Three New Jersey Restaurants Are Among The Best In America, According To USA Today

New Jersey has an incredible dining scene, and I'm exploring more and more of it each year. We're one big melting pot in the Garden State, and it's possible to find just about anything you want to eat here. But somehow, our culinary scene doesn't seem to get the hype of our neighbors. Well, that might be changing thanks to the good folks at USA Today. The storied newspaper just named its picks for the top 47 restaurants in the entire United States - and three from New Jersey made the list! They're about as different as they could get - a famous Middle Eastern restaurant serving delicious kebabs; a rustic farm-to-table eatery in the middle of suburbia; and a tiny sushi counter so well-hidden most people don't even know about its innovative jewels of the sea. Read on to discover which award-winning restaurants in New Jersey should be on your dining bucket list!

1. Al-Basha Middle Eastern Cuisine (Paterson)

Located in the heart of Paterson's rich Middle Eastern dining scene, Al-Basha has recently expanded to a magnificent new dining space.

The restaurant bills itself as a "Taste of Ramallah" and its extensive menu draws from Palestinian cuisine with influences from Lebanon and Turkiye as well.

There is no better way to experience this than with the massive, and we mean massive Mix Mashawi platter, which features all four of the restaurant's famous meats.

2. Heirloom Kitchen (Old Bridge)

Heirloom Kitchen, located in the thriving Middlesex County town of Old Bridge, is a taste of farm-to-table in central Jersey.

Heirloom Kitchen uses an open-kitchen concept, and prides itself on changing up the menu with the seasons and the available produce.

That means every meal here will be a bit of a surprise - and we highly recommend bringing a group to sample as much as possible. In addition to a prix fixe dinner (including a vegan option), the restaurant offers cooking classes.

3. Sushi By Sea (Ridgefield)

Possibly the most secretive restaurant in New Jersey, Sushi By Sea is a tiny Omakase sushi counter in Ridgefield, not far from the shore.

Omakase means "Chef's choice", so the menu will always change - but you can always expect a wide range of small bites featuring the freshest possible fish and seafood.

Watching the sushi chefs work is part of the fun, as they're always innovating. Blowtorched sushi - believe it!

Have you eaten at any of these award-winning restaurants in New Jersey? Tell us what you ate, and what's on your dining bucket list! You can see more details on the websites of Al-Basha, Heirloom Kitchen, and Sushi By Sea. For another unique international culinary experience in New Jersey, head to FoodieHall in Cherry Hill, where you can sample multiple cuisines under one roof! And if you're heading across the state on a dining road trip, stock up with all the essential road trip supplies.