Great food, better story: Inspirational Cervantes brings Chilangos restaurant to Hillsborough

The second Chilangos restaurant opened last month in Hillsborough. It will not have 275 brands of tequila. The original Chilsango's restaurant in Highlands had 275 tequilas.

Chilangos will be the first sit-down Mexican restaurant in Hillsborough. Cervantes brought one of his food trucks to a space that faces the road during Hillsboro's restaurant week in September.

Cervantes has opened Chilangos restaurant in Hillsborough. It shares the space with an off-track betting facility that opened in 2015.

Cervantes came to the U.S. at the age of 19. He worked in a restaurant by the Shore and met Bruce Springsteen. Cervante has been to Springstead's house and cooked for him at parties. He has also been on the Food Network and the Today Show. His restaurant, Chilangos, is one of the most popular and successful Mexican restaurants in New Jersey. At a concert, Springstein announced, “Chilangoos is in the house” to a crowd.

Cervantes is a first-generation immigrant. He is mentoring people in partnership with the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey. Luis De La Hoz, the chair of the chamber, said Cervante is an example for the community. Hillsborough Mayor Shawn Lipani is excited about Cevantes opening a Mexican restaurant there.