Chapala Grill — Restaurant in Bergenfield

Arrived before the dinner rush on a friday. Had to wait to order our drinks, which gave our party of 3 a chance to decide on fountain drinks as opposed to bar drinks. Chips and salsa were brought out we were given our menus and honestly probably spent a little too long perusing but none the less we ordered and the food came out quick. My meal was the combo 2. Tamale, Chili Relano, and something rolled and covered in sauce. The tamale was so overcooked it had turned into cornbread with hard chunks of stew meat baked inside. My Relano retained the oil from frying that had a more than faint flavor of fishyness and my what ever it was was just that whatever with ground beef. The rice was dry the beans were watery and bland. My companions meals were of equal disappointment the chicken chimichangas are know to the rest of the worlds as flautas. (I would hate to see that there flautas look like, tacitos?) My other guest who is usually a plate clearer was only able to intake half of the Texas burrito, who was being Polite while we ate (well we all were).

From there we never saw our server again. No refills no "is everything ok" . So after we ate we for any sort of follow up. The place is getting busier, staff is all over. I just get tired of looking at my plate and moved it to the empty spot and thankfully another server noticed and took our plates. A different older female came over to see if we wanted any dessert. Which ironically like the drinks and the refills we had enough time to deliberate on where we are going to spend the money we did not spend there, so no desserts or coffee just the check.

And we waited.

After 15 minutes the first server came back to see if we wanted desert or coffee. I reaffirmed that we will not be partaking in any after meal confectionaries or coffee and would like our check. This took about another 10 mins.

2 out of 10 Food was definitely hot enough to be no where near the danger zone for getting sick and the floors weren't sticky. But note none of our party used...

Upon entering this establishment, I noticed the decor to be very rustic and authentic Mexican. We were seated immediately by a very friendly employee. We ordered sangria (one with red wine and one with white wine) and they were very good and very strong. Then we ordered the loaded nachos with ground beef and they were delicious. Our plates then came out and I ordered the Enchiladas Rancheras and my friend ordered combo #3. The food was good but nothing out of this world. It was nice to be in an atmosphere where the service was good and the people were nice. They answered all our questions patiently and with a smile. The bathrooms were super clean just like the rest of the restaurant. They advised us they will soon be remodeling and that another restaurant was opening in Union, NJ. The prices were a bit high but you leave there feeling full and happy. I would definitely go back and I recommend this place. This would be a great place to come for a nice quiet dinner or with...

If you're looking for authentic Mexican food, Chapala Restaurant is a must-visit! Their homemade salsa is always fresh and flavorful, setting the perfect start to every meal. I've been here multiple times, and the consistency in quality and taste keeps me coming back.

My go-to dish is the Fajitas Chapala, and it never disappoints—the shrimp, steak, and chicken are always fresh and perfectly cooked. Their chorizo appetizer and guacamole are also excellent, and if you’re a fan of mole sauce, theirs is rich and full of flavor.

Beyond the food, the staff is incredibly friendly and professional, creating a welcoming atmosphere. They have music, a clean and inviting space, and spotless bathrooms. Plus, there's plenty of parking in the back, making it a convenient spot to enjoy a fantastic meal.

Highly recommend Chapala for an authentic and enjoyable Mexican...