New Jersey is the diner capital of the world, and Tick Tock Diner in Clifton is one of its brightest stars. The neon “Eat Heavy” sign visible from Route 3 has been beckoning drivers since 1948, and the diner has become so woven into the fabric of the state that Mick Jagger stopped by in 2019 before a show and boasted about it from the stage — Taylor ham, egg, and cheese with disco fries and a sloppy joe to go. It appeared in Season 2, Episode 13 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives — “The New Jersey Diner Tour,” aired January 28, 2008 — and Guy Fieri found disco fries, fried chicken, pork roll and cheese, and a shrimp and crabmeat-stuffed flounder that had no business being on a diner menu but absolutely earned its place there. There are now locations in both Clifton and Manhattan.
Quick Facts
Restaurant: Tick Tock Diner
City: Clifton, New Jersey
Cuisine: Classic Diner Fare
DDD Season: 2
DDD Episode: 13
Episode Title: The New Jersey Diner Tour
Original Air Date: January 28, 2008
Address: 281 Allwood Rd. (at Route 3 West), Clifton, NJ 07012
Phone: 973-777-0511
Website: https://www.ticktockdiner.com/
Status: Open
About Tick Tock Diner
The Tick Tock opened in 1948 under Greek-American ownership and has gone through three distinct physical iterations at the same Route 3 location. The original was a Silk City diner car built by the Paterson Vehicle Company in 1952. A dining room extension was added in 1956. In 1977 the second Tick Tock opened — a larger, modern structure built by the Musi Dining Car Company to accommodate the crowds drawn by the new Meadowlands sports complex. A renovation in 2019 refreshed the interior while preserving the classic diner bones and the red vinyl counter seating.
The diner has hosted family reunions, local dignitary meetings, bar mitzvahs, weddings, and more than seven decades’ worth of late-night regulars who come after the game, after the concert, or after the shift. It is open 24/7 and means it.
What to Eat at Tick Tock Diner
The Disco Fries are the New Jersey classic — crinkle fries smothered in gravy and melted cheese — and Tick Tock’s version is consistently cited as one of the best in the state. The Fried Chicken and the Pork Roll and Cheese Sandwich were highlighted during filming. The Shrimp and Crabmeat-Stuffed Flounder is the dish that surprises first-time visitors who expected basic diner food. The Milkshakes — thick, old-fashioned, proper — are mandatory. The Cinnamon Rice Pudding is the dessert regulars return for.
Disco fries energy in your own kitchen starts with Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Garlic Butter Dry Rub for the chicken, and Guy’s Top Secret Sauce for the dipping side.
Plan Your Visit
Tick Tock Diner Clifton is open Monday through Thursday 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM, Friday and Saturday 7:00 AM to midnight, Sunday 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM. The Manhattan location has different hours.
Address: 281 Allwood Rd., Clifton, NJ 07012
Phone: 973-777-0511
Website: https://www.ticktockdiner.com/
Status: Open
Flavortown Approved
The Tick Tock’s “Eat Heavy” philosophy deserves a proper home kitchen tribute. Guy Fieri Food: Cookin’ It, Livin’ It, Lovin’ It has 150+ recipes that match the Tick Tock’s energy perfectly.
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Tick Tock Diner appeared in Season 2, Episode 13 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “The New Jersey Diner Tour,” originally aired January 28, 2008.