Hunter Hulbert | For NJ.com

By Hunter Hulbert | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

In New Jersey, it's easy to shop 'til you drop. The Garden State is a bargain-hunter's dream, touting more malls per square mile than any other state.

But with so many locales to check out — and each with its own specialty and quirks — how can you know where to go first?

Let us be your personal pre-shoppers; we checked out all 28 malls in the state and ranked them, taking into account the parking, food court, diversity/quality of shops, layout, cleanliness, special discounts and overall experience of each spot.

Check out the list below and find out where your favorite mall landed on the list.

Don't Edit

28. Harbor Square

Located in Egg Harbor Township, Harbor Square has definitely seen better days. While the interior is clean and parking is easy, many of the storefronts are vacant, but when the only notable store left is Boscov's, you're in deep trouble.

Don't Edit

Hunter Hulbert | For NJ.com

27. Phillipsburg Mall

The Phillispburg Mall, located on the tongue-twisting border of Lopatcong and Pohatcong in Warren County, sadly has a dark and depressing feel. The one-story mall has anchor stores Sears, Kohl's, The Bon-Ton, and Black Rose Antiques & Collectibles but otherwise it's forgettable.

Don't Edit

26. Ocean County Mall

Conveniently located off Hoover Avenue in Toms River, this smaller mall has most of the stores you would expect, such as American Eagle and H&M, with a few higher-end stores, too, including Coach. While there is no shortage of parking, the exterior and interior are visibly outdated and the food court is underwhelming.

Don't Edit

Hunter Hulbert | For NJ.com

25. Hudson Mall

Jersey City's Hudson Mall shares many of the same qualities as Ocean County Mall, albeit with slightly better food options. But anchor stores Marshall's and Toys R' Us leave much to be desired and the place smells like chemicals. Next.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

24. Voorhees Town Center

Formerly Echelon Mall, Voorhees Town Center is a smaller mall, with several notable vacancies including Macy's, but the food court and arcade area provide a family-friendly environment.

Don't Edit

Hunter Hulbert | For NJ.com

23. Livingston Mall

The Livingston Mall in Essex County is too isolated from the surrounding area and it certainly needs some help on the exterior, but the interior is pleasantly surprising. The two-level super-regional mall has a smaller food court and no dine-in restaurants, but anchor stores including Macy's and Lord & Taylor provide a decent shopping experience.

Don't Edit

22. Cumberland Mall

The Cumberland Mall in Vineland has a decent selection of stores, considering it is only one floor. The shopping center has anchor stores Boscov's and Burlington Coat Factory in addition to more than 60 specialty stores and food options, including dine-in restaurants Applebee's and Red Robin (yum!) and a movie theater.

Don't Edit

Rebecca Everett | For NJ.com

21. Moorestown Mall

The Preit-owned Moorestown Mall offers a nice mix of brand-name and high-end retailers along with solid dining options and an RPX movie theater. The one-floor mall has a nice, clean interior with a small but newer food court and impressive restaurants, including Firebirds Wood-Fired Grill and Distrito from Iron Chef Jose Garces.

Don't Edit

20. Brunswick Square

Situated along Route 18, Brunswick Square is very accessible for shoppers and the restaurants along the exterior provide a vibrant, welcoming environment. The interior lacks the same inviting atmosphere and the diversity of shops is unexciting, but the arcade and AMC theater are pluses.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Hunter Hulbert | For NJ.com

19. Paramus Park

Despite the lackluster exterior, Paramus Park is a pleasant surprise on the inside, with anchor stores Macy's and Sears providing a good selection, along with other shops like Hollister and Victoria's Secret. The GGP-owned two-story mall also has natural features such as trees and bushes scattered throughout — the lesser Jersey malls should take note — giving the indoor mall more of an open, outdoor vibe.

Don't Edit

18. Woodbridge Center

While GGP's Woodbridge Center is pretty outdated and there's no food court, the selection of restaurants and fast food chains, including Chick-fil-A and Sbarro, helps make up for it, plus its has a killer location on Route 1. The layout can be confusing, but the variety of apparel shops is up to your average mall standard, including Express, Forever 21 and Guess.

Don't Edit

Kelly Roncace | For NJ.com

17. Playground Pier

Playground Pier is a vibrant four-story luxury shopping and entertainment center next to Caesars in Atlantic City. It features several upscale retailers, including Armani Exchange, Louis Vuitton and Gucci, as well as respectable sit-down restaurants, but it needs to diversify its fashion retailers before it can play with the big boys.

Don't Edit

16. Hamilton Mall

This two-story major shopping destination in Mays Landing is the largest mall in Cape May and Atlantic Counties – with a whopping 1,028,500 square feet of retail space. Conveniently located off the Atlantic City Expressway, Hamilton Mall has a decent food court and includes anchor stores JCPenney, Macy's and Sears as well as other trendy spots like Buckle, Express, Pac Sun and Zumiez.

Don't Edit

Hunter Hulbert | For NJ.com

15. Rockaway Townsquare

Located just off I-80, Rockaway Townsquare in Morris County is easy to find and parking is plentiful. It is very clean with a simple layout and has all the stores you'd expect in your average mall, from Abercrombie & Fitch to Lord & Taylor, as well as some higher end stores like J.Crew and Michael Kors.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

14. Marketfair Mall

The Marketfair Mall in Princeton is on the smaller end but provides a relaxing environment for shoppers who want to avoid the hectic, bigger malls (the chaotic traffic of Route 1 in Princeton notwithstanding). The one-story shopping center has a very clean interior and the usual selection of home furnishing stores and upscale fashion apparel, including Anthropologie, Pottery Barn and West Elm.

Don't Edit

Michael Mancuso | The Times of Trenton

13. Quaker Bridge Mall

One of the largest malls in New Jersey with a gross leasable area of 1,084,000 square feet, the two-story Quaker Bridge Mall has new marble and carpet flooring as part of a renovation project that began in 2012. The newer food court and 120+ store options that includes retailers like Michael Kors, Macy's and Coach put this mall on the top half of the list.

Don't Edit

12. Monmouth Mall

Monmouth Mall in Eatontown has your standard shops like Old Navy and Hollister and a good selection of high-end fashion and decor stores thanks to upgrades over the past few years. The split-level mall is very clean and family-friendly, with a nice food court, dine-in restaurants, play areas and a 15-screen AMC Multiplex movie theater with IMAX — a huge plus.

Don't Edit

Bridgewater Commons

11. Bridgewater Commons

First of all, Bridgewater Commons features a dine-in movie theater — how cool is that? The place also touts an urban look on the inside, with street-style lamps on the ground floor giving shoppers an open-air shopping vibe. This mall is clean, parking is simple and the store selection is solid, with anchor stores like Macy's, Bloomingdale's and Lord & Taylor among the over 175 stores.

Don't Edit

Hunter Hulbert | For NJ.com

10. Newport Centre

Hudson County's Newport Centre has a bit of a confusing layout, and you do have to pay for parking, but the store selection and the massive, newly renovated food court make up for it. High-end stores such as Armani and New York & Company are just a few of the many diverse shopping options available at Newport Centre, and the movie theater is a nice touch.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

9. Willowbrook Mall

Willowbrook Mall in Wayne's contemporary style sets it apart from your average mall. The two-story shopping center has a large food court, a simple layout and good store selection, with American Eagle, Banana Republic and Loft as well as technology retailers like Apple and Best Buy providing mall-goers with a well-rounded shopping experience.

Don't Edit

Star-Ledger file photo

8. Deptford Mall

The Deptford Mall is the largest shopping center in Gloucester County. With newly renovated floor and seating areas and anchor stores Boscov's, Macy's, JCPenney and Sears, this two-level mall has just about everything, including a diverse selection of more than 125 retailers as well as high-end stores Michael Kors and White House Black Market.

Don't Edit

Hunter Hulbert | For NJ.com

7. The Shops at Riverside

Renovated in 2008 after declining traffic, the Shops at Riverside in Hackensack has an upscale, sophisticated feel. Even though it's smaller than your average mall, there's an impressive selection of home decor and furniture stores as well as the stores any shopper would need, including Brooks Brothers, Louis Vuitton, Victoria's Secret and Ann Taylor, plus numerous upscale restaurants including Rosa Mexicano and Morton's Steakhouse.

Don't Edit

Hunter Hulbert | For NJ.com

6. Menlo Park Mall

Only about a five-minute drive from the Parkway, Simon-owned Menlo Park Mall in Edison has an airy feel with impressive architectural features, including white columns and arches. The food court is small but there are enough options to please your taste buds, and the diversity of stores has no shortage of options, including Banana Republic, Nordstrom, Sunglass Hut and Sephora. And how about that dine-in movie theater?

Don't Edit

Freehold Raceway Mall

5. Freehold Raceway Mall

Tucked in along Route 9, Freehold Raceway Mall feels like its own island. The major shopping center has an impressive, new and fresh exterior while the interior is bright and airy. Parking can be a hassle but the store selection makes the extra walking totally worth it. You can find anything from Nordstrom to Armani Exchange to Lululemon Athletica, among countless others.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Hunter Hulbert | For NJ.com

If you're looking for fine dining restaurants, you'll have a good selection to choose from – we recommend Brio Tuscan Grille. The mall also has a decent-sized food court and a massive AMC theater with awesome plush seats – you can't beat that!

Don't Edit

The Mills at Jersey Gardens

4. The Mills at Jersey Gardens

The high quality of stores and vibrant atmosphere highlight the impressive aspects of The Mills at Jersey Gardens in Elizabeth. You can find anything and everything fashion here – from Calvin Klein and Hugo Boss to Charlotte Russe and Kate Spade. This mall is New Jersey's largest outlet and value retail center and features the largest Tommy Hilfiger in the U.S.

Don't Edit

The Mills at Jersey Gardens

The Mills at Jersey Gardens also has a massive 20-screen AMC movie theater with IMAX. And if you don't live in the surrounding area, no need to fret because the mall has daily transportation from both the Manhattan Port Authority Bus Terminal and Newark International Airport.

Don't Edit

Hunter Hulbert | For NJ.com

3. Cherry Hill Mall

The first enclosed mall on the East Coast, the Cherry Hill Mall — the centerpiece of an enormous retail plaza — has an impressive selection of high-end retailers, along with your typical stores. Armani Exchange, Lululemon Athletica, Henri Bendel and J. Crew are just some of the retail options for shoppers in Cherry Hill.

Don't Edit

Hunter Hulbert | For NJ.com

The newly renovated interior and exterior are both striking, with marble floors and an easily navigable layout, along with impressive dining options such as California Pizza Kitchen and Maggiano's Little Italy. And don't forget to check out the numerous free community events and programs at the mall year-round.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Hunter Hulbert | For NJ.com

2. The Mall at Short Hills

Off Route 24 in Millburn, The Mall at Short Hills is an impressive locale. This high-end mall consistently ranks in the top 10 for best malls in the U.S and for good reason: the 150 upscale specialty stores and restaurants make for a small slice of shopper's paradise. In addition, it has a state-of-the-art guest services center and a newly remodeled Grand Court seating area that is perfect for relaxing during your shopping trip.

Don't Edit

Star-Ledger file photo

The Mall at Short Hills is also home to more than 40 boutique stores, most of which you can only find at the upscale shopping center. In addition, the beautiful Hilton Short Hills across the street makes for the perfect shopping getaway.

Don't Edit

Westfield Garden State Plaza

1. Westfield Garden State Plaza

Garden State Plaza is as good as it gets. This mall has an immense amount of shopping options and the food selection and quality is unparalleled, with a Shake Shack, Bourbon Street Grille and Chili's among others.

With anchor stores such as Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Macy's highlighting an enormous overall area, this mall is easily the largest in the state. The store entrances are immaculate and you could eat off the marble floors. It's easy to navigate and there are even cool virtual reality stations and massage areas to enhance the shopper experience.

Don't Edit

Westfield Garden State Plaza

But that's not all: The massive shopping center has an on-site stylist and an inline space, called The Suite, for private client greetings, trend shows and special events.

If you're searching for one of the most complete mall experiences in the country, look no further than Westfield Garden State Plaza — we didn't want to leave!

Don't Edit

For more mall coverage:

Hunter Hulbert may be reached at hhulbert@njadvancemedia.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Don't Edit