Gringo's Taco Shack

I love this restaurant. Every time I am down the the area I make sure to have lunch here. The service is fast, they are accommodating to my dairy-free needs, food is delicious, and all the staff are friendly. I love how many taco options there are and the menu is right on the wall and easy to read and order from. Prices, size of portions and flavors are all on point. The dining area itself could be improved, it’s just very hot inside. There is a cute little outdoor area but when you are taking a break from the beach to eat, eating outside in the hot sun or in a hot inside is not what I want to do, but I do it anyway. I highly recommend going here!

Quick, easy and tasty. Excellent fish tacos (got em mix and match with brisket and pork which were also good). Good portion.

Just take all of my money. For reasons we cannot remember we didn’t get here in 2022. For 2023, we made our way over yesterday. We got the guacamole and chip, tacos - chicken, shrimp, brisket, pulled pork, and chicken quesadilla. We were blown away by how good everything was. So much so that we got it again for lunch today. Many brisket and fish tacos were ordered , but expanded to also get the brisket nachos and avocado salad topped with brisket (with chipotle ranch dressing). The brisket is bangin’! The salad deserves some accolades… the dressing, the pico… seriously the best pico I’ve ever had and a first, a salad that I can say was filling. My husband is “annoyed” we didn’t get Gringo’s earlier in our stay… because we missed additional opportunities to eat it.

The bowl I ordered came with hard rice. Not uncooked, old, hard rice. Also, the person who took the order looked like he didn't want to be there, seemingly as if we were a bother. Won't go back, don't recommend!

Not to bash anyone, but the pulled pork was inedible. It was chewy, grisly and greasy. Not what I think of when I think of pulled pork.Very disappointing. I should have known when I didn't smell the smoke burning from a smoke house. The nachos were pretty good. Service was great though and the atmosphere was chill. ✌🙂

Well I'm really glad I didn't read the reviews first or i might have been deterred by some. The food was REALLY GOOD. We had both the shrimp and chicken tacos, quesadilla and street corn. It was all delicious and hot. The salsa and chips were great and I'm really picky about my salsa. Staff was welcoming and helpful. Owner was also nice. Definitely reccomend. And all the flavor comments are crazy...everything tasted very flavorful.(ps my daughter loved the patio - win)

Great Experinece here scouting for Scary Good Eats on the Food Network App. Walked in placed order and the service staff delivered the food in an efficient and pleasant manner. Tacos were fantastic and the service staff was on top of everything. I tipped at the register. The staff was working really hard. Great Job. I will be back.

Chill atmosphere with amazing tacos. I did the tour…one shrimp, one brisket, one crispy fish. Everything fresh, made to order, fast. If I could eat more I would, they are that good.

My girlfriends and I came here to order take out. We were all kinda disappointed with what we got. I got the fish bowl. There was a very small amount of fish in it. The food was kinda bland. Unfortunately I was not a fan of the food.

The tacos, pork and brisket, tasted very good. Pork was a bit dry, but ok. I am local to this business and would come more, but the prices are very high. Individual tacos are $5-6.50. I got 2 tacos and a Snapple and it cost me about $15. The amount of food does not justify the price. I would have gotten more food, but I'm not spending over $20 for lunch. The tacos should be around $3.50 each at most. Prices are getting out of hand. The place is clean with five tables inside, and several picnic tables outside. Parking is a little tricky getting in off the highway. They also hired foreign summer help, but they don't speak English. I couldn't understand them when they came to the table. Overall, food is good, but you'll pay a lot. It's a shame because I would come more often if it wasn't for the high prices.

Never any complaints. When I want a decent taco, this is my go to for lunch or dinner however, breakfast here is my favorite.

The food was really good. I have a vegetarian in the family and she was satisfied with the menu. Would recommend this place highly. Chef approved. Service was very nice and helpful. We certainly like the outdoor seating

The crispy fish and pulled pork are the best. Brisket is dry. Charro beans are yummy and I'm not a beans person. Overall the food is good and staff are friendly.

No clue why this place gets 3.5 stars. Food was fresh, delicious, and the service was cordial and attentive. It's a typical beach taco roadside shack but clean with numerous options. I had the crispy fish tacos with a side of beans...delish. My buddy had the shrimp tacos, outstanding as well. Enjoy!

Great food at a great price served by nice family people. Chipotle chicken, battered fish and brisket tacos are standouts. Burritos are the size of a small child! We are very glad Gringo's is here -- makes for a great lunch or pit stop anytime. Last summer we ordered dinner a couple times. So good!

3.5 stars The location is very convenient if you're staying close to the beach. The flavors were pretty average but the salsa did help kick up the tacos a bit. My corn tortillas tasted a little dried out and the out of the chicken, fried fish, and brisket tacos I ordered, the chicken had the best flavor so I would recommend that one. The Charro beans and rice was my favorite thing we got. The queso was not bad but it reminded me of velveeta cheese dip. Not a bad place to stop by if you want something quick to eat by the beach

I had dinner there last night, I was expecting better it was just mediocre little pricey pay $3.50 for a small bottle of soda

Good for the area - we went in looking for a quick bite to eat. Had the chicken quesadilla and burrito - nothing over the top, but helped cure hangray. The service was a bit too much - someone came to our table once every 2 mins (not exaggerating). We'd go back bc it's convenient - hoping the service finds its non bothersome spot.

Ordered on doordash and the delivery was quick. Our family ordered the street corn, shrimp tacos, fish tacos, brisket tacos, a pork taco and a veggie taco with some rice and beans. I loved the corn and the fish tacos. The rice and beans were okay. I thought my pork and brisket tacos could have more flavor. If I was blindfolded, I wouldn't have been able to tells them apart on taste alone, which is a tad disappointing. The fish taco on the other hand amazing. I'd highly recommend. One note about ordering on doordash was that the salads weren't available on that platform, so if your looking for a salad, you may have to go in person!

Super friendly staff! That resonated the strongest for me. The couple of girls bring food and bussing outside tables were polite and effective client. Food quality is very good, but serving portion for tacos is no bueno IMO. When there is more slaw than the protein you ordered, becomes a disappointment. Place has great potential. Seating is limited indoors. Bring your shades for outside as there are no umbrellas at the tables. I'll try again, but will pass on the tacos and try something new.

Been there twice mid pack food both times.... Super rude chefs don't do it go to chipotle instead please

Nope. Don't do it. It looks like an awesome little taco place with a menu that depicts great flavors however it is nothing more than a stationary food truck. The flavors described on the menu do not match how it actually tastes. Everything seems to have an overbearing citrus taste. We had the shrimp, and chicken taco. Two brisket burritos. Maybe they put the wrong creama on the tacos? The best thing was a brisket taco we got plain. No other toppings for my daughter. Outdoor tables are nice but they felt disgusting. Sticky and dirty.

This is definitely my favorite taco/quesadilla/burrito place on the Jersey Shore. I almost always order the Farm stand Quesadilla, my hubby gets the Chicken Chipotle burrito. It comes with sides of Pico (always order a bigger side, can't have to much pico) and sour cream. I also order a side of Guacamole. Lately we have been getting a order of Queso & Chips (homemade & warm) which is outstanding. I have to hold myself to only ordering once a week, I am addicted! Some seating out side but more of a take out place. Only down side is you have to call (less a star) they have no on line ordering. But this is a seasonal place it's so worth it!

Where do I even begin. This place is disgusting. I ordered some tacos for dinner and ended up paying 20$ for some garbage. The service was ok but they made me feel like I wasn't special. As we were driving home my tummy started gurgling... I knew this wasn't a good sign. By the time I got home I had to sprint to the bathroom and take a devious shit. It was so bad I started praying. Please never go here unless you love shitting ur brains out.

Managers are abusive and incredibly toxic to employees. I saw multiple employees crying because management was so aggressive (throwing things) and angry. Honestly boy cott until they get new management. This is not okay and genuinely makes everyone around so uncomfortable. Many customers had to comfort the employees. I'm so upset snd disturbed at what i witnessed.

Love this local place. Food is fresh, well priced and the staff really hustles. When we got there, there was a long line to place your order. The line moved quickly and the server brought us our food quickly. I recommend the shrimp tacos!

Really good food at an affordable price. People are nice. We get a house every year and this is our go to place for lunch or dinner.

Excellent shrimp tacos a little spicy for me but I think mild spicy is hot. My mom and brother got the burrito and said it was so filling

In a word: MID Let's recap my experience at gringos taco shack. While waiting for my food I watched the food runner get scolded by the kitchen staff and then proceed to scoop tortilla chips with his bare hands onto trays. (his hands were not washed) Now let's get into the food review. First up was the rice and charro beans. The beans had little to no flavor: 3.4/10. Next was the chipotle chicken taco. The chicken had a decent flavor but overall the rest of the taco was bland: 5.2/10. Third was the pulled pork taco. Pork was flavorless and dry while the slaw and grilled pineapple was too sweet for my taste: 4.4/10. Finally was the smoked brisket taco which seemed to be their hallmark since it was on all of the employees' shirts. The brisket was dry and bland while the pickled red onions provided an overbearing sour taste to the taco: 4.6/10. Overall for a lunch that cost $17.19 I'd be better off spending my money elsewhere. Will not be coming back here.

Food was alright but the managers were rude and disrespectful to the employees. Chips were stale.

Stopped here when we got hungry and were very pleasantly surprised at the quality and flavor of these tacos. The shrimp, fish and also pulled pork were all very good- especially the fish. The charro (red) beans were also very good. The hot sauce on the side of the chips was REALLY hot- a big treat as nothing is ever hot enough for me. Perfect lunch stop with outdoor seating and great music being played in the background.

I make a point to go here everytime I'm in Lavallette, this place knows how to cook meat! I have never had an item off this menu that I didn't like. This time I tried the short rib nachos, which I loved! We also tried the veggie tacos that were so tasty! I've been here so many times in the past & I really just love to order random things because I know whatever I order will be totally delicious.

Grabbed lunch during our week long visit down the shore. We placed a large group order and picked up as takeout. They forgot our chips and salsa which was annoying because we paid for the Gringo Platter App (Guac, Queso, and Pico) and had no chips to eat it! General consensus from the group was that the ingredients were very fresh but surprisingly flavorless. Definitely a bummer. The Charro Beans were the highlight.

Awesome tacos, very tasty. Called and ordered and food was read waiting and hot. Nice rich with the bag of chips too.

A cute taco shack serving up delicious tacos. Perfect for a casual meal after a day at the beach.

I was really disappointed with my Chipotle Chicken Burrito as it was missing half of the ingredients! When I called the next day to let them know about the mistake, the super friendly and energetic girl on the phone responded with "I'm so sorry about that! You can almost guarantee that the 'next' time you order from us, it will be right!" And that was it. Really? Well, in that case, there won't be a next time. I think you can do better, Gringo's!

Placed an order for take out , screwed up the order, and left the meat out of the tacos. Don't waste your time.

I order from Gringos at least once every other week. The tacos are great, but the STREET CORN is on ANOTHER LEVEL. They do get busy and take the phone off the hook sometimes when it gets too crazy, but with everything going on COVID related I don't blame them for not taking on more than they can handle. Grab your bike, and head down to order your tacos, head to the beach, and go back 20-30 min later for some great food. The grilled shrimp tacos and the street corn, in my opinion, are the best things on their menu!

Great food. Great service. Get the fish tacos! The guacamole is awesome too! Mexican Street Corn. Brisket Burrito. A must try when you're passing by.

As a food connoisseur I believe in all my years and experience this establishment contains the secret to making not just a taco but a piece of beauty. This was not just good it has no change up no curve just straight gas. 10/10 would recommend if u want your taste buds to be having a little dance party in your mouth.

We came with a group of 6 people and sat outside. The staff was super friendly and our food came out really quickly. Overall the food and solid and would certainly come back for a quick and casual bite.

This is our fav taco place down at the beach. We enjoy it because the people are sweet that work here, good service and the tacos are . We love a good California style taco and here at gringos you get it! Great pricing, great taste. Black Beans and Rice

Very good food. Clean and a very nice young man took care of us. The food tasty. The burritos are very large and filling. The only reason I didnt give it 5 stars? The pork was dry, but it had a great flavor. I ordered 3 tacos, beef brisket, pork, and chicken. The cilantro rice and black beans had a nice flavor. Definitely will go back!!! Give it a try, you wont be disappointed!

We found this place last summer right before it closed for the season and couldn't wait to go back. This time it was not as spectacular as we remembered. The guacamole were excellent. Although everything was very fresh the fish taco was too salty, and the meat in the brisket and pulled pork tacos was dry. (They give you complementary red and green sauce, so we could of added it to the meat.) The charro beans and rice had next to no bacon, jalapenos or tomatoes. The staff is very nice and the place is clean. We will try this place again, maybe the chef had an off day.

Me and my friends went here today and the food was bad. The chicken was fake looking and none of us liked our food. No wonder this place is called Gringos. I would never eat here again. I'm actually mad that I wasted money on this.

Very cute, always crowded which is a good sign. Awesome tacos. Handicap accessible . I'm nit a fan of Mexican but had tacos and enjoyed them

The food is tragically mediocre and bland. This place has such potential. Beach block. Plenty of foot traffic. Easily accessible by bike, car, etc. Nice outdoor seating area. Enticing menu. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Went on a Monday night - 1/3 full @ 630p. Our bill, for 2 adults, 2 kids, the below items, 3 waters & a snapple was about $55. We tried: **Chips and Guac - a splash of lime or hint of salt would have gone miles. Otherwise it was just a mashed avocado with some tomato and onion. **Shrimp Taco - marinade the shrimp in a little lime and cilantro and you're good to go. for now, it lacks any character. **Quesidilla - as expected. Cheezy and crispy. **Chipotle chicken taco with pablano peppers - Good, not great **Choritzo and potatoes taco - just OK **Pulled pork taco - garnish was good. Meat lacked any flavor **Brisket taco - just OK. **Chipotle chicken burrito with pinto beans & rice - The combination of the beans, chicken rice added depth, a little heat and flavor. It was good. If the owner's read this: please, warm your tortilla on a flat-top or grill for just a second before loading them up. give them the love they deserve - your customers will thank you. You are not without hope. A little more seasoning and we'll be back.

The food here was awesome! At the recommendation of the employee behind the counter I tried the brisket, pulled pork, and shredded chicken tacos. Soooo glad I did...they were each unique and full of flavor. If I'm ever back in the area...I'll definitely be back for tacos! Great food and service!

We were so excited to find a little Mexican spot close to us in Ortley. Got the Gringo platter, 3 different tacos - chicken, pulled pork and chorizo/potato and the Mexican Cobb salad. All were just okay. Everything was pretty bland - lacking flavor/salt, which was disappointing. Salad was pretty small for 13$. Total meal was $45.

Soooo goooooood. 1st time in. We got guacamole, street corn, shrimp tacos, fish tacos and a quesadilla. Everything was fabulous and fresh. We will absolutely be back.

When they say "vegan options", they mean tacos that are the same price as regular tacos, without anything in them besides veggies and rice. They will still charge you extra for avocado, and the beans are made with pork. Vegans can't eat here. Not sure if it was the head chef or manager, but there was a condescending man running things as well. Food quality overall was subpar at best for a taco shop called "gringos".

Amazing find. Delicious breakfast tacos! Love this place. We had multiple tacos as well as huevos rancheros, and every single item was delicious. Very reasonably priced. Really adorable outdoor eating space. Given that there are so many mediocre restaurants in this area, it is shocking that this is not a 5 star rating across the board. Go here now!

Can't believe I haven't reviewed here yet, we've been ordering from Gringos for years! Wonderful food every time. Highlights include the brisket nachos, the street corn, and the shrimp/fish tacos. Great flavors and freshness. I think we'll order something tonight!

Just had breakfast there , hit the spot.. will be returning for lunch !! If in the area definitely stop and try it out

Went here when they first opened. The food was just okay, but they were clearly still finding their feet. Fast forward to this past weekend, we ordered two nights in a row. The food was so delicious and the staff were helpful and kind.

Love their very, very fresh Mexican food. They make the chips and guacamole and everything else on the menu to order so everything is hot and delicious. The chips have come out warm every time I've been there. My husband likes the fish tacos and I like the shrimp tacos or the Mexican Cobb salad. The outdoor picnic tables they put in this year are super cute too! You can ride bikes there with a 6 pack of beer and have a great, casual summer dinner while still in your suits. Have the queso, guacamole and chip platter...it's delicious

This place has awesome tacos! The grilled shrimp and crispy fish tacos are so yummy! My daughter and her friends really enjoy the chicken burittos too! Every time we visit we eat Gringos!