What’s better than a butter chicken in this cooler weather we’re having? Slow-cooked chicken in a gravy sauce, sopped up with naan, of course. But over the past 10 years, our local options of regional Indian cooking have expanded far beyond the old roster of tikka masalas, samosas, and, well, butter chicken. Without traveling far, an adventurous eater can sample creamy lamb stew from Punjab, fragrant biryani from Hyderabad, coconut-infused fish curry from Kerala, or, for a quick bite, a comforting dosa dipped in refreshing chutneys. We have rounded up some of the best Indian restaurants of various styles in Hudson County.
Amiya | 101 Hudson Street, Jersey City
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The restaurant serves modern north Indian fare with a light touch of fine dining. Crowd-pleasing options such as curries and samosas are served, but the menu also offers unique dishes less seen elsewhere. There’s Dum Aloo, a Kashmiri-style stew made of cheese-filled baby potatoes poached in a creamy gravy. Or the egg curry, marinated in a delicious ginger and chili sauce. Carnivores should order the tandoori platter. Dig into the shish kebabs first flavored with assorted spices and herbs.
Read More: A Guide to Indian Food in Hoboken + Jersey City
Biryani Pot | 824 Newark Avenue, Jersey City
This is a well-loved Hyberabadi-Indian chain known for its Biryani dishes. Classic favorites include its well-seasoned meat dishes and flavorful rice options. Vegetarian options are also available like appetizers such as the Aloo Samosa — a hand-rolled pastry with potato or an Onion Pakoda — made with sliced onions and green chilies.
Chef of India | 324 Central Avenue, Jersey City
Located in Jersey City Heights, Chef of India serves up a variety of Indian eats for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Appetizers include a variety of soups (hot + sour, tomato, + sweet corn), as well as appetizers like samosas, chilli paneer, chicken tikka, and chicken lollipops, among others. Entrees include desi chicken curry (the chef’s special), home-style egg curry, fish curry, paneer butter masala, spinach curry, and more. Chef of India also serves up desserts, traditional Indian sweets and snacks, and Indo-Chinese food.
Clove Garden of India | 353 3rd Street, Jersey City
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This Indian Frontier spot opened in 2020 and quickly became a local staple. It serves up a vast array of vegetarian starters — from tamarind eggplant (crispy eggplant slices with chickpeas, mint, and tamarind) to lasoon gobi (cauliflower florets tossed in sweet chili garlic sauce). For those who are non-vegetarian, there are options like chicken lollypop and lamb pepper fry.
Cumin N Eat | 700 Plaza Drive, Secaucus
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At Cumin N’ Eat, customers are asked to choose their “main” dish with options like chicken, fish, shrimp, tandoor, and more. Then, this “main” selection is cooked in a “style” like Apollo — made with a mix of spices or Sukka — made with cumin, black pepper, and curry leaves (only if chicken or lamb is chosen as the “main”). It is like a pick-and-choose kind of situation, making it a unique experience.
Egg Mania | 14 Liberty Avenue, Jersey City
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This cafe devoted to eggs was founded by five friends who missed the street food they had when growing up in India. Here, one can find curries, biryanis, kati rolls, with eggs boiled, scrambled, fried, or folded into omelets to accommodate all forms and flavors of Indian cuisine. Eccentric as it may sound, the dishes, street food style, and extremely affordable, are absolutely delicious. One of our favorites is maniac curry, which consists of boiled eggs swathed in a fiery spicy gravy. For a less spicy dish, get the egg katori, similar to deviled eggs but spiced with a masala mix.
Empyrean Indian Kitchen + Bar | 20 Hudson Place, Hoboken
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Empyrean is a modern Indian restaurant “that takes you on a flavorful journey. Like the name, the menu will awaken your senses and challenge your imagination. You will be transported to an appealing setting while in the comfort of your own neighborhood,” the website states. The deli is stocked daily to give visitors “the best of Elysian.” This includes “natural, fresh, and handpicked ingredients” that make the farm-to-table dishes have an abundance of flavors and aromas. Patrons can find a variety of items on the menu — appetizers include fish pakoda, samosa, and paddi chat. There is a section on the menu for Tandoori dishes and a wide selection of vegetarian and non-vegetarian curries. Guests can also find various rice and biryanis entrees, all served with raita, plus different kinds of bread, including garlic naan, onion kulcha, and lachha paratha.
Honest Restaurant | 811 Newark Avenue, Jersey City
The perfect place to fix your carb craving, Honest Restaurant’s style can be loosely described as “fast food” — quick dishes for breakfast, snacks, late-night comfort food, or really any meal of the day. The menu is a dazzling roster of “bread” of all shapes, flavors, and textures. Pav (soft buttery bread roll), papad (paper thin crisp bread), dosa (rice and lentil crepe), and puri (brittle puffs), can be enjoyed plain or spiced, as sandwich wraps or simple side dishes including vegetable curry, or dipped in various refreshing chutneys.
Karma Kafe | 505 Washington Street, Hoboken
One of Hoboken’s oldest Indian restaurants, Karma Kafe features a large menu with many traditional Indian dishes. Patrons can’t go wrong at this staple. The tandoori dishes are a must-try. Other menu items include apps like the karma crab cakes and veggie tikis as well as salads, soups, tandoori bread, and main courses that include several meat options and seafood.
Masala Cafe | 839 Newark Avenue, Jersey City
Masala Cafe serves up authentic Chettinad dishes bringing out the rich aroma of the region with freshly ground herbs and spices, prepared in an age-old way by its team of experienced culinary experts. Chettinad is a region in the southern tip of India, and some of the regional delicacies you’ll find on the menu at Masala Cafe include Chettinad Chicken Curry, chicken biryani, and idly and vada.
Mithaas | 795 Newark Avenue, Jersey City
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South Asian desserts are unique for their distinctive ingredients and subtle flavors. Pistachios and fresh chess are widely used, and they are spiced with cardamom, rosewater, and saffron. A local go-to spot for Indian desserts is Mathaas in Jersey City. A must-try is malai kulfi, ice cream infused with rose water and saffron. Or get the rabdi spl, a slow dish made of milk, nuts, a lot of fragrant spices, simmered and stirred for hours until the texture is thickened and chilled before serving. For a warm dessert, of course, there is the much-loved gulab jamun, or fried milk balls with syrup. There is also a huge selection of Indian cookies and pastries sold by weight, to be packed and enjoyed at home.
Namaste India | 880 River Road, Edgewater
Edgewater is also home to Indian cuisine spots. Namaste India has a variety of dishes listed on its menu to cater to all kinds of cravings. The Navratan Korma is rich, creamy, and made of various fruits and vegetables — a vegetarian-inspired dish. The Chicken Tarkari is another dish made of cooked chicken with a spicy Himalayan sauce.
Pariwaar Delights | 827 Newark Avenue, Jersey City
The restaurant, albeit relatively new to the local food scene, has made a name for itself with its gorgeous biryani. The fragrant dish uses eighteen different spices, some shipped directly from India, and is cooked in the traditional “Hyderabadi dum style”. Rice and meat (or vegetables) are mixed with spices and layered in a clay pot and steamed with the lid sealed, so the fragrance and the flavors get fully integrated together. The taste is bright, warm, and rich at the same time — a complex balance of the subtle heat of the spices, the umami of the meat, and the sweet, buttery aroma of the rice makes each bite delish. Other South Indian specialties, such as chicken Chettinad, are also worth an order.
Rasoi | 810 Newark Avenue, Jersey City
One cannot talk about local Indian food without mentioning Rasoi. Since 1996, the restaurant has been serving delicious North Indian dishes with consistent quality and service. “[I have] been going to Rasoi since they opened up. Rich curry dishes of Mogul origin are the restaurant’s strongest suit. Some of The Hoboken Girl’s favorites include lamb kadai, with bone-in lamb tossed in an electric ginger mustard gravy. For vegetarians, try the dal makhani, an extremely smooth, buttery lentil stew.
Sapthagiri | 737 Newark Avenue, Jersey City
For a small eatery that is strictly vegetarian and kosher, the menu offers a stunning range of South Indian delicacies. Masala dosa is filled with potatoes, onions, green peas, and cashew nuts, all boldly spiced with ginger, turmeric, and cilantro. Masala vada, crispy doughnuts made with lentils, has a nutty taste on its own and is even better when slathered in sambar, an aromatic vegetable curry. For those who have a hard time deciding what to order, get the thali, or personal meal set, which comes with a dozen different small portions of curries, chutneys, and sweets.
See More: A Guide to Sushi Spots in Montclair
Tadka Fine Indian Cuisine | 1297 Paterson Plank Road, Secaucus
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Located in Secaucus, Tadka serves up a variety of Indian cuisine. Chicken Korma is a dish served with boneless chicken cooked in a creamy sauce. There are other options like its Garlic Naan, which goes perfectly with any kind of curry.
