Korai Kitchen (NO DINE-IN WITHOUT RESERVATIONS!)

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.

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.

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.

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

We were lucky to be squeezed in for dinner last night due to a cancellation and had one of the most incredible dining experiences ever! Thank you so much to Nori & Nori and the team for the hospitality and delicious food. It is very clearly that Korai Kitchen is a labor of love, not to mention that the value of the quality and quantity of food was well worth more than the $90 per person in cost. So jazzed to have a new spot for takeout and date nights!

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!

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

Celebrated part two of a special anniversary here, and after spending years collecting digital dust on my "Restaurants to Try" list, I'm happy to say Korai Kitchen's weekend Dawat delivered. First, it's $90pp (gone up since a few months ago). However, you get about $200+ worth of food, so it's a steal any way you look at it. Second, when Nuri Jr says in the beginning not to fill up on rice and the courses will get bigger: LISTEN TO HER! You'll start with essentially large appetizers, that then progress to full-sized entrees, that then evolve to Auntie-sized entrees--and anyone who's ever had an Auntie cook for them knows what I mean by how big they are! Third, the menu varies every week depending on what Chef Nuri feels like cooking (and has on hand). So you can come back multiple times and never have the same meal. Fourth, you're encouraged to eat with your hands--that's the proper Bengali way. But cutlery is provided if you need it, and there's a never-ending supply of wet wipes. Here's what we gorged on in Nov 2024: - Portas (mash) sampler: Pumpkin, peanut, eggplant, potato. Not to sound like a basic b*tch, but while they were all good, the potato was the best. - Daal with five spices: Tasty, but hard to eat with your hands, so don't be afraid to use your spoon. - Labra: Mixed veggies with green papaya. Comforting. - Begun Bhaja: Eggplant fritter. One of the most perfectly fried and spiced fritters I've ever had. Huge too. - Chingrir Lotpoti: Shrimp with okra and green chilies. Perfectly flavored, though okra haters might find it hard to enjoy. At this point, our hostess Nuri Jr announced that we still had 5 courses left (of our 8-course meal). And I died a bit because I was pretty sure we'd already had at least 5 courses (I was noting all of them), so how could we have 5 left? THE FOOD MATH AIN'T MATHING! - Mach Bhaj: Fried rohu fish with green chilies. Another perfectly fried piece of food, but of which I could only enjoy a bite because the most was yet to come. - Murgi roast: Roast chicken, and their most popular dish. I can see why--rarely has chicken been so tender and juicy and perfectly sauced. Oh, and cardamom reigns supreme in the spice mix, which is just the cherry on top of a perfect plate. Unfortunately, this was enough food for a village, so I could only hold down a few bites. - Kala Bhuna: Here comes the bef in ghee, and boy is it tender! - Chicken biryani with tuna kebab: A fantastic combo of flavorful rice and grilled fish that makes me wish I could visit Bangladesh (okay, there's nothing actually stopping me, so I should just make this happen). - Mishti Doi: Dessert from Amma's hometown! Think solid yogurt meets cheesecake for texture, and a mildly sweet flavor that would please any palette. I didn't think I'd finish the large bowl they gave us, but lo and behold--I did. You always have room for dessert. Oh, and they definitely pack up the courses you can't finish, so you eat what you can, then enjoy leftovers for days. For once, the five-star reviews don't lie. Come. Just come.

I have been waiting to eat here for 3 years. The dawat offering from Korai Kitchen is no Joke. You pay 90 dollars but you get food worth at least double that. 8 courses of food is no joke and it is absolutely impossible to finish every item so there will be plenty of left overs. To me this is the food I grew up eating in Bangladesh and unfortunately it is not readily available in the United States as a dining option. Bangladeshi,Pakistani and Indian food all just get grouped as "indian food" which does such a disservice to the whole subcontinent. Each country's food is absolutely different tasting and uniquely delicious. I wish Bangladeshi food was more well known here. It barely has a presence outside of Jackson Heights in Queens. But maybe thanks to Korai Kitchen that will change. Nur-E and Amma have created a special restaurant where you can taste the love in the food and the thoughtful preparation of each item. Amma is a James Beard nominee and rightly so. The food. I cannot rave enough about it. You sit and are served a glass of mango lassi. I made sure to not drink it all at one go because I knew some of the food would be spicy so wanted to keep it around to bail me out if needed. The first three or four courses can be individually eaten as well as mixed in together with the standard delivery device of plain white rice as the main starch. Eat with your hands say the wet wipes and I was more than happy to (still do at home sometimes depending on the food). Eating with your hands and mashing bhortas in with the rice and layering some daal on it does magically change the way it all tastes together. Its inexplicable but true. So the first few courses are more day in day out foods people in Bangladesh may eat. Bhortas(mashed vegggies or fish with spices and herbs), daal, shrimp curry, vegetable curry, and a fried piece of bone in fish. Pace yourself though and don't eat too much rice because the next courses are the heavy hitters. We get the murgir roast and polao. This is absolutely one of the best items. Traditionally served at parties or celebrations and not an every day item. Be very careful however to not eat a whole cardamom pod that may be hiding in that thick jhol(curry sauce as it were). Nothing ruins a meal as much as biting into a cardamom pod. Alongside this came the beef korma. Tender slow cooked pieces of beef, with the slightest warm hint of spiciness. Perfect with the polao. Oh then you get more decadent rice dishes. The final non dessert course was tuna kebabs and morog polao/chicken biryani. By this course I barely managed a bite of each and was done for. Always room for dessert of course. The dessert is mishti doi which translates to sweet yogurt. Its consistency is between a cheesecake and custard and it is perfect to end the night. How I wish I lived locally here to have access to this place always. If you know you'll be in the area book the dawat in advance. And arrive with an empty stomach. If you've never had Bangladeshi food Korai Kitchen is the perfect gateway to start.

Celebrated part two of a special anniversary here, and after spending years collecting digital dust on my "Restaurants to Try" list, I'm happy to say Korai Kitchen's weekend Dawat delivered. First, it's $90pp (gone up since a few months ago). However, you get about $200+ worth of food, so it's a steal any way you look at it. Second, when Nuri Jr says in the beginning not to fill up on rice and the courses will get bigger: LISTEN TO HER! You'll start with essentially large appetizers, that then progress to full-sized entrees, that then evolve to Auntie-sized entrees--and anyone who's ever had an Auntie cook for them knows what I mean by how big they are! Third, the menu varies every week depending on what Chef Nuri feels like cooking (and has on hand). So you can come back multiple times and never have the same meal. Fourth, you're encouraged to eat with your hands--that's the proper Bengali way. But cutlery is provided if you need it, and there's a never-ending supply of wet wipes. Here's what we gorged on in Nov 2024: - Portas (mash) sampler: Pumpkin, peanut, eggplant, potato. Not to sound like a basic b*tch, but while they were all good, the potato was the best. - Daal with five spices: Tasty, but hard to eat with your hands, so don't be afraid to use your spoon. - Labra: Mixed veggies with green papaya. Comforting. - Begun Bhaja: Eggplant fritter. One of the most perfectly fried and spiced fritters I've ever had. Huge too. - Chingrir Lotpoti: Shrimp with okra and green chilies. Perfectly flavored, though okra haters might find it hard to enjoy. At this point, our hostess Nuri Jr announced that we still had 5 courses left (of our 8-course meal). And I died a bit because I was pretty sure we'd already had at least 5 courses (I was noting all of them), so how could we have 5 left? THE FOOD MATH AIN'T MATHING! - Mach Bhaj: Fried rohu fish with green chilies. Another perfectly fried piece of food, but of which I could only enjoy a bite because the most was yet to come. - Murgi roast: Roast chicken, and their most popular dish. I can see why--rarely has chicken been so tender and juicy and perfectly sauced. Oh, and cardamom reigns supreme in the spice mix, which is just the cherry on top of a perfect plate. Unfortunately, this was enough food for a village, so I could only hold down a few bites. - Kala Bhuna: Here comes the bef in ghee, and boy is it tender! - Chicken biryani with tuna kebab: A fantastic combo of flavorful rice and grilled fish that makes me wish I could visit Bangladesh (okay, there's nothing actually stopping me, so I should just make this happen). - Mishti Doi: Dessert from Amma's hometown! Think solid yogurt meets cheesecake for texture, and a mildly sweet flavor that would please any palette. I didn't think I'd finish the large bowl they gave us, but lo and behold--I did. You always have room for dessert. Oh, and they definitely pack up the courses you can't finish, so you eat what you can, then enjoy leftovers for days. For once, the five-star reviews don't lie. Come. Just come.

We originally wanted to try the buffet but it looks like they stopped doing it? We ended up doing a take out! Delicious food! We enjoyed all the dishes we ordered! Super flavorful. The employees and workers were extremely helpful and even gave us a handwritten note! Always love to support the community!

Can I give more than 5 stars? Homestyle Bangladeshi food by Amma, these 5 simple words say it all. We have had many great meals here with family and friends since they opened. They did have a wonderful buffet pre-COVID but now are only dine-in on weekends, featuring an 8-course Dawat dinner. With a James Beard nomination under their apron, they are recognized far and wide with several TV appearances, as well. From the bortas (mashes) to start the meal to the rice pudding to end it, everything is on point. The hospitality of the entire staff is unsurpassed and just might be the warmest group you will ever meet!

This was such an amazing experience. We dined in (make sure to reserve ahead of time they only do dine ins on the weekends) and it was such a unique dawat experience. I am bangladeshi and all the food tasted like home cooked AMAZING goodness. Every single dish they brought out was delicious and tasted just like my mom's traditional cooking. Not only do they bring out SO MUCH food, they also take the time to explain each dish for those who may be unfamiliar with it.

Dining at Korai Kitchen was exceptionally special as the chef is from the same place my father is from- Boghra, Bangladesh. Many South Asian restaurants are primarily influenced by Pakistani and Indian cuisine, but this restaurant pays homage to authentic Bengali cuisine. My sister and I were ecstatic to hear that dining was open but quickly became sad when all reservations filled up under 30 minutes. On Friday night I get a text from my sister that there's an emergency. The emergency was that a table opened up and she needed to confirm that I was free. it was important to experience the restaurant dining since we live over two hours away. The dining experience that was advertised as a seven course meal, and ended up being an eleven course meal, as the chef kept bringing out surprise dishes. Nur-e greeted us upon entering. Her wide smile, listening ear and gentle touch was so heartwarming. I usually break down each food but will not this time as everything was exceptionally great and should be tried by every individual!

My friends and I were so excited to try this place due to the high reviews and it did not disappoint! It's a small mother/daughter restaurant and they put so much love and care into the food and experience! We called ahead for takeout around 6:45pm on a Friday and the daughter said she was supposed to stop taking orders because the kitchen was too busy but after learning this was our first time trying Bangladeshi food she begged the kitchen and we were able to pick up our order an hour later. When we got there, the daughter was so nice explaining how we should eat the dishes, threw in a couple complimentary sides and even wrote a sweet note with our food! We ordered the Friday special (pomfret fish in tomato sauce), goat biryani and curry chicken. Everything was delicious! The fish had bones because the mom who cooks everything doesn't believe in boneless since bone in has more flavor, so beware for those who are not used to whole fish. The goat biryani also went perfectly with the complimentary potato mash side and the curry chicken was my favorite because it was so flavorful and tender. I can't wait to order from here again and try more dishes!

Amazing authentic bengali food, wonderful service, great atmosphere, very welcoming hosts. Went for the dawat and it was 1000% worth going. Will be back when I find myself back in the area. Also--so much food! Had leftovers for days.

Bengal in the 18th century was the center of textile manufacturing and ship building. It had an economy that was bigger than any 18th century European Empire. Lot of things have changed since then, but you can experience that Bengal in the food from Bangladesh at Korai Kitchen (576 Summit Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306) The Chef & Owner of Korai Kitchen has been nominated for 2024 James Beard Award. Reservations open a week before the start of the month, and typically fill up within an hour (for the whole month). Your best bet is to get takeout (takes about 90 minutes from the time you place the order). Korai specializes in home style food. Their national fish, Hilsa, made with mustard is outstanding. Everything at Korai is outstanding. At Korai, my goto is Hilsa or Rohu (another fish), but I love their pulao rice with splash of lentil soup; a scoop of stir-fried cabbage (with carrots & potatoes); and a scoop of their Mashed Potatoes. I am not even a vegetarian, but I love this combo with their Goat Curry as a side dish. I need to warn you that once you eat Potato Mash at Korai Kitchen, you will never be able to go back to the regular mashed potatoes. This is the next level mashed potatoes. Very addictive.

A vegetarian could be forgiven for thinking that the cuisine of Bengal, what with its love obsession for ilish fish, has little to offer them. But my Instagram feed lately had been full of so many aesthetically arranged plates of aloo bhorta with rice that I made the journey out to Korai Kitchen, as it's one of the few Bangladeshi restaurants offering some of these more veg-friendly items. My favorites were as expected the dal and aloo bhortas, which both had a very nice flavor from the region's other favorite ingredient, mustard oil. The egg curry and brinjal fritters were also very tasty. It's too bad they're operating for take-out only these days! I'm sure the brinjal would be even more amazing when piping hot.

Wow! Wow! Wow! Amazing!!!! Everything. Like no kidding. SERVICE : 5 out of 5 Amazing! Service. From ordering to pick up. FOOD: everything was fireeee! Totally scrumptious! Super authentic! We ordered to go. Uber'ed about 20mins away and food was still hot and on point when brought back! Wow. This is so rare! GOAT CURRY- this is a must! Super authentic!! Super delicious! Man o man! I have to say this is the best yet. (Better than my MIL.. kidding, or am I? seshhhhhh! CHICKEN BIRiYANI- Super delicious! Huge portion! Made to perfection! Wow. DAL (lentil) - WOW! Super authentic. This seriously is so simple but yet so freakin scrumptious! This took me back to when I went to Bangladesh! Shrimp paste- SHUTKI-- Point on! Super rare dish! Super amazing! Made to perfection. This is a fav only few would even love. 5 out of 5 ALOO BORTHA-- Mashed potato mixed with herbs and mustard oil! Farhana threw this in for us on THEM. Super sweet! This is one on my favs ever! It was made with love! Because it was sooooo freakin good! Don't forget to add this to your order pairs so well with everything!!! Sweet! PHIRINI- rice pudding with nuts!!! Pmg this is a total fav! They made this so perfect. I swear I could eat like 10 of theses hahah jk. Not . I can't wait to ordered here again! Super cute small and cozy place!!! Love everything about this place!!! IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR AUTHENTIC BANGLADESHI FOOD IN THE EAST COAST LOOK NO FURTHER! THIS IS THE PLACE!!!!!!!!! Seriously! Everything was freakin amazzzzzzing !!!!

Overall a decent Bangladeshi restaurant. People are definitely happy to find a Bangladeshi restaurant in Jersey City. Food wise, the fried rui fish was a little dry, and the bhorta's are a little watery. Usually in Bangladesh aloo bhorta and daal bhorta are not watery. Flavor wise everything hits the mark.

Good food and service. The staff is really nice. Marta helps me with menu if I'm confused. I recommend Tuesday special. I also recommend the Shami kebabs.

Korai kitchen is absolutely fabulous. The entire experience was fantastic. The mother/daughter team is so sweet and personable; you feel welcomed from the moment you walk through the door. We started with a small serving of mango lassi. It is BYOB but they have soda for purchase. The ambiance is very cozy and welcoming. It's mostly tables for 2 but we saw one 4-top. The daughter is the MC for the evening and she explains the sequencing of courses that come out. The dawat menu varies from night to night, but ours was so delicious. The first 3-4 veggie courses were amazing. We started with a giant bowl of white rice and 4 different mashes: pumpkin, peanut, potato, and eggplant. You can eat with utensils but the traditional way is with your hands. We alternated through the night but ate mostly with our hands (they give you lots of wet wipes!). After that, we had a veggie curry, a shrimp curry, and a lentil soup. The depth of flavors was great. Then we had fried eggplant and fried white fish. The fried fish changed my life, I could eat that every day. The coating on both was light and just perfect?? Then we had chicken fritters and chicken biryani (fire), a beef course (melt in your mouth tender), and chicken roast (the peanut sauce was delectable). You end the meal with a mango lassi-esque "cheesecake" that's sort of like a cross between Greek yogurt and custard. It wasn't heavy and was the perfect end to the evening. The best part? You get to take leftovers too! (And you will have leftovers, it's sooo much food). I definitely want to come back another evening for the dawat experience and I really want to try the takeout menu! I wish the owners all the best.

Korai was on my dwindling "need to get to these places" bookmarks list, so my friend who just moved to JC needed a favor and I made him a deal he couldn't refuse. With the rain today, we ended up delivery instead of eating in, but I think I have enough to contribute a review: * Pro: They close from 4-6 to set up between weekend lunch and dinner. We placed our order at 3:30, it was delivered at 4:15, but Korai was okay assembling and sending this out! And the bicyclist was okay in the pouring rain! Very nice. * Pro: Authentic. I expected it to be like Indian food with a Southeast Asian twist, and there's something to that. It's rice-based without drowning in sauce, typical of perhaps Cambodian or Laotian food, but some of the dishes and spices are more Indian in nature, which is exactly as expected. They warn you that their Hilsa fish "may have bones", and, well, it's SWIMMING in bones. I ended up eating by hand so I could pick off meat and bones as I went, there's no other safe way to eat it. You are fairly warned. * Pro: Spice. They warn you that they don't adjust the spice on their dishes, and they deliver. I ordered the "Extremely hot pepper" appetizer and it fit the bill. It's mashed potatoes loaded with ghost pepper-level, but nicely roasted and good flavor overall. But take your time, this one hits hard. My main course of the Hilsa fish was also spicier than I would have thought, but that may be the standalone green peppers that come with every dish. Careful crunching into those. * Pro: Spices. Hilsa and my friend's chicken korma dish were done nicely, not over- or under-seasoned and with an authentic balance of flavors. I thought I'd have food to take home with me (even from a single order) but I couldn't put it down. * Con: With the rain, I didn't get a chance to visit to confirm the 5th star for ambiance. * Con: Doordash seemed to lock out dessert. Maybe that meant they were out of dessert, but it was a weird flaw. I don't know who needs to straighten that out - Korai, if you read this! I will award the 5th star sight unseen, and will keep them on my list to stop in and check out the restaurant itself - and have dessert!

We ordered aloo mutton and fried rohu and some biryani rice and dal. The fish and mutton were extremely tasty and full of flavors.. The thing that surprised me the most was the yellow dal it had clean flavors the chilli and some lemon flavor was adding that little kick to elevate it. I can drink this dal any day of the week. I had to wait for some time for our order to be prepared so the lady at the from desk gave us some complementary bhorta which was amazing

Me being me I came without checking that they don't do dine in during the week but they were super nice and accommodating and allowed me to order food to go. The food was amazing. It tasted so fresh and like a home cooked meal. My favorite plate was the rice with chunks of beef or lamb with peppers and slices of lemon. Will 100% be back

The most authentic Bangladeshi food you will find. The 8 course Dawat was an amazing, wholesome, and delicious experience. Every dish was made with love and NurE was welcoming and made the experience so special. We were served some refreshing, homeade mango lassi and started off with some yummy bhortas. Each course came out hot and fresh with every bite packed with flavor. The bhortas were to die for and the biryani was unlike any biryani you will taste at other south asian restaurants. For dessert, the mishti doi was out of this world. This place is a must if you are looking for the freshest, most authentic Bangladeshi dining experience.

Nur-e is a gem! This is just fantastic small batch home cooked Bangladeshi food. I think of Daal as akin to chicken soup, it's simple to make that many times so little thought is given to making it better. Many times it's just nondescript and bland, sometimes by design, at most restaurants but this Daal is totally different. Visually there is this vibrant color palette with herbs and tomatoes that really add texture and flavor. The tomatoes especially aren't mushy, and cut exactly the way it would be if you were eating at your friend's house, and their mom was doing the cooking. Give this a stir if getting takeout and all the lentils will give this soup body and soul. The chicken dishes here are incredible, whether you get the Coconut Curry Chicken, Chicken Korma, or the Tomato & Potato Chicken. I like them all and wouldn't be able to choose a favorite among the three. Every instance has tender, fall off the bone chicken thigh or drums with delicious gravy to pair with rice. Ok, I do like the Coconut Curry just a tad more but not by much and typical of Bangladeshi curries, it's not loaded with dairy, which is also dangerous as you just keep eating and eating. LOL. Egg Curries are always a favorite of mine and this version is yum. Egg curries are scary for me as whenever I do have it, I end up just eating the egg on their own and that's just dangerous for me to eat that many whole eggs. LOL. I took the advice of Nur-e and just mashed up the egg with the curry gravy and rice, definitely a pro tip! Another pro tip, definitely upgrade to the pulao over the standard rice for sure. The para boiled rice is ok, but the Pulao rice is so much tastier! Lastly, Nur-e, and her mom who happens to have the same name, both have such genuine passion and exuberance. I ordered online but as soon as I walked in, Nur-e's smile made it feel like we were old college friends. The hand written note inside my bag was a really nice touch. This food is amazing, go and experience the heart and soul of some great Bangladeshi food, I assure you that it's worth it.

A step above the rest. It was take out only. Portions are cooked in large quantity. It was delivered. Typically all these things will lower the quality of the end product but even with all of this going against them, Korai shines. It pushes through, the flavors are intact, vibrant and full. The notes were satisfying. The portions were there.. and the cute little notes was heartfelt. I'm a believer.

Did not provide good customer service. Called to explain the issue and did not get a good response from the staff. First time ordered and was looking forward to it but disappointed with the customer support

3.7 stars rounded up Super authentic halal ethnic food. This was our first time eating Bangladeshi food, so I can't judge the quality compared to other similar restaurants but it was generally very good. A few warnings: 1) they leave the bones in for most food, 2) the food is VERY spicy and 3) NO dine-in. We went without knowing any of this and the owner was very accommodating and she showed us how to order food and gave us a heads-up about bones, etc. I post photos of what we ate. The rice pudding was ok but the mango yogurt was amazing. Savory food was generally ok, we got goat, fish and chicken. Kabab was very disappointing. Unfortunately we didn't like the mashes/appetizers (they were insanely spicy and they had way too much onion for our taste). We probably won't go back but again, definitely worth trying and amazing service.

All the food here is delicious. At my nonprofit that serves refugees and people seeking asylum, we would welcome newcomers with hot food from here. This is also my go-to place to bring food to a celebration that requires halal dishes. Personally, however, GET THE BEGUN BHAJA which is fried eggplant. I can eat that over rice and nothing else. All the other dishes are delicious. No questions asked.

Take out - delivery via apps only | order via phone call is cheaper. After seeing many great reviews, decided to try one of the rare Bangladeshi restaurants in North NJ, even though I live 45 minutes away from it. When you call in to order or order via website, an estimated pick up time is given, as they need certain time to prep and cook the order. But they are very diligent to honor the given pick up time. I ordered the chicken korma, goat biryani and fried hilsha for pickup 2.5 hours later. I was happy to see they do not compromise on their dishes, as they provide no option to modify any dish or adjust spice level. Being Bangladeshi, I could tell the authenticity of each of the dish. All of them were cooked just like as they were made back home. Hilsha was fried to perfection. Korma was tender and creamy. Goat biryani was moist. Though I felt all dishes were tiny bit salty. I also got to meet the owner Noori, one of nicest person. She was very welcoming, thanked me for driving so far and gave me a complimentary Aloo Bhorta (mashed potatoes). She also suggested me to order via phone for cheaper bill. She said they might start the buffet again once its safe for customers post pandemic. I am really glad to have given this place a try. Happy to know home food only few miles away, that is tasty and authentic.

Went to Korai Kitchen earlier this month for the Dawat to celebrate a special occasion. Nur-E was very helpful in making sure we were able to make our reservations on the desired date. The eight course feast was exceptional. I have never had Bengali cuisine before, and found the dishes and flavors to be fantastic. We were also encouraged to eat with our hands which I did, but don't worry, utensils are also provided! There are so many wonderful dishes, and you will absolutely want to try everything, so be sure to go hungry and ready for a feast. The service was also superb, the Nur-E, the host, was also friendly, enthusiastic, and a lot of fun, and it was wonderful meeting Amma, the chef, who made the rounds. All in all, a fantastic experience and highly recommended!

This is a profoundly different experience from other Indian restaurants. I had the dal and vegetable curry here, and everything had a homemade flavor to it. The prices were very reasonable.

Grateful for this restaurant. Bengali food is nearly impossible to find, and this reminded me of home. I stopped by as a walk in without realizing there was a 1.5 hour wait. The owner squeezed me in immediately. Will be back. Repeatedly.

Unique experience picking up from this daughter mother duo. Food is very authentic home cooked Bangladeshi food. It's very different from the usual Indian restaurant food. The staff is extremely hospitable and friendly. Each take out bag has a handwritten message and I got a handwritten note which gave it a nice touch. Also a couple of reviews knocked off stars because there were bones which is unfair. Bengali fish has bones, and if you want that authentic experience then expect it... and if it's not worth it to you then order something else. It's not fair to knock off points for bones. I can't wait to try everything on the menu so I can try everything Amma makes. Also looking forward to a indoor dining again.

FINALLY! A true Bangladeshi restaurant in Jersey. I currently live in NYC but come to Jersey City to meet with family & friends. I love how authentic Korai is with their roasts & curries. I want to come back to try so many more of their dishes. Love the #nochickentikkamasalahere hashtag. When you pick up food from here ( they have not opened up indoor dining yet) they personalize the bags with your name and leave a hand written note inside. I got to meet Amma when I picked up the food and felt like I was meeting a celeb, she is such a talented hardworking woman. Go to this place and try the difference from Indian food. The aloo bortha took me back to my parent's dining table. SO GOOD!

I've been eating at Korai Kitchen since they opened in 2018. Never had a bad experience or a meal that didn't hit the spot. I love that their food is traditional Bengali cuisine, since the dishes aren't household names (yet) it will inspire you to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. I was never much of a fan of pumpkin or squash before dining here introduced me to how they could taste in savory curry dishes. Beyond the food, the atmosphere is cute and clean. I especially love the "no chicken tikka masala" merch they have on the wall. It's less than 5 minutes from JSQ, so conveniently located for those who commute/don't drive. The owners are a mother-daughter duo and the sweetest people. They always welcome me warmly and remember little details about my order. Even when they're not there, the staff is always pleasant and competent. Service is quick, especially if you call ahead. And the menu changes with what's in season, so it's hard to get bored eating here. Truly one of my favorite restaurants! The paratha alone is worth the visit.

This restaurant is take-out only but despite that I had an amazing ordering experience and conversation with the owner. Every single dish here was an explosion of flavor and requires incredible amounts of prep-work.

Fantastic, seasoned, and zesty food, as well as great customer service! Very impressed. "I will be back" - Arnold Schwarzenegger

does not serve walkin customers, need to order when they open, 7pm is too late, maybe this is only for people they don't like to serve

Best Bangladeshi food ever. (And I have had a lot of Bangladeshi friends and tasted their food!). The fish is perfect, the service is great (I could talk to the owner lady in Bengali, my parents are from West Bengal). Her mom's cooking IS the best! I wish to go back when they had a buffet. I would pay $20 for their buffet.

Family-owned spot serving authentic Bangladeshi food. This place was my first introduction to Bangladeshi food claiming to be Bangladeshi food -- rather than a Bangladeshi chef at an indian restaurant. It was excellent. The curries, dhal and aloo bortha are the closest subset of South Asian cuisine to West Indian cuisine from what I've experienced, so if you like the latter you'll love this. Everything is always fresh, packed well, and tastes great.

This place is amazing. It's a mother daughter duo and they are sensational. They will make amazing suggestions for you when you call, especially if you are new to Bengali cuisine. Went in to pick up the food and they could not have been more kind to us. We didn't eat in because they're currently only open for pickup and delivery, but they are absolutely worth trying! The shrimp dish we got was sensational.

Absolutely amazing from start to finish! This mother-daughter team really put their love into this dining experience. From the homey atmosphere to the greetings from daughter, Nuri as soon as you enter with a mango lassi...it feels as if you are dining at your family's house. We are then told to prepare and pace ours to enjoy a true Bangladeshi dawat dinner made up of 7 course (plus last minute extra course at whim of chef). There is no menu as it whatever chef decides that morning. From the pumpkin mash to coconut curry veggies to almond curry chicken and river fried fish to the chicken biryani (nothing like typical biryani) and the 9hr clay pot custard dessert...,Loved the authenticity of the food, but more so the simplicity of some of the meat dishes which really elevated the flavor profiles carefully selected by Chef Amma (mom) which you can tell took some serious skill to get that depth... no wonder she's been nominated for JBF award....absolutely deserves it. This was definitely one of the most memorable dinners and dining experience and I'm so glad we were able to get these reservations last minute to celebrate my husband's birthday. It was a true treat.

I've heard so many good things about Korai Kitchen, it was easily my first choice for delivery as soon as I moved to the area. I actually ate it too fast to take a picture but it was amazing. It felt as if someone Aunty or mom packed me up my dinner. They even left a cute handwritten note for me with a free sample. Everything is on point. I'm not Bengali but I've had homemade Bengali food MANY times and this was just like eating that. I got beef curry with pulao and shami kebabs. 10/10 go try it.

One of the best delivery experiences I've ever had, and some of the best food I've had in New Jersey. The flavor of the chicken curry and the chicken biryani was incredible; the spice level was perfect - not so spicy that the spice overpowers the other flavors. The portions are generous - when they say portioned for 2 people, they mean portioned for two very, very hungry people. The cherry on top was the handwritten message they added to the order. Definitely going to order from them again :) All in all, fantastic food, fantastic value, and a fantastic restaurant!

Korai Kitchen is one of my most favorite restaurants in Jersey City. The food is authentic and the hospitality is unmatched. I hope they open for dine in soon. Their Tuesday chicken roast special is out of the world.

If you want a dining experience that will transport you back home with all its comfort and warmth, Korai Kitchen's got you covered. It's a cozy little place, and Nur-E, the owner, is so sweet and friendly. She runs the restaurant with her mother, who cooks all the delicious Bangladeshi food on offer. I knew I was in for a real treat right off the bat, because the paratha was fantastic; fresh and buttery, slightly crispy on the outside, and perfect with all the curries and bhartas. I didn't take any pictures of the food descriptions so I'm struggling to remember what we had, but it was all very good, and there was enough variety for meat lovers and vegetarians alike. I tried chicken and goat curries. There was a fragrant and tasty chicken biryani with sneaky, insanely spicy green peppers... avoid those peppers if you can't handle spice! The dhal was good, and the cauliflower was sooo soft, tender, and delicious. The bhartas were all very flavorful. There was supposed to be a 1.5-hour time limit, but since it was relatively quiet when the four of us went, we pretty much just stayed until closing time, relaxing, having cha (so good and with unlimited refills!), and enjoying dessert. We had an option of either rice pudding or vermicelli noodles in sweet milk. They were both pretty tasty, but I definitely preferred the rice pudding. I hope to revisit once everything opens up again!

Absolutely love this place. The food is incredible but what is even better is that it is prepared by a Bangladeshi Mother. The hospitality is unmatched when you walk in. They don't have full seating right now but they do feasts on the weekend which you can pre-book. If you want authentic Bengali food and this is the place you need to go to. it is flavourful. Delicious and taste like Home.

This was my first time trying Bangladeshi food and I was very pleased!! It's a buffet style resturant for lunch and dinner both so be prepared for all you can eat. It's also BYOB! The staff is extremely welcoming. It's a small resturant owned by Nur-E, and her mom, who's the chef. They are very passionate about their culture and food, and you can see it as soon as you walk in. Nur-E was super nice and took time to explain all the dishes on the buffet menu. The buffet has a lot of items to choose from and they switch it up everyday. They usually have about 6-7 curries total, between chicken, fish, and goat. There's also biryani, white rice, daal, and a few veggie items. My favorite items on the buffet were the chicken curry, goat curry, and rohu fish curry. The Rohu fish is a traditional Bangladeshi dish so that's a must try. The goat was cooked so tender, it would just melt off the bone. Every person also gets one paratha included in the buffet price. The parathas were super tasty as well, soft with the perfect crunch. The restaurant is small so it can get a little packed, especially with people getting up to get food at the buffet. To get to the bathroom, you have to walk through the kitchen which is a little awkward. But overall, this is a great resturant to check out if you're looking to try something different and pig out.

Excellent food with a homemade quality that is refreshing and authentic! Welcoming vibe w a personal touch that is lacking in most other establishments.

I keep coming back to this place since I first visited 5-6 months after it opened and chanced upon it by accident. No other place matches the love and care in this homestyle cooking of Bangladeshi food. Pre-pandemic, the buffet for the price was unmatched for the quality and selection on offer. The menu sticks to being small and excellent all around. My favorites are tomato chicken, chingri malai curry and kosha mangsho. I recently ordered delivery and they've hit it out of the park with the haleem on the ramzan menu. I hope they make it a permanent fixture on their menu. One of the best dining options in the tri-state area.

Great Rohu fish curry, and amazing cabbage dish. However, the chicken korma curry and the beef curry are a little disappointing, too grassy and not as much flavor.

Simply awesome food great hosts totally warm by heart This was my first time trying Bangladeshi food . I had no idea what I was missing . It's best for non vegetarians !!! Call before you arrive as it is a homestyle cooking . And if u have to wait it's totally worth the wait . Don't miss the tea , it's nice . Restroom is clean and nice too. Every dish was superb . Try it to know it

Authentic Bengali food in Jersey. The family vibe adds the cherry. Hope they resume dine in soon

I am a huge fan of South Asian food and have often satisfied my frequent cravings by visiting neighborhood Pakistani, Sri Lankan, and Indian joints, as well as catered South Asian social gatherings, but somehow I had never had Bangladeshi food - until I found out about this place! Seeing all the rave reviews, I was very excited to try it out. It's a cozy space, so I was lucky there was a seat available when I arrived for dinner. Nuri greeted me warmly and explained the dishes and that it was always her mother's dream to have her own restaurant. It filled me with joy to know that her dream came true, and the mother-daughter duo have clearly been working very hard to run this place. The food is served buffet-style, and you can also purchase it by the pound to take it to go. There was a good variety, including vegetarian options. Although I am not vegetarian, my favorite items were the veggie options. I think this is because I am sensitive to fishy tastes/smells, and the fishiness seemed particularly strong to me in the fish curries and even the small fried whole fish, which came separate from the buffet. I also found the seasonings to be more subtle than expected and most of the food to be over-cooked (veggies were soft, while chicken and goat pieces were tough). Nuri definitely makes a clear effort to establish a connection with every diner for a personalized experience. Throughout the meal, she stopped by multiple times to share her family's story and to request feedback. She also offered certain items that were not on the buffet display, such as a small flatbread, tea, and 2 bite-sized veggie fritters. When I was about to order dessert, it was tough for me to get hold of anyone for some time despite staff passing my table a few times. It was a bit of a contrast to the service quality I got initially. However, I eventually ordered mishit doi and it was good, albeit served in a small amount. It was definitely an interesting dining experience - a hybrid between buffet and a la carte with a mix between warm/welcoming and a sense that someone is breathing down your neck. I can imagine that maintaining a buffet-style restaurant must be challenging for a small establishment and wonder if it might be easier for them to do a la carte. This experience left me with mixed feelings, but I definitely recommend people to support this family!