Location: East Orange
East Orange Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in East Orange
East Orange is a city in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census the city's population was 64,270, reflecting a decline of 5,554 (−8.0%) from the 69,824 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn declined by 3,728 (−5.1%) from the 73,552 counted in the 1990 Census. The city was the state's 20th most-populous municipality in 2010, after having been the state's 14th most-populous municipality in 2000.
1. Hobby's Delicatessen & Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 170 reviews
Reviewed By lone6star - New Jersey
Came here for business lunch and was pleasantly surprised. It was like eating at Ben's or Katz's deli in in NYC. We were pleasantly greeted and shown to a table. Inside needs some decorating! Complimentary pickles were provided. Mushroom Barley soup was amazing! Corned beef was lean and potato salad was excellent. Will be back!
2. Tops Diner
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 427 reviews
Tops Diner serves some of the freshest and most delicious food in East Newark, NJ! Come in for an amazing meal and some gracious hospitality!
Reviewed By Kevin B - Mount Juliet, Tennessee
Living in NJ for 3 years, you learn where the best diners are supposed to be, so when I was moving out of North Jersey, I had to stop in at Tops Diner to try it before I left. I came here mid-week and I only waited 5-10 minutes for a table. The service was prompt and the servers were quite courteous. I ordered a classic Turkey club and it came out quick and was cooked well. I enjoyed the meal and my service, but it's the prices that left me with a bad taste as my club was $15, which is just insane.
3. Star Tavern
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 203 reviews
Reviewed By buffylane - Long Valley, New Jersey
Famous for its pizza, you must try their thin crust pizza. There are unique toppings, but we stayed with the usual meatball and mushrooms. The fried calamari is awesome and the salads are enormous. The eggplant and portabella mushroom appetizer is outstanding. Nice bar with tv's and people were watching basketball while we were there. Lots of families, very comfortable place.
4. Anthony's Cheesecake
Overall Ratings
5 based on 86 reviews
We are a Bakery/Restaurant serving fresh baked items as well as breakfast, lunch, dinner. We are open Tuesday through Sunday and we serve dinner every Friday & Saturday 5-9 pm. BYOB You can see all our menus on our website at Anthony's Cheesecake.
Reviewed By alicemI6380LS - clark, United States
We (4 family members) went for Sunday brunch & were pleased beyond expectations. The place is so friendly you feel like family. The service is spot on and the food is perfection. The menu is creative and eclectic, never boring. And the price is more...MoreThank you so much for the kind words. We hope to see you soon.
5. Highlawn Pavilion
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 330 reviews
Reviewed By ninip0st - Bernardsville, New Jersey
We chose to celebrate a special brithday at Highlawn and now regret our choice. Having eaten here over the years we looked forward to sharing lunch with loved ones enjoying what is an undeniably spectacular setting and view of NYC. But, the food today fell so far short of acceptable that not only are we embarassed for inviting our guests here but are saddened that this day was wasted at Highlawn Pavilion. Perhaps the place is irrelevant now, past its prime, and out of touch. My choice of entree was served completely undercooked, I was afraid to eat it, and when I politely informed our server, he returned it to the kitchen where the chef challenged my opinion. The dish was run through the broiler after which it was returned to me in utter disarray. The appropriate, professional, and courteous solution, at a restaurant that purports to be fine dining, would have been to start from scratch and prepare a new dish. My husband's risotto was served cold and inedible and the shrimp component of our appetizer tasted just awful. In the end, our server wished to satisfy and the cost of the my entree was removed from the check - which was fair - but I, in turn, sat without eating. It seems that Highlawn has some catching up to do. The customer, the paying customer, has a right to determine that, if their meal is undercooked or unnacceptable to them it should be remedied, no questions asked - without a dispute from the kitchem.
6. Mishmish Cafe
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 170 reviews
Reviewed By M3659GGsarahs - Montclair, New Jersey
When I want absolutely reliably, traditional, delicious Middle Eastern food, I eat at Falafel Hut, also in Montclair. When I want delicious Middle Eastern food with a twist, I eat at Mishmish or its new sibling, which is even more convenient to my house, Marcel's -- same chef. Marcel's isn't yet on TripAdvisor, but it has a Moroccan chicken soup that makes me want to have a cold, though it's also luscious when I'm not ill. I bought it the first time when I was, though, and it hit the spot. Marcel's is my favorite of the two.
7. Animal Kingdom
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 17 reviews
Professional Dog & Cat Grooming with a large selection of Tropical Fish, saltwater fish supplies, small animals, reptiles and birds. (We do not sell dogs or cats)
Reviewed By NewarkScubaDiver - Newark, New Jersey
I have been an on and off customer of Animal Kingdom for over 20 years and 5 animals. Unlike some other locations both your pet and YOU are treated with respect and understanding. I have not purchased any pets from them - but have never heard of any problems either. They are clearly not a puppy mill and care about all of their pets. I have utilized their grooming services for 20 years and YET to have a complaint (and I do not keep show dogs - though I am so very proud of them AFTER they are serviced - lol).
8. Arturos Osteria & Pizzeria
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 173 reviews
Reviewed By PhilipNewJersey - New Jersey
All the food here is heavenly. We try to go in "off peak" hours, to avoid long waits for a table. (BYOB). Everything is wonderful -- pastas, pizzas, salads and sandwiches. Among our favorites are the wild mushroom ravioli with garlic, rosemary sauce, all the pizzas (fresh ingredients and a "lightness" which is uncharacteristic of NJ pizzas which are overloaded with cheese), all the salads (our favorites are the beet salad and the kale Caesar), and the mortadella and mozzarella sandwich. A small restaurant in the popular downtown area of Maplewood, so plan your arrival strategically.
9. La Fiamma
Overall Ratings
5 based on 56 reviews
Reviewed By kpslas - New Jersey
We were searching for someplace close to Red Bull Arena to have dinner before a soccer game. Found La Fiamma on TripAdvisor and made a reservation. So glad we did because they wound up being fully booked. My husband and I both chose options from the nightly specials We began with an appetizer of fresh mozzarella wrapped in prosciutto and drizzled with balsamic vinegar. I chose a homemade pasta dish and my husband had lamb. The pasta was delicious and my husband loved the lamb. We failed to pay attention to the prices of the specials so were pleasantly surprised when the check arrived and the total was not astronomical compared to what you may have paid in nearby Newark or Manhattan. We would absolutely recommend La Fiamma and will most certainly visit again when back in the area.
10. Boccone South
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 48 reviews
Reviewed By Kim K - Davidson, North Carolina, United States
Very reasonable lunch special. We shared the perfectly cooked calamari and the house special chicken dish. Fresh bread arrived first with olive oil and preserved garlic. Then we each had a light and fresh Caesar before the calamari arrived hot from the pan. Second course was timed right and was also fresh and hot. We did not order desert but a small serving of their famous bread pudding was served for us to sample. It was amazing! The server was very friendly and we felt so welcomed.
