Our family has been eating its way through Seaside Heights every summer since 2012, and we have opinions. This guide covers the restaurants in Seaside Heights NJ that we actually go back to, plus a handful just over the town line that are worth the drive.
A quick note on how it’s organized: a few of our favorites are in Lavallette, Seaside Park and Toms River. They get their own section further down, so you always know what’s a short walk and what needs a car.
If you only have time for one dinner, start here:
- Best overall: PJ’s Place, BYOB and our personal favorite
- Best view: Lobster Lounge, up above the boardwalk
- Best with kids: Seaside Social House or Klee’s
- Best on a budget: Maruca’s or CheeseSteak Louie’s takeout
- Best BYOB dinner: Breakin’ Bread on the Boulevard
- Worth the drive: Ohana Grill in Lavallette
Last checked October 2026. Hours change by season, so call before you go.
Let’s get eating!
Before you book dinner: parking, reservations and BYOB
Parking is the thing nobody plans for. On a peak summer Friday or Saturday, finding a spot near any restaurant in Seaside Heights, Seaside Park or Lavallette may add 20 minutes to your night. Read our Seaside Heights parking guide before you go, or just walk or Uber.
Reservations matter in general but especially at the better spots. The most popular restaurants fill up weeks ahead in July and August. If you have your heart set on somewhere, call or book online before you leave home.
And a lot of the sit-down places here are BYOB. That’s a real perk. Pick up a bottle before dinner and the bill gets a lot friendlier. We flag every BYOB below, but policies change, so confirm when you reserve.
Seaside Heights Restaurants, A Local 2026 Guide
After more than a decade eating our way through Seaside Heights every summer, some places have earned a permanent spot on our rotation. A few we keep trying out of loyalty even when they disappoint us. And some we’re done with entirely.
In selecting the best restaurants in Seaside Heights we factored in our many experiences, which places use high-quality ingredients, service, a great shore vibe, and value for money. We did not simply list every single restaurant with four stars and above, because we know better.
The Best Restaurants in Seaside Heights 2026
1. Seaside Social House
Pizza and Burgers| 116 Sumner Ave, Seaside Heights
Pizza, Sports, and Cocktails, what else could you want. The wings, the zucchini fritters and the meatballs are great, though my favorite is the smash burger.. Karaoke night is a good time. There’s patio seating, and it works for families.
2. CheeseSteak Louie’s
American | 22 Boulevard, Seaside Heights
Not a sit-down restaurant, but the cheesesteaks are amazin. If you’ve ever tried to find a real Philly cheesesteak in New Jersey, you know how hard it is. Louie’s comes closer than anything else in Seaside. Perfect for a takeout night when no one wants to deal with a full dinner out. You can also order online.
3. Klee’s Bar & Grill
American | 101 Boulevard, Seaside Heights
Klee’s is the reliable standby. It’s not going to be the most exciting meal you have in Seaside, but it’s consistent, the menu is big enough for everyone in a group to find something, and the bar pies are legitimately good. No reservations, so be ready to wait. We often just do takeout from Klee’s and eat on the patio back at the rental.
The horseradish burger was a special, and it was seriously juicy & delicious…Jenny
4. Lobster Lounge
Seafood | 901 Boardwalk, Seaside Heights
The lobster rolls are excellent and the lobster roll menu covers the classics — they do clam chowder well too. It’s located up above the Boardwalk, so you actually get decent ocean views while you eat, which is rarer than you’d think for a Boardwalk restaurant. Call for reservations.
5. Breaking Bread on the Boulevard
Italian | 115 Boulevard, Seaside Heights
Family-run, friendly, and the Italian food is generally good. It’s a small space, so reservations are important. The food is a bit pricy for a BYOB, but the quality is there. They also do some breakfast/brunch options if you’re looking to mix it up. Book on OpenTable
6. PJ’s Place
Italian & Seafood | 419 Bayside Terrace, Seaside Heights
One of our personal favorites. It’s directly on the Boardwalk, BYOB, and a lot of the seats have a view of the ocean and the beach. The Seafood Paella is excellent, and if you’re there on a Sunday, get the Sunday Dinner — it’s only available that day. It also doubles as a breakfast spot, which we love. Reservations recommended.
7. Chef Mike’s Legacy
American | 1415 Boulevard, Seaside Heights
Chef Mike Jurusz closed Chef Mike’s ABG in Seaside Park in late 2025 and opened this successor in July 2026, pitched as the first fine-dining restaurant in Seaside Heights. It seats about 80 inside and 30 on the patio, takes dinner reservations, and runs a walk-in happy hour in the late afternoon. Chef Mike plans to stay open year-round, which is rare here after Labor Day.
Drinks were impressive…Dara
8. Beach Tacos
Mexican | 1904 N. Ocean Ave, Boardwalk, Seaside Park
Great tacos — steak, chicken, al pastor, carnitas, chorizo, fish, rock shrimp, grilled vegetables — and a little-known secret: they have a roof terrace with a pretty good ocean view. And it’s BYOB. Grab a six-pack and get up there.
9. The Ocean View
Pizza | 601 Ocean Terrace, Seaside Heights
A Shore institution. Maruca’s was on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, and the sauce-on-top pizza is its own thing. If you haven’t tried it, you have to go at least once. Located right on the Boardwalk. No reservations needed — it’s counter service.
10. Pelicans Wharf
Seafood | 419 Bayside Terrace, Seaside Heights
Chef Justin Carlisli, who also owns Sunset Key in Lavallette, opened this bayfront spot in late May 2026. The water views are amazing. The seafood boils are packed with food at a fair price.
The hot lobster roll, the old-bay fries and the free biscuits are the other standouts, and a non-seafood eater says the burger holds up. BYOB.
The service we had was phenomenal and we found the food to be absolutely outstanding…Leah
Best Seaside Heights Restaurants by Situation
Families with Kids
Most Seaside Heights restaurants are casual enough that a family dinner is not a big production. That said, some spots are much easier than others.
Best with kids:
- Seaside Social House: big menu, casual, no pressure
- Klee’: they’ve seen every kind of family, the bar pies keep kids happy
- Ebby’s (Seaside Park): outdoor tent seating in summer, relaxed Italian, good for bigger family groups
- Jimbo’s Bar & Grill: right next to Casino Pier, weekday happy-hour deals on fries and pizza
- Maruca’s — counter service Boardwalk pizza, the easiest possible dinner
Skip with young kids: Ohana Grill (tight parking, long waits, they won’t seat incomplete parties), Lenny’s on a Saturday night (hour+ waits with hungry kids is its own adventure), Berkley Cut.
Date Night
You’ve got a few hours and you actually want to eat well.
- PJ’s Place: BYOB, ocean views, Seafood Paella. Romantic without trying too hard.
- Chef Mike’s Legacy: fine dining by reservation, open since July 2026
- Pelicans Wharf: waterfront seafood on the bay, new in 2026
- Lobster Lounge: Boardwalk views, good food, easy to make a night of it.
- Ohana Grill (Lavallette): the best meal near Seaside, period. Book weeks ahead.
- Lenny’s (Lavallette): consistently great food. Bring a nice bottle.
Watching the Budget
Eating out in Seaside Heights adds up fast, especially with a family. A few ways to keep it reasonable.
BYOB everything you can. The gap between a $60 dinner and a $100 dinner is usually just the bar tab. Most of the better Seaside Heights restaurants are BYOB, pick up wine or beer before you go.
Boardwalk food stands are cheaper than sit-down and they’re part of the experience. A slice at Maruca’s, tacos at Beach Tacos, a sandwich from Jersey Roll, you don’t need a full sit-down every night.
Takeout from Klee’s get it, eat on the balcony or the patio, and save yourself the wait. Some nights that’s the right call.
Gigi’s is BYOB with a larger space, which makes splitting easier for groups.
Heads up: A few places add automatic gratuity and card processing fees on top of already-high menu prices. Gigi’s adds the processing fee, and parties over 6 get auto-gratuity. Ask upfront when you’re not sure.
BYOB Restaurants In Seaside Heights
BYOB keeps the bill manageable, and your favorite bottle is guaranteed to be on the table. In town, that’s PJ’s Place, Breakin’ Bread and Gigi’s. Just over the bridge, Xina in Toms River is BYOB, and so are Ohana Grill and Lenny’s in Lavallette. For breakfast, Mila’s of Seaside at 701 Boulevard is BYOB too. Always confirm when you reserve.
Seaside Heights Restaurants with Live Music
Looking for a night out on the town without the kids? Here are some great hot spots that have great food and entertainment – and cater to adults of all ages.
- Spicy’ Bar and Grill, live every night during the summer season
- Beachcombers Bar and Grill, bands every weekend in the summer.
- Ebby’s in Seaside Park
- Bum Rogers Crabhouse
Restaurants with Outdoor Seating
When the weather is right, and at the Shore, it usually is, eating outside just feels better. These spots have outdoor seating options:
- Spicy Mexican Cantina
- PJs Place
- The Sawmill
- Berkley Cut Steakhouse
- Breaking Bread
- Chef Mike’s Legacy
- The Ocean View
Late-night eats
This is the gap on most Seaside lists. The Original Steaks (21 Ocean Terrace) is open until 1 a.m. on Thursdays and 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Beachcomber is open daily until 2 a.m. and The Ocean View runs until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays per. Call ahead in the off-season, because late hours tend to shrink.
More Seaside Heights Restaurants on the Boardwalk
If you’re walking the Boardwalk and want to grab something on the fly, here’s what you’ll find. Some (as noted) are counter-service and food stands — not sit-down restaurants, but essential to the Seaside experience.
| Spot | Type | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Maruca’s Tomato Pies 4.4 682 reviews on Google | Sit-down bar and grill | Sauce-on-top pizza, open year-round |
| Jersey Roll 4.2 170 reviews on Google | Sit-down bar and grill | Breakfast sandwiches and fresh homemade donuts |
| The Original Steaks 4.3 Based on 142 reviews | Counter service | Cheesesteaks, late hours |
| Jimbo’s Bar & Grill 4.1 1,194 reviews on Google | Sit-down bar and grill | Fish Tacos |
| Seaside Empanadas 4.7 Based on 81 reviews | Food stand | Chicken empanadas, chocolate churros |
| Midway Steak House 4.3 436 reviews on Google | Food stand | Sausage & Peppers |
| Shore Slice 4.2 111 reviews on Google | Pizza | Pizza of course |
| Macc’s Mac & Cheese 3.8 49 reviews on Google | Food stand | Pulled pork bowl |
| Falafel Meets Shawarma 4.8 Based on 21 reviews | Food stand | Beef Shawarma |
| Three Brothers 3.7 625 reviews on Google | Pizza | Pizza |
For the deeper dive, read our guides to boardwalk restaurants, boardwalk food and the best Seaside Heights pizza. The seafood lovers in your group will want our Seaside Heights seafood restaurant guide too.
Restaurants near Seaside Heights worth the short drive
Some of the best meals we’ve had on this stretch of the Shore are not technically in Seaside Heights. Lavallette is about five minutes away, Seaside Park is right next door, and Toms River is about ten minutes over the bridge. These are the ones we’d make the trip for.
| Restaurant | Town | Why we’d go |
|---|---|---|
| Ohana Grill 4.5 258 reviews on Google | 65 Grand Central Ave, Lavallette | One of the best meals near Seaside, full stop and BYOB. Hawaii-influenced American, and the mini pork tacos with pineapple slaw and the Ginger Hoisin BBQ Pork Chop are the standouts. Call (732) 830-4040 and book weeks out. Fall hours are limited, roughly Thursday to Saturday evenings, so call first. |
| Lenny’s Pizza & Italian Grill 4.4 700 reviews on Google | 406 Grand Central Ave, Lavallette | The most consistently reliable food around, BYOB . The penne alla vodka is the real deal and the Limoncello cake is not to be skipped. Saturday waits can run hours. |
| Mad Fish Company 4.7 111 reviews on Google | 1001 SW Central Ave, Seaside Park | Low-key local seafood with limited seating, open Friday through Sunday only. Confirm hours before you go. |
| Ebby’s Ristorante & Lounge 4.0 729 reviews on Google | 2013 Central Ave, Seaside Park | Good for bigger groups. Summer tents give you outdoor room, and there’s live music some nights. The food has been inconsistent, so go in with realistic expectations. |
| Berkeley Cut Steakhouse 4.1 343 reviews on Google | 2204 Central Ave, Seaside Park | Cool outdoor setting, local and family-owned. The food has been inconsistent, so go in with realistic expectations. |
| Xina 4.6 1,974 reviews on Google | 3430 NJ-37, Toms River | Big sushi menu, consistently good, BYOB. The pick when your group needs a break from pizza and seafood. |
Breakfast Spots in Seaside Heights NJ
Dinner sorted. Now, the morning after the beach:
- Mila’s of Seaside The newest addition to the breakfast scene and already one of the most talked-about spots on the island. BYOB brunch, trendy atmosphere, house made breakfast options. Reservations recommended, the food is delicious.
- Jersey Roll on the Boardwalk in Seaside Heights. Place to go for breakfast sandwiches and fresh homemade donuts.
- PJ’s Place is both a great dinner spot and a breakfast spot. Freshly made eggs, bacon, and all the trimmings.
- Jimmy’s Breakfast in Seaside Heights.
Looking for a full list of the best breakfasts spots? Discover where to find vegan options, the best breakfast sandwiches and more. We have you covered!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there BYOB restaurants in Seaside Heights? Yes — quite a few. Ohana Grill, Lenny’s, PJ’s Place, Breaking Bread, Gigi’s, Sunset Seafood, Beach Tacos, and Xina are all BYOB. Pick up a bottle before dinner and you’ll save real money. Always confirm BYOB status when you make your reservation since policies can change.
Do I need reservations for Seaside Heights restaurants? For the places people actually want to eat, yes — especially in July and August. Ohana Grill, Lenny’s, PJ’s Place, Breaking Bread, and Lobster Lounge fill up weeks out during peak season. Book before you arrive. Klee’s, Hooks, and Maruca’s don’t take reservations, so you wait in line.
Is there fine dining in Seaside Heights? Not in a white-tablecloth sense. The closest thing near Seaside Heights right now is Ohana Grill in Lavallette — real ingredients, creative menu, a step above typical Shore food, though it’s still casual. Berkley Cut Steakhouse in Seaside Park is trying to fill that gap but has been inconsistent.
Where can I eat on the Seaside Heights Boardwalk? Sit-down options on or right off the Boardwalk: Lobster Lounge (901 Boardwalk), PJ’s Place (Bayside Terrace), and Ocean View Restaurant. For food stands and counter service: Maruca’s, Beach Tacos, Jersey Roll, Sawmill and plenty more as you walk.
What’s the best seafood in Seaside Heights? For sit-down: PJ’s Place (Seafood Paella, Boardwalk-adjacent), Sunset Seafood (bay-side, fresh), Mad Fish Company (Seaside Park, local catch, Fri–Sun only), Lobster Lounge (lobster rolls on the Boardwalk), and Mystic Lobster Roll Company (Seaside Park, Maine lobster). The Seaside Heights seafood guide goes deeper.
Where should I eat with a big group? Gigi’s (BYOB, bigger dining room), Ebby’s in Seaside Park (outdoor tents in summer), Klee’s (big menu, always turning tables), and Seaside Social House all handle groups well. Call ahead wherever you go — most smaller spots can accommodate but need warning.
What restaurants near Seaside Heights are worth a short drive? Ohana Grill (Lavallette, 5 minutes) is the main one — best meal near Seaside Heights, full stop. Lenny’s (Lavallette, 5 minutes) for consistent Italian and pizza. Xina (Toms River, 10 minutes over the bridge) when someone needs sushi.
Ultimately, the best restaurants in Seaside Heights provide an exceptional dining experience that satisfies both the taste buds and other senses, creating a memorable and enjoyable experience for guests.
After Dinner in Seaside Heights
If the night isn’t over when dinner ends, and in summer it shouldn’t be, our Seaside Heights bars guide covers drinks and live music on and off the boardwalk. Check what’s happening on the calendar for fireworks and concerts, and browse things to do in Seaside Heights for the daytime plan. Planning a full week? Everything on this page is a short drive or walk from our Seaside Heights rental, and you can check 2027 availability any time.
Now go eat something good.
THE AUTHOR
I have spent my whole life going to and loving the beach. I am a wife, a mom of 2, and a business leader with an MBA in Marketing from Seton Hall University. We have owned a home in Seaside Heights since 2012, and I have been writing about Seaside Heights and the beach for the past 10 years. I love discovering new things about our town and helping you make the most of your vacation. The only thing I love more than writing about Seaside Heights is being there!
