The 20 best restaurants in Jersey City

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Hailed as the best pizza in the New York City area by The New York Times and many others, Razza Pizza Artigianale is not your typical Jersey slice. Founder and James Beard-honored chef Dan Richer aims for farm-to-table goodness here, with local ingredients like fresh mozzarella made by Caputo Bros. in Pennsylvania and flour milled just down the road in Clifton.

The thick, crusty sourdough is baked in house—and the butter is churned here, too. The Calabrese and Santo pies—each drizzled with a kick of chili oil—are go-to staples, but definitely try the seasonal pies, like the hazelnut or the Cavolini, topped with brussels sprouts, anchovy, and lemon.

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Don't worry, the menu isn't only bread and salt, although both ingredients are used to make magic. Tucked away on Palisade Ave. in the Heights, Rick Easton’s Roman bakery serves up old school cookies, panettone, and bombolini, but is especially known for its airy thick-crust pizza, overstuffed sandwiches, and inspired salads and entrees. Expect lines at least 40-minutes deep (or longer) for Bread and Salt's Friday-Saturday-Sunday only counter service. Worth the wait? Definitely.

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Battello serves up most peoples' vision of Jersey City—a breathtaking view of the glittering New York skyline. Offering upscale Italian fine dining, Battello (which also offers parking, a JC rarity!) is definitely date night or wedding reception-worthy, and the food doesn’t disappoint, either.

Local favorites include the savory pecorino zeppole and classic ricotta gnocchi, but don’t miss the roasted octopus or fennel-ginger pork chops either. A more budget-friendly bar menu—complete with burgers, wings, and a lobster roll—gives high-end vibes with a more affordable (but still delicious) tab.

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This old school Italian trattoria is a no-fuss red sauce joint—the founding family, the Fiores, won’t let you mess with their magic (yes, you can get sauce on the side, but don’t you dare ask Raymond to add marinara to a white pie.)

Roman Nose has served up homemade pasta (get the orecchiette con salsiccia) and seasonally-inspired pies for 15 years, but it's a must-try for its meatballs, especially. They’re melt-in-your-mouth tender, and the crusty, mozzarella-topped ciabatta sangweech, as they call it, makes the perfect, hearty snack for two.

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A Jersey City institution, Wonder Bagels (now with five Jersey City outposts and counting) inspires blocks-long lines on the weekends at its downtown location, where the bagels are baked in-house and the schmear is plentiful. Try the sesame or everything bagels served hot (no need to toast) with cream cheese and lox, or nab a pork roll if it heals what ails ya.

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It can be hard to choose an Indian restaurant given the plenitful options on Newark Avenue’s bustling India Square, but those in the know will pick Rasoi—a Jersey City staple since 1996—every time. The restaurant offers a classic yet elevated Mughalai menu. Favorites include the classic butter chicken and biryani, but the tandoori maal is worth the splurge, especially the succulent lamb seekh kebabs and tandoori shrimp.

Rasoi also offers Jain food, and the Indo-Chinese options round out the menu nicely, meaning there’s something for everyone. And given inflation, the weekend buffet is an actual bargain.

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Tucked away on a stretch of Newark Ave. that lives between downtown and Journal Square, Ling Long Xuan is Chinese done right. Come for the reliably good (and relatively affordable) American Chinese lunch specials for a quick bite, but stay for the steaming soup dumplings (both pork and chicken), pan-fried noodles, mapo tofu, and especially the spicy Chong Qing Style Chicken.

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More than just cheap eats done right, White Mana Diner is a local landmark and about as old school as a diner can get. The diner has stood at a busy corner on Tonnelle Ave. since 1946 and serves up vintage smash sliders with a mild char and layer of mouthwatering sweet onion and melted cheese. This diner is the very definition of classic— it opened as the “diner of the future” during the 1939 New York World’s Fair.

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Yes, late night fave Ani Ramen is known for its stellar ramen—including the chef’s special stamina ramen and the delightfully savory short rib ramen (preferably with a hit of chili oil). But it’s got something for everyone, including a variety of donburi bowls, like pulled pork and soy-glazed chicken, charred edamame, and the spicy-sweet roasted kurobuta sausage. The bite-sized and flavor-packed bao buns, like the crispy panko shrimp with creamy miso-spiked mayo, is a must try.

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A downtown staple since 2004, Amiya offers Indian fine dining in an elegant setting in the Paulus Hook neighborhood near the waterfront. You'll find all your Desi favorites like butter chicken, stellar samosas, and chicken 65, but more adventurous eaters will be able to indulge here with regional dishes like the Goan chicken xaccuti and shrimp curry, old school keema mattar, Kashmiri dum aloo, and especially the Rajasthani lamb chops, which are a tandoori must-try.

Time Out tip: Order the lunch box special deals to-go—chicken or shrimp, the veggie of the day, plus naan and rice, enough to serve two.

Technically The Hive is a coffee shop, but given the lines and longing for its now iconic blueberry cinnamon rolls—served on weekends only and complete with their very own FAQ on the cafe's website—it definitely earns its spot on this list. The thing to order here is the famous "cinny rolls," but if you miss them nab some of the other delightful bakery options, like scones and coffee cake. Wash it all down with a sweet cereal milk latte.

Time Out tip: Can't make it to Jersey Ave.? Don't worry if it's distance or patience that prevents you from getting a cinny roll, because The Hive ships them nationwide through Goldbelly.

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With two Jersey City outposts, White Star Bar has long ranked for some of the best burgers downtown, but it also holds its own for wings and things, specifically the oversized garbage salad (IYKYK) and a gooey mac-n-cheese. My go-to here is always the Greenville burger—topped with jalapeno, grilled onions, and pepperjack—and onion rings, which I order in place of fries. Or better yet, get both. This is the perfect spot for a pint with pals, or a quick family dinner with kids in tow.

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Hamilton Pork (located adjacent to Hamilton Park) scores big in the punny names game, but this not-so-staid sister restaurant to the revered Hamilton Inn is better known for its straightforward and saucy Tex-Mex take on all things BBQ. Get your fill of brisket, smoked turkey, and especially those finger-lickin’ kung pao ribs and wings. Leave room for the churro ice cream sandwich.

It would be super easy to totally miss this lowkey shopfront on the corner of Columbus and Jersey Avenue—if not for the intoxicating aromas of Caribbean cooking that start wafting out the open doors from about 10 am onward. Nicole's Caribbean is old school grandma cooking. An absolute bargain by downtown Jersey City standards—they still have an $8 lunch special, and the Tuesday and Thursday curry chicken and cabbage is divine—the menu includes Jamaican patties, curry goat, and dhal puris, plus homemade coconut cake and ginger beer.

For fresh and fast Mexican done right, Jersey City staple Taqueria Downtown offers two cozy Grove street locations, serving up tacos, tamales, tortas—but no fajitas or nachos—and plenty of attitude. Get in early to grab some of the freshly fried chips and homemade salsa on the patio. It’s a Jersey City rite of passage.

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Run by a mother and daughter team, this is traditional Bangladeshi home cooking with a high end, handcrafted feel. Korai Kitchen currently serves eight-course Dawat dinners through by reservation on weekends only—and that res can be hard to score. Is it worth the effort? 100 percent. They’re serving up specialties like Hilsa fish curry with eggplant and potatoes and pan-fried Pomfret, plus slow cooked curried goat and beef dishes, and Amma’s signature spicy aloo bortha.

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This James Beard finalist is a Jersey City example of Italian home cooking at its finest—and literally served at home. Scoring a reservation at 15 Fox Place could take many months (literally), but it's worth the wait to sit down in Mama’s own dining room to a $105 five-course prix fixe menu of 19 not-so-small plates that are sure to delight. Think meatballs, sausage-and-peppers, handmade ravioli in Sunday sauce—we’re already swooning.

Time Out tip: 15 Fox Place doesn't use the usual online booking platforms, so call the restaurant to score a res.

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Between the gorgeous downtown space—which still offers outdoor seating—and the stellar margarita menu, Orale Mexican Kitchen is the perfect spot for date night and girls’ night. High-end Mexican that won’t leave you hungry, there’s plenty to indulge in here, from the truffle ribeye burrito to the borracho fish tacos. Some go-to faves for snacking are perfect pairings with a late night cerveza or margarita: the queso flameado and a lip-smacking ceviche.

A West Side staple since 1972, Laico's is old school Jersey Italian done right. Think rigatoni bolognese and sole oreganata, brick oven pizza, chicken parm, and plenty of charm. Plus, salad and homemade garlic bread, of course, because this is a family run joint.

A local favorite since 1968, Torico more than holds its own against other ice cream shops like the formidable Milk Sugar Love and even the new Van Leeuwen on Grove Street. With more than 40 homemade, handcrafted flavors—plus ice cream sandwiches, soft serve, and cakes—there’s something for every sweet tooth here. Stop in to check out seasonal favorites like maple walnut or ginger, or try one of their rich originals, like lychee or coffee royale.