From downtown Union City to uptown North Bergen, upper Hudson County is a small mecca of immigrant owned businesses worth exploring. Today, I introduce to you all a City I currently reside in and love to eat in, West New York, NJ.

My family has been coming to West New York, NJ ever since I was a child.  Not only did my step-dad live here but also, upper Hudson County would be one of the ideal places my family would gather to eat and shop.  From eating at Mi Bandera in Union City, Pupusas at La Pupusa Loca in West New York, to going to family parties in rented out party halls, Upper Hudson County has it all.  The reason I use the term Upper Hudson County is because at any given chance you’re at the border of the several cities here (Union City, North Bergen, Guttenberg, Weehawken and West New York).  The separation of cities doesn’t matter because they are all very alike.  It’s worth exploring the area and eating authentic Latin American cousine.  Personally, it reminds me of how rich in culture my people are.

I invite you all to take a look at my trip to La Mexicanita, located at 5002 Bergenline Avenue, West New York, NJ.

I invited Landscape Architectural Major, and Hudson County resident, Jessica Andrade to have a bite.  Jessica moved to Hudson County after living in Ecuador for three years.  Her love of nature developed in Ecuador and her love of art developed in Hudson County.  Jessica has created and evolved her own style of Landscape Architecture while incorporating art into it.  She finds it important to make a statement and to inspire others through therapeutic and surreal spaces. Aside from that, Jessica is an abstract dreamscape painter, and poet. Her dedication to making a difference with her passions inspire me to do the same with mine, but also who doesn’t enjoy spending time with powerful women?!  Jessica’s goal is to relocate to a tropical area with hopes of becoming more familiar with tropical plant species and incorporating them in her architectural designs.  She also does killer jewelry, can she get any better?! Follow her on Instagram.

Once we seated ourselves, the waitress comes over with complimentary fresh nachos and hot sauces.

PS: the waitresses mostly know how to speak Spanish, so if you’re a little rough around the edges, this is the perfect time to practice it!

Being that La Mexicanita is a bar and restaurant, it has a nightclub sense of environment.  Its dark lighting clashes with the two flat screen TVs that are often showing a soccer game, the disco lights that flash around and the mirrors that is in the middle of the restaurant’s wall.  This is probably why my Nikon One Touch Zoom 90 was having such a hard time focusing all night.  But that’s how it goes when you’re a film photography enthusiast!

Due to the vibrant environment, a cold drink was necessary! Jessica ordered a Michelada, and I, a Heineken.  For those of you who don’t know what a Michelada is, it’s a Corona mixed with hot sauce/tomato juice, lime juice and the glass’s rim is garnished with Tajin and salt. There are several ways you can make a Michelada. I know I’m probably missing some ingredients here, but I could attest to the fact that they taste delicious on a hot summer day!  To me, it’s like a meal in a glass, but I’m a weirdo.

After a drink and conversation, it was time to order.  I ordered Tostadas de Pollo (Chicken Tostadas) and Jessica ordered Tostadas de Bistec (Steak Tostadas)

Overall the food is exceptionally fresh and hot, there is a juke box so you can be DJ for the night (no, it’s not free).  On the weekends, they have live performers; I would call ahead of time to find out if there’s anything going on. If there aren’t any live performers, the food, ambiance and drinks truly do suffice.

Our bill was pretty cheap, it came out to around $30.00, that included two rounds of drinks and dinner.  Not bad at all.

If you’re heading out to La Mexicanita have a good time, maybe even invite me!

Enjoy!