Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Valença Restaurant

    4.1 (1.4k reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 3 months ago

    Valença Restaurant Photos

    VALENÇA RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

    You might also consider

    More like Valença Restaurant

    Recommended Reviews - Valença Restaurant

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Amit P.

    Always a good time at Valenca! I feel like when you hear the words Elizabeth NJ this is the restaurant that comes to mind. Yes parking gets a little tricky but if you walk a few blocks, parking is easier to find. They serve really good Portuguese dishes, and you don't need to make the trek to Newark. Everything is always good from the food to the service. Highly recommend checking this place out. They also have two different type of ambiance's, bar scene and restaurant scene so it really depends on your preference. If you're going on a weekend highly encourage you to make reservations.

    Complimentary Salad
    Lyn L.

    Valenca is one of those old-school establishments that's been around for years, and it's easy to see why it continues to thrive. The staff was super friendly, even if they didn't speak much--they made us feel welcome right away and kept everything moving smoothly. Our food arrived quickly, and we ordered a little bit of everything. The empanadas were flavorful, the lamb chops were a fun interactive experience as we seared them ourselves on a sizzling stone, and the seafood paella was such a massive portion that we easily had to pack up leftovers. We also couldn't help but laugh (and take photos) of the full-sized fried fish--eyes and all--served exactly as tradition demands! Meals come with a surprisingly huge complimentary salad and plenty of fresh rolls, which is such a refreshing touch you don't see often anymore. Parking can be tricky in this area, but Valenca makes it easy with a private lot right across the street. Classic food, generous portions, and old-world charm--Valenca is absolutely worth a visit.

    Co worker ate
    Humberto S.

    Amazing service. Amazing decor. Great taste. Went here with my department and we all had blast. The flamed sausage we had as an appetizer had that nice smoky taste - I ate most of it since it was so good. Had to be the flames of fire literally that the dish came out in. I had the tbone and I thought it just came with the steak but I was wrong - it came with their version of patatoes (chips) and a rice to die for. Never tasted rice cooked that way. Left a taste in your mouth of wanting more or just that the next time. The steak was cooked perfectly at medium and it was so big - so worth it. For desert, I had the flan. Bingo - that got me. Not only was it a large portion but it was soft and creamy to the point that it was an OMG moment. My colleagues had different plates which they enjoyed to the point where we started sharing with each other. The laughs we had and the different birthdays being celebrated while we were there made the ambience a friendly and chill place to go with colleagues, friends and family.

    Lamb Chop on a Hot Stone
    Kat J.

    Came here after a show at Prudential Center. Parking is across from the restaurant, valet parking only, super convenient compared to the other Portuguese restaurants in the area. The restaurant itself is huge, a great space for events. The food selection is extensive, my absolute favorite is the lamb chops cooked on a hot stone. It was simple with just butter and salt, but so delicious and I love the whole experience where you cook them yourself. The complementary salad was really good with the perfect dressing. Service was prompt and unobtrusive.

    Paella.
    Dan H.

    Another great meal at the Corner Grill of Valença restaurant. Tremendous octopus appetizer that was so large we put the name of it into our paella. Speaking of which the paella was very good but i would not rate it near the best I've ever had. The bottom of the pan had too much liquid that did nothing to keep the chicken moist. The lobster was tiny and overcooked - the meal for two was otherwise good with s b lot to take home. The skirt steak was absolutely delicious cooked to perfection. The menu is varied and I would not hesitate to return and try other dishes. Do try the tres leches for dessert.

    Stuffed crab cakes
    Stephen B.

    The food here was amazing. The stuffed crab cakes was my favorite part of my meal. The portion size was great and the flavor was immaculate. The octopus was well seasoned which u thoroughly enjoyed. I had one of the strongest old fashioned ever and I was completely satisfied. The service was great and I'll waiter was very attentive. It was a big party but the ambiance seemed cool. It was lounder than what I would expect for this type of restaurant. But most people were dressed nice. I would definitely recommend and go back.

    Cortado
    Nick C.

    Went to Valença Restaurant for lunch on a Saturday. The restaurant was quite busy, but we had reservations so we were seated quickly. They have a free valet parking lot. It's a pretty nice restaurant, but fairly loud since it was so packed. The waiter came by and we were able to place our orders. I ordered the New Zealand lamb chops cooked over a hot stone. They provide an extremely hot stone to cook the lamb chops at the table, along with a side of rice and fries. It cooked the lamb pretty well, but didnt give much of a sear. It's really more novelty than anything. Finished the meal with a cortado. Prices were fair, i'd come back.

    Shrimp & steak
    Rilie F.

    This was the best meal I've had in Elizabeth, by far! The service was immaculate- everyone was so kind, and it was beautiful inside of the restaurant. My meal was so delicious: shrimp and steak with cheese and the most delicious sauce. Will 100% be returning to this establishment.

    Baked Clams On A Half Shell with crab and bacon
    Orrin E.

    Had to return and bring some friends. Once again everything was absolutely delicious and the service was stellar.

    Amanda R.

    Went to Valença recently for a business lunch with a group of 15 and everything was excellent. The service was attentive and smooth, the food was delicious, and the pricing--especially for the current times--was fantastic. Perfect spot for both business and casual meals!

    Chicken "cordon Bleu"
    Evita N.

    I originally made a reservation for the large, beautiful restaurant portion of Valenca, but upon arrival they explained that they'd be closing early (7:15pm was their last seating). The gentleman suggested we check out the bar and grill portion that was right next door and I'm glad we did! This section of the restaurant is a bit louder and not as "fancy" as my original choice but it was great! My server was Enrique and he was quick, had lots of great suggestions and did everything with a smile. I went with the house special lamb that's cooked on a granite slab, right in front of you. At first it wasn't what I expected but after Enrique's help, and the garlic butter, the lamb was quite a choice. Portions are huge at this place, especially their pasta- which someone else from my party ordered. My other guest ordered the cordon bleu and he thoroughly enjoyed it!!! Three entrees, a bottle of wine and two cocktails with leftovers for lunch for the next day, ran us about $175 without tip. If you're looking for a nice healthy, Portuguese meal, check out Valenca, I think you'll enjoy it!

    Shrimp In Garlic (dinner)
    Evelyn D.

    Tried walking into the restaurant, or at least what I thought was the restaurant. There was one couple at a table but no one to greet you. Walked out and walked next door to the bar and grill. There the staff seated me and was very attentive. Started with a glass of red sangria some delicious Portuguese rolls and a bowl of olives. I ordered the shrimp in garlic Valencia sauce (meal) after reading reviews. The shrimp were delicious, very tasty. It came with rice and house made chips. There is a lot of shrimp, so if you are not sharing you may want to consider the app portion. Decided to splurge on their signature dessert of bolacha e d martinho that was accompanied with a graham cracker gelato. So the slice of cake is like a soften tea biscuit with cream and a hint of cinnamon which is heighten with the graham cracker gelato. Excellent choice.

    Kirsten C.

    10/10 incredible and worth every penny. The octopus was cooked perfectly and had so much flavor. Everything they have here is incredible. Huge menu with something for everyone

    Mango sangria

    See all

    22 days ago

    Had the bbq platter and the amount was an enormous portion. Two people could easily share it. Very affordable for the amount of food.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    23 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    19 days ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 5
    Love this 9
    Oh no 0

    5 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lyn L.
    432
    1190
    5059

    6 months ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kat J.
    210
    387
    4520

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nick C.
    464
    1423
    3539

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Imma M.
    0
    169
    10

    17 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 3
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Laura L.
    51
    192
    104

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Michael M.
    3438
    1777
    25938

    6 months ago

    Helpful 28
    Thanks 6
    Love this 19
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Rey F.
    147
    80
    20

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of P B.
    5
    161
    220

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Authenticity at its best , I enjoy their food and look forward to going again soon . Price is reasonable and consistent in its taste

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 2

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Louise W.
    23
    53
    10

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 36

    Valença Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Valença Restaurant

    Where do I park my handicap vehicle?

    They're are three parking lots for restaurant. The one directly behind always has a attendant to take your car.

    Where is the best place to park?

    Parking lot across street with valet and behind restaurant with valet.

    Do you deliver to a guest in local hotel?

    Which steak in the menu have oringinal taste without seasoning or without salt?

    You can order any of the grilled steaks without any salt. Some steaks come with a sauce but if you just want it dry rub, no salt, you can tell the waiter and they'll do it!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    Algarve Restaurant - Beef Short Ribs with Chimichurri Sauce

    Algarve Restaurant

    3.1(218 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    I came here on a Thursday night and sat at the bar. There were a few people dining in but it wasn't…read morebusy at all. We started with some olives and bread, which came out warm, but was hard because it was almost burnt. It was still tasty once I spread some butter on it. I ordered the octopus a lagareiro. It came with onions, peppers, baked potatoes and broccoli rabe. It was soooo good! A 10/10. The octopus was cooked perfectly and was a healthy amount. I will definitely go back just for this meal. My guy got the salmon steak cut. It was cooked perfectly. Overall it was good meal and great service. I can't wait to go back for the octopus!

    I am writing to formally express my dissatisfaction with the level of service I have received. My…read moreconcerns involve not only poor customer service, but also what I perceive to be biased and unequal treatment toward African American individuals. During my interactions, I experienced unprofessional behavior, lack of respect, and inadequate support from staff. Communication was dismissive, and my concerns were not handled with the attention or seriousness they deserved. This alone is troubling, but what raises greater concern is the pattern of treatment that appears to disproportionately affect Black customers. It has become increasingly difficult to ignore the differences in how individuals are treated. There seems to be a noticeable lack of courtesy, patience, and fairness extended toward African American customers compared to others. Whether intentional or not, this kind of behavior contributes to an environment that feels discriminatory and unwelcoming. Customer service should be grounded in respect, equality, and professionalism for all individuals, regardless of race or background. The experience I had does not reflect those values, and it is unacceptable. I am requesting that this matter be taken seriously and reviewed thoroughly. This should include evaluating staff conduct, providing additional training if necessary, and ensuring that all customers are treated fairly and without bias moving forward. I hope to see meaningful steps taken to address these concerns. Gostaria de expressar a minha insatisfação com a experiência que tive no Algarve, a qual considerei tendenciosa e marcada por um atendimento ao cliente pouco profissional. Durante a minha visita, senti-me mal tratado, especialmente pelo funcionário José. A sua postura e atitude demonstraram, de forma consistente, um ar de desprezo ao lidar com clientes negros. Essa conduta foi desconfortável e inaceitável. Além disso, observei uma diferença clara no tratamento quando clientes portugueses brancos ou outras pessoas brancas entravam no estabelecimento. Nesses momentos, o ambiente mudava visivelmente, tornando-se mais acolhedor e respeitoso. Esse contraste no comportamento evidencia um tratamento desigual. Essa situação transmite um forte tom de discriminação racial e um padrão seletivo na forma como a equipe atende clientes negros. Esse tipo de atitude não deve ser tolerado em nenhum ambiente de atendimento ao público. Espero que esta questão seja levada a sério e devidamente investigada, com medidas tomadas para garantir um tratamento justo, respeitoso e igualitário para todos os clientes. Atenciosamente,

    Photos
    Algarve Restaurant - The bar

    The bar

    Algarve Restaurant - Garden Salad

    Garden Salad

    Algarve Restaurant - Roasted Potatoes and Mixed Vegetables

    See all

    Roasted Potatoes and Mixed Vegetables

    Portugal Express - Pork loin shrimp sausage and fries  Garden salad Pitcher Sangria

    Portugal Express

    3.3(140 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    15 years later- we're still having fun trying new Portuguese restaurants in and around Newark…read more Stopped here for lunch on a Saturday and it was bustling with customers, many, I'm sure were regulars. We sat at the bar and were greeted right away by the bartender. There were so many options on the menu in addition to the specials that it made it difficult to make a decision but we opted for the vegetable soup, a garden salad and a pork loin, shrimp & sausage combo and of course, the obligatory pitcher of sangria. Everything was delicious. The soup instantly made you feel like somebody's grandma slow cooked it for hours. The simple garden salad was dressed perfectly. The complimentary bread was tasty as only Portuguese rolls seem to be. The pork was full of flavor as was the shrimp. It's served on a bed of fries that soaked up all of the meat juices nicely. There was a little smattering of pickled vegetables on top. We leisurely enjoyed our meal, finishing our sangria pitcher and topping off the whole experience with some type of potent appertif. Great meal, great prices, great ambiance.

    Have the steak sandwich. Any of them are delicious. The fries are on point and the for cannot beat…read morethe price. Quality is just as good as the price. The bitoque and carne de porco alentejana are also very good. Not crazy about the bbq chicken but it's not terrible, just not my thing. Place is simple, service is good and the drinks are good. Parking sucks but it's worth it in my opinion. Try it out!

    Photos
    Portugal Express - Arroz de cabidela

    Arroz de cabidela

    Portugal Express - Garlic Chicken = Fried bones  Are you in cahoots with a local dentist? Was Job Finlay a frequent customer?

    Garlic Chicken = Fried bones Are you in cahoots with a local dentist? Was Job Finlay a frequent customer?

    Portugal Express - Most pieces were fried bones with very little meat.

    See all

    Most pieces were fried bones with very little meat.

    Long Ave BBQ

    Long Ave BBQ

    4.5(112 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $

    We ordered the family combo for takeout, and it was delicious! There was enough food for 4 people,…read moreand it was piping hot.

    I really miss Portuguese BBQ in NJ from when I used to work in Newark, but rarely come out this way…read moremuch anymore. BBQ joints dotted the landscape in the Ironbound neighborhood. But I found Long Ave BBQ on a Yelp search and on a trip back on I-78, I took a detour through Hillside to pick up dinner. The place reminds me of all the hole-in-the-wall places in the Ironbound with stainless steel covering everything, a brick pit charcoal grill and a giant ventilation hood sucking all the smoke up through the chimney and the whole neighborhood smells like BBQ. One innovation I see is that they use a motorized grill basket system that's constantly turning a bunch of grill baskets with chicken & ribs sandwiched in them. After perusing the menu, I order the Parrillada Portuguesa, a huge family meal for 6 people, that'll last my little family of 3 for 3 days. The PP comes with grilled chicken breast, a half chicken, pork ribs & cross sliced beef short ribs (Korean LA Kalbi style). The slices of chicken breast are too dry and with not a lot of flavor, but the pork ribs have that Ironbound Portuguese charcoal flavor I miss so much (even though a few ribs were a little tough to chew). The BBQ half chicken is alright, but not as much flavor as Peruvian rotisserie style and the short ribs are not as good as Korean style. I think they should do whole beef ribs Southern style, low and slow or even a whole beef brisket would be great. The Parrillada comes with 2 side dishes that are not shy by any means. You get an aluminum tray filled with 1/2 french fries and 1/2 rice that will be enough for 3 meals also! Next time, I would come back just for a full rack of the pork ribs, but I hope that the pitmaster doesn't overcook it.

    Photos
    Long Ave BBQ - Charcoal Rotisserie Chicken

    Charcoal Rotisserie Chicken

    Long Ave BBQ - Fish Sandwich. Include fries.

    Fish Sandwich. Include fries.

    Long Ave BBQ

    See all

    Valença Restaurant - steak - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...