Newark is one of my favorite places to go out to eat, just because I’m a huge fan of Iberian cuisine, be it Portuguese, Spanish, or Basque. The Ironbound section of the city is one of the oldest and culturally rich neighborhoods in the area, with lots of Portuguese, Spanish and Brazilian restaurants and shopping to be had.
Casa Vasca
141 Elm St, Newark, NJ
(973) 465-1350
Paella Valenciana from Casa Vasca.
Chorizo Appetizer from Casa Vasca.
Mariscada Verde (Seafood in Green Sauce) from Casa Vasca
Chicken Ajillo
Shrimp Ajillo
Spanish Sangria Restaurant
157 Magazine St, Newark, NJ
(973) 344-9286
Caldo Gallego
Champinones Ajillo
Shrimp Ajillo. Spanish Sangria really excels at both this dish and the mushroom one.
Scallops Sangria, scallop shells filled with scallops, crabmeat and topped with melted cheese.
Paella Valenciana. Sangria’s version contains pork cubes and squid as well in addition to the shrimp, clams, chicken, mussels and chorizo. I personally think Casa Vasca’s is better seasoned, however.
Paella Valenciana, plated.
Seabra’s Supermarket
260 Lafayette St, Newark, NJ
(973) 589-8606
Sumol, an excellent Portuguese citrus soft drink.
Triunfo Guarana, a new A&J Seabra import.
Cheese Section
Bacalao, preserved salt cod.
Olives
Portuguese Presunto Ham
You can buy the same meat cuts used in the top churrascarias in Newark.
Whole cured hams and large chorizos too.
The cured sausage selection is staggering.
Get your beef primals here! Need to feed a few dozen of your closest friends?
Pork cracklin’s. One six pack of beer, a few bags of these, and you’re all ready for the soccer match.
EXTREME chorizo cam.
Off The Broiler 
Another good Ironbound mainstay is Brazilia BBQ, just off of Ferry Street. I forget the name. It’s got a buffet which has your normal mainstays, but some delicious hot and cold dishes in case your rodizio isn’t much of an appetizer. This is where the families go to eat dinner and watch the soccer games.
One of the better hidden treasures is halfway to Newark Airport, though. Again, down Ferry Street. When the road forks, bear left. It’s called Sol Mar, and there’s two sections with two menus. The bar is the place to be; they have a specials page that doesn’t show up in the restaurant side. If they have a stewed cuttlefish dish on the menu and available, GET IT.
Thanks for reminding me that I want to go back to Casa Vasca in July when I am in New York in July. I love telling people, when they ask where I ate when I was in New York, “Newark!” It’s worth the trip to be able to say that and also because the food is swell.
I went over there the first time in the back of a big 70’s model Cadillac sitting in the front seat. I was kind of waiting to, suddenly, feel a big pain in the back of my head and have that be my last thought-fortunately I made it back alive.
I’d like to give a heads-up to my hidden gem; “Taste of Portugal” on the corner of Delancy & Van Buren. I eat in the ironbound frequently, and this is the BEST!, hands down.
Note: No Rodizio- if that’s what you want, and you want the best Rodizio, you need to find “Fenandez” on Chapel Street.
[…] If you haven’t already seen my previous advisory, let this be your final warning. If you live in the NY/NJ metro area and you either didn’t go to Newark today or weren’t planning to go tomorrow, SHAME ON YOU. The festival on Ferry Street in the Ironbound is open until 10PM tonight and from 8AM to 10PM tomorrow. If you are a foodie and love South American ethnic cuisine, you will kick yourself in the head if you don’t go. Here’s some photos (and a few minutes of really cool video once Google puts it up) to get your appetite started. […]
[…] We’ve been concentrating a lot on Iberian food in the Ironbound (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) lately, mainly because I’m a huge fan of Portuguese, Spanish (and Brazilian) cuisine, and because the Ironbound itself is vast in terms of restaurants representing those cultures. […]
[…] NJ Dining: Newark’s Ironbound […]
9 su 10! Ottenerlo! Siete buoni!
What time do the shops close and also please, waht dining spot is best for a solo diner?