Norway vs Senegal: Match-Day Restaurant Guide
Senegal's second match at MetLife in six days. The Jersey City Senegalese community just did this for France vs Senegal on June 16. They know the drill. Norway fans face a different situation: there is almost no Scandinavian food scene in North Jersey. Here is the honest guide for both sides.
Why is Senegal playing at MetLife Stadium again?
Senegal is the only team with two group-stage matches at MetLife. France vs Senegal on June 16 (Group I opener) and Norway vs Senegal on June 22 (Group I second match). Both games at the same stadium, six days apart. For the Senegalese community in Jersey City and across North Jersey, this is a two-week home stand.
The restaurants that served the June 16 crowd will be ready. The routes to the stadium are fresh in people's minds. If you went to the France match, everything you learned applies here. The key difference: Monday night at 8:00 PM instead of Tuesday afternoon at 3:00 PM. More time to eat before the game, but a later train ride home.
Where can Senegal fans eat before the game?
Jersey City remains the center of Senegalese food in North Jersey. These are the same restaurants from the France vs Senegal guide. By June 22, they will have one match day behind them. Expect smoother service and possibly special menus for the second round.
Jersey City
Le Baobab Gouygui
Jersey City
Senegalese home cooking. Thieboudienne, yassa, mafe. The kind of restaurant where the menu changes based on what was cooked that day. Small space, big portions. If it was packed for France, it will be packed again.
Pikine
Jersey City
Named after the Dakar suburb. Traditional Senegalese dishes in a casual setting. Good for groups. This is the gathering spot for the community on match day.
D.Salam African Cuisine
Jersey City
West African menu with strong Senegalese representation. Grilled tilapia, jollof rice, and Senegalese specialties. Serves both lunch and dinner.
Ponty Bistro
Jersey City
French-Senegalese fusion named after Rue de Ponty in Dakar. Served both France and Senegal fans perfectly on June 16. For the Norway match, it is all Senegal.
Chez Maty Et Sokhna
Jersey City
Home-style Senegalese cooking. Generous portions, authentic flavors. Popular with the local Senegalese community. The 8:00 PM kickoff means dinner service will be in full swing when fans are eating.
Newark
Swahili Village
Newark
East and West African menu with Senegalese-adjacent dishes. Grilled meats, stews, and plantains. Closer to the NJ Transit line than the Jersey City options.
Mama G African Restaurant
Newark
West African comfort food. Jollof rice, fufu, and grilled proteins. Casual, affordable, and close to Newark Penn Station.
Where can Norway fans eat before the game?
North Jersey does not have Norwegian or Scandinavian restaurants. That is the honest answer. New Jersey's immigration history brought Portuguese, Brazilian, Italian, and West African communities in large numbers. Norwegian immigration concentrated in the Midwest. The food scene reflects that.
Norway fans have two options: cross into Manhattan for Scandinavian dining, or embrace the NJ sports bar scene and eat well before the match.
Scandinavian Restaurants in NYC (for NJ-based fans)
Aquavit
65 E 55th St, Manhattan
The benchmark Scandinavian restaurant in the US. Modern Nordic cuisine. Herring, gravlax, open-faced sandwiches, and a Scandinavian tasting menu. If you want a proper Norwegian pre-match meal, this is it. Take NJ Transit from Penn Station afterward.
Smorgasburg / Nordic-Inspired Spots
Various locations, Brooklyn and Manhattan
Brooklyn's food scene includes Scandinavian-inspired brunch and cafe spots. Not the same as a sit-down Norwegian restaurant, but if you are already in the city, they are worth a stop.
Sports Bars in North Jersey
The practical option for Norway fans staying on the NJ side. These bars have good food, multiple screens, and will be showing all World Cup matches.
Madd Hatter (Hoboken)
40+ screens. The biggest screen setup in Hoboken. Wings, burgers, and beer. Will be packed for every World Cup match.
Mulligan's Pub (Hoboken)
Classic sports bar on Washington Street. Good pub food and a crowd that shows up for international soccer.
Schmitty's (Hoboken)
Neighborhood bar with reliable bar food and a loyal World Cup crowd. Smaller than Madd Hatter, which some people prefer.
Secaucus Sports Bars
Secaucus is the last NJ Transit stop before MetLife. Bars near Secaucus Junction will be full of fans pre-gaming before they board the Meadowlands train. Good option if you want to eat close to the transit route.
What does a Monday 8 PM kickoff mean for the evening?
The 8:00 PM Monday kickoff is the latest evening start for any MetLife group-stage match. That changes the plan compared to the earlier games.
4:00 to 6:00 PM
Dinner at a Jersey City Senegalese restaurant or a Hoboken sports bar. The evening kickoff gives you time for a full sit-down meal after work. No need to leave early.
6:00 to 7:00 PM
Head to the stadium. NJ Transit trains from Secaucus Junction to Meadowlands. Gates open roughly 2 hours before kickoff. 4 hours before kickoff, NJ-bound trains from Penn Station are restricted to World Cup ticket holders.
8:00 PM
Kickoff. Bars across North Jersey showing the match. Jersey City Senegalese restaurants will have screens on.
10:00 PM and after
Match ends. NJ Transit runs extra trains but expect a 1 to 2 hour wait to leave the Meadowlands. You will not be home before midnight. Governor Murphy's extended bar hours legislation means celebrations continue. Tuesday morning will be rough.
How do I get to MetLife Stadium from these restaurants?
From Jersey City
Take PATH to Hoboken Terminal. Transfer to NJ Transit toward Secaucus Junction, then the Meadowlands line. Total: 45-60 minutes. Rideshare from Jersey City is about 20 minutes without traffic (drop-off at Meadowlands Racing).
From Hoboken
NJ Transit from Hoboken Terminal via Secaucus Junction. About 30 minutes total. Hoboken Terminal is also a ferry stop from Manhattan.
From Manhattan (for Norway fans coming from Aquavit)
NJ Transit from Penn Station to Secaucus Junction to Meadowlands. $98 round trip. About 40 minutes. Penn Station will be busy. Buy your ticket in advance and arrive early.
From Newark
NJ Transit from Newark Penn Station to Secaucus Junction to Meadowlands. About 30-40 minutes. $98 round trip.
No parking at MetLife Stadium.
Same as every World Cup match. The stadium lot is reserved for FIFA operations. American Dream Mall has limited parking at $225. NJ Transit is the recommended option. For the full breakdown, see the NJ Transit World Cup guide.