Experience the Food Culture of Newark
A GREAT CITY IS ALWAYS EVOLVING
With something for everyone, Newark has long been admired for its history, culture, art, and opportunities. Today, its food scene is hotter than ever. Here’s what you need to know.
Newark is often referred to as a “melting pot,” thanks to its immigrant energy. To us, however, it is a patchwork quilt, an individually distinct mix of old and new, sewn together to create a vibrant entity both functional and beautiful.
That is the fabric of Newark’s culture: a multi-colored, multi-patterned quilt, stitched together by its community groups, businesses, religious and cultural institutions, and filled with the warmth of its people. That warmth and pride exist throughout all the city’s offerings but, now more than ever, it’s energizing the city’s ever-evolving food scene.
Something Old, Something New
Newark is not homogeneous—and therein lies its superpower. From its ever-evolving mix of architecture to its live music scene, it is a blending of old and new repurposed for the future.
The same old-meets-new dynamic infuses the city’s food culture. Businesses decades and even more than a century old, like Krug’s Tavern and T.M. Ward Coffee, share the landscape with establishments that rose up out of the pandemic.
Local food entrepreneurs as well as restaurateurs from other cities are turning their eyes to Newark. The number of new restaurants is skyrocketing with most, like the Japanese-inspired Kinjo on Washington Street, opening to excited acclaim. The city will soon welcome the arrival of New Brunswick’s beloved Delta’s at 810 Broad Street and an outpost of Harlem’s BLVD Bistro near Harriet Tubman Square. Both are part of a grants initiative, funded by Audible, to attract restaurants, food operators, and destination retailers to the area.
There is no better time than now to enjoy a taste of what Newark has to offer.
Food Culture:
AN IMMIGRATION TALE
The history of New Jersey’s largest city is a tale of immigration, reflected in the city’s countless cuisines. Here, independently owned and operated restaurants, eateries, and gourmet shops are rooted in local neighbor-hoods but inspired by flavors and traditions from around the world.
Many who came through Ellis Island at the beginning of the last century went no farther than the first major point west, Newark. You’ll still find Italian spots in the Seventh Avenue neighborhood, once hailed as Newark’s Little Italy. Modern Mediterranean arrivals continue to follow, such as Five Corners Ristorante in the Ironbound. Hobby’s Delicatessen, open for more than 100 years, first met the needs of Eastern European Jewish immigrants, and to this day feeds a loyal following of all backgrounds.
The first African Americans to arrive in Newark did not come by choice but, by the late 1800s, many migrated from the South for work. American Southern cuisine remains ever popular, as evidenced by the success of Vonda’s Kitchen where owner Vonda McPherson has been presenting her twist on comfort soul food since 1998. (Don’t miss the fried catfish.) More recent soul food favorites include Madre & Son Soulfood Café on Commerce Street and The Yard in Military Park where soul concepts are deliciously mashed up with Korean, Jamaican, Halal and other influences.
In many ways, Newark is a culinary diaspora. Establishments large and small serve up international flavors, from Latin American to Asian eateries and beyond.
Many new arrivals have opened or influenced Caribbean and African establishments, from low-key to upscale settings. Swahili Village, the fine-dining restaurant across from NJPAC, serves African cuisine complemented by impressive cocktails and a South African wine list. On Halsey Street, Taino’s Kitchen draws crowds for Puerto Rican–inspired dishes.
While the Iberian influx began early in the last century, it defined The Ironbound district starting in the 1940s and ’50s and is still a stronghold today, where many flock for the best Portuguese and Spanish food any- where. Seabra’s Marisqueira, Casa d’Paco, Fornos of Spain, and Adega Grill are just a few of the establishments offering authentic dining experiences. SolMar Restaurant & Marisqueira on Ferry Street, long known for its Portuguese and Mediterranean cuisine, hosts the SolMar Seafood Festival every April and September where seafood gourmands can indulge in spider crabs, lobsters, sardines, clams, tiger shrimps, red mullets, and other treats.
But even the Ironbound is home to constant change, with those of South American (especially Brazil), Central American, Mexican, and Cuban descent leaving their culinary imprint on the neighborhood. Sabor Unido, with its mix of Portuguese and Brazilian flavors, has become a Yelp! favorite, landing on the site’s Top 100 list of U.S. restaurants to visit. A few blocks away, Sabor Latino features plates full of Ecuadorian favorites and La Cocina on New Street has an impressive line-up of Cuban dishes.
In 2022, the Ironbound welcomed Burke’s Tavern to a historic building at the corner of Lafayette and Bruen. Run by Chef Lynda Molina and her husband Diego Fonseca, the restaurant offers a fusion of nouvelle comfort food (think Gochu crispy chicken, housemade pappardelle, pizza, wings and Bangkok-Fry shrimp) with farm-to-table flourishes, like a sweet Jersey peach summer salad topped by prosciutto, fennel, watercress, arugula and goat cheese. Added plus: it’s a quick sprint to the Rock and Downtown, making this spot a fave for visitors and locals.
Of course, every major city needs a good steakhouse and Dayton’s Steakhouse near Weequahic Park meets the demand with flair. Located ten minutes by car from the airport, Dayton’s is open seven days a week with a full menu of seafood, poultry and other entrees, but beef is the star here. For those in search of Halal food, King’s Family Restaurant on Clinton Street is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Beyond global flavors and fusions, Newark restaurateurs are also meeting the demand for plant-based and vegan options. Adenah Bayoh, founder of soul food eatery Cornbread, opened Brick City Vegan on Broad Street and Blueberry Café Juicebar & Vegan Grille is one of Rashena Burroughs’ Central Avenue health-focused establishments.
Although Newark’s early Dutch and British past may not be found on the plate, it is found in the glass, the history of which can be seen today in the 21st century return of craft brewing at Newark Local Beer and spirits at All Points West Distillery. And there’s no better way to toast the city’s early Irish ancestry than with a Guinness on tap at McGovern’s Tavern on New Street.
Everywhere you turn, new things are happening on the food front in Newark. Even the Gateway business complex adjacent to Penn Station is experiencing a renaissance, and food is part of the excitement. Choices at The Junction at Gateway Center’s “restaurant row” range from the award-winning Uncle Willie’s Wings to the new Korean-inspired (and NYC-originated) Mŏkbar, run by celebrity chef Esther Cho. Dutch’s Restaurant in the nearby TRYP by Windham Newark Downtown serves up a wide-ranging menu and great cocktails.
And, in this city, don’t ever forget dessert. The legendary pastries at Teixeira’s Bakery and ice cream at Nasto’s in the Ironbound are just two of many long-running favorites. Over on Halsey Street, district hotspots Tonnie’s Minis (think cupcakes) and Neighborhood Scoops NWK are continuing to raise the bar for gourmet treats. Sweet Jeans Macaron and Coffee Bar, from Chopped contestant and Newark native Michele Vaccari Harriott and partner Victor Soldano, will soon open on Broad Street with support from the Amazon Business Attraction Program.
An Accessible Hub:
GETTING IN & AROUND NEWARK
Located at the intersection of major highways, railways, and even flight paths, Newark offers easy travel options, whether you live in town, are using mass transit, or driving in.
Major roads lead into and crisscross the city (see map). Penn Station, the Neo-Classical and Art Deco–inspired train hub designed by McKim, Mead & White and opened in 1935, remains a significant rail center, thanks to its position on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor and NJ Transit’s lines. The station is currently in the midst of a major five-year renovation but stop in for an awe-inspiring gawk at its spectacular main waiting room. Newark Light Rail, operated by NJ Transit, runs through the downtown and northern parts of the city and includes the Newark City Subway (yes, Newark has a subway!). Most rail options are within a quick walk of restaurants and venues such as NJPAC.
Newark is connected to the rest of the country and the world by the busy airport that bears its name, located just a few miles—a quick Uber or train ride—outside of town. More than 40 million people come in and out of Newark Airport every year, many staying in Newark for business or vacation.
Plan your Visit:
CREATING A FULL NEWARK EXPERIENCE
In Newark, it’s easy to pair your culture, history, or arts adventure with a world-class dining experience or, simply, a pulled pork sandwich at Marcus Samuelsson’s Vibe BBQ in the Downtown District.
On any given day, thousands come to Newark to experience its wide array of cultural offerings. Sports fans stream into the Prudential Center to see the NHL’s New Jersey Devils or the Seton Hall Pirates basketball team, but The Rock also draws capacity audiences for a performance roster ranging from comedy favorites to mega-concerts of every musical style.
The arena does not have a lock on musical culture, however. New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) provides musical diversity in a space that often wows the performers themselves. Newark is also home to WBGO, the renowned public radio jazz station. No surprise, as the city has long been a hot spot for jazz, producing greats such as Sarah Vaughan and James Moody, to name a few, and the jazz tradition continues today in clubs like Clement’s Place and through annual festivals.
There is a burgeoning art scene throughout the city, most visibly seen through the Murals Project, which continues the city’s legacy of public art and includes the “Gateways to Newark”, stretching for nearly one and a half miles along McCarter Highway (Route 21) and featuring the work of 18 artists. Galleries and creative spaces are plentiful across Newark, and The Newark Museum of Art, opened in 1909, serves as anchor for the city’s arts scene. With the twelfth-largest collection in the United States, the museum showcases art from around the world and continues to foster innovation, especially from the local community.
A short distance from any of these options, one can easily find places to eat and drink, to contemplate the local culture you just absorbed, or to “pre-game” ahead of the next experience.
For more information on restaurants mentioned in this story,
visit ediblejersey.com/newarkrestaurants
Something Here for Everyone!
Discover Newark’s Flavor! While you’re enjoying the vibrant arts at NJPAC, thrilling games at the Prudential Center, enriching exhibits at The Newark Museum of Art, or dynamic matches at Red Bull Arena, why not complete your Newark experience with a culinary adventure? Newark’s diverse restaurants offer flavors that cater to every palate. Pair your entertainment with an unforgettable taste of local cuisine. ediblejersey.com/newarkrestaurants
ARTS, EDUCATION & SPORTS
❶ Newark Public Library
❷ Newark Museum of Art
❸ NJ Institute of Technology (NJIT)
❹ Rutgers University-Newark
❺ NJ Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)
❻ Prudential Center
❼ Newark Symphony Hall
❽ Red Bull Arena
OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST
❾ Newark Sacred Heart Cathedral
❿ Branch Brook Park
⓫ Harriett Tubman Square
⓬ Halsey Street Restaurants
⓭ Military Park
⓮ Ironbound Ferry Street
⓯ Newark City Hall
TRANSPORTATION
⓰ Broad St Station – NJ Transit
⓱ Penn Station – NJT, AMTRAK, PATH
⓲ Newark Intl Airport – NJT, AMTRAK
— NEWARK FESTIVALS & EVENTS —
MONTHLY
JUNE
JUNE-AUGUST
JULY
AUGUST
- Latin Festival
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER-JANUARY
JANUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
Make your next visit a full experience…
Plan a meal at a great Newark Restaurant!
www.newarkhappening.com/eatnewark
— NEWARK RESTAURANT GUIDE —
(Restaurants and Venues mentioned in the story above)
Adega Grill
130-132 Ferry Street, Newark
(973) 589-8830
www.adegagrill.com
All Points West Distillery
73 Tichenor Street, Newark
(646) 251-3176
www.allpointswestdistillery.com
Blueberry Café Juicebar & Vegan Grille
547 Central Avenue, Newark
(973) 732-1711
www.iloveblueberrycafe.com
BLVD Bistro
Coming soon to Newark Harriett Tubman Square!
www.boulevardbistrony.com
Brick City Vegan
915 Broad St, Retail 1, Newark
(973) 733-0011
www.brickcityvegan.com
Burke’s Tavern
150 Lafayette Street, Newark
(973) 433-9883
www.instagram.com/burkes_tavern
Casa d’Paco
73 Warwick Street, Newark
(973) 732-3200
casadepaconj.com
Cornbread
915 Broad Street, Newark
973-273-0091
cornbreadsoul.com/newark-nj
Dayton Steakhouse
278 Dayton Street, Newark
(973) 623-9323
www.daytonsteakhouse.com
Delta’s
Coming soon to 810 Broad Street, Newark!
www.deltasrestaurant.com
Dutch’s Restaurant
24 East Park Street, Newark
(973) 688-3998
www.trypnewark.com/dutchs-restaurant
Five Corners Ristorante
10 Wilson Ave, Newark
(973) 350-0400
www.fivecornersnewark.com
Fornos of Spain
47 Ferry Street, Newark
973-589-4767
www.fornosofspain.com
Hobby’s Delicatessen
32 Branford Place, Newark
(973) 623-0410
www.hobbysdeli.com
King’s Family Restaurant
557 Clinton Avenue, Newark
973-396-2963
www.kingsfamilyrestaurant.net
Kinjo
159 Washington Street, Newark
(973) 944-2828
www.kinjonj.com
Krug’s Tavern
118 Wilson Avenue, Newark
(973) 465-9795
www.krugstavernnj.com
La Cocina
61 New St, Newark
973.856.6777
www.lacocinanewark.com
Madre & Son Soulfood Café
611 Commerce Street
(973) 733-0013
www.instagram.com/madreandson
Marcus Samuelsson’s Vibe BBQ
56 Halsey St, Newark
(973) 645-0007
www.vibebbqbymarcus.com
McGovern’s Tavern
58-60 New Street, Newark
(973) 643-3984
www.mcgovernstavern.com
Mŏkbar
1 Gateway Center
(201) 455-6459
www.mokbar.com
Nasto’s
236-40 Jefferson Street, Newark
(973) 589-3675
www.nastosicecream.com
Neighborhood Scoops NWK
49 Halsey St., Newark
(973) 230-1887
www.thescoopnwk.com
Newark Local Beer
538 Broad Street, Newark
(973) 856 2234
www.newarklocalbeer.com
Sabor Latino
24 Wilson Ave, Newark
(973) 274-0075
www.facebook.com/SaborLatinoIronbound
Sabor Unido
77 Jefferson Street, Newark
(973) 368-8553
www.saborunido.com
Seabra’s Marisqueira
87 Madison Street, Newark
(973) 465-1250
www.seabrasmarisqueira.com
SolMar Restaurant & Marisqueira
267 Ferry Street
(973) 344-3041
www.solmar-restaurant.com
Swahili Village
2 Center Street, Newark
862.240.1051
www.swahilivillages.com
Sweet Jeans Macaron and Coffee Bar
Coming to Newark Soon!
www.instagram.com/sweetjeanscafenj
T.M. Ward Coffee
944 Broad Street, Newark
(973) 623-1202
www.tmwardcoffee.com
Taino’s Kitchen
849 Mt Prospect Ave, Newark
973-732-3344
www.ordertainos.com
Teixeira’s Bakery
186 Ferry Street, Newark
(973) 589-8875
www.instagram.com/teixeirasbakery
The Junction at Gateway Center
11-43 Raymond Plaza West (Gateway Center), Newark
(862) 231-2655
www.thejunctionatgateway.com
The Yard
55 Park Place (Military Park), Newark
(973) 273-0033
www.theyardnewark.com
Tonnie’s Minis - Brewster Road
3 Brewster Road, Newark
(917) 371-8625
www.tonniesminis.com
Tonnie’s Minis - Halsey Street
228 Halsey Street, Newark
(973) 799-0034
www.tonniesminis.com
Uncle Willie’s Wings - Bergen Street
1036 Bergen Street, Newark
(513) 494-6470
www.unclewillieswings.com
Uncle Willie’s Wings - The Junction at Gateway Center
11-43 Raymond Plaza West, Newark
973.518.2287
www.unclewillieswings.com
Vonda’s Kitchen
183-185 West Kinney Street, Newark
(973) 732-4532
www.vondaskitchennj.com
PHOTOS: PLUSABLE PR – JUNIOR
MAP: CAT KAHNLE
WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO HANK ZONA, TRISLER DESIGN, AND PLUSABLE PR.
