Masala Cafe

Hobby's is a Newark institution, and for good reason, as it offers some of the best deli meats and…read morelunch sandwiches in the area. Beyond the food, it's family-owned, and the family happens to be some of the kindest people you'll find. It's a rare day where one of them doesn't stop by the table to ask how your day is going, or how the meal went. As for the meal itself, you'll be greeted by a heaping bucket of various pickles on the table. The menu is enormous, with all the typical hot and cold sandwiches you'd expect from a great deli. Finish off the meal with a tasty cookie or dessert - i love both the black and whites or the linzer tarts.

Working in Newark everyday allows me to enjoy lunch at Hobby's a few times a month…read more The restaurant itself is very dated and old school. Lots of Devils memorabilia is hung up throughout. Basic seating with nothing fancy. A full jar of fresh pickles is on the table. The pastrami is second to none. Seriously. You get a generous portion of pastrami on rye. Greasy, fatty, just perfect! The onion rings are the best. They are famous for a reason. I go a few times a month so, I'm always greeted by name and promptly seated. The food always arrives shortly after the order is taken.

Hobby's at night

Welcome to Hobby's

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Big Rocs Deli

4.0(20 reviews)

0.9 mi

The sandwich was really good. I had the beef pastrami with a smir of mustard. We tried the digital…read moremenu and I had no idea the menu was so extensive. I have to try some of the other things they have to offer next time. It was nice to see it wasn't to far from me and in my old neighborhood. The service was good and helpful. The prices were good and average for these types of sandwiches.

I've only ever tried the Hot Pastrami sandwich from here. The place is very CLEAN which is…read moredefinitely a plus and has a nice layout and ambiance to it. There even a Mrs. Pac-Man game that you can play for free while you wait for your food. I think it's a great deli addition to this neighborhood. As for the food, it was okay. Nothing too special in my opinion. I paid $18.60 for a hot pastrami which is on par for these kinds of sandwiches but for the size it definitely could have been bigger. I still would recommend if you really want a hot pastrami and you don't want to go downtown or across town. And I would go back if I was in the area. I'm currently on the search for the BEST pastrami sandwich in Jersey and sadly this just isn't it. But good for the area that it is serving.

Dining area

Turkey Pastrami!

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Roc Fresher Peach Lemonade

Millburn Deli

4.3(928 reviews)

7.1 mi

Tried millburn for the first time today. My coworker and I aren't from around here. In short, the…read morestaff were kind of sidelining me because I didn't take a ticket. My coworker didn't either, but he was able to make his order and get his food before anyone ever looked at me. Well I guess the owner noticed that I was being very patient and piad for my food. The food is really good and I love the old school deli aesthetic.

Over the weekend I made my at least 5th order here. Every time it is very predictable no matter…read morewhat I get., excellent!!! They have to put a lot of thought and love into everything that they put out. Home of the best Sloppy Joes!! From sandwiches to salad to iced tea and desserts I highly recommend this place. I had to take the time to leave a review this time because I felt it was very overdue. The gobbler sandwich is yummy, The Godfadda, The Gossip Girl, I also have had an egg salad with layer of tuna salad Sloppy Joe-that is amazing! The Cobb salad is also a fave. My friends rave about all the sandwiches they have tried. They are very friendly behind the counter and the order takers are fast and efficient. It gets crowded but moves fast.

Wild Bull

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Old school exterior

Katz's Delicatessen

4.1(17.1k reviews)

9.8 mi•Lower East Side

Locally owned & operated

Grab-and-go

greatest sandwich in the world , will go there every chance i get to nyc fresh cooked in front of…read moreyou

Awesome sandwiches, authentic interior The menu is good…read more Key positions are different sandwiches on rye or white bread. There are different meat varieties - the most iconic one is pastrami on rye, it's really cool! You can also see some breakfast offerings (till 11:30am) like omelettes, bagels and etc, fresh salad. Portions are giant - be hungry entering this place :) For drinks there are beers and sodas. There are many seating tables inside the place. You can see the queue but don't be afraid, it goes fast.

Wall of fame

Look at his dirty apron he also leaned on the meat as he was smack talking the customer

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Katz's Pastrami

Sahara Deli

4.3(4 reviews)

0.6 mi

I always passed this on my way to Penn Station and finally decided to give it a try. It's a small…read morestore with a counter that actually had a fairly extensive menu. You can get sandwiches, Greek specialities, and even some breakfast items (pancakes, French toast, etc.). The menu is great. Lots of options and the prices are wonderful. I had a bagel with egg ,cheese, and gyro as well as coffee. The coffee was really good. I was expecting mediocre to bad coffee but it was actually a nice cup. The food was well made too. It looks like they take their food seriously, even though it's a small botega type place. Despite the low prices, the quality is pretty good. One other nice touch was that they had 3 tables for people to sit at. Although this seems more like a order and take out place, the seating is a nice addition. I would definitely recommend this place for a bit on the way or from Penn Station. Or even if you just want a pretty cheap lunch option, it's a good place to go. You can often (but not always) find parking at the 2 hour parking meters next to the shop.

One of the BEST falafel sandwiches I have ever had, and for only $4!!…read more It was warm and moist, and the pita bread was so soft and perfect. They served it with tahini, hummus, and lettuce (I asked for it without onions and tomatoes). The tahini made it so perfect.

Chicken Gyro Sandwich

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Huryks Deli

4.5(18 reviews)

2.1 mi

Old school mom and pop deli thats been around for decades. . Simple menu with great rotating…read morespecials. Great place for a quick pick up breakfast and lunch. Places like this are disappearing quick these days Dont expect anything fancy or gourmet but definitely expect delicious and filling and home made. Make sure you greet Jimmy the dog

Was working in the area and the great guy that I'm working with directed me here for lunch. I was…read moreback all three days of my visit and everything I ordered was top notch! I like this old school, friendly family vibe. They seem to know everyone that walks in and after my first visit I felt welcomed like everyone else. Prices are ridiculously INEXPENSIVE. Cheap! And generous servings. Thursday it was busy at lunchtime. I could tell they were stressed and several people were waiting. They care and assured that everyone was taken care of. So, please be patient, it's worth the wait! Keep supporting this wonderful family business! I'll make a point to stop back in whenever I'm close to Newark.

Inside

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Great hoagie!!

Halsey Deli & Grocery

4.0(26 reviews)

0.0 mi

Mr. Kim is the GOAT. Greatest cook in Newark. The Kim burger slaps and all his food is fresh and…read moremade with love.

The food is great here. They have cold-cut sandwiches, burgers, wings, etc. I would personally…read morerecommend the buffalo wings and the blazing panini. Service is also quick and friendly. They recently had some renovations done and it is clean and modern. There is ample seating by the floor-to-ceiling windows with a view of Halsey St. I would recommend stopping by this deli if you're in Newark!

Grilled cheese with tomato

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Grilled chicken on lettuce wrap

Town Hall Delicatessen

3.7(145 reviews)

4.5 mi

Pretty good! We've been meaning to try this spot and I'm so glad I finally was able to order ahead…read moreand grab to go. I must say parking sucks- there is a lot right next to, but there was a dark skinned man sitting in the lot basically patrolling. He told me I can't park there after I said I was running into deli to quickly pick up.. I found this a major turnoff. I'm 9 months pregnant might I add and the deli is basically on a narrow steep road with minimal spots. Not ideal. I also wouldn't consider the Area extremely safe so I didn't want to park too far away. I ended up just parking illegally and running in. I ordered (a whole) Favorite Joe, fries and macaroni salad. Everything tasted fresh once I got home and was good! I wouldn't say it's better or worse than Millburn deli - I can appreciate both places having a quality sloppy Joe!! If you're in the area, I would recommend you stop in!!

The best North Jersey sloppy Joes period. Watch them make…read moreit, you will not be disappointed.

10.2 mi•Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill

Yum

Sloppy Joe Montero

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The Original Sloppy Joe sandwich. One serving. Ham, beef tongue, Swiss, rye, dry coleslaw, Russian dressing. Do it!

Smith Gourmet Deli

4.8(83 reviews)

Best deli on Smith Street. If they don't have it, they will order it for you. Everyone knows you…read moreby name and the vast selections of sandwiches, salads and paninis. And they are very charitable to the less fortunate neighbors.

Great neighborhood deli 4.5 STARS…read more Found this neighborhood gem while visiting Brooklyn and was impressed enough to come back twice. I ordered an egg, ham, and cheese on a roll along with a freshly made smoothie, and both were outstanding. The sandwich was hot, fresh, and exactly what you want for a classic deli breakfast sandwich. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I returned on our last day and grabbed another sandwich to take on the plane home. Friendly service, quality ingredients, and great execution. If you're in the area, Smith Gourmet Deli is definitely worth a stop.

More options

Bacon Egg Cheese on a roll

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The deli

The Yard - Newark

4.6(239 reviews)

0.2 mi

We had the amazing experience of being in downtown Newark on Juneteenth and upon Yelping, found The…read moreYard and its 4.6 star average. We came for the Oxtail burger but on this day they were only making beef burgers, lamb burgers, and catfish sandwiches. The bonus, however, was the BBQ offerings in the backyard -- Mac n cheese, corn on the cob, fries, and plantains! Between the awesome cheeseburger and lamb burger, I was in seventh heaven. We had a great time sitting on the lawn and celebrating this glorious day with our brothers and sisters.

I really wanted to support this restaurant, but unfortunately our experience left us feeling…read moreuncomfortable. When we arrived, the owner/chef told us the wait would be about 10-15 minutes. Shortly after, another couple came in and were told about 20 minutes. We were the only two parties waiting. When a table opened, the waitress began seating us, and the chef stopped her and asked the other (AA) couple if they were there first. He then told the gentleman, "I see you with family, and I'm not trying to start any problems." This was said while we were literally being seated, and nothing was said to us. It put us in an awkward and embarrassing position, as we would never intentionally skip ahead of anyone. As a Hispanic couple, the interaction also left us wondering if we were being treated differently, even if that wasn't the intention. Then the drink order added to the frustration. I ordered a hibiscus lemonade and my boyfriend ordered a regular lemonade. The waitress repeated it back incorrectly as strawberry, and I corrected her. About 10 minutes later she brought a strawberry lemonade anyway. When I said that wasn't what I ordered, the chef took the drink and handed it to the other couple who had just ordered a strawberry lemonade , saying it was freshly made and "they didn't want it." That was uncomfortable because I never ordered strawberry to begin with. Overall, the interaction felt dismissive and awkward. Mistakes happen, but the way this was handled -- especially the comments made -- left us feeling unwelcome. I hope this feedback helps improve communication and customer experience moving forward.

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Jazz band during brunch.

Live Jazz Brunch every Sunday 12-3pm

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Oxtail Burger

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34 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Thai S.

7 years ago

Not a place to be if you're an Indian food lover. The place was dirty and one of my experience being disappointed again is that it's managed by unprofessionals. Tried the paneer kadai for the second time and it's very inconsistent. From the taste of onions to the salt proportion, everything was uneven. Few things to take in notice while visiting this place. 1. This is a fast food place where the food is prepared without a professionals consult. 2. Price is way too high considering other options available in The same neighborhood. 3. Management don't care about sanitation or the cleanliness of this place. 4. Buffet table is not being flipped frequently. Means the food sits on a hot table for too long for your own comfort. It can make you sick. I'd rather walk a block on University Avenue and try the new Indian place recently opened. read more

Javeria A.

218

9 years ago

Every time I've been here not only has the staff been polite, accommodating and friendly, but I have always left content and happy with my food! If you are looking for great, fresh Indian food in the Newark area, be sure to stop by! Also give the sandwiches/salads a try! Their meats are seasoned and delicious, and they are very accommodating with whatever toppings + additions you want. Here I have a chicken Caesar wrap and I asked for roasted red peppers and avocados! Totally Satisfied ! read more

Srinivasan R.

9 years ago

Great Indian restaurant and this is one the best I have tried. The service was very much friendly. The taste of food here is really delicious. The menu contains a good number of house specialties which are cut above the normal menu offerings. I have tried many of those and it tastes fantastic. The restaurant was clean and the ambiance is very great. read more

Shahi S.

9 years ago

Glad to have this delicious and hygienic food restaurant near my work place. There are multiple plus points in this restaurant compared to others, like the service, variety of cuisine options, a lot of sitting space and most important!! good taste. Overall, it is a best place for people in nearby universities and offices. read more

Akshay C.

307

9 years ago

This is one of the best Indian places I've been to to eat authentic food. Especially if you're an avid Indian cuisine lover. Why make the trip to Jersey city when you have a place that can top that for a better price and even better tasting food? Definitely try the butter chicken with the garlic naan! It's AMAZING read more

Teja C.

7 years ago

A good place for south Indian food in newark region with relaxing ambience, providing customers with great food and hospitality. Quality and taste are awesome especially for their breakfast and non-veg dishes. Very humble and nice staff. Will Recommend this place for a great meal at an affordable price. read more

Albert R.

9 years ago

I work right across the restaurant. Tried Buffet 3 times last week. They are very consistent, rich and authentic indian taste. I was worried about food being spicy but this the spice level was perfect. The buffet options are unique each day. Very good service. Will definitely return. read more

Srikrishnavijayam K.

9 years ago

Delicious food. I personally love the chicken Briyani and Dosa. One of the best restaurant in Newark. They have all the Indian food which is made in a traditional way and everything is made fresh from quality ingredients. Would recommend everyone to check it out. read more

Mohamed I.

9 years ago

I stopped by this place for lunch - Delicious food, excellent service and great location. The buffet had a good spread and was reasonably priced. If you're looking for a good indian restaurant, look no further read more

Arif U.

9 years ago

Chicken Tikka Masala with the butter nun was excellent and served fresh and warm. Service was friendly and prices are reasonable. The student discount is always welcome. Recommend menu item: Vegetable Sasoma read more

Rohan S.

9 years ago

I bought chicken mughalai today from masala cafe. It's good Indian food. They were open till 9 pm that's when I came to know about it. Sheriff was so helping and the chef Kala did a good job. Kudos. read more

Joyce T.

9 years ago

I had their buffet for lunch today. It was FANTASTIC! Such tasty food. Also, very friendly staff. Very clean, large restaurant. It was nice to have a separate, quiet dining area as well. read more

Vivek G.

9 years ago

This spot has worked well to keep the spice level of the Indian food in a better way . I have tried all the options in Dosa here they are the best . Must visit place for Dosa lovers. read more

Emily B.

235

7 years ago

Nothing fancy. Idli turned out a little hard, sambar was good. They didn't have Indian coffee when we went, which was a bummer for my parents. Malai kofta and garlic naan were good. read more

Jacob M.

247

7 years ago

We loved Masala Cafe, it is simple and functional. The taste, quality and the service were fantastic. It is also conveniently located in teh Downtown of Newark! read more

Jai G.

9 years ago

Very nice place with wonderful tasting food. The food is made with top quality ingredients and makes your taste buds feel blessed. The nann is also very good. read more

Mathew J.

6 years ago

Fantastic Authentic India Food.. Value for Bucks.. Very reasonable prices.. Both South Indian and North Indian Menu is superior. Very friendly staff. read more

Aylin A.

9 years ago

Tried both the buffet as well as the sandwiches . Very consistent in taste. Very friendly staff and great and quick service. Definitely returning . read more

Fenelein G.

9 years ago

This the best Indian cuisine in Newark. Good customer service and reasonable prices. Brings out the aromatic and spicy Indian flavors at its best. read more

Jay B.

9 years ago

Masala Cafe is a great place in Newark! I would definitely recommend coming for any meal. One of the best Indian restaurants I have been to!

Masala Cafe - indpak - Updated September 2026

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Since this restaurant is close to the Rutgers-Newark campus, I frequent this establishment at least…read morea few times during the semester. For my prior visits, I would have given Sigri four stars, but a recent visit was quite disappointing and caused me to leave this three star review. For a recent lunch takeout, I ordered a platter that comes with rice, protein, sauce, salad, samosa, and naan. While placing the order, I had to repeat myself multiple times -- this in itself is not a bad thing, maybe the employee was hard of hearing or maybe I was speaking softer than usual that day. However, the issue was that the employee acknowledged that I requested a garlic naan, but when I opened my takeout order, there was nothing on the naan -- no garlic or butter -- and it was burnt in various places and crispy, rather than being soft and chewy. (I confirmed with an Indian friend that properly made naan is never burnt and crispy.) Although it is too soon to judge Sigri on this one negative experience compared to many positive experiences, I am now hesitant to return to Sigri for lunch. I will give it at least one more go and update with another review at that time. Until then, I can only offer a half-hearted recommendation of this restaurant.

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Trinidadian food is good. Service was very good. Ambience is okay. Lunch fast casual feel.read more

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