Estrella Azul

I ate here in May of this year on business trip. I was in the mood for tacos and this place would suit my hankering according to Google maps. I stopped in in the early afternoon. It was the only one in the store. The guy working the counter took the time to share a little history of the store with me as well as make some recommendations. I did the three taco platter and spent about $25. The chips that come with it are just okay. I'm not a big fan of blue corn. But the tacos were fantastic. I did think it was a little highly priced for what I got. Tacos seem to have gotten so popular that restaurants think they can charge a lot more than what they're worth. Had it not been for the price, I would definitely have given this place of four star rating.. My rating system consists of a 3-star being exactly what I expected and neither good nor bad. A 4 means something was extra special whether it was service, food, staff, etc., and a 5 means I was blown away. A 2 star rating was disappointing with no offer to correct the experience and a 1-star rating was terrible

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Absolutely incredible food & service! I can’t recommend them enough! Their food is insanely fresh, incredibly flavorful, and always prepared super fast. Every time we order, we’re blown away by the quality and care they put into their dishes. Beyond the amazing food, their customer service is truly exceptional. We recently had a mix-up with our DoorDash order (it was accidentally placed for pickup instead of delivery), and by the time we realized it, the restaurant had already closed. When we called, the owner personally stayed after hours just to make sure we could get our food—that level of kindness and dedication is rare to find! On top of all that, the restaurant is immaculately clean and beautifully maintained, making it a great spot for both takeout and dining in. If you love this type of food this place is a must-try. We’ll definitely be regulars!

I don’t always take the time to leave reviews, but in this case, I knew I had to because this establishment is truly above and beyond most. I visited this location once before, and even though it’s not close to where I live, I returned a few months later and was even more impressed. The quality of the food is exceptional, and the menu offers terrific selections, especially for someone like me who enjoys vegetarian options. That said, my family, who loves their meat dishes, is equally satisfied. What really sets this place apart, though, is the service. It’s attentive, considerate, and prompt. I’m so thoroughly impressed that I’ve already recommended it to all my friends and family. I can’t wait to go back again. Highly recommend!!

If you're looking for a delicious and authentic Mexican dining experience, then Estrella Azul in Manalapan is definitely worth a visit. Recently, I had the pleasure of trying their Cameron (shrimp) burrito bowl and BIRRIA TACOS, and I must say, the food did not disappoint. The Cameron burrito bowl was packed with flavor, and the shrimp was cooked to perfection. However, the bowl was a bit smaller compared to other popular chain restaurants like Chipotle and Qdoba. The standout dish for me, though, were the Birria Tacos. They were incredibly delicious and the meat was tender and flavorful. The presentation was great and they were definitely a highlight of the meal. One great feature of Estrella Azul is their outdoor patio, which is perfect for enjoying a meal in the fresh air on a beautiful day. The atmosphere is laid-back and comfortable, and the restaurant has a great vibe. The service at Estrella Azul was friendly and attentive, which added to the overall experience. We gave the restaurant 4 stars because while the food was good, we felt that the portion sizes could have been a bit larger. Overall, Estrella Azul is a great place to satisfy your Mexican food cravings. The food was good, the service was friendly, and the outdoor patio is a great addition. I would definitely recommend giving it a try if you're in the area. Hope this helps!

First time tired their Chicken and Carnitas Tacos along with chicken quesadilla. Fresh ingredients nice presentation but NO Flavor. Latina food is so flavorful but theirs was totally Bland. Pork was chewy .. it’s a nice place but hope they are as authentic as they claim.. will give them one more try .. not too impressed today Also tacos got so soggy that had to eat them as a Taco bowl .. they need to figure out what’s the way to do better takeout :)

Loved the food. The manager made some good recommendations. He was very patient and friendly.

First time here ordered 3 taco meal and spicy cabbage . Both were awesome , service was fantastic. Very happy I have found a great new place to get my taco fix on at

The tacos here are really tasty! I ordered three tacos off their summer specials blackened cod, caulifluego, and a purple rain taco. They were very good! The only reason I’m not giving 5 stars is because the cod one tasted a bit off. The purple rain taco was my favorite one which consisted of birria meat, pickled red onions, chili mayo, and cilantro. The staff was really friendly and helpful. I recommend Estella Azul in Manalapan!

Great food and the delivery was 30 minutes. Authentic Mexican food. And not expensive

Very tasty very rilable - best birria tacos in Manalapan for sure - we normally take out

Love love love this place! tacossss Last time I came, I got the reasonably priced taco trio. Tried the blackened cod; Caulifuego with crispy Nashville hot cauliflower, slaw, avocado, honey sriracha and queso franco; Purple Rain with birria meat, pickled red onion, chili lime mayo and cilantro. Ordered in my least to most fav! Inhaled the birria taco and the spicy crispy cauliflower is delicious. Also love their verde and hot sauces. The sauce on the purple rain taco was The inside is super clean and colorful, the staff is super friendly and there's a large window peering into the kitchen - you can tell those chefs KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING :) They come out with new special tacos like a Big Mac taco! So stop by and try a staple or something new - it's worth it!!!

This is a great local place we found. The service was excellent from start to finish. The place is done super cute and modernized. The tacos we ordered were really great, fresh, and full of flavor. The chips were also really nice & fresh. The chicken taco was my fave. Guac was done perfectly. Would love to see some desserts on the menu one day. Will be back to try more!

If you're ever in a bad mood just come here and enjoy a meal. The employees here are probably the nicest people I've ever encountered in this town, and this is not a one off thing. Every single time I've been here the service here is always exceptionally friendly. Even when I ordered on Cinco de Mayo (against my better judgement) when they were slammed with orders and a bit behind on times the employees here are so nice that not one customer was getting mad. They worked their butts off to keep everyone happy and get everyone their orders as fast as they could. The service alone is 5 stars but then you get your meal. Everything is fresh, delicious and prepared well. Highly recommend stopping in. If it's a nice day grab a table outside.

I've been wanting to give this place a try for a while but I keep forgetting about it. We decided to come here one evening after work. Daughter had the Chorizo basic burrito bowl, which is spicy Mexican sausage in a burrito bowl with rice, beans, onions and cilantro. You can also choose to have it on a flour tortilla as well. She said that she liked it and thought it was ok. Hubs had the Taco Trio in which you can choose 3 proteins. He chose al pastor, carne asada and camaron. He thought it was good and that the ingredients were fresh. However, keep in mind that if based on which tacos you choose, there is a slight uncharge based on the protein. It was written in small words and he didn't expect that. Lastly, I had the Pescado Banging Burrito, which is fried cod, spicy cabbage slaw, and chili lime mayo. I liked it and thought it was ok, also. We also ordered the elote salad and thought it was pretty good. Service was friendly and quick. Will return and try other items on the menu.

The tacos here are really tasty! I ordered three tacos off their summer specials blackened cod, caulifluego, and a purple rain taco. They were very good! The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because the cod one tasted a bit off. The purple rain taco was my favorite one which consisted of birria meat, pickled red onions, chili mayo, and cilantro. The staff was really friendly and helpful. I recommend Estella Azul in Manalapan!

Great spot for afternoon tacos! We visited Estrella Azul for lunch the other day. The staff is very welcoming and kind, and the tacos are very delicious. We placed two orders of the taco trios including: shrimp,cod, chorizo, birria, and steak. The chorizo tacos were my favorite- perfectly seasoned with a nice spice. The birria were my husband's favorite. All of the other tacos were ordinary- nothing exceptional, but still fresh and delicious. We will definitely be back to have our favorites and try some burritos and other items on the menu! I like how there is both indoor and outdoor seating!

Incredible staff members! The food was amazing! Fresh and delicious! The Birria tacos had such a amazing crunch and flavor!

Great local spot for fast, great-tasting Mexican. The manager and other employees are super friendly and welcome your business. Same owners as Mezza Luna next door so you know you're going to get a quality meal. I enjoyed a delicious burrito bowl with fresh guac and salsa sides and my husband enjoyed the crane asada street tacos. We'll definitely be back. Welcome to the neighborhood, Estrella Azul!

Birria tacos !!!!! This place has the best Birria tacos in the area. Hands-down. And they know exactly what they're doing. And it's super consistent. Whoever's making tacos and the rest of the taco lovers out there Should try this. They have other great things too, but I am partial . Highly recommended.

Did the taco trio 2 times, so I tried 6 tacos. I found the meat on just about everything very dry, so these were not the best. The best one I tried was the hulk, which has a sauce on it to really help out the dryness. Seriously, even the el pastor tacos were dry... how do you get dry pineapple? The hot sauce was HOT, which I loved, and the guac was amazing. I just wish the tacos tasted better.

Don't let this small place fool you. These Quesadillas are packed with flavors. I love that you can customize them, too. I always get the el pastor with cilantro, onions, and tomatoes. Also, the honey sriracha shrimp is a game charger. If you are in Manalapan and need to grab a quick meal, this is it right here. You'll thank me later.

Great local place. Fresh ingredients and excellent customer service! The carne asada tacos with some chili lime mayo and fresh avocado are always on point. their nachos are fantastic as well. Highly recommended.

I wanted to like this place as I love tacos and it's less than five minutes away; however, the food is completely tasteless. The chicken is dark meat, which can be good but has an overpowering flavor that only a marinade fixes.. without that marinade, it is not good. I tried the steak tacos and again, no flavor. My final taco was Chorizo and was super oily. My husband and son did not enjoy the americano bowls as they said there wasn't any seasoning. Even the guacamole was very bland. I gave two stars because the food looked nice but we will not return here. I want to just update this that the manager reached out to me and apologized for the poor experience. He also credited my meal. I think that is a great way to run a business and I'm hopeful they add some flavor to their food so we can give them another try.

Ordered Birria Tacos and chips and queso for dinner tonight. Heard they have the best Burria tacos. Absolutely horrible. The consommé had 0 flavor. The tacos were soggy and cold. The queso was not good either. Expensive waste of a meal.

Had some tacos outside tonight- delicious as usual!!! My son had the special- I think the pub taco? Anyway he says nothing about food and tonight said it might have been the best taco he ever had - thanks Estrella Azul!!!!

I can't say enough about this restaurant. I catered a Mexican fiesta, the food was outstanding and the customer service you receive from the minute you walk in the door is excellent. Highly recommend!!!!

The food was great, service was good and nice place. My daughter and I really the restaurant

So good!! Just stopped in for a quick lunch. We shared the Birria tacos, Pescado tacos and chips with guac. Everything was perfect! Even the guy at the counter was super friendly. Can't wait to go back and try more options!

Good food and reasonable prices. Not a huge Selection of options but enough to choose from.

Delicious food Super nice management 5 Times perfect the rest here is to meet the word minimum requirement comments

Great food with humongous portions so bring your appetite plus I got exactly what was ordered which is a bonus these days. Not a fan of the mild salsa because of too much cilantro but that won't stop me from coming back.

Absolutely Delicious!!! Love their Birria Tacos! Shrimp and fish tacos are scrumptious as well! Clean, fresh and wonderful! The Staff is very nice as well! Mike always has great recommendations and explanations of their specials. Highly Recommend- I have been to the Englishtown/Manalapan location multiple time.

One of the best tacos in town! This is a must try if you're a Taco lover! Everyone there is super friendly.

Going to Estrella Azul was a very enjoyable experience. The staff was very warm, friendly & helpful. Our Order was prepared quickly and accurately. The food was very flavorful and delicious. My husband and I look forward to our next visit.

Mike the Mayor!!! I only come here when Mike is here! He's a living legend and his customer service is unmatched. He knows my order by memory!! Give this guy a seat on the NJ house of senate and let him marry your daughters! He's a winner and his attitude is why this place is so good. His infectious charisma permeates to the cooks and overall staff who strive to make excellent food in honor of Mike the Mayor!!! Mike leads by example and he always keep a smile on his face no matter the situation! To the Owners, you must pay this man whatever he wants cause without him there is no Estrella Azul! If you don't pay him at least six figures, then someone else will!

For take out, what an upgrade over chipotle and moes. My husband loved the habanero salsa in his burrito, the quality of steak is better and my carnitas burrito was great. And for LESS money!

Mine and my husband's go-to place for tacos and quesadillas ! Ordered from here countless times! Always friendly service and great quality food. The portions are very filling. Our favorites are the chicken quesadilla and Al pastor taco.

Good tacos except the one tortilla will rip if the contents are too juicy. The guac is tasty. Friendly staff.

Been coming here since they first opened, Same guy at the front always greeting me with a smile. Same as the other staff I've seen. Always feel happy when I'm there. As for the food the price is right and its fantastic. Got a honey siracha shrimp bowl yesterday and enjoyed it so much. Highly recommend for great food and service with a smile.

Excellent food. Fast service. Quickly becoming our go to places for delivery on those night I don't want to cook!

Friendly staff definitely has a place in the review. Very accommodating and welcoming. Now for the food. There was really nothing special about anything we ordered from the Birra tacos, fish tacos and pulled pork tacos. The food lacked basic authentic Mexican flavor and the ambiance is just simple fast food counter. Not the place I'd go back to.

Ordered for the first time today for lunch! We ordered the tacos with shrimp, carne asada, and short rib tacos. Everything was super fresh and delicious! Highly recommend and will definitely be back!

Good food even better attitudes love the owner or manager he's a ray of bright intense sunshine for sure love coming here

Exactly what was expected cheap, low quality food. Made me and my family sick we won't be returning

Loveeeee all of the tacos here- the only thing we didn't like was the salsa. Very watery no taste but the guacamole was amazing and we order from here maybe every other week.

2 gentleman greeted my son and I. They were very friendly. We order the tacos and all of them were delicious. The place was very clean and very cute. Food came out quickly. Will definitely be back!

This is such a lovely neighborhood spot. The menu had a very nice selection of items. The food prices were reasonable and it was so good! The customer service was excellent. We will be back again soon.

One of few places locally that serves Al Pastor. A hidden gem tucked away in a Manalapan shopping center. Simple, authentic ingredients being used. Good flavors and filling. Not pretentious. Friendly staff. You don't feel like this is a lunch line at the cafeteria. (See Chipotle, Moes or Qdoba) This place also serves Mexican coke and Jarritto Drinks too! No need to go to Moes, Qdoba, Bubbakoos, or Chipotle! This should be your "go to" spot for authentic Mexican food. Nice touch also with touch screens to order your food with the ingredients you want. Less likely for someone to get your order wrong. Right portions for the right price point. You wont be disappointed. Try them out!

Even though this place is Mexican I still have to give it the ol Italian *chefs kiss* Everything they serve tastes amazing and is so fresh. Their taco trio and chimichangas are spectacular but it's the elote salad that needs to be changed to the "elite" salad. The service is extremely friendly and everything is super easy to order. Will definitely be coming back often.

This place is simply superb! Not only is the food delicious and authentic, the staff is exceptional. Their friendliness, charisma, and desire to make your experience a memorable one is humbling and endearing. I would recommend this place to anyone who wants good food, outstanding service, and long time friendship.

Delivery. Food: Taco Trio: Flour tortilla. Chorizo, just OK, steak good, Honey Sriracha Shrimp, Very good, a little spicy. Service: Very fast. I wish they would let you order different types of tortillas within the same Taco Trio order. Next time I will only order the Honey Sriracha Shrimp taco.

The biria tacos are out of this world. Everything is so fresh and delicious. Salsa and guac are great love their salsa verde so much. Customer service is A+. Everyone that works there is so friendly.

Wow wow wow! Estrella Azul is outstanding! Such great service and the food is absolutely delicious. We had two of the taco trio and chips and salsa. The salsa is super fresh and they give a very large portion. The tacos, we had the cauliflower, carne asada, Camarone (shrimp!), Buffalo chicken, and carnitas. Each one is dressed with fresh toppings and tasted great. Our favorites were the cauliflower and camarone. We'll definitely be back to try the burritos, too!

Great little spot for casual Mexican food. From the outside pretty unassuming place, but inside very clean. Some outdoor tables. The food was great, fresh and tasty. But the service was even better, super friendly and helpful staff. Define worth the stop when heading down Route 9. This will be a definite spot to return to on my next trip to Manalapan.

Hands down one of the best Mexican food spots around here. Fresh, on point and delicious every time.. highly recommended.

Honestly just looking at the store made me quesy walking past it on my way to Harmons... I stopped in because i was pretty much dying of hunger and I love Mexican food. I did not know what was in store for me walking into this train wreck. I ordered the Barria Burrito. The pulled pork was super tender and gross... I might as well have eaten at Mcdonald's. Even the service was basically terrible. When i thought everything was fine about an hour later... I was hit with terrible food poisoning and vomiting. I do not recommend eating at Estrella because of everything about it. If I could give a worse review I would. The boy who helped me gave me super dirty looks the whole time and gave me such an attitude. DO NOT EAT AT ESTRELLA!!

Ordered take out for the first time. Ordered a trio of tacos - chicken, steak. braised pork, steak burrito, and chicken quesadilla. All 3 dishes were great. Beans and rice were a good side. Everything was made with high quality. Will definitely be adding this place to my take out rotation.