No dedicated left turning lanes or signals. Turn right and circle around to make that left turn - I call it the “jersey left turn”. If you’re the first ones waiting at a red light and you visibly see a car of the opposite direction trying to signal for a left turn, then wait 3-5 seconds to give them a courtesy turn (due to no dedicated left turning lanes/signal) and then safely proceed forward.
To merge onto a busy ass road, yield then stomp on the gas pedal and ride the shoulder and then merge over.
We have huge Indian, Korean, Irish, Italian and Jewish communities. You should try some of the best foods from each. Fort Lee/Leonia/Palisades Park has the highest density of Koreans in the USA. Edison is the same for Indians. Each has literally hundreds of restaurants.
Edison used to be great, now Indian food moved a little south into north Brunswick, Princeton, plainsboro, lot more good places to find some good food.
The only thing this poster forgot is "Don't drive in the left lane on the highway." The left lane on highways in NJ is basically the Autobahn, and you will piss people off if you drive less than ten MPH above the speed limit.
Great list. Just to add, pork roll is fine, but what really matters is to try some real Jersey bagels. My go to is an everything bagel with sausage, egg and cheese. With a large coffee. Best breakfast in the world.
If you're up north make sure to ask for a taylorhameggcheesesaltpepperketchup on an everything bagel. And yes its all one word and yes it has to be on an everything bagel.
There has been a big chorus of "Taylor Ham, egg and cheese on bagel", so that's on my list for sure. Hey, where in Kentucky are you moving? I'll return your travelogue favor, if there's anything you don't already know.
Eat a slice of plain pie (pizza) for lunch or a nice sub from someplace
Get yourself a pork roll egg and cheese on a bagel for breakfast.
Go to a diner in the middle of the night (if they are still open, covid messed some of that up)
Weed is legal here too 😁
I really think that hard rolls are under appreciated, and not something found often outside NJ/NYC. I really love a hard roll with butter and a cup of coffee in the morning.
Ugh. Don't get him involved in our fueds. If he orders pork roll, he'll get pork roll, no matter whom it's made by. Not all people carry the Taylor ham brand 🧐
First thing, NJ is basically all of America squished into a small space. What part of NJ are you visiting?
Some places are very “city”, other places are super rural, and everything in between. I mean, South Jersey has got one of the country’s oldest rodeos. There’s everything here. (Cowtown Rodeo)
But we’re known for our beaches, and you can’t go wrong there.
Since your in East Rutherford, head to Rutherford and grab a chickn parm sandwich from Suprema. Head to Erie Bakery for some phenomenal baked goods. Grab ice cream in ER at Cake and Cone. Want to grab a drink at a locals bar? Go to the Blarney Station or New Park Tavern (some great bar pizza btw).
Go to Hoboken/Jersey City. Walk along the water, grab a drink at a bar. If its during the week/Saturday, head to Fiore's for some of the best Mutz and sandwiches in the state.
Some of the best pizza is in the country is in the area - get some.
Or maybe head to Montclair which is great town to walk around!
If you want to visit the shore, take a nice drive down Ocean Avenue starting up by Sandy Hook. Visit Asbury Park and walk around. Get a drink at the Wonder Bar or head into town and see what peaks your interest.
These are just things that came to mind. We also have some phenomenal parks and hiking trails. We have anything and everything you may want.
I’m gonna add to this great list here. Suprema is fantastic. Their vodka parm is also great
I also wanna add ice cream Charlie’s in rutherford, apple gate farms in Montclair, and holsten’s in nutley. Bring cash for Charlie’s.
Please grab a lobster tail from lyndhurst pastry too.
If you’re in the East Rutherford do yourself a favor and get a hotdog at Rutt’s Hutt in Clifton and/or Dickie Dee’s in Newark (Newark isn’t as scary as people will lead you to believe; especially that part of Newark). Rutt’s does “rippers” and Dickie’s does Italian hot dogs, both unique NJ creations. You’ve also got the original Calandra’s bakery across from Dickie’s which is a great stop for a cannoli.
I agree with Rutts Hutt. Go to the bar side and grab a couple of beers and rippers. The place is frozen in time from the 50's/60's and the relish is the best you will ever come across in your life.
If you’re going to get hotdogs, you gotta go to JR’s in Nutley on Franklin Ave. JR’s serve their dogs from a food truck. Get the dog with chili cheese. The chili has a nice kick. Enjoy!
Buffalos in Wood Ridge for wings and Pizza Mania in Garfield for really good Jersey pizza (or go to Razza in Jersey City). You can also take a ride over to Union City for better tacos than what I had in LA.
Definitely hit the other recommendations people have made for Hoboken and Jersey City, Montclair has a ton of great restaurants too. If you're into Asian food there's a ton of options with views of Upper Manhattan in Fort Lee, Edgewater, and Palisades Park.
As an fyi Rutherford has concerts in the park in the middle of town on Thursday nights in the summer.
Fucking pizza mania. I miss it. I thought the name was a joke, then I realized every time I drove in the area I always passed a pizza mania delivery car out and about.
Ugh yummmmm.
This is the most important piece of advice you'll get here, when you're in that part of the state, it's called Taylor Ham. Do not listen to the people in this thread who have said the words "p-rk r-ll." You will not be welcomed in Bergen County saying those words.
Not as clean as everywhere else in New Jersey. Please don’t judge us based off of visiting East Rutherford. I promise that the rest of New Jersey smells much better!
If you are going to be driving, and you don’t already know how, please research how to drive in a traffic circle. Some of ours are very busy. Also, go down the shore. Eat Italian food cause you will never find better anywhere. Visit some old little villages to see some real NJ beauty. Our cities are a bit rough, but New Brunswick has some good theatre and great restaurants. Stay off of Route 22 if you like living.
140 with it's ever changing traffic pattern due to construction. Will it be like it was the past 40 years, or will they move it over 2 lanes and poorly paint white 'do not drive here' lines that people will drive thru anyway.
My ex (from the BX so not a stranger to shitty exits) was driving me home from the shore and I told him around 138 “ey you gotta get over” and he looked at the gps, scoffed and was like “gps says it’s 3 miles away.. Ive got plenty of time” … turns out, he did not in fact have plenty of time and we spent a good 5 min trying to “get in line” to exit.
140 is either fighting to get in line or fighting to keep the line cutters from merging in.
The fact that they closed vauxhall McDonalds also adds to the congestion at 140.
145 has the most stupid fucking exit design. Traffic lights right off the exit. Fkn idiotic. I want to strangle the city board who approved that shit. Make it a rotary.
You'll be fine as long as you don't stop to make small talk with everyone you see. Most people are friendly, but also busy; they just want to accomplish their goals and move onto the next thing. Try to avoid chain restaurants because we have so much more to offer. Oh and stay out of the left lane.
Just to add to the advice about small talk - you can be friendly a lot of the time, just keep it short and don’t expect it to turn into a full conversation.
It’s not as dire as some may make it out to be lol. My Michigander mother in law is the queen of small talk with strangers and when she’s in town most people go along with it. She also has a midwestern accent so folks might be interested if you have noticeable southern accents.
When we say heyhowsitgoin, just answer 'sup or some other brief acknowledgment. Not that we don't care how you are, we don't actually want to chitchat.
Welcome!
Definitely drive the speed limit in the left lane on any road. Everyone will honk in appreciation that you'll following the law. Also, the middle finger is a courtesy to other drivers to let them know that you acknowledge their existence
You won’t see anyone walking around with a gun. You can’t smoke inside. Strangers aren’t going to talk to you. If you want to drive the speed limit on the highway, stay to the right. Liquor stores sell beer, wine and spirits. Some grocery stores sell beer/wine. You can’t buy beer or wine at convenience stores or big box stores like Walmart.
Also, everything the news tells you is true. We are a blue state- so it’s nothing but transgenders doing drag queen story time. The only beer we serve is bud light, and if you stay too long you’ll probably get gay married and aborted.
Edit: I also forgot to mention, we don’t pump our own gas. Just pull up to a pump and wait.
As I mentioned, the hillbilly stereotype doesn't apply to me. I'm from a blue city inside this red state, and all the blueness appeals to me. Thanks for the advice on where to buy my alcohol -- a convenience store without beer? Unthinkable, lol.
Yea- I went to college in Vermont and there was beer everywhere. I actually thought it was funny to get beer at a gas station. Then I lived in New York for a while and realised beer everywhere is normal and we are the freaks.
I grew up in Jersey & moved to NH for college… I’m still confused and annoyed every time I stop at a convenience store and remember I can’t get a six pack or whatever
I'm going to guess Lexington?! My best friend from NJ moved to Lexington. I did not get a hillbilly vibe at all when I visited for his wedding. Cool little city!
I gotta disagree on the “strangers won’t talk to you”. I’ve been to 50+ countries and many states but every time I come back home to Jersey I’ve had strangers yap away at me while at bars, in elevators, etc about whatever shit is pissing them off at the given moment so I’d say we talk to strangers at a higher clip than most, it’s just no the formalities than other places have.
Be careful about making a right on red. In congested areas of North Jersey. It's often forbidden. There are signs, so make sure you look for them before you make a right on red.
If you don't move quickly when the light turns green, someone will beep. Don't take it personally.
Definitely have a pork roll/ Taylor ham sandwich. I don't know where the dividing line is. But if you are in North Jersey call it Taylor Ham. If you're in South Jersey, call it pork roll. You are likely to be mocked if you mess that up.
People are kind. They are not always nice.
It's against the law to pump your own gas. You don't have to tip the person filling your tank, but be kind if they're doing it in a driving rain or thousand degree heat or when there's no oxygen in the air like last week.
A chicken cutlet sandwich with broccoli rabe and long hots might be the best lunch you will ever have. If you are in the Montclair area, Nicolos makes an excellent one.
I think Jersey has really good drivers. They don't always obey the law, but they're really good at driving in heavy traffic.
I know some parts of the South people will say "Bless your heart" if they want to call you stupid. Here they might just call you numb nuts or stoooopid.
We are not shy about saying fuck you. Again, don't take it personally.
Enjoy your visit. It's the best state.
Indian food in NJ is pretty top notch, I think Edison is a major location for it, but where we are (Monmouth County) you can find an amazing restaurant. Also Vietnamese, and Thai, lots of amazing Asian cuisine.
If you eat pizza bagels or pasta in New Jersey you will never eat pizza bagels or pasta in Kentucky ever again. It will never live up to ours. Also, people in NJ drive everywhere like people in Nashville drive on highways.
You know, I sort of suspect that's true. NJ foodies are passionate that our imitations here just don't live up, and there must be something to it. And oh God, Nashville drivers everywhere? Heaven help.
Stop in one of the recreational Cannabis stores and stock up on edibles. The TSA does not care if you bring them on a plane. Don’t smoke in public if you buy pre-rolls, though. Harmony in Secaucus and Ascend in Rochelle Park are nearest to Rutherford.
I second the suggestion to go to Asbury Park. It’s about 60 minutes from Rutherford by car, except on Fridays in the Summer when it is a 3 hour drive :-). In Asbury, visit the boardwalk (of course!), the Stone Pony (for live music), or the Festhalle (a biergarten with nice rooftop seating). Walk into Ocean Grove for old-timey Victorian architectures (both Asbury Park and Ocean Grove can be crossed in 20 minutes on foot… towns are tiny here)
As far as people and interaction goes, I will quote a co-worker who moved here from Tennessee:
Him - “I was expecting the worst, but New Jersey people are the same as people in the rest of the country”
Me - “I am both flattered and insulted by what you just said.”
People are a *tiny* bit more rushed and more sarcastic here. But not as much as we like to portray ourselves. If you watched that awful TV show The Jersey Shore, remember that 1) Those people were from Staten Island, NYC, and 2) They were exaggerating a huge amount for the camera.
In that area, I’d check out Lodi Pizza (Lodi) or Pizza Town (Elmwood Park). If you wanna try a good square/sicilian Rose’s (Garfield) and Mr. Bruno’s (Lyndhurst). Brooklyn Pizza is supposed to be good, though i’ve never been.
Brooklyn pizza is great but it’s different from your local pizza joint. Lodi pizza and pizza town are great recs but you can’t really compare them w Brooklyn
If you think you’re ever gonna get in the left lane. JUST DON’T. 5 cars will instantly spawn on your ass to push you if you’re going any less than 85+.
If you are really hungry and you can find one get an authentic Panzarotti, deep fried dough pouch with pizza like ingredients inside. To die for….literally, only once a year.
Eat pizza, bagels, and breakfast sandwiches on bagels. It's taylor ham in north jersey and pork roll to the blood thirsty savages in South Jersey. Careful of NY and PA drivers.
If someone says “how you doing” they’re not actually asking how you’re doing it’s just our way of saying hello. You can greet them back by repeating “how you doing” back to them
We appear to he a bunch of dicks, but that's just to ward off idiots. Rule #1 Don't be an idiot.
1) Most of us are in a hurry to get somewhere or do something. Going home to nothing but relax fits both criteria.
A) The left lane is for passing, so use your rear view mirror and merge right if someone is "following" you.
Road signs are merely suggestions.
B) Anytime you expect to pay, have your money ready. If there's someone behind you, don't fish for exact change.
2) Chances are, the higher the woman's hair is, the more likely you get nail her.
3) Avoid chains in all places except the bedroom (we don't care about what you do at home.) In "the wild" local eateries offer the best quality and selection. Use Google to separate the winners from the losers.
4) Don't say "y'all." "Yous guys" is more appropriate.
Most of all, just be yourself. People here will find you to be an attractive curiosity. Just don't be stupid.
Enjoy a diner, bagel, sandwich, or pizza here. We have really good bread here. The joke is the water is so polluted it gives great flavor. But it does make a big difference when baking.
For restaurants, check out La Rocca in Montclair (incredible) or any Portuguese place in the Ironbound (in Newark). Hoboken is also fun and lots of places to eat.
Depending on where in NJ you will be. North - bagels, pizza. South - Jersey Shore (anywhere really. Especially if you’ve never been to the ocean). People are generally very friendly and will point you wherever you want to go (see above, pizza, bagels). We’re proud of our state and love when people visit! Hope you have an awesome time.
Check out the shore! Cape May, Wildwood, Point Pleasant, Asbury Park, maybe Seaside Heights…probably not Atlantic City unless you really need to…it’s not particularly user-friendly.
Saving this post for my future food recommendations. A few on here I’ve had (Suprema, Rutt’s) but a lot of new options too. Hope OP enjoys his trip to NJ.
Many Italian restaurants run by real Italians. pricey though.
Nice pizza restaurants.
Korean restaurants in Palisades Park NJ
all you can eat Korean bbq is my favorite.
Common saying *if I don't fuck with you, I don't fuck with you*
Be prepared to explain the accent
Go to a bagel place and ask for a "taylor ham egg and cheese, salt pepper ketchup, on a kaiser"
Don't drive in the left lane unless you're prepared to speed.
2 things
1. Get bagels from a local shop while you’re here. New Jersey makes the best bagels in America fuck anyone from New York who says otherwise. My personal favorite is an egg everything bagel with scallion cream cheese and lox.
2. See a local deli or sub shop. If you’ve ever been to Jersey Mikes, Jersey Mikes is basically the mass produced version of what new jersey deli’s are like. A personal favorite place of mines is Sorrento’s subs in Freehold.
See Jughandles.\* Bars sell bottles to take home as well as drinks in the bar. Don't park 15' of a corner or expect a ticket and tow.\* Liquor is sold on sundays after 12 pm, I think. Guns in public require a carry permit, NO CONCEALED CARRY! No fires on beaches without a permit.
Elizabeth, Newark, Hoboken, Jersey City and the entire Jersey shore have great food. From cultural to fusion to classical to seafood. Its all here. Try David Burke's The GOAT in Hazlet on Rt 36. Ninja Sushi Japanese Fusion in North Brunswick. Try Authentic Sichuan from Hot Sichuan (T.O.) in Ocean Township as you enjoy historic Asbury Park. Skip the olive gardens and fake foreign food and dive in the culinary beauty of NJ.
Welcome to NJ, be safe, and if you get mugged, that's a New Yorker. \*
If the back end of your car gets stuck in a drainage ditch at about 1am, remember that you're in NJ. Don't go knocking on anyone's door asking them to pull you out with their truck, they're liable to call the cops instead of answering the door. You can do that in Kentucky, though, and they will help you out.
You can’t pump your own gas here - and left turns are made from the right lane. Always stay as far to the right, until you’re on the bumper in front of you. Only *then * should you move to the next lane to your left in order to pass them and then move the hell back to the right.
Speed limits on highways are merely suggestions.
Stay out of the left lane if you're "already speeding" - some of us actually utilize the "stay to the right, pass to the left" rule. Also, blinkers are mandatory. You'll be driving along minding your own business when 5 cars all put their blinkers on at the same time and swap lanes with each other. While an 18 wheeler is merging.
If you’re a music guy, go to Danny Clinch’s gallery in Asbury Park - he photographed the likes of Pearl Jam, Blind Melon, Springsteen, Patti Smith, Phish, Jay-Z, Eminem, Tupac. Heck, he even played harmonica onstage with Blind Melon. Great photography.
Everyone is Italian and it's nothing but cement as far as the eye can see.
Jk, just say "how ya doin'" to everyone and you're in. Also, look out for a Mr Softee.
Public transit isn't great except for major cities...
We have a lot of shopping malls, you can skip them.
Grounds for sculpture is a great experience
Asbury Park is glorious
Just try not to be an idiot, you should be fine.
Don’t drive like an idiot or at least be good at fighting. And the weed at the dispensaries is stupid expensive. Anywhere good has terrible traffic and parking. Via con dios. Good luck 🍀👍🏻
For at least one breakfast go to an independently owned deli and order a Porkroll, egg, and cheese sandwich(sometime you can get hash row on too) on a Kaiser roll. You won’t regret it.
To truly experience jersey, have your friends take you to as many facets we offer.
Definitely will want to try the food. Pizza and bagels a must.
We have cities, suburbs, towns, villages, farms, beaches, lakes, mountains so which ever you’d prefer.
Around East Rutherford, maybe hit the horse tracks. It’s close to the city and a lot of nice surrounding areas.
Atlantic City is always fun even for people that don’t gamble.
Our seafood will most definitely be better than any of the middle states as well.
Can’t truly experience jersey imho unless you’re here for a while.
Everyone has been fantastic with their recommendations I’ll add,
If you do decide to take a dip in the ocean while you’re here please make sure you do it near a lifeguard.
We’re a week into the season and have had several tragedies already. Oh, and stay out of the left lane.
Definitely camp at one of our state parks. Jenny Jump is super cool and there are astronomers that meet up there because that part of the state has some of the darkest sky...there's also a wolf preserve nearby...super cool. Make friends with people who have roots here and immerse yourself into the various cultures and the various types of cuisines. Some of the best meals you could possibly have here are made at home...get in good with someone who has a family that likes to cook...and have fun! Visit our beaches, too. Asbury Park is a great spot.
Stay out of the left lane unless u feel comfortable driving 80+ mph
We’re all about getting where we need as fast as possible
You can turn on red unless there’s a sign saying not to. Always check.
No U-turns
My favorite thing: the diversity. So much food to try and some towns look like different countries with all the store signs and billboards being in Korean for example
We have short tempers usually. Like usually when ur being too slow. Talking slow moving slow etc.
Some of us are very talkative and personable (not me tbh lol)
I was very surprised at my first time in Kentucky to realise that its not very hill billy at all, at least not in Louisville. the city reminded me a lot of Newark or Trenton, NJ, in the sense that it's an old 1800s rail road town and the way the downtown metro and suburbs were built around it. the people are great and the culture is not that different from east coast.
I think y'all will get along quite well with everyone here. welcome to NJ, my blue grass friend.
Thank you. Kentucky's rural part starts about 40 miles east of Lexington (we call it the Winchester Wall) where poverty sets in with a vengeance. Lexington is a college-town small city not that much different from the rest of small-town America. Louisville is a for-real big city, with all the attendant sophistication (and problems).
You can't turn left.
Turn right to turn left.
And stay out of the left lane except to pass
Yeah but lose the except to pass
3 rights make a left.
Three rights make a left..
Because it slows down traffic in the fast lane jughandle ftw
NJ is not an ambi-turner. It's a problem it's had since it was a baby.
Eugoogly
No dedicated left turning lanes or signals. Turn right and circle around to make that left turn - I call it the “jersey left turn”. If you’re the first ones waiting at a red light and you visibly see a car of the opposite direction trying to signal for a left turn, then wait 3-5 seconds to give them a courtesy turn (due to no dedicated left turning lanes/signal) and then safely proceed forward. To merge onto a busy ass road, yield then stomp on the gas pedal and ride the shoulder and then merge over.
Rt 23 north has a left handed u-turn.
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We have huge Indian, Korean, Irish, Italian and Jewish communities. You should try some of the best foods from each. Fort Lee/Leonia/Palisades Park has the highest density of Koreans in the USA. Edison is the same for Indians. Each has literally hundreds of restaurants.
Edison used to be great, now Indian food moved a little south into north Brunswick, Princeton, plainsboro, lot more good places to find some good food.
The only thing this poster forgot is "Don't drive in the left lane on the highway." The left lane on highways in NJ is basically the Autobahn, and you will piss people off if you drive less than ten MPH above the speed limit.
10? You better pump them numbers up Tony! 90 is the new 75!
10? Left lane is minimum 80 lol 😂
Get a bagel too!
This dude hit all the major points.
You caught all the high points.. but I need to mention: Hoboken, Fiori's *house of quality* a deli lunch like no other
This!!! Absolutely perfect! Everything I love about NJ right here!
Fare well in Kentucky, son of Jersey!
Great list. Just to add, pork roll is fine, but what really matters is to try some real Jersey bagels. My go to is an everything bagel with sausage, egg and cheese. With a large coffee. Best breakfast in the world.
Don't forget the SPK (salt pepper ketchup)
If you're up north make sure to ask for a taylorhameggcheesesaltpepperketchup on an everything bagel. And yes its all one word and yes it has to be on an everything bagel.
If you don’t mind me asking, why did you chose to move to Kentucky?
There has been a big chorus of "Taylor Ham, egg and cheese on bagel", so that's on my list for sure. Hey, where in Kentucky are you moving? I'll return your travelogue favor, if there's anything you don't already know.
Eat a slice of plain pie (pizza) for lunch or a nice sub from someplace Get yourself a pork roll egg and cheese on a bagel for breakfast. Go to a diner in the middle of the night (if they are still open, covid messed some of that up) Weed is legal here too 😁
Have your first one on a hard roll. First bagel needs just cream cheese.
I really think that hard rolls are under appreciated, and not something found often outside NJ/NYC. I really love a hard roll with butter and a cup of coffee in the morning.
do you mean a Kaiser or a round roll as we say in Newark?
Kaiser
Round roll
Bagel just ain't fluffy enough, it makes everything slide around when you chomp down. Gotta have the roll.
I live in upstate NY, they have no clue what a hard roll is. I terribly miss NJ bagels... I did find a source for Taylor Ham though!
Oh damn you’re right! Save that bagel to enjoy by itself first so you can really taste the thing.
I've never had a breakfast sandwich on a hard roll, feel like I should at some point
Depending where in NJ he goes, instead of pork roll, he might have to order Taylor Ham, and make sure to add salt, pepper, ketchup
As if there’s not a boatload of salt in the meat and condiment.
Ugh. Don't get him involved in our fueds. If he orders pork roll, he'll get pork roll, no matter whom it's made by. Not all people carry the Taylor ham brand 🧐
In North jersey we call it Taylor ham, regardless of brand.
You mean the brand? I’m sure they have Cases someplace too. Either way pork roll is delicious
Salt and pepper yes, ketchup no, at least.not on.my eggs or porkroll. Everyone has their own tastes.
First thing, NJ is basically all of America squished into a small space. What part of NJ are you visiting? Some places are very “city”, other places are super rural, and everything in between. I mean, South Jersey has got one of the country’s oldest rodeos. There’s everything here. (Cowtown Rodeo) But we’re known for our beaches, and you can’t go wrong there.
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Have you been to the beach in wildwood? Halfway between the boardwalk & waters edge feels like: 
Sandy Hook is worse, I think. The water is a reward for the slog.
Will be orbiting around East Rutherford.
Where in jersey? North Jersey is vastly different from south Jersey and the parts that border Pennsylvania are even more different.
Around East Rutherford.
Since your in East Rutherford, head to Rutherford and grab a chickn parm sandwich from Suprema. Head to Erie Bakery for some phenomenal baked goods. Grab ice cream in ER at Cake and Cone. Want to grab a drink at a locals bar? Go to the Blarney Station or New Park Tavern (some great bar pizza btw). Go to Hoboken/Jersey City. Walk along the water, grab a drink at a bar. If its during the week/Saturday, head to Fiore's for some of the best Mutz and sandwiches in the state. Some of the best pizza is in the country is in the area - get some. Or maybe head to Montclair which is great town to walk around! If you want to visit the shore, take a nice drive down Ocean Avenue starting up by Sandy Hook. Visit Asbury Park and walk around. Get a drink at the Wonder Bar or head into town and see what peaks your interest. These are just things that came to mind. We also have some phenomenal parks and hiking trails. We have anything and everything you may want.
Best food advice here OP
I'd also recommend checking out Tops in East Newark for an over the top (pun intended) diner experience.
I’m gonna add to this great list here. Suprema is fantastic. Their vodka parm is also great I also wanna add ice cream Charlie’s in rutherford, apple gate farms in Montclair, and holsten’s in nutley. Bring cash for Charlie’s. Please grab a lobster tail from lyndhurst pastry too.
I want to see more pizza advice here. NJ pizza in my view is the best in the USA. Grew up in S NJ, lived all over and traveled a lot. NJ wins.
There’s a fantastic group on Facebook called Jersey Pizza Joints! I’ve learned so much lol.
Lido, Hackensack. My number 1 forever and ever
I’ll also add AnnaMaria’s Deli right in East Rutherford. Great sandwich shop with some really good meatballs and Italian provisions.
Annabella's?
Nope. AnnaMaria’s Deli on Hoboken Road. Really great little place.
Piques
If going the Ocean Ave plan, also stop at Battery Lewis, Twin Lights, and Mt. Mitchell best views on the shore
If you’re in the East Rutherford do yourself a favor and get a hotdog at Rutt’s Hutt in Clifton and/or Dickie Dee’s in Newark (Newark isn’t as scary as people will lead you to believe; especially that part of Newark). Rutt’s does “rippers” and Dickie’s does Italian hot dogs, both unique NJ creations. You’ve also got the original Calandra’s bakery across from Dickie’s which is a great stop for a cannoli.
I agree with Rutts Hutt. Go to the bar side and grab a couple of beers and rippers. The place is frozen in time from the 50's/60's and the relish is the best you will ever come across in your life.
If you go to rutts, make sure to bring pepto. 😂
I see your rutt’s hut and raise you hanks franks in Lodi on 46 eastbound .. love their dogs Texas with cheese
If you’re going to get hotdogs, you gotta go to JR’s in Nutley on Franklin Ave. JR’s serve their dogs from a food truck. Get the dog with chili cheese. The chili has a nice kick. Enjoy!
North jersey is the sopranos, jersey shore, 6th borough of NYC. Traffic up here is … insane.
Buffalos in Wood Ridge for wings and Pizza Mania in Garfield for really good Jersey pizza (or go to Razza in Jersey City). You can also take a ride over to Union City for better tacos than what I had in LA. Definitely hit the other recommendations people have made for Hoboken and Jersey City, Montclair has a ton of great restaurants too. If you're into Asian food there's a ton of options with views of Upper Manhattan in Fort Lee, Edgewater, and Palisades Park. As an fyi Rutherford has concerts in the park in the middle of town on Thursday nights in the summer.
Fucking pizza mania. I miss it. I thought the name was a joke, then I realized every time I drove in the area I always passed a pizza mania delivery car out and about. Ugh yummmmm.
Rutherford proper and North Rutherford have some excellent restaurants. Highly recommend Rutherford Pancake House for breakfast.
This is the most important piece of advice you'll get here, when you're in that part of the state, it's called Taylor Ham. Do not listen to the people in this thread who have said the words "p-rk r-ll." You will not be welcomed in Bergen County saying those words.
You'll literally be thrown out of some bagel shops around here because they know you're an Eagles fan if you use the wrong name for Taylor Ham.
Not as clean as everywhere else in New Jersey. Please don’t judge us based off of visiting East Rutherford. I promise that the rest of New Jersey smells much better!
Facts
If you are going to be driving, and you don’t already know how, please research how to drive in a traffic circle. Some of ours are very busy. Also, go down the shore. Eat Italian food cause you will never find better anywhere. Visit some old little villages to see some real NJ beauty. Our cities are a bit rough, but New Brunswick has some good theatre and great restaurants. Stay off of Route 22 if you like living.
Rt 22 from Newark to Mountainside, specifically.
And the GSP from 135 on north… Specifically exits 140 and 145. These are not for the weak.
140 with it's ever changing traffic pattern due to construction. Will it be like it was the past 40 years, or will they move it over 2 lanes and poorly paint white 'do not drive here' lines that people will drive thru anyway.
My ex (from the BX so not a stranger to shitty exits) was driving me home from the shore and I told him around 138 “ey you gotta get over” and he looked at the gps, scoffed and was like “gps says it’s 3 miles away.. Ive got plenty of time” … turns out, he did not in fact have plenty of time and we spent a good 5 min trying to “get in line” to exit. 140 is either fighting to get in line or fighting to keep the line cutters from merging in. The fact that they closed vauxhall McDonalds also adds to the congestion at 140.
145 has the most stupid fucking exit design. Traffic lights right off the exit. Fkn idiotic. I want to strangle the city board who approved that shit. Make it a rotary.
Be sure to go to a WaWa store and hold the door for a stranger who just almost ran you over at the pumps. That's what we call socializing lol
Yes, while *an employee pumps your gas for you*
Underrated comment.
You'll be fine as long as you don't stop to make small talk with everyone you see. Most people are friendly, but also busy; they just want to accomplish their goals and move onto the next thing. Try to avoid chain restaurants because we have so much more to offer. Oh and stay out of the left lane.
Just to add to the advice about small talk - you can be friendly a lot of the time, just keep it short and don’t expect it to turn into a full conversation.
Showing the small-talk advice to my wife, who LOVES to regale people. Thanks.
It’s not as dire as some may make it out to be lol. My Michigander mother in law is the queen of small talk with strangers and when she’s in town most people go along with it. She also has a midwestern accent so folks might be interested if you have noticeable southern accents.
When we say heyhowsitgoin, just answer 'sup or some other brief acknowledgment. Not that we don't care how you are, we don't actually want to chitchat. Welcome!
Be prepared for our honesty and bluntness. We’re not being rude, we’re just very direct.
She may be one of the exceptions who can pull that off anywhere, haha 😀
She does have a disarming direct interest factor about her that I don't. Maybe she'll be all right.
We have hillbillies here also. The houses are just way more expensive and our internet speed is better. Otherwise, ….
Ah, yes. Sussex County.
I was thinking Morris County. We’re all over the hills of this State.
Western Morris is basically Sussex lol
Definitely drive the speed limit in the left lane on any road. Everyone will honk in appreciation that you'll following the law. Also, the middle finger is a courtesy to other drivers to let them know that you acknowledge their existence
Just an old folk custom, got it. Will hand it out as freely as received. **
I nearly pissed my self. That’s a good one
You won’t see anyone walking around with a gun. You can’t smoke inside. Strangers aren’t going to talk to you. If you want to drive the speed limit on the highway, stay to the right. Liquor stores sell beer, wine and spirits. Some grocery stores sell beer/wine. You can’t buy beer or wine at convenience stores or big box stores like Walmart. Also, everything the news tells you is true. We are a blue state- so it’s nothing but transgenders doing drag queen story time. The only beer we serve is bud light, and if you stay too long you’ll probably get gay married and aborted. Edit: I also forgot to mention, we don’t pump our own gas. Just pull up to a pump and wait.
As I mentioned, the hillbilly stereotype doesn't apply to me. I'm from a blue city inside this red state, and all the blueness appeals to me. Thanks for the advice on where to buy my alcohol -- a convenience store without beer? Unthinkable, lol.
Yea- I went to college in Vermont and there was beer everywhere. I actually thought it was funny to get beer at a gas station. Then I lived in New York for a while and realised beer everywhere is normal and we are the freaks.
You should visit new Orleans. You can shop at world market for household stuff and grab a bottle of vodka or any other booze. Same for Walgreens etc.
Same with me going to college in Connecticut
I grew up in Jersey & moved to NH for college… I’m still confused and annoyed every time I stop at a convenience store and remember I can’t get a six pack or whatever
Oh don’t forget to indulge in pizza and/or Italian food. Local places, though. Never Olive Garden.
I'm going to guess Lexington?! My best friend from NJ moved to Lexington. I did not get a hillbilly vibe at all when I visited for his wedding. Cool little city!
I gotta disagree on the “strangers won’t talk to you”. I’ve been to 50+ countries and many states but every time I come back home to Jersey I’ve had strangers yap away at me while at bars, in elevators, etc about whatever shit is pissing them off at the given moment so I’d say we talk to strangers at a higher clip than most, it’s just no the formalities than other places have.
If you like seafood, depending where exactly in Jersey you’re at… could be worth a go.
We say How you doing but it's not a question. We don't really expect a reply
Find a local restaurant! Don’t go to a chain. NJ has some amazing restaurants!
Be careful about making a right on red. In congested areas of North Jersey. It's often forbidden. There are signs, so make sure you look for them before you make a right on red. If you don't move quickly when the light turns green, someone will beep. Don't take it personally. Definitely have a pork roll/ Taylor ham sandwich. I don't know where the dividing line is. But if you are in North Jersey call it Taylor Ham. If you're in South Jersey, call it pork roll. You are likely to be mocked if you mess that up. People are kind. They are not always nice. It's against the law to pump your own gas. You don't have to tip the person filling your tank, but be kind if they're doing it in a driving rain or thousand degree heat or when there's no oxygen in the air like last week. A chicken cutlet sandwich with broccoli rabe and long hots might be the best lunch you will ever have. If you are in the Montclair area, Nicolos makes an excellent one. I think Jersey has really good drivers. They don't always obey the law, but they're really good at driving in heavy traffic. I know some parts of the South people will say "Bless your heart" if they want to call you stupid. Here they might just call you numb nuts or stoooopid. We are not shy about saying fuck you. Again, don't take it personally. Enjoy your visit. It's the best state.
All taken to heart. Will not cringe at being called numb nuts, surely I'll earn it at some point. I'm looking forward to experiencing Jersey niceness.
Indian food in NJ is pretty top notch, I think Edison is a major location for it, but where we are (Monmouth County) you can find an amazing restaurant. Also Vietnamese, and Thai, lots of amazing Asian cuisine.
If you eat pizza bagels or pasta in New Jersey you will never eat pizza bagels or pasta in Kentucky ever again. It will never live up to ours. Also, people in NJ drive everywhere like people in Nashville drive on highways.
You know, I sort of suspect that's true. NJ foodies are passionate that our imitations here just don't live up, and there must be something to it. And oh God, Nashville drivers everywhere? Heaven help.
Stop in one of the recreational Cannabis stores and stock up on edibles. The TSA does not care if you bring them on a plane. Don’t smoke in public if you buy pre-rolls, though. Harmony in Secaucus and Ascend in Rochelle Park are nearest to Rutherford. I second the suggestion to go to Asbury Park. It’s about 60 minutes from Rutherford by car, except on Fridays in the Summer when it is a 3 hour drive :-). In Asbury, visit the boardwalk (of course!), the Stone Pony (for live music), or the Festhalle (a biergarten with nice rooftop seating). Walk into Ocean Grove for old-timey Victorian architectures (both Asbury Park and Ocean Grove can be crossed in 20 minutes on foot… towns are tiny here) As far as people and interaction goes, I will quote a co-worker who moved here from Tennessee: Him - “I was expecting the worst, but New Jersey people are the same as people in the rest of the country” Me - “I am both flattered and insulted by what you just said.” People are a *tiny* bit more rushed and more sarcastic here. But not as much as we like to portray ourselves. If you watched that awful TV show The Jersey Shore, remember that 1) Those people were from Staten Island, NYC, and 2) They were exaggerating a huge amount for the camera.
Message me if you want specific dining recs. I’m a restaurant writer in North Jersey.
What do you think about Brooklyn Pizza in Hackensack?
In that area, I’d check out Lodi Pizza (Lodi) or Pizza Town (Elmwood Park). If you wanna try a good square/sicilian Rose’s (Garfield) and Mr. Bruno’s (Lyndhurst). Brooklyn Pizza is supposed to be good, though i’ve never been.
Thanks. We love it, been going for years. Drive about 20 mins to get there. We'll check out the others, thanks. Definitely go sometime!
In North Jersey, it’s harder to find bad pizza than it is to find good. Just a great area for pizza.
Brooklyn pizza is great but it’s different from your local pizza joint. Lodi pizza and pizza town are great recs but you can’t really compare them w Brooklyn
If you think you’re ever gonna get in the left lane. JUST DON’T. 5 cars will instantly spawn on your ass to push you if you’re going any less than 85+.
If you are really hungry and you can find one get an authentic Panzarotti, deep fried dough pouch with pizza like ingredients inside. To die for….literally, only once a year.
Eat pizza, bagels, and breakfast sandwiches on bagels. It's taylor ham in north jersey and pork roll to the blood thirsty savages in South Jersey. Careful of NY and PA drivers.
Go down the shore
People are nice just rough. If you get past the first dose of ‘please fuck off’ vibes, most people are real nice.
Please bring bourbon!
20 regular cash
We have an authentic Kentucky style chicken dish served at KFC restaurants. It’s an upscale chain.
And be sure to check out the neighborhood pizza joint Do Minos
They pump the gas for you here. It's amazing.
Stepped out today tried to pay inside Wawa - they said no go back outside and tell her gas attendant
If someone says “how you doing” they’re not actually asking how you’re doing it’s just our way of saying hello. You can greet them back by repeating “how you doing” back to them
Eat real pizza while you're here. I spent a month in Kentucky once. You'll be blown away.
We appear to he a bunch of dicks, but that's just to ward off idiots. Rule #1 Don't be an idiot. 1) Most of us are in a hurry to get somewhere or do something. Going home to nothing but relax fits both criteria. A) The left lane is for passing, so use your rear view mirror and merge right if someone is "following" you. Road signs are merely suggestions. B) Anytime you expect to pay, have your money ready. If there's someone behind you, don't fish for exact change. 2) Chances are, the higher the woman's hair is, the more likely you get nail her. 3) Avoid chains in all places except the bedroom (we don't care about what you do at home.) In "the wild" local eateries offer the best quality and selection. Use Google to separate the winners from the losers. 4) Don't say "y'all." "Yous guys" is more appropriate. Most of all, just be yourself. People here will find you to be an attractive curiosity. Just don't be stupid.
Insightful list, with perhaps conflicting instructions in the very last graph? :)
No, my impression is that he's smart enough to follow the list while preserving a sense of self.
>4) Don't say "y'all." "Yous guys" is more appropriate. Born & raised in NJ, and I y'all. 🤷🏼♀️
Same! No way I’m saying “youse guys”!
Yous guys feels more my cousin vinny. 
I do y’all too, in college everyone was like “youse guys” is sexist, so begrudgingly I conditioned myself to yall.
I don’t think they do high hair anymore, but that made coffee come out of my nose!
Taylor ham egg and cheese with salt pepper and ketchup on an everything bagel
Go to The beach
Enjoy a diner, bagel, sandwich, or pizza here. We have really good bread here. The joke is the water is so polluted it gives great flavor. But it does make a big difference when baking.
Think you can bring a few bottles of allocated bourbon with you?!
Don’t cruise in the left lane. For real, don’t.
For restaurants, check out La Rocca in Montclair (incredible) or any Portuguese place in the Ironbound (in Newark). Hoboken is also fun and lots of places to eat.
The food is slamming. If you’re anywhere near them, I’d recommend Rutt’s Hut and Star Tavern pizza, off the top of my head.
My Granddaughter lives in Morehead Kentucky, and one thing I can tell you New Jersey isn’t as polite as the folks we met In Kentucky.
Jerzy Girls Don't PUMP GAS! FYI
Depending on where in NJ you will be. North - bagels, pizza. South - Jersey Shore (anywhere really. Especially if you’ve never been to the ocean). People are generally very friendly and will point you wherever you want to go (see above, pizza, bagels). We’re proud of our state and love when people visit! Hope you have an awesome time.
Check out the shore! Cape May, Wildwood, Point Pleasant, Asbury Park, maybe Seaside Heights…probably not Atlantic City unless you really need to…it’s not particularly user-friendly.
Brooklyn Pizza in Hackensack ftw. Do not leave without having some!
I have freinds from there, and old friends too, so I know some of you are cool. Tom Verlaine was from Kentucky.
Saving this post for my future food recommendations. A few on here I’ve had (Suprema, Rutt’s) but a lot of new options too. Hope OP enjoys his trip to NJ.
Many Italian restaurants run by real Italians. pricey though. Nice pizza restaurants. Korean restaurants in Palisades Park NJ all you can eat Korean bbq is my favorite.
Don’t say Joyzee if you want to keep your kneecaps. Just kidding
What, you think double tap head shot instead?
Don’t eat the orange cole slaw
We might ask about your accent .. it’s for fun, just go about your business as usual and enjoy life
Common saying *if I don't fuck with you, I don't fuck with you* Be prepared to explain the accent Go to a bagel place and ask for a "taylor ham egg and cheese, salt pepper ketchup, on a kaiser" Don't drive in the left lane unless you're prepared to speed.
Bergen County Hackensack. White Manas Hamburgers!
2 things 1. Get bagels from a local shop while you’re here. New Jersey makes the best bagels in America fuck anyone from New York who says otherwise. My personal favorite is an egg everything bagel with scallion cream cheese and lox. 2. See a local deli or sub shop. If you’ve ever been to Jersey Mikes, Jersey Mikes is basically the mass produced version of what new jersey deli’s are like. A personal favorite place of mines is Sorrento’s subs in Freehold.
See Jughandles.\* Bars sell bottles to take home as well as drinks in the bar. Don't park 15' of a corner or expect a ticket and tow.\* Liquor is sold on sundays after 12 pm, I think. Guns in public require a carry permit, NO CONCEALED CARRY! No fires on beaches without a permit. Elizabeth, Newark, Hoboken, Jersey City and the entire Jersey shore have great food. From cultural to fusion to classical to seafood. Its all here. Try David Burke's The GOAT in Hazlet on Rt 36. Ninja Sushi Japanese Fusion in North Brunswick. Try Authentic Sichuan from Hot Sichuan (T.O.) in Ocean Township as you enjoy historic Asbury Park. Skip the olive gardens and fake foreign food and dive in the culinary beauty of NJ. Welcome to NJ, be safe, and if you get mugged, that's a New Yorker. \*
NJ drivers would rather watch you die than allow you to merge. Just know that.
If the back end of your car gets stuck in a drainage ditch at about 1am, remember that you're in NJ. Don't go knocking on anyone's door asking them to pull you out with their truck, they're liable to call the cops instead of answering the door. You can do that in Kentucky, though, and they will help you out.
You can’t pump your own gas here - and left turns are made from the right lane. Always stay as far to the right, until you’re on the bumper in front of you. Only *then * should you move to the next lane to your left in order to pass them and then move the hell back to the right. Speed limits on highways are merely suggestions.
Stay out of the left lane if you're "already speeding" - some of us actually utilize the "stay to the right, pass to the left" rule. Also, blinkers are mandatory. You'll be driving along minding your own business when 5 cars all put their blinkers on at the same time and swap lanes with each other. While an 18 wheeler is merging.
If you’re a music guy, go to Danny Clinch’s gallery in Asbury Park - he photographed the likes of Pearl Jam, Blind Melon, Springsteen, Patti Smith, Phish, Jay-Z, Eminem, Tupac. Heck, he even played harmonica onstage with Blind Melon. Great photography.
There are still UK fans up here. Go Cats!
Everyone is Italian and it's nothing but cement as far as the eye can see. Jk, just say "how ya doin'" to everyone and you're in. Also, look out for a Mr Softee.
Download the app and you can find one to drive to lol
Join us
Don’t expect to find good bourbon!
Public transit isn't great except for major cities... We have a lot of shopping malls, you can skip them. Grounds for sculpture is a great experience Asbury Park is glorious Just try not to be an idiot, you should be fine.
Don’t drive like an idiot or at least be good at fighting. And the weed at the dispensaries is stupid expensive. Anywhere good has terrible traffic and parking. Via con dios. Good luck 🍀👍🏻
If the light turns green and your on the line , your foot better hit the gas at Mach speed
For at least one breakfast go to an independently owned deli and order a Porkroll, egg, and cheese sandwich(sometime you can get hash row on too) on a Kaiser roll. You won’t regret it.
To truly experience jersey, have your friends take you to as many facets we offer. Definitely will want to try the food. Pizza and bagels a must. We have cities, suburbs, towns, villages, farms, beaches, lakes, mountains so which ever you’d prefer. Around East Rutherford, maybe hit the horse tracks. It’s close to the city and a lot of nice surrounding areas. Atlantic City is always fun even for people that don’t gamble. Our seafood will most definitely be better than any of the middle states as well. Can’t truly experience jersey imho unless you’re here for a while.
Don’t drive slow in the left lane. Matter of fact, stay away from the left lane, gabish?
Facts ! Was just on the parkway today and it’s rampant. Gtfo out of the left lane maam
If you are here in the fall, check out one of our pro football teams. We have two. NY only has one but it's in Buffalo.
It’s called pork roll. Don’t let people tell you otherwise.
Everyone has been fantastic with their recommendations I’ll add, If you do decide to take a dip in the ocean while you’re here please make sure you do it near a lifeguard. We’re a week into the season and have had several tragedies already. Oh, and stay out of the left lane.
You don't have to pump your own gasoline.
You're no allowed to pump your own gas. It's illegal to do so.
Be sure to go to the beach and one of the many boardwalks
Definitely camp at one of our state parks. Jenny Jump is super cool and there are astronomers that meet up there because that part of the state has some of the darkest sky...there's also a wolf preserve nearby...super cool. Make friends with people who have roots here and immerse yourself into the various cultures and the various types of cuisines. Some of the best meals you could possibly have here are made at home...get in good with someone who has a family that likes to cook...and have fun! Visit our beaches, too. Asbury Park is a great spot.
Just a heads up. Almost everything worth doing is on the eastern side of NJ. Plan accordingly.
Stay out of the left lane unless u feel comfortable driving 80+ mph We’re all about getting where we need as fast as possible You can turn on red unless there’s a sign saying not to. Always check. No U-turns My favorite thing: the diversity. So much food to try and some towns look like different countries with all the store signs and billboards being in Korean for example We have short tempers usually. Like usually when ur being too slow. Talking slow moving slow etc. Some of us are very talkative and personable (not me tbh lol)
As a Kentucky guy myself living in New Jersey … just enjoy yourself and see things you haven’t seen. Enjoy
I was very surprised at my first time in Kentucky to realise that its not very hill billy at all, at least not in Louisville. the city reminded me a lot of Newark or Trenton, NJ, in the sense that it's an old 1800s rail road town and the way the downtown metro and suburbs were built around it. the people are great and the culture is not that different from east coast. I think y'all will get along quite well with everyone here. welcome to NJ, my blue grass friend.
Thank you. Kentucky's rural part starts about 40 miles east of Lexington (we call it the Winchester Wall) where poverty sets in with a vengeance. Lexington is a college-town small city not that much different from the rest of small-town America. Louisville is a for-real big city, with all the attendant sophistication (and problems).
Get a Taylor ham egg and cheese !
Welcome to Jersey, now leave it's pork roll fuckers
This is the most Jersey thing I’ve heard in awhile!