The Forked River Diner Is The Best Diner In NJ

Diners are one of the most sacred eating establishments in the state of New Jersey.

There's something about sitting down in an oversized booth, picking your menu up off the table that's covered in local advertisements, and having a mediocre cup of hot coffee while you peruse through a menu the size of a dictionary.

It's a classic Jersey experience.

I live in Ocean Gate, and as far as diners go, we're kind of in no man's land.

We have the Sand Castle Diner off 9, but they don't open until 7 AM, and when I go to a diner, it's usually around 6 or 6:30.

There's also Grits and Grace near us, but that place is so popular that there's usually a long wait, and since I only ever get eggs and toast, I'm not going to wait. Although Grits and Grace does make a mean breakfast that's worth checking out.

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This Is The Best Diner In Ocean County, NJ, In My Opinion

Then I stumbled upon the Forked River Diner.

The steel, old school diner overlooks a busy part of Route 9, and is a truly classic New Jersey Diner.

I went there for the first time ever after Christmas, and fell in love.

When Does The Forked River Diner Open?

They open at 5 AM, and you feel almost like you step back in time when you pick out a booth to grab some breakfast.

What Makes The Forked River Diner Special

The walls are covered in history, from old pictures to a shelving unit filled with old Hess Trucks and other cool paraphernalia. Just sitting and looking around was fun.

The coffee at the Forked River Diner was better than what you get at most diners, in my opinion, and two eggs, rye toast, and bacon were less than ten bucks, which isn't a bad price nowadays.

If you do pay them a visit, it is cash only, so make sure you hit a Wawa for some cash prior to grabbing a table, and get ready to become a regular because this diner will make you fall in love with it.