Homemade Birria
Beef braised in a consomé of dried chili adobo, aromatics, and spices.
Family-owned Mexican · Seaside Heights
Near the beach, but not inspired by it
Ten years in Seaside Heights, a block off the boardwalk. Mexican ingredients, Puebla recipes, and the family that cooks them.
Dishes from Puebla, Mexico and Beyond
The beach does not inspire our chalupas, our birthplace does. Sharing Mexican culture through food since 2016.
De la casa 
Tacos
Homemade tortillas, hard or soft, street style or with lettuce, tomato and cheese.
Cemitas
Towering Mexican street-food sandwich finished with avocado, papalo and Oaxaca cheese.
Tortas
Traditional Mexican sandwich built on a soft, toasted telera roll and packed with savory fillings.
Burritos, Quesadillas & Chimichangas
Hand-rolled, folded, or deep-fried to a golden crunch, packed with your choice of fillings.
Mexican Soups
Hearty, slow-simmered traditional bowls crafted from scratch with rich broths and authentic spices.
Breakfast
Traditional morning plates featuring farm-fresh eggs, warm tortillas, and salsa to start the day.
Catering
Authentic Puebla cuisine to feed your next family gathering or special event.
Why locals skip the boardwalk for us
Authentic and family-owned
We are a family kitchen at 609 Boulevard, and we cook like one. Ingredients imported from Mexico, traditional recipes, and dishes that remind you of home, or make you want to visit our home.
Off the boardwalk, on purpose
The Seaside Heights boardwalk offers plenty of funnel cake, pizza slices and cheesesteaks to go. Montes is the other side of the boardwalk: a block off the beach on the tree-lined Boulevard, Montes Cafe offers sit-down Mexican, indoor or outdoor, where the food is the reason locals and visitors keep coming back.
BYOB, and order direct
Bring the cerveza or the bottle of wine you like and make a night of it. Staying in? Order straight from us for pickup or delivery. Celso usually delivers your order, not a random courier from a delivery app.
Seaside Heights’ #1 Mexican Restaurant
4.4 stars from 445 Google reviews, and the #1 listed Mexican restaurant for a Seaside Heights Mexican-food search on Yelp — as of October 2026.
“Montes Cafe is easily the best Mexican restaurant in the area.”
“Always great food and great service! Get the hibiscus water! We had chimichanga, flautas, and empanadas. Excelente!”
“The food is delicious. Large portions. Our favorite authentic Mexican restaurant in the area. Very quick delivery. All of the staff are friendly, always smiling!”
Questions we hear most
Montes Cafe is a family-owned, sit-down Mexican restaurant at 609 Boulevard in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, a block off the boardwalk. Celso Montes and his family, who are from Puebla, Mexico, own and run it.
- Dine in
- Tables and booths indoors, with outdoor tables in the warmer months.
- Take out
- Ready in about 30 minutes. Schedule up to 24 hours ahead.
- Delivery
- Free delivery on orders of $20 or more, within 2 miles.
- Reservations
- Daily until 8:00 PM.
- Catering
- Four days' notice. Call (732) 250-4101 to plan a menu.
- Drinks
- BYOB, with no corkage fee.
Is Montes Cafe authentic Mexican food?
Yes. Montes Cafe is a family-owned Mexican kitchen run by Celso Montes and his family, who are from Puebla, Mexico. It has been on the Boulevard for ten years, cooking traditional recipes from scratch - homemade birria, tacos, tortas, cemitas, and Mexican soups. It is a sit-down restaurant, not a boardwalk stand.
Does Montes Cafe take reservations?
Yes. Montes Cafe takes reservations until 8:00 PM, daily May through September and Monday through Saturday October through April. Request an indoor or outdoor table on the site, or call (732) 250-4101.
Where is Montes Cafe in Seaside Heights?
Montes Cafe is at 609 Boulevard, Seaside Heights, NJ 08751 - a block off the boardwalk. Open 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM, seven days a week May through September, and closed Sundays October through April. Call (732) 250-4101.
Is Montes Cafe BYOB?
Yes. Montes Cafe is BYOB - bring the beer or the bottle of wine you like. There is no bar, so there are no bar prices.
How do I order from Montes Cafe?
Order direct from Montes Cafe for pickup or delivery, or call (732) 250-4101. The kitchen needs about 30 minutes for pickup, and orders can be scheduled up to 24 hours ahead.
Come hungry. Leave part of the family.
Order online for pickup or delivery, or stop in at 609 Boulevard. BYOB — bring your own, we will bring the flavor.
