Las Maravillas de Tulcingo Passaic

A family route from a Bronx taco stand to Passaic

Jesus and Lucina Pita sold weekend tacos near Van Cortlandt Park before opening their first Passaic restaurant in October 1995. The family added the larger Monroe Street address in August 2002. The name remembers Tulcingo de Valle, their Puebla hometown, and the menu keeps that regional connection visible in its corn preparations and sauces.

Three-piece taco orders cover pastor, suadero, cecina, grilled beef, spicy pork and goat. Chicharrón in green salsa provides a stewed filling; alambre tacos bring another combination. Birria has a separate four-piece order. The menu is specific enough to compare a small taco meal with a larger, cheese-rich quesabirria from the comal.

Handmade formats deserve time here. Quesadillas can hold squash blossom, huitlacoche, mushrooms or chicharrón; comal, fried and flour versions are separately listed. Tlacoyos take beans or chicharrón and can be paired with steak or cecina. Sopes, huaraches and picaditas expand the masa choices rather than merely change the meat.

The full kitchen includes chicken mole poblano, green pipián, cactus dishes and goat barbacoa on the weekend. Tamales in red, green or rajas versions and eggs with cactus support breakfast. A cemita can carry milanesa, quesillo or other fillings for a sandwich-centered meal.

Monroe Street today

Call 973-471-8014. Weekday hours are 10 a.m.–10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday begin at 8 a.m. Pickup, delivery, reservations and event catering are offered. The family’s earlier Washington Place and Englewood openings belong to its history; this profile’s current ordering contact is 296 Monroe Street.

Choose ordering or a table at the Monroe Street restaurant.