My friends suggested this restaurant after a day at the beach. They spoke highly of it and the food did not disappoint! We called ahead to see if outdoor dining was available and it was. I was told that we did not need a reservation for 3 people. We were seated right away when we arrived. They have a very cute set up outside with a lot of tables and everything is spaced out. They gave us chips with a green sauce to start. The green sauce was pretty spicy but good. We also ordered guacamole and chips. The guac was pretty good and tasted fresh. I ordered beef enchiladas with green sauce. My meal was very tasty. Again, the green sauce was spicy but I like spicy food so it was fine. Everything was authentic and very affordable. The service was a little slow and it was not busy when we went. I would dine here again. read more

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Ordered take out steak tacos - so yummy! Next time I think I'm gonna get the steak quesadillas which looked baller cooking on the grill when I walked in. Let me put it this way, the interior is very "unique" or basically super authentic Mexican/Spanish style with a store in the back! I bought this huge bottle of Valentina hot sauce for $2.50. With the tacos my total bill was about $11. The main girl working there was a little abrupt but nothing to crazy. I do DEF recommend the food here if you like authentic Mexican. :) def get lots of the green hot sauce on side! P.S.- I downed the roasted onion and pepper they put on top of the tacos right away - so good but so spicy! I felt a little sick after but it went away. I think my stomach just hasn't had that heat in a while. Also, they had run out of guac(?). That was kinda lame. read more

I ordered a tamale and a chimichanga and I didn't even take a bite of the Tamale. I actually have no idea what kind it was cause I have never seen a tamale like that before. I think it was filled with peppers, I'm actually not sure. It smelled so bad that as soon as I unwrapped it, I almost gagged and had to throw it out instantly! The chimichanga didn't taste terrible but it was flavorless. The chicken was super tough so when I went to pull out the meat and just eat the wrap and cheese I saw what looked like a slice of a black olive. I thought it was odd that a slice of an olive was in there, but it was actually odder, it was a dime!!! There was a cooked dime inside of my food. I was so sick to my stomach thinking of what the hell else was in there that I accidentally ate! Thank god I was pulling it apart and found that and didn't accidentally bite into it. I'm actually nauseous thinking about that food. Not like it could get any worse, but the refried beans were disgusting, Absolutely no flavor at all. Beware when eating here that you don't crack a tooth or choke on money! Disgusting read more

La Valentina Restaurant - A dime cooked into my food! Nauseating - Mexican Near Me - Long Branch, New Jersey

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5-Stars. Co-worker a I were not feeling god today- just kinda down, we know we had to have lunch but were not feeling excited about anything- To be honest- nothing sounded good. But then she suggests La Valentina- I go online, looked over the menu and saw soup- soup sounded good and which soup--you might ask?,, well the the Caldo de Pancita, to be exact with extra lime and corn tortillas. My co-worker ordered the Ceviche stuffed avocado and a side salad. The girl that took the order said it would be a while, but it actually arrived pretty fast. My soup was delicious, hot, spicy,full of meat a large serving, that honestly I didn't think I would eat all of it, and take it home..but I added the extra lime, onion and cilantro- my co-worker who never tasted this soup really liked the flavor--- and yes I told her what was it. LOL. and before I know it- I literally ate the whole thing! I looked at her avocado and ceviche and it was a real hearty portion and she truly enjoyed it. I have to say that after we ate, (because we work and eat lunch at our desks these days) it had to be one of the best lunches we have had- we thoroughly enjoyed it. read more

In a location where there is nothing but commercial around you. This gem is a stones throw away from the pretentious and offers a genuine transport to an authentic dining experience. It is the most unsuspecting restaurant I've seen in recent time. Was hesitant to even walk in since the store front reminds you of a supermarket(it is). If you walk in through the front you literally walk through a small bodega before you find the restaurant. The venue wasn't too busy since it is winter time near the beach, but the food quality is not diminished by the lack of heavy traffic. All of the food was cooked perfectly and was hand made. Everything from the handmade corn tortillas to the freshness of the opening salsa and chips. The pricing is extremely affordable, with most dishes costing well below $12-13 dollars. The portions are large and the meals hit the spot. A must try in you're in Long Branch read more

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We went for dinner. The food is very delicious. I had Tlayudas with steak. The taco is very crispy, steak taste very good. good portion and price. Service is very nice and welcom! read more

Wow! What a gem! Don't be fooled by the exterior. It is connected to a small Mexican grocery store. The neighborhood is not to appealing. Food is authentic and delicious. Priced perfectly. Portions are the perfect size. It's a BYOB. We had the ceviche, beef nachos, and wings for appetizers. The chicken enchilada was delicious. The tacos al pastor and chorizo were great too. You have to try the hibiscus drink. So refreshing. They don't have a large wait staff so be prepared to wait. We spent a little over two hours here. read more

La Valentina Restaurant - Chicken enchilada - Mexican Near Me - Long Branch, New Jersey

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I picked up from Taqueria La Valentina last night. The menu looks awesome, authentic and creative. What we received was a mild disappointment. The nachos were very good, nice plate plenty of cheese, refried beans....a bit light on the crema, guacamole and pico. I wasn't a fan of their refried beans, there was an after taste that I didn't like. The chicken fajitas was a handsome plate with onions and peppers. Unfortunately the plate did not include lettuce, tomatoes, crema, guacamole. The chicken wasn't seasoned at all. It was very fresh just not what we are accustomed to. The pork carnitas burrito was fantastic, chock full of roasted pork with cheese. Delicious, rice, a small undressed salad and beans was included. One turn off, the burrito had a large pork bone inside. I asked for the chipotle sauce on the side and thankfully I did, it was wicked hot. I ordered 2 tamales, Red and Green....they weren't great, included pork bones inside which was an instant turn off. I am not sure if I would go back. read more

Food was service were decent. I would come back, but not often. Be prepared to wait a bit for the food, but the chips and salsa help pass the time. Order some guac to go with the chips; it was really good and fresh! Ordered a bean and cheese burrito, but I don't think this is very common because the waitress didn't seem to understand and asked if I wanted chicken or beef. When I tried to clarify I only wanted beans and cheese, I switched over to speaking in broken Spanish and asked for "frijoles y queso." The waitress asked if I wanted rice and beans on the outside, but I said "no thanks." I replied that I only wanted "frijoles y queso solamente." I also ordered a quesadilla with "solo queso." She seemed to understand. When the "burrito" came out, it looked nice, but I soon realized it only had cheese. It was a burrito with only cheese. Uhh what? So when she came back, I explained that I wanted frijoles also. She was super confused. She said she thought I only wanted cheese. I think both of us were confused, and I don't blame her. It was just a breakdown in communication. I clarified that I wanted "frijoles y queso" in the burrito, so she took it back and had it made again. She was very kind during this confusion, and I did not have to wait long for the replacement. It was very good, and I enjoyed it. The bill came, and while everything was OK, the charge for a bean and cheese burrito was $11. That's a LOT for a bean and cheese burrito IMO. Like I said, I may come back, but it wouldn't be often. read more

La Valentina Restaurant - Bean and cheese burrito. - Mexican Near Me - Long Branch, New Jersey

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Really wanted to rate them higher because the food is so good, but couldn't because of the poor service. I use to come here when I worked in the area and it must've not been as popular as it is now. I went back recently, called ahead and made reservations. When we showed up, they apologized for giving away our table even though we were on time. It took forever for a server to come and take our drink orders, and then she forgot to bring them. The place is BYOB and we asked for a bottle opener and the server never opened our beers we literally had to use a lighter to open them ourselves. The food took over an hour to come and we were seated right in front of the kitchen so I saw that the server never even put in our order. They prioritized the take out orders and Hispanic customers. When our food came, an entire entree was missing. Why she thought a a person would come and not order anything was beyond me. The funny thing was that when the server told the cook to make the food it was done in 5 minutes. It was just annoying because we had reservations and had to be at a show later that evening and ended up rushing dinner. read more

On our way home from the beach we were in the mood for tacos, and Taqueria la Valentina popped up. It is a hidden spot on a busy street, and it is also a supermarket. We had carnitas and steak tacos, both delicious and pretty authentic. The ambience and environment is homey and welcoming. Most people who were there appeared to be locals from various backgrounds, I look forward to returning next time I'm in the area. read more

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Great tacos in an unexpectedly large restaurant. Many options but we went here for the tacos. read more

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This deserves no stars - the worst Mexican food I've ever had. For some strange reason we first had to wait about 40 minutes for a simple order of tostadas nacho and two vegetarian fajitas (restaurant was half empty); the explanation we were given is that they have too many take out orders... When food arrived one thing was worst than the next. Vegetarian fajitas consisted of frozen vegetables out of the supermarket plastic bag that were warmed up with oil poured on top of them which we refused to eat. When I asked what type of vegetables they used for this dish - the information given was that the veggies were chopped in the morning, hence the taste and texture (I don't believe this explanation for a minute). DO NOT go to this place if you want decent Mexican food! There are plenty of places in the area that while not perfect, still are 1000 times better. read more

This place was amazing !!! The chorizo, chicken and pastor tacos where awesome ! Pork torta was perfect ! The service is slow but everything is cooked to order so it's def worth the wait. I'm here for the long weekend, I have a feeling this isn't my family's last stop here. read more

Horrible service. We did not get water or our appetizers. We had 3 small children with us who were very hungry. We even told the manager we've been waiting too long and that we would leave and his response was "ok". I dont know how this place got good reviews this place and service was awful. read more

*The stars are based solely on the food* Service: We got there a little over a half hour to closing time. I usually look at the close time but I did not this time so definitely my bad. To sum it up, our waitress was nonexistent. Maybe if we came earlier it would've been better but the food is what really matters right? Food: The three stars are based solely on the food. Ordered a shrimp chimichanga and tostada nachos. The nachos were good. Needed a bit of salt considering the flavor was a tad bit flat. Added a little bit of salt and , bueeeeno. Food took almost an hour to come out, idk if it was because they were getting ready to close. Chimichanga was yummy but a bit greasy. If I could give this place a 3.5 I would. read more

La Valentina Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Long Branch, New Jersey

Good stuff! The cook really does deliver and care about taste and presentation (to be a restaurant with multiple stores - groceries and local artistic shopping). I had the mucho burrito (chimichanga is my usual go to) and I'm telling you, it was to die for. The steak was slightly cooked a bit deeper for my taste (I'm a medium rare type of chick) but the flavor and the sauce was relish. I'm happy that the Mexican restaurant I was looking for was unexpectedly closed because this was a nice treat! The beans were whole and refried creamy mix which was nice the guacamole was so-so. But over all the meals I seen past me, I would go again to try them all. read more

La Valentina Restaurant - Minimalist, remove the fluff and nothing but goodness- straight up goodness - Mexican Near Me - Long Branch, New Jersey

This has to be ranked in "the worst service in America". Food took over an hour to come. When it came, one dish was messed up. Another dish did not have all the variety of meat described in the menu. No water served until asked. No cutlery served until asked. Waitress goes missing for extended period so I have to go to the kitchen checking for my order and eventually for the check as well. To summariz: Amigos, don't visit read more

Very poor service , we waited an hour for our food . Ceviche was extremely sour , Pechuga a la mexicana was dry chicken breast with rice and beans, no red sauce and other fixings as described on the menu. Molcajete la valentina was very dry too, flavors were ok, they cut out the pork meat and threw in some extra chicken, very disappointing to be served below average food after such a long wait. My daughter was hungry and just like the other reviewer said they didn't really care to bring out her order first. read more

This is the best Mexican restaurant I have ever experienced. The place is beautifully beautifully designed. It is very busy. The overwhelming majority of patrons are Mexican. I tried the sampler, I was so taken back that I am still shaking. It was a deliciously spiced, mildly hot shrimp, chicken, steak, sausage with chilies, cactus, cheese and a great sauce. Came with a basket of tortilla's, rice and beans. OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! If you come in go through the parking lot. After the meal visit the grocery and variety store attached to the restaurant, the store is fantastic. It's stocked with imported Mexican food, leather goods, it's worth a visit on its own. If you walk in through the variety store, you may never get to the restaurant, it is so interesting. I'm hoping that if you read this, you will be tempted to find your own favorite restaurant. Do not try this one, I want it all to myself ;) read more

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I had the fish it was a bit overcooked but the flavor was good also it took a while to get it out my wife had a mixed meat burrito that was very good tasty. The atmosphere was good it was a nice time and place a little off the beaten path however I would recommend it. Would have given it five stars however fish was overcooked and they took quite a while to get it to me however the people were very nice and the service was great place an atmosphere great as well read more

La Valentina Restaurant - This is the mixed burrito it was very good tasty the guacamole was homemade good selection - Mexican Near Me - Long Branch, New Jersey

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You wouldn't know you're in NJ when you enter this restaurant. Beautifully decorated and clean (bathrooms); the service is nice and attentive....let's get to the food though. I find it so hard to find good Mexican food on the East coast. Anyways, you know the food is authentic because it's all local Mexicans dining in here. Just a warning...the PORTIONS ARE HUGE and you won't walk out with empty pockets like you would in Manhattan. You'll just be food pregnant lol. Appetizers: -nachos with steak...omg, that alone, you're full. we were so hungry before coming since we were looking for a spot at the beach. anyways, the cut of meat was juicy and high quality. -they serve your table with chips and salsa verde which was spicy but good. Entrees: -chicken enchiladas: while the sauce was ok, the chicken was grilled and juicy inside. served with rice and beans. -steak fajitas: juicy, juicy, and flavorful. -i forgot what my friend ordered, but again, the POLLO; maaaad good. We couldn't finish, so we took it to go. But of course, my friends insisted on ordering desserts as we watched the futbol match on the TVs. -tres leches cake with strawberries was HELLLLLA good and served as a HUGE slice. -flan, I've had better, but it wasn't bad; rich though. Overall, if you're ever in the area and you're looking for something flavorful to dine on and don't want to also be broke, come here :) read more

Wish I could rate this place for no stars. Party of 5, seated within 5 mins, great! Then we walk in and there's nothing but drunk ppl sitting there and staring at us. I came with a child, they're being pervy and blowing kisses. I felt so uncomfortable there I left after the drinks came. Never again! read more

Authentic Mexican Food, very tasty at a reasonable price. I would definitely recommend this place. read more

Horrible service, waitresses very rude, think they are better than you. In addition, the last two waitresses I had forgot part of my meal. When I said something to them, they just looked at me, rolled their eyes, and walked away. Also never checked up on me to see if I was OK, oh yeah when I ordered my food she didn't say a word and just looked at me and said mhm and walked away, mind you she knows English. Manager needs to start hiring more professional people, not ratchet high school girls. Manager seems not To care bc this has happened a lot. Oh and I was a customer for a very long time, family and I loved this place until the service got bad and the small bowl of chips that was served and rude waitresses. read more

Best Mexican food I've had on the East Coast/Tri-State area not of the Rosa Mexicano fine-dining variety. Last night I took a train from New York (90 minutes EACH way) to see a friend in an excellent play at the New Jersey Repertory theater. Long Branch is, well, there's not much there. It's an old New Jersey town with old buildings and it's semi-deserted. On the walk from the train station, my friend and I saw precisely five eateries. All were taquerias, so the population of Long Branch must be disproportionately hispanic. We passed the first three so we could find the theater and then walked to this place, which looked nicer than the others. It's connected to a mercado with leather cowboy boots that smell simply divine. Sorry, bovines, but leather is one of the greatest fragrances in life. They serve no alcohol but you can BYOB. We had no time for beer and I was falling asleep as it was, so had a diet Coke. 1. Tortillas from scratch. 2. 1.99 HUGE tamale, also from scratch. 3. Sopa: the chicken was tender and the soup large, filled with fresh veggies. 4. Pinto beans excellent and the salsa verde super spicy. 5. Guacamole very good but not the best I've had. 6. Three tacos for 8 or 9 (large!). A tremendous amount of food for 33 dollars pre-tip. The burning question is this: Why can Long Branch, New Jersey manage this but Manhattan totally hopeless on this price point of Mexican food? Note: this is not fast food. It's a bit slow so you can't leave 25 or 30 minutes to eat. Food took almost 20 minutes. That's fine normally but if you're in a pre-theater rush, you will end up taking half of the food home. read more

Great, authentic Mexican food. Holds up well for takeout, too.

Stopped in for a quick bite today around 5pm after a trip to the beach. It is located in the back of a convenience store. There were no other diners at this time so I took my own menu and chose my own seat. I wanted to order the tamales but they did not have any left (or ready? The waitress said the chef was making them but they take a while) I had the Tacos de Carnitas and they were really good. I was surprised to not find any hot sauce around but I also didn't bother to ask. They come 3 to an order, are served in white corn tortillas with lime wedges, a few seared veggies and something like quick pickled cucumbers. You also get chips and salsa verde apon being greeted by the waitress. Service was very speedy and friendly. The music and TV channel were all in Spanish. My meal was $8 and I left full! My only issue was the women's room had not been tended to in quite some time. Toilet paper was empty with 1/2 a roll just sitting on top, seat liner dispenser was empty and there was no soap in the dispenser. That issue always leaves me wondering how "employees must wash hands before returning to work" actually happens... Yikes. Definitely a place to try out if you want authentic Mexican food, just make sure you have hand sanitizer with you just in case. read more

Ordered 2 dinners and an appetizer for delivery. 3 hours later. THREE effing hours later. Doesn't matter if food is good!

This place is a hidden gem, don't mistake the boots in the window as a shop, this is a major find as a Mexican must have. Try the tacos Pastor read more

There are so many better options!! The people who work there are terrible, rude and treat different types of people in very different ways. The food is inconsistent and what stoped me from every returning was when there was shredded plastic in my tamale. It's also not that clean and a lot of the stuff the sell in the store is expired. read more

This place was so cool. From the broadway entrance you have to walk through the market which has a bunch of really cool and fancy cowboy boots and hats. My kids thought that was neat. You can drive around the back and walk right into the restaurant. When you go this way you can see the all the chefs working in the open kitchen. The place is impeccably clean. Ok let's get to the food... it was great! Fresh, handmade, authentic, reasonably priced. I had a avocado that was halved and stuffed with amazingly fresh ceviche. I also had an order of chicken nachos that were just a pile of deliciousness. My son has a carne asada platter which was delicious and my husband had some gigantic burrito. This place is a must go to if you love Mexican food. My new favorite spot. read more

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Food is bland and wait staff is rude. Took 30 minutes to get our check and only after we went to the counter and asked for the third time. I never knew requesting ice for warm tap water which is how they serve water. Warm and from the tap. Just avoid this place. read more

This place is the real deal. We were the only non Hispanic couple in the entire restaurant. That's the first clue. Second clue was the wait time for the salsa and chips. And 5 minutes later the water. We have no regrets. My chilie relano and my wife's veggie burrito were made from scratch. Nothing came from a warming tray. Quality and quantity worth waiting for. Next time we'll know so we'll bring our own beers, kick back, watch the latest in Mexican music videos, cruise the shop while we wait and take it all in. It's cheaper than flying to Mexico. They have their own parking lot in the rear. read more

Seen this little restaurant many a time since we moved to LB...decided to give it a try a boy, are we glad we did! The food here is amazing! We had the tostada nachos to start...big portion with TONS of cheese. The tacos were amazing with fresh, homemade corn tortillas and the "macho burrito" was massive and stuffed with chicken, cheese, rice, and veggies. Restaurant is extremely clean as was the kitchen. Def our new go to spot in LB! read more

The food is authentic, delicious and made as you wait. The complimentary salsa and chips are fresh and homemade. I've never had the same salsa twice. The mocajete valentina (non-seafood) is a nice assortment of meat and the Mexican flavors. It can be spicy at the bottom so tell your server not spicy if you can't tolerate spice. The only reason they don't get 5 stars is because service is not efficient. There isn't enough wait staff on shift at any time of the day. They usually forget details like ice or lime with water. read more

Excellent food. Friendly service. The restaurant has a great authentic Mexican vibe. You literally feel like you are in Mexico. The little shops attached are fun too. I highly recommend. read more

We had our dinner delivered last night but really hope to dine in person in the near future. I was blown away. I'd never heard of a tlayuda but I am sure glad to try something new. I chose shrimp and the variety of veggies inside was fresh, surprising and delicious (fennel!!?? Amazing!). My husband was shocked and happy with the sizeable tasty grilled shrimp ("no extra sauce needed"). My daughter enjoyed the burrito Valentina... fearing it was too big but eating most of it because it was too good to leave unfinished. We will definitely be back ! read more

Loved everything, cool atmosphere, nice staff, big portions, great price and authentic food.. will be back more and more read more

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Ordered grilled chicken taco salad which was terrible. The chicken was rubber. Ordered chicken nuggets for my son which were not made of chicken. When I told the server to take it off the check (he didnt eat it), she argued and got defensive. Will never go there again. read more