My Favorites

These are my favorite places. I’ve been there, I loved the food, and I’ll return. If someone asks me for a really good Thai restaurant, I’ll send them to Topaz Thai in Belleville. Chendu 1′s Ants Climbing the Tree was a revelation. Spirito’s reminds me of the food my Grandfather ate. Friends and family are sick of me praising De Lucia’s pizza as the best on the planet.

EthnicNJ.com is based in Maplewood (Essex county), so naturally my favorites are concentrated in North/Central Jersey. But if I find a better hot dog than the Ripper, I’ll happily bump Rutt’s Hut to #2. (De Lucia’s ain’t moving.)

For each featured cuisine, I’ll add favorites. Share yours, and one of your favorite ethnic restaurants might become an EthnicNJ.com favorite.

My current favorites:

American – Burgers

1. White Rose System, Linden
2. Next Door, Montclair
3. 25 Burgers, Bound Brook, Linden, Westfield

American – Hot Dogs

1. Rutt’s Hutt, Clifton
2. Galloping Hill Inn, Union
3. Hot Dog Johnny’s, Buttzville

Chinese

1. Chengdu 1, Cedar Grove
2. Petite Soo Chow, Cliffside Park
3. Chef Jon’s,  Whippany

Costa Rican

1. The Banderas, Summit
2. Still looking.
3. …

Ethiopian

1. Mesob, Montclair
2. Lalibela, South Orange

 

Indian

1. Abhiruchi, North Brunswick
2. Aroma Palace, Montclair
3. Rosoi II, Iselin

Irish

1. The Quiet Man, Dover
2. St. James Gate Publick House, Maplewood
3. St. Stephen’s Green Publick House, Spring Lake Heights

Italian

1. Spirito’s, Elizabeth
2. Ristorante da Benito, Union
3. Bona Vita Osteria, Summit

Japanese

1. Taka Sushi, Summit
2. Daimatsu, Mountainside
3. Monster Sushi, Summit

Pizza

1. De Lucia’s Pizzeria, Raritan
2. Star Tavern, Orange
3. Ah’ Pizz, Montclair

Mexican

1. La Malinche, Rahway
2. Bahia De Acapulco, Freehold
3. El Rancho Grande, West Orange

New Jersey – Diner

1. Tick Tock Diner, Clifton
2. Summit Diner, Summit
3. Mastori’s, Bordentown

Peruvian

1. Sabor Peru, Rutherford
2. Oh! Calamares, Kearny
3. Costanera, Montclair

Thai

1. Topaz Thai, Belleville
2. Thai House Rock, Colonia
3. Pat Thai, Parsippany
4. Brookside Thai, Bloomfield

Vietnamese

1. Saigon, South Plainfield
2. Huong Viet, Nutley
3. Binh Duong, Bloomfield