What Are the Best Restaurants in Hackensack NJ? A Local's 2027 Guide

Hackensack gets typecast as the county seat, the place you drive through for the courthouse or the hospital. That misses the real story. The city's dining scene has quietly become one of the most diverse in Bergen County: a legendary burger counter on the river, a Main Street strip where Colombian and Mexican kitchens sit next to Mediterranean and Italian spots, and a fast-growing Korean and Caribbean scene that keeps expanding. Here is my local's guide to the best restaurants in Hackensack NJ in 2027.

The Legend: White Manna

White Manna at 358 River St is one of New Jersey's most famous burger counters, a tiny 1940s shack where cooks flip thin, onion-heavy sliders on a flat-top grill and hand them over the counter as fast as you can eat them. There is no dining room to speak of, the menu barely needs a menu, and it is worth the trip from anywhere in the county. Go hungry, go early, and know that a plain white bag of burgers is the whole point.

Main Street: Hackensack's Global Strip

Main Street between the courthouse and the river is where the city's immigrant kitchens show off. Mi Rancho Mexican Restaurant at 59 Main St serves a full Mexican menu with generous portions and a loyal following. A few doors up, El Alazan Bar Restaurant at 252 Main St brings the flavors of Latin America, and AURA Restaurant & Bar at 159 Main St is a polished spot for a proper sit-down dinner with cocktails.

Liva Mediterranean Cuisine at 270 Main St rounds out the strip with Lebanese and Mediterranean plates, from mezze spreads to grilled kebabs. And for a taste of South America on the same block, Villa de Colombia at 12 Mercer St is a friendly Colombian cafe and restaurant known for bandeja paisa and weekend breakfast crowds.

Essex Street and the Diner Tradition

No Bergen County dining guide is complete without the diner, and Hackensack has two of the best. The Chit Chat Diner at 515 Essex St is a local institution with a breakfast menu that runs for pages, and the Coach House on Route 4 keeps the classic spirit alive with a big menu and late hours. Both are covered in depth in my best diners in Bergen County guide.

On the same corridor, Bite Food & Coffee Co at 360 Essex St is the modern counterpoint: a cafe serving breakfast sandwiches, bowls, and coffee in a bright, casual space that doubles as a coffee shop and all-day kitchen.

Around the City: Korean, Rodizio, and More

Hackensack's big-flavor destinations spread out from downtown. The Moon Korean BBQ & HOT POT at 450 Hackensack Ave is an all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue and hot pot house, a lively pick for groups who want to cook at the table. Choripan Rodizio at 10 Sussex St brings the Argentine-inspired rodizio experience, with grilled meats carved tableside and chimichurri on every table.

For Italian, Forte Ristorante at 160 Prospect Ave is a classic choice with a full menu of pasta, veal, and seafood in a comfortable dining room. And Mr. Pollo BBQ Deli & Restaurant at 189 Central Ave is the dependable neighborhood spot for rotisserie chicken and Latin home cooking, done right and priced for a weekday dinner.

The Caribbean Corner Is Growing Fast

The city's Caribbean scene is the one to watch. Betta Taste Caribbean Kitchen on Central Avenue and Jerk'D Modern Caribbean Kitchen on Essex Street are both serving right now, and Juici Patties, the Jamaican patty chain, announced its first Bergen County location in Hackensack. My Local Business Spotlights board tracks the openings as they land.

Where to Go for What

• A bucket-list burger: White Manna, for the legendary sliders.
• Breakfast at any hour: Chit Chat Diner or Coach House.
• Latin flavors: Mi Rancho, El Alazan, or Villa de Colombia.
• Tabletop cooking: The Moon Korean BBQ & HOT POT.
• Grilled meats tableside: Choripan Rodizio.
• Mediterranean: Liva Mediterranean Cuisine.
• Classic Italian: Forte Ristorante.
• Quick coffee and breakfast: Bite Food & Coffee Co.

What the Dining Scene Says About the Town

A town's restaurant mix tells you a lot about who lives there, and Hackensack's tells a great story: it is diverse, family-run, and seriously good value compared with the waterfront towns up the road. If you are weighing a move here, spend a weekend eating your way down Main Street. My honest Hackensack guide and the Hackensack town page cover the rest of the city.

Want more recommendations like this one? Reach me at (201) 970-3960 or Scott@sellecksellsnj.com, or book a free discovery call below.