Other states may have us beat with lower taxes and year-round warm weather, but when it comes to diverse cuisine, New Jersey stands second to none. Take Montclair for example. The town, as small as it is, has streets lined with globally inspired restaurants, from Mediterranean food to Yemeni fare to the rich cuisines of Ethiopia. The Montclair community welcomed yet another flavor to its local dining scene on February 11th: the culinary tastes of Northern China. Paper Lantern, a restaurant that specializes in Sichuan and Chinese fusion dishes, is Monclair’s newest eatery, setting up shop at 379 Bloomfield Avenue. Read on for what we know about Paper Lantern, the newest restaurant to open in Montclair, New Jersey.

The Details

Paper Lantern, a Chinese restaurant serving Sichuan and Chinese fusion dishes, has put down roots at 379 Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair. This spot held its soft opening on Tuesday, February 11th, 2025 and hosted its official grand opening on Monday, February 17th.

Arvin Vheng, the manager of Paper Lantern, told The Montclair Girl that this new spot is owner Alex Niu’s latest business venture. Alex is also the mastermind behind the Jersey City staple Taste of North China on 75 Montgomery Street, which also serves Sichuan-inspired fare. “We trying to explore the different communities..expand the business..and give the community diverse choices for Chinese food,” Arvin shared with MG.

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At the Paper Lantern, Montclarions can find dim sum, cold dishes, and traditional Sichuan options like the chef-recommended spicy boiled beef, which comes with boiled sliced beef, vegetable medley, and Sichuan chili broth, and the sichuan spicy offal stew, made with tender offal and crisp vegetables in a numbing chili broth.

Those with dietary restrictions don't have to miss out on the fun because Paper Lantern also has all kinds of vegan, gluten-free, and vegetarian menu items. Plant-based eaters also have options like the scallion pancakes, garlic cucumber salad, boletus mushroom fried rice, and mala dry hot pot.

Its gluten-free dishes include the House Special Lo Mein, which comes in beef, chicken, or vegetable, Rice Noodles, Yangzhou Fried Rice, Steamed Spare Ribs With Rice Powder, Shrimp Dumplings, and Sichuan Cold Jelly Noodles, which is also vegan. While the entire menu is a must-try in our book, the MG team recommends the chicken lo mein, which is large enough to serve two people.

Once the restaurant settles in its new location, Paper Lantern looks forward to adding more to its menu in the future. Montclair customers can expect dessert options, more spicy dishes for those who like the heat, and "a lot more choices for people who have different tastes and preferences," Arvin told MG. Paper Lantern also hopes to eventually expand its cuisines to other areas in the Garden State.

To celebrate its arrival in Montclair, Paper Lantern is providing customers with 10% off of all dine-in orders through February 28th. Diners can visit this restaurant any day of the week from 12PM to 9:30PM.

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