As you near the end of Ironbound, you'll find one of the most popular restaurants in the area, Fernandes Steakhouse. While its location may be on the outskirts of town, its traditional menu makes it a destination for out-of-towners and a favorite among locals. Made up of a combination of Brazilian and Spanish cuisine, the menu includes fresh seafood and a vast selection of meats, including rodizio. Tip: Try the filet mignon, served sizzling on a round stone.

Deemed the best burger in New Jersey by nj.com, this small, family-owned spot has been serving up no-nonsense pub fare since 1932.

Simplicity is key at this restaurant, made up of a bar area and a separate dining room. Wherever you sit, try the grilled veal chops smothered in a mushroom sauce.

Catas Restaurant is a relatively new eatery on Market Street that's slightly removed from the main drag. Iberian-inspired appetizers like the pequillo peppers stuffed with bacon and manchego cheese in a béchamel sauce keep it packed before soccer games and bring in a decent crowd on Thursday and Sunday nights. They also offer a brunch menu that includes two drinks and a selection of items like eggs "bendicto," made with chorizo instead of Canadian bacon. Tip: Stop in before heading to the nearby soccer stadium for a Red Bulls game.

Van Buren's Burger Bound brings organic burgers to the area. Options include grass-fed beef, salmon, turkey, black bean, and mushroom varieties. No matter your order, do yourself a favor and add their signature avocado aioli. They also have a variety of sides (the onion rings are excellent) and items like hot dogs, salads, milkshakes, and espresso drinks. Burger joints are a rarity in Ironbound, and Burger Bound is making a name for itself in this market.

With four Ironbound locations, Teixeira's Bakery is hard to miss when walking around town. Stop in for a quick dessert of creamy custard tarts known as "pasteis de nata."

Slightly east of the main strip is Brasilia Grill. This is the place to feast on Rodizio —an unending parade of meats brought out on skewers by waiters eager to slice off a piece of your choosing. The carnivorous buffet is offered at many restaurants in the area, but Brasilia is one of the best to do it. Tip: Splurge and add the salad bar to your entree (or for lunch, order the salad bar alone) — a smorgasbord of salads, side dishes, meat-stuffed breads, and more.

A short walk from Fornos, in the heart of the Ironbound, is one of the best-located restaurants and a great place for an after-work drink, Adega Grill. The lot is divided into three distinct venues, making it a one-stop shop for a drink, a bite, and a dance party. Stop by the long and narrow bar, or try and grab a seat outside if weather permits. Order a pitcher of red sangria that flows from wooden barrels behind the bar, and share a quick appetizer of their famous camarão á guilho (shrimp in garlic sauce) or seasoned king crab legs. For a more formal meal, visit the dining room next door, where the decor evokes the ancient romanticism of the Middle Ages, and try the gambas grelhadas (grilled prawns). Tip: On Fridays and Saturdays, grab a bite at the bar, then make your way to the lounge where a DJ blasts a Top 40 mix until 2 a.m.

A more recent opening is Manu's Kitchen Bar & Sushi Lounge — the first sushi restaurant to make a name for itself on Ferry Street. The fusion menu is mainly Japanese cuisine, punctuated by a few Mediterranean dishes — including pistachio-encrusted lamb and charred octopus. The menu features more than 50 hand and specialty rolls. Standouts include the Ironbound Roll (lobster tempura, spicy crab, avocado, asparagus, and eel sauce) and Spice Girl Roll (spicy salmon, avocado, cucumber, and spicy tuna).

One of the first contemporary eateries to become a success was Mompou Tapas Bar & Lounge, opened almost 10 years ago on the most populated stretch of Ferry Street. Textured copper ceilings and exposed brick give the spot an industrial look, and the Spanish-inspired menu puts a modern spin on the classic dishes that Ironbound is known for. The selection of tapas includes tortilla topped with a a Cabrales blue cheese, albondigas (a must-try), and patatas bravas. The menu also offers a charcuterie and cheese board and a few entrees like charred Iberian octopus. Tip: Reserve a seat at their monthly wine-paired menu tasting for $65-$75 per person.

One of the most well-known, albeit not the best, old-school spots is Iberia Peninsula. The venue has been a Ferry Street staple since 1926 and is easily recognizable by its castle-like structure. Locals and visitors alike who can be seen devouring plates of parrilhada, a grilled seafood combination platter, under its cathedral-like ceilings. Tip: cross the street and watch a big soccer game (preferably one featuring Spain, Portugal, or Brazil) on the outdoor patio of its sister restaurant, Iberia Tavern, and order the sangria. It's served in big plastic jugs almost too big to fit in your hand.

Boasting a sign that reads "Newark's First Gastro Pub," Bello's Pub recently got a facelift that gave its facade a more appealing and modern look. The after-work hotspot, located a block from Newark Penn Station and around the corner from Ferry Street, offers more than 180 beers from 20 different countries and a menu of traditional pub fare with some twists like veggie marsala sliders, Caribbean jerk shrimp salad, and a creme brulee cheesecake.

There's good reason why this famed spot has been selling traditional Italian desserts like spumoni, tartufo, and gourmet cakes to Ironbound for more than 75 years. Not to be missed is their homemade ice cream in rotating flavors like holy cannoli and sweet potato pie.