Malibu Diner

"Certain things about this Hoboken diner will feel unusual right now. Rather than staying open 24/7, they’re currently open from 7am-10pm during the week (until midnight on weekends), and they’re parking lot has been partially converted into an outdoor dining space with artificial turf and umbrella-covered picnic tables. But most of the important things remain the same, like french toast with Taylor Ham or fried chicken and waffles available for breakfast, lunch, or dinner." - hannah albertine, nikko duren, matt tervooren

"Surfing a wave of California beach admiration, the Malibu Diner has been a Chelsea favorite for several decades, even though the interior is decorated with black-and-white photos of Iceland. Never mind, the pie selection is admirable and all the savory diner standards are rendered in the most blasé manner imaginable. When was the last time you were able to enjoy your food without thinking about it?" - Melissa McCart, Robert Sietsema

"Malibu Diner was founded in 1978 in the former home of the Traffic Cafeteria, which had been located in the Traffic Building since 1927. Nowadays, Selis Manor, an apartment building catering to the blind, is a few doors down, and its residents form an important part of Malibu’s customers. Inside, Plexiglas panels separate a long Formica counter flanked by plush but timeworn stools from the waiter’s walkway. I seated myself and ordered a cheeseburger with fries, pickles, and slaw ($17.90). It arrived almost immediately, passed nonchalantly under the Plexiglass panel. It was a half-pound of black Angus beef cooked to within an inch of its life, with the tomato and lettuce only partly replacing the moisture. The fries were the kind of frozen fries of medium size that one usually finds in a diner, tasting quite good if ketchup is freely applied. I thoroughly enjoyed eating the burger as patrons passed behind me on the way to the main dining room, kibbitzing with the waiters positioned along the way." - Robert Sietsema