Following several months of renovations at 3 Pelican Lane, Nollie’s Taco Joint is now open in Carolina Beach, serving California-style tacos, burritos and other Mexican specialties.
 
Owner E.J. Griffin said he modeled his menu after the Mexican food trucks he used to frequent in southern California.
 
“Our style is a little different than what you’ll find at other Mexican places in the area,” Griffin said. “It’s all very fresh and simple, but full of flavor.”
 
The menu includes tacos with grilled chicken, roasted pork, grilled skirt steak and fish. Griffin purchases mahi-mahi daily from Blackburn Brothers Seafood, just down the road in Carolina Beach.
 
“Every morning I buy what I think I’ll need for the day so it’s as fresh as possible,” Griffin said. “If we run out I just walk over and buy some more. I can’t imagine doing it any other way when we’re this close to the ocean.”
 
All of the tacos can also be made in to hearty burritos with a choice of beans and rice, or a salad in a crispy taco shell with lettuce and chili lime ranch dressing. Nollie’s makes all of their dressings, salsa, guacamole, marinades and sauces in house, according to Griffin.
 
In addition to a wide range of beer, both Mexican and domestic, Nollie’s cocktail menu includes a creative mix of libations created from beer and wine, all $6 or under. Drinks include twists on traditional Bloody Marys and margaritas as well as mimosas and sangria. There’s also the Mayday with Mexican beer, fresh lime juice, fresh muddled cilantro, jalapeno, pineapple puree and sweet and sour mix, and the 50-50 with Sam Adams Summer Ale and lemonade on the rocks.
 
Griffin, an avid skateboarder, named Nollie's after a skateboarding trick and decorated it with skate memorabilia he’s collected over the years. The interior seats about 20, while an outdoor patio seats another 16 to 20, just a half block from the ocean.
 
Nollie’s Taco Joint is located at 3 Pelican Lane in Carolina Beach and is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Griffin plans to extend the weekend hours as necessary.
 
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