NEW JERSEY - The downtown Jersey City dining scene is about to say a very sad farewell to one of its longest-running and most beloved neighborhood dining institutions. Saigon Cafe, at 188 Newark Ave, has been in business for nearly 30 years and has announced that it will close permanently on Sunday, November 22, 2026.
Downtown Jersey City is losing its much-loved 27-year-old Vietnamese staple, Saigon Cafe.
The family-run place has been on Newark Avenue since 1999. Kim Le and her husband, head chef Dan Ly, founded it and built a loyal following over the years by serving classic, traditional Vietnamese fare.
Over its 27-year life, it was far more than just a restaurant. It was a real community institution for generations of locals, a place where you could go and have a meal and meet up with friends and celebrate family events over a pot of pho.
The kitchen built up its reputation on Vietnamese comfort food - Saigon crêpes, spring rolls, curry chicken puffs, and huge bowls of Phở Gà were all regulars.
The ownership team didn't give a reason for the closure, but did issue a sincere thank you to their customers on social media. They recognized that although the restaurant would be closing its doors permanently, the memories and community created over its 27 years would remain a real part of the area's fabric.
The impending closure marks the end of an era for the rapidly changing downtown Jersey City corridor. Fans of the beloved establishment have just a few short weeks left to stop by 188 Newark Ave to enjoy one final bowl of noodles and bid a fond farewell to the family that has fed the neighborhood since the late 1990s.
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