The best Jersey City restaurants

Slurp away at this hip noodle joint with a boozy ice cream speakeasy. “The brothless mazemen is out of this world,” says Charlie Bini. “Unfortunately, I could never bring myself to try anything else, but I’m sure it’s all good.” He’s correct, but no matter your order, make sure you add the chili-charred edamame for the table.

Think Italian cooking got too twee? On Thursday nights, this red-sauce joint serves all-you-can-eat pasta feasts, taking you back not to Italy but to Italian America circa 1960.

Go on a Monday from 4pm to close for $13 bottomless mussels, implores Ashley Lyden, including classic French broths as well as ones with Madras curry and a coconut Thai bath.

Once you sit down in this brownstone’s Prohibition-era bar and order a 28-day dry-aged porterhouse and an old-fashioned, you’ll be in on the secret, too.

What was a '70s themed restaurant waxed their dining room into a dance floor and became Jersey City's thoroughly modern music venue and bar. The sharp onstage curation cares not about music genres, but rather can the act bring the noise, as it selects body-movers and shakers in every flavor from hip-hop to blues. Catch monthly '90s and New Wave dance parties as well live band karaoke. Fiittingly, the food menu is inspired by festival fare. 

“All of their dishes are filled with nuanced flavors, especially if you are looking for one that will make you sweat,” says Charlie Connell. “Some can’t-miss options are the Chengdu dandan noodles, the incendiary Guizhou spicy chicken and the sliced lotus root with pickled pepper, a vegetable dish about as far from the Western comfort zone as possible.”

Four words: French-onion-soup dumplings.

Caribbean food in chic digs. Order: scotch-bonnet honey wings.

If this falafel-and-shawarma stalwart ever bottles its hot sauce, this spot will be a household name outside of JC, too.

“At one time, it had the best pork tacos in town, served with a side of attitude—before the snowflakes Yelped too hard about hurt feelings,” says Jeff Ashbock. “They still have the best pork tacos, but they are now served with reluctant grins.” Insider tip: There’s also the Taqueria Downtown Catering Co., which has a cool vibe and strong-AF margaritas.

Ever-changing menu of old-school Italian favorites that everybody in the neighborhood swears by.

A mainstay of the neighborhood since 2002, this twee bistro offers French bites and a raw bar for Jersey City grubhounds. The decently lengthy menu stays true to classics—a selection of moules frites, savory crepes and charcuterie boards—that include entree staples like steak frites and duck confit.

Dine on upscale Mexican food that’s actually worth the price.

You can’t find a bad place to eat in the Little India section of JC. Our pick? Goat Roganjosh at PJs.

While New York Times’ critic Pete Wells claimed in 2017 that this is the best pizza in the New York City area, we’ve considered this true for years. Order the Bufala pizza, boasting New Jersey tomatoes and mozzarella cheese made from New Jersey water buffaloes.

Real-deal eats worthy of a New Jersey Italian grandmother served inside the Budinich family’s brownstone on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Do: Call to be invited over for dinner. 201-333-1476

Model diner from the 1939 World’s Fair. Order: the special—three cheeseburgers, fries and a drink for $6.50.