New Jersey’s dining scene keeps growing, with new restaurants bringing everything from authentic Mexican cuisine and traditional Cantonese barbecue to French bistro fare, fresh sushi, and creative breakfast and brunch menus to communities statewide. This October roundup highlights the latest openings, exciting new dining destinations, and upcoming restaurants worth adding to your list.
Azul, Hackensack
A new Mexican restaurant has opened in Hackensack, bringing Mexico’s regional flavors to River Street. Azul is from Chef Cristino “Tony” Campos, who ran La Hacienda in Paterson for more than 30 years, and focuses on traditional cooking techniques and recipes inspired by different regions of Mexico.
The menu features dishes like mole, cochinita pibil, and grilled meats, while the bar highlights agave spirits, including more than 40 mezcals, alongside specialty cocktails. The contemporary, low-lit dining room features a mezzanine overlooking the main space and a large illuminated moon installation that serves as the restaurant’s centerpiece.
Azul
120 River Street
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Burtons Grill & Bar, Parsippany
Burtons Grill & Bar is making its New Jersey debut with a new location opening October 20th at District 15Fifteen in Parsippany. The American bar and grill focuses on made-from-scratch dishes prepared with premium ingredients, with a particular emphasis on accommodating food allergies and dietary restrictions through a dedicated gluten-free menu and extensive allergy protocols.
The menu features burgers, salads, steaks, fresh seafood, and other American favorites, alongside cocktails, wine, and beer. The Parsippany restaurant will also offer lunch, dinner, weekend brunch, Happy Hour, seasonal outdoor dining, and private dining spaces for groups and events.
Burtons Grill & Bar
District 15Fifteen
1525 Route 10
Parsippany, NJ 07054
Butterfish, Princeton
Butterfish Sushi & Omakase is expanding with a second New Jersey location in Princeton. The concept comes from owner Sherif Salib and Chef Jeffry Undiarto, who previously worked at the two-Michelin-starred n/naka in Los Angeles. The original Butterfish opened in Rutherford in 2024, with the Princeton restaurant marking the next step for the growing concept.
Butterfish focuses on premium sushi and omakase, with seafood regularly sourced from Japan and elsewhere. Its original menu combines à la carte sushi with several omakase experiences featuring appetizers, nigiri, hand rolls, and ingredients like bluefin tuna, Hokkaido uni, Japanese A5 Wagyu, caviar, and foie gras. Specific details about the Princeton menu and opening date have not yet been announced.
Butterfish
Princeton, NJ
Exact location TBD
Canton Rodeo, Paramus
A new fast-casual concept dedicated to traditional Hong Kong barbecue has opened at Bergen Town Center in Paramus. Canton Rodeo specializes in slow-roasted, hand-cut meats characteristic of Cantonese barbecue, marinated, roasted, and chopped to order, then served with rice, noodles, vegetables, and house-made sauces.
Chef Connie Chung, whose culinary background includes Eleven Madison Park, co-founded the concept with third-generation restaurateur Fung Lam and consumer brand investor and operator Matthew Kann. The menu features Honey Roast Duck, Char Siu Pork, Char Siu Chicken, Soy Sauce Chicken, and Master Lou Tofu, available in signature or customizable Canto Boxes with a variety of sides and sauces.
Canton Rodeo
605 Bergen Town Center
Paramus, NJ 07652
CAVA, Eatontown
Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant CAVA has expanded its Jersey Shore presence with a new location at Monmouth Mall in Eatontown. The restaurant officially opened on September 21, serving the brand’s customizable Mediterranean-inspired bowls and pitas, along with its signature dips and dressings.
The new Eatontown restaurant supports CAVA’s continued growth in the area and will employ about 25 to 40 local team members. Ahead of the opening, CAVA also hosted its Community Day program, offering guests a free meal while accepting donations for Food Rescue U.S. Bridgewater and matching donations up to $1,000.
CAVA
Monmouth Mall
180 NJ-35
Eatontown, NJ 07724
Insomnia Cookies, Red Bank
Insomnia Cookies has opened its first Monmouth County location in downtown Red Bank. The late-night bakery officially opened on September 1, bringing its signature warm cookies, desserts, and late-night delivery to Broad Street.
The menu goes beyond classic and specialty cookies with brownies, blondies, brookies, cookie cakes, ice cream, vegan options, and a rotating selection of limited-time flavors. The Red Bank shop offers in-store ordering, pickup, and local delivery, with late-night hours extending as late as 3 a.m. on select days.
Insomnia Cookies
74 Broad Street
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Le Bistrot, Westfield
A new French restaurant has opened in Downtown Westfield, bringing the spirit of a neighborhood Parisian bistro to Quimby Street. Le Bistrot celebrated its September opening with a concept centered on classic French cooking, warm hospitality, and a relaxed bistro atmosphere.
The menu features traditional French bistro favorites alongside seasonal dishes and desserts, offering a taste of France in the heart of Westfield. Le Bistrot is also BYOB, allowing guests to bring their own wine to pair with their meal.
Le Bistrot
103 Quimby Street
Westfield, NJ 07090
Lili Oceanfront Restaurant, Asbury Park
A new coastal dining destination is coming to the Asbury Park waterfront. Lili Oceanfront Restaurant pairs panoramic ocean views with a contemporary coastal setting designed for everything from casual lunches after the beach to special dinners and celebrations.
Inspired by Mediterranean flavors and seasonal ingredients, the menu features fresh seafood, handmade pastas, artisan pizzas, shareable plates, and handcrafted cocktails. The restaurant also highlights vibrant floral installations, ocean-inspired design details, and large windows overlooking the waterfront.
Lili Oceanfront Restaurant
800 Ocean Avenue N
Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Luckies Bar & Grill, Farmingdale
Luckies Bar & Grill officially opened its doors on September 25 at Yellowbrook Commons in Farmingdale, offering a casual spot for lunch, dinner, drinks, and game day gatherings. The neighborhood restaurant pairs classic American comfort food with a full bar in a lively setting designed for families, friends, and sports fans alike.
The menu features burgers, wings, pizzas, sandwiches, steaks, seafood, salads, and shareable appetizers, alongside draft beer, handcrafted cocktails, and daily specials. Next to Swing Lab Golf Club, Luckies also delivers food and drink directly to golf simulator suites, creating a unique dining and entertainment experience.
Luckies Bar & Grill
90 Adelphia Road
Farmingdale, NJ 07727
Maple House, Oceanport
A new breakfast, brunch, and lunch spot has opened at RiverWalk Center in Oceanport. Maple House was created around a simple idea: offering the convenience of an everyday neighborhood café without sacrificing quality, with everything cooked to order using fresh ingredients.
The menu moves from morning favorites like pancakes, French toast, benedicts, and waffle flights to lunchtime sandwiches, salads, wraps, bowls, and smash burgers. Maple House also focuses heavily on its coffee program, with espresso drinks, signature lattes, and matcha, plus a rotating selection of house-made croissants, muffins, galettes, danishes, and other pastries baked fresh each morning.
Maple House
700 Oceanport Avenue
Oceanport, NJ 07757
Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao, East Rutherford
Michelin-recommended Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao has expanded its New Jersey presence with a new location at American Dream in East Rutherford. Founded in Flushing, Queens, in 2006, the restaurant is known for its handcrafted Xiao Long Bao and authentic Shanghainese cuisine, earning Michelin Guide recommendations for nine consecutive years.
The menu centers on signature soup dumplings, including the colorful Lucky Six Soup Dumplings, along with noodle dishes, wok-fired stir-fries, pan-fried pork buns, scallion pancakes, dim sum, vegetarian offerings, fruit teas, and traditional Chinese breakfast specialties. The American Dream location also features a show kitchen where guests can watch chefs handcraft and steam the dumplings to order.
Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao
American Dream, Level 3
1 American Dream Way
East Rutherford, NJ 07073
Oolala Lasagna, Brick
A new Italian restaurant dedicated to “Jersey-style lasagna” has opened in Brick Township. Oolala Lasagna celebrated its grand opening on September 3, offering a reservations-only dining experience centered around its namesake dish. The restaurant is BYOB and welcomes guests ages 12 and older.
The music-themed menu features several lasagna options alongside appetizers, salads, and desserts. Dishes include Mama’s Melody meatballs, Caesar Chorus salad, and White Sonata, a lasagna made with ham, spinach, ricotta, and béchamel sauce.
Oolala Lasagna
520 Princeton Avenue
Brick Township, NJ 08724
PopUp Bagels, Tenafly
PopUp Bagels is expanding into New Jersey with a new shop opening in Tenafly on October 9. Founded by Adam Goldberg in Westport, Connecticut, the “Not Famous, but Known®” bagel brand has grown from a local sensation into a nationally expanding concept built around freshly baked bagels served simply.
Rather than traditional bagel sandwiches, PopUp Bagels serves its bagels hot and whole, encouraging guests to “Grip, Rip and Dip” them into a selection of schmears. To celebrate the Tenafly opening, the brand is partnering with Chef Josh Capon on a limited-time Carrot Cake Schmear created specifically for the occasion.
PopUp Bagels
6-8 Washington Street
Tenafly, NJ 07670
Shinjuku Station, Clifton
A unique Japanese dining experience is headed to Clifton with the opening of Shinjuku Station on October 12. Inspired by the energy and culture of Tokyo’s Shinjuku district, the restaurant will feature a revolving sushi concept, with sushi and other Japanese dishes delivered via a conveyor system throughout the dining room.
In addition to its kaiten sushi experience, Shinjuku Station will offer sushi, sashimi, specialty rolls, ramen, appetizers, desserts, and Japanese beverages. The concept combines traditional Japanese cuisine with modern technology to create an interactive dining experience for guests of all ages.
Shinjuku Station
The Promenade Shops at Clifton
850 Route 3
Clifton, NJ 07012
Sinner’s Seafood & Steakhouse, Kenilworth
Sinner’s Seafood & Steakhouse has expanded beyond the Jersey Shore with its second location in Kenilworth. The new restaurant opened in September in the former Boulevard Five72 space, bringing the same menu as its original Point Pleasant Beach location to Union County.
The menu centers on prime steaks and chops, a raw bar with oysters and seafood towers, lobster dishes, signature burgers, and craft cocktails. The two-story restaurant features two dining rooms, two bars, a glass-enclosed wine room for private dinners, and an upstairs event space with its own bar that can accommodate approximately 110 guests.
Sinner’s Seafood & Steakhouse
572 Boulevard
Kenilworth, NJ 07033
