Food & Drink
Departed Soles Brewing
Tasting room or taproom visit—try local releases and seasonal pours.
🍽️ New Jersey
Best Food & Drink in New Jersey
Discover 101 hand-picked food & drink across the Garden State.
New Jersey’s food scene is as diverse as its population — and that is very diverse indeed. Home to the highest concentration of diners per square mile in the world, NJ’s legendary roadside diners offer honest, hearty meals around the clock. But the Garden State’s culinary identity extends far beyond the classic diner: Hudson County is home to some of the finest Colombian, Dominican, and Filipino restaurants outside their home countries. The boardwalk at Asbury Park has transformed into a nationally recognized food destination. And the farm-to-table movement thrives across South Jersey and the Delaware Valley, where local produce, craft beer, and artisan food makers abound.
Of course, New Jersey is also famous for its pizza. Whether you’re a thin-crust devotee or a New Jersey–style thick slice loyalist, passionate debates and delicious options await at every turn. Cape May’s fresh lobster, Atlantic City’s legendary buffets, Princeton’s diverse international dining — New Jersey’s food scene is endlessly explorable.
Browse our curated list of the best food and dining destinations across New Jersey below. Whether you’re hunting for a legendary old-school diner, a Michelin-quality restaurant, or the best Taylor Ham, egg, and cheese you’ll ever eat, we’ve got the guide for you.
Best Food & Drink in NJ
Food & Drink
Flounder Brewing
Tasting room or taproom visit—try local releases and seasonal pours.
Food & Drink
Magnify Brewing
Tasting room or taproom visit—try local releases and seasonal pours.
Food & Drink
Lone Eagle Brewing
Tasting room or taproom visit—try local releases and seasonal pours.
Food & Drink
Bellview Winery
Wine tasting with vineyard views; many offer flights, snacks, and seasonal events.
Food & Drink
Screamin’ Hill Brewery
Wine tasting with vineyard views; many offer flights, snacks, and seasonal events.
Food & Drink
Slack Tide Brewing
Tasting room or taproom visit—try local releases and seasonal pours.
Food & Drink
Eight & Sand Beer Company
Tasting room or taproom visit—try local releases and seasonal pours.
Food & Drink
Fort Nonsense Brewing
Tasting room or taproom visit—try local releases and seasonal pours.
Food & Drink
Village Idiot Brewing
Tasting room or taproom visit—try local releases and seasonal pours.
Food & Drink
Man Skirt Brewing
Tasting room or taproom visit—try local releases and seasonal pours.
Food & Drink
Conclave Brewing
Tasting room or taproom visit—try local releases and seasonal pours.
Food & Drink by NJ Region
Frequently Asked Questions: Food & Drink in NJ
New Jersey is famous for several iconic foods: the classic diner (NJ has more diners per capita than anywhere in the world), the Taylor Ham / pork roll breakfast sandwich (a north vs. south NJ debate), boardwalk pizza and cheese fries, fresh Jersey tomatoes and corn, salt water taffy, Italian-American food in the North Jersey suburbs, and fresh seafood along the shore.
New Jersey has excellent dining across all regions. Hoboken and Jersey City have vibrant restaurant scenes close to NYC. Asbury Park has become a nationally recognized food destination. Cape May is beloved for fresh seafood. Montclair, Princeton, and Red Bank have strong independent restaurant communities. Explore our full listing above to find top-rated restaurants in your area of interest.
New Jersey is THE diner state u2014 it's home to more diners per square mile than anywhere else in the world. Classic Jersey diners are open 24/7, serve enormous portions, and feature menus with hundreds of items. Some legendary institutions include the Tops Diner in East Newark, the Summit Diner, the Tick Tock Diner in Clifton, and the Blue Plate Diner in Streamwood.
Absolutely. New Jersey's food scene is incredibly diverse, from boardwalk classics to Michelin-starred fine dining, ethnic cuisine reflecting the state's multicultural communities, farm-fresh produce from NJ's working farms, and a booming craft beer and cidery scene. A food-focused road trip through New Jersey can be as rewarding as any culinary destination in the Northeast.
New Jersey boardwalk food is an institution. Must-try items include Kohr Brothers custard, Manco & Manco pizza in Ocean City, Boardwalk dogs with everything, funnel cake, sausage and peppers, fresh lemonade, saltwater taffy, and cheese fries. Wildwood and Ocean City have the most extensive boardwalk food scenes, with dozens of vendors covering every craving.