Taco Tuesday in NJ! Great spots to get Mexican food in Jersey

We eat tacos on Tuesday! It's not only an easy win for weeknight meal planning, but it's a nice way to add zest to a 'meh' part of the week. And New Jersey has got an A-list of restaurants to pick from.

Full disclosure: there are plenty of unassuming spots across the state with, I'm sure, some amazing Mexican food. This is a list of spots that can accommodate a full family or a large-ish group.

10th Ave Burrito  (Belmar and Red Bank)

10th Ave Burrito considers itself more "Mexi-Cali" in fare, which is always from scratch and cooked to order. The Belmar restaurant has been featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. It's newer location in Red Bank is on West Front Street.

La Esperanza Mexican Restaurant (Clementon)

La Esperanza proudly calls itself the "best Mexican Restaurant in South Jersey." The family owned business in Clementon has a tempting menu, from tacos and burritos to Mole Poblano and tequila mussels.

Casa Maya (Gillette and High Bridge)

Casa Maya is another authentic Mexican restaurant that's done so well, it's opened a second location in Jersey. The spot in High Bridge is on Main Street, while the restaurant in Gillette is on Meyersville Road.

El Matador Mexican Restaurant (Bloomfield)

El Matador on Broad Street in Bloomfield offers authentic, fresh Mexican cuisine for brunch, lunch and dinner. They have handmade tortillas, offer a few Taco Tuesday specials and also are a BYOB.

Pop’s Garage (Asbury Park and Shrewsbury)

Pop's Garage offers sustainable Mexican cuisine along the Asbury Park boardwalk and at the Grove West in Shrewsbury. Both restaurants are a part of the group headed up by chef and entrepreneur Marilyn Schlossbach.

While the tacos are super yummy, so are most other menu items- including the lobster, corn and avocado quesadilla!

Rosalita’s Roadside Cantina (Englishtown)

Rosalita's Roadside Cantina along Route 9 northbound has lots going on each week. Aside from Taco Tuesday deals, there's also kid-friendly Wild Wednesdays and Thirsty Thursdays.

La Valentina (Long Branch)

La Valentina restaurant is on Broadway in Long Branch. It's a longtime favorite not only for its authentic menu, but also its festive and traditional Mexican decor.

Pancho's Mexican Taqueria (Atlantic City)

Any Jersey spot that gets raved about by restauranteur David Chang automatically merits a mention. Pancho's Mexican Taqueria in Atlantic City may be the most no-frills on this list, but its tacos are worth checking out.

Jose Tejas (Woodbridge and Fairfield)

Jose Tejas technically is a chain, but it's a favorite spot for the central Jersey crowd.

The restaurants in Woodbridge and Fairfield both offer a menu that's part Mexican and part Cajun, with killer margaritas. The owners also have four restaurants in Massachusetts and Delaware.

Grill Creations (Garwood)

Grill Creations on North Avenue in Garwood offers made-to-order Mexican and American favorites. The Union County spot offers daily lunch specials, plus platters, take-out and catering. The menu also offers a variety of salads, Vegan options and desserts.

Of course, if Tuesday doesn't pan out, these restaurants are worth a visit any day of the week- after all:

Proud Jersey Girl Erin Vogt’s first reporting gig involved her Fisher Price tape recorder. As a wife and momma of two kiddies, she firmly believes that life’s too short to drink bad coffee.  A fan of the beach, Dave Grohl and karma, in no particular order.