Some of the best tacos are found in the places that focus on flavor instead of hype, and Carlitos…read moreabsolutely delivers. The tacos were packed with tender, flavorful meat, topped with fresh cilantro, onions, and just the right amount of salsa. Every bite tasted authentic, balanced, and made with care. The house sauces added an extra layer of flavor, and the fresh juice was the perfect pairing. Simple food done exceptionally well. If you're craving great tacos, Carlitos is worth the stop and definitely worth a return visit. -- Jeffrey Umaña IG: @jeffrey.umana

Whenever my husband and I come to Garden State mall, our brains are so conditioned to expect a food…read morecourt meal that it took us some time before we realized this lively taqueria existed. It's on the top floor (or the ground level if you're coming from an outdoor parking lot) and one of several mall eateries that aren't in the food court. The ordering decision tree proceeds as follows: 1) Decide whether you want tacos, cheesy tacos (called, quesatacos) or a platter, 2) Pick your proteins (vegetarian options available), and 3) Determine which toppings and accoutrements you want on top of your tacos. The best part of ordering was seeing the fresh masa and tortilla press right behind the counter, a reassurance that these tortillas would be as fresh as one can get. And they were. Not only that, the meats inside them were incredible. We tried the birria, carne asada, crispy fish, and smoked chicken, all of which were conversation-silencing delicious. I'm also not a bit embarrassed to admit I sipped straight from the small cup of that rich consommé that's meant as a dipping broth for the birria tacos. If I had to pick a least favorite from the bunch, it would be the smoked chicken, but that's not to say they were bad; the other ones just blew me away far more. The chicken tacos were packed with tender meat and redolent of smoked wood, a flavor I wouldn't have expected to encounter in the middle of a shopping mall. Most of the restaurant space seems to be reserved for the ordering and food prep area, but there's a decently sized seating area right outside the restaurant and even more places to sit a little further away from Carlito's if the tables are full.