This Hidden Restaurant in New Jersey Is a True Local Secret

I've lived in the town of Fords, New Jersey my entire life, and while this region of Woodbridge Township doesn't make any "hot spots to visit" lists, I've always loved it. It's located in a busy suburban section of the Garden State, between two malls, and its diverse population has led to a phenomenal dining scene. You can find just about any cuisine you're craving within a short drive, and many of these spots are authentic, reasonably priced, and of course, absolutely delicious. In fact, one of my favorite spots is an undiscovered, hidden restaurant in New Jersey, located in a strip mall. While many locals don't even know it exists—and the restaurant doesn't even have a website—it's been dishing up delicious Filipino food for a few years now and is always packed on Sundays with families enjoying a full banquet. If you find yourself coming my way, make sure to stop in—it's a true hidden gem.

The Fords Shopping Center has been a big part of my life. It used to be home to my local supermarket, as well as my first comic book store and a Chinese buffet where I have many fond memories. All those businesses are long gone, but the strip is now home to a sports betting center, a hair salon, an acclaimed Italian grocery, a pizzeria, and more—including Luzviminda, one of Fords' biggest surprises.

This nondescript storefront, named after a portmanteau of the largest Filipino islands, is home to a small grocery store selling Filipino snacks, canned goods, and frozen foods, as well as a great selection of some of the most delicious drinks I've tasted in a while, a brand of juice drink with young coconut meat named Mogu Mogu.

But the biggest surprise in Luzviminda is on the other side of the store: a full-service Filipino restaurant with a huge menu of authentic dishes from the island. Every Sunday, the store is packed with locals enjoying family-style meals of beef, pork, chicken, and seafood. I've only tried a few dishes to-go, but you can expect strong, authentic flavors.

Most of the time, though, I just drop by for my favorite snack in the area: an order of the Shanghai Lumpia. These incredibly crisp, densely packed spring rolls are filled with a mixture of pork and vegetables and have much stronger flavors than the Chinese version most people are used to. Paired with an apple-flavored Mogu Mogu, this dish keeps me coming back to this hidden gem time and time again.

Have you ever visited this hidden restaurant in New Jersey? If you're interested in trying this Filipino gem, make sure to tell a fellow dining buddy about this article—the more people you bring, the more dishes you can try! There's no website or active social media for this low-key restaurant, but the menu rarely changes, so all the old-school favorites will be waiting for you when you drop by.

The Woodbridge/Edison area is full of great things to see and do. If you want to keep the adventurous eating going the next day, you're only minutes away from Pho One, my favorite Vietnamese noodle house in the state. It's also only a short drive to Roosevelt Park, a wonderful county park home to one of New Jersey's best outdoor theater events. If you need a place to stay in the area, the Homewood Suites by Hilton Edison/Woodbridge is located right outside the area's biggest mall and offers a free breakfast buffet and spacious rooms.

And if you need some more ideas on how to spend your time in my neck of the woods, check out Only in Your State's AI-powered travel planner, which will give you a custom itinerary after a few simple questions!