Carlitos Barbecue Taqueria

Whenever my husband and I come to Garden State mall, our brains are so conditioned to expect a food court 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, 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.

Tried Carlitos for the first time and my expectations were blown away. The food was amazing and extremely affordable! My bf and I got a little bit of everything to try. We ordered the 3 quesotacos special with chicken, fish, and brisket. All 3 were filled with so much flavor. Additionally we tried their chocolate churros and passionfruit aqua fresca which were also delicious. The service was cooked to order and very fast. We ordered and received our food in less than 5 minutes. Will definitely be coming back every time I’m at Garden State Plaza!

Carlitos Barbecue Taqueria is a hidden gem! The food is incredibly delicious—authentic flavors that hit the spot. From the tender meats to the perfectly seasoned tacos, everything tasted fresh and satisfying. Plus, it’s super affordable, which makes it even better. Great spot for a quick bite or a casual meal with friends. Highly recommend if you're craving real-deal barbecue and Mexican street food!

The food is very fresh and it does have some good flavor to it as well as the customer service I received from yaroc and Olga in garden states plaza don’t miss out you won’t be disappointed 😊

Food was great! Tacos were filling. The Mexican corn was a miss. The chips for the guacamole were pretty teeth shatteringly hard. Only a few tables to sit at. Overall it was expensive but hit the spot nicely.

UPDATE March 2025- great stays great! These are still the best tacos in NJ. The birria and fish are a must. Despite what you might think about buying tacos at the mall these are absolutely the best tacos you'll buy no matter where they are. There is nothing better than the quesa-taco from Carlitos be it the recently added fish, the pulled pork, the brisket, the veggie with the fried plantain, you name it it's all perfect. So if you're a local head over, if you're driving through make a stop for Carlitos..

Not to say every time I visit Carlitos everyone is so welcoming and sweet their fish tacos are the star of the menu. I’m a very picky eater and yesterday I happen to request something special and that’s never been requested. I ordered fish with everything that goes on top of the taco except the tortilla with their spicy mayo sauce on the side it’s something different that’s not in the menu (not my first time doing special request that aren’t in the menu). So anytime you need to make any adjustments or special request let them know. Thank you to everyone at Carlitos for always making my experience with them so great and special!!

First they called a lady behind in line to take order, ignoring me who has been standing there for more than 5 minutes. Also I specifically paid for a separate side on my order. Lady 1 was packing my order and she kept the side on top of mains. Lady 2 comes and puts the side away saying some words which I could not hear. Lady 1 gives a blank expression on why the side was taken away since she looked at it in my order. Lady 3 just puts my main in a bag. I showed my receipt that I had ordered side separately. Then the lady 2 hesitantly handles my side. I don’t know your language however with the expressions they gave it does not give me a good impression. Whoever the owner is they must teach some basic etiquette to these employees. Their service was so great that they have now lost repetitive customer.