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    Mezcal Kitchen JC

    3.9 (201 reviews)
    ModerateMexican
    Closed 11:00 am - 1:30 AM (Next day)

    Order Mezcal Kitchen JC Takeout or Delivery

    Mezcal Kitchen JC Photos

    MEZCAL KITCHEN JC ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

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    seating
    Vincent Y.

    Mezcal Kitchen JC.. stopped in for some Mexican food. Went with the nachos to start and entrees to follow including the chicken with peppers and onions and the cubano sandwich. Service wasn't anything special as it definitely didn't stand out. The place was loud and overly dark. The menu had a ton of options, which was a plus. The food was decent definitely worth the stop.

    Kebby B.

    This place serves some delicious Mexican food. You can order a variety of dishes, from Nachos to Quesadillas. We started with a pitcher of Sangria (which we got the happy hours discount on), but it was a bit too sweet for my taste. The nachos were loaded and great for a group of six. I enjoyed the Shrimp Quesadillas, which were loaded with large shrimp. We also tried the Chicken and Peppers, which was okay but a bit chewy. My main complaint is about the music. It was quite loud, making it difficult to hear each other. A softer volume would have been better.

    Beef Birria Burrito
    A'Yanna E.

    Loud & Pricey but Tasty! I was craving birria as I often do and decided to try a new place that happened to have birria burritos which sounded quite delicious. While I had to lean over the bar just to hear & be heard by the server due to the extremely loud music, I ordered the birria burrito and tres leches to go. She was kind. My order came quick. They give you a small to-go ramekin of consume dipping sauce...I wanted the equivalent of sauce received with standard birria tacos especially for the price. The tres leches I saw pictured on Yelp was plain with a few strawberry slices...this was covered in peaches, mango, & strawberries which I was not happy with when I opened it at home. They should tell ppl that ugh. It was fine but I prefer my tres leches less soggy & runny so I wouldn't order it again. Overall, good food to return for & a fun environment if you want to dine in solo or with others. I def want to try the birria quesadilla next. There were solo ppl at the bar, couples at the bar, friend groups at tabletops, families at tables, & birthday folks dancing. Go, enjoy!

    Nadia A.

    This has been my favorite spot so far moving into the jersey and it has not been a disappointment! The place is definitely for locals, always has seating, service is always attentive and friendly. They do have events and living performances as well. The food and drinks are delicious as I have come back in a few accessions mows and have been trying different items to get a feel of their dishes. The place is self is beautiful, not packed whenever we go even on a Friday night. I hope to see it on busy night one day but I don't mind going anytime!

    Bar area high tops
    Sara G.

    We love Mezcal!! We stayed in the neighborhood for about a month while our apartment was being finished, and we ate here multiple times. Everyone is always friendly. The food is consistently delicious--the mole enchiladas are my favorite along with the sweet tooth cocktail. Vibes are casual with sports on tv and themed decor.

    Kristen C.

    I came here with my significant other and we really liked the vibe and service. One thing to note is that I left my wallet there and I was so pleased that they were able to keep it overnight safe for me. We had too much fun splitting a pitcher of margaritas. Food absolutely delicious and the cheese dip was sizzling hot upon arrival. 10/10.

    Guacamole chips and salsa
    Dara R.

    Love this place in Five Corners Jersey City! We've been living here for 7 months and tried this spot for the first time. Drinks are great and their waitresses are on point with recommendations and checking in on guests. The shrimp tacos are small but pack a lot of flavor. We also had the fresh guac and chips which was super refreshing and delish! The atmosphere is clean and inviting and it feels like were in a fancier location maybe on vacation somewhere. Also, the prices are pretty decent for a local joint and we would definitely come back!

    Margaritas for Happy Hour

    I stumbled upon Mezcal's Kitchen while exploring Jersey City and honestly, it's one of the best decisions I've made all week. From the moment I walked in, the vibe was warm, welcoming, and authentic, a perfect mix of cozy and modern. Food wise, absolutely incredible. I had the chorizo quesadillas more times that I can count, juicy, tender, and perfectly cooked to the smallest detail. I also tried most of their mezcal cocktails, the best. Their happy hour is the best hour haha The service was on point too. Friendly, attentive without being overbearing, and you can tell the staff genuinely care about the food they're serving. I love you guys lol Whether you're a local or just visiting, Mezcal's Kitchen is 100% worth a stop. It feels like a neighborhood spot with destination-worthy food! Definitely stop by!

    beef birria enchiladas
    Steve A.

    Late night coming back from a concert, I felt a little peckish and wanted to replenish my saline. Mezcal was open, served Mexican, which often has salty seasoning, had decent reviews, and right on my way home. Do note that this doesn't have the best feeling neighborhood, but I put my trust in Newark Ave. being busy at all hours, and sure enough my car was just fine and the atmosphere in Mezcal feels nice and local. In fact, even though I'm not local, they offered to turn down the bar music for me! It was late, there were actual locals inside, so I deferred to them, but this place seems accommodating and caring. The servers took to me right away, with more than one helping me obtain beverage and meal items. I went with a different agua fresca than usual (tamarind) and not much to comment there, but $3 is reasonable for 16 oz of fresh drink. You can see the beef birria I ordered, and all of the stars poured in once I started eating. The enchiladas were full of every ingredient and perfectly balanced between items and flavors. The green sauce had a nice kick, there was a nice fresh avocado on top and just the right crema sauce, not oversauce like I'm used to. Even the rice and beans were full of flavor! I marveled to many of my friends how Mezcal singlehandedly raised the bar on rice and beans. No longer will I accept the slightly spiced rice and cool beans I'm used to. Now they have to have all of the delicious flavor that Mezcal brings! And since they raised my food bar, and with wonderful service and a great atmosphere (see photos!), all the stars for Mezcal!

    Outside of cake box
    Ami P.

    This review is for their tres leches cake - although their food is great too! There have been many times I have ordered a peice of just their tres leches cake because it is that good. So milky and soft and just the right amount of sweet. We decided to try to order a whole cake for my friend's birthday (he used to live in the area and definitely misses it) and they were soo sweet. They said this is the first time they have had this request and the chefs were excited so they got creative. So cute! Highly recommend if you want to have a different type of cake for a party! It held up very well and was a hit.

    Chorizo Tacos
    Leah C.

    Mezcal wasn't on our radar until we called Brujeria to ask for the wait time for a table. We were informed that they're set up as more of a takeout place and suggested that we check out Mezcal (same owner, I think). We showed up and though several diners were there already, we were able to be seated right away. The servers were all very friendly and the music was great. We soon realized that we were there on a live music night, the band was really really good and added to the amazing vibe. We started with a couple of strawberry margaritas and another cocktail that I can't remember, along with a large chips and spicy guac - honestly one of the best I've had. The kids split a chicken fingers and fries (more like chicken cutlets, but we cut them up, no complaints from the kiddos). My chicken burrito was fantastic, I got to try a fish taco which was really good, I didn't get to try the chorizo tacos or chicken gringo (crispy shell) tacos on our table because they were devoured too quickly. The cherry on top was the free tequila shots that we were offered at the end. This was an all around great dining experience and I'd highly recommend Mezcal to anyone looking for great Mexican food!

    Cocktail Menu
    Benita M.

    I was starving and ended up looking for a place to eat after 9PM. However, being a Sunday evening all kitchens were closed or closing soon in Jersey City and Hoboken. I didn't want fast food, and I ended up finding Mezcal Kitchen. I was really happy they were open. If you're looking for a bite and are starving I would say they are open late- their kitchen was open till 1:30 AM on a SUNDAY. The inside is cute, had a smell of cleaner (maybe they had just cleaned considering they were completely empty). Service was pretty good, but they were empty as I mentioned so I don't know how it would be on a busy night. I will say their bar is fully stocked with all kinds of tequilas. My only complaint is that the bartender seemed a bit inexperienced. I first ordered a coconut margarita - but it had a bug in it so I sent it back. The bartender only apologized but did not offer anything off the bill, which was a bit surprising. Food was maybe a low 5 out of 10. I ordered the pollo encebollado with beans and tostones. The chicken was okay nothing memorable or to brag home about. I also tried the grilled chicken torta and again both to brag about and was not like other authentic Mexican tortas I've had. To drink I had the spicy flamingo, which was really good. However, my drink was not at all spicy so if you're looking for a spicy drink, this would not be it. I also tried the Con Todo I wasn't a fan- it's mezcal, horchata, egg white, and lemon juice. It originally sounded amazing but the taste was definitely not there. Overall I wasn't impressed with Mezcal Kitchen but I think it has potential and I am willing to give it another chance. Maybe the food and drinks are better during the evening and not at 9 PM on Sunday.

    interior
    Emily P.

    Delicious and convenient! I had the tacos and would order them again in a heartbeat. Didn't try any drinks but would love to come back in the evening for a margarita as the options looked amazing. It is beautiful inside, and we loved the wall art that looked burned into the wood.

    Art

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    Paola J.

    Yes same owner! Thank you for stopping in!

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    1 year ago

    Good food, large portions good drinks that's all I need to say oh yeah and great bartenders

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Mezcal Kitchen JC

    Is it possible to bring our own bottle? If yes, is there any extra charges for that?

    Yes...and they have virgin margarita mix for sale!

    View All 2 Questions

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    I love everything about Taqueria except for the exceptionally long wait times on the weekends. But…read moreit's because the food, the drinks and the vibes are so incredible that you kind of don't mind the wait. I've waited every time I've come but last weekend was by far the longest. We put our names down around 7:30, grabbed a few margaritas from the bar inside and waited outside on the sidewalk for about an hour and a half. A couple tips to make your wait bearable! -If you are staying close by, grab some margaritas at the bar and hang out. -If your wait time is expected to be over an hour, I promise it won't be less than that so you might as well walk around or grab drinks elsewhere and come back. After we finally got in, we were seated in the enclosed back patio space (it's still cold out, but this is usually a lovely spot for dinner during the warmer months). Get the guac! We got a medley of a bunch of different tacos but my favorite was the fish and the lengua. Loved everything and have declared every time that I leave that those are the best tacos in the area. Worth the wait (to an extent) but just go on a weeknight if ya can!

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    S/o to the Yelp event for sponsoring some of my food (cuz obviously you gotta get more when you…read morecan, duh!). That being said, the habanero sweet orange sauce and the elite corn they have from the sides menu... Best things I ate there! I don't even know what that orange mayo like sauce was on that corn but it made me sad knowing I only had two cute baby corns to eat, I just wanted to keep getting kernels in my teeth for that cob. And the habanero sauce, was downright slurpable. I didn't bother drizzling when you can just take a shot of it after every bite of either taco, burrito, whatever you get. Had to separate this paragraph for the tacos I got. I got 4 tacos. A pollo pastor, a shredded chicken, regular pollo, and regular carne asada. Now pollo and carne asada, nothing too special. Standard but with the way they sauce it and present it, I can say solid taco. The pollo pastor...as someone who can't eat pork, this was a blast to eat. They use mini chunk pineapple and put a good amount of condiments to balance it all out. Chicken not dry and super flavorful. Also enjoy the single tortilla over double. Less carbs. Now that shredded chicken. While not dry, I don't know where that bite was taking me. I just wasn't feeling it and I can't pinpoint why. I don't know if it's the extra stuff on top of it, or the fact that the corn was my fave but the side sauces didn't help. I'd def come back for the other 3 but not that shredded one. That limonada was sooooo good and refreshing! I thought I'd get horchata when I had the chance but because that limonada was hitting right, didn't even bother. And the fact it's like unlimited refills if you get a drink, totally worth it! Overall, I appreciate the patience of the manager and cashier. They were really nice and helpful. The interior was sick too. Repurpose lockers for chairs. Baseball stadium chairs. Definitely tight but just right. I was struggling finding spots for Mexican food, I have a pretty high standard for it, but I'll give this a solid/perfection score lol

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    Mezcal Kitchen JC - mexican - Updated June 2026

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