Restaurants & Bars
19 New NJ Restaurants To Check Out In 2023
Consistent with New Jersey's reputation as a microcosm of the United States, the newest local eateries offer plenty of variety.
NEW JERSEY — Struggling with the New Year's resolution? Here's an easier one: make the most of New Jersey's culinary scene and enjoy some of the Garden State's new restaurants in 2023.
Consistent with New Jersey's reputation as a microcosm of the United States, the newest local eateries offer plenty of variety. New offerings include Indian cuisine, an acclaimed Japanese restaurant from New York City, and even a Guy Fieri chicken joint along the Jersey Shore.
Plus, plenty more restaurants plan to open soon, or at least sometime this year. Here are 19 new restaurants to try in 2023.
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Ani Ramen, Princeton
Find out what's happening in Across New Jerseyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
140 Nassau St. A, Princeton
Ani Ramen opened a 10th location, serving its signature craft ramen featuring its classic broth, custom-made noodles, flavorful proteins, and a variety of add-ons for guests to customize their ramen, including Ani’s legendary "umami bomb." The restaurant’s Vegan Ramen is also a favorite. The menu will also offer appetizers including bao buns, kurobuta sausage, chili charred edamame, and chicken karaage. Read more: Ani Ramen To Open Princeton Eatery In October, Will Serve Mochinut
One of the Jersey Shore's newest restaurants is bringing Italian street food to Ocean City. Offerings include Piadina’s, pizza, pasta, flatbreads, charcuterie cups and more. Read more: New Italian Restaurant Opens In Ocean City
777 Harrah's Blvd.
Guy Fieri lovers have a new spot to enjoy. Chicken Guy! features a menu of Fieri's fan favorites, including sandwiches, chicken tender combos, salad bowls and 22 signature sauces. The tenders are hand-pounded and brined in fresh lemon juice, pickle brine, buttermilk and infused with fresh herbs.
The restaurant also offers sides like Chicken Guy! Fries, macaroni and cheese, fried pickles and slaw. Guests with a sweet tooth can enjoy unique desserts such as Triple Double Ice Cream Treat–triple chocolate and double-mint, or the Cinnamon Apple – a heaping cup of vanilla soft serve ice cream smothered in Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Apple Jacks cereal. Read more: Guy Fieri To Bring Chicken Restaurant To Atlantic City
East Hudson Cafe, Jersey City
30 Hudson St.
Amid the changing restaurant landscape in 2023, the owners of the sushi restaurant East Hana Jersey City have opened a new Japanese restaurant at the Goldman Sachs tower on the waterfront, called East Hudson Cafe. East Hudson Cafe specializes in Japanese food including soba noodles, curry rice, sushi and more. Read more: Japanese Restaurant, East Hudson Cafe, Opens At Jersey City Waterfront
Kanji Noodle Bar, Piscataway
1326 Centennial
Lovers of Japanese cuisine have a new spot for ramen, yakisoba, gyoza, and takoyaki as Kanji Noodle Bar recently opened in Piscataway. A dozen types of ramen are on the menu at Kanji Noodle Bar; customers can choose the type of noodles as well as toppings. Some of the ramen choices include Premium Miso, Supreme Tonkotsu, Vegetable Yassai, and Tan Tan. Read more: Grand Opening For New Kanji Noodle Bar In Piscataway December 8
1303 Prince Rodgers Ave.
Touting a "regal North Indian Cuisine experience," the new restaurant offers Tandoori appetizers, seafood specialties, special lamb and goat curries, vegetarian dishes, Biryani specialties, and more. Read more: New Indian Restaurant Opens In Bridgewater Township
116 Quimby St. #114
After closing its doors for two months, La Bendita in Westfield is open once again with lots of new menu options. With a change in management, ownership said that the restaurant is coming back "even better" and has changed some of its recipes while maintaining its authentic Mexican flavors. Read more: La Bendita Mexican Restaurant Reopens In Westfield With New Menu Items
Nami Nori, Montclair
378 Bloomfield Ave.
An acclaimed Japanese restaurant that specializes in “open-style temaki” has expanded out of New York City and into North Jersey. The restaurant — known for dishes like the Spicy Crab Dynamite and X.O. Scallop, Tobiko, Lemon, and starters like Crispy Calamari with Yuzu Soy and Wasabi Cucumber Tataki — planned to push the boundaries of its menu with some temaki, starters and desserts “exclusive to Montclair,” spokespeople told Patch in October. Read more: Acclaimed Japanese Restaurant Nami Nori Expands Into Montclair
Nora's Dream Pizza, Warren
41 Mountain Blvd.
Nora Alhayek had a hard life in Palestine but she always held on to a dream of one day coming to America to open her own restaurant. Three years ago, Alhayek was lucky enough to be able to immigrate overseas where she met her husband Juan who recently helped her to open Nora's Dream Pizza.
Along with pizza, the brick oven pizzeria offers subs, sandwiches, salads, appetizers, seafood dinners, pasta and more. Read more: New Pizzeria In Warren Represents A Dream Come True
COMING SOON
Angelo Seafood Market, Hoboken
626 Washington St.
Something fishy will be happening next year on Hoboken's Washington Street when Angelo Seafood Market opens. The new restaurant and fish market posted storefront signage in early December. It'll offer specialty seafood and prepared foods, ranging from lobster rolls to fillets. It's not clear yet when Angelo Seafood will open, but an Instagram account for the market says it's coming soon. Read more: Fish Market And Raw Bar Coming To Hoboken's Washington Street
Chip City Cookies: North Jersey
305 E Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood
245-281 Market St., Newark
113 Washington St., Hoboken
The New York-based Chip City cookie café chain plans to open its first three New Jersey shops early this year. The shop specializes in their thick, fresh baked "core cookies" such as chocolate chip, cookies 'n' cream and dairy-free chocolate chip. They also rotate specials like sweet potato s'mores and blueberry cheesecake. Read more: Chip City Cookies To Open First NJ Shops In Newark, Hoboken, Ridgewood
64 South St.
The award-winning gelato shop, Guerriero Gelato, is opening up its fifth shop in the heart of Morristown this January. According to the owner Mike Guerriero, the shop will have a grand opening on Jan. 13, just in time for the long weekend.
Alongside traditional Italian gelato flavors, the store also operates as a traditional ice cream parlor, serving a multitude of frozen treats. Menu favorites include ice cream cakes and miniature ice cream sandwiches made with freshly baked cookies. Read more: New Restaurants, Businesses Coming To Morristown In 2023
Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, South Jersey
800 Route 70 W, Marlton
Mount Holly Road & Bromley Boulevard, Burlington
Route 70 and Haddonfield Road, Cherry Hill
Louisiana-based Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers is set to get three new locations. All restaurants are set to open in 2023; opening dates have not yet been announced for any of the locations. Aside from chicken fingers and sandwiches, Raising Cane’s offers Texas Toast, crinkle-cut fries and coleslaw. Read more: Popular Chicken Finger Joint To Make NJ Debut: Reports
With reporting from Vianella Burns, Veronica Flesher, Caren Lissner, Eric Kiefer, Nicole Rosenthal, Michelle Rotuno-Johnson, Sarah Salvadore, Remy Samuels and Alexis Tarrazi/Patch Staff.
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