Outrageous Jersey eats; our top 10 most-viewed Instagram food videos of 2023
Hey North Jersey, The Record's newest food writer @karanicolev here with one of 2023's most fun culinary recaps.
So, I know many of you have been reading my articles, and — from uncovering secret bakeries to explaining the Grimace Shake — I've had a great time writing them.
What many of you don't know, however, is that I've also been running the @northjerseyeats Instagram page; our paper's social media account committed to helping you find the best things to eat in Jersey. As a Gen Z member, I've had admittedly a much more great time doing that.
And, judging from the metrics? You guys have a better time with that, too. A few of my posts have more views than the number of residents in Bergen County (which, mind you, is the most populated in the state).
Since I joined the team seven months ago, millions of you guys have clicked, viewed and double tapped my content. Now, with the year coming to an end, I look back at some of those posts to bring you on a mouthwatering trip down memory lane (and to convince the non-followers — through a one-foot taco — to join us next season).
Featuring junk food to giant food, then, here are @northjerseyeats most-viewed Instagram videos of 2023.
10. Classic Italian Eats at Franco's Metro; 84,900 views
Kicking off this list is a cheesy, carb-loaded video of the best menu items at Garden State Italian food institution; Franco's Metro. Serving Jersey for more than 50 years, the family-owned spot is located in Fort Lee, and is known for its decadent pastas, homemade pizzas and outrageously buttery garlic knots.
The reel captures the audience's attention with an establishing shot of the team's Lump Crab Carbonara, and continues to engage with a crispy Veal Chop Parmigiana, Stuffed and Meaty Pizza and those sinfully delicious aforementioned knots.
Where: Franco's Metro; 1475 Bergen Blvd., Fort Lee; francosmetro.com.
9. The One-Foot Taco; 88,200 views
If there's one thing I've learned from running a Jersey-based food Instagram page, it's that residents of this state love oversized foods. When I heard about Tito's Burritos Fat Tacos, then, I knew I had to head to South Orange to tape them.
Available in two flavors — the Fat Amy (crispy chicken and chipotle sauce) and the Fat Bastard (ground beef, cheese, sour cream, etc.) — the foot-long Mexican bangers gained almost 90K views, thus proving my point (and tasting delicious).
Where: Tito's Burritos; Summit, Ridgewood & South Orange; titosburritos.com.
8. Jersey's Most Festive Cocktail Bar, 133 K views
The first of my 2023 posts to hit 100,000 views, this reel followed my POV as I walked through Miracle on Valley; the annual Christmas-themed pop-up bar inside of Gus' Last Word in Wood-Ridge. Beginning with an atmosphere-setting shot, the video proceeded to show the concept's festive drinks, such as the Christmaspolitan, Naughty and Nice shots and Rudolph's Replacement (an espresso martini served in a T-Rex wearing a Santa hat).
Though many other North Jersey influencers created content in the spot, I released @northjerseyeat's in mid-November, AKA, before you guys were sick of the Christmas stuff. That timing — or the slow-motion popcorn chicken dunk included — it seems, was a game-changer.
Where: Miracle on Valley Bar (inside Gus' Last Word); 191 Valley Blvd., Wood-Ridge; instagram.com/miracleonvalley.
7. North Jersey's Hottest New Bagel Spot, 137 K views
You've seen bagels before, but you've never seen them like this. Loaded with truffles, kimchi cream cheese and more, Walnut Street Bagels & Co. serves artisan, chef-crafted bagels — that, mind you, are still affordable.
Some creations I tried were a Cacio e Pepe bagel, a Monte Cristo on a deep-fried French toast bagel and a Filipino Breakfast Sandwich. When I released those high-end sammies on social media, you guys went nuts; simultaneously proving that New Jersey loves its bagels, and that Walnut Street is the hottest new place to get them.
Where: Walnut Street Bagels & Co.; 98 Walnut St., Montclair;
6. Kenko's Outrageous Sushi, 140 K views
With the word of mouth going around about Kenko, I knew there was no way this video was going to fail. Perhaps Lincoln Park's most famous hole-in-the-wall, the locally-cherished spot is known by its fans for serving "the best sushi in the state."
Whether or not that's true; I couldn't say for sure. But the massive rolls they served me in the video certainly indicate it could be.
Where: Kenko Sushi; 261 Comly Rd., Lincoln Park; kenkosushinj.com.
5. The Fried Chicken Bento Box, 190 K views
What do you get when a fine dining chef leaves Restaurant Daniel to open a fast food spot? Jersey's fanciest fried chicken.
Served in a five-flavor, divided bento box, the chicken sampler at Bloom Chicken features various varieties of upscale boneless fried chicken bites (think Citrus Honey and Miso BBQ) in beautifully arranged, geometrically-pleasing rows.
Video taped alongside the spot's saucy Monster Chicken Sandwich, the unique offering has garnered nearly 200,000 views so far.
Where: Bloom Chicken; 365 Essex St., Hackensack; bloomchicken.com.
4. Grumpy's 32-Inch Pizza, 235 K views
Essentially the size of an area rug, the 32" pizza at Grumpy's Pizza Co. is so big it takes up the entire pizza oven while cooking. Originally invented to be a food challenge for competitive eaters, the pie boasts eight 16-inch slices.
In the video, I showcase the jumbo dish next to humans — and a regular pizza — for scale. That size comparison paid off, turning the heads of nearly 250K intrigued social media users.
Where: Grumpy's Pizza Co.; 522 Saddle River Rd., Saddle Brook; grumpysnj.com.
3. An Indian Food Sports Bar, 400 K views
Social Hub, an Indian food sports bar in Parsippany, is the first restaurant of its kind in New Jersey. Offering a fun menu of classic global bar bites (quesadillas, stuffed mushrooms, tacos, etc.) reinvented with South Asian twists, the spot is easily one of the best places to eat in Morris County.
Some of the one-of-a-kind dishes that caught Instagram users' eyes? A Chicken Tikka Pizza, Truffle Mushroom Naan and Butter Chicken Bao Buns.
Where: Social Hub; 1735 Route 46, Parsippany; socialbydhaba.com.
2. The Two-Foot Pizza Slice, 1.34 M views
Like a regular pizza slice — but bigger — Wayne Pizza and Ale House's two-foot Supersize Me Slice takes the second spot on this list, garnering over 1.3 million views. That doesn't come as a surprise, though, because, when held next to owner Rob Corujo's head, the colossal triangle looks outrageous.
Drippy, saucy, cheesy and drool-worthy, there's nothing about the creation that suggests it shouldn't become an internet sensation.
And, for a giant food? It actually tasted pretty good, too.
Where: Wayne Pizza and Ale House; 611 Ratzer Rd., Wayne; waynealehouse.com.
1. The One-Pound Mozzarella Stick, 2.54 M views
The only thing more New Jersey than a one-pound, deep-fried block of mutz is the fact that the one-pound, deep-fried block of mutz got over 2.5 million views on the internet.
Move this thing to Seaside Heights, and it'd have an MTV show within a year.
Where: The Brookdale; 1099 Broad St., Bloomfield; thebrookdale.com.
Kara VanDooijeweert is a food writer for NorthJersey.com and The Record. If you can't find her in Jersey's best restaurants, she's probably off running a race course in the mountains. Catch her on Instagram: @karanicolev & @northjerseyeats, and sign up for her North Jersey Eats newsletter.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Outrageous eats; our top 10 most-viewed Instagram food videos of 2023
