Metuchen Restaurant Named Among Best In the Country By USA Today

METUCHEN, NJ — A Metuchen restaurant has been recognized as one of the best in the country by USA Today.

Ram & Rooster, New Jersey's only Chinese prix fixe restaurant, was named to USA Today's 2026 Restaurants of the Year list, which featured 40 restaurants across 25 states.

Chef Sean Yan opened Ram & Rooster in July 2024 as a tribute to his Chinese heritage, naming the restaurant after his parents' zodiac signs. This is Yan's first restaurant project.

The restaurant offers a $128 eight-course tasting menu featuring seasonal ingredients and produce from New Jersey, according to the restaurant's website. Dishes include scallop tempura, corn wonton, tomato bingfen, black bass and white peach ice cream.

Ram & Rooster serves only curated teas and non-alcoholic beverages — no alcohol is offered.

Yan previously worked as a pastry chef at Heirloom Kitchen in Old Bridge, as well as at Mistral in Princeton and Lita, according to a previous Patch report.

“But through Yan's Western takes on Chinese flavors, he has created a haute destination named after his parents' zodiac signs,”wrote Jenna Intersimone of MyCentralJersey.com in the USA Today feature.

Two other New Jersey restaurants were also included on the USA Today list - Anjelica's in Sea Bright and The Pasta Shop in Denville.

USA Today said its methodology differs from typical best-of lists, noting food writers did not "fly in for a whirlwind weekend of eating and drinking" but relied on institutional knowledge from local experts.

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