8 of the best diners in New Jersey

01.07.2024 - 09:29 / lonelyplanet.com / Ernest Hemingway

Jun 30, 2024 • 6 min read

If you've ever visited New Jersey, there's a pretty strong chance you've had breakfast, lunch, dinner or 2am munchies at a diner. You can truly see all walks of life here, from teens gabbing over late-night milkshakes and fries to octogenarian friends having the same matzoh ball soup they've been ordering weekly for 30 years. 

With some 500 of these iconic eating establishments, New Jersey has more diners than any other state, which is why it's known as the "Diner Capital of the World."

The history of the diner begins in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1872, when businessman Walter Scott started selling meals from the back of a horse-drawn wagon. These mobile eateries became popular throughout New England. 

New Jerseyans, like Jerry O'Mahony, founder of one of the first diner manufacturing companies, built permanent versions of the casual dining establishments out of mass-produced railway cars. The venture fed the large working-class population seeking cheap eats 24 hours a day along the state's developing road network.

Throughout the 20th century, diners flourished in New Jersey. Not only were they places to get an affordable meal, but they were also roadside attractions in their own right, thanks to their signature neon-lit metallic aesthetic that developed during the post-war years.

While not every New Jersey diner features this retro style these days, the restaurants remain extremely popular for their extensive menus that cover everything from all-day breakfast to burgers to Greek specialties (a host of diners were opened by Greek families) to homemade pies.

And, of course, they're some of the best places to get classic New Jersey dishes like pork rolls (also known as Taylor ham) and disco fries.

Selecting the state's best diners is no easy task. Most New Jerseyans are partial to one of their local spots, and they can and will argue why it's superior to others. But we've pulled together a list of some of our favorite diners in New Jersey based on a combination of their historical value and general popularity. That said, no matter which diner you visit, you're all but guaranteed to have a fantastic meal.

Best diner for nostalgia 

Opened in 1928, the Summit Diner is believed to be the oldest still-operating diner in New Jersey. Its current building, however, is an original Jerry O'Mahony-built structure from 1939 featuring the classic train-car look. 

Local lore purports that Ernest Hemingway once frequented this establishment. Although that may not be true, there's one thing for sure: this is as authentic of a Jersey diner as they come, complete with old-school booths and a bar-stool-lined counter. Order up the sliders, which aren't mini burgers, but mini Taylor ham, egg and cheese