What Are the Best Restaurants in Paramus NJ? A Local's 2026 Guide

Paramus may be best known as the shopping capital of Bergen County, with the Garden State Plaza, the Bergen Town Center, and a Route 17 lined with retail as far as the eye can see. What gets less attention is the dining scene that grew up around all those stores. Between the mall anchors and the long-standing neighborhood spots on the ridge, Paramus has more going for it than most people expect. Here is a local's guide to the best restaurants in Paramus NJ in 2026.

The Garden State Plaza Anchors

Fogo de Chão at 1 Garden State Plaza Blvd is the Brazilian churrasco house where fire-roasted meats are carved tableside, with a generous salad bar to balance the protein. It is a celebration restaurant, best for birthdays, anniversaries, and anyone who wants to leave fully satisfied. Just across the same complex, Grand Lux Cafe serves the upscale comfort food you expect from the team behind The Cheesecake Factory, with big portions, Venetian chandeliers, and a menu that runs from chicken pot pie to short ribs. It is the most reliable big-table option in the mall orbit.

Classic Paramus: The Ridge and Paramus Road

Biagio's Ristorante at 299 Paramus Rd is a long-standing, family-run Italian spot on the ridge serving northern Italian classics for decades. Red-sauce favorites, veal, and seafood share the menu, and the dining rooms have the worn-in warmth of a place where locals have celebrated for years. Just down the road, EL CID at 205 Paramus Rd brings Spanish and Latin flavors, with paella and tapas on the menu and a loyal following for its weekend entertainment.

And for the classic Bergen County experience, Suburban Diner at 172 Route 17 North is a sprawling, round-the-clock diner where breakfast never stops and the menu runs in every direction. It is the dependable answer when no one can agree on what to eat, and it earns a spot in our guide to the best diners in Bergen County.

Route 17 Corridor Favorites

The Route 17 strip holds the everyday standbys. Kiku Restaurant at 365 Route 17 is a hibachi grill and sushi bar where the teppanyaki tables put on a show and the sushi counter stays fresh. Mangiamo Pizza Restaurant & Catering at 501 Route 17 is a neighborhood Italian kitchen known for pizza, pasta, and catering, the kind of place that quietly does the weekday carryout crowd right.

Humdingers at 64 E Midland Ave is a friendly neighborhood bar and grill off the main drag, with wings, burgers, and a proper beer list. For seafood, Bonefish Grill at 601 From Rd is a dependable pick with wood-grilled fish and a popular happy hour. And Shake Shack at 479 Route 17 South needs no introduction for a quick, high-quality burger-and-shake fix.

A Note on Paramus's Sunday Blue Laws

One local quirk matters if you plan a Sunday outing. Paramus's blue laws close most retail stores on Sunday, but restaurants and supermarkets are exempt. That means Sunday brunch at Grand Lux, dinner at Fogo, or an afternoon at the Suburban Diner is very much open for business even when the malls are dark.

Where to Go for What

• Big celebration: Fogo de Chão, for the tableside churrasco experience.
• Big group or comfort food: Grand Lux Cafe.
• Classic Italian: Biagio's Ristorante.
• Spanish or Latin: EL CID.
• Breakfast at any hour: Suburban Diner.
• Quick burger: Shake Shack.
• Neighborhood bar and grill: Humdingers.
• Seafood: Bonefish Grill.

The Bottom Line

Paramus is not a destination-dining town the way Fort Lee or Ridgewood are, and it does not pretend to be. What it offers is reliable, good-value eating within minutes of the region's biggest retail district, plus a handful of genuine local classics worth a detour. For a fuller look at everyday life here, see our Paramus town guide, the honest guide to living in Paramus, and the Paramus property tax breakdown.

Want more local businesses to check out across the county? Our local business spotlights round them up by town.