Authentic food can be a difficult challenge, especially when living away from home and trying to find food that tastes like your mom’s cooking. Instead of wasting your money at Americanized fast food taco restaurants, you can walk a short distance on Rowan’s campus to taste mouth-watering Mexican family recipes.

A view of the entire restaurant from one corner. Many tables available to serve customers. (Photo/Peter Planamente)

Mexican Mariachi Grill, which opened in May of 2018, is located on Rowan Boulevard across the street from Barnes and Noble. The restaurant offers many authentic and homemade Mexican dishes, as well as a tequila bar.



A view of the bar with an assortment of alcoholic beverages. The bar accommodates a good amount of people when the restaurant is crowded. (Photo/Peter Planamente)

James Lytle, the manager of Mexican Mariachi Grill in Glassboro, says the food is made from his mom’s recipes.

“We offer simple but good Mexican food,” says Lytle. “Mexican cuisine varies in each of the regions of Mexico and especially by where you’re serving here in the U.S.”

A view of the entire restaurant. The dining room is filled with dark hard wood floors, hanging lights and wooden tables. (Photo/Peter Planamente)

Varieties of tacos, burritos, and quesadillas are currently offered on the menu. Also, seafood dishes will be coming in the near future.

“We also have a few new recipes coming soon from our new head chef Cesar who specializes in Mariscos (seafood),” says Lytle. “Keep an eye out for Mariscos week.”

Each table has a fork and knife, wrapped in a napkin. Also, a small menu with “speedy items” lays on the table. (Photo/Peter Planamente)

The most popular dish, according to Lytle, is the Mariachi Trio Tacos, which is grilled steak or chicken mixed with chorizo (a spicy sausage) and melted cheese. It is also topped with pico de gayo (salsa), cilantro (herb/parsley), and fresh Taquera sauce.

Many of the dishes served are marked on the menu as gluten free. Guests that are affected by this should be cautious since the kitchen cannot guarantee cross contamination.

An overview from the other end of the restaurant. Also, a view of the bar stools along the bar. (Photo/Peter Planamente)

Customers can just walk in or call in their order ahead of time by phone. Delivery is not available at this time but Lytle says it will be coming by the winter.

“After we get late night open we will be adding local delivery,” says Lytle.

The restaurant is open seven days a week with breakfast being served Monday through Saturday. The kitchen is open until 10 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 9 p.m. on Sundays. The bar is open until 12 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.

Art painted on the wall behind a large table. (Photo/Peter Planamente)

Mexican Mariachi Grill is nothing new to New Jersey. There are three other locations including, Ewing by the Trenton Airport, Hamilton by AMC24, and another near The College of New Jersey. The Glassboro location is the first to have waiter service and a bar.

On the review website Yelp, Mexican Mariachi Grill currently holds 3 stars out of 5 from 26 reviewers.

Emily K., from Plymouth Township, P.A., gave 5 stars and said, “I loved it! The drinks are so good and the food is even better! I really recommend this place.”

Kristen C., from Fort Wayne, I.N., also gave 5 stars and said, “I have been here several times since they opened and we love it! The food has always been consistently good and the service has gotten much better since they opened a few months back. We had the trio tacos tonight and they were really delicious.”

More artwork on the walls at the one end of the restaurant. (Photo/Peter Planamente)

So what makes Mexican Mariachi Bar unique and stand out from the others? Lytle gives a few reasons.

“You walk in, the aesthetic is amazing. It’s always the first thing we see on our customers faces, the bewilderment as they explore the restaurant,” says Lytle. “We also advertise our tequila bar with expanding selection of choices. The list grows every order. We have more than just tequila, the core needs of any bar, but if you’re a fan of Agave, come check us out.”