Fall Foods & Where to Get Your Fix in Jersey City

(Updated October 2021)

It’s fall, y’all, which means there’s plenty of sweaters, warm blankets, and comfort food featuring the distinct flavors of autumn to be had. Jersey City is chock full of amazing seasonal food and drink options to enjoy as the leaves finish changing. Check out our list of local must-eat savory and sweet food and drinks that are sure to satisfy any fall food cravings.

 

Sweater Weather Savory Comfort Food

 

Eira Cafe / Mercearia — 24 Mercer Street

Eira Cafe, located in Downtown Jersey City, offers wide array of authentic Portuguese dishes for breakfast and lunch options. A brand new Jersey City eatery, opened by Michael Casalinho, owner of the former Broa Cafe and co-owner of Tamborim Bar & Grill, this will be Eira’s first fall in Jersey City. To welcome it they are offering a variety of seasonal specials to try including their homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte, Eira Bread Pudding, made from brioche croissant, Bolas de Berlim, candied walnuts, toasted merengue, and doused Port wine caramel sauce (perfect for pairing with their homemade stout ice cream), or their Open Faced Pumpkin Sandwich, made from Requeijão cheese, pumpkin jam, pumpkin butter, pickled squash, fried sag leaves, toasted spiced pumpkin seeds on homemade bread. Head over to Mercearia today to satisfy the Portuguese fall craving you never knew you had but definitely need to fill!

 

sam a.m. — 112 Morris Street

If you’re having one of those mornings where you wake up and are already ready for a nap, we suggest grabbing the Chicken and Waffles at sam a.m. in Paulus Hook, featuring rich chicken gravy and a drizzle of tangy cranberry syrup, for the ultimate brunch-then-back-to-bed moment we all need to embrace sometimes.

 

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Empanadas by Lady G — 11 Eastern Parkway

Empanadas are the little pockets of perfection with no limits as to what delicious ingredients can be put inside, making them one of the best foods to adapt to any season. Lady G in Greenville does not disappoint with her autumn empanada option packed full of sweet potato and spice and dusted with a little powdered sugar to blur the line between sweet and savory snacks.

 

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Ozu Foods — 106 Hutton Street

Known for its bento boxes, sushi, noodle dishes, and more delicious Japanese fare in the Heights, Ozu offers a simple yet satisfying autumn special of roasted butternut squash, creamy sesame dressing, and a sprinkling of safflower seeds for an added crunch to the tender squash. 

 

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Porta — 135 Newark Avenue

For THE quintessential autumn dinner, Porta’s seasonal menu features a veggie option that hits all of the autumn notes at once: fire-roasted acorn squash with ricotta and honey, plus charred brussel sprouts and roasted string beans with walnuts.

 

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Fall in Love with Something Sweet

 

Bang Cookies — 1183 Summit Avenue

The dream: getting giant, soft, fresh-baked cookies instantly delivered to your doorstep any time you get the craving for something sweet. The reality: Bang Cookies, a JC-based bakery that offers local delivery of natural and organic cookies Monday-Sunday 11 a.m. to midnight in Jersey City, Hoboken, Union City, and Weehawken. The limited-edition Pumpkin Spice Crackle is a double whammy of pumpkin and chocolate, so between the ooey-gooey ingredients and the “one giant cookie” serving size, it’s definitely worth adding the milk option to your delivery cart to wash it down (from the comfort of your cozy couch).

 

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Stack Creamery — 465 Central Ave

A brand new addition to the ever expanding list of Jersey City businesses, Stack Creamery has brought all sorts of sweet and creamy goodness to the city. This season they are revealing their newest flavor, Dutch Carmel Apple, made with a sweet cream base, apple pie filling and caramel swirled in, available for a limited time only. Check out Stack Creamery before this flavor goes out of season!

 

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Griot Café — 434 Central Avenue

Try out the one the of commonly most indulgent breakfast orders with a fall twist at Griot Café in The Heights. Their seasonal Pumpkin-Cinnamon French Toast is almost too pretty to eat, but one sniff of the heavenly combo of warm spice and syrup soaked bread and you’re done for – just make sure to try to snap a picture before it’s gone.

 

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Cozy Up with a Seasonal Drink

 

The Grind Shop — 360 Communipaw Avenue

Speaking of PSLs, a fall food list isn’t complete without everyone’s favorite autumn-flavored latte. One of our favorites can be found at Grind in Bergen-Lafeyette, where you can get a hot latte made with oat milk, then sit outside on the benches built around the trees for a great dog-spotting perch while you inhale the instantly recognizable spiced scent of fall.

 

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The Cottage  — 136 Monticello Avenue

Looking for that seasonal drink that warms you up inside, makes you feel good and is good for you? Head over to The Cottage on Monticello Avenue to try their new Turmeric Ginger Chai made with zesty ginger, lemongrass and a crack of black pepper. Also check out their brand new cranish made from cream cheese & fresh Asian pears sourced from farms here in NJ. You will not be disappointed!

 

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Cafe Lafayette — Corner of Maple Street & Monitor Street

Located on the ground floor of the new BELA apartments at 74 Maple Street, Cafe Lafayette is new addition to the growing list of Jersey City cafes. Offering a solid breakfast and lunch menu that includes espresso drinks, pastries, egg dishes as well as specialities such as their spicy fried chicken sandwich or bulgogi burger, Cafe Lafayette is also now serving seasonal drinks this fall!

 

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Mathews Food and Drink — 351 Grove Street

When you need to wash down your pumpkin with more pumpkin, stop by Mathews Food and Drink in Downtown for some amazing fall cocktail specials, like the Pumpquito made with spiced rum, pumpkin puree, condensed milk, evaporated milk, and cinnamon that tastes like a horchata taken to a whole new seasonally appropriate level.

 

Corgi Spirits — 1 Distillery Drive

While pumpkin and apple often get top billing for fall flavors, pears are often just outside the spotlight despite being at their peak in November. Corgi Distillery in Bergen-Layfette is bringing pear flavors front and center with The Royal Snout, made with their very own Saddlecoat Vodka, white truffle oil, Angostura Bitters, honey syrup, lemon juice, and pear. Order this cocktail at the bar, then settle into an overstuffed armchair in their library lounge next to the fire for the coziest night out you’ll have all season.

 

What’s the best fall food or drink you’ve had in Jersey City? Use #everythingjerseycity to show us on Instagram!