Owner of the renowned Lower East Side restaurant, Pig and Khao and former Top Chef contestant, Leah Cohen is at it again with her second restaurant in the area — Piggyback Bar. Located on the entry level of the gorgeous Harborside Building in downtown Jersey City, Piggyback features an Asian American fusion menu with notes of Southeast Asian influence, that she inherited from her mother’s Filipino heritage. With this new venture, Chef Cohen and her husband/business partner Ben Byruch plan to stay true to that style of food with Piggyback and proudly proclaims to be the fun cousin to P+K, with nearly double the space in a prime Jersey City location. Here’s a bit more about the spot and the *MUST* order menu item: Padcakes…and all the other noteworthy items at this Harborside gem:
The vibe at Piggyback Bar is laid back and chill. “If you’re looking for a dope place to catch up with friends, either during happy hour or for dinner, Piggyback is JC’s newest hotspot,” explains Sous Chef, Chris Longo. Merely a few steps away from the Harborside ferry dock, this restaurant will take you back to the 90s with the vibrant graffiti by artists such as Sandro Figueroa and Jeff Hernandez adorning the walls This industrialized location is the perfect spot to indulge in handcrafted food + drinks — it is truly one of a kind.
The menu is alive and HOT — that is to be expected with Filipino plates. All of the dishes are loaded with flavor and spice. Chef Leah’s inspiration was to infuse her own culture into each of the different plates. If you are looking for a very unique meal, you are sure to get that at Piggyback.
We were lucky enough to try Chef Cohen’s famous Padcake {Pad Thai Noodles encrusted in a crispy pancake + served with a sweet and spicy dipping sauce — pictured above}. Normally Pad Thai comes in a bowl or a plate and is eaten with chopsticks — so this is on another level.
Chef Cohen took this classic dish and turned it into a savory + crunchy dish that you can hold in your hands. The cool dipping sauce against the hot padcake makes for a bold first bite. Filled with flavor, the crispy outer pancake, and soft noodle middle is the perfect juxtaposition of textures. This trendy plate made famous at Cohen’s other LES restaurant Pig & Khao and is making an appearance at Piggyback for a limited time only. SO yum.
READ: Tropical Vibes in Jersey City: A Visit to Sweetberry Bowls
Chef Chris Longo, one of the Sous Chefs at the restaurant brought us into the kitchen and taught us how they make one of Chef Cohen’s padcakes. “First, oil a sheet tray and roll out your dough. Then, place your filling {the pad thai noodles} in the middle of the dough. After, fold the sides of the dough over to form a hole-less ball. That way you keep all of the noodle filling inside. Finally, fry both sides of the padcake in a good amount of oil to create a crispy golden brown shell. Cut and serve with the dipping sauce.” explained Chef Chris to us as we crunched through the padcakes.
Other menu items that were noteworthy were the Wonton Soup {a spicy pork and shrimp dumpling soup with pork stock, chili oil, adorned with crispy garlic, scallions, and cilantro} and the Steak Bao Buns. The Apple Cider Smoked Skirt Steak is served with soft Bao Buns and lettuce cups. Dip those babies in the spicy sriracha like Ssäm Sauce and you are good to go.
We also had the opportunity to taste a few brunch menu items and they were bomb dot com. The Bubble Waffle Burrata is the perfect combination of sweet and savory — the sweet scallion waffle is crunchy on the outside but soft and fluffy on the inside. The waffle is plated with a creamy burrata and compliments the waffle beautifully.
Piggyback Bar is tucked away in the Harborside building and is easily accessible from the Ferry and PATH Train. It has become one of our regular happy hour and dinner spots — a perfect meet up with good vibes and the stunning waterfront view of the city.
Have you been to Piggyback Bar? Share your favorite menu item with us in the comments below!
See More: The 12 Best Vegan Spots in Jersey City
Have you joined our Facebook group yet? Request here to gain access to even more local tips, and connect with fellow Hudson County residents.
