As an exciting urban destination just across the Hudson River from Manhattan, Jersey City has exploded into a major foodie hotspot boasting an eclectic restaurant scene. From waterfront fine dining to ethnic eateries in the diverse neighborhoods, Jersey City offers exceptional eats to satisfy any palate.

Restaurant Name	Cuisine/Style	Special Features
Liberty House	Contemporary American	Stunning views, local ingredients, outdoor patio
Razza	Pizza	Artisanal pizza, housemade mozzarella
Bread and Salt	Italian-American	Artisanal bakery and café, seasonal menus
Orale Mexican Kitchen	Mexican	Authentic cuisine, extensive tequila list
Abboccato	Italian Steakhouse	Dry-aged steaks, fresh pasta, homemade gelato
Win Son	Taiwanese	Street food, in-house noodles, dumplings
Porta	Italian (Pizza)	Neapolitan-style, large outdoor garden
Franklin Social	New American	Farm-to-table, located in a historic building
Madame Claude Bis	French Bistro	Classic French dishes, outdoor dining
Taqueria Downtown	Mexican (Tacos)	Housemade tortillas, salsa bar
Skinner’s Loft	American Bistro	Steakhouse fare, lava rock grill, cozy ambiance
White Eagle Hall	American Brasserie	Globally inspired, attached to performance venue

If you’re looking for the best places to eat in Jersey City, here are 12 must-try restaurants to add to your dining bucket list:

Liberty House Restaurant

Name and Location: Liberty House Restaurant, 76 Audrey Zapp Drive, Jersey City, NJ 07305

History and Significance: Opened in 2004, Liberty House is a popular waterfront restaurant located in Liberty State Park with stunning views of the Manhattan skyline. It’s known for its fresh seafood and extensive wine list.

What to Expect: Upscale American fare in a relaxed yet elegant setting. The seafood options like pan seared scallops and whole branzino are standouts. Extensive wine list with many options by the glass. Attentive service in the dining room or out on the patio.

Visitor Information: Open daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations recommended, especially for weekend dining. Valet parking available. Dress code is business casual.

Perched right on the Hudson River in Liberty State Park, Liberty House Restaurant boasts absolutely breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline and Lady Liberty. The contemporary American cuisine artfully incorporates local, seasonal ingredients.

Start off with crab cakes or tomato bruschetta before indulging in entrees like pan-seared salmon, steak frites or diver scallops. Save room for the flourless chocolate cake. Their outdoor patio is also splendid.

Razza

Name and Location: Razza, 275 Grove Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302

History and Significance: Razza is widely regarded as one of the best pizzerias in the NYC area. Opened in 2012, it has received national acclaim for its artisanal pizza and housemade mozzarella. Named a top pizzeria by publications like The New York Times.

What to Expect: High quality Neapolitan-style pizza with creative toppings and freshly made mozzarella cheese. Menu also includes salads, antipasti, and Italian entrees. Lively but casual atmosphere.

Visitor Information: Open for lunch and dinner daily. Get there early to avoid a wait. No reservations taken. Street parking available. Takeout is popular.

For some of the finest pizza in the country, pay a visit to Razza in Jersey City’s historic Paulus Hook area. Chef Dan Richer has perfected the art of pizza making, earning prestigious awards and accolades.

His brick oven pies with perfectly blistered and chewy crusts come topped with incredible housemade mozzarella, tomatoes, basil and other market-fresh ingredients. A slice of the margherita pizza makes for pizza nirvana.

Bread and Salt

Name and Location: Bread and Salt, 435 Palisade Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07307

History and Significance: This bakery and cafe opened in 2015, quickly becoming a neighborhood favorite for freshly baked goods and sandwiches. Known for their signature “sexy eggs” breakfast sandwich.

What to Expect: Counter-service cafe offering freshly baked breads, pastries, sandwiches, salads and more. Rustic, cozy space with indoor and outdoor seating. Groceries and baked goods available for takeout as well.

Visitor Information: Open daily for breakfast and lunch. No dinner service. Street parking available. Cash only. Gets crowded on weekends so go early or late.

This cozy bakery and café puts an artisanal spin on Italian-American comfort food, resulting in creative dishes like caprese egg sandwiches, short rib ravioli, and lemon ricotta pancakes.

Located in the McGinley Square neighborhood, Bread and Salt sources top ingredients from local farms to create their seasonal menus. Save room for dessert – their in-house baked breads and pastries are sublime.

Orale Mexican Kitchen

Name and Location: Orale Mexican Kitchen, 104 Erie St, Jersey City, NJ 07302

History and Significance: Orale opened in 2019, quickly becoming one of Jersey City’s hottest new restaurants for authentic Mexican cuisine and craft cocktails in a vibrant setting. The executive chef hails from Mexico City.

What to Expect: Creative Mexican dishes like duck carnitas tacos, elote, and ceviche, alongside classics like enchiladas and burritos. Full bar with Mexican beers, tequilas, and signature margaritas. Lively ambiance with music.

Visitor Information: Open daily for dinner, and weekends for brunch. Reservations recommended for dinner. Street parking available. Takeout and delivery options.

For incredible authentic Mexican cuisine, Orale in downtown Jersey City can’t be beat. Expect freshly made mole sauces, complex salsas, hand-pressed tortillas, and complex moles from Puebla-born Chef Omar Ramirez.

The flautas, ceviche, and chili verde are amazing. And their extensive tequila and mezcal list gives you lots of great options to pair with your meal in the vibrant and colorful interior.

Abboccato

Name and Location: Abboccato, 1315 Palisade Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07050

History and Significance: Abboccato is an Italian restaurant and wine bar that opened in 2007. It sources high quality ingredients from Italy and is known for handmade pastas, wood-fired pizzas, and an extensive Italian wine list.

What to Expect: Rustic Italian cuisine in a laid-back trattoria setting. Specialties include pasta, pizza, bruschetta, charcuterie and cheeses. Impressive wine list with many by-the-glass options. Outdoor garden seating available.

Visitor Information: Open daily for dinner, weekends for brunch. Reservations recommended, especially on weekends. Street parking and garage parking nearby.

This upscale Italian steakhouse on the Jersey City waterfront sourced from Italy dry-aged steaks, fresh pasta, cheeses, olive oils and more.

Their impressive selection of steaks like Chianina and Wagyu will delight any carnivore. Seafood lovers will also appreciate dishes like frutti di mare over linguine. And save room for homemade gelato or tiramisu to finish your meal on a sweet note.

Win Son

Name and Location: Win Son, 159 Moore St, Brooklyn, NY 11206

History and Significance: Win Son opened in 2016 in East Williamsburg, earning praise for its unique blend of Taiwanese-American cuisine. It was named one of the World’s Best Restaurants by Food & Wine magazine.

What to Expect: Creative small plates and bowls influenced by Taiwanese flavors and cooking techniques. Signature dishes include scallion pancakes, beef noodle soup, and mapo tofu.minimal industrial space.

Visitor Information: Only open for dinner Wednesday-Sunday. No lunch or brunch service. Reservations essential. Located in Brooklyn, not Jersey City.

Win Son brings the incredible flavors of Taiwanese street food to Jersey City in an airy, contemporary eatery. They make all their own noodles, dumplings, pickled and roasted meats in-house.

Menu standouts include the scallion pancakes, punchy mapo tofu, Taiwanese popcorn chicken, and anything with their signature xiao long bao soup dumplings. This trendy hot spot even has a full tea program.

Porta

Name and Location: Porta, 135 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07302

History and Significance: Opened in 2009, Porta quickly became a fixture in downtown Jersey City for its Neapolitan pizza and laid-back vibe. They have several locations now but Newark Ave remains the original.

What to Expect: Huge wood-fired pizzas with classic and creative toppings, sandwiches, salads and Italian entrees in a casual, artisanal setting. Also offers weekday lunch and weekend brunch. Lively ambiance.

Visitor Information: Open daily 11am-11pm. Reservations recommended for dinner. Street parking available but fills up. Takeout and delivery available.

For a fun night out in downtown Jersey City, head to Porta for Neapolitan-style pizza accompanied by inventive cocktails and craft beers. The huge outdoor garden area strung with lights feels like a slice of the Mediterranean.

Their artisanal wood-fired pizzas like the fungi with wild mushrooms and truffle cream are incredible. And dishes like polpette meatballs, burrata salads, and bruschetta round out a meal nicely.

Franklin Social

Name and Location: Franklin Social, 344 Grove St, Jersey City, NJ 07302

History and Significance: Franklin Social is a gastropub that opened in 2014, known for its extensive craft beer selection and American fare. They have trivia nights, live music, and outdoor seating.

What to Expect: Beer-focused gastropub offering wings, burgers, shared plates and more. Long list of craft beers on draft and in bottles/cans. Full bar. Weekend brunch served. Laid-back, lively ambiance.

Visitor Information: Open daily from 11:30am-2am. Happy hour weekdays from 4-7pm. Can get crowded on weekends – reservations recommended. Street parking available.

Located in a restored 1912 power station in the historic Harsimus Cove District, Franklin Social impresses with farm-to-table New American fare inside a chic, airy setting.

Start with tuna tartare tacos or pan-seared scallops before moving onto entrees like short rib cavatelli, seared salmon, or hanger steak. Their menu spans cuisine like seafood, pasta, flatbreads, salads and sandwiches.

Madame Claude Bis

Name and Location: Madame Claude Bis, 390 4th St, Jersey City, NJ 07302

History and Significance: Opened in 2011, Madame Claude Bis is a charming French bistro known for its classic French fare like escargot, coq au vin, and steak frites prepared by a French chef.

What to Expect: Authentic French cuisine like onion soup, croque monsieur, moules frites, and profiteroles in a cozy candlelit bistro setting. Outdoor seating available. Excellent wine list.

Visitor Information: Open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday, and brunch on Sundays. Reservations recommended. Street parking available.

For a taste of France, book a table at this charming French bistro on Grove Street offering classics like escargots, steak frites, moules frites, onion soup, and profiteroles.

Their outdoor garden dining area provides a perfect Parisian vibe. And you can’t go wrong with their cheese plates and wines by the glass. It’s the perfect spot for a romantic French-inspired meal.

Taqueria Downtown

Name and Location: Taqueria Downtown, 236 Grove St, Jersey City, NJ 07302

History and Significance: This tiny taqueria opened in 2008 in a downtown Jersey City alley, earning a following for its authentic Mexican street food like tacos, quesadillas, and tortas.

This casual downtown taco joint cranks out scrumptious housemade corn tortillas stuffed with a choice of protein like al pastor, chorizo, carnitas or chicken tinga.

Top with onions, cilantro and salsas from their salsa bar for customized tacos and burritos bursting with authentic Mexican flavors. And you can’t beat the prices at this popular neighborhood hangout.

Skinner’s Loft

Name and Location: Skinner’s Loft, 146 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07302

History and Significance: Skinner’s Loft is a gastropub that opened in 2009 in a historic downtown Jersey City building. It’s known for its craft beer selection and New American fare.

What to Expect: Gastropub menu of burgers, flatbreads, salads and entrees like steak frites. Extensive craft beer selection with dozens on draft. Full bar. Brunch served on weekends. Exposed brick interior.

Visitor Information: Open daily for lunch, dinner and weekends for brunch. Kitchen open late until 1am. Reservations recommended for dinner. Street parking available.

Housed in a converted 19th century railroad loft, this upscale American bistro specializes in steakhouse fare like dry-aged porterhouses and prime ribeyes seared on a hot lava rock grill right at your table.

Starters like lobster bisque and mains like seafood paella exemplify their creative approach to contemporary cuisine. The exposed brick interior provides a trendy-yet-cozy ambiance.

White Eagle Hall Restaurant

Name and Location: White Eagle Hall Restaurant, 337 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07302

History and Significance: Opened in 2015 attached to the revived White Eagle Hall music venue. Known for its New American cuisine and cocktails, drawing crowds before concerts.

What to Expect: Farm-to-table American fare like flatbreads, burgers, salads and entrees. Full bar with cocktails and local beers. Lively scene before concerts next door. Sunday brunch.

Visitor Information: Open weekdays 11:30am-10pm, until 11pm on weekends. Reservations recommended for weekend dining. Street parking available.

Attached to the restored performance venue downtown, White Eagle Hall Restaurant serves globally inspired American brasserie cuisine in a chic, industrial setting.

The menu offers starters like tuna poke nachos, entrees like duck confit and salmon under a brick, and house signatures like the White Eagle burger. With live music in the backdrop, it’s a lively dinner-and-a-show destination.

Conclusion

From scenic waterfront dining to tacos served out of a cool downtown taqueria, Jersey City truly offers an outstanding diversity of dining options to satisfy any craving. Use this list to experience the top eateries and flavors that this dynamic food city has to offer from Italian to Mexican and beyond.

With so many incredible restaurants, it may take more than one trip to eat your way through marvelous Jersey City!