Samakmak

Move over, Astoria--this unremarkable street block offers enough casual Arabic seafood spots to make any Queens resident take notice. And as a bonus, it has not yet been "discovered" by the Yelp Elite / food influencer crowd (besides yours truly). The Alexandrian Style Shrimp was huge and delicious, but the Grilled Branzino (and really, any whole grilled fish) is the big, belting diva of the menu and one you should not miss. Whole, ground spices are packed into every bite care of lovely marinade, and your teeth will rejoice at how tender the meat is. Entrees all come with generous, complimentary portions of salad, tahini and pita, as well as lots of fluffy rice, so you can't walk away hungry. The prices are on the higher side, sadly--it seems nowhere is immune to inflation these days--but at least you'll get a ton of bang for your buck.

The women's are running this seafood business, and they're doing a good job. 👍🏻 But I would suggest them to add at least salad on the side along with the orders, because the food I ordered came with no sauce or salad or bread, nothing and it charged me about 40$ which was branzini fish and for the rice it charged me separately which is fine, but salad & sauce should be given as complimentary, or Pita bread. Attaching the pics, the sauce U see, I had to grab it from another restaurant called Shadman, if no sauce or salad, the fish would taste bland.

A very authentic Egyptian seafood restaurant! Save yourself the flight ticket to Egypt if you are craving some of the good Egyptian food and just have some good food there! The grilled fish was so DELICIOUS! The grilled shrimp is so good too!

Delishlish! I was in town for a wedding and we brought a huge party here, including vegans and discerning fish connoisseurs. They handled our massive order quickly and flawlessly, and everything was amazing. I especially recommend the mes2a3a for any vegans out there.

Absolute favorite restaurant in New Jersey. I am transported back home to Alexandria, Egypt. You must order the grilled stripped bass,eggplant, jumbo shrimp and rice pudding. Please understand that the fish isn’t burnt, it just is cooked with a special seasoning that blackens the skin. Let us not be ignorant like a few of these reviewers…

Amazingly delicious seafood! We had the grilled branzini and shrimp in tomato, onion, and garlic. Their tahina is something else! Simple in preparation, but refined in execution in this unassuming restaurant on the west side of Jersey City. The owners are fantastic and friendly people. We had a great conversation about their restaurant, food, and though I tried to learn as much as I can about his techniques and seasonings, there are certainly secrets that he cannot share. That just means I'll have to make the trek back there from Brooklyn!

This is definitely a hole in the wall restaurant, so people who put negative reviews of the restaurant looking a certain way are not focusing on what matters most....the food! My family and I enjoyed our experience and the food tremendously. We ordered the branzino fish, seafood soups, rice with shrimp, friend calamari and eggplant. Every dish was authentic and reminded us of some of our favorite seafood restaurants in Egypt. The gentleman and woman who were cooking and waiting on us were very nice and attentive. Our order came out fresh and hot, right off the stove! If you are looking for authentic Egyptian style seafood, this is your place!

I’m sorry, the fish is worth $22.99?? Fish that’s as big a my hand? I’m 5’ for reference. The calamari I ordered was $17.99 and they gave me such a small amount. I ordered from Ubereats after looking through pictures from reviews and the portions looked reasonable from the pictures. My total was $47.24 but what I got wasn’t worth that.

A Little Unassuming Gem for Alexandrian Food in JC I found this place on a Eater Jersey City list and wasn't expecting much but the food was surprisingly delicious. The space is small, about 8 tables, with dated, seventies decor, complete with plastic on the tables. Only one woman in the kitchen. We had the grilled Orata, which came with rice, salad, babaganoush and tahini sauce, side of eggplants with peppers in tomato sauce and the Alexandria style shrimp. Everything was fresh, the fish grilled to perfection and the shrimp well-seasoned. There is also a sandwich menu, but it was not available that day. This place as all of the elements I love in small businesses; no pretention, no gimmicks and no "fusion"...just authentic, simple, home made food, from kitchen straight to my stomach with no orchestra and fireworks. My only gripe is that the prices are high but given that food costs have risen so quickly in the last few years, I completely understand.

Move over, Astoria--this unremarkable street block offers enough casual Arabic seafood spots to make any Queens resident take notice. And as a bonus, it has not yet been "discovered" by the Yelp Elite / food influencer crowd (besides yours truly). The Alexandrian Style Shrimp was huge and delicious, but the Grilled Branzino (and really, any whole grilled fish) is the big, belting diva of the menu and one you should not miss. Whole, ground spices are packed into every bite care of lovely marinade, and your teeth will rejoice at how tender the meat is. Entrees all come with generous, complimentary portions of salad, tahini and pita, as well as lots of fluffy rice, so you can't walk away hungry. The prices are on the higher side, sadly--it seems nowhere is immune to inflation these days--but at least you'll get a ton of bang for your buck.

Food (5/5): Ordered the baba ghanoush, branzini, and large eggplant. All the dishes were delicious and flavorful. The eggplant and fish were especially amazing; this was some of the best seafood I've had in a while. The sauce and flavoring is was top notch on the branzino and the eggplant had a really good sauce and nice crunch. Definitely a great place for homemade and super fresh dishes. Service (3/5): No water provided and the food takes around 30 minutes to come out which is quite long but somewhat understandable for fresh fish. The servers were helpful and gave us no issues but weren't particularly focused on the service aspect. Ambiance (2/5): it's a homely restaurant with decent spacing of tables. Looks a bit old dated and AC doesn't or wasn't turned on. The place could've been cleaner as well. Also since the door is left open sometimes flies and insects get in.

This was our go to place for grilled brazino fish meal. The first is so perfectly done. The tahini sauce is delicious. I love the way they make their rice. They have so much flavor. I just can't stop talking about flavors!!! This meal is packed with flavors. My no no here is Cleanliness for that I would give one star. Also the prices is ridiculous. I remember paying 22 for meal and now they charge some $43. This is what discouraged us from going there. I understand economy... but not to this length.

We pass by this spot on the on the way to the park all the time. It seems to be always empty and not the best decorated place. After reading reviews our curiosity perked and we tried them on one lunch day. We searched operating hours and went there when at 12:30pm but they don't open and operate until 1pm. We were able to wait inside for half an hour. We ordered the Branzini fish combo and fries, side of soda. The food took a while to come. Close to 20 minutes but the wait was worth it. The ingredients were fresh and food was excellent. The grilled fish was well made and tasty. It is a total hole in the wall spot. Reviews about the food is accurate. The wait is long so be prepared. This spot gets a recommendation.

Probably the last place you'd think to bring a date, but I know my wife is a keeper because she insisted I come to Samakmak with her. She had gone the week before with a friend and had spent the next week excitedly speaking of her love for the Grilled Branzini in a way I can only dream she'd talk about me Despite it's very humble decor and the fact you could drive past its corner location on a street directly across from a gas station, I too am now in LOVE with Samakmak. The quantity and quality of food for what you pay is incredible. These kinds of bold flavors I've never had in Mediterranean food before. The fish is fresh and the cooking is superb. The shrimps weren't fried too heavily but still has crunch. The Branzini was grilled with just a light char. The best part is seeing how much pleasure and pride the owners and cooks take in feeding their customers. Even though we might not understand everything they say, their smiles and wonderful cooking say enough. This is a special place, and I'd go on a date to Samakmak 10/10 times over any bougie restaurant just across the River in NYC.

Fish is seasoned and tasty. The meat of the fish was also juicy. I'm pleasantly surprised at how good it is. It also comes with rice. I expected this place to be a little cheaper but it's similar to most restaurants. I think it was about $30. There is no parking lot so you'll have to find street parking. Located across a gas station

Overpriced seafood restaurant NYC type Menu Prices in old 'Jersey City' Staff unfriendly & Space not clean ! Not recommended

I am originally from Egypt. This place serves a 100% authentic Mediterranean seafood. Very delicious fish cooked in different ways. My wife and I had grilled fish while the kids had fried fish. Everyone loved what they got. Grilled shrimp was a blast. Portions are great too. This is a family owned restraint and apparently has been there for 10 years. If I visit NJ again, the first thing I m doing is eating there again.

The tastiest Bronzino you will ever have. It's a very simple little spot but family owned and run. The price is very reasonable and homemade lemonade.

I was looking for a seafood place for lunch and this place popped up. it was in an area i have never been to so i was curious. I read all good and bad reviews and decided to check it out. We wanted shrimp and a fish and asked the server which of our selection she recommended. we got shrimp with tomatoes sauce super tasty and yummy and the grilled branzini it was all fantastic. we ate everything. the sauce for the branzini was so flavorful we asked for more and asked for ingredients in hopes we could recreate the sauce. She said it was lemon, garlic olive oils and 7 different kinds of egyptian spices. we liked it so much we bought for $2 per small container 5 extra things to go. the decor is nothing special and a bit beat up but it's worth it for the food. the babaganoush was great too.

We were intrigued by the reviews on this spot so we decided to give it a try one lunch day. Food is great as what had been described in other reviews, it is worth the wait! We ordered the Branzini Full Meal (Fish, Rice, Salad & Tahini Sauce). Sides of Fries, Soda and Knafeh for dessert. Ingredients were fresh and clean. We will give it another try! Recommended! If it's not for the wait time we experienced I will give it a 5 star.

Even in the halcyon era of 2019, I wouldn't have guessed one could get a delivery of grilled whole fish in JC. Samakmak Seafood's culinary expertise means that the even the salad and tahini are notable. They seem meticulous on the operational side as well - how can something this good be this fast? If you don't fear bones, the whole branzini is strongly recommended, with an herbal kick on the outside, perfect fish on the inside, just the right amount of smoke all around. The carb-generous platter includes rice and the pita, the latter being perfect to soak up the leftover fish juice.

This local family run restaurant makes up for its plain interior with FANTASTIC grilled fish and deliciously seasoned sides. They are welcoming and the food is great!

Gorgeous fish. Tasted delicious both fried and grilled and a side of salad, hummus, and baba ghanoush. Pita is so fresh and soft, and baba gahanoush are divine. It is worth the price and service. Very kind, perfect spot for a date, absolutely no pressure to leave. Also recommend calling order ahead of your are pressed for time but want to eat in (or pick up bc parking can be a nightmare in that are). The staff are so lovely and it is small but surprisingly comfortable place to dine in

My husband and I got food here a few times when we lived in the area, and it's one of the best seafood places we've ever tried! The seafood soup is delicious and always so fresh - highly recommended! We'll be visiting from out of state because we love this food so much - looking forward to it!

Simply WOW. The seafood here is absolutely delicious and expertly seasoned with spices that truly bring out the best in each dish. My boyfriend says it's one of the best grilled fishes he's ever had! I shared the calamari with tomato sauce and the grilled bronzini meal, which comes with rice, salad, pita, and tahini. Then dishes are very generous portions and everything had SO much flavor! The tomato sauce that comes with the calamari is not your usual marinara - it's tangy and appetizing and great for scooping onto a piece of pita. And the bronzini...the skin is crisp, but the meat is so flaky and tender, and the olive oil and herbs on the dish seem so simple yet they're addicting at the same time. If there's one thing to get here, it's definitely the grilled fish. I'm so glad Yelp brought me here because I never would've expected such delicious food from this hole-in-the-wall. And the meal was a great price at $35 total after tax. Service was wonderfully friendly. I was worried how slow the food might be after all the other yelp reviews, but it took about 20-25 minutes which wasn't too bad. The only small downside to this restaurant is that the atmosphere doesn't feel that comfortable or inviting, and the interior felt rather dark. It wasn't terrible, but being the only customers in the restaurant, I initially felt hesitant to dine here. Glad I didn't back out - the food is definitely worth the visit!

There aren't many neighborhoods in the area that boast not one, but TWO fantastic Egyptian seafood restaurants: Samakmak is just a few blocks to the west from Morgan Fish Market and both places offer up a similar cuisine. Fresh fish is the name of the game: either as single pieces, sandwiches, or platters. No matter your choice, you'll be satisfied. For the quality of the fish, prices are very reasonable; maximize the bargain with a platter: a whole fish served with a pile of rice, two pitas, a tomato/cucumber/mint salad, and tahini. I went with a blackened branzino and managed two meals out of it.

Omg this place really surprised me, in a good way! The restaurant was so low key and small. When I went in and picked up my order there were literally two ladies doing everything from taking order, cleaning fish, cooking, wrapping things up printing receipt and handing over to me. I would have never imagined this inexpensive and seem to be easily prepared meal could be SO YUMMY! I ordered striped bass which was so well prepared and flavorful. Every seasoning they used was just hitting me right there. The meal comes with big bowl of seasoned rice (a bit greasy on the bottom part), pita (they heat it up before putting it into the bag), a big bowl of tahini sauce and salad side. Compared to the fish itself the sides were normal and had some downsides but I can skip that.

Putrefied foods , salt in abundance to cover the magots taste. The fat slobs who work there are equally impressive: No napkins, no water, no smiles; Forget about thank you's . That costs money there. I only spent 50$.

Great food quality, fresh and flavorful. Doesn't look like much, but you will get a great meal from it if you're looking for authentic Mediterranean fish

This is a family-owned business and the food is delicious! I had the creamy seafood soup and grilled tilapia. The meals are complete with salad, pita bread and the fixings. Yummy! The staff are very pleasant. I will return.

This place is amazing! Like really good! We ordered a few things and each item was amazing. It was three of us and we all shared the calamari in tomato sauce, a grilled branzino meal, and just a fish only fried striped bass. We did one meal that came with the bread, the tehini and the salad. The portion size was perfect! All of us ate proper and were not hungry when done! Everything was finished :) The tomato sauce is super flavorful. It does not taste like the can sauce u get (which I can't stand). Both fishes were sooo good! I lived in the Middle East for some time and use to go by the gulf to eat fresh fish from the fishermen who would cook it in front you you. This reminded me of that! The flavors were on point. I would highly recommend.

Came here because I was in the area and looking to grab a bite. I saw the photos and reviews and knew I had to come. It did not disappoint. The store had just opened, so it was just one lady inside. She did not speak much English but I was able to show her pictures from Yelp of what I wanted and we were able to figure things out from there. So if you go in and think you have a language barrier, don't walk away! Pull Yelp out! A beautiful example of people from different backgrounds learning to communicate with each other. I got my fish to go. It was so delicious and fresh. The seasoning they use is so tasty, but not overpowering or heavy. The portions were also really good. You get rice, pita, salad, and tahini sauce with. I portioned some for lunch the next day - which you can see in my picture. What a great, balanced meal. Absolutely recommend.

This food is absolutely AMAZING!!!!! the fish was grilled to perfection with an amazing lemony flavor. The rice was also super flavorful. I've never had tahini on the side to dip my bread in. but now I'm wondering how I've lived so many years without it. The eggplant was also delicious in a tangy tomato sauce. The owners were super nice and smiling-- although there was a language barrier, their smiles said it all. They also laid out a prayer rug for me at Maghrib time!! So nice! My only sadness is that I went to go pray the girl who I was with told the waitress that I was finished with my food even though I still had half of it left. Im so sad that my delicious food went into the garbage when I had planned on eating it later that night. :( Cannot wait to go again iA!!!!

Amazing seafood!! The fish and the seasoning are usually perfect! I always do takeout with grilled branzino and they have never disappointed. But it's somewhat on the expensive side.

This place was great and I will be back. It takes a while--don't come here in a rush--but all food is cooked fresh to order, is served in ample portions, and is delicious. FYI, a couple on a date could get away with just one platter, and it might be cash only. I found the restaurant thanks to Yelp. I live in Downtown JC, had checked out many of the restaurants within walking distance of my place, and wanted to check out good restaurants in other parts of the city--either heights or over by JS or Lincoln Park. Well, I'm glad I found Samakmak. We drove over and while I wasn't sure of which parking lot was for the restaurant, street parking was relatively easy to find and nearby. The restaurant interior is simple: there's no elaborate decoration, just a kitchen and seating. It was too my liking because it's all about the food. The menu is also simple (I posted a picture of it) though the prices are incorrect. Add $2 to the posted price of the platter ($18 instead of $15.99). Bottles of water are $1. And don't come here if you're in a hurry. You will wait for your food, but only because everything from the fish to the rice to the salad is prepared fresh for each person. And so I get to talk about my favorite part: the food! Each dinner platter comes with two pitas, a fresh tomato, cucmber, and parsley salad, and delicious tahini. Honestly, it was enough food for my dinner, and my girlfriend and I could have split one meal. But instead, after those appetizers, we got a freshly grilled, freaking amazing fish. I don't know what marinade was put on it but it was out of this world. The fish also came with a huge plate of rice. If you don't like whole fish--meaning with the bones still in--this won't be for you, but I think it keeps it extremely moist. I will be back here and I plan to bring friends and family. You won't be disappointed.

We ordered the whole Bronzino with their sides and calamari, eggplant and French fries and we enjoyed our meal in the restaurant fresh and delicious as is supposed to be meant to be eaten( we ordered it once to go wasn't as good as fresh from the grill) service is quiet but polite, could be a little more welcoming and attentive but not a big deal, we'll go again.

This is a top 2 restaurant for me--forget all the Michelin stars, this is where you go for AMAZING food. I've frequented this location over the years and I cannot say enough about how amazing the food is. What we like to order: Branzini: the fish is so well grilled and flavorful. And the special comes with rice (pairs excellently with tahini) and salad which in and of themselves are exceptional. Fried calamari: they do the crispy: soft ratio just right and the zesty flavor has not found a match outside. Grilled shrimp: I didn't know shrimp could be so flavorful. These are quickly devoured. I'd go out of my way to eat here.. it's that good

Secretly some of the best seafood you can get. The fried calamari and fried shrimp are absolutely incredible.

So, this is what we call a gem. My definition would be somewhere that we wouldn't visit but definitely a place to go and visit! The food is light and seasoned well. There is a variety of fish on the menu which is nice. There is space to sit down. It's not the nicest place but the food is worth a visit. The price is also very cheap and you get various sides. I also loved the eggplant!

Quality is low, extremely greasy and greedy, very over priced for no reason at all, menu said a price then ended up paying a good 35% more then what the menus said. Rice tasted like dish soap fish portion was very small. Complete rip off and don't recommend going to this place at all

I love this family owned place and I am glad it survived the pandemic. Fishes are super fresh and tasty. Their English is a bit limited but the service is excellent. They tried to make your dining experience great. We had grilled shrimps, shrimps in tomato sauce and grilled orata fish. All meals served with rice, fresh salad, tahini and warm pita breads. Highly recommended and we will definitely come back!

I've been on a yelp hiatus for a while due to a busy summer but I'm back! I have plenty of reviews and pictures on my camera roll to unload. So I figure, let me start off with a review from a local restaurant. I came here for dinner on a Friday night. The restaurant itself is fairly small with a few tables. There was one large family dining in but that was it. We immediately sat down and browsed the menu. I ordered the branzini and my friend ordered the bass. These were platters which were served with rice, salad, pita bread, and generous portions of tahini. Being middle eastern, I was able to fully appreciate the flavors of all the food. The fish was so juicy and tender and I honestly can't stop thinking about how amazing that meal was. Not only was the food delicious, but the platters have generous portions for the price. Yes, the ambiance is lacking a bit here but that doesn't phase me. I will return over and over again for that flavorful fish!

Came here today alone and realized I forgot my wallet after the meal. The owner aksed "So you like the food?", and I said "yes, of course". Then he said that he trusted me and I could come back to pay when I visit next time. I was moved, deeply. But I did not wait till the next time. In the end I called an Uber and went back to my apartment and came back to pay the bill. Thanks for the trust from the owner. The moment when he chose to trust a person who he didnt even know, I especially feel the beauty of humanity. Life is good, especially on this Saturday. And of course, I liked the food.

A Very unpleasant experience. Fish sandwich had mostly rice inside amd tiny bits of fish.Huge rip off, Stay away.

Really good local seafood restaurant! Really fresh fish and for great prices. Love the garlic shrimp and tilapia! Really excited to try other fish as well. You can order with grubhub or pick up!

Really delicious as everyone mentioned. We ordered the calamari in tomato sauce and branzino - both were absolutely amazing! I'm usually not a big fan of fish but the grilled branzino was really one of a kind. It has a slight citrus crisp taste and the meat is so fresh and tender that it just falls right off the bone. Didn't think we could finish everything but we did because it was so good. Our meal was served with pita bread, tahini dip, salad and rice. THE RICE AND SALAD WERE SOOOOOOO GOOD. Especially the rice. It was empty when we came, only two people were working. Our main dishes took about 20 minutes to arrive which wasn't too bad. The other reviews made it seem like it would take much longer. Our total was $33 for everything, a great deal! They take cards too.

Good food, great portion size, good service. Hole in the wall kind of ambience. We tried the tasty grilled bass, the fried shrimp and the eggplant, humus and tahini with bread. Everything was delish and the chef seemed to be having a great time and cooking from the heart with a smile on his face. Seemed to be passionate about it which was great to see. Will try again!

If you're looking for good eats this place is it! I have had so far the grilled brazino, grilled shrimp, rice, Tajiri sauce with pita and the seafood soup. All delicious especially the grilled brazino. The food is fresh and made with love. I usually have the meals to go whether I'm picking it up or have it delivered by uber eats and the food is still hot!!! The packaging is sustainable as well. No juices all over the place. Don't have second thoughts this place is a hit!!

Food is great!! Would pick up or make delivery as no place for parking. Their grilled Bronzino, the egg plant and sea food Tagine are great

This place is a gem. The food is delicious. The staff is warm and welcoming. The place is casual, not pretentious. I had the fish soup and the branzino and boy oh boy! Absolutely exquisite and fresh!!! I could not be more impressed.

I haven't been here for like 2 years due to the parking situation, but everytime I think of the term 'hole in the wall ' this place is my standard I hope you can understand it's value that way, Yelpers.

Outstanding food quality and service. Fresh traditional Egyptian style sea food. It hit the spot!

I love this restaurant and l must say l only love real good food. The food in this place is to die for. This restaurant is far from my house but l go often and l take friends all the time. Everything is fresh, you can see them preparing it. The price is extremely affordable. The place does not look fancy and it is not glamorous but the perfection of the meal will have you returning here ALL THE TIME.

My favorite restaurant on Westside Ave! I took a chance because it's not the most trendy restaurant but the food is A1. No exaggeration, the grilled fish with the rice, salad and tahini sauce is one of the best meals I've ever had. So much flavor and freshness. The serving sizes are huge and the meals are shareable.

Do not skip this amazing little restaurant; in fact, go here as often as you can. Grilled whole Branzino and rice: served with fresh lime, the skin was perfectly charred, the rice had nice seasoning and a good bite. Bones were not a problem! Calamari in tomato sauce: mild, tender calamari, perfect sauce, seared pepper garnish--just order it!! Salad was so bright and fresh, surprise off-menu eggplant with roasted peppers and tomatoes...and to top it off the service was extra sweet. Came here the first night after our big move to Jersey City, and it was a memorable welcome.

I feel bad giving a super star review for this place but I did not love the food and service. We came here around 8pm on a Friday night and was one of the two groups of guests in the restaurant. Food took forever to come out and they were just ok. We ordered squid in tomato sauce and grilled bronzini. Food was not particularly bad, but they were not as fresh & flavorful.

Food is fresh and very tasty!! The flavors are unbelievable!! Love mom and pop shops way better than any chain Resturant!! Had grilled shrimp and fried Striped Bass!! So much food Enough for people! Energized and not sluggish!!