Business Spotlight
Charrito's Restaurant
"Authentic Mexican Cuisine"
July 2008
Central Avenue is known for its wide variety of ethnic restaurants; within just a few blocks, hungry locals can find Italian, Middle Eastern, American, Chinese, and many flavors of Latin cuisine. Adding another layer to the variety is the recently-opened Charrito’s, a restaurant specializing in traditional dishes from the Mexican state of Oaxaca.
Charrito’s Central Avenue location is only the most recent chapter of a local success story that began when Filiberto Arias began selling crispy taquitos to the workers at the factory where his wife Genoveva worked after they first came to America from Mexico. Since opening their first restaurant in Union City in 1992, the Arias family, which also includes sons Ricardo and Uzziel, has also opened locations in Hoboken, Weehawken and now Jersey City.
Explaining why the family chose Central Avenue for their Jersey City location, Ricardo explained that “my cousin owned a restaurant at this location, and we saw that there were a lot of restaurants and people moving into the area.” So far, the investment has paid off, he says: “our business has increased 50 or 60 percent in the past few weeks. The clientele is amazing - people that live in Jersey City are psyched because they don’t have to drive and find parking in Hoboken to get to Charrito’s.”
The Charrito’s menu features everything from tacos and enchiladas to specialties like mole poblano, which Ricardo explains this way: “people who try it leave very happy.” Guacamole is another favorite because the Charrito’s staff makes it right at the table. The restaurant is BYOB, and the makings for sangria are on hand for those who come prepared with wine. And beyond the food, the brightly colored, handmade Oaxacan decor and friendly staff create an atmosphere that will keep Charrito’s devotees and new customers from the Heights coming back again and again.
Charrito's is located at 395 Central Avenue and is open from 10 am - 9:30 pm from Monday to Thursday and 10 am - 10pm on Friday and Saturday. They also deliver! Visit their website or call (201) 963-4312.
