Soul Food Restaurants near Jersey City, NJ

“Came across this restaurant as I was searching for Black owned eateries in this new neighborhood we just moved to. When we arrived, the exterior was a little off putting, LOL! So glad Shaun himself stepped out as well as a gentleman who came to pick up his order. We got to ask his opinion of the food. He told us this was his 7th time back so we thought, Let’s give it a try! $58 later, we got 3 meals and WOW! Delicious!!! Everything was so GOOD! Catfish, Yams, Mac n Cheese (and I am VERY picky about Mac n cheese), Honey Garlic Salmon, BBQ wings, rice and gravy and that cornbread!!!! Definitely coming back! I hope this review helps another skeptic not miss out on a GREAT SPOT!!!!! Worth the try! The portions are hearty! So glad we decided to give it a shot!!!“

“I had the most phenomenal dining experience at Kings Pride, a Nigerian restaurant in Jersey City. The exceptional customer service by the owner, Veronica, truly made it stand out. Veronica went above and beyond to bring the essence of Nigerian cuisine to our table, even taking us behind the scenes to demonstrate the traditional preparation of the dishes. Her passion for sharing the culture and flavors of Nigeria was truly inspiring. The Jollof rice with stewed goat was an absolute standout, bursting with rich, aromatic flavors that left a lasting impression. The Ogbono soup was a true staple of Nigerian cuisine and paired perfectly with a side of fufu. The classic homemade Zobo drink was a refreshing and delightful complement to the meal. Veronica's warm hospitality and her dedication to showcasing the authenticity and rich cultural heritage of Nigerian cuisine made our experience truly memorable. Kings Pride is more than just a restaurant; it's a place that brings people together through the love for great food and the celebration of Nigerian traditions. I highly recommend Kings Pride as a must-visit for anyone seeking an authentic and enriching culinary experience. Veronica's commitment to preserving and sharing the intricacies of Nigerian cuisine deserves the utmost support to keep this remarkable restaurant thriving.“

“I have ordered and eaten at this restaurant it is a nice cozy place to meet with friends and family to have a good meal. You can also order out . I definitely recommend! I will be booking some events here in the near future….“

“Great ambience, excellent service and delicious soulful food. I had an amazing experience 👍🏼“

“I never eat chicken breast because they are too dry, but I can say this is the best fried chicken I’ve eaten from a restaurant. Juicy not greasy I wasn’t tired after I ate the meal absolutely delicious!“

“Kawana and Natorie provided outstanding service and was very welcoming when entering the restaurant. Kawana made sure that my food was fresh. I would come here again.“

“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that the cornbread was so good coming from a place called “Cornbread Brooklyn “

But there I was being assailed by the flavors and softness of their cornbread. I spent a few years living down South, and I can’t get southern food this good down there.

Their fried chicken was flavorful and crispy.

The Mac and cheese was maybe a little drier than ya mom’s mac on Thanksgiving, but if she brought this out you’d still have seconds.

And that Southern Twang was the Twangiest.

Will definitely drop by again“

“First time in Harlem, the best food hands down.. we ate everything on our plates!Customerservice. Great and friendly would definitely recommend definitely visit again. Will definitely continue to share how great Sylvias in Harlem was We also bought her seasoning and hot sauce“

“?✨ A Dining Experience to Remember! ✨?

Walking into this spot, you’re immediately greeted by vibes for days – a perfect mix of warmth, style, and soul. From the first glance to the last bite, every detail has been crafted to create a true haven of comfort, beauty, and incredible flavors. ?✨

? Ambience & Aesthetic: This place is pure aesthetic heaven. Live plants add a lush, earthy vibe, while the stunning tables and floors tie the whole look together, giving it that cozy, chic feel. Every corner feels intentional, and the art on the walls brings a personality that just makes you want to stay and soak it all in. ??

? Music: The playlist? Perfection. ?? It feels like the heartbeat of the room, setting a chill but lively atmosphere that’s perfect for anything from a family meal to a date night. The tunes just pull you in, making you feel right at home.

? The Food: Let’s talk about that mac ’n cheese! This isn’t just any mac ’n cheese – it’s the kind that makes you feel like you’re back at Auntie’s house on a Sunday afternoon. Each forkful is pure, cheesy goodness, rich and comforting, like that first bite that makes kids run in from outside yelling, “DINNERTIME!” ?️? The chicken, greens, and yams were also top-notch, each one a testament to flavors that feel like home. It’s more than just food; it’s a trip down memory lane with every bite. ?

?‍? Staff: The team here is beyond incredible! From the warm welcome to the attentive service, they make you feel like family. Friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate, they add that extra sparkle to the whole experience. ???

Final Word? Loving god vibes good and a great space….- this place hits all the marks. It’s where flavors meet family, where aesthetics meet artistry, and where every corner invites you to savor, relax, and stay a while. ??

If you’re looking for more than just a meal, but a whole experience, this is it. Trust me – you’ll leave with a full belly, a happy heart, and already planning your next visit. ??️

Parking: Street

Kid-friendliness: Very“

“The staff was extremely helpful“

“Loved the food. Authentic southern style cuisine.“

“Visiting from New Orleans and a friend took us here. I didn’t expect much from a soul food restaurant, since I am a southern girl and good cook I am told, BUT I WAS BLOWN AWAY!!! The JD turkey wings, Mac & Cheese, Cabbage and yams!! And don’t forget the potato salad. We LOVED EVERYTHING. The entire staff was friendly and professional. We will be back. It was five of us and we had the rib, chicken, turkey wings, …All cooked to perfection!“

“Just got back from a thoroughly enjoyable meal at Shaw-naé’s House on Van Duzer. The sangria was plentiful, the food was fresh, hot and tasty, the wait staff attentive, and the ambience was perfecto (my wife sang to ALL the songs!). Too full for dessert, but I was eyeing that peach cobbler! Next time!“

“My friends and I went to the restaurant on a Wednesday rainy day I had the cinnamon raisin french toast with chicken and the fried shrimp it was very good the french toast is amazing. We also had the bottom less mimosas when I tell you they never let the glass hit the bottom. The service was excellent very positive and comfortable environment we sat for a while. we ate talked and danced and the staff continued to accommodate us beyond our reservation time limit. I will definitely visit Chocolat' again when in New York“

“Although, born and raised in the BX and Harlem, I live in the Bay Area, CA 34yrs. I'm visiting fam in Harlem and they took me to BLVD Bistro. The food and service, exceptional! Love, love, love the greens, fried fish, yams, mashed potatoes and sausage gravy 😋“

“you think your grandma is in the kitchen. you really won't believe hiw good all the food is.“

“Hands down best soul food spot in NYC“

“This is a cool spot. Simple but delicious food. Really enjoyed our experience!“

“My partner and I were lookin for a soul food spot. He googled it n said they were one of the first ones to pop up. We drove from Queens to get it. N we were not disappointed at all. Especially, since we’re both super picky n food is our love language. We love tryin restaurants together. The restaurant is quite cozy n homey. When we got there it was a good amount of people, all different races n ethnicities. Which is a good look! Darryl’s was amazing. We were able to test some of our food before we paid for them. Everything was amazing. I got rice and gravy, fried chicken, potato salad and collard greens. My partner got Mac n cheese, collard greens, potato salad n breast bites(boneless chicken pieces). We also got their signature “soul lemonade”. We then decided to get their dessert “strawberry n cream pudding”. 5 out of 5“

“The food was absolutely delicious, highly recommend“

“Visiting La Donna Re's was an amazing experience. The restaurant provided a delicious blend of Caribbean and soul food cuisine! The flavors were tasty and authentic in every bite. The jerk chicken was perfectly spiced, and I could tell the mac was made with quality cheese. The Friendly service added to the enjoyable dining experience. Definitely a must-try for anyone craving a taste of the Caribbean!“

“Awesome food and like the most of their dishes“

“Even after a disaster with a door dasher stealing my food the staff at this restaurant went above and beyond to help me! I’ve tried almost everything on the menu and can tell you hands down this is the BEST soul food I have ever had! They have a customer for life with me!!“

“Hands down best soul food spot in NYC“

“Scrumptious food! And they're practicing and implemented covid-19 safety measures for their customers.“

“Wow, this place was great. It was recommended to us, and it lived up to the expectations. The server was cool. She made small talk with us. The drinks were strong. Thank you to the bartender. You must try the Ohhhh Weeeee. Had two, and I am feeling it. No, i was not driving. The food was fresh cooked to order. So expect a little wait. You will not be disappointed. I recommend the salmon burger. It was moist. Cook to perfection.“

“I'm really impressed for my first time dining here. The food arrived hot, fresh, and in ideal portions. I was full all day after lunch! Without a doubt, I'll be back soon to sample more of the menu!“

“Delicious food and more than generous helpings.“

“The food is locally sourced daily. They offer 4/5 delicious entrees with delectable sides. Service was warm & attentive. Can't wait to return!!!“

“I took food to my job and they loved I brought a pan of yellow rice cabbage and a $20 pan of potato salad and took it to my job cause we had a birthday party for a coworker. They loved the food they never had it before I live in South Amboy but I’m from Newark work in Matawan at the nursing home, and they never had the flu before they loved it. Good job, kings.“

“I ordered a deep fried turkey and lobster fried rice from Blossom’s and when I tell you there wasn’t anything left but bones and gristle. The turkey was seasoned and fried to perfection. The lobster fried rice was also a game changer!! You can’t go wrong ordering anything from their menu. I would like to thank Blossoms for making soul food great again. Last and certainly not least from the bartender to the entire staff was courteous, professional and respectful.“

“THIS FOOD IS SLAM DUNKING IT!!! DELICIOUS 😋
I ATE IT FOR BREAKFAST the NEXT DAY. COLLARD GREENS, MAC &CHEESE, SAUTÉED SHRIMP, JERK PASTA, FRIED CHICKEN 🍗, YAMS, AND GARLIC BROCCOLI
YUMMMY
THANKS CROOKLYN 😊. EXPENSIVE BUT WORTH IT!!“

“I Am Always So Happy To Order Anything On Their Delightful Menu. The Food Is Always Prepared With Love And Care!! .. The Dinners Are Hot And Oh So Delicious! .. I Highly Recommend Jefferson's Cafe! Absolutely And Unequivocally Delicious Homemade Food!!! 10 STARS!!!!“

“I was told about this spot thru a friend. I decided to check it out.
Food was very fresh, and tasty. I had the crab legs, shrimp, noodles, potatoes, and corn in a bag, with the signature sauce. So good!
I love the ambiance, music playing (not to loud) for you to bop your head to…but you can also have a conversation without yelling.
Service was on point and on time. For good food and chill vibes, I recommend ESO PESCO. I will definitely come again.“

“you think your grandma is in the kitchen. you really won't believe hiw good all the food is.“

“Wish I could try this man’s food. It was very interesting how I came to be at this establishment today. Went into a place next-door that wasn’t quite what I was hoping it would be. When I stepped outside, I was standing in front of this gentleman‘s restaurant, actually googling on my phone - banana pudding. He was excited they had just taken the scaffolding down so you could actually see the front of his restaurant. He was very friendly so he invited me in and when he showed me the menu, the second dessert item listed was in fact, banana pudding. Homemade, truly excellent. I’ll definitely come back to try the food he just wasn’t ready for service when I stopped in. Super friendly guy as well. Go visit this restaurant.“

“The hospitality is always on point when I dine there. The food is delicious. A nice small intimate setting. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to others.“

“Excellent service and Plenty of options! Everything was amazing!“

“100 percent recommendation“

“Dweji-gomtang (pork bone broth soup) is really smooth and clear. You could taste the richness of the pork while drinking the broth. The pork is slicing into really thin slices and it goes really well with the gochu-ji. The spicyness balances the greasy taste of the pork. The side dish kimchi radish is crisp and balanced the whole dish. The restaurant is a little bit small and doesn’t have a lot of space, but definitely worth a try for its pork broth soup“

“Thanksgiving meal was awful, just awful. Nothing was sliced. Ni gravy. The meat was chopped up. Dressing was worse than stove top. Sweet potato pie was awful. Stale.no taste. Who is the cook in this place.

Paid $150 food was horrible . Never again.“

“The food was delicious , service and staff were so attentive and accommodating , conveniently located a few blocks from Time Square .It is definitely a must in your next visit to NY .“

“I've ordered take out from the location on 117th Street twice and their food is delicious! First time I ordered All Fish. It was nicely seasoned and fried crispy. Second time I ordered the Fish and Shrimp dinner with Collard Greens and Candied Yams. The meal definitely hit the spot! The Collard Greens are quite tasty (I could order them as a side minus the Fish and Shrimp). I swear by their Collard Greens, they have a slight smoked flavor! I give them two 👍🏾👍🏾! The Candied Yams were delicious with a hint of sweetness to them. They get a 👍🏾 as well. Fish and Shrimp were tasty. Service was fast and professional. I highly recommend Lighthouse Fish Market and Restaurant to those who are looking for a reasonably priced, quality meal.“

“Michelle the owner is such a great person and the food is amazing! I used to live in the area and come there a lot for the beef patties and fish plate . AMAZINGGGGG ! I went today and they’re closed ☹️ I hope they moved to a bigger & better location .“

“My first time customer experience: I only had the fried chicken wings (ordered for a Super Bowl party) and they were delicious! Everyone loved them. I would have liked them fried just a little harder so you'll have to make that request, if you're like me. My only issue was I called a few days in advance to understand the procedure when ordering a large quantity of wings. On the day to order, they completely switched up on me and made me come in to pick them up immediately and when I got there, they didn't have my order ready at the time they insisted I be there. Although, I dropped everything (cooking for the party) to get there at the time they told me. Upon arriving, I received attitude because I didn't leave a name, even though they never asked me. I ended up waiting another 30 mins for my order. It cost me 1.5 hours total and I was really late for my party. I will try not to hold this against them because it was really busy for them. I would try to eat here again. I just wanted to inform anyone ordering large quantities of food to beware of that.“

“Let me tell you something!!!
I just tried this young man's food and to say the food is delicious is an understatement. I tell you I was satisfied and felt a good home feeling eating this soul food!!!
I absolutely love the service, the owner is very kind, humble and loves what he does. It speaks though the food. I ordered nacho cheese fries and teriyaki wings and it was the bomb ? ?
I will surely be eating here especially on a good Friday night after work because the food, service and atmosphere gives what it's supposed to give. Definitely check it out it doesn't fail to impress. Thank you.“

“I’ve tried most of the soul food places in Brooklyn since I’ve moved here from the South, and hands down this is the best. Great portions, very friendly service and the food!!!! Amazing fried wingettes are as big as a leg. Oxtails the best, that sauce! The best collards I think I’ve ever had. And everything is so fresh.“

“I recently had the pleasure of dining at Stars N Elites Restaurant Lounge New Jersey, and it was truly an unforgettable experience! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was vibrant yet inviting, setting the tone for an incredible evening out with my family.

The menu offered a fantastic variety, and each dish we tried was nothing short of amazing! The flavors were spot-on, and you could tell a lot of thought and passion went into each recipe. Not only was the food superb, but the bar was also impressive?!

What really made the experience exceptional was the staff. Everyone we interacted with was warm, attentive, and seemed genuinely happy to make our visit memorable. The owner even came by our table to check on us and make sure we were enjoying everything – a wonderful personal touch that made us feel valued.

The location added to the overall vibe, making it a perfect spot. I can confidently say I can’t wait to return when we are visiting family again.“

“Big Al’s is one of the few authentic soul food spots on the Island. I ordered through Uber Eats, and the pickup process was smooth for the courier. The food was packed well and showed up still very hot.

The ribs were super tender and fell right off the bone. They had this good mix of barbecue and peppery flavor. The wings had a nice little crisp to them too, not super crunchy, but not greasy either. Some hot sauce would have made them perfect, but they were still solid on their own.

The yams were soft and not overly sweet, with a strong but not overpowering taste of cinnamon. The mac and cheese had a slightly dry top layer, but once mixed together, it was rich, creamy, and velvety.

Portions were good and the prices were fair for what you get. Definitely worth checking out if you’re craving soul food in Staten Island.“