Ambassador is a Newark institution that expanded into Jersey City without losing its edge. It is not a restaurant that obsesses over presentation. It is about fried chicken, delivered in portions so large you wonder if you misheard the order.
The chicken is consistently excellent. The skin shatters when you bite it, giving way to juicy, well-seasoned meat. It comes in boxes stacked high, meant to be shared but often devoured solo. Wings, breasts and legs all come fried to order, and the seasoning lands squarely in that sweet spot of salty, savory and just peppery enough.
Sides deserve their own attention. Collard greens are slow-cooked until tender, macaroni and cheese is thick and creamy, and cornbread arrives with a touch of sweetness that makes it feel almost like dessert. Put together, it becomes a full meal that stretches across the table.
The space is unfussy, the staff are direct and the regulars keep up a steady stream of conversation. Sports play on the TV, orders are called out from behind the counter and the smell of fry oil permeates the air in a way that makes you hungrier the longer you wait.
Ambassador thrives because it knows exactly what it is: a fried chicken shop that does it better than almost anyone else. The new location hasn’t diluted that reputation, it has simply made it easier for another group of locals to get in on it.