The 30 best restaurants in Jersey City

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.

Jersey City has no shortage of Italian restaurants, but the views on offer at Battello make it stand out. The food is pretty darn magnificent, touching on all the classics with flourishes of innovation here and there, all accentuated with one of the city’s best wine lists. Make reservations ahead of time for this place, especially around the more romantic times of the year. 

Visit Bistro La Source for incredible mussels including classic French broths, ones with Madras curry, and a coconut Thai bath. Cocktails, oysters, octopus, steak and tons more are on offer too.

No, the menu doesn’t just consist of bread and salt. That wouldn’t be worth a mention in such a prestigious list, would it? Bread & Salt is the brainchild of pizza genius Rick Easton, and pizza lovers have been making the pilgrimage here since the doors swung open in 2019. This is pizza at its most innovative, so simply turn up and see what is on the sign, and dig in. You will not be disappointed. 

For dinner and drinks, Dullboy satisfies cravings for a finely-crafted cocktail, indulgent oysters, or a bone-marrow burger. At the creative, literature-inspired restaurant, you can find snacks like duck fat tater tots and cocktails like the Biddy (mescal, vermouth, amaro, and apple bitters).

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. Ron Swanson would probably enjoy eating here, and if it is good enough for Ron, it is good enough for us.

If your appetite for brunch includes room for bottomless Bellinis and mimosas, look no further than Fire & Oak. It’s tucked into the Newport Westin, serving up waterside views of the Hudson and Manhattan skyline, and offers a wide selection of salads, burgers, and seafood entrées.

“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 dan dan 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. Okay, there is a lot more to this place than delectable dumplings, but there is something about them that keeps us coming back for more, and more. The outdoor seating is among the best in the city, if you are the social type.

Where to begin? Hamilton Pork is located next to Hamilton Park, which automatically makes it the best restaurant name in the history of restaurant names. Shockingly, the menu focuses on all things pig and what a triumph it is. The habanero cheddar sausage is revolutionary, while the sandwiches prove the power of simplicity once more. Come for the name, stay for the pork.

Caribbean food in chic digs, marrying tradition and contemporary cuisine with all the grace and class of an experienced combatant. Order: scotch-bonnet honey wings. Actually, order anything and everything, because consistency is king here. 

What Ibby's Falafel lacks in a modern website it more than maes up for with its fabulous falafel. If this falafel-and-shawarma stalwart ever bottles its hot sauce, this spot will be a household name outside of JC, too. For now, we have it all to ourselves. How lucky are we?

Jersey City’s first Bangladeshi restaurant embraces slow food and good times, presenting the best Bangladeshi cuisine in a beautiful environment, Korai encourages patrons to eat with their hands, and we aren’t going to pass up the opportunity. The restaurant is currently only open for takeout and delivery, but expect that to change soon. 

“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.

An ever-changing menu of old-school Italian favorites that everybody in the neighborhood swears by. Laico's has been a stalwart of Jersey City's Italian food scene since opening in 1972, and here's to many more decades of culinary creativity from this famous family.

The ideal location for a special event, whether you’re booking a room or a table for two, Liberty House has some of the best NYC views this side of the Hudson. Even better, the menu will ensure you don’t miss Manhattan for a second, with fresh, farm-to-table offerings like saffron braised mussels and whole Mediterranean Branzino.

If the building itself—restored and airy—or the restaurant’s historical ties (the place is named after Virginian patriot Henry Lee III, aka “Light Horse Harry”) don’t immediately draw you in, the food sure will. Opt for items from the raw bar or heartier plates like classic meatloaf or grilled, aged rib eye.

You know what you are going to get at Ling Long Xuan, namely fantastic Chinese food impeccably served and beautifully presented. What more could anyone want? Sure, you can order a mountain of food to takeout, but why deny yourself the opportunity to sit down and relax?

Dine on upscale Mexican food that is actually worth the price. We like our restaurants to have a little bit of personality (read: a lot), and Órale! does not disappoint on the character front. If you consider yourself a guacamole expert, get ready to be humbled by the variety on offer here. 

You can’t find a bad place to eat in the Little India section of JC. Our pick? Goat Roganjosh at PJs. The decor at this place is brilliant, adding another layer of excellence to an exquisite dining experience, but the food and flavors remain king at PJs.

We’re not sure if there is an adage saying that the best pasta restaurants double up as pasta shops, but for the purpose of this entry, we are going to go with it. Pasta del Cuore is one such spot, a fresh pasta shop doling out flawless Italian food from Wednesday to Sunday. Might as well buy some pasta to take home too, right?

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

Nestled in the heart of the Grove Street neighborhood—and elevating your dining experience with towering ceilings, exposed-brick walls, and a romantic rooftop—Skinner’s Loft is a family-run joint that brings elegance and a relaxed evening out to the table. Dinner and brunch menus include modern dishes like whiskey-smoked beef brisket or red-velvet pancakes.

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

Okay, maybe this place gives Hamilton Pork a run for its money on the moniker front. Three Guys From Italy is a fantastic pizza restaurant on John F. Kennedy Boulevard, bringing together the collective creativity of (yes) three guys from Italy to create perfect pies. Get it by the slice or get it by the pie, but just get it. 

A model diner from the 1939 World’s Fair. Order: the special—three cheeseburgers, fries, and a drink for next to nothing. You are at a diner, after all, don't wade in expecting gourmet cuisine. This is food for the eyes and for the soul, social bites that will fill you up and make you smile. The history alone makes it worth a visit, and the food holds up its end of the bargain.

White Star is everything you could want from an American eatery without any of the excess frills you don’t have time for. Burgers are the focus at both locations of this homegrown chain, with options like an eight-ounce Pat La Frieda blend topped with aged cheddar and sugar-cured bacon and a veggie variety with avocado and chipotle mayo.

You know what you are getting from somewhere called Würstbar, right? A mountain of meat and a river of beer are brought together to create magic and good times. The beer and cider menu changes frequently, meaning there are always new brews to try, and the menu was seemingly built with social eating in mind. Well, that and booze, but you get the idea.