We asked our audience to pick the best diner in New Jersey for 2025 and they spoke. Summit Diner is the top-rated diner in the state according to New Jersey Digest readers.
It’s no surprise. If you ask diner fans to name some of their favorites, Summit Diner comes up quite a bit. The classic cablecar diner has been dishing out pancakes, platters, sandwiches and more since 1929 when they first opened the doors. However, the original structure was replaced in 1938 with a roadside diner from Jerry O’Mahony Diner Company—the Summit Diner that we know today was officially born.
The Greek-owned diner is famous for a variety of dishes, including classic Taylor Ham sandwiches, breaded pork chop platters, tuna melts, customizable omelettes and the world-famous spinach pie.
Summit Diner received more than double the amount of votes as the next on the list.
We polled over 30 of the most talked about diners in New Jersey and narrowed it down to five of the best based off of your votes. You’ll notice a theme when perusing the results: classic diners still reign supreme.
As diners continue to dwindle in New Jersey and beyond, we must continue to give them the respect and honor they deserve. Diners are synonymous to the Garden State and virtually everyone who steps within its borders agrees.
Let’s keep diners alive and busy. Here are the top five rated diners in New Jersey for 2025, according to our readers.
The 5 Best Diners in New Jersey
1. Summit Diner – Summit
Opened: 1929
What to try: Spinach pie, tuna melt, pancakes, steak fries
2. Pat’s Diner – Trenton
Opened: 1930s
What to try: Reuben, chicken and veal picatta, broiled sirloin, hot cakes
3. Broadway Diner – Bayonne
Opened: 1979
What to try: French toast, waffle fries, blueberry pancakes, turkey club
4. The Colonial Diner – Lyndhurst
Opened: 1950
What to try: Burgers, breaded pork chop, gyro, souvlaki platter, rice pudding
5. Tops Diner – East Newark
Opened: 1942
What to try: Fried chicken, disco fries, meatloaf club, short rib hash, Dominican breakfast platter
Peter Candia is the Food + Drink Editor at New Jersey Digest. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Peter found a passion for writing midway through school and never looked back. He is a former line cook, server and bartender at top-rated restaurants in the tri-state area. In addition to food, Peter enjoys politics, music, sports and anything New Jersey.
