If you’re craving Saag Paneer or a nice buttery slab of garlic Naan, take a break from your go-to Indian food joint and hop on the PATH to Jersey City. Once above ground you can follow your nose to Little India, located just a few blocks from the Journal Square stop. The wafting scent of spices will lead the way to a lively three-block strip lined with Chai Walas, sari shops, restaurants and temples. Marigolds and other good luck charms adorn facades of small businesses and colors pop from unlikely corners.
Eat lunch at one of its many restaurants and enjoy fluffy Samosas and piping hot Marsala over a bed of fresh jasmine rice. After lunch, get the blood flowing with a stroll down the strip and poke your head into a sari or jewelry shop. Don’t skip a visit to one of the many “Cash and Carry’s” where you can find imported grocery and beauty products. When it’s time to go home, you’ll already be thinking about taking your first trip to India—or at least another jaunt to JC.
Where to eat
Tip: If you go on the weekend, the majority of restaurants offer all-you-can-eat buffets, and that means getting the most Biryani for your buck.
1. Dine on veg and non-veg entrees at Rasoi, which bustles on the weekends. (810 Newark Ave)
2. If you are a vegetarian or even vegan, try Sapthagiri, which features both North and South Indian cuisine. (804 Newark Ave)
3. For no-frills, almost fast-food dining, hit up Dosa Hut, for everything fried. (777 Newark Avenue)
4. The Bengali Sweet House will provide dessert lovers with traditional cardamon treats like Ladoo and Barfi. (836 Newark Ave)
Where to shop
5. As you head back to the train, stop at the Apna Bazar, a large grocery store filled with everything from spices to statues of the Hindu Gods. (2975 John F. Kennedy Blvd)
Directions: Take the PATH to the Journal Square stop. Walk three blocks north on John F. Kennedy Blvd and take a left on Newark Avenue.
Photo:Devika.
View Jersey City’s Little India in a larger map
