Lansheng for some GOOD Szechuan Food in New Jersey!

After a somewhat disappointing meal at Han Dynasty in the East Village a few months ago; the food was pretty good, just surprisingly not spicy enough!  Thanks to Yelp, I was nicely surprised to find Lansheng, a great Szechuan restaurant close to me.

Langsheng serves authentic Szechuan food, and it's location is especially surprising since Wallington, NJ, is a small Polish town with only a few eateries. When I first went there with my folks for lunch, I also noticed that the restaurant was right in the quiet road with not too many businesses nearby.  The restaurant has is clean and the decor is nice, but most importantly, it was also a relief to see other Asian families eating there (as this is often a sign that the place doesn't just serve Americanized Chinese fare).

The food is very reasonably priced and was absolutely delicious.  We started out with a few apps:
Their wontons in chili oil were decent and about on par with others that I've had.  Spicy with just a little hint of Szechuan peppercorns.  Just a sign of things to come for sure!

Their dan dan noodles were also very tasty and pretty similar to Han Dynasty's...but several $ cheaper!

So it's not really a Szechuan dish, but we felt like getting some scallion pancakes! Lansheng's were REALLY good.  

I was pretty excited to have the Mapo Tofu, since I really hadn't had it in a while, and their version was superb!  With the right amount of spice and Szechuan peppercorns to numb your palate just a bit, this dish was sooooo addictive and  had everyone going back for more. It's a must-order dish if you're here.

I had never had tea smoked duck, and this dish was also amazing.  The skin was super crispy and the meat had a very smoky flavor (think a good bbq joint).  Another dish definitely worth getting again!

Service was also great; our server was throwing out one liners like his life depended on it, when was the last time you saw that at a Chinese restaurant?  Everything we ordered was delicious, and I'm looking forward to trying their other dishes, maybe a hot pot perhaps? It's getting cold during the nights and it's only September!

Lansheng

209 Paterson Ave

Wallington, NJ 07507

(973) 773-7100

Union Plaza Diner in Union NJ for Hearty, No-Frills Diner Fare

Along with Tops Diner in Harrison, Union Plaza is one of my favorite diners in NJ.  I used to live and work closer to the diner and have eaten there for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!  Yeah I was pretty much a regular.  The diner is great since you can get reasonably priced entrees, such as steak, prepared well, with all the diner accouterments, like a soup and salad starter.

Earlier this year when I ate there with my folks for dinner, my brother ordered the steak and shrimp scampi, which was delicious.  The entree was less than $20 as well, and I don't even remember where the last time I saw a surf and turf type dish for less than 20 bucks.  

Even heartier is their prime rib.  Oddly enough this diner is my go-to spot for prime rib! Yep, not some fancy steakhouse!  It's at least a 24 oz cut, a huge portion and I always end up having to take some home.  For a diner the prime rib is prepared pretty well (it's rare that they don't cook it to the requested temp and overcook it, etc.)  At about $17 it's also the most reasonably priced prime rib I've seen.

I also love their Greek salad starter, which comes with a stuffed grape leaf (love em!) and anchovies upon request. 

There's plenty of dining options on Rt 22 in the Union area, but Union Plaza diner is always a solid choice.  

Union Plaza Diner

2466 Rt 22

Union NJ 07083

(908) 686-4403

Great burgers and Even Better Happy Hour at Zinburger in Clifton, NJ

I can be skeptical of chain restaurants, but was nicely surprised when I tried Zinburger. For me the mark of a good burger is how it stands up by itself without needing a bunch of crazy toppings, just to see how the beef stands out by itself.  While Zinburger does offer a lot of customization with toppings and a variety of choices with burgers, their "Plain and Simple Burger" which comes with lettuce, tomato, and mayo, is already solid choice.  Their beef is freshly ground daily and the patties are hearty, seasoned, and cooked well.  

If you're able to beat the after work crowd on a weekday and get there between 3 to 6pm, Zinburger has a great happy hour deal as well--Their Plain and Simple Burger is only $5 instead of the usual $9, and all sides are half price.  Zinburger has a few decent beers with their small beer selection, and during happy hour you can get any pint for $4 (otherwise a very reasonable $5 as well).

Here's a Plain and Simple Burger, cooked medium rare.  You can get a pint of Dogfish 60 or Magic Hat 9 for $4!  A great meal for under $10.

You can see their menu HERE.

They have multiple locations but I have just been able to go to the Clifton spot, and am not sure if the happy hour is good for the other locations as well.

Mighty Quinn's...Great BBQ Makes Its Way to Clifton NJ!

From their humble beginnings at a small stand at Brooklyn's Smorgasburg, Mighty Quinn's opened a brick and mortar restaurant right in the East Village that I never had a chance to try.  I've walked by the location several times though, seeing the lines of people snaking out the door into the street.

In March 2014, they expanded from their East Village location, which had been open for less than two years, right into NJ.  I was able to stop by with my brother just several weeks in, and all I can say that the food was FANTASTIC!  

Not only are the meats, complete with a variety of pickled fixings upon request, delicious, but the food is very reasonably priced too, especially compared to two other BBQ places I love--Fette Sau and Hill Country.  (A serving of meat with choice of pickled vegs runs from $7 to $9)

I ordered the brisket, which is what everyone talks about and is probably the hands-down best meat to get on the menu.  It was tender, moist, and flavorful, and was served with a small charred end piece on top of my serving.  The pickles consist of two types of coleslaw, pickled red onions, pickled celery, pickled peppers (only mildly spicy), and half sour pickles.

The burnt ends were tasty, but it wasn't quite what we expected.  They were simmering in a zesty bbq sauce and felt more like a stew.  This would probably be very good if you order it as a sandwich though.  I was looking for more of that charred carcinogen flavor(!) when you think of eating burnt ends.  

We ordered a side of wings, which were great.  They were crisp and tossed with scallions and sesame seeds, and had more of an Asian flavor profile.

Lastly, sides were ok but not quite memorable...at least the fries were decent. A small order was only $3.

The broccoli was the only part of the meal that was forgettable...everything else was great.

This was still an awesome meal, and this spot is definitely going to be one of my go-to spots in Jersey!

Mighty Quinn's

850 Rt 3 West (in a shopping center)

Clifton NJ 07012

(973) 777-8340

Dinosaur BBQ....in Newark, NJ!

Last year for a family meal we were able to check out Dinosaur BBQ's latest outpost by the Prudential Center Arena in downtown Newark NJ.  I haven't been to the Harlem location, but was able to check out the original Albany location years ago, as well as a few pop up stands for BBQ events in NYC.

We started out with the appetizer sampler, with wings, fried green tomatoes, deviled eggs, and shrimp rolls.  Everything was pretty good, but the best by far were the wings.  Just get an order of that to start and you'll be set!

My bro ordered the chicken and ribs combo, with mac n cheese and baked beans.  I was able to try the chicken and ribs and both were great.  The beans were so-so and the mac and cheese is decent.

I was eager to try the lamb steak, but it was very disappointing.  It was a cheap cut of lamb with a large bone in the center.  The sweet potatoes and potato salad (yeah carb on carb action!) were pretty good.

My mom ordered the chicken, with sweet potato and gumbo.  The gumbo was an interesting side that you really don't see in other bbq spots, and it was actually pretty good too.

The meal overall was great, and I was excited to finally have Dinosaur close to home, but unfortunately I haven't been back since.  The issue with the location is that it doesn't really have a parking lot and parking is tricky in downtown Newark; you basically have to park at a meter or put your car in a lot.  I tried to go another time but could not find a spot to park (and no, I don't believe in paying for a parking garage just to eat a meal!).  All in all, it's great but I wish it was more convenient to get to.

Dinosaur BBQ

224 Market St.

Newark NJ 07102

(862) 214-6100

Baconfest Thursdays at Zeppelin Beer Garden in Jersey City!

They had me at FREE bacon strips at the bar!!!  I had decided to go and check out Zeppelin Beergarden in JC after seeing their promo for free bacon on Thursdays on my Facebook feed.  Zeppelin is a huge beer hall in Jersey City by the water with a nice selection of beers on tap.  I have been there on weekends and it gets quite packed, but on a Thursday night when I organized a little group to go there after work the atmosphere is actually quite chill even with their promo, and a great spot to grab a few beers and some food.  The Baconfest promo here is awesome was awesome.  If the same promo ran at a beer garden in NYC you can bet that the place will be PACKED.

For Baconfest on Thursdays they offer the gargantuan 50 Shades of Bacon BLT...which supposedly comes with 50 strips of bacon between bread and some fries.  It's actually reasonably priced at $12 (Bacon is expensive these days!) and would require several people to finish.  

The main draw for me was the free bacon at the bar though.  The salty bacon does go well with beer, but that night I found out that I couldn't eat even ten strips of bacon before tapping out!

Later that night I also ended up sharing a currywurst with spaetzle, which was just so-so. The currywurst was just curry flavored mayo over a brat.

So it was my first time having the food there, and must say that taste-wise a few of the items we tried were just OK; at the very least most of the food is very reasonably prices though, more so than similar spots in the city.  After all, you'll definitely be needing some food to soak up the alcohol!

Zeppelin Hall Biergarten 

88 Liberty View Dr
Jersey City, NJ 07305

Phone number(201) 721-8888

The Spicy Miso Ramen at Santouka at Mitsuwa Marketplace in NJ

Santouka is a Japan based ramen chain that opened at Mitsuwa Marketplace several years ago, and is one of the few decent ramen places to go to in NJ.  If you can get there on a weekday, do so unless you want to risk braving the crowds, lines, and fighting for a seat in the food court on a weekend.

When having ramen at Santouka I typically go for their Shio (salt) ramen, but this time around I wanted to try out their spicy miso ramen.  The spicy miso broth is very flavorful and rich, albeit a bit salty if you try to drink the whole bowl...the soup goes great with the noodles though, which have a nice bite.  There's also a decent amount of toppings and the pork topping is generous and tasty.

One of the main draws for the ramen place is the ability to upgrade to a delicious lunch box set for just a few bucks more, complete with a hard boiled egg, which is served on the side instead of a soft boiled egg in the soup, and a small rice dish that can be topped with pork, salmon roe, or natto (fermented soybeans).  I usually go for the pork, pictured below...

Overall, Santouka is a good ramen place and your best bet if eating at Mitsuwa, but there are better options in NYC, such as Totto Ramen, Hinomaru, or Ippudo.  It's definitely still yummy and worth a try if you're a ramen aficionado.

Santouka (at Mitsuwa Marketplace)

595 River Rd

Edgewater NJ 07020

  

New Melaka in Atlantic City for for Great Malaysian Food!

So it's been a while since I was at Atlantic City earlier this year and am now craving some Malaysian food, and New Melaka was one of the highlights of my trip there last time.  It's located off the boardwalk but it's definitely worth the trip; the delicious home style and reasonably priced Asian fare is a nice change of pace from overpriced casino restaurants and the usual boardwalk fast food eats.

My girlfriend and I had started out with the roti canai, which is a must-have item app if you're at a Malaysian restaurant.  Theirs was just ok, and I don't remember it have any pieces of chicken in our portion.

It was a bit of a cold day, so we ordered a beef curry noodle soup to warm our tummies, and their version was better than the ones I've had in NYC Chinatown.  The broth was full of flavor and there was a good amount of tender braised beef brisket.

Lastly, we ordered the pork chop curry, and this dish was phenomenal!  I've never had a dish like this before and don't remember seeing this at some of the Malaysian spots I've been to, but the pork chops were first fried and sauteed and a rich curry sauce.  This was definitely the highlight of the meal.

If you're in AC make sure you stop by and check this place out, I know I will!

New Melaka

28 S Tennessee Ave

Atlantic City NJ, 08041

609-344-8928

Brazilian Style Burgers at Hamburgao in Newark/Kearny NJ!

For a really unique and awesome take on a burger, you have to try the over the top Brazilian take on the American classic.  What makes a Brazilian burger unique?  The bevy of crazy toppings that go into it!  The typical Brazilian burger just has a thin patty but has corn, fried potato sticks, lettuce, tomato, ham, bacon, mozzarella, and egg all served on sesame seed  roll.  

At Hamburgao, a Brazilian burger chain with two locations in Newark and one in Kearny, NJ, you have to get the "Classic."  While the actual beef is more of a thin, pounded piece of steak, the toppings really go well together.  And yes, even the combo of corn and potato sticks work!)  It's quite a big tasty sandwich and the price is right at $7.

Three locations in NJ:  (I went to the Kearny location)

329 Ferry St

Newark, NJ 07105


288 Lafayette St
Newark, NJ 07105


282 Kearny Ave
Kearny, NJ 07032

Craving a Burger and Grilled Cheese at the Same Time? Get the Fatty Melt at Tops Diner!

Well, that title says it all.  One late night after a show in the city and coming back to Jersey, the hunger pangs struck and led my brother and I to Tops Diner in Harrison, which is probably the best diner in NJ.  Looking at the menu my eyes drifted to the burger section, and saw the "Fatty Melt", a 10oz bacon burger sandwiched between TWO grilled cheese sandwiches.  I went back and forth on whether to order it or not, but hey, I'm a sucker for trying new things.

The burger is as advertised, a big patty with big pieces of bacon between 2 grilled cheese sandwiches and fries on the side (as if it needed more carbs!)  It tastes pretty much as you would expect, but it makes for a cool story, and pretty cool blog post as well!

Here's a "bird's eye view" of the meal.  It's pretty much a two-man operation unless you're super hungry!

Tops Diner

500 Passaic Ave
East Newark, (by Harrison) NJ  07029

Hiram's in NJ for a Great Deep Fried Hot Dog

Driving back from work one day through the GWB I finally decided to try Hiram's.  For my fried hot dog fix (it's a Jersey thing), I usually head straight to Rutt's Hut in Clifton.  But after I saw Anthony Bourdain chowing down at Hiram's in Fort Lee, I knew I had to stop by as well.   Just like Rutt's Hut, Hiram's is a NJ hot dog institution that has been open for over 70 years.  And like Rutt's hut, you just get a no-frills atmosphere with just counter-style dining.

At $3 each, it might seem pricey for a dog, but when I ordered two, I was surprised to see how big and plump they were!   The hot dogs were snappier and juicier than Rutt's as well.  They have a number of condiments such as kraut, relish, and a sweet tomato sauce based relish.  I will have to say that Rutt's homemade relish was delicious though, and I could imagine would be delish with these dogs.

The chili cheese fries were just plain awesome here.  For $4 they don't give you a big serving, but the chili they have here and cheese sauce were great.  (You can also get chili cheese dogs).

Zooming out of my hot dog picture you can see I also got a pint of beer.  Yes, they have pints of MGD on $2!  Smaller 12 ounce glasses cost a mere $1.50.

Here's the clip of Hiram's from No Reservations, it's the first six minutes or so of the clip...

Hiram's has a small menu (they also have burgers), but their hot dogs were awesome.  A must try if you're in the area.

Hiram's Roadstand

1345 Palisade Ave

Fort Lee, NJ 07024

Oh! Calamares in Kearny, NJ for Some Damn Good Peruvian Food!

I'll have to credit my brother for introducing me to Oh! Calamares in Kearny years ago and has been my favorite spot to get Peruvian food...with good seafood and hearty meat dishes at reasonable prices in a cozy, family run restaurant.   The restaurant is located on Kearny ave, on the same street around a mile away from the Harrison Path St Station.  Going to this little known mostly locals only spot is worth the trek!

Every meal there starts with a roasted corn snack served with a spicy green sauce.  

When I'm there, I always get their delicious mixed seafood ceviche appetizer.  You can adjust the spice level

as well (I always ask for spicy!)   It's served with giant corn kernels, which is common in peruvian food, and goes really well with the spicy, tart sauce.

Lomo Saltado is a famous traditional Peruvian dish that uses beef strips, french fries, onions, drizzled with soy sauce and served on a sizzling platter!  Tell me that does not sound awesome....whoever came up with this dish is genius!  Oh! Calamares' version is great, trust me and just make sure you order it when you get there!

Another popular Peruvian dish is their rotisserie chicken, which is seasoned quite differently from what you might usually get.  Their half chicken is tasty and even the white meat stays moist and juicy.

One time I was there and also ordered a stewed beef dish (I forgot the exact name), and it came with rice and beans (as well as a piece of steamed yucca).  This dish was also delicious and I believe was only around $10.

Oh! Calamares

102 Kearny Ave
Kearny, NJ 07032
(201) 998-4111 

Tops Diner in Harrison NJ, NJ's Top Diner?

Tops Diner has been a perennially busy and crowded diner...go on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays and you're bound to have to wait for a table.  And while the prices might be a little more expensive than other diners in the area, the quality (and portions!) often exceeds what other places have to offer.

You can't go wrong with breakfast, lunch, or dinner here...one day my brother and I decided to stop by and take advantage of their lunch specials...which also come with a cup of soup and slice of cake, all for around $10, depending on what you get.

One dish we ordered was the skirt steak with chimichurri sauce, and came with onion rings.  You also get a choice of starch and veggies.  (see veggie pics below)

I ordered the lunch special meatloaf, which came topped with mozzarella cheese, gravy, and mushrooms.  You also get your choice of starch and veggie, so I chose the whipped sweet potatoes and creamed spinach (no other diners have I seen these two options as sides!)

You get a great selection of sides whenever you choose an entree...you can see the creamed spinach below, and we chose the sauteed corn, which had a nice spicy kick to it.

You can check out their full menu HERE.


Tops Diner
500 Passaic Ave
East Newark, (by Harrison) NJ  07029

Ichi Umi in Edison...A Good Japanese Sushi and Seafood Buffet

If you crave seafood and sushi and want to get it at a decent price...look no further than Ichi Umi in NJ.  Ichi Umi is a newer chain than Minado, which in my opinion has better sushi, but for lunch you get quite a super deal at Ichi Umi for the cheaper lunch price.  If you're an oyster/raw bar aficionado like me you can basically get unlimited oysters here for around $20 per person for lunch (In Minado, oysters are only available at dinner and the buffet is around $30 per person).

Here's a pic of the raw bar at Ichi Umi, you get a choice of several different types of oysters.  When I went last summer they had Blue Points, which are always delicious, and they also made the accompanying mignonette.

Aside from oysters, their raw bar area also sometimes have either raw steamer clams or razor clams.  One this visit they also had Korean-style marinated raw blue crabs that were delicious.

Ichi Umi also has a cute small one-bites area where they put items into tiny cups.  Pictured are different fish roes, tuna tartar, smoked salmon, marinated clams...

A pic of the sushi bar, with the usual nigiri sushi and various rolls.

A plate with variety of sushi.  Their nigiri sushi (fish on top of rice) was ok, but their rolls

have a little too much rice for my liking...

One of my absolute favorite appetizers at any Japanese restaurant is monk fish liver.  Often called

"foie gras of the sea", it's usually marinated in ponzu and is oh so delicious.  On this visit they actually had this 

available for lunch (Minado hasn't ever had this item available from the times I've been there...lunch or dinner!)...here it's served on top of cucumber slices.

Fancy a whole lobster?  $6 (I believe supplement)...they serve it with drawn butter as well...

Ichi Umi has decent selection of hot foods as well that is compromised of a variety of seafood dishes like

a variety of whole fried and even steamed fish, fish cakes, crab cakes, fried and grilled calamari, and pretty good korean style chicken wings.

Here's a pic of the hot food bar...their steamed whole fish is actually pretty good...still moist 

and juicy.

So summing up, Ichi Umi is a pretty good deal for lunch at around $20 a person (I believe it's $22 or so during the weekends).  The quality of the food, seafood, or sushi won't blow you away, but if you're craving a seafood, sushi, and oysters, it's a safe bet...you can certainly do a lot worse!  As far as I know Ichi Umi has two locations...one in Edison and one in NYC

NJ Location:

55 Parsonage Rd
Edison, NJ 08837

NYC Location

6 E 32nd St
New York, NY 10016

Brick Lane Curry House...Montclair Finally has a Decent Indian Restaurant!

Brick Lane Curry House is a popular Indian restaurant chain, with another one that has been open for years in NYC in the East Village.  The restaurant is also famous for their Phaal Curry challenge, which is made with ten different super hot chilies, and was featured on Man vs. Food!  The Montclair restaurant also serves the Phaal curry and has the same challenge, but Brick Lane also has a range of other traditional dishes.

At the Montclair location, they offer a lunch combo deal for $10.  In the East Village branch I believe they actually serve a lunch buffet for the same price!

I ordered the lamb vindaloo, which is a fiery, spicy curry.  The curry had a rich deep flavor 

and had a nice level of heat like a vindaloo curry should..

Along with the curry you get two side dishes: okra in a tomato rich based sauce and some yellow lentils or mung beans (not sure which)....But both were delicious!

You also get some great fresh naan, because there's not many things sadder

in Indian cuisine than getting cold/old/chewy naan.

All of the above plus you get a bowl of rice...not a bad lunch deal at all.  You get

great Indian food at a decent price.

The dessert served was something like a sweet Indian yogurt dessert...very flavorful and a 

great way to get the lingering spiciness of the curry out.

Here's the Phaal Challenge as featured on Man vs Food.

Brick Lane Curry House

540 Valley Road 

Upper Montclair, NJ 07043    

Phone: 973 509 2100 / 2172