Diners allow us humans to truly feel as if we are sailing through time. It’s like we’re in a DeLorean car with Marty McFly and Dr. Emmett Brown in Back to the Future. The interior design, booths/countertops, jukeboxes, and tremendous menus all contribute to a sense of wistfulness for a purer time. Everybody can appreciate a diner — especially us New Jersians who sincerely believe in the abiding grace of diners and hold a special place in our hearts for these institutions. People in Bergen County have the blessing of choosing from exceptional diner options. Here are a few of the top 10 diner spots in the Bergen County area.
Brownstone Pancake Factory | 717 East Palisade Avenue, Englewood Cliffs
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Brownstone Pancake Factory, with three locations in Bergen County (Edgewater, Englewood, and Bergenfield), is the most Instagrammable diner spot on this list. The pancakes are a go-to item here, and worth the hype. Picture these towering stacks of golden griddle topped with the finest of toppings, like strawberries, Oreos, peanut butter chips, and all the things one could ask for. But — so many other options here should be on your list like the monster-sized omelets and smashing milkshakes too. Brownstone has all the buzz and for good reason.
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Chit Chat Diner | 515 Essex Street, Hackensack + 410 Eagle Rock Avenue, West Orange
Chit Chat Diner in Hackensack, New Jersey serves up its community simple, authentic, and fresh cuisine every day. The decor is magnetic, the menu is voluminous, and the omens are immaculate. This menu has many hearty breakfast options, like the Hipster Egg White Omelet or the lively Quinoa Breakfast Bowl. Sit down, indulge in some food, and converse while your heart beats to the divine tastes.
Country MKT (Market) Diner | 267 Closter Dock Road, Closter
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Country MKT Diner is a new farm-to-table restaurant reviving the classic diner with a twist. With a farm-to-table viewpoint in mind, the owners purposefully designed the diner’s interior to have a home-like ambiance. MKT is giving stereotyped diners a 21st-century makeover.
Gotham City Diner | 550 Bergen Boulevard, Ridgefield
Imagine being transported into a fictional city. The city that is best known as the home of the superhero, Batman, and his partners in crime. Gotham City Diner in Ridgefield, New Jersey allows one to experience the comfort of diner classics in a funky environment. Gotham City Diner is open on Thanksgiving and serves an incredible feast for those who don’t feel like toiling in the kitchen.
Jackson Hole Diner | 362 Grand Avenue, Englewood
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Jackson Hole Diner in Englewood has been in business since 1972. This place has mouth-watering classics, from sandwiches to burgers and salads galore. The Englewood location is the only one in New Jersey, but there are others in New York that have been noted for their celebrity sitings. When planning a visit here, make sure to have quarters on deck — each table has a jukebox to play the best tunes.
Northvale Classic Diner | 247 Livingston Street, Northvale
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Northvale Classic Diner’s menu features America’s favorite dishes and feels in a classic diner atmosphere. The retro-looking interior is a true diner aesthetic. The extensive menu still has room for everyone, with vegan items included. For example, a vegan beyond meat burger is served on sprouted grain bread with lettuce, tomatoes, and anything else you’d like to add on.
River Edge Diner | 516 Kinderkamack Road, River Edge
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For the meal just calls for biscuits and bubbly, River Edge Diner is the place to go. River Edge Diner offers a full-service bar with flatscreen TVs that surround the bar area. The specials are always changing and the opportunities are limitless on the menu. For nice weather days, patrons can dine on the open-air patio.
State Line Diner | 375 NJ-17, Mahwah
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Voted best diner in Bergen Magazine multiple years in a row, State Line Diner is a Bergen County staple diner. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, one can launch their day with some farm fresh eggs and come back for a midnight snack. A fixture of this spot is a vast glass case filled with pies, cakes, pastries, cookies, and everything one needs for a post-dinner sweet treat. The State Line team bakes these treats daily, and The Bergen County Girl thinks this stop is a worthy destination for a sweet tooth.
Tenafly Classic Diner | 16 West Railroad Avenue, Tenafly
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Tom Sawyer Diner is one of the few diners in the Paramus zipcode. Aside from the classics like pancakes and hash browns, patrons can expect many Greek-influenced delights. George’s Karpen Island Spreads is a go-to dish that comes with tzatziki, hummus, olives, feta, tomato, cucumber, and crispy pita.
Tom Sawyer Diner | 98 East Ridgewood Avenue, Paramus
OPA! Tom Sawyer Diner is one of the few diners in the Paramus zipcode. Aside from their classics like pancakes and hash browns, you can expect many appetizing delights that are Greek motivated to be on the menu, too — like George’s Karpen Island Spreads which comes with tzatziki, hummus, olives, feta, tomato, cucumber, and crispy pita.
The Bendix Diner | 464 NJ-17, Hasbrouck Heights
At the immortal Benedix Diner, each cup of coffee comes with a side of nostalgia. Since it has appeared on the big screen a few times, the Bendix Diner is arguably the most noticeable diner spot in New Jersey. Its foundation lies on a triangular plot on Route 17, so getting here could be tricky. But the parking maneuvers will all be worth it once the quintessential biscuits and gravy platter lands at your place.
The Candlewyck Diner | 179 Paterson Avenue, East Rutherford
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Since its founding in 1969, the Candlewyck Diner has remained under family ownership. With locally sourced ingredients and fresh bread from the neighboring Balthazar Bakery, Candlewyck Diner does not play around. The menu is a staggering 16 pages long. But BCG’s pro tip is just skip to the wraps and order up the Lawrence Wrap which comes with breaded chicken tenders, grilled onions, romaine lettuce, cheddar + jack cheese, jalapenos with mayonnaise + honey mustard (and substitute for sweet potato fries — they’re the best).
See More: These Spots are Why Jersey is the Diner Capital of the World
Wallington Diner | 417 Paterson Avenue, Wallington
There aren’t many places that serve up an Elvis-inspired breakfast menu and The Wallington Diner is doing just that. Picture walking into an antique-looking institution and sitting down in a booth eating the King’s favorite, grilled peanut butter sandwich with banana + bacon on some thick white bread.
