New Jersey has an incredible dining scene, and I’m exploring more and more of it each year. We’re one big melting pot in the Garden State, and it’s possible to find just about anything you want to eat here. But somehow, our culinary scene doesn’t seem to get the hype of our neighbors. Well, that might be changing thanks to the good folks at USA Today. The storied newspaper just named its picks for the top 47 restaurants in the entire United States – and three from New Jersey made the list! They’re about as different as they could get – a famous Middle Eastern restaurant serving delicious kebabs; a rustic farm-to-table eatery in the middle of suburbia; and a tiny sushi counter so well-hidden most people don’t even know about its innovative jewels of the sea. Read on to discover which award-winning restaurants in New Jersey should be on your dining bucket list!

1. Al-Basha Middle Eastern Cuisine (Paterson)

Hany Youssef/Google Local
Located in the heart of Paterson's rich Middle Eastern dining scene, Al-Basha has recently expanded to a magnificent new dining space.
The restaurant bills itself as a "Taste of Ramallah" and its extensive menu draws from Palestinian cuisine with influences from Lebanon and Turkiye as well.
Al-Basha Restaurant/Google Local
There is no better way to experience this than with the massive, and we mean massive Mix Mashawi platter, which features all four of the restaurant's famous meats.
Al-Basha Restaurant Dine-In Only, 387 Crooks Ave, Paterson, NJ 07503, USA
Ayaz Hyder/Google Local

2. Heirloom Kitchen (Old Bridge)

C Block/Google Local
Heirloom Kitchen, located in the thriving Middlesex County town of Old Bridge, is a taste of farm-to-table in central Jersey.

Related Stories

Feast On Portuguese Seafood At Lita, New Jersey's Newest James Beard Award Honoree

Feast On Portuguese Seafood At Lita, New Jersey's Newest James Beard Award Honoree

 This Massive Resort Food Hall In New Jersey Can Satisfy Any Craving

This Massive Resort Food Hall In New Jersey Can Satisfy Any Craving

 We'll Choose Snacks And Apps Over Dinner Any Day At This New Jersey Restaurant

We'll Choose Snacks And Apps Over Dinner Any Day At This New Jersey Restaurant
Heirloom Kitchen uses an open-kitchen concept, and prides itself on changing up the menu with the seasons and the available produce.
Andy Shen/Google Local
That means every meal here will be a bit of a surprise - and we highly recommend bringing a group to sample as much as possible. In addition to a prix fixe dinner (including a vegan option), the restaurant offers cooking classes.
Heirloom Kitchen, 3853 County Rd 516, Old Bridge, NJ 08857, USA
Heirloom Kitchen/Google Local

3. Sushi By Sea (Ridgefield)

Jeff Kovatch/Google Local
Possibly the most secretive restaurant in New Jersey, Sushi By Sea is a tiny Omakase sushi counter in Ridgefield, not far from the shore.
Omakase means "Chef's choice", so the menu will always change - but you can always expect a wide range of small bites featuring the freshest possible fish and seafood.
Jenny Chung/Google Local
Watching the sushi chefs work is part of the fun, as they're always innovating. Blowtorched sushi - believe it!
Sushi by Sea, 632 Bergen Blvd, Ridgefield, NJ 07657, USA
Jeff Kovatch/Google Local

Have you eaten at any of these award-winning restaurants in New Jersey? Tell us what you ate, and what’s on your dining bucket list! You can see more details on the websites of Al-Basha, Heirloom Kitchen, and Sushi By Sea. For another unique international culinary experience in New Jersey, head to FoodieHall in Cherry Hill, where you can sample multiple cuisines under one roof! And if you’re heading across the state on a dining road trip, stock up with all the essential road trip supplies.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Related Articles

Explore New Jersey