Orale Mexican Kitchen - Restaurants Jersey City

Several local friends recommended this place and we had some tasty machin bone marrow and carolina barbacoa tacos with the smokey margarita for dinner. The bone marrow tacos were more about the bone marrow and pork belly texture - melt in your mouth fat with some crunchy cabbage. Versus the barbacoa was more about the flavors the meat had been marinating in, packed with smokey, sweet, and little bit of heat flavor. While they're smaller street taco sized, I did appreciate there were 5 in each order. We also liked the sauces, my favorite being the green one, which had a nice medium heat. The smokey marg was fine but nothing memorable and quite pricey, would stick to beer next time. Service was very fast and friendly, and the ambiance is hip and casual with a day of the dead theme. I was surprised the acoustics in the space were decent, it looks like it could be noisy but I was able to have a convo easily with my partner. Would return for some innovative Mexican fusion next time I'm in JC!

Nacho was sort of stale - so disappointing. It's not that hard to make. Fish Taco was good. Bone Marrow Taco was way too fatty. Guac was the best thing.

I have been several times and the Food is amazing. My favourite is their Tuna Tacos... it's so so good. The guac is also great with lots of add ons and the Serrano marmalade was really tasty and unique. Drinks are a bit of hit or miss. Another great option is the shrimp ceviche. 4 star due to drinks and really loud music which made conversation hard.

Darkly gorgeous spot for a catch-up brunch with a friend. We shared the Guacamole Casa, Bombero and El Naco guacamoles to start. All tasted fresh and flavorful, with the El Naco being top dog (or pig) for its tasty pork belly bits. My Huevos Con Chilaquiles was everything I wanted a bowl of toasted tortilla chips to be, and my glass of Red Sangria got me nice and buzzed without too much effort. All in all, a solid spot in this over-saturated stretch of downtown to grab a bite.

Orale's interior space was very cool. The art on the walls and dim lighting made it a great place for a casual date night. Was very excited to have Orale's Truffle Ribeye Burrito. I love a good burrito and this one was one a kind. Steak + not just queso but truffled queso?! Unfortunately, my burrito was a tad cooler than room temp and the service was very slow. It was massive so there were tons of leftovers, but a not warm burrito obviously led to a mediocre taste. Disappointed.

The fish tacos are my favorite, fresh and crunchy. The truffle steak burrito is my second favorite as long as you're hungry! Great fried plantains. I find the chips not crispy and guacamole too salty however.

I recently visited Orale Mexican Kitchen on a spontaneous date with my partner. We decided to grab some drinks and enjoyed nachos and churros as well. The service was attentive, and the atmosphere was pretty cool, especially with their outdoor seating, which is rare these days as many places are closing theirs. The food options looked interesting, though we didn't try much beyond the nachos since the menu was a bit outside our usual preferences for a Mexican restaurant. However, the nachos were excellent and did not disappoint. Overall, Ore Kitchen seems like a great place to hang out with friends. We're looking forward to trying more of their food next time.

The only negative thing I can say about Orale is that I wish I lived closer so I could go more often. The food is always incredibly fresh, and the margaritas are consistently strong and flavorful. The pork belly bao buns were absolutely delicious. The Korean pears added just the right amount of sweetness to balance the savory pork, making for a perfect bite every time. The carnitas tacos were also melt-in-your-mouth good. Unlike the typical shredded carnitas, these were prepared differently, but that didn't make them any less amazing. I also decided to try one of their frozen margaritas, which was super tasty and refreshing. The vibe inside Orale is dark and moody, creating a cool, laid-back atmosphere that's perfect for enjoying a meal and drinks. The service is prompt and attentive without being overbearing. Every visit to Orale leaves me wishing I could come back more often.

Came her with a big group under Resy and ran late and the staff was very understanding! Had a great start to my bach night here and the guac flight was delicious!! So many unique flavors. Enchiladas was great and seemed like everyone enjoyed their meal and drinks. Would recommend and return!

Orale stands apart in every way, food, ambiance and decor; cocktails, and service. Even the music was great. This place wasn't a slave to its genre of cuisine, and was very upscale urban. The taco orders aren't uniform in number, from 2 or 3 to as many as 5. Killer spicy margherita. Any of their pork belly options (bao buns, nachos: or tacos) are amazing as is everything else I've tried. This is a really fun spot.

After returning from LA and all the great Mexican restaurants there, I was extremely disappointed with the food and experience and pricing of Orale Mexican Kitchen. The food was too rich so people got sick. The servers were all over you when you didn't want to be served and hard to find when you were. The place was crowded with larger tables of older and loud groups. To add insult to injury, on top of their high prices, they charge a 3.75% transaction for using a credit cared. Since the other couple and us didn't have $400 in cash, we had to use our credit cards and got ripped off. Needless to say, we won't be returning.

Had a great meat here! Tacos, guac, and tuna crudo, not to mention some great margaritas. My friend said the burrito is great but I wanted something lighter and the truffle tuna crudo was my best option. I love truffle and it was excellent! My friend and partner got chicken and shrimp tacos (option for lettuce wraps) and it was a better portion than i expected. The one odd thing was they put the two portions of rice and beans in one bowl so they had to share from that rather than get their own. Our waiter was super friendly and quick! It was quite loud since everyone there was having such a great time.

From the first moment you step in, you can feel how amazing the vibrant it is inside. The servers were just as amazing ensuring we were satisfied with our meal and that everything is up to par. The food was just as good, the burrito was massive! Everything we got was so fresh and delicious. We got tacos, the truffle burrito, and the guacamole with chips. Highly recommend this place for any occasion!!

Orale exceeded all expectations during our recent visit for Taco Tuesday, where we celebrated my friend's birthday. Julio was our server and he was very attentive and so friendly that it elevated the experience. We kicked things off with strong and delicious margaritas! I recommend the watermelon one! For our appetizer, we indulged in the guacamole trio, with the Serrano variation stealing the show with its perfect blend of spiciness and sweetness. The real stars of the night were the tacos. We ordered the shrimp and borracho (fish) tacos, and while both were excellent, the fish tacos were simply outstanding. Served on soft corn tortillas, they delivered a burst of flavors that left us craving more. In summary, Orale's Taco Tuesday experience was beyond amazing. From the fantastic margaritas to the standout fish tacos, every aspect of our meal was a BOMB! Julio's exceptional service made it even more special. Orale has earned recommendation, and we can't wait to return for more taco goodness!

Ya girl is probably the last one to hit up Orale in JC. yup, shoot me later. my man took me here for my birthday and i couldnt have enjoyed it more. its the perfect atmosphere for a date. its dark, not too loud, and has outstanding service. I loved the decor from the post cards to the toilet paper design in the bathroom. Thursdays are where ya get more bang for ya buck. to our surprise it was happy hour all night. order a taco or entree, get $6 drinks all night. without a doubt, i took them up on that offer. 4 house margaritas slid down so smoothly. their house salsas are served in tattoo ink dispensors, which i love. i love when hot sauces are served that way. i loved all 3, but as usual i prefer the habernero medium heat one. i was basically spooning this into my mouth at one point. anyway, food. the queso dip is a hit. served hot and bubbling in a cast iron bowl & comes with chips, my guy who is not a foodie and doesnt get the hype...ATE.THIS.UP! great app! 5 shrimp tacos with rice+beans is not only tasty, but also incredibly filling. i thought i was getting 2 shrimp mini tacos in a corn tortilla, but nope. out came 5 little bundle of joys. overall i dont think there was much heat on the taco, but they were a nice bite. i loved the rice and beans. cant wait to come back!

My bf and I had a reservation but started at the bar for a few drinks for happy hour. The service at the bar could've been lot better. Both bartenders were very standoffish but got slightly better towards the end. The happy hour deals are really good. We had a few rounds and tried the sir veza later, frozen Margarita and nuestra casa. All the drinks were really good. When it was time for our reservation we were sat right away. We started with the nachos and 3 guac tastings for $14. We got the guacamole casa, Serrano marmalade and bombero. The nachos were delicious and huge. These are on my top 3 best nachos list. The guacs were ok; I liked the Serrano marmalade. I had the truffle ribeye burrito and my bf had the Puebla cemita sandwich. My burrito was huge and pretty good. It's supposed to have arugula and I think it came with spring mix. It's pricey but brought for 2 meals so worth it. My bf liked this sandwich. Our server and the dining staff were great and we really enjoyed our meal. I'd definitely come here again. The bad service at the bar rubbed me the wrong way but since the happy hour deals are only at the bar I guess I'd give the bar another try.

Cute date spot. Dark, intimate, hip with great service and food. Small and cozy with a great selection of food. I recommend the nachos and pork belly tacos.

Cool spot to grab a drink or eat. Love the decor and atmosphere. The bar scene is hippy and the bartenders are good at what they do.

Overall, I had a great experience. This restaurant pleasantly surprised with the taste, quality, and prices of the food. The tacos was really good and has a decent flavor. The steak was well-done. Tender meat and well-seasoned. It taste wonderful. The smocked duck confit nachos were flavorful and lots of cheese with good amount of veggies and meat. Huge portion size for decent price. Service was also great.

Don't bring a group here. We called days in advance for a group of 14 and they forced us to have a fixed menu even though the place would have been empty without us. We ended up being forced with way too much food, a disgusting amount of waste, and it cost us $100 per person for food we didn't even choose. Tip is always an automatic 20% for groups so you know the service wasn't attentive at all.

Been here a few times and this place never disappoints! The food is great and their drinks are great. The tacos never miss and the prices are reasonable. This particular time they had happy hour menu if you ordered an entree which was $6 margs. Service was a little slow but it was busy. The ambience is dark but very cool and colorful.

Delicious , good vibes, make a reservation to avoid the wait. Ordered the house guac along with shrimp tacos (served with 3) I like that they have flour tortillas and an array of sauces are offered. Spent $22 on the tacos. Would recommend and can't wait to return

Orale delivered a flavorful experience with their tacos that left my friend and me quite satisfied. We sampled both the beef and chicken tacos, and each held its own in terms of taste and quality. Personally, I found the beef tacos to be particularly solid. We also indulged in some guacamole, a classic choice to accompany the tacos. While the guac was good, I couldn't help but think it would have been enhanced with the addition of some tomatoes for an extra burst of freshness.

Great Date spot! Wonderful ambiance - and lots of little dishes to split. LOVE THE FOOD!

This place is a scam. 0 authentic food, Bao bun??? I could understand if they added a twist to it but it's literally just bao buns. The food is bland & overpriced. The service in Jersey City is probably the only good thing about this place. Other than that i would say this is definitely not a Mexican spot.

Vibes were immaculate! It's super dark in there but the lights are so pretty and there's definitely an aesthetic that they are going for that they achieve! Would definitely be cute for a date spot or dinner with friends. The servers were very nice but definitely we're giving us "hurry up" energy! They didn't seem that busy but then they kept coming over to see if we were finished! So very nice but seemed stressed which is valid but I could of kept vibing for a bit longer. For reference we were only there for an hour and 10 minutes maybe so the rushing felt like ‍ The food is iconic! We got some chips and guac - not pictures but so delicious. And I got the enchiladas! The sauce is AMAZING! It was soooo yummy and I would 100% go back! It's a little pricey but they do have a thirsty Thursday HSPPY hour menu so I would definitely look at that and then we got nuestra casa - a great cocktail and that was delicious ! Overall, really enjoyed the food and would definitely go back here !

This is a great looking place to stop in and grab a bite. Staff is very friendly and the ambiance is beautiful. In middle of the menu they drop this message "CASH ONLY FOR THE ENTIRE BILL * NO SPLITTING CHECKS" It's 2024 and to have some weird bs. Thankfully I had enough cash with me. If you're planning on drinking a lot keep in mind they only have two bathrooms ...LOL The food was very good and we all walked out full but the shrimp tacos have no seasoning and the truffle fries are large steak fries with too much garlic. Everything else was great :)

Loved the decor and overall look of the interior. The pork belly bao buns were amazing! The drinks were pretty strong and also good. Our service was a tad slow though, but the food more then made up for that.

Orale was quite busy on Saturday night so make a reservation if you have a group! We came in around 8 and were told about an hour wait for 4. Luckily it only took 15 min! We shared the nachos, corn, queso, and flautas. All were fine for tex mex but no stand outs.The michelada here doesn't have clamato juice so I would not recommend it. The frozen margaritas are GREAT!! The host was nice but we didn't have a good experience with our waitress. Felt rushed out of the restaurant.

Great, fun environment and really good food! We got 3 different guacs and they were all delicious in their own way. I love the way you can customize and number of guacs you get and try many flavors at once. We got the fish and shrimp tacos, huevos con chilaquiles, and chicken enchiladas. Everything was super flavorful and was perfect to share with each other. I highly recommend the huevos con chilaquiles for vegetarians (we added the vegetable blend and it was amazing)! The environment is really fun and our waitress was lovely, too. There's something for everyone here!

Came here for happy hour. I was never here before. We sat at the bar. Decor is cool, place has a great vibe. The wait service was friendly and attentive. I got their classic margarita for $6 on happy hour. Oh man it was very strong and delicious. I saw Sara's review from 7 years ago mentioning strong margaritas, well I can confirm they are still very strong. Which is good! I got the Juan to know Juan tacos normal $22 but half off for happy hour. 3 tacos normally for $22 is pretty expensive. And to be honest I wasn't blown away. They were very spicy to me. The meat was tender and good but I wish there was more of that corn bread crumble to counteract the spicyness. I did like the roasted scallions on the side. It came with rice and beans but they just lumped it in one bowl for two people and it wasn't really enough for us to share. Some tacos like the duck and tuna are not on the happy hour menu. Happy hour is cash only. And they definitely make you know it. Told us multiple times and then before they gave us the bill asked "do you have the cash?" We did... but it felt like I was in a drug deal. Other than that my experience was fine. I do like the funky decor and the bathrooms were very clean. But ultimately I think this place is a bit too expensive for the food they serve and I'm not a fan of the cash only happy hour.

Stopped in right before the kitchen closed and I will say service was fast and knowledgeable about the menu. The drinks were good and the dim lit vibes was very cozy.

Great place, strong drinks, great food! Came for family party. We had the private room, the service was on point. The family had so much fun time flew by. Will visit again.

Our go to restaurant. We know the food will be great but the service will be tolerable. The drinks are awesome. The food is consistently delicious but the service is lacking. The prices, fair. The last time...We sat for about fifteen minutes without so much as courtesy water. Then we went and complained. They apologized profusely and gave us some free hour 'derves. But this wasn't the first time this happened. One time...I'll spare you. So why do we go back? I don't know. I am rooting for them. The atmosphere is perfect. And I want them to be better since the drinks and the food are so good I know one day the service will match it.

Orale is an absolute must-visit for great Mexican cuisine! The flavors were bursting with authenticity and the dishes were as artistic as they were delicious. Go for the food, but stay for the vibrant colors and quirky decor like the Bruce Lee imprint in the bathroom. We had the seitan tacos and the maple margarita salmon -- both were outstanding. We really appreciated the service. The servers were extremely friendly, attentive to every need, and knowledgeable about the menu. Treat yourself to a fantastic all-around experience at Orale. Between the incredible eats, creative atmosphere, and excellent service, it's definitely worth a visit!

Went here for brunch this past weekend. We shared the nachos and made them vegetarian. They were served on a larger platter so the toppings were well distributed over all the chips. I got the vegetarian tacos which came with 5 or 6 little tacos. If we would have known how large the plates were, we would have shared. They were very filling and tasty. It was too much food. I had the crimson blaze, blood orange and smile &de nada to drink. All the drinks were very well made!

Great experience! Sat at the bar for happy hour and decided to eat at the bar as well. The margs were tasty and the bar staff very attentive. Food tasted great - we had the tuna tacos (alittle spicy) and the fish tacos - traditional but perfectly done. Healthy portions all around. Plenty of seats on a Wed night in the dining room and outside. Consistently good!

Had a great dinner at the Orale in jersey city!! Absolutely loved the decor, this restaurant is very sexy. Was pleasantly surprised with the food too. I got the Barbacoa tacos which were super flavorful and juicy. They brought out their house made hot sauces which had a serious heat level. Only thing is the spicy margarita wasn't spicy, no muddled peppers in it. Our waiter was super nice and had great recommendations. He was really attentive even on a very busy night.

Perfect date night spot. We were able to get in without waiting too long fortunately. I liked the simplicity of food options while offering unique concepts. I had an oversized burrito with a delicious creme sauce. One downside is it had some greens in it which didn't pair well with the warm ingredients in there. The tostadas were delicious too. Highly recommend!

Orale is a cool spot if you're looking for a more upscale Mexican food experience. I really love the guacamole "flights", where you can choose a sampler of various of types of guacamole. The restaurant is fun & vibrant, a great spot for a date night!

BEWARE VEGANS- VEGAN LABELED FOOD IS NOT ACTUALLY VEGAN!!! - vegan chimi is fried alongside meat in same oil and chips are fried in same oil as meat (everything fried in same oil) DO NOT GO!! when we said "so its not vegan?" they kept saying everything is fried together

Ambiance (4/5): The establishment has both an indoor and outdoor dining area. The inside feels super trendy, has dark lighting, and pretty loud music. We dined inside and music volume made it difficult to hear each other inside. Service (5/5): We were seated immediately for our 6:30pm reservation on a Saturday evening. We ordered the frozen margarita of the day and it was delicious and made with real fruit and was pretty strong despite the small glass. The service was incredibly quick and the food was ready lightening fast!! I'm talking within 15 minutes of being seated! We were able to loiter afterwards and did not feel like we were being pushed out (also because the restaurant wasn't completely full). Food (3.5/5): I ordered the Truffle Ribeye Burrito. The burrito is smothered in a delicious queso but it much too big and messy to pick up with your hands. The tortilla was difficult to cut with the knife. I enjoyed the spicing and the house hot sauces but the ribeye wasn't super tender. The overall worth of the burrito did not meet the price point of $27.

I recently started coming back here, but only during happy hour since the regular prices are too high. The frozen margaritas are some of the best I've ever had, and the servers, especially Mike, are fantastic. The look of the restaurant is nice. Unfortunately, they keep changing the menu, removing favorites like the Puebla Cemita sandwich, which is a real letdown. The tacos are still around but are pretty mediocre. Come for the drinks, but grab your food elsewhere.

Really fun atomosphere with lots of food and drink options. This is a great spot for large parties

I went to the Jersey City location and highly recommend. Service was great, I've never been a fan of ceviche, tried theirs it was amazing has a slight spice but extremely flavorful and the shrimp is lightly grilled with a Smoky flavor. The drink of the day was a frozen strawberry margarita which was amazing it did not water down fast like most frozen drinks and was still strong like a regular margarita on the rocks. Beautiful ambiance with a rocking playlist perfect for a day night.

I enjoyed my dining experience at Orale Mexican Kitchen. The food was delicious, cooked well, and plated very nicely. I sat at the bar and was pleased by the overall ambiance of the restaurant. Lights were soft creating a calm environment but not so low it was difficult to see. The staff was friendly. My main point of dissatisfaction was the lack of a menu. They require you to scan a QR code to view a menu, an unfortunate trend in the industry. The bar tender let me use the restaurant's ipad which enabled me to to view the menu.

I've passed this place each time I'm in town but finally had a chance to eat there with some friends. Our reservations required us to preorder a prefixe menu...we had a table to ten. Chips, guac, salsa, nachos, soft tacos, salad, dessert..all delicious! Including the watermelon margarita. The nachos were delicious and came out presented on a big tray. Not overly drowning with cheese which I like. The soft taco...pork chicken and shrimp. The pork (belly) and shrimp weee delicious. Chicken was just ok. The churros were delicious . Crunchy and warm and a nice way to end the meal. Tres leches accompanies it and it was surprisingly light. I didn't get pics since folks were so hungry they devoured the food lol. Vibe was fun and lively. A bit hot inside...needed to have more air circulation but not bad.

Good drinks, good food. We were seated outside, so can't comment much on outdoor seating. It was as comfortable as it can get for a street side setup in Jersey City. We met a couple of friends for early dinner in summer. Loved the bourbon based drink with scorched slice of orange. The other drink was spicy mojito with chili oil. Unfortunately don't remember the names of the drinks Since we chose vegetarian options, we substituted seitan instead of pork for the nachos. We were charged $6 more on top of the said price just for seitan. The waiter never mentioned that it would cost us more. When you take the pork out and replace it with seitan, its a substitution not a add-on. Is this how you accommodate the vegetarians in your restaurant, charging them a premium for their choices? I like the restaurant and the food was tasty. But I don't like being charged more for being a vegetarian!

Another solid visit. Came for cinco de Mayo and sat at the bar instead of a table. It was busy but the staff was on point. They add a 20% gratuity to the check, which I assume comes from the COVID hardships. No biggie. Food was good, drinks were strong and the music was on point as always. It gets busy but they have indoor and outdoor seating. Also a few TVs at the bar to watch games.