Korai Kitchen (NO DINE-IN WITHOUT RESERVATIONS!)

My partner and I had the good fortune of joining the Saturday night dine-in experience. The experience was absolutely lovely. Our host was welcoming and accommodating, the atmosphere was warm and intimate, and the food is just *chef’s kiss* perfect — very authentic home cooking approved by my born-and-raised Bangladeshi partner. We took home almost 3 days worthy of leftovers and they heat up nicely too. 10/10 will visit again!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I had ordered the Goat Biryani for a special occasion. Unfortunately, it was a big let down. And this was after waiting for the order for lot lot more time than usual since they ran out (to be fair they did call and asked if we wanted a refund or chicken biryani instead. However, we decided to go ahead with the goat option). The biryani was drenched in ghee; honestly, I don't mind ghee, if the flavors are right. However, the rice and meat, both were not seasoned well. And the meat had no flavors infused in it at all. It was a far cry from how a biryani meat should taste. And trust me when I say this; I know my food really well. It hurts all the more coz it was quite expensive. All in all, a very disappointing dinner.

Food: 2

Punjabi‑Bengali vegetarian comfort cooking centered on bhortas and fish curries in a casual setting.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Easily one of the best takeout experiences I’ve had. The food was incredible—packed with flavor and clearly made with care. What really stood out was the handwritten note they included, along with a complimentary side dish and tips on how to enjoy it. That kind of personal touch is rare. Even just picking up the order, the staff were warm and welcoming from the second I walked in. Can’t wait to order again!

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Chicken Curry

I absolutely loved this experience! From the moment I walked in, I could tell this place was something special. The atmosphere was intimate and full of personality—but the real magic? The food.

Every dish felt personal, full of depth and care. You could taste the heart and soul in every bite—so much love went into the cooking. The flavors were rich and complex, but still comforting and familiar. It was the perfect introduction to Bangladeshi food.

If you're looking for something unique, genuine, and truly delicious, this is it. I’ll be thinking about this meal for a long time.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Look, you’re reading this review because you already know how delicious this place is. The only down side to Korai is it’s far from where I live and it’s ruined fish for me because nobody does it anywhere as good as them.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We had the 3-hour course meal for dinner and it was truly an unforgettable experience. It was such a pleasure meeting the chef and her daughter, who run the place so smartly and gracefully. I absolutely loved how Bangladeshi cuisine was introduced and presented — it's incredibly rare to find a restaurant that stays true to authentic Bangladeshi flavors without mixing in Indian dishes just to please the crowd.

The chef’s creativity really stood out. As someone who’s quite picky and critical with food, I was blown away. It takes a truly talented chef to make you crave another bite even when you’re completely full — and that’s exactly what happened. The food was fresh, lightly marinated, and full of flavor. My husband was transported back to the taste of his mother’s cooking, and I left feeling inspired to try making some of the dishes at home.

This kind of authenticity and warmth is so hard to come by — I’ve already told all my NYC friends about it and will definitely be coming back. A beautiful, delicious, and heartwarming experience all around.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We are Bengali and the food is the most authentic we’ve found in both New York and New Jersey. Taste like it was made by family, give them a try.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

It’s Bangladesh version of omakase! 8 courses & 3 hours long meal, every second is so interesting and meaningful!

I tried to eat using my hand for the first time and it was such a great experience

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I had been meaning to visit Karai Kitchen for quite some time. It’s a family-run spot in Jersey City that serves Bangladeshi-style comfort food, rooted in the heritage of immigrant home cooking. On this recent trip to Jersey City, I finally made it happen—and I’m glad I did.

We called ahead to order lunch and were told it would be ready in 15 minutes. True to their word, it was ready right on time. Since it was our first visit, the host was incredibly warm and welcoming—she even offered us a complimentary dal bharta (mashed lentils), which was a lovely gesture.

We ordered the combo meal featuring Shrimp Dhopiaza, a mildly spiced tomato-onion curry with jumbo prawns, served with steamed rice, alu bharta (spiced mashed potatoes), and a light, comforting dal. As a Bengali myself (originally from Kolkata), the flavors felt deeply nostalgic—like a meal from home. The shrimp curry came with five large prawns, nicely cooked and flavorful, though a bit too oily for my taste.

The dal was the real highlight for me—simple, aromatic, and soul-satisfying. Paired with the rice and mashed potatoes, it was the ultimate comfort meal. The complimentary dal bharta was thoughtful, although it was served cold, which slightly took away from the experience.

The portion sizes were generous—the rice easily served two, the mashed potato was a single portion, and the curry had plenty of protein. Overall, we enjoyed the meal and the warmth of the service.

#EatWithYourHand

Food: 4

Service: 4

The dine in experience had 8 courses over 3 hours. Everything was fantastic, and whatever you can't finish gets packed. Great food, great experience, highly recommended.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Ordered takeout and it was so delicious! Coconut curry chicken was one of the best I’ve ever had. So happy to have found this spot and can’t wait to order again

A truly exceptional dining experience in Jersey City. We went to a recent dawat dinner so we could try different dishes and were completely blown away. The food and service were incredible and Nori did such a wonderful job explaining the context behind the meal. It is a 3 hour meal and you get so much food! All of the flavors were so different from each other and it was fun to mix different things together as the meal progressed. We had several different mashes, dal, fried eggplant, mixed veg, fried river rish, chicken roast, curry beef, shrimp curry, egg curry and biryani. And of course lots of rice!!! The dal was the best I've ever had and the chicken roast was to die. Its way too much food to eat in one sitting, so whatever you don't finish gets packed up to go home with you. The leftovers are somehow even better the next day.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I was surprised by how different the biryani was compared to what I usually have, but their food has incredible flavour. It certainly grew on me. Also, they seem very passionate about their food which adds extra trust and wholesomeness.

Food: 5

Service: 5

My heart and belly is full after visiting korai kitchen for their feasting dine in menu (dawat dinner). There was too much food served to the point where I had to stop eating midway and have everything else packed. They are generous with their portions and the food is delicious, all home cooked by a Bengali mother herself. My favorite are the bortas and roast chicken. Will be back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5