Edison
Edison is a city in Middlesex, New Jersey. The city is named after Thomas Alva Edison who carried out most of his life's work, including the invention of the phonograph, here. Menlo Park, where Edison's laboratories were located has a Thomas Alva Edison Memorial Tower and Museum honoring him. The town of Edison now has a large concentration of Asians, and Oak Tree Road in Edison is the place to visit if you are looking for Indian food or Indian stores.
Get in
By plane
Edison is a 40-minute drive from the nearest airport, Newark Liberty International Airport. Drive down the Garden State Parkway and take exits 130 or 131 to Iselin/Rahway/Metuchen.
By train
The Northeast Corridor line of NJ Transit provides a rail link. It might be convenient to get off at the Edison, Metuchen or even Metropark stations depending on where you need to go.
Get around
See
- 1 Thomas Alva Edison Memorial Tower and Menlo Park Museum, 37 Christie Street, ☏ +1 732 549 299. Tu-Sa 10AM to 4PM. Built on the location of Thomas A. Edison's laboratory at Menlo Park, the museum showcases many of Thomas Edison's inventions including the phonograph, some light bulbs and a 1929 Edison 'Light-O-Matic' Radio. Free, but donations welcome.
Do
Buy
Oak Tree Road near the border with Iselin has a large number of Indian restaurants and stores: people from all over come here to shop . Whether you're looking for Bollywood videos, bhel puri, or a sari, you'll find it here. Many stores are closed on Mondays. The best way to get here is by taking the Garden State Parkway to Exit 131 (on-street parking is available), or taking the train to Metropark (it's about a 15-minute walk from the train station; exit the station, turn left onto Route 27, and then turn left again at the intersection with Oak Tree Road).
Eat
- Keum Ho Jung Good Korean food located in the shopping center at the intersection of Old Post Road and Vineyard Road.
- Super Duper Deli I and II Good sub shop to get a quick bite to eat. Cold cuts are usually better than hot subs.
- Harolds NY Deli A Jewish deli that has huge sandwiches but also a very good salad bar and desserts. A little pricy but worth the money.
- Skylark Diner Generally, most entrees are good. The best item is the Lebanese Wrap at around $9. One of the few diners in New Jersey with a liquor license.
- Le Peep A very good breakfast place. Has a Zagat rating.
- Ferraros Pizza One of the better pizzerias in Edison. A little bit pricy but well worth the money. Dinners are also very good
- Lams Kitchen A very good Chinese take-out place in Edison that are at a higher standard compared to most places. Prices are very reasonable.
- Akbar Quality Indian food located off US Highway 1. Also has a lunch Indian buffet at around $8.
- Mithaas, 1655-170 Oak Tree Road (At the intersection of Oak Tree Road and Wood Ave.), ☏ +1 732 947-3014. The name means "sweetness" in Hindi. Serves Indian desserts, snacks and non-alcoholic drinks — it is in fact possible to make a meal out of some of the snacks. The Paneer & Veg Kathi Roll is passable, but the mango lassi is just right. Completely vegetarian. $10-15.
- Ming Far Eastern cuisine, 1655-185 Oak Tree Road (at the intersection of Oak Tree Road and Wood Ave), ☏ +1 732 549-5051. For a sample of what the Indians have done to Chinese cuisine, this place is worth a visit. The restaurant is well-patronized and if you do not call ahead for a reservation, you are looking at a wait of around 20 minutes. $20 for a meal.
Drink
Sleep
- Sheraton Edison Hotel Raritan Center, 125 Raritan Center Parkway, ☏ +1-732-225-8300. Free high-speed Internet ccess.
- Hilton Garden Inn – Edison, 50 Raritan Center Pkwy, ☏ +1 732-225-0900.
- 1 Courtyard Edison Woodbridge, 3105 Woodbridge Avenue, ☏ +1-732-738-1991. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Hotel offers free parking and complimentary Internet. The Bistro serves breakfast, dinner, drinks and Starbucks daily.
Go next
- New York City is a 40-minute ride away via the NJ Transit train.
- New Brunswick is a short drive through Highland Park and across the Raritan.
| Routes through Edison |
| New York City ← Perth Amboy ← | N   S |
→ East Brunswick → Philadelphia |
| Parsippany ← Bridgewater ← | N  S |
→ Becomes  N |
| New York City ← Woodbridge ← | N  S |
→ New Brunswick → Philadelphia |
| Newark ← Woodbridge ← | N  S |
→ Highland Park → New Brunswick |
| Jersey City ← Woodbridge ← | N  S |
→ Becomes  N |
| Trenton ← New Brunswick ← | SW  NE |
→ Woodbridge → New York City |