Edison is one of the best places in the United States to eat Indian food. The Oak Tree Road corridor through Edison and Iselin is lined with restaurants, sweet shops and grocers, and the surrounding towns in Middlesex and Somerset counties add dozens more. This list picks ten of the best-rated restaurants in the area, with a note on what each one does best.
How we chose: We started with every South Asian restaurant in our Edison listings whose address is in New Jersey, ranked them by public rating, and kept dine-in restaurants within a short drive of Edison. Caterers are listed separately at the end. Ratings change, so check the listing before you go.
1. Saci Indian Bistro
1734 Oak Tree Road, Edison · Rated 4.8
The best-rated sit-down restaurant on Oak Tree Road itself, and the easiest recommendation for a first visit to the corridor. Order a mix of tandoor dishes and curries to share, then walk off dinner on Oak Tree Road's shopping strip.
2. Utsav Grand
1250 Route 27, Colonia · Rated 4.8
A women-owned restaurant on Route 27, a few minutes north of Edison. It's well suited to family meals and larger groups, and it serves coffee and chai as well as full meals.
3. Bhog Indian Restaurant
2 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Somerset · Rated 4.7
A well-rated Somerset restaurant noted for its tea selection and local specialities. Ask what's regional on the menu that day.
4. Chatpati Delhi
3201 Route 27, Franklin Park · Rated 4.7
A long menu of familiar favourites, including dosa and thali. A thali is a full meal on one platter: rice, bread, several curries, dal, yoghurt and a sweet. It's the best way to try a lot at once, and Chatpati Delhi is also noted for its desserts.
5. Eggholic – Indian Street Food
1679 Oak Tree Road, Edison · Rated 4.7
As the name suggests, this is a specialist in egg-based street food, in the style of the late-night anda (egg) carts of Indian cities. Think masala omelettes, egg bhurji (spiced scrambled eggs), and egg curries with pav bread. It's quick, inexpensive and a lot of fun.
6. Punjabi Rasoi
1483 Route 27, Somerset · Rated 4.7
A small, simple room focused on tandoori dishes and vegetarian North Indian curries. It's a good place for dal makhani, chana masala and fresh tandoori roti. It has outdoor seating and occasional live music.
7. The Madina Fountain BBQ & Grill
1 Schuyler Drive, Edison · Rated 4.7
A halal restaurant for grilled meats, curries and biryani. Finish with falooda, a layered dessert drink of rose syrup, vermicelli, basil seeds and ice cream.
8. The Clove Garden Indian Cuisine
68 Ryders Lane, East Brunswick · Rated 4.7
A neighbourhood Indian restaurant in East Brunswick with live music on some nights and sports on the TV. It's a relaxed choice if you live on the south side of Edison.
9. A2B Indian Veg Restaurant
6400 Hadley Road, South Plainfield · Rated 4.6
A fully vegetarian Indian restaurant that grew out of a well-known sweets and snacks shop. Come for South Indian tiffin (dosa, idli, vada) and leave with a box of sweets. The coffee and tea are good too.
10. Surti Zaika
1700 Oak Tree Road, Suite 7, Edison · Rated 4.6
The name refers to Surat, the Gujarati city famous for its snacks and street food. Gujarati cooking is largely vegetarian and balances sweet, sour and spicy flavours. It's a good place to try something beyond the standard North Indian menu.
Also worth knowing
- More on Oak Tree Road and Route 27: Bombay Spice II (95 Lincoln Highway) and Eight Indian Bistro (161 Route 27) are both well rated.
- Vegetarian: Saffron – Pure Veg on Stelton Road in Piscataway is a fully vegetarian restaurant.
- Chettinad in Jersey City: Masala Cafe Chettinad on Newark Avenue, near Jersey City's India Square, serves the fiery, pepper-heavy food of Tamil Nadu's Chettinad region.
- Catering: Edison is a centre for South Asian wedding catering. Moghul Catering on Oak Tree Road is known for multi-day wedding events, and Chamkila Caterers on Woodbridge Avenue is the highest-rated caterer in our listings.
Tips for eating in Edison
- Parking on Oak Tree Road is tight on weekend evenings. Many lots are shared, so read the signs before you leave your car.
- Go at lunchtime on a weekday for the best value and the shortest waits.
- Plan around festivals. Around Diwali and during wedding season (roughly October to February), sweet shops and caterers are extremely busy. Order ahead.
- Ask for "Indian spicy" if you want the full heat. Most kitchens tone it down by default.
For neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood advice and the full list of restaurants with hours and phone numbers, see our Edison, NJ city guide.