Carlitos Barbecue Taqueria started as a food trailer in Jersey City in July 2017. Now it has a spot at Newport Centre, next to the national chains.
The pit-smoked barbecue taco concept opened its fourth taqueria Friday at the Simon-owned mall in downtown Jersey City. The idea hasn’t changed since the trailer: Texas-style barbecue, smoked low and slow, served on hand-pressed corn tortillas made from fresh nixtamal masa.
The company says it was the first barbecue taqueria on the East Coast. And it traces roots to earlier than 2017.
Founder Carlos Castillo grew up in New York City, and as a teenager he ran cookouts with friends in Queens, where he learned how good food brings people together.
From the trailer, Carlitos grew to a location in Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus in 2018, where the company says it still draws diners looking for something other than standard mall fare. It also has a location in Terminal A at Newark Liberty.
Through it all, Castillo said the company hasn’t forgotten its roots.
“From a trailer, to restaurants, to airports, malls and everywhere in between, we’re still a small team of people who love feeding people and taking care of them, and we are thankful to have a great team and culture,” he said.
The menu at Newport starts with the tortillas, naturally gluten-free and pressed and cooked to order. Proteins include pit-smoked brisket, pulled pork, carne asada, birria with consommé, grilled chicken and crispy fish.
Vegetarians can choose sweet plantain or grilled portobello.
Castillo said Carlitos smokes its meats in-house and uses all-natural USDA Prime beef raised without hormones or antibiotics.
He also said the company isn’t afraid to mix things up.
The Newport location will offer bowls. Guests can get their protein over cilantro lime rice with fried sweet plantain and black beans, or as a salad or nachos.
Sides include esquites (Mexican street corn) and guacamole and chips. For dessert, there are churros filled with dulce de leche or chocolate, and to drink, aguas frescas in passion fruit, mango and pineapple, plus Jarritos and Mexican Coke.
For Castillo, the Newport opening is a return to where it all started.
“Jersey City gave us our first shot,” he said. “It feels pretty special to come back and start another first here.”
And while Newport is the latest location — it won’t be the last. Castillo said the company also plans to open at Simon’s The Westchester in White Plains, N.Y., later this fall.
