East Flour is one of those spots you wish you could keep to yourself. The unassuming restaurant dishes out consistently great food at very affordable prices — something that’s getting harder and harder to find in downtown Jersey City.
East Flour opened earlier this spring at 103 Columbus Drive, in what used to be Vegas Grill. Decor-wise, the restaurant is very simple. There are two communal tables and a sit-down counter that overlooks Columbus Drive. Orders are placed with the cashier and brought to your table.
The restaurant’s menu is part Western and part Chinese. Traditional dishes — salads, omelettes, burgers — are really good and I definitely recommend you try them. (Their salads in particular are hearty without being drenched in dressing). But it’s the restaurant’s Chinese menu that really sets it apart.
A few favorites include East Flour’s wonton soup in chili oil ($3.95), lean pork congee ($3) with fried dough ($2.75), and braised beef noodle soup ($7.95), which is referred to simply as “Noodle Soup” on their menu.
The latter is East Flour’s signature dish and worth a visit alone. It includes generous cuts of simmered, tender beef in a spicy broth with noodles, bok choy, and a small mound of pickled veggies. Priced at just $7.95, it’s the best sub-$10 meal I’ve had in downtown and it’s just as good — if not better — than many pricier $15+ entrees you’ll find at neighboring restaurants.
East Flour is proof that sometimes it’s the restaurants without all the bells and whistles that make the best food.
East Flour | 103 Columbus Drive (just off Grove)
Thanks for the tip. I’ve been meaning to try this place for a while.
Yeah, it’s great. Like I said — nothing trendy, but great food!
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