Budget
Pizza Alla Gargiulo
101 greene street, (http://pizzaallagargiulo.com). family owned italian pizzeria restaurant delivers thin crust brick oven pizza near exchange place.
El Sason de Las Americas
305 grove street. don't bother trying to speak english here; for the most part, everyone here speaks spanish only. the folks who man the linoleum counter at this, the best of the grove street area dives, respond best to pointing. the only word you really need to know anyway is pernil, spanish for pork. try the cuban sandwich. super cheap and super good.
The Great Khan
Newport mall food court. this location is currently not in operation. restaurant space in mall is boarded up and under construction. you might find a food court restaurant recommendation odd, but this mongolian-style barbecue place is one of the best deals in town! for $6, you get to fill a bowl with an assortment of meats chicken, beef, pork and lamb, veggies and sauces, and then watch as it's grilled in front of you and served with noodles. it's very healthy not greasy and quite satisfying!
Dosa Hut
777 newark avenue. although little india abounds with south indian restaurants serving dosas a kind of crepe, made from rice and yellow split peas, usually rolled around a filling of potatoes and cashews, the dosa hut probably has the widest selection possible, with 30 dosas to choose from. sorry meat-lovers, dosa hut as with many south indian restaurants is strictly vegetarian.
Fiesta Grill
655 newark avenue and little quiapo, 530 newark avenue. very cheap filipino "turo-turo" literally, point-point - as in, you point to the food you want to order restaurants. fiesta grill has a large dining room, while little quiapo is tucked away in the back of a shopping center. in front of the same shopping center is philippine bread house, a decades-old baking landmark for filipino pastries such as ensaymada, halaya, and pan de sal. the cafe inside the bread house also serves filipino cuisine, although it is not nearly as good as the dishes served at fiesta grill or little quiapo.
White Mana
480 tonnelle avenue us 1-9. by far the best grease pit burger joint. it has been in its current location since the 1940s, and served up prize-winning hamburgers at the 1939 new york world's fair.
Taqueria
236 grove street. a basic taqueria with simple yet satisfying mexican fare. note, this is not your typical "tex-mex" restaurant. the menu includes "rules such as "no oversized burritos," "no guacamole," and, emphatically, "no fajitas." however, with tacos ranging from $2.00 to $3.00, one can easily have a good meal that won't bust the budget. other basic and inexpensive mexican fare is available.
Isabella's Cafe
227 seventh street.
Midrange
Hard Grove Cafe
319 grove street at columbus drive, (http://www.hardgrovecafe.com/). near and dear to the hearts of long-time residents because of its long tenure at this location years ago it was just about the only non-dodgy place to get a meal downtown. it is a cuban-american diner with unique decor including plastic palm trees, acceptable food, great drinks, and decent but sometimes lacking service. previously owned by dominic santana, a local promoter who was known for his attempts to flaunt the city's restrictive cabaret laws and also known for owning the stone pony in asbury park. it has since gone under new ownership, who have made the decor a bit more colorful and added some fancier menu items while keeping the old favorites. also has a good selection of cuban rum mixed drinks.
Wild Fusion
313 grove street. this semi-malaysian place serves a variety of southeast asian dishes including coconut based curry, sushi, singapore noodles, or a variety of other asian fusion dishes. prices are very reasonable, even more so when you take into consideration that it is byob. try the crispy beef. outside seating is available during the warmer months.
Honshu Lounge
31 montgomery street 2nd floor, (http://www.honshulounge.com/).
Hamilton Inn
708 jersey avenue.
9th & Coles (9C)
174 coles street.
Madame Claude Cafe
364 fourth street, (http://www.madameclaudeca...). a tiny french bistro in an unlikely location at the edge of downtown, this restaurant is a tiny piece of paris in gritty jersey city.
Cafe La Rustique
611 jersey ave. great thin crust pizza, among the best in town try the mozzarella!, as well as quality salads and pasta.
Rita and Joe's Italian Restaurant
142 broadway. don't let this restaurant's location by the side of a busy highway put you off. this place has some of the best home-cooked italian food this side of jersey. be sure to check out their lunch buffet deal - all-you-can-eat for only $8.
Top end
Marco & Pepe
Marco & Pepe, 289 Grove Street, (http://www.marcoandpepe.com/). The quality of the food here is consistently among the highest in the city, as are the prices - both of which are more reflective of Manhattan than Jersey City, which is part of its continuing appeal. Little seating is available inside, so on the weekend it's likely a good idea to get reservations, as the place is always busy. During the summer, sidewalk seating is available so that you may look upon passersby with disdain as you consume conspicuously. Although prices can be high, entrees can be ordered in half-portions at a reasonable price.
Light Horse Tavern
199 washington street, (http://lighthorsetavern.com/). bring a fat wallet, because the entrees here range from $19-34. still, if you really want to drop some cash, this is one of the best places in jersey city to do it. the wine selection is good, and the food is outstanding. ambiance is very classy, with historical tidbits adorning the walls. the restaurant is named after "light horse harry" lee, father of robert e. lee, and local humiliator of the redcoats at the famous "battle of paulus hook" famous in paulus hook, at least.
The Merchant
The Merchant, 279 Grove St., (http://themerchantnj.com/). A lovely bar and grill housed in a former businessmen's association and private bank building. The vault now serves as a cooler. Sandwiches are $10, and entrees range from $16-$24; lunch prices are somewhat lower. The menu looks pretentious, but the staff is friendly and the place is quite welcoming. Sidewalk seating is available, weather permitting.
One of the great things about Jersey City is the diversity of its restaurant options. From wonderfully affordable Indian and Cuban restaurants to uber-trendy hotspots to elegant dining options offering stunning views of Manhattan with dinner, Jersey City has a little something for everyone.