Samakmak — Restaurant in Jersey City

I didn't eat fish until I was working there fixing the AC Unit. At least it was VERY VERY RARE of a time when I did, I like shrimp, clams, scallops and things like that.. For lunch I was cooked Grilled Tilapia with rice...and it was F'N AMAZING!! The size of the 2 filets was huge!! And not in a bad way, as I've worked in restaurants for over a decade. Really nice pieces and the garlic based sauce they use on top with the grilling is to die for. The next day I was made a Fried Fish sandwich in a pita with lettuce tomato onions and fresh lime juice squeezed inside, and surprise!!!! It was F'N AMAZING!!! This sandwich was one of the best sandwiches I've ever had! I even tried a piece of the owners Grilled Whole Branzini Fish cooked Egyptian Style..not sure what differs but the Branzini was delicious!! And the sauce used with cooking tasted almost like lobster does when you dip it into the butter it comes with LOL.. GIVE THIS PLACE A CHANCE!! If you stroll by or whatever it doesn't look like much, but go in and be delighted by the friendly woman that makes your food and the great food!!! And call me, mabye I'll meet you there and have dinner together! LOL. I live 3...

Everything on the menu is slamming 😭 used to be hooked ordering delivery back to back.

I moved twice since then and both times I was thirsty checking delivery apps to see if I could get it from my new address (in Elizabeth then Newark)

The garlic shrimp are to die for and the grilled branzino (meanwhile I’m not even a big fish person, love seafood but fish can be hit or miss, especially grilled but it slaps lol). I’ve had their fried branzino too and it was also good but the grilled was better. I would break the bank getting the shrimp and grilled branzino cause it was all so good 😭

Brought the shrimp to a pot luck and everyone was obsessed.

Never have been there in person but need to take a trip because I miss them real bad.

Samaksmak be smack smacking 😋

(10 mins later—- yalllll… they deliver to my new address in Newark, god bless. Just submit an order, hopefully it’s as good as it...

Move over, Astoria--this unremarkable street block offers enough casual Arabic seafood spots to make any Queens resident take notice. And as a bonus, it has not yet been "discovered" by the Yelp Elite / food influencer crowd (besides yours truly).

The Alexandrian Style Shrimp was huge and delicious, but the Grilled Branzino (and really, any whole grilled fish) is the big, belting diva of the menu and one you should not miss. Whole, ground spices are packed into every bite care of lovely marinade, and your teeth will rejoice at how tender the meat is. Entrees all come with generous, complimentary portions of salad, tahini and pita, as well as lots of fluffy rice, so you can't walk away hungry.

The prices are on the higher side, sadly--it seems nowhere is immune to inflation these days--but at least you'll get a ton of bang...