Take our Asbury Park taco crawl and find birria, al pastor and more on Main Street

Want to know a great way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo?

A taco crawl.

Main Street in Asbury Park is lined with Mexican restaurants, making it the perfect place for such a trip — and we are speaking from experience. On a particularly delicious day, we started between Asbury and First avenues, walked south and ended at the corner of Mattison Avenue.

Less than 10 minutes of walking delivered more than a dozen tacos, and if we had more time — and weren't so full — there would have been more from other restaurants nearby.

Here are five places to hit on your own taco crawl.

El Guacamole

This was the first stop on our taco crawl, and let's just say, it definitely got us craving more tacos.

This strong start included chorizo tacos and al pastor tacos with juicy pineapple on top. The chorizo was zesty, salty and slightly crisped — just how we like it. The tender al pastor made for a lighter taco, and at El Guacamole, no taco comes without a generous dollop of guacamole.

Tacos also come with the classic lime wedges, plus radishes to help clear your palate between bites. Because trust us, no matter how many tacos you eat here, you'll want more.

Go: 808 Main St., Asbury Park; 732-361-3363, facebook.com/elguacamolepointpleasant. Also at 3126 Bridge Ave., Point Pleasant Beach; 848-241-5544.

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Mayan Restaurant

While there are plenty of classic taco options to try here, like juicy chicken smothered in cilantro and onions, one interesting variety stuck out to us.

You have probably had fish or shrimp tacos, but none are like Mayan Restaurant's tacos governador, which come with melt-in-your-mouth shrimp, mozzarella, peppers and onions. The combination of flavors makes for the perfect umami taste, complemented by the freshness of the veggies.

These tacos are a little on the messy side, thanks to the juiciness of the shrimp, making the tortillas a bit less crisp. But trust us, it's worth the napkins.

The chicken tacos are great, too, especially with a drizzle of the spicy salsas served on the side.

Go: 806 Main St.; 732-361-6211, mayanrestaurantnj.com.

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Los Barbaros Birria

If you haven't yet tried the dipping tacos at Los Barbaros Birria, you are truly missing out.

These restaurants started out as true birrierias, meaning they sell only birria, a dish derived from a slow-cooked Mexican stew traditionally made with goat (at Los Barbaros Birria and most others around here, it's beef). The meat is used in multiple ways, including tacos served with cup of the rich cooking liquid for dipping; mulitas, which are similar to quesadillas but not folded; sandwiches called tortugas; quesabirrias; and birria ramen.

If you need something sweet to balance the richness, try a sweet bread called conchita filled with ice cream, Nutella, strawberries and whipped cream.

Go: 704 Main St.; 732-361-5460, losbarbarosbirriabelmar.com. Also at 1110 Main St., Belmar; 848-404-9041,

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Joe's Rotisseria

This one is a little different than the others, and certainly not traditional.

Joe's Rotisseria is known for its wild pizzas and fresh rotisserie chicken, but its empanada tacos are gaining a following, too. Made using empanadas fried long enough for their shells to naturally pop, the tacos are stuffed with cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion.

We tried beef and cheese, as well as Buffalo chicken, both of which were perfectly seasoned with owner Joe Brignoni's secret spice blend.

The beef and cheese version was extremely crave-worthy — the flavors reminded us of a cheesesteak — while the Buffalo chicken had a spicy edge (but not overwhelmingly so for those who fear the heat). Definitely come hungry because these "tacos" are whoppers.

Go: 504 Main St., Asbury Park; 732-898-9000, orderjoesrotisseria.com.

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Tic Taco Taqueria

These are the tacos dreams are made of.

At the new Tic Taco Taqueria, we tried a taco that was new to us: campechanos, made with Mexican sausage, steak and pork rinds. Topped with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro and chopped onions and served with lime and slices of radish and cucumber, these were full of flavor, and we loved the crunch from the crisped pork rinds on top.

We also tried suadero tacos, made with beef cooked with pork lard; asads, or grilled beef; and al pastor. Each was a hit, and paired with cups of pineapple aguas frescas, they made for a truly memorable meal.

Go: 300 Main St.; 732-361-5299, tictacotaquerianj.com.

Gabriela L. Laracca joined the USA Today Network New Jersey in 2021 and eagerly brings her passion for cuisine and culture to our readers. Send restaurant tips to [email protected].

Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to [email protected], follow on Instagram at Jersey Shore Eats and subscribe to our Jersey Shore Eats newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Asbury Park taco crawl: Find birria, al pastor and more