Chorizo is a type of pork sausage originating from the Iberian Peninsula and popular in Spanish, Portuguese, and Hispanic cuisines. This fermented, cured, and smoked sausage is delicious in burritos, tacos, empanadas, and quesadillas. Some local spots even use this as a pizza topping or pasta pairing. Read on for a round-up of the best spots in the Montclair area serving spicy chorizo dishes.
Benji’s Taqueria Mexican Grill | 408 Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell + 14 Main Street, West Orange
Benji’s Taqueria Mexican Grill is a Mexican spot with locations in Caldwell and West Orange cooking up authentic cuisine. Chorizo lovers can build their burrito or bowl and add this spicy sausage. Diners can also order Chorizo Chilaquiles, a traditional breakfast dish featuring corn tortillas cut into quarters and highly fried.
Blue Steel Pizza Company | 285 Glenwood Avenue, Bloomfield
Photo Credit: @bluesteelpizzacompany
Blue Steel Pizza Company is a scratch kitchen and cocktail parlor that serves pizza too. For chorizo lovers, the Blue Steel Pizza Company serves a White Pizza. This 10×8 pie is topped with bechamel, mozzarella, queso fresco, chorizo, roasted garlic, and jalapeño.
Read More: Where to Find the Best Empanadas in North Jersey
Chit Chat Diner | 410 Eagle Rock Avenue, West Orange
Chit Chat Diner is an eclectic restaurant in West Orange with an Alice in Wonderland-themed interior. Overlooking the Manhattan skyline, this spot, like any New Jersey diner, has dozens of dishes ranging from pancakes and sandwiches to pasta and smoothies. For chorizo lovers, we suggest ordering the Desayuno Cubano, Spanish Scramble, or Benedict Arepa. The Desayuno Cubano comes with eggs, chorizo, avocados, and fried plantains. The Spanish Scramble includes eggs, chorizo, tomatoes, onions, scallions, and Monterey Jack cheese, and is paired with hash browns. MG suggests the Benedict Arepa, a delicious dish featuring two crispy arepas topped with poached eggs, grilled chorizo sausage, manchego cheese, pimento hollandaise sauce, and served with a hearty side of plantain chips.
Empanada or Nada | 454 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair
Empanada or Nada is Montclair’s neighborhood empanada shop. Chorizo lovers can order the chorizo + potato empanada. Empanada or Nada also serves beef + cheese, chicken, buffalo chicken, cheese, and spinach + feta. For those with a sweet tooth, this spot has Nutella + banana and guava + cheese empanadas.
Le Salbuen | 97 Walnut Street, Montclair
Le Salbuen specializes in organic farm-to-table meat using only the finest ingredients to blend Portuguese, French, Indian, and Mediterranean influences.. For chorizo lovers, MG suggests ordering the Organic Cuban Black Beans + Brown Rice. This dish comes with egg, avocado, sauteed smoked paprika vegetables, and a banana frito. The menu here also has a variety of appetizers including Local Portrutges Chorizo paired with onions, mushrooms, and peppers.
Meet Me at Madison’s | 121 Watchung Avenue, Montclair
Meet Me at Madison’s is one of Watchung Plaza’s newest spots bringing Latin flavors to Montclair. We suggest chorizo lovers order Saverino’s Shrimp + Chorizo Linguine, a pasta dish served with classic homemade Pomodoro sauce, basil, chili flakes, shrimp, and chorizo.
Red Eye Cafe | 94 Walnut Street, Montclair
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Red Eye Cafe is a brunch must in the Walnut Street section of Montclair. This spot serves up a variety of soups, sandwiches, coffee, omelets, and salads. We suggest chorizo lovers order the Huevos Rancheros. This gluten-free dish includes fried eggs on a crispy tortilla paired with black beans, chorizo, cheddar, pico de gallo, salsa, and potato hash.
Sweet Basil Cafe | 498 South Livingston Avenue, Livingston
Sweet Basil Cafe is a breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner spot in Livingston. For chorizo lovers, this spot is a must. For breakfast, one can order the Spanish Scramble, Huevos Rancheros, or Southwest Breakfast Wrap. The Spanish Scramble contains eggs, spicy chorizo, potato, tomato, and cheddar with a side of salsa. The Southwest Breakfast Wrap is a warm flour tortilla with eggs, chorizo, avocado, jalapeño, black beans, tomato, cheddar cheese, chili sauce, and home fries. The Huevos Rancheros is a tortilla dish featuring chorizo, roasted pork, beans, and cheese topped with eggs, poblano sauce, and chili sauce. For dinner, the Seafood Paella comes with shrimp, bay scallops, mussels, chorizo, roasted bell peppers, green onions, peas, and garlic in white wine. Keep an eye out for the Chorizo Potato Croquettes on the specials menu. This dish includes two fried mashed potato cakes with chorizo and parsley, topped with eggs, chipotle hollandaise, and scallions.
Sayola Restaurant | 38 Valley Avenue, Montclair
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Sayola Restaurant is a fine dining establishment in Downtown Montclair serving authentic Spanish cuisine. This spot has a variety of appetizers like the Tabla Iberica which includes serrano ham, chorizo, salchichon, and olives. For dinner, diners can find two meaty dishes featuring chorizo: the Chicken Extremeña and the Grand Parrillada de Carne.
Tacoria | 367 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair
Photo Credit: @eattacoria
Located in Downtown Montclair, Tacoria is one of the best taco spots in town. Chorizo lovers can order Chorizo Tacos, Chorizo Mission Style Burritos, Chorizo Quesadilla, Chorizo Nachos, and more. These spicy dishes can be paired with Mexican Street Corn or chips.
See More: A Guide to Authentic Mexican Restaurants in Hoboken + Jersey City
Xunta Tapas | 392 Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell
Xunta Tapas is a tapas bar in the heart of Downtown Caldwell. For chorizo lovers, we suggest ordering the Chourizo Seco Picante, a dish featuring dry cured spicy Spanish chorizo, or the Chourizo Cantimpalo, a dish featuring dry cured cantimpalo Spanish chorizo. This spot also serves diners Chourizo a Prancha, a dish showcasing grilled Spanish chorizo and caramelized onions.
Yetla’s Restaurant + Deli | 342 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove
Yetla’s Restaurant and Deli is a flavorful and vibrant Mexican spot in Cedar Grove. For chorizo lovers, MG suggests ordering the Mexican Omelet, Chorizo Tacos, Chorizo Quesadilla, Torta de Chorizo, Chorizo Burrito, or Chorizo Fundido. The Chorizo Fundido is a dish containing cheese dip and corn chips.
