Have any of you had peri peri before? Before last night, I couldn’t say that I had. Peri peri is a type of Portuguese cuisine based on the African bird’s eye chili pepper. Typically, peri peri cuisine consists largely of chicken. However, when I recently visited Tribos‘ brand new Jersey City location, I learned it’s so much more!

Tribos’ peri set go method makes it quick and easy to get some delish peri peri!

My first thought when I came to Tribos was how streamlined and clean the place looked. Tribos’ new location was described to me as a fast-casual joint, with options to either dine in or take out. Unique to this location, however, is their Peri, Set, Go method of preparing their peri peri. Unlike most peri peri locations, takeout orders are made right in front of you, meaning you don’t have to wait to have your food served. If you have more time and want to dine in, they will bring it out to your table.

Now, to the best part: the food. Because I was trying an unfamiliar cuisine to me, I had no idea what to expect. With some cursory searches online, I thought that everything on the menu was going to be spicy, and while everything was well-spiced, the heat level was completely customizable, from mild to tongue-tingling spicy.

look at all the amazing sides!

We started off with appetizers, which included their peri fries, Tribos rice, coleslaw, their Perimayo corn, a house salad, hummus, and some toasted pita. All of their food items (appetizers included) are spiced with their peri peri spice, and that helps unify the foods without taking away from their distinct natural flavors. Their peri fries were freakin’ bomb, with the unique spices really elevating it above typical french fries. At the table was also some garlic yogurt sauce and peri peri sauce for dipping, and I loved both, but definitely thought the garlic sauce was the star of the show. My other favorite appetizer was the perimayo corn, which reminded me of a twist on esquite, or Mexican street corn in a cup.

Their paneer peri peri is great for vegetarians!

The real stars of the meal were the protein options! I tried the chicken tenders and the chicken leg quarters. Both were cooked perfectly. The skin was crispy on the outside, but moist and delicious on the inside, and their sauces were great. For people who cannot handle any kind of spice, their lemon herb chicken is for you, but fear not, spice lovers, because they have 4 more types of peri peri sauce, ranging in heat from mild to extra hot. I tried the mild peri peri chicken and it was perfect for people who can handle a little bit of spice, but not too much. In addition to chicken, they also offer peri peri falafel and paneer for vegetarians/vegans.

If you’re looking for some delicious chicken, this is where to go!

Overall, I had an excellent time at Tribos’ new location, right off the Grove St. PATH. It’s currently in its soft opening phase, but opens officially on October 4th. I definitely will be back here again to try all of their foods, including burgers, lamb, and pita!

Since moving to Jersey City, I’m always on the lookout for new restaurants and coffee shops to try, especially since I work from home. After trying out all of the coffee shops Journal Square has to offer, I have to say by far, Whealth takes the cake for the best coffee, food, and atmosphere in the Journal Square neighborhood of Jersey City.

Why Whealth and Co.?

Their bacon and tomato grilled cheese is so yummy!

Whealth markets itself as a “Modern Day Grandma’s Kitchen”, with farm-to-table seasonal offerings every day. Their location is a little harder to find, tucked behind the Journal Squared apartments right by the PATH plaza. Their interior is rustic, with mason jar water glasses and vintage tables and chairs, giving it an eclectic vibe that I really like. Coffee, tea, and water are plentiful, which makes it a great place to sit down for a while and work/study without breaking the bank. Their WiFi is also very fast and the atmosphere is pretty quiet (except for the lunch rush), which is great for deep focus.

Another important aspect of Whealth’s ethos is relationships. Their major slogan is “All we have is each other”, and that is really reflected in how the staff treats their customers. When I walk in, I get a smiling “Hey Kat!” from everyone in the kitchen, and I’ve seen them treat every other customer the exact same way. Everyone on staff makes a huge effort to make sure everyone feels welcome and cared for like it was their own home kitchen. I have yet to find another place in Jersey City that has remembered my and my partner’s name after showing up only 3 times.

What really sets Whealth apart from other coffee shops in the neighborhood is the food. Most lunch dishes are between $9-$15, but they are very filling. So far, I’ve enjoyed their bacon and tomato grilled cheese, which was any cheese-lover’s dream, as well as their “greens bowl” which had one of the best sweet potatoes I’ve ever had. The quality of the ingredients is so apparent, and if you check out their Instagram stories, the owner, David, is always on the farm, picking up ingredients for their rotating seasonal menu.

Their seasonal greens bowl had amazing farm-fresh produce and an AMAZING sweet potato!

Whealth also recently launched a meal delivery service, which I have yet to try but sounds absolutely incredible. For $100 a week, you get enough farm-fresh items for 2 meals a day for 5 days, all for less than the cost of meal delivery for 2 nights. It’s an incredibly great value, especially considering the items already come ready to assemble, which means the cooking required is next to none. If I do get a chance to try it, I’ll be sure to post a review.

If you’re local to the Jersey City area and are looking for a new place to try, Whealth should be at the top of your list! It’s quickly become a favorite of both my partner and myself!