food and service. No real ambiance but clean and relaxed Great combination of Spanish And Mexican cuisine. I loved The Mariscada salsa verde. And my husband enjoyed the Paella Can't wait to go again read more

Food was delicious, amazing service. I had Mariscada and my wife had the Paella Vallenciana, the Paella portion was large and we brought it home and ate the next day as well. Mariscada portion size was good but it was so good that I ate everything and had no leftovers. Can't wait to go back. Highly recommend. read more

We just had the best meal here. The sauces are out of this world. Huge menu with so many options. We tried the baked clams and they were better than our favorite Italian spots. Homemade chips and salsa were authentic! Renee took great care of us. BYOB and a great drink menu as well. Frozen margaritas that you can add your own tequila to? Can't beat that! Prices were great. We will be back!!! read more

La Candela Gallega - Street tacos - Spanish Near Me - Colts Neck, New Jersey

Our group has eaten here several times over the last month. The location is hidden away in a small strip mall but the food is worth checking out. The dining area can use an upgrade but tables are large and chairs comfortable. Meal begins with complementary chips and two salsas which are very good. Menu offers Spanish and Mexican dishes. We tried several items and all were happy. Sole comes with a choice of sauces, all looked good. Shrimp were firm but juicy. Mexican choices were fresh and full of flavor. The staff are very friendly and the place is BYOB. It is a good meal at a reasonable price. read more

Subtle flavors, almost too subtle. Quality ingredients, everything fresh. It's a Spanish/Mexican restaurant. Very casual, but not tacky. Just not a "Saturday Night" kinda place. On a Sunday early evening they were doing more takeout than dine-in. We had Bacon with BBQ sauce appy, which we enjoyed. The bacon was not overly fatty. Fajita with chicken, which my wife enjoyed. Shrimp and chorizo with Saffron rice which was high quality, with subtle flavors. Very good, but some of the pieces of chorizo were too fatty. And for dessert the Chimichanga cheesecake, which was deep fried. I thought it tasted like a cheese blintz, my wife enjoyed it more than me. BYOB, easy parking, not far from Delicious Orchards. I will come back to try the Mexican side of the menu. read more

Stopped here for lunch. Clams in green sauce was delicious and came with homemade potato chips, rice and salad. Also had a side of green beans that was large and in a garlic sauce. Very tasty lunch. read more

Food, service, atmosphere, a hidden gem!! A bit off the beaten path, will definitely be back!

Just ordered take out for the first time here. Ordered Combo #1. I changed it up a bit and went for the cheese enchilada instead of the beef. Also came with a chicken taco and chile relleno. Wow. Very impressed with the food. This may very well may be the best Mexican food I have had in Central Jersey. Spiced very well. No Mexican cheese blend on the enchilada. Will definitely be back and dine there. I highly recommend. You won't be disappointed. read more

The food here is unbelievable!! Same exact taste (if not better) then the Staten Island location! My family has been going here for 25 years and everything is always spot on. Menu must haves are the stuffed mushroom caps with crab meat, baked clams, shrimp ajillo, lobster with gambas sauce, filet of sole, and surf and turf. Everything comes with side of the best potato's and make sure to ask for extra gambas sauce (best sauce option)! Almost forgot the hot chips and dip they give you as soon you walk is to die for! You won't regret coming here! It's BYOB but if you are a fan of the SI Sangria they will make it for you here if you bring your own bottle!!! read more

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My family are huge fans of the La Candela restaurant in Staten Island, and this location has all of their favorites from the original closer to home. They love it, and will be making sure they visit again soon! read more

Delicious so good!! so happy to have them in NJ, excellent food and service always 5 stars!

Excellent dinner served by attentive staff. Food is delicious. Modern, pretty décor. The manager, Rene, is the best. Highly recommend this place for those looking for high quality Spanish and Mexican cuisine. read more

Food was wonderful. Only found this place by accident because I was looking for a place that was open on Easter. So glad I found it though. Will definitely be back! read more

Great BYOB place. Just driving by and decided to give it a try. Really great food and portions were plentiful. Definitely recommend and will be back when in the area again read more

This was our first time to this very pretty little BYOB restaurant in The Orchards at Colts Neck. We arrived at 5:30 p.m. and were the only party there. After being welcomed warmly, we were seated and given menus, which contained an extensive selection of Spanish and Mexican dishes, including steaks, seafood and salads as well as all the usual TexMex fare. Our meals included a Tacos/Enchiladas combination, Enchiladas Verde de Pollo, Quesadilla, Chimichanga, and seafood bisque. Everything was first-rate, absolutely delicious. In general, the portions were ample and.the prices were very reasonable. When we left, three other parties had been seated. We will definitely return to the La Candella Gallega for its excellent food and elegant service. read more

Everything was delicious and fresh! I especially enjoyed the salsa and shrimp tacos. Next time I will definitely go for the Spanish food. Very varied menu, nice portions and Rene the waiter was fun and attentive! read more

Decided to try this place this evening on my sister's recommendation. Was very pleased with our orders : The Maria salad was great (make sure to ask for the dressing!) it was delicious. The bacon bites appetizer was also delicious. Fresh quac was pretty good. The big hit was the Birria tacos! The combination plates come with these thinly sliced potatoes which were to die for! Service was top notch, friendly staff, one waiter even put out a small candle fire out with his hands ! (that was started by us accidentally)on our table. Lol can't wait to go back!! read more

Food was delicious. Ordered chicken la candela and zarzuela. Prepared perfectly. Excellent service. Friendly atmosphere.