In a state renowned for its superb foodie towns, Cherry Hill stands out among the best.
The well-known Philadelphia suburb enhances an already vibrant culinary scene with a variety of Chinese, American, Indian, Mexican, breakfast and brunch eats. While the northern half of the New Jersey might not be too familiar with its offerings, Cherry Hill draws customers from Pennsylvania and Delaware due to its exceeding dining options.
As a South Jerseyan myself, I believe Cherry Hill can hold its own against North Jersey’s culinary gems like Jersey City, Montclair and Newark.
But don’t just take my word for it — here are Cherry Hill’s top 11 restaurants.
Chu Shang Hotpot in Cherry Hill. (Christopher Burch | NJ.com)Christopher Burch
Chu Shang opened in in December 2024, serving both hot pot and tabletop Korean barbecue alongside superb birthday entertainment including dancing animals. Yes, the staff dresses up in tiger and panda costumes.
But the dancing animals wouldn’t be as cool if the food at Chu Shang wasn’t delicious.
Guests can enjoy all-you-can-eat hot pot or Korean barbecue ($39.95) or both ($43.95). The price includes a plethora of meats like bulgogi, spicy pork belly and salmon as well as vegetables, noodles, gyoza, fried chicken, tofu, ice cream and much more.
Cherry Hill houses plenty of great Asian eateries but Chu Shang separates itself with its exuberant atmosphere and plethora of hotpot and K-pot offerings.
Try: Spicy beef bulgogi — a part of the all-you-can-eat special
Fettuccine Alfredo with grilled chicken from Caffe Aldo Lamberti in Cherry Hill.Christopher Burch
The Lamberti family knows a thing or two about serving food in Cherry Hill — their first restaurant, Lamberti’s Tutti Toscani, opened in town in 1985. After quick success there, the family expanded and opened Caffee Aldo Lamberti shortly after on Route 70. The upscale Italian spot’s quality is apparent from your first bite. The fettuccine tastes like it was prepared from scratch for each order and the mussels are so fresh and briny it’s like they came straight from the ocean and onto your plate. Caffe Aldo Lamberti serves salads, soups, pastas like fettuccine Alfredo and pappardelle bolognese, seafood like lobster and imported fish, chicken, veal, steak and more. Freshness is key here.
The spot is very swanky — checking all the boxes for ambiance, artwork, menu offerings and superb service. You might find the parking lot lined with luxury cars waiting to be valeted on a midweek lunch hour. The dining space includes an indoor dining room, a bar area with retractable doors that are opened on nice days and a sophisticated outdoor dining setup with modern furniture, large umbrellas and heat lamps to combat the evening chill.
Try: Fettuccine Alfredo with grilled chicken (lunch: $25, dinner: $31.50)
Chicken parmigiana from Il Villaggio in Cherry Hill.Christopher Burch
Cherry Hill has myriad Italian restaurants, but Il Vilaggio is the best in town. Il Vilaggio serves some amazing Italian specialties like calamari, homemade gnocchi, lobster ravioli, veal chops, scallops risotto and my favorite — the classic chicken parmigiana. Breading is bliss on this Haddonfield-Berlin Rd. eatery’s best dish. Thin chicken cutlets are fried to a beautiful golden brown and then covered in a slightly sweet but savory Italian gravy and smothered with fresh mozzarella. The combination of crispy (but still very juicy) chicken cutlets, sweet Italian gravy and fresh mozzarella is a delight to the senses. The posh eatery which opened in 2013 exudes a classy aura with a large indoor bar, main and private dining areas and a chic outdoor dining space.
Try: Chicken parmigiana, breaded pan-fried chicken with marinara sauce, melted mozzarella and capellini ($26)
Cheesesteak from Chick’s Deli in Cherry Hill.Christopher Burch
Philadelphia gets all the hype, but South Jersey is a cheesesteak paradise. Anthony Bourdain once even said the best cheesesteak in the world came from around these parts. However, one cheesesteak tops all in Cherry Hill, and it can be found at the 67-year-old Chick’s Deli. The thin-sliced steak meat and creamy cheese are lodged inside a pillowy soft roll, causing each bite of the sandwich to melt in your mouth like no other cheesesteak in Cherry Hill can.
The sandwich spot is tricky to find, inconspicuously tucked away in an alley just off of Route 70. But Chick’s is so revered in the community that countless cheesesteak-lovers from Cherry Hill and beyond know how to find this place without GPS. Beloved for its cheesesteaks, hoagies and more, Chick’s Deli is very popular in the area and ranks amongst some of the best steak and cheese creations in the state. This spot is the epitome of a traditional sandwich shop — nostalgic, vintage signage, a wall lined with bags of potato chips, tight-quartered eating area and amazing food. The championed cheesesteak soars above its Cherry Hill challengers because of incredibly soft roll and meat-to-cheese ratio.
Try: Cheesesteak with fried onions ($13)
Lucky six from Nan Xiang Soup DumplingsChristopher Burch
Tradition meets modernism as centuries-old Asian dishes are served by robots at this Michelin Guide-recommended restaurant offering southern Chinese cuisine and comfort food. Soup dumplings, which are steamed are filled with both broth you can slurp and meat you can chew, reign supreme at Nan Xiang. which opened inside the Towne Place at Garden State Park shopping center in 2022 — there are three other locations in New York City and one in Pennsylvania.
Diners can observe dumplings being prepared through the windows of the kitchen before they are delivered to tables by robots. Nan Xiang’s popular rainbow “lucky six” dumplings include pork, crab meat and pork, chicken, scallop and pork, black truffle, gourd luffa and shrimp and pork flavors — and come in an eye-catching rainbow of colors . The dumplings have a delicate wrapper that encase the hearty filling you can poke through with chopsticks to indulge in the soup before devouring the remaining filling. Nan Xiang even displays plackards with tutorials for eating the dumplings properly. The shrimp and pork dumplings, my favorite of the lucky six, provide savory pork and oceanic shrimp flavor inside a comforting salty broth. Other menu highlights are pan fried pork buns, scallion pancakes, udon noodles, noodle soups and much more.
Try: Beef fried udon (thick pan-fried noodles with bok choy, shredded beef, and house special sauce) ($13.75)
Taco sampler from La Cita Authentic Mexican Restaurant in Cherry Hill.Christopher Burch
Cherry Hill isn’t necessarily a hotbed for Mexican eats but I can assure this is a great representation true Mexican cuisine. La Cita stands out because of its spectacular tacos. The restaurant’s awning sign reading “La Cita Authentic Mexican Food” jumps off the yellow brick building along Route 70. The small space, which neighbors a Mexican grocery store, emits an authentic Mexican vibe with its mariachi music, wall and ceiling-hanging decorations, wooden carvings, chalkboard displaying daily specials and cacti in the window. Top-tier tacos are the highlight here, but the menu also features Mexican classics like ceviche, fajitas, pollo en mole, enchiladas, burritos, quesadillas and more. It seems like no matter what protein fills the house-made corn tortillas, the robust Mexican flavors of its proteins marry the sweet corn tortillas embody Mexican cuisine excellence. You can’t go wrong with the carne asada, carnitas or my favorite, the al pastor which has the perfect balance of spicy and sweet from its adobo marinade and pineapple juices that seep into the pork while it is being cooked.
Try: Taco sampler (five tacos for $21, birria is an additional $0.75 charge)
Butter chicken poutine from Indeblue Modern Indian in Cherry Hill.Christopher Burch
Indeblue might be the most underrated restaurant in South Jersey. Thankfully, the food speaks for itself and it speaks loudly through its vibrant modern Indian food creations. Indeblue sits just off of Route 70 in — you guessed it — a strip mall. The restaurant serves traditional Indian cuisine with modern twists like butter chicken poutine, challah french toast with mango compote and chicken tikka wraps. The restaurant itself, which is fairly small but elegant and welcoming, is coupled with a peaceful, curbside outdoor dining space that makes it a great spot for a date night. The BYOB eatery is for sure one of Cherry Hill’s must try’s, especially if you’re looking for delicious lollipop lamb chops, crispy spinach chaat and chicken tikka masala.
Try: Butter chicken poutine with pulled chicken, cheese curds, masala fries and aged cheddar ($14)
Korean fried chicken wings from Dolsot House in Cherry Hill.Christopher Burch
Korean cuisine classics shockingly aren’t even this Korean barbecue spot’s main claim to fame.
The strip mall spot serves some of the best — some may say THE best — chicken wings in the entire state. Dolsot House is yet another one of Cherry Hill’s Route 70 strip mall treasures. The Korean barbecue restaurant puts a modern spin on traditional Korean classics. Its signature sweet sauces like sou garlic and honey sesame coat incredibly crunchy double-fried chicken wings which reign supreme in the area. Some of its other menu items include dumplings, Korean pajun (scallion pancakes), kalbi, rice bowls, japchae noodles, Korean hoagies (bulgogi, pork or chicken with sesame slaw on a seeded roll) and more. Catchy K-Pop hits and crispy Korean fried chicken wings set the tone at this small, cozy Korean eatery. Dolsot House’s wings can be dressed in four sticky, piquant sauces: honey sesame, soy garlic, spicy and diablo.
Try: Korean fried chicken wings, soy garlic or spicy (4-piece $6.99, 10-piece $15.99, 20-piece $29.99)
Pork wings from The Farm and Fisherman Tavern in Cherry Hill.Christopher Burch
Pork wings anyone? Yes, pork wings! Situated inside a strip mall on Route 70, The Farm and Fisherman Tavern’s individuality is what really makes it stand out. The eatery is the second iteration of chef and owner Josh and Colleen Lawler’s Philadelphia BYOB concept in partnership with chef Todd Fuller. Farm & Fisherman uses regional produce and meats for its distinctive food offerings like bloody beet salad, eggplant bahn mis and my favorite: pork wings (riblets with a chili honey glaze and pickled serrano peppers). The dining space is centered by a large bar of wine, spirits, local drafts, low-alcohol and no-alcohol beverages. Dim lighting, classic rock hits and antique wall decorations like bookshelves and wood carvings contribute to the eatery’s retro pub-like feel. Shrimp tacos, broccoli falafel, mushroom toast and stellar burgers are highlights on the menu of this one-of-a-kind New Jersey restaurant.
Try: Pork wings, with a chili honey glaze and pickled serrano peppers ($16)
Garlic sauce style chicken with veggies and white rice from Han Dynasty in Cherry Hill.Christopher Burch
Cherry Hill’s Han Dynasty has all the characteristics of a classic Chinese restaurant: Chinese wall decorations, laughing Buddha sculptures, teapots placed on each table and service that makes you feel like a guest in a Chinese home. But it’s not just any other Chinese restaurant. Out-of-this-world sauces and spices, provided by Sichuan peppercorns and chili peppers, takes the flavor of Han Dynasty’s dishes to the next level. The Chinese food gem serves Sichuan-style cuisine dishes like three pepper chicken, dan dan noodles, dumplings in chili oil, and various stir-fry styles. My favorite entree— the garlic sauce-style chicken — is sweet, sour and mildly spicy (not an overbearing spice level), served with a medley of peppers and mushrooms plus a side of white rice.
The Chinese restaurant first opened in Royersford, Pa. and has expanded to 10 locations throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. In 2012, Han Dynasty opened its Cherry Hill location inside a small strip mall on Route 70. The restaurant is slated to open its second Garden State spot in Jersey City soon although an official date has yet to be announced. The Sichuan-style Chinese eatery serving sensational food is no stranger to “best of the best” lists. Han Dynasty landed on CNN’s ranking of the 50 best Chinese restaurants in the United States.
The restaurant is one of Cherry Hill’s best because of its bold flavored stir-fry, welcoming service and must-try dumplings bathed in chili oil. I would be content if this was the only dumpling I could ever eat for the rest of my life.
Try: Dumplings in chili oil, steamed pork dumplings in sweet and spicy chili sauce, topped with sesame seeds. ($8.95)
Steak 38 in Cherry Hill.Christopher Burch
With exceptional quality steaks, an inviting ambiance, and top-notch service, Steak 38 stands out as Cherry Hill’s best restaurant.
Each dish is expertly crafted, showcasing USDA prime cuts cooked to perfection, seafood, pasta and more. The restaurant elevates the dining experience with its signature tableside Caesar salad — prepared fresh right before your eyes — and the decadent tableside bananas foster flambé, which adds a theatrical flair. The elegant yet cozy atmosphere makes it ideal for both special occasions and casual outings. Friendly, knowledgeable staff enhance the experience with personalized recommendations, ensuring every visit feels unique. Steak 38 is a must-visit for steak lovers and food enthusiasts alike.
Try: Caesar salad ($14 per person), 16-ounce New York strip steak ($54)
Dining and Cooking