As we say goodbye to another year, it’s time to look back on our most memorable meals. Yelp data scientists searched Morris, Essex, Bergen, Hudson, Warren, Union, Sussex and Passaic county and compiled this list of the Top 50 places to eat in North Jersey in 2021. While all areas are represented, more than one third of the list is made up of Bergen County eateries!
Some restaurants have been staples for years while others are new to the scene. Twelve of the fifty mentioned businesses only just opened their doors in 2021. Hot chicken was incredibly popular this past year and several spots are serving up sizzling sandwiches.
North Jersey’s dining scene is as diverse as it is delicious. From Burmese noodles to juicy burgers and soup dumplings to gyros, there is no shortage of variety. There is something to satisfy every palette as well as every budget. Make a reservation on Yelp for an exclusive sushi tasting experience at Sushi By Bou or grab a breakfast sandwich from Foodies Diner (it is Jersey, after all). No matter your preference, we can all agree that there has never been a better time to support local restaurants.
Follow our collection of Top 50 places to eat in North Jersey
Methodology: This is a list of the top places to eat in North Jersey. We identified the top places to eat in the restaurant category, then ranked those spots using a number of factors including the total volume and ratings of reviews between January 1, 2021 and November 30, 2021. This list looked at the top places in Morris, Essex, Bergen, Hudson, Warren, Union, Sussex and Passaic county. All businesses were marked open on Yelp as of November 2021. When available, all businesses on this list have a passing health score as of November 2021.
- Amayar Kitchen — Maywood
2. Japino Restaurant — Fair Lawn
3. Saigon Subs & Café — Morristown
4. Foodies — South Hackensack
5. Gub Khao Thai — Paterson
6. Bibillia — Ridgewood
7. Ambeli Greek Taverna — Cranford
8. Wasai Bistro — Cranford
9. CM Chicken — Montclair
10. Marty’s — Fort Lee
11. Jessica’s Cafe — Plainfield
12. Nirvana Indian Kitchen — Allendale
13. Emma Bistro — Edgewater
14. Sushi Aoki — Fort Lee
15. Pinwheel Garden Dumpling & Noodle Bar — Jersey City
16. Pho Ninh Kieu — Parsippany
17. Sushi By Bou — Jersey City
18. Soup Dumpling Plus — Fort Lee
19. &Grain — Garwood
20. ICCA Sushi — Ridgefield Park
21. Missy’s Main Street Cafe — Rockaway
22. Mehndi — Morristown
23. Namkeen — Chatham
24. Cafe Alyce — Jersey City
25. Tabla Fine Indian Cuisine — Ridgewood
26. Epochi Asian Fusion — Pompton Lakes
27. The Corner — Montclair
28. Aurora Ristorante — Clifton
29. Palato Caffe & Cucina — Montclair
30. The House of Hot Chicken — Jersey City
31. Bloom — Verona
32. Kebab Paradise — Lake Hiawatha
33. Tino’s Artisan Pizza — Jersey City
34. Blue Steel Pizza — Bloomfield
35. Blue Spice Kitchen — Hamburg
36. Old Shanghai Soup Dumpling — Palisades Park
37. Cha Cha Cha Cuban — Kenilworth
38. Downtown Dhaba — Westwood
39. Underdog Hot Chicken — Fort Lee
40. Andrea Salumeria — Jersey City
41. Good Mojo — East Hanover
42. Sam AM — Jersey City
43. Hankki — Haworth
44. ShabuRo — Palisades Park
45. Steve’s Burgers — North Bergen
46. Nizi Sushi — East Rutherford
47. Savini Restaurant — Allendale
48. Dup Bap — West Caldwell
49. Gyro Grill — Wayne
50. Sparta Taverna — Woodridge
As businesses continue to update their hours and information in this ever-changing time, be sure to double-check their Yelp page before visiting. Want to have this list of 50 hidden gems in your back pocket? Download the Yelp app and follow our Collection of Top 50 Places to Eat in North Jersey.
