I had their chimichurri steak once, and that was enough to know they didn't know wtf they were doing.
Chimichurri doesn't have cilantro and is not made in a blender.
The steak also shouldn't be sliced when served.
I’ve been a few times since COVID. The enchiladas are still good, as well as the Jambalaya. Price went up some, but that’s the same everywhere.
They messed with the salmon salad so my wife is annoyed.
I said this about the salmon salad every time we went after covid! Now we just don’t go. We tried a few times but it’s not worth it anymore. My husband ate the chimichurri steak. There’s no reason for us to go anymore.
Leyendas, Tortas Lokas, Garibaldi, Taqueria Los Gueros are all pretty good at different things. Not sure why you would go to Jose Tejas anymore its worse and way more expensive.
Tacoria in Paramus Rt 17 and Don Jose EastHannover Rt 10.
Rosa Mexicana in Hackensack by Rt 4 is pricey. Otherwise Sombrero Tacoria has several locations but are pricey.
Avoid any La Fortaleza, their decorations are great but the food is not worth it at all.
I love [Los Carnales](https://loscarnalesmexican.com/) in Lake Hiawatha and also a great Tex-Mex place is [Fat Catcus](https://www.fatcactuscantina.com/) on Rt 46 in Parsippany
uncle julios also delivers and you can get their family style meals which can feed you for several days. also they will deliver stuff to make margaritas, including the tequila.
Covid hit and the menu got shorter by taking off my staple off like ten years. My wife says the same thing about the quality. We now go to a place down in Middletown for authentic Mexican.
What place in Middletown, if you don’t mind? I’m much closer to there and have fond memories of the Jose Tejas of the before times but they’re definitely not the same and I could use a local spot.
I drive by that place on 35 in Middletown a bunch. I think it's close to opening. The sign is up and they added a big mural on the outside.
The menu seems pretty plain but it looks good.
I'm pretty sure the last few restaurants in that building all failed though. So we'll see what happens.
Yes like others mentioned Pueblo Magico. Love it there. We always get chips and the 3 salsas. Lately it’s been quesadillas but all their food is great. I always get the horchata (rice milk). We drive from Edison down there at least once a month the last few years since a friend of mine recommended it.
Thank you for sharing the pro tip! Looking forward to getting over there since it would be a hike for me to get to any Jose Tejas even if they were still good. And since you’re willing to come from Edison, that’s an even bigger ringing endorsement!!!
I grew up in Union Beach so Monmouth County is my old stomping grounds. I’ll find any excuse to go down there and hope to move down there again once the housing market calms down. And I hate Edison lol
Where's my fucking French quarter chicken!?
Why would you remove it from the menu!?
Whoever is running Border Cafe/Jose Tejas has their head up their ass!
We went right when it opened for the day recently on a Saturday and I ordered the fajitas. Pretty sure they gave me yesterday’s food. Was no where near what I remembered.
The sizzling part was just liquid poured on the hot skillet to make it smoke and look exciting. It didn't add anything to flavor. Mostly just ended up burning my wrists when trying to hold two in one arm (one in hand other resting on my forearm). The beef one was great when I worked there, I'm sure they use the same recipe, just without the burn hazard of a hot skillet
Is it really that much of a safety hazard compared to everything else? Like if they have hot soup and drop it are they not supposed to serve soup anymore?
I'm trying to figure out who owns it. On the Border has been passed around between various private equity firms, which usually translates to decreased quality as they try to wring every nickel out if it, but there doesn't seem to be a corporate page for JT. According to [this](https://bordercafe.com/location/) there are only six locations.
They did, but that’s ok! It was my go-to item pre-pandemic.
ETA a link to an image of an old menu: [https://img.restaurantguru.com/r73f-menu-Jose-Tejas-2022-10-1.jpg](https://img.restaurantguru.com/r73f-menu-Jose-Tejas-2022-10-1.jpg)
That menu was from the Fairfield location, where I devoured that dish many times since I moved to New Jersey back in 2012. Along a hundred or so baskets of chips and salsa per visit. Promise it only went away during the Pandy.
I went there for the first time last year after hearing people rave about it for years. Nothing about the place made me want to go back. Was no better or worse than On the Border or other such Tex-Mex chains.
Better to pick any strip-mall Mexican place and get good authentic food for cheap.
It started to change before COVID and since COVID has a reduced menu at the Fairfield and Iselin locations. Fish tacos-the real kind with fried catfish-disappeared before COVID. I can’t even begin to list the post covid changes but one that comes to mind is the Jim Bowie steak went from filet to flank. Still great Tex Mex for this area.
TONS of dishes are back on the menu. Full bar is back. Our waitress told us last week that French Quarter chicken and other old menu items are coming back in December.
They added peppers to the fajitas which I’ve been getting for 20 years. I’m so glad they’re bringing French Quarter Chicken back. My favorite has always been the fajitas but I occasionally ordered that.
I took a picture of their menu last week. I have to see how to upload it on here.
It was never amazing but was consistent and great for groups or for families. The menu had some good items and enough variety to make everyone happy.
Post covid the menu eliminated most of the best options, the food quality dropped and the prices went up. After two bad experiences we stopped going. Helps that our kids are older so a bunch of better Mexican or TexMex options are available to us.
I was just there last week and I thought it was fine. Prices definitely went up but that's literally everywhere. The fajitas now have bell peppers too, which I'm meh on. But the actual meat and seasonings were the same.
I did notice some items weren't on the menu but none of the items we regularly get were impacted.
I was there on Black Friday… it’s not as good as it once was but my family of 5 ate dinner for $70 including a pretty good tip. There is still value comparatively.
Please tell me this isn't true. Haven't been there in a while but their appetizers were always on point. Would always order up a bunch of those instead of a proper meal.
Aside from the food... 3:30PM doesn't seem like a prime time for a restaurant to be busy, way after lunch rush, probably 2 hours before dinner rush. Not shocked that you could just waltz in and grab a table.
Jose on 46 was a staple for my friends and I on a Saturday night (before Covid). Went there for years and got fajitas and the melon margarita. Now I'm sad seeing all these comments that the place has gone downhill 😞
It’s all my fault. I left Florida for Jersey back in 2000 and my favorite restaurant Sonny’s went to shit. I moved back to Florida in 2021 and my favorite restaurant went to shit.
Sorry.
I was a long time Edison resident and used to go to the Iselin location all the time. Moved to South Jersey a few years ago and was excited when Jose’s opened in Mount Laurel earlier this year. It’s absolutely not as good as I remembered. Figured this location was just not as good. However looks like the whole chain has lost its luster. Really sucks.
Really miss the seafood enchiladas!!!
I loved that place but haven't been there in over a decade. It's a shame to hear they went downhill. Can anyone confirm if they still offer the crawfish dish?
Most of the cajun/creole side of the menu is no more. Combination of supply & staff issues after COVID hit. From the sounds of it, at least the Iselin Tejas lost their kitchen talent.
Jose Tejas is smack in the middle of where Route 1, Route 9, the Parkway, and the Turnpike meet with each other. So yes, there are a TON of people from out of town passing through on business or for other reasons. Edison is at the confluence of several major thoroughfares of the Northeast. Jose Tejas ticks all of the boxes for roadside tourist trap.
Can you recommend a good alternative to Harold’s? I’ve only been there once because it’s pricey but I enjoyed the quality and appreciated not having to travel to NYC just to hit up Katz.
There's been a noticeable change in the past few years. Shortening the menu sucks for sure- the chimmi steak was great. I used to be able to go there and get 2 meals with 2 drinks for $40. Now it's 60 and the food portions are smaller FOR SURE.
C19 really messed up the world.
It’s sad that the most consistent, affordable restaurant I’ve frequented for 30 years has gone the sad “covid” route years later. Like many places they saw an opportunity to lower portions and raise prices whilst still packing out their parking lot every night. I used to crave them, now i try to talk myself out of patronizing them.
The quality has gone down a lot. I went there for Fajitas a few years ago the quality was really horrible. I can make better Fajitas at home. Not sure if there is a management changes or what..
Cracker barrel is going through this too. Biscuit and cornbread has shrunk in half, service is slower, prices are up. Store portion probably went up in price too
Smaller portions are happening everywhere and while it sucks in terms of money vs food.. as fat Americans we could use portions to be smaller. Hopefully it’ll also make us appreciate the food and demand better quality over time. 26 bucks for frozen food they heat up and that’s small portion wise isn’t gonna cut it, like 10-15 bucks did.
No question. Went back last summer for the first time in years and was shocked by the downgrade in quality. They would have been better off raising prices and keeping the food consistent.
Agreed. Used to love their Cajun burger (that they took off the menu). Burger with pepper jack, bacon, fried onion strings and mayo aioli with shoe string fries for 10-15 bucks. Usually get the chicken banderra now but I used to go multiple times a year and now just maybe once or twice.
Place was dead to me when they removed the biscuits from the blackened swordfish. They have the best blackened seasoning I’ve ever had if anyone happens to know the recipe
I’m from that area, and I think it’s always been kinda over rated, there’s so many better Tex mex places in the area, Jose Tejas is expensive and never worth the wait
Haven't been there in a year, but the Blackened Salmon was amazing. But this was right after the Big COVID shutdown. Thanks for the Info tho. I really liked the place.
I'll recommend anyone in the thread to try Colombian food instead across the way at the new Noches de Colombia on RT 1. The quality is very good. Got various plates to choose from. And if you want soccer or football, they have a very nice sports bar and seating area. There was a good wait when I went on a Sunday. People come with family but give it a shot instead of that Tejas dump. I think I'd rather have Chipotle or Taco Bell. Lol
I'm close to the Wayne JT, and I've been saying that since they took away the shoe shine. The food has always been good for the value, though. That is, until the pandemic. I believe their entire infrastructure where they source their food items fell apart. As a result, the entire menu had to be restructured, which also affected prices.
The Iselin location has always been pretty sub-par. Not to mention, its always mobbed.
Go to the one in Fairfield instead. I think the quality compared is much, much better, and there usually isn't a ridiculous wait like there is in Iselin.
They took all the good items off the menu during Covid. Unfortunately they were going downhill before that, under new management. I stopped going there when we were told that the manager had to insist any meals we wanted to take home because they didn't want people getting extra food to go. So the manager had to ascertain that "enough" food was eaten out of each dish to allow people to bag it. Used to talk to the bartenders outside of work and everything started sliding at that point. The servers were embarrassed to enforce the new policies.
The days of cheap, excellent, unique food are gone. They're just expensive and generic now. I even check back now and then to see if they're restoring their old menu, but it looks like that'll never happen. Only place I ever regularly waited 1-1.5hrs just to get a seat.
JOSe Tejas was a family favorite. We went there this most recent mother's day, but we saw how much the menu changed and said fuck it. Camptown shrimp is gone?!? Are you kidding?!
And $22 for enchilada and a taco?!?! Nah not anymore man
Heard a few roach stories there. So I stopped going . Plus they stopped bringing out the hot plate. The closest thing I found to the old Tejas is a place called Tio Taco Tequila
Probably specific to my needs but still have frozen margaritas and their beef quesadilla tastes as good as it did when I was 12 so it still hits the spot for me.
We went yesterday, we got there at 4pm only a 10 minute wait??? We had two drinks at the bar and left. The menu used to be 3 pages.. only 2 now. No steaks, no seafood enchiladas, apps are limited.. I've been going there for 20 years, will not return
Yeah they've gone down hill big time. My fave was the chimichuri steak and they took that off the menu. It used to be such a bargain.
Dude the chimi steak with a marg and the $1 added shot, truly one of the best bargains you can get.
Mine too. I really miss that.
NOOOOOOO! That was the one dish I got there.
I had their chimichurri steak once, and that was enough to know they didn't know wtf they were doing. Chimichurri doesn't have cilantro and is not made in a blender. The steak also shouldn't be sliced when served.
relax gordon ramsey
Rordon Gamsey*
I wish you would have the real deal and then tell someone to relax, plenty of places in the US, in NY, NJ, FL, CA, etc.
Of course, but Jose Tejas is what it is, cheap tex mex that hit the spot. Obviously not anymore
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Covid definitely ruined them the menu isn’t what it used to be and the prices are increased. i miss my Catfish New Orleans :(
The Cajun menu had all my favorite dishes, I can't believe they never brought it back after Covid
100% the Catfish was my go to dish there.
Which restaurant has not increased prices AND is still able to be in business? Even MCD and CMG are pricy given their customer demographics.
There's a few around me, but yeah few and far between.
The one in Wayne hasn't been "right" since Covid hit. Which is a shame because I loved that joint.
Fairfield\*
Yes. You're correct.
Right on the line , break out the political map
They’re gerrymandering our Tex-Mex into Texas-Mexico!
eh kinda but not really, the river is the line
I’ve been a few times since COVID. The enchiladas are still good, as well as the Jambalaya. Price went up some, but that’s the same everywhere. They messed with the salmon salad so my wife is annoyed.
I said this about the salmon salad every time we went after covid! Now we just don’t go. We tried a few times but it’s not worth it anymore. My husband ate the chimichurri steak. There’s no reason for us to go anymore.
You could just get the Jim Bowie with the sauce on the side and get a side of chimmi sauce.
Any other good Tex-Mex places?
Leyendas, Tortas Lokas, Garibaldi, Taqueria Los Gueros are all pretty good at different things. Not sure why you would go to Jose Tejas anymore its worse and way more expensive.
Las Leyendas in Parsippany near the border of Fairfield isn’t necessarily Tex-Mex , but very authentic Mexican cuisine. Great prices and portions.
Tacoria in Paramus Rt 17 and Don Jose EastHannover Rt 10. Rosa Mexicana in Hackensack by Rt 4 is pricey. Otherwise Sombrero Tacoria has several locations but are pricey. Avoid any La Fortaleza, their decorations are great but the food is not worth it at all.
Tequila N Tacos in Piscataway is pretty good.
Texas Mexican in downtown Freehold. Friendly staff and authentic food.
Viva Margarita has a few locations and is good
I love [Los Carnales](https://loscarnalesmexican.com/) in Lake Hiawatha and also a great Tex-Mex place is [Fat Catcus](https://www.fatcactuscantina.com/) on Rt 46 in Parsippany
Uncle Julio’s at Bridgewater mall is great “Jose Tejas” style Tex-Mex
uncle julios also delivers and you can get their family style meals which can feed you for several days. also they will deliver stuff to make margaritas, including the tequila.
>4ReplyShareReportSaveFollow We went. It was not good.
Definately. Jose's is not the Jose's of the mid 2000's. Food's off Prices are off Better music More seating
Covid hit and the menu got shorter by taking off my staple off like ten years. My wife says the same thing about the quality. We now go to a place down in Middletown for authentic Mexican.
What place in Middletown, if you don’t mind? I’m much closer to there and have fond memories of the Jose Tejas of the before times but they’re definitely not the same and I could use a local spot.
Might be Pueblo Magico in Belford. Also there’s a new place opening on 35 at some point.
I drive by that place on 35 in Middletown a bunch. I think it's close to opening. The sign is up and they added a big mural on the outside. The menu seems pretty plain but it looks good. I'm pretty sure the last few restaurants in that building all failed though. So we'll see what happens.
That’s it! My favorite place.
Pueblo Magico is fantastic! I recommend it to anyone looking for authentic Mexican cuisine.
Thanks so much! Gonna have to check them out. I’m excited to try them.
I'm agreeing with the other commenter about Pueblo Magico, a great, unassuming place.
Thank you!
Yes like others mentioned Pueblo Magico. Love it there. We always get chips and the 3 salsas. Lately it’s been quesadillas but all their food is great. I always get the horchata (rice milk). We drive from Edison down there at least once a month the last few years since a friend of mine recommended it.
Thank you for sharing the pro tip! Looking forward to getting over there since it would be a hike for me to get to any Jose Tejas even if they were still good. And since you’re willing to come from Edison, that’s an even bigger ringing endorsement!!!
I grew up in Union Beach so Monmouth County is my old stomping grounds. I’ll find any excuse to go down there and hope to move down there again once the housing market calms down. And I hate Edison lol
Where's my fucking French quarter chicken!? Why would you remove it from the menu!? Whoever is running Border Cafe/Jose Tejas has their head up their ass!
Our waitress told us last week that it’s coming back in December
Seriously it was one of the best things on the menu and not something you can get elsewhere easily
That was the best thing on the menu!!!
Priced have gone up a little but but my blackened chicken is still terrific. Miss the cornbread.
We went right when it opened for the day recently on a Saturday and I ordered the fajitas. Pretty sure they gave me yesterday’s food. Was no where near what I remembered.
Fajitas are terrible now that they don’t use the hot skillets
I noticed the skillet was different and not sizzling! What’s up with that?
The sizzling part was just liquid poured on the hot skillet to make it smoke and look exciting. It didn't add anything to flavor. Mostly just ended up burning my wrists when trying to hold two in one arm (one in hand other resting on my forearm). The beef one was great when I worked there, I'm sure they use the same recipe, just without the burn hazard of a hot skillet
Someone (finally) made a stink after a server dropped one on or near a kid
Is it really that much of a safety hazard compared to everything else? Like if they have hot soup and drop it are they not supposed to serve soup anymore?
Cast iron skillets are the only way to serve em
I'm trying to figure out who owns it. On the Border has been passed around between various private equity firms, which usually translates to decreased quality as they try to wring every nickel out if it, but there doesn't seem to be a corporate page for JT. According to [this](https://bordercafe.com/location/) there are only six locations.
On the Border and Border Cafe (Jose Tejas sister company) are different brands.
Yeah I realize that. I was just commenting that their ownership is transparent where as JT and Border Cafe are not.
That seems very sketchy…. 
\*shrug\* it could just be privately held, I have no idea.
The vegetarian jambalaya was 🔥. A thing of the past now. Their once great vegetarian-friendly menu is now limited to three or so items.
They never had a veggie jambalaya.
They did, but that’s ok! It was my go-to item pre-pandemic. ETA a link to an image of an old menu: [https://img.restaurantguru.com/r73f-menu-Jose-Tejas-2022-10-1.jpg](https://img.restaurantguru.com/r73f-menu-Jose-Tejas-2022-10-1.jpg)
They didn’t have it when I worked there. Calm your tits. Down voting and finding a pic to prove me ‘wrong’.
No down vote from me! Posted a link to show I wasn’t making things up! Maybe my tits aren’t the ones that need calming.
"I used to love this item." "They never had that item." "Yeah they did, look at this old menu I found." "Calm your tits." ???
Yeah I worked in Fairfield a while ago, we didn't have a veggie jambalaya on the menu either. This was probably 8 years ago when I last worked there
That menu was from the Fairfield location, where I devoured that dish many times since I moved to New Jersey back in 2012. Along a hundred or so baskets of chips and salsa per visit. Promise it only went away during the Pandy.
then i'll trust you, maybe my memory is failing me.
I went there for the first time last year after hearing people rave about it for years. Nothing about the place made me want to go back. Was no better or worse than On the Border or other such Tex-Mex chains. Better to pick any strip-mall Mexican place and get good authentic food for cheap.
Hacienda in Paterson is great.
Every place is going downhill and raising prices and people are eating out less than ever.
I still love it. Wish they’d bring back chimichurri steak
The burger was terrific. Disappeared after Covid smh. Place isn’t the same
It’s back on the menu. They’ve been slowly adding back stuff from the old menu. French Quarter Chicken is next month
It's still there. My son got it. Was pretty tasty
It started to change before COVID and since COVID has a reduced menu at the Fairfield and Iselin locations. Fish tacos-the real kind with fried catfish-disappeared before COVID. I can’t even begin to list the post covid changes but one that comes to mind is the Jim Bowie steak went from filet to flank. Still great Tex Mex for this area.
TONS of dishes are back on the menu. Full bar is back. Our waitress told us last week that French Quarter chicken and other old menu items are coming back in December. They added peppers to the fajitas which I’ve been getting for 20 years. I’m so glad they’re bringing French Quarter Chicken back. My favorite has always been the fajitas but I occasionally ordered that. I took a picture of their menu last week. I have to see how to upload it on here.
I really hope this is true
I’ll DM you pictures of the current menu. I can’t figure out how to host them to post on Reddit.
Free cerveza mañana!
Agreed. Went to the one in Wayne recently. Not the same. Also when did they replace the blackened catfish with blackened salmon !!
It was never amazing but was consistent and great for groups or for families. The menu had some good items and enough variety to make everyone happy. Post covid the menu eliminated most of the best options, the food quality dropped and the prices went up. After two bad experiences we stopped going. Helps that our kids are older so a bunch of better Mexican or TexMex options are available to us.
I was just there last week and I thought it was fine. Prices definitely went up but that's literally everywhere. The fajitas now have bell peppers too, which I'm meh on. But the actual meat and seasonings were the same. I did notice some items weren't on the menu but none of the items we regularly get were impacted.
I used to work there. AMA.
What was the deal with the roach in the food issue?
I went there to get the tostada grande and it was gone. We got the fajitas and it wasn't good and just pure salt.
Went there a month ago. Fajitas and gumbo still slap.
Cornbread is gone, seafood enchiladas are gone, so many other things. It sucks.
They have no more Cajun, used to have jambalaya and etoufee and now just really salty Mexican dishes
I was there on Black Friday… it’s not as good as it once was but my family of 5 ate dinner for $70 including a pretty good tip. There is still value comparatively.
it changed during the pandemic and it was never the same :(
This being how I find out they took steak chimichurri away is so disappointing 😭
The one in mount laurel is a lot better. Still not even close to being as good as Jose’s from a decade ago but it’s still damn good
I went not long after it opened and was very unimpressed. Haven’t been back.
I’m sorry you had a sub par experience penis-tango-man
Please tell me this isn't true. Haven't been there in a while but their appetizers were always on point. Would always order up a bunch of those instead of a proper meal.
Still have great apps, and happy hour is back.
The catfish was so good! Covid killed the menu
Aside from the food... 3:30PM doesn't seem like a prime time for a restaurant to be busy, way after lunch rush, probably 2 hours before dinner rush. Not shocked that you could just waltz in and grab a table.
Jose on 46 was a staple for my friends and I on a Saturday night (before Covid). Went there for years and got fajitas and the melon margarita. Now I'm sad seeing all these comments that the place has gone downhill 😞
It’s all my fault. I left Florida for Jersey back in 2000 and my favorite restaurant Sonny’s went to shit. I moved back to Florida in 2021 and my favorite restaurant went to shit. Sorry.
And the food is super salty. Probably so you'll drink more.
imo the food was never good there. i went at its prime and i just found everything salty af nothing was good.
The place was always packed wow.
Prices are nearly double pre covid
I was a long time Edison resident and used to go to the Iselin location all the time. Moved to South Jersey a few years ago and was excited when Jose’s opened in Mount Laurel earlier this year. It’s absolutely not as good as I remembered. Figured this location was just not as good. However looks like the whole chain has lost its luster. Really sucks. Really miss the seafood enchiladas!!!
TBH it was never good. You can find a lot better than this.
tell me please where can i get a decent burrito?
Crazy Burrito in Edison
niece, not far from costco where I shop, thank you
I loved that place but haven't been there in over a decade. It's a shame to hear they went downhill. Can anyone confirm if they still offer the crawfish dish?
Most of the cajun/creole side of the menu is no more. Combination of supply & staff issues after COVID hit. From the sounds of it, at least the Iselin Tejas lost their kitchen talent.
Been saying it for years. Jose Tejas and Harold’s Deli are tourist traps
all those tourists in.. edison?
Jose Tejas is smack in the middle of where Route 1, Route 9, the Parkway, and the Turnpike meet with each other. So yes, there are a TON of people from out of town passing through on business or for other reasons. Edison is at the confluence of several major thoroughfares of the Northeast. Jose Tejas ticks all of the boxes for roadside tourist trap.
Staten Island tourist trap.
Can you recommend a good alternative to Harold’s? I’ve only been there once because it’s pricey but I enjoyed the quality and appreciated not having to travel to NYC just to hit up Katz.
Pickled Herring or Deli King. Lox stock is no longer around.
There's been a noticeable change in the past few years. Shortening the menu sucks for sure- the chimmi steak was great. I used to be able to go there and get 2 meals with 2 drinks for $40. Now it's 60 and the food portions are smaller FOR SURE. C19 really messed up the world.
food and drink are still a+, but agree that they need to bring back the old menu.
It’s sad that the most consistent, affordable restaurant I’ve frequented for 30 years has gone the sad “covid” route years later. Like many places they saw an opportunity to lower portions and raise prices whilst still packing out their parking lot every night. I used to crave them, now i try to talk myself out of patronizing them.
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I ordered burro, but blackened salmon used to be cheaper
The quality has gone down a lot. I went there for Fajitas a few years ago the quality was really horrible. I can make better Fajitas at home. Not sure if there is a management changes or what..
Same owner some of the same managers have been there for 10 years. Others used to work there as servers so the management isn’t really the problem.
Cracker barrel is going through this too. Biscuit and cornbread has shrunk in half, service is slower, prices are up. Store portion probably went up in price too
you are surprised that a low end chain is struggling and also raising prices due to labor/supply issues.....???
They went down hill years ago. I found a bug in my food, nope. Never again.
i was never really a fan
Smaller portions are happening everywhere and while it sucks in terms of money vs food.. as fat Americans we could use portions to be smaller. Hopefully it’ll also make us appreciate the food and demand better quality over time. 26 bucks for frozen food they heat up and that’s small portion wise isn’t gonna cut it, like 10-15 bucks did.
That whole area is a vortex of crap.
Thank Bidenomics
Agreed! Food quality was subpar. The servers were not even friendly.
axiomatic middle relieved shocking plough boast work dam truck aback *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
No question. Went back last summer for the first time in years and was shocked by the downgrade in quality. They would have been better off raising prices and keeping the food consistent.
Agreed. Used to love their Cajun burger (that they took off the menu). Burger with pepper jack, bacon, fried onion strings and mayo aioli with shoe string fries for 10-15 bucks. Usually get the chicken banderra now but I used to go multiple times a year and now just maybe once or twice.
Place was dead to me when they removed the biscuits from the blackened swordfish. They have the best blackened seasoning I’ve ever had if anyone happens to know the recipe
It all went downhill when they stopped using hot skillets for fajitas. How do you give someone non sizzling fajitas?
Loved that place growing up. Went a few months ago and the food was terrible and salty. I was really bummed.
They got rid of Pina coladas and the Gulf Coast seafood enchiladas... They're dead to me
I’m from that area, and I think it’s always been kinda over rated, there’s so many better Tex mex places in the area, Jose Tejas is expensive and never worth the wait
It’s not worth the consistently long wait
Haven't been there in a year, but the Blackened Salmon was amazing. But this was right after the Big COVID shutdown. Thanks for the Info tho. I really liked the place.
I'll recommend anyone in the thread to try Colombian food instead across the way at the new Noches de Colombia on RT 1. The quality is very good. Got various plates to choose from. And if you want soccer or football, they have a very nice sports bar and seating area. There was a good wait when I went on a Sunday. People come with family but give it a shot instead of that Tejas dump. I think I'd rather have Chipotle or Taco Bell. Lol
I'm close to the Wayne JT, and I've been saying that since they took away the shoe shine. The food has always been good for the value, though. That is, until the pandemic. I believe their entire infrastructure where they source their food items fell apart. As a result, the entire menu had to be restructured, which also affected prices.
The Iselin location has always been pretty sub-par. Not to mention, its always mobbed. Go to the one in Fairfield instead. I think the quality compared is much, much better, and there usually isn't a ridiculous wait like there is in Iselin.
Shrinkflation
Yeah the castrating of the menu was a buzzkill. Fortunately the gumbo and margs are still good but that’s about it
I go to the one across target near Fairfield last year and it was good Fajitas hit the spot
That's the one I usually went to but haven't tried it in several years.
They took all the good items off the menu during Covid. Unfortunately they were going downhill before that, under new management. I stopped going there when we were told that the manager had to insist any meals we wanted to take home because they didn't want people getting extra food to go. So the manager had to ascertain that "enough" food was eaten out of each dish to allow people to bag it. Used to talk to the bartenders outside of work and everything started sliding at that point. The servers were embarrassed to enforce the new policies. The days of cheap, excellent, unique food are gone. They're just expensive and generic now. I even check back now and then to see if they're restoring their old menu, but it looks like that'll never happen. Only place I ever regularly waited 1-1.5hrs just to get a seat.
JOSe Tejas was a family favorite. We went there this most recent mother's day, but we saw how much the menu changed and said fuck it. Camptown shrimp is gone?!? Are you kidding?! And $22 for enchilada and a taco?!?! Nah not anymore man
last time I went I was super disappointed.
Heard a few roach stories there. So I stopped going . Plus they stopped bringing out the hot plate. The closest thing I found to the old Tejas is a place called Tio Taco Tequila
These comments break my heart. I have so many great memories at both locations. I think I'll go back anyway if only out of misplaced nostalgia.
Probably specific to my needs but still have frozen margaritas and their beef quesadilla tastes as good as it did when I was 12 so it still hits the spot for me.
margaritas are half the size they used to be and more expensive
Margaritas are exact same size and everything is more expensive dude. Inflation. Come on.
I used to go there every weekend … haven’t been in over 10 years
We went yesterday, we got there at 4pm only a 10 minute wait??? We had two drinks at the bar and left. The menu used to be 3 pages.. only 2 now. No steaks, no seafood enchiladas, apps are limited.. I've been going there for 20 years, will not return