Korai Kitchen, a humble Bangladeshi restaurant tucked into Jersey City’s Summit Avenue corridor, has quietly become one of the most talked-about kitchens in the country.
With a James Beard–nominated chef at the helm and a New York Times–anointed dish on the menu, this small, family-run spot is helping redefine Jersey City as one of America’s most compelling places to eat.
Easy booking across hundreds of accommodations from luxury high-rises to unearthed brownstone treasures.
Browse Accommodations Now
Korai Kitchen: A Backyard Garden, A National Stage
From the outside, Korai Kitchen looks like plenty of neighborhood restaurants in Jersey City: modest, welcoming, and unpretentious.
Step inside—or just place a takeout order, as most regulars do these days—and you’ll find a kitchen rooted in tradition, powered by a chef who’s been refining her craft for over half a century.
Owned and run by Nur‑E Gulshan Rahman and her daughter, Korai Kitchen stands out for one very local secret: the restaurant grows its own vegetables right behind the building.
The backyard garden isn’t just some gimmick. It’s the heartbeat of the menu, supplying the fresh produce that gives the food its unmistakable brightness and depth.
Meet the Chef Behind the Accolades
Rahman’s story is all about perseverance and quiet excellence.
After more than fifty years in the kitchen, she landed on the shortlist for a prestigious James Beard Award in January 2024—an honor that puts her among the most respected chefs in the United States.
For a small, immigrant-owned restaurant, that recognition means a lot. Her daughter hasn’t been shy about sharing her pride in both her mother and the tight-knit team that keeps the restaurant humming.
This isn’t a chef built by publicists or hype. Rahman’s reputation spread the old-fashioned way: one plate at a time, one customer at a time, drawing on the flavors of Bangladesh and the rhythms of Jersey City life.
Find available hotels and vacation homes instantly. No fees, best rates guaranteed!
Check Availability Now
The Dish That Put Korai Kitchen on the Map
The national spotlight got even brighter when the New York Times named one of Korai Kitchen’s signature dishes, Lau Chingri, among the “23 Best Dishes in America.”
In a country packed with dining options, that’s no small feat.
Lau Chingri is a deceptively simple preparation built around bottle gourd, a staple vegetable in Bangladesh.
At Korai, it’s cooked with tender shrimp and a lively mix of chiles, creating a dish that’s comforting and vivid, familiar yet surprising.
Freshness, Simplicity, and a Sense of Home
Lau Chingri stands out not because of ornate plating or culinary theatrics, but for its clarity of flavor.
The bottle gourd brings a soft, almost soothing texture. The shrimp adds sweetness and richness, while the chiles lift everything with just the right amount of heat.
The Times praised the dish for its freshness and simplicity—qualities that are easy to talk about but honestly tough to deliver consistently.
That’s where Korai Kitchen really shines.
The backyard vegetables, careful seasoning, and respect for Bangladeshi home cooking all come together in dishes that feel lovingly handmade and expertly calibrated.
A Takeout Operation with a Community Soul
In recent years, Korai Kitchen has shifted to a mostly takeout operation, shaped partly by the pandemic and partly by demand.
Dine-in service now happens only for special occasions—an arrangement that’s made those rare sit-down meals especially sought-after among regulars.
Despite the takeout focus, the restaurant keeps the warmth and intimacy of a neighborhood dining room.
Regulars know the staff by name. Neighbors watch the garden grow. New visitors usually hear about it from someone who insists, “You have to try this place.”
Korai Kitchen and Jersey City’s Food Ascent
Korai Kitchen’s success isn’t an isolated story. It’s part of a bigger surge that’s put Jersey City’s dining scene on the national radar.
In 2022, Food & Wine named the city one of the top 11 up-and-coming foodie towns in America, pointing to the diversity and creativity of its restaurants.
From Filipino bakeries and Indian street-food counters to modern cocktail bars and vegan kitchens, Jersey City’s food landscape is woven from the stories of its immigrant communities and longtime residents.
Korai Kitchen, with its Bangladeshi roots and homegrown produce, really feels like the perfect embodiment of that spirit.
From Summit Avenue to the Wider World
Korai Kitchen sits at 576 Summit Avenue, right where tradition meets a bit of reinvention. Honestly, that feels a lot like Jersey City itself.
The restaurant’s national accolades don’t just highlight Bangladeshi cuisine. They also shine a light on the city’s neighborhoods and city districts, each with its own flavor and story.
If you’re planning a trip, the rise of places like Korai Kitchen can really change how you think about Jersey City hotels, restaurants, and nightlife. These days, more travelers build their plans around food—sometimes obsessively—so it’s not just about where to eat, but also where to stay in Jersey City so you can wander between restaurants on foot.
Once you’ve sorted out getting to Jersey City—maybe by PATH, ferry, or just driving in—you’ll spot a growing list of things to do in Jersey City. There are waterfront strolls, gallery visits, neighborhood festivals, and now, destination-worthy meals tucked into unassuming storefronts like Korai Kitchen.
Find the perfect hotel or vacation rental. Instant booking, no fees!
View Top Stays
Here is the source article for this story: This NJ Restaurant Was Named To ’23 Best Dishes In America’ List
Getting Around Jersey City, NJ
Plan Your Stay in Jersey City, NJ
Things to Do in Jersey City, NJ
