THAI / KOREAN / VIETNAMESE / PAN ASIAN
BLOOMFIELD
Brookside Thai: Thai; Bloomfield; 380 Broad St @ Pitt; 23/19/$27; 973-566-0057; What a long, mouthwatering menu; BYO; All of your favorite Thai selections; Try the Pad Thai and Panang Curry; Delightful spices; Very large portions. $6.95 lunch specials; Dirt cheap even for dinner.
CARLSTADT
Tina Louise: Asian; Carlstadt; 403 Hackensack St @ Broad; 24/16/$30; 201-933-7133; Closed Mondays; Mixed bag of mostly Chinese dishes; Lots of seafood entrees; Noodle and soup dishes are extremely affordable; Large menu to choose from; Excellent bang for the buck. BYO. Excellent flavors and quality.
EMERSON
Pimaan Thai Restaurant: Thai; Emerson; 79 Kinderkamack Rd; 21/17/$35; 201-967-0440; Consistent quality and service; Noodles and curries stand out; Excellent lunch specials; Soft Shell crab available; BYO; Will accommodate any plate; Pleasant experience though more of a spot for locals.
ENGLEWOOD
Kratiem: Thai; Englewood; 4 E Palisade Av @ Van Brunt; 22/14/$32; 201-894-0343; Large menu and excellent Thai cuisine; Has tasty versions of all the usual curried and Pad Thais; Also, a great selection of juices; Roasted Duck curry is amazing. BYO.
Pawana: Thai; Englewood; 63 Nathaniel Place; 22/19/$35; 201-227-7484; Super friendly service; Homemade food; Extremely attentive and flexible; Menu features incredibly tasty soups and curries; Frogs Legs; Pad Thai is very well made. Located in Shop Rite complex.
Saigon R: Vietnamese; Englewood; 58 W Palisade Av @ William; 24/12/$27; 201-871-4777; Flat out incredible Pho soups; Some of the most tasty broths you’ll ever have; Unique selections including a Roast Duck Pho Soup; Also serves cooked main fare from Duck, to Shrimp to Chicken dishes; Pad Thai and excellent dumpling appetizers. The Fort Lee location is larger.
FORT LEE
Batten Ramen: Japanese; Fort Lee; 2024 Center Av @ Main St; 22/13/$29; 201-461-5465; Incredible curry and ramen dishes; Miso Ramen stands out; Batten Ramen (pork soup) great also; Traditional Japanese Ramen soup house with an assortment of other dishes. For the best Japanese Ramen- try Santouka in the Mitsuwa Market.
Dong Bang Grill: Korean; Fort Lee; 1616 Palisade Ave @ Main St; 23/16/$42; 201-242-4485; Excellent steaks and other Galbi (Korean BBQ); Sushi as well; Amazing short ribs; Miso soup is tasty; Two level location with a large menu of individual items besides BBQ; Great service and it rivals NYC’s Korean town.
Gam Mee Ok: Korean; Fort Lee; 485 Main St @ Fletcher; 22/15/$39; 201-242-1333; Noted for outstanding Kimchi; Large Galbi menu of BBQ meats; Considered to have the best Ox Tail soup in the state (Sul Long Tang); Beef short ribs and soups are super tasty. Service friend and environment welcoming.
Mo Pho: Vietnamese; Fort Lee; 212 Main St @ Lemoine Av; 24/12/$27; 201-363-8886; Flat out incredible Pho soups; Some of the most tasty broths you’ll ever have; Unique selections including a BBQ Rib Pho Soup; Also serves cooked main fare from Duck, to Shrimp to Chicken dishes; Pad Thai and excellent dumpling appetizers. See Englewood location as well.
Pho 32: Vietnamese; Fort Lee; 1645 Lemoine Av @ Main St; 21/14/$28; 201-363-8900; Very inexpensive, fabulous large Pho soup; Have some Korean selections; Pineapple fried rice stands out as well; Have Dim Sum items & Dumplings; They sell beer & wine.
HACKENSACK
Bangkok Garden: Thai; Hackensack; 261 Main St @ Camden-Salem; 22/14/$28; 201-487-2620; Nothing fancy but the food is what you come here for; Endlessly long menu of everything Thai- from the curries to the Pad Thai and variations thereof; Top notch soups; Food for sharing.
Thai Chef: Thai; Hackensack; 169 Hackensack Av @ Rt 4; 21/17/$35; 201-342-7257; Upscale Thai cuisine; Formal setting for the genre; Excellent food- well prepared and tabled; Great martini list; Sea Bass, Lobster au Gratin, New Zealand Lamb and rack of Veal and Venison all on menu in addition to Pad Thai and other usual selections; French infused menu.
HOBOKEN
Sri Thai: Thai; Hoboken; 234 Bloomfield St @ 2nd-3rd St; 23/10/$21; 201-798-4822; Small place, with almost no décor; However, one of the better Thai joints around with a huge menu begging you to try multiple selections, for a tour of Thai cuisine; Perfect for lunch or a quick bite out. BYO.
LODI
Penang: Thai/ Malysian; Lodi; 334 N Main St @ Saddle River; 21/16/$27; 973-779-1128; Endless 100+ item menu – all reasonably priced; I suggest ordering a few items and enjoy buffet style; Despite being a chain- very reliable fare and something for everyone; “Safe” place to try Thai for the inexperienced.
MONTCLAIR
Taro: Asian Fusion; Montclair; 32 Church St @ Fullerton; 22/22/$38; 973-509-2266; Transforming setting – eclectic and elegant; New age, zen feel; Dim Sum on weekends; BYO; Sexy date spot; Unique menu that includes New American crossover dishes in addition to Asian works of art. Large portions.
Thai Chef: Thai; Montclair; 664 Bloomfield Av @ Orange; 23/19/$35; 973-783-4994; Upscale Thai cuisine; Formal setting for the genre; Excellent food- well prepared and tabled; BYO; Soft Shell crab, roasted duck, striped bass, rack of lamb, frogs legs all on menu in addition to Pad Thai and other usual selections; French infused menu.
PALISADES PARK
Baden Baden: Korean; Palisades Park; 329 Bergen Blvd @ Central; 21/15/$32; 201-592-0815; Restaurant and bar specializing in incredible fried/ roasted chicken dishes; Order the Baden Baden house special; Bar is great for a pitcher of beer; Very affordable and large portions; One of the better Korean restaurants in the area; 25+ other menu items including Kim Chi.
RIDGEWOOD
Ridge Thai: That; Ridgewood; 50 Chestnut St @ Franklin; 24/19/$42; 201-493-9929; Delicately made traditional Thai dishes; Stylish, relaxing décor; Excellent menu with a large assortment of curries, duck, chicken and noodle dishes; BYO; Won 2009 Best of Bergen award for Thai food.
UNION CITY
Five Star Thai: Thai; Union City; 324 29th St @ Palisade; 24/16/$32; 201-583-1800; Authentic, wildly flavorful dishes; Try the Thai dumplings, Spicy Shrimp Soup & Drunken Noodles; Pineapple fried rice; BYO; Large portions; Tons of options on the menu; Specials galore; Worth a try for sure.
WEEHAWKEN
Hi-So Thai: Thai; Weehawken; 1903 Willow Av @ 19th St; 22/15/$27; 201-902-0991; Very popular local Thai restaurant with large menu and fairly priced cuisine; Pad Thai and the various noodle dishes stand out; Right near the Lincoln Tunnel and it is BYO.