The 33 best Jersey Shore restaurants you’ve never heard of (2024)

The Jersey Shore is jammed with restaurants from Sea Bright to Cape May. Many are packed in the summer, especially on weekends, because they’re so damn popular, or because visitors just don’t know where else to go.

Well, I’m about to tell you about 33 Shore restaurants that only the most savvy insiders know about. Several don’t have any social media presence; many look unremarkable from the outside.

READ MORE: The ultimate Jersey Shore bucket list: 35 essential experiences for summer 2024

My well-under-the-radar restaurants offer a globe-trotting array of cuisines, from Italian, Mexican, Greek and Jamaican to Indian, Afghan, Thai and Vietnamese. There are seafood restaurants on the list — this is the Shore, after all — plus a BBQ joint, a boardwalk mac-n-cheese stand, taco shack, vegan restaurant and a place that serves the absolute fattest — and possibly most delicious — sandwiches at the Shore.

In short, there’s something for everyone on my list. Let the crowds stand in line at all those uber-popular Shore restaurants the whole world already knows about. Print out this list, and you’ll be the smartest and most satisfied eater at the Shore this summer.

Setaara, Atlantic City

Atlantic City’s most singular dining experience? Setaara, which rises above an otherwise-dreary stretch of Arctic Avenue like an apparition, topped by gold-colored domes and a likeness of an arch rising above sun-dappled mountains. “Khosh Amadid! Bonsoir!” proclaims the website. It’s Atlantic City’s only Afghan restaurant (khosh amadid means welcome in Farsi) and the city’s only French restaurant (bonsoir means good evening). Start with the yogurt with cucumbers, enlivened with mint, then proceed to one of the kabobs (the Silk Road Kabob includes one beef and one chicken skewer). European-accented entrees include beef dijonnaise and beef bourguignon, but I’d recommend sticking to the Afghan dishes on your first visit. And save room for the firni, an Afghan pudding of milk flavored with cardamom and rose water topped with crushed pistachios. Wow. Best dish: Quabili Palau, chicken slowly cooked and baked with afghan rice infused in house spices, topped with raisins and sweet carrots. Double wow.

Com Ga Ninh Kieu, Atlantic City

Com Ga Ninh Kieu is a lively neighborhood spot on Atlantic Avenue. An even 100 dishes appear on the current menu, including such standards as pho (beef noodle soup), banh mi (grilled meat hoagies), summer rolls and dried rice noodles. My grilled beef banh mi was gloriously greasy, swaddled in a sturdy roll, and the pho with rare steak and flank is a model of its kind. Definitely order of the chef’s specials (No. 66-83), like pork sizzling in hot pot, salt and pepper squid, or clam stir-fried in back bean sauce. Recommended: Chicken stir-fried with lemongrass (a chef’s special). Pop one of the savory, succulent chicken pieces in your mouth for immediate gratification.

Yardi Real Jamaican Food, Atlantic City

You can walk right past Yardi without realizing it; the restaurant is much easier to spot at night because of the abundant neon. They bill themselves as AC’s ”only authentic real Jamaican restaurant.” Inside is spare but homey. Stew chicken, jerk chicken, curried goat and jerk wings and ackee and saltfish are among the traditional offerings, but my favorite dish here is the curry chicken, hearty chunks of chicken with just the right amount of spice and attitude. This just in: there is excellent food away from the casino scene.

Sissy’s at the Harbor, Atlantic Highlands

Eat where the locals eat? That’ll get you to Sissy’s at the Harbor. Inspirational messages — “Happiness is the best facelift" — provide the decor at this unfussy luncheonette, which overlooks the marina and a flotilla of boats. Waffles, French toast, subs, seafood sandwiches and burgers are among the menu items. Don’t go looking for a web site or Facebook page; there are none.

Fishin’ Pier Grille, Avalon

Fishin’ Pier Grille is an oceanfront hangout hidden from the street (stay to the left of the beach patrol hut on 32nd Street and you’ll walk right into it). Omelets, pancakes, French toast, cinnamon rolls and more are on the menu. And a standout pork roll egg and cheese sandwich; it made our list of the state’s best. Unlike the usual three layers of meat found on many Jersey THEC/PEC sandwiches, it’s just one fat hunky layer here. I loved the runny egg, and thank goodness it didn’t run all over my car seats. There’s another Fishin’ Pier Grille location in neighboring Stone Harbor, but it doesn’t have the oceanfront location’s atmosphere and charm.

Grits & Grace, Bayville

The owners of Grits & Grace “put all our eggs in one basket” and purchased the property where the restaurant now stands. “Eggs” is a good choice of words; the menu is jammed with egg sandwiches, egg dishes and omelets. Sandwiches include the Parkway grilled cheese (pork roll, eggs, American cheese on white bread), and the potbelly (open face sausage, egg and cheese on a sausage-smothered biscuit). My favorite is the Jersey Devil, a bewitching blend of pork roll, sliced tomato, cherry peppers, eggs and hot pepper jack cheese. You can also get pancakes, Benedicts, French toast, cheesesteaks, burgers, and salads. The restaurant is across the street from the fabled Bayville Dinosaur.

Senza Cucina, Bayville

The Shore is packed — some would say overrun — with Italian restaurants. Here’s one practically hidden in a strip mall that doesn’t do the same old predicable Italian fare (If I see one more restaurant crowing about their “famous" chicken parm i’m going to scream). The surroundings may be ordinary, but there’s some mighty fine food coming out of the kitchen at Senza Cucina. Pasta a dishes include gnocchi al pigniatello (gnocchi with tomato-basil sauce , fresh mozzarella and parmigiano) and spaghetti busara (with corkscrew shrimp in a spicy tomato-basil sauce. The spaghetti and meatballs, in a savory sauce, would rank in the top ten of all Jersey versions of that dish. Also recommended: polpette della nonna — slow-baked meatballs over Sardinian cavatelli in a tomato ricotta sauce. Those meatballs finished high on our list of the state’s 25 best meatballs, ranked.

The Crab Shack, Brick

The Crab Shack is about as far from fancy as you can get. Inside is a small seafood market and an even smaller restaurant, with crabs scuttling round in baskets and maritime-themed charts and pictures on the wall. “We’re not fancy," the owner once told me. Yeah, no kidding. Don’t go looking for info on their Facebook page; the last post was in 2017. But there are photos on their Instagram page.

Herbs Thai Kitchen, Brick

Squeezed into a strip mall at the intersection of Routes 70 and 88, Herbs Thai Kitchen is not easy to find. The owners are a husband-and-wife team; Laksana calls herself “master of nutrition,” which is a pretty nifty title. Chef’s specials include duck drunken noodles and grilled peanut sauce chicken, but my favorites are the wok ginger with chicken and mince chicken basil — the meat in both is fresh, tender, expertly cooked. Herbs Thai made our list of the state’s 21 best Thai restaurants.

Tacos Los Compas, Brick

Tacos Los Compas is a spare, homey hangout in a town packed with cookie-cutter restaurants. “From Mexico City to New Jersey,” proclaims the menu. The bistec (steak) and cabeza (beef head) tacos are first-rate, but the al pastor, loaded with pork and pineapple, is outstanding. And the salsa verde packs quite a little punch. The taco al pastor made our list of N.J.’s 33 best tacos. Next door is Baron’s Bagels, which made our 51 best bagel shops list.

El Pueblo Taqueria, Lower, Cape May

Colorful little El Pueblo Taqueria in Lower — sunshine-yellow walls, murals — is in a strip mall across the street from a giant Wawa, so you can’t miss it. There are 11 kinds of tacos, from chicken, steak and pork to tongue, Mexican-style shrimp and spicy chopped tofu. Tortas are in the $7 to $10 range, and the guacamole is made fresh to order. The Cape May storefront is on Beach Avenue.

Marge’s Diner, Clermont

Call it a diner, call it a luncheonette, just call Marge’s a cozy little locals hangout, open year-round. Their “Eat Here and Get Gas" sign outside is without a doubt the best Jersey diner sign. Good, hearty breakfast and lunch dishes; the pork roll egg and cheese sandwich is recommended. Marge’s made my list of Jersey’s 37 best diners.

Mi Pueblito, Eagleswood

Mi Pueblito is a spare but homey roadside breakfast/lunch spot on Route 9. For breakfast, try the stuffed French toast, the Mexican omelet or the fruit-topped Belgian waffle. For lunch, the burritos, tacos, quesadillas or the torta de Milanese, with choice of meat, beans, lettuce, avocado, onions, jalapenos, and sour cream.

The Nizam’s, Egg Harbor Township

The state’s best Indian restaurant is not in Jersey City or Woodbridge or Edison but Egg Harbor Township, where you’ll find the Nizam’s. Named after the 18th-through-20th Century rulers of Hyderabad (in Southern India), it’s situated in the parking lot of Harbor Square mall, just off Route 40. The tangri kebab, chicken cooked with “special spices and herbs” in the tandoor oven, was the best chicken dish of all those sampled on my extensive Indian road trip last year. The lamb ashari (in Hindi, ashari means pickle; lamb ashari is cooked with spices used to make pickles) is hearty, spicy and downright delicious. I’ll save the best for last: the pistachio-topped kheer is so good it might as well be on another rice pudding planet.

Neptune Market, Harvey Cedars

There is no place quite like Neptune Market on LBI. Mini supermarket on one side — “if we don’t have it, you don’t need it,” according to cook Joe Lesko — old-school luncheonette on the other.. The market opened in 1946; the original owner was Joe Nooney. The Nooney Burger, with American cheese, hot pepper relish, mayo, lettuce, tomato and onions on a brioche roll, pays him tribute. Their potato salad is “world famous,” their German potato salad merely “famous.” Chicken salad outsells both by a hefty margin; the market sells an astounding 300 pounds of chicken salad on a typical Saturday.

The Eat Well, Lower

It’s not everybody who goes from massage center proprietor to restaurant owner. Before the massage center, Drew Gandley worked at several French restaurants in New Orleans. He and his wife moved to Cumberland County. She opened a massage center (The Well Cape May), he opened a restaurant, The Eat Well. His menu is all over the map: Cu-bahn mi fusion (mojo pork with pickle carrot and daikon cucumber, cilantro Swiss and mayo); cajun crab cake grilled cheese; Japanese beef curry; shrimp po’ boy; homemade roasted tomato basil soup; and ratatouille, among other items. He’s proud of his Cubano sandwiches; the Eat Well Cuban, with slow-roasted mojito pork, ham, Swiss, pickles and mustard on homemade ciabatta, is recommended.

Wing It, Lower

Wing It, open since 1994, made my most recent N.J.’s best barbecue joints ranking. The ribs (photo) are pleasantly charred, and the vinegar dressing goes well with the pulled pork sandwich. Good fried chicken and excellent coleslaw. One note: It’s takeout only; call ahead to save time.

Hooked Up Seafood, Middle

Fish doesn’t get any fresher than what’s available at Hooked Up Seafood; some of it comes from owner Bill Bright’s boat Defiance, docked right behind the market/restaurant. Clams, fish tacos, peel-and-eat shrimp, and chowders are among the menu items, or you can choose a fish have have it cooked your way, whether seared, fried or blackened.

Sad Boyz, New Gretna

New Gretna and food usually means one thing — Allen’s Clam Bar. Add Sad Boyz, which opened in late 2022, to the list. It’s a casual breakfast/lunch spot with burgers, subs, cheesesteaks, shakes, BLTs, and excellent coffee. I’m partial to bacon and egg sandwiches, and they have a good one.

Five Girls Sandwich Shop, North Wildwood

“The most expensive cheesesteak at the Jersey Shore’' is available at Five Girls, open four years. Hand-cut prime wagyu, white truffle, Cooper sharp cheese, caramelized onions and seasonings on a 12-inch tuscan seeded roll, for $38. The regular cheesesteak, for $11, is a good one. Like all the sandwiches here, it’s loaded. The pork belly Cuban may be the fattest Cubano anywhere. There are also burgers, pizza, and hoagies. Specialty sandwiches include a lobster roll, lump crab cake, prime filet mignon and home style tuna melt. “Neighborhood specials’' include meatball parm, a BLT, fried flounder sandwich, and sausage and peppers.

Papelon, North Wildwood

Wildwood, like Seaside, is not considered a dining destination. Maybe because most folks think it’s just funnel cake, mediocre boardwalk pizza and even worse lemonade. Papelon is one of your best boardwalk food bets, with traditional Latin fare from Puerto Rico, Colombia, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and elsewhere. Dishes include empanadas, tostones, quesadillas, tacos, arepas and La Bandeja paisa, Colombia’s traditional dish, with ground beef, chorizo, chicharron, avocado, fried egg, red bean and white rice.

Mambo Cafe, Pleasantville

Mambo Cafe is a spacious bakery/restaurant in the heart of Pleasantville with a nice range of breakfast, lunch and dinner choices (Mambo Tex-Mex fajitas, anyone?). But start with the empanadas. The beef and potato empanadas are standard-sized, while the beef empanadas and chicken empanadas are huge and boast superior crunchy shells. They made our N.J.’s best empanadas list. And the tomatoey hot sauce is terrific.

Mugsy’s Mercantile, Point Pleasant Beach

Most underrated dining destination Down the Shore? Point Pleasant Beach, fast approaching Asbury Park as a go-to spot. Mugsy’s owners Meg LaManna and Natalie LaManna have Point Pleasant covered; Meg grew up in Point Beach, Natalie in the borough. The sandwich menu changes every Tuesday; check the big board on the wall. The porquetta, a special with Berkshire ham, pesto stuffing, provolone and broccoli rabe, is a standout. My favorite thing: he turkey and cheddar sandwich, with honey mustard, granny smith apples, Bibb lettuce, pickled red onion. I never use the word “great” to describe a dish; we’ll call this “near-great.”

Thai Jasmine, Point Pleasant Beach

One of these days, I’m going to compile a best-restaurants-in-Jersey-strip-malls list. Thai Jasmine would certainly quality. It’s a one-woman operation, at least during a recent lunchtime visit. She took my order, then went back in the kitchen to cook it. I love the drunken noodles with shrimp; the pad ginger with chicken (with nice crispy carrots); and the seafood Thai curry, with shrimp, squid, mussels, bamboo shoots, eggplant and basil in coconut milk.

Macc’s, Seaside Park

Macc’s is one of several newer food stands on the Seaside boardwalk. Mac n’ cheese is the highlight; you can build your own, or order one of the menu standards, like the one with “Kevin’s famous chili.” Kevin may have a ways to go before earning the “famous” tag, but the spicy chili and mac n cheese make for a surprisingly tasty combo.

Crabby Jack’s, Somers Point

The Crab Trap in Somers Point is an enormously popular Shore restaurant; long waits for a table are often common. Avoid the crowds and get a spectacular view in the process by heading to Crabby Jack’s, a tiki bar behind the Crab Trap. You can order from a scaled-down menu from the Crab Trap, and the waterfront setting is marvelous. That’s Ocean City in the shimmering distance.

Jose’s Mexican Restaurant, Spring Lake Heights

Jose’s is a small, no-frills Shore eatery with Mexican TV playing in the corner and a walk-up counter where you can get an up-close-and-personal look into the kitchen. Burritos, quesadilas, fajitas, as, tacos, tostadas and enchiladas dot the menu. The steak tacos feature a fistful of quality meat. Good guacamole, too; it’s homemade.

Chang Thai Kitchen, Toms River

I love tom yum soup, and one of the best can be found at Chang Thai Kitchen. Fresh and fragrant, it’s a near-perfect version of the traditional Thai sweet and sour soup. But the wok ginger with chicken was even more aromatic; you can thank the ginger for that. Crisp veggies (a big deal with me; I’ve lost count of the number of overcooked, soggy veggies over the years) marked both the wok ginger and charred seafood dishes.

Vibe N Slurp, Toms River

Former New York policeman Wayne Carrington opened Roc N Ramen in the Bronx in 2014, then Vibe N Slurp in 2021. The menu combines his love for ramen and the “bold flavors" of his Caribbean heritage. The pork dumplings are crispy, crunchy delights, and the tonkotsu ramen (pork belly, pork bone broth, bamboo shoots, scallions, boiled egg, edible orchid flower) is highly recommended.

Kostas Grill, Tuckerton

Bergen County has the highest concentration of Greek restaurants in New Jersey, but you can find great Greek food all over the state, including the Jersey Shore. Kostas Grill’s menu is more expansive and creative than the usual Greek restaurant offerings, with such dishes as Greek mac n’ cheese (made with spinach, feta and kefalograviera cheese and golden bread crumbs); Aegean mussels; Oysters Onassis; skirt steak pita and a vegetarian moussaka among the choices. The gyros are first-rate, and the horiatiki (village) salad, with tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, bell peppers, kalamata olives, feta and Greek extra virgin olive oil, is terrific. Kostas made my list of the state’s best Greek restaurants.

Captain Obadiah’s Seafood Market, Upper

Captain Obadiah’s is both seafood market and restaurant. The menu runs from chilled oysters, lobster bisque soup and stuffed clams to jumbo fried Gulf shrimp, garlic crabs and broiled fresh dayboat scllops.

Water Dog Smoke House, Ventnor

You never hear much about Ventnor. Being squeezed between Atlantic City and Margate has something to do with that. My favorite eatery in town may be Water Dog Smoke House, which specialized in smoked fish and meats. Everyone recommended the bagels, and they’re ok,. but the sandwiches are monstrous and marvelous, especially the Dr. Dan (pastrami) and the Blado (roast beef).

Good Earth Organic Eatery, West Cape May

Contrano Rosettani and Hilary Keever opened Good Earth Organic Eatery, in West Cape May, about ten years ago. Their all-organic restaurant sources from local farmers and fishermen. Start things off with the Mediterranean plate (hummus, veggies, tomato garlic bruschetta, mixed olives) or the beet and pear salad, then proceed to the yellow Thai coconut curry or the cioppino, both highly recommended. The vegan crab cake sandwich, made with chickpeas, heart of palm, spinach, arugula and homemade pickled onion is a winner. The homemade ranch dressing adds pep and pizazz. Note: it’s cash only. Good Earth made my list of Cape May’s 11 best restaurants. Two doors down is Chez Michel, one of my top three bakeries at the Jersey Shore.

Peter Genovese’s latest book is “The Ultimate Guide to the Jersey Shore,” available on Amazon and bookstores.

Related coverage

• All 16 of New Jersey’s surviving 24-hour diners, ranked
• The 51 best reasons to live in New Jersey
• The 21 best New Jersey food towns no one knows about

Looking for more New Jersey food coverage? Subscribe to the free Jersey Eats newsletter here!

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Peter Genovese may be reached at pgenovese@njadvancemedia.com. On Twitter, @petegenovese. On Instagram, @peteknowsjersey and @themunchmobile.