I had always been a big fan of Orale's Hoboken location (see review here- https://www.yelp.com/biz/orale-mexican-kitchen-hoboken?hrid=ryYRKZXfVkYvL5NbKQavTA), which has sadly closed. However, I recently stopped into their original Jersey City spot for a quick snack at the bar. While my companion ordered a cocktail, I just had a can of Diet Coke, but we shared an order of chips and pico de gallo, which was excellent! The tortilla points were crispy and perfectly salted. The fresh tomato salsa was vibrant and delicious, but we also appreciated the three squirt bottles of more liquid-like sauces they gave us as well. These included one that was more smoky, one that was a medium spice-level verde, and another that was a more fiery rendition. The bar staff was great, and the large dining room was dimly-lit, but decorated with bright, festive colors. I will need to revisit that Orale location for a larger, more substantial meal next time! read more

I was really torn about leaving this review but here we are. I went to Orale the other day because I had a craving for tacos and I wanted to be outside and people watch. The restaurant is located in the busy downtown area of Grove St. Jersey City. If you are lucky enough to get street parking great, if not there are some garages you can park in for a fee. I walked up and there were several employees at the entrance to the outdoor street-side patio chitchatting. They were very pleasant and quickly gave me a table. It wasn't busy. That's a key fact. Also I was dining alone. It took about 5 minutes for the waiter to come over and when he did he asked about my water preference and showed me the QR code on the table to get the menu. He left and came back and I gave him my order which was the carnitas tacos and a watermelon margarita. He quickly walked off and the food came out LITERALLY in 5 minutes. I was surprised because I was expecting the complimentary tortilla chips and salsa that's customary at most Mexican restaurants. Also I saw other tables with 2 or more with chips in front of them. So I asked a waitress that was passing by (since my waiter had seem to disappear) if I too can get the tortilla chips and she said it would be extra. Okay...well I started eating my food and my drink came out. The food was good. Flavorful. Temperature wise it didn't come out hot, it was warm... so it's not cooked to order. The drink was sweet and strong. So my reason for the three stars isn't the food or drink but more so for the service I received as a solo diner. My waiter never came back over to check on me! Had he done so I would have easily ordered dessert and something more to drink as I enjoyed the patio area. I had to wave him down to bring my check as he passed my table several times without even looking my way. Piece of me wanted to mirror his service in my tip but I still gave generously just to be a blessing. But I hate that I received poor service because I was a solo diner. I was a little jealous on how he treated the two other tables with 2&3 people. I spent over $50 here and left disappointed. So if you've reached this far, will I go back? Maybe. Just not alone. Food Service read more

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I recently visited Orale Mexican Kitchen and had a great experience overall. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful both inside and out. The outdoor patio is especially charming and creates a wonderful atmosphere for dining and relaxing. For food, I ordered the shrimp tacos with flour tortillas and the corn skillet, and both were truly amazing. The shrimp tacos were flavorful and fresh, while the corn skillet was delicious and packed with flavor. The only downside was that the service was a bit slow. However, our waiter was very friendly, welcoming, and attentive when he stopped by, which helped make the experience more enjoyable. Overall, the beautiful setting and excellent food made this a place I would definitely visit again. read more

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Came on a weekend for dinner, no wait! Interior was cute but kind of dim and very loud where it was hard to talk and hear each other. Menu prices are on the higher end for Mexican food in the area, but nachos came in such a big serving! Must order for sure. Their margarita was a bit of a letdown, no salt rim and very basic. The food here definitely err on the spicy side, and service is a bit slow even though it's not a full house. read more

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We came here on a Saturday afternoon for lunch and we were seated immediately. The restaurant has plenty of seats and 1 bathroom stall for each gender. The guac and chips were tasty with many options. The ribeye burrito was gigantic!! It was almost the size of my forearm. It was a bit saucier than I wanted. Nonetheless, it was yummy and extremely filling. Service was decent but it was hard to get the staff's attention at times. read more

Orale Mexican Kitchen - TRUFFLE RIBEYE BURRITO - Mexican Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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Best birria tacos I've had in a while! Such great service from the bartender. She was so knowledgeable about the menu and made great recommendations! The place is decorated so cool with wonderful colors and art! read more

Orale Mexican Kitchen - Burger, chips and guac - Mexican Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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If you're looking for elevated mexican food, this place is pretty good! Plus they give you a lot of food. My bf got the vegetarian tacos (which are also vegan btw) and it was 5 tacos for one order! I got the flautas which came with a side bowl of rice and beans. The salsas were nice and spicy too. I was honestly impressed by the quality of the food cause I have very high expectations being raised in San Diego read more

The braised beef tasted really gas and I was definitely full, but I wish the tacos had a little guac and they weren't $25. Massive interior and friendly staff. I imagine this place would be popping at night, at least as popping as JC can be... read more

Orale Mexican Kitchen - TAKES JUAN TO KNOW JUAN - Mexican Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Food, drinks and service were all great. We had such a fun time dining with a large group for a Saturday birthday brunch. We ordered a ton of food to split and that felt like the right move. We particularly loved the nachos, queso and tacos. The tres leches birthday cake was also heaven! read more

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Great alcohol selection. That's honestly the only reason this place gets at least 1 star. The bar has an impressive spirits and cocktail selection, and the food was decent enough, even if overpriced for the quality. Unfortunately, the service completely ruined the experience. The morning bartender, a short-haired woman working that shift, was rude, dismissive, and acted like every customer was inconveniencing her. Every question was met with attitude or a condescending response. Instead of making recommendations or creating a welcoming atmosphere, she came across as entitled and more interested in proving she knew everything than actually providing good service. A good bartender can make average food worth coming back for. A bad bartender can ruin a great bar. This was the second one. The place has potential, but management seriously needs to address the front-of-house attitude problem because it drags the whole experience down. read more

Absolutely loved everything about this place. Decor was looked interesting and fun, Staff were friendly and took the time to check and get back on any questions we had about the ingredients (we had a lot of Vegans and Vegetarians in our group, with specific requirements) and tried accommodate our requests as best as they good. But the best part was the Food and Drinks. Plenty of great options, especially for someone like me who loves meat, and not a bad selection for Vegetarians. Cocktails tasted great and were strong. Would definitely recommend. read more

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My friends and I met up at Orale in Jersey City for a Friday lunch, and I really liked the atmosphere. Parking was tough in that part of Jersey City- my friend was lucky enough to find street parking but I parked in a garage by the Grove St Path. We ordered the guacamole casa to share, which was fresh and flavorful. I ordered the Pacifico tacos, and I was surprised it came out as 5 tacos instead of the typical 3. One of my friends also ordered tacos, and I found it odd that we were supposed to share the communal rice and beans. It wasn't that large of a side and makes me wonder if my third friend ordered tacos, were we all expected to share one rice and beans? Either way, I would recommend their guacamole casa and pacifico tacos! read more

Stumbled across this amazing restaurant. So low key! Inside was amazing, the art in the walls the ambiance was everything ... it's a Mexican Restaurant! It really depicted a little Mexico! I'll definitely be back because the food was tasty and I want to try everything on the menu little by little! Service from Andy was incredible! read more

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Super impressed with our meal, drinks & service. We had the nachos - and loved them so much we came back a couple days later! The portion was great for sharing, very generous and packed with flavor! We also got the tuna tacos which tasted amazing. The waitstaff was super attentive and gave great recommendations. read more

Orale Mexican Kitchen - BARBECUE PORK NACHOS & TUNA TACOS - Mexican Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

The place is very aesthetically pleasing, good for a photo op. The food lacks. $30 special for 3 birria tacos with a side of "consome" which was just sauce is beyond me. The drinks are also subpar. The sangria was just a glass of low quality red wine and a mini grand marnier bottle. Pretty for a picture but definitely not a sangria. If you're not going to do the basics don't even have it on the menu. The only good thing were the nachos. Go down the street to taqueria downtown and you'll find better tasting tacos and it won't be $10 per taco read more

Orale Mexican Kitchen - Mexican Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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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. read more

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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. read more

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We just found our new favorite Taco Tuesday spot in Jersey City! We tried the CARNITAS (pork belly taco) and TAKES JUAN TO KNOW JUAN (beef taco) -- every bite was packed with flavor. These aren't your average tacos -- they're high-end, elevated versions, and absolutely delicious. The food and service both deserve 5 stars! Taco Tuesday is cash only, which might be a downside for some, but you get 50% off regular prices, so it's totally worth it. We loved it and will definitely be back! read more

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! read more

Orale Mexican Kitchen - Mexican Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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Amazing service - our waiter was very attentive and everything came out with good timing. The food is solid too-i had the queso flameado, enchilada suiza, and the flan. read more

Orale Mexican Kitchen - Enchilada Suiza - Mexican Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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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. read more

Orale Mexican Kitchen - Truffle Ribeye Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Great tacos half off on Tuesday cash only! Come here to try the different kinds, ambiance is cute and whimsical read more

Orale Mexican Kitchen - Mexican Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Buzzing Mexican Cantina with a vibrant appetizing menu & a pedigree in quality restaurants like dullboy. I liked their vegetarian nachos, wood grilled pollo tacos, & vegeteriano tacos. They've gotta delicious smoky flavor & a well spiced kick. Service is pleasant. Ambiance is dim which is a bit weird as usually Mexican spots are brighter & colorful - nonetheless it's a lively & popular place. read more

Food was ok , not really that impressed Service was good but the place was a little too loud and dark . A bit disappointing.. read more

Love this restaurant and their service the staff is the manager Issa, the bar staff is great. The food is great. Cannot complain. We go there winter spring summer or fall. Drinks are on the money. read more

Skip: Waiters seem like they are the drunkest people there. Food was fine, but service seems to go wrong often enough that it's not worth the risk. Ordered a frozen margarita, enjoying it pre-meal. When the waiter came to swap plates, he knocked it over onto my seat & into my lap. He seemed unphased until I told him (his hand smacked into it), when he gave me a simple smile and said he's going to go get napkins. Four waiters came over to clean up the table - all seemingly stumbling around - one came with a single wet wipe, and eventually, me and my table had to clean everything ourselves. Pants were fully stained and jacket was ruined, and the waiters kept going as if nothing happened - when the bill came, the guy smiled at me and said they "comped" the drink, only for me to look at it and realize that all they did was not charge us for the refill! The waiter told us that this was all they could do, until I had to have him bring over the manager. The manager came over and offered me either the "free" drink refill or dry cleaning, insinuating that the team wasn't responsible for any spills - but when I asked for details - he said that I'd have to call back on the next morning. Knowing they'd just "never answer" the call to the restaurant, our table left. Accidents happen, but the way they handled the situation left a bad taste in our mouths. I called the next day only to have the phone hung up twice when they looked for the manager. Lesson learned - lots of other good Mexican spots in this city. read more

The gold standard for Mexican dining! "From the moment we walked in, the ambiance set the perfect mood--vibrant, stylish, and welcoming. But what really blew us away was the service; the staff is attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely friendly. And the margaritas? Easily the best I've had--perfectly balanced and fresh. If you're looking for a spot that gets everything right, this is it. 10/10 will be back!" read more

Birthday ruined Came here for my birthday dinner based on a friend's recommendation. Huge mistake. The reservation I made a week in advance apparently didn't exist in their system. They squeezed us into a tiny table by the kitchen door where servers kept bumping into our chairs. The noise was unbearable, couldn't hear my own party. The mole was bland, the rice was crunchy, and they forgot one of our entrees entirely. When it finally came out 20 minutes after everyone else had finished, it was the wrong dish. Happy birthday to me, I guess. read more

Without a doubt the best tequila selection I have ever seen at a bar. If that's your vibe like me run to this place. Did not have food, however looking at it at the bar looks very good. read more

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Mm! Everything here is delish. That burrito is massive, flavorful and easily makes two meals. Drinks are so good. It's really nice in the restaurant as you can probably tell from photos. The wait staff are always accommodating and knowledgeable. Good go-to for fancy Mexican food! read more

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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!! read more

Orale Mexican Kitchen - tacos and burrito - Mexican Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

My family and I never get disappointed with this place. The food is excellent, and the drinks are great too. The tacos are always good, and the prices are reasonable. The service was excellent, even though it was busy--it was the holidays, after all. The atmosphere is dark, but very cool and colorful. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

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If I could give them 100 stars I would! Food was absolutely outstanding! The flavors!!! Fresh ingredients, beautiful presentation, best margarita I have had in a very long time (get the blood orange if you like spicy!), and the staff is so friendly and hardworking! read more

Decent food and decent service but totally stupid rules! No you cannot sit on the patio and have a drink as you are waiting for your friends and you have a reservation in 45 minutes on the patio and there is literally nobody on the patio! It's the rule! No you cannot have two happy hour drinks even though you closed out one at the bar since you couldn't have it on the patio and now you are having another one during dinner on the patio. I don't care about the $ since I live in Manhattan where it's way more expensive but I care about how I am being treated and these rules are idiotic! You just lost me as a repeat customer! read more

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. read more

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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! read more

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. read more

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