Please note that the meal was complimentary. However, the opinions expressed in my blog are 100% my own!

Kings of Kobe in Newport Mall, Jersey City

Last Saturday, I was invited at Kings of Kobe in the Newport Mall, in Jersey City. Let’s first clarify one thing: there is no Kobe beef there, but rather American Wagyu, served in different forms: steaks, burgers, hot dogs or chili. Located across from the Cheesecake Factory, Kings of Kobe is fairly big with, on one side, a large bar, and the other, the dining room where upbeat music is played while you are waiting for your meal.

Picking a meal there is a bit challenging as they have lots of mouth watering choices. So, I decided to start with their chicken wings, choosing maple buffalo over chipotle BBQ. These beautifully glazed pieces of chicken were amazing: topped with sesame seeds for some nuttiness, they were delightfully crispy, with a slight sweetness, perfect to dip or not in a blue cheese sauce.

Then came the burgers: vegetarian (I’ll come back to this) or not vegetarian, I have to admit that they look spectacular, the presentation having a dramatic drip of sauce all over, and the quantity of meat (half pound or even a pound - aka a pounder) cannot be unnoticed. They do offer vegetarian options and the Beyond burger is used in the Veggie Republic (vegan in fact, made with marinated roasted tomatoes, pickles, baby arugula, herbed vegan mayo) that is in the sandwiches and other burgers section, but if you prefer you can opt for the grilled cheese or a salad. As far as beef is concerned, I went for the King’s Standard that they use as their cover photo. It is made with marinated roasted tomatoes, white cheddar, dill pickles and cherry pepper mayo. This was delicious: the patty was juicy and quite tasty, meaning not made with plenty of fillers and species that would overpower the taste of the beef. But it is big and I cannot imagine finishing a pounder! The only negative of these burgers are the buns: they are good (although the multigrain bun on the veggie one was a bit dry) but too thick.

Burgers are not coming with sides and they have several choices there that I am sure can satisfy anyone. My favorite was the red onion rings that was served with garlic mayo: the onion was cooked all the way through and the batter, that I would not be surprised is beer based was nice and crispy. Of course, you can also choose fries that were battered, crispy and cooked all the way through.

Last is dessert. I cannot not talk enough about the banana pudding that is homemade: first of all, the bowl is the size of a human head and for sure it is a bit difficult to finish it after such a meal…Then, it is superb and probably one of the best I had. It is made with a creamy vanilla pudding, vanilla wafers, perfectly ripened bananas and whipped cream. This is a must have!

Banana pudding at Kings of Kobe in Newport Mall, Jersey City

I was glad that I got the opportunity to try Kings of Kobe as we had a great meal there. I would definitely go back to try another burger combination or even build my own, or get their wagyu ribeye. Prices are on the high side, so you pay a premium for Wagyu beef.

Enjoy (I did)!

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Kings of Kobe - 30 Mall Dr W, Jersey City, NJ 07310

I Just Want To Eat!