Eye-Catching Mexican: Taco de Ojo Taqueria Opens in Westfield

WESTFIELD, NJ — A bright and whimsical addition to Westfield’s culinary scene, Taco de Ojo Taqueria has opened downtown with an assortment of tacos, burritos, salsa and more.

Currently offering soft-opening hours of 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, the Mexican restaurant opened its doors May 12.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE TAPINTO.NET NEWSLETTER

Taco de Ojo, which literally means “eye tacos” in Spanish, is a slang term for eye candy, explained Dan Chung, a partner in the restaurant with Vaughn Nunez.

“The expression means beautiful, so we wanted a very eye-catching presentation. After all, we eat with our eyes first,” he said.

The decor is eye-catching too, with custom murals created by a New York City artist that include a painting of El Chavo, the title character of a popular Mexican television sitcom series.

Beyond the visual aspects of the restaurant’s debut location at 106 Central Ave., the former site of Inspiration Roll, Chung said the restaurant serves an array of tasty options.

DOWNLOAD THE FREE TAPINTO APP FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS. AVAILABLE IN THE APPLE STORE AND THE GOOGLE PLAY STORE .

“Everything on the menu is fresh: the vegetables, the meats. We have a no-freezer concept, so nothing is frozen, which maximizes the flavor,” he said.

Chung, who formerly operated Inspiration Roll, has worked in the Westfield area for more than eight years. His brother owns the Buddha Fish sushi restaurant on Elm Street.

“It’s a nice, very welcoming community,”Chung said. “I enjoy working with the food and the dishes’ creation.”

Menu options include empanadas made with Oaxaca cheese from Mexico and taco shells made with blue corn. Other items include a birria crunch wrap, loaded fries, tacos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, and homemade guacamole and salsa.

“We make our own fresh tortillas,” Chung added. “We’re trying to give you a high-quality experience.”

A grand opening celebration is expected some time in June.

“We offer restaurant quality in a fast-casual setting,” Chung said.

Stop in for restaurant-opening promotions, such as the chance to win a gift card. For more information, visit tacodeojotaqueria.com or call 908-632-6822.

For more local news, visit TAPinto.net