Top 10 Best Lakewood Kosher Restaurants (Updated 2026)
As one of the fastest-growing Jewish communities in the world, Lakewood, a once-sleepy vacation town in New Jersey, has become a go-to destination for kosher foodies in a dynamic scene alongside other “hot kosher cities” such as Miami, Paris, and New York’s Manhattan and Brooklyn.
From traditional pizza joints to modern fusion and concept restaurants, Lakewood offers a kosher option for nearly any taste profile, mood, or occasion. With so many options, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one.
Here, we provide an overview of the top 10 kosher restaurants in Lakewood (and surrounding communities of Jackson and Toms River), with a few bonus additions for 2026. We use a mix of qualitative and quantitative metrics in our ranking, including Google reviews, popularity, uniqueness, and, at times, firsthand experience.
There are so many contenders for the best kosher spots in Lakewood and its surrounding communities, such as Howell, Brick, Toms River, and Jackson, that we have added a few bonus restaurants to the top 10, with a particular focus on exciting new entrants.
Mike’s Chicken Crunchers
Best Fast Food (Meat)
In just a few years, Mike’s Chicken has become a household name. On offer are a variety of perfectly crisp chicken items, along with a plethora of unique and delicious sauces. Our favorite is definitely the fire poppers!
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Entree
Best Fine Dining (Meat)
From a variety of steaks to craft drinks, Entree brings New York City fine dining to Lakewood, NJ. With best-in-class hospitality and service, Entree is a great choice for a special date or to close that much-sought-after business deal.
Other great options include the recent opening of The Loft, a well-loved Brooklyn fine-dining restaurant, which we cover in greater detail in this article under “the new additions.”
Bagel Nosh
Best Breakfast
A fixture of Lakewood, Bagel Nosh is one of the originals when Lakewood food and shopping consisted of Clifton Avenue and not much else. With a full lineup of bagels and much-loved donuts in all shapes, colors, and sizes, Bagel Nosh is the go-to place for a solid breakfast.
Another Option: Rosemary in Jackson
Rosemary is also a newer, popular bagel spot in Jackson. See below for some of the sandwiches we have tried at Rosemary, including the tuna melt and Spanish eggs on a bagel.
Pizza Plus
Best Pizza
Like Bagel Nosh, Pizza Plus is one of the original guards, harkening back to an era when Lakewood had only a few kosher stores. Even though there are now enough pizza options in town to make you dizzy with decision fatigue, Pizza Plus holds its own and offers a reliable spot for a solid slice, time after time.
Sushi Nation
Best Sushi
In our humble opinion, a kosher food hotspot without a solid sushi option is just missing something important. Thankfully, Lakewood has Sushi Nation, which offers a tantalizing array of rolls, appetizers, and platters.
Lutali
Best Fine Dining (Dairy)
With roots in Brooklyn, where its original dairy restaurant sits on Avenue K just off Coney Island Avenue, Lutali brings an Italian-inspired dining experience to nearby Toms River. The menu ranges from black truffle pappardelle and gnocchi to flatbreads, fish, and sushi, making it an appealing choice for a dairy date night or an evening with friends. Full waiter service at dinner adds to the experience, while tiramisu provides a fitting finish. The brand is also branching into meat with Lutali Carne on Coney Island Avenue near Avenue M in Brooklyn, which we previously covered.
Cafotteria Modern Eatery
Best For Brunch
With unique decor and a winning lineup of breakfast and lunch favorites, including must-try pancakes, Cafotteria is a great choice for that perfect brunch. Located in a more upscale outdoor shopping plaza, eating outdoors on a nice day is an extra special touch.
Lamppost Bistro Bar & Lounge
Best Bistro (Meat)
A fusion of bistro and lounge, Lamppost is in Pine Beach, New Jersey, just minutes from Lakewood. It offers a stellar menu of bistro favorites, including steaks, plus craft cocktails. The decor is unique and inviting, adding a new, refreshing aesthetic to Lakewood’s ever-growing restaurant scene. We tried the “Large Meat Board,” which includes: 1 Bone-In Rib Steak, 2 Filet Mignons, 1 Lamb Chop, 1 Skirt Steak Salad, tri-color sweet potato fries, House Fries, and Onion Rings. At a whopping $450, we expected much more meat, but what was included was tasty
Mentoast By Keepshuto
Best Israeli Cuisine
Offering Israeli favorites you crave when you’re not in the Holy Land, Mentoast by Keepshuto (what a name!) is the choice for everything Middle Eastern, from Shawarma to falafel, plus some American favorites, including burgers. We recommend getting shawarma in a laffa for a truly delicious throwback to Israel.
Yapchik
Best Take-Out
Both a sit-down restaurant and take-out spot, Yapchik offers a wide assortment of cuisines and is a top choice for take-out. From Chinese and American food to Jewish favorites, Yapchik has practically everything one could fathom.
Two Bonus Additions
As an illustration of the many great kosher restaurants to choose from in Lakewood, in addition to the top 10 best choices listed above, there are two additional favorites, in our opinion, that one should consider trying. Glatt Bite is one of the original fast-food joints of Lakewood, offering very efficient service and a large seating area. On the dairy side, Panini Cafe offers reasonably priced items, including pasta, fish, and sandwiches.
Impressive New Entrants
With a list of the top 10 best Lakewood kosher restaurants, plus the previous three bonus additions, including more restaurants, it might seem a bit overdone, but we think it is simply a testament to Lakewood’s incredibly dynamic food scene.
The Loft Steakhouse – “Jersey”
Best New Steakhouse
The Loft Steakhouse, originally of Brooklyn, a much-loved destination and a ranking member of our Top 10 Best Brooklyn Kosher Restaurants, has opened in Lakewood at 1600 NJ-70. The Lakewood location follows in the footsteps of its sister location, with heavy emphasis on premium decor and finishes and a standout menu to match. This is truly a game-changer for the Lakewood restaurant landscape, and we couldn’t be more excited.
Taquito
Best Kosher Mexican Food
Taquito (not to be confused with “El Taquito,” a non-kosher Lakewood restaurant) is a new taco joint that opened in 2023 and offers the most “authentic Mexican” kosher fare that we have seen in the NY Metro. The namesake of the restaurant – the “taquitos” and the (chicken) chicharrones are go-to items off the menu. We especially like that the menu items seem fresh and that the sauces and condiments are made in-house.
Ishtabach
Best Kosher from the Shuk
Ishtabach, the renowned Kurdish restaurant from Jerusalem’s Mahane Yehuda Market, has opened its first U.S. location in Toms River, NJ, near Lakewood. Known for its signature dish, the Shamburak—a savory pastry filled with Indian mashed potatoes and braised meats—Ishtabach brings a unique culinary experience to the area. With a commitment to authenticity and a cozy atmosphere reminiscent of its Jerusalem roots, this kosher eatery is set to become a favorite among local food enthusiasts seeking delicious Middle Eastern flavors.
Bonsai
Best New Asian Fusion
Technically in Toms River, and in the same shopping center as the previously mentioned Ishtabach, Bonsai offers a variety of Asian-fusion dishes, ranging from sushi to lo mein. We had friendly service, and the food was good, though the tables and chairs could use more regular cleaning.
Lakewood Continues To Surprise To The Upside
What was once a sleepy vacation village, Lakewood, NJ, has grown into a hectic center of business, food, and culture of the Orthodox Jewish community. In particular, Lakewood continues to surprise to the upside with the interesting and exciting kosher restaurants it adds to the kosher food landscape.
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