Pizza. Pork roll (or Taylor ham!). Disco fries. Sloppy Joes. Fat sandwiches. Salt water taffy. These 6 iconic foods are synonymous with New Jersey — but how did they originate, and where can you find them?
In this article, we’ll share the definitive list of the Garden State’s most iconic foods — and where real NJ residents say you should try them first. Whether you live near New York City, down the Jersey Shore or in South Jersey, we’ve got you covered!
- Where to eat pizza in NJ? We profile classic hotspots like Patsy’s Tavern, award-winners like Coniglio’s Old Fashioned, as well as Razza in Jersey City.
- The pork roll vs taylor ham debate rages on! Whether you’re eating taylor ham in North Jersey or pork roll in South Jersey, we’ll tell you where to find the best.
- NJ diners are famous for disco fries. Get classic old-school disco fries from Tops Diner, or try an upscale gourmet version in Morristown.
- Sloppy Joes are a must-have at NJ delis. Whether you like them neat or wet, you’ll love these 4 NJ delis for authentic Sloppy Joes and platters.
- “Fat sandwiches” are a Rutgers tradition. Step away from the Rutgers grease trucks and find them in Newark, West Long Branch, and Blackwood!
- There’s only one place for great salt water taffy. Nothing beats the original salt water taffy of Shriver’s in Ocean City — we’ll tell you why NJ residents love it.
Where Should You Get Pizza in NJ?
There’s no way we can rate New Jersey pizza without making a lot of people angry, so we won’t try — we surveyed real NJ residents for recommendations of where to grab a slice anywhere in the state.
New Jersey’s best pizza is all about your personal taste. The NJ pizza scene is broken down into 4 primary categories:
- Classic tomato pies, which feature a thick focaccia-style crust and a generous swirl of tomato sauce. These pies are traditionally served at room temperature.
- Thin crust pizza is cooked at a high temperature to form a light, crispy crust. It’s made with flattened dough for the classic thin crust appearance.
- Deep dish pizza originated in Chicago but is served in many NJ restaurants. It features an extremely thick crust and generous helpings of cheese.
- Specialty styles: Grandma pies are popular in New Jersey with their rectangular crust style. Several Garden State pizza shops have begun to serve up Detroit style pizza (like Low Fidelity in Jersey City).
Famous NJ Pizza Parlors
Start your search for great New Jersey pizza at some of the most iconic pizza parlors in the Garden State.
Patsy’s Tavern in Paterson is renowned for authentic bar pies. Try Pete & Elda’s in Neptune for some of the most iconic pizza at the Jersey Shore. While you’re down the shore, visit one of Maruca’s Pizza locations in Seaside and Asbury Park
Award-Winning New Jersey Pizza Bowl Winners
The New Jersey Pizza Bowl is an annual competition to determine the best pizza in the state. It’s organized and voted on by the Jersey Pizza Joints Facebook group — real NJ residents voting for their favorite pizza!
Here are the past winners of the NJ Pizza Bowl:
- 2021: Pizza Terminal, Verona
- 2022: Maruca’s Tomato Pies
- 2023: Coniglio’s Old Fashioned, Morristown
- 2024: Vinnie’s Mootz, Lyndhurst
Local Favorites for New Jersey Pizza
Jersey City residents rave about the pies at Razza, featured in the New York Times and NJ Monthly. Hop over to Hoboken for a taste of wood-fired pizza at Dozzino.
South Jersey residents speak highly of the pizza at Riccardo’s in Browns Mills. If you want an authentic tomato pie in South Jersey, visit Lillo’s Tomato Pies in Hainesport.
Pork Roll vs. Taylor Ham: The Debate Rages On
First things first: is it pork roll or Taylor ham? It all depends where you live. North Jersey residents insist it’s Taylor ham, named after the classic “John Taylor’s Prepared Ham” product from 1856.
South Jerseyans call it pork roll, a tradition that dates back to 1870. George Washington Case of Belle Meade created the Case Pork Roll Co. The rest is history — no matter which side of the debate you’re on, this smoked pork product is a staple at diners, bagel shops and sandwich shops statewide.
In an effort to make peace in this great war, this North Jersey writer will refer to it as “pork roll” for the rest of this section. (Truce!)
5 Great Pork Roll Sandwiches in New Jersey
The classic way to experience pork roll in New Jersey is on a round roll with a fried egg and cheese. While every diner and sandwich shop has its own approach, the pork roll, egg & cheese sandwich is an authentic NJ tradition.
Start your journey for great pork roll sandwiches at Slater’s Deli in Leonardo, long considered a gold standard for the product.
North Jersey residents have great options for Taylor ham. NJ 101.5 rated Pascarella Brothers Delicatessen in Chatham as the top pork roll spot, while Maplewood residents speak highly of True Salvage Cafe.
Head down the shore and visit JT’s Bagel Hut in Forked River for piled-high pork roll sandwiches. There are also excellent pork roll sandwiches at White Diamond in Clark.
Order Disco Fries in New Jersey Diners
Disco fries originated in the 1970s, when hungry late-night patrons flocked to diners after a night at the disco for a quick, filling meal. Classic disco fries are served as a heaping mound of french fries, topped with a generous amount of mozzarella cheese and brown gravy.
Despite the comparisons, disco fries aren’t poutine! Poutine is made with fresh cheese curds, giving it a completely different texture than the shredded cheese used on disco fries.
The best place to grab disco fries is in the New Jersey diners where they originated. The Chit Chat Diner in Hackensack and Tops Diner in Newark are legendary for their disco fries.
Some NJ restaurants create “upscale” versions of the classic diner dish. The Committed Pig in Morristown offers “Pig Fries” — a large serving of waffle fries topped with bacon, gravy and mornay sauce.
What is An Authentic NJ Sloppy Joe?
No trip to a New Jersey deli is complete without an authentic Sloppy Joe. Don’t be confused — a New Jersey Sloppy Joe isn’t made with ground beef or served on a hamburger bun!
The Garden State version of a Sloppy Joe is a double-decker sandwich, piled high with deli meats between slices of bread. The traditional Sloppy Joe is served on rye bread with Swiss cheese, cole slaw and Russian dressing.
The meat you choose is up to you — turkey, roast beef and pastrami are popular varieties.
There are 2 ways to order a Sloppy Joe:
- Neat: less cole slaw and less mayo for a drier, neater sandwich
- Wet: pile on the slaw and mayo for a true “sloppy” sandwich!
4 Great NJ Delis for Authentic Sloppy Joes
The NJ Sloppy Joe dates back to the 1930s and traces its origins to Essex County. Start your journey here — Town Hall Deli in South Orange and Millburn Deli in Millburn are renowned for their Sloppy Joes!
Garden State residents also note Mr. J’s in Cranford and CJ’s Deli in Madison as having particularly good Sloppy Joe sandwiches.
Whether you like a double-decker or triple-decker, neat or wet, order a Sloppy Joe at a Jersey deli for an unforgettable lunch.
Fat Sandwiches in NJ: A Rutgers Tradition
Fat sandwiches originated at the grease trucks around the New Brunswick campus of Rutgers University. These sandwiches became a traditional post-bar meal for college students, thanks to their fatty, greasy ingredients and often-inappropriate nicknames.
Original “Fat Sandwich” recipes include the Fat Cat — a double cheeseburger, fries, lettuce, tomato, mayo and ketchup on a sub roll — and the Fat Darrell — chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks, french fries and marinara sauce on a sub roll.
Over the years, more fat sandwiches were created — often named by the students who ordered and devoured them. As Rutgers graduates spread throughout the Garden State, the Fat Sandwich tradition has grown into a statewide phenomenon.
Head towards the a local Rutgers campus for a fat sandwich at RU Hungry in Newark or New Brunswick. Jersey Shore residents can grab a fat sandwich at Nelly’s Pizza in West Long Branch.
There are 2 great fat sandwich spots in South Jersey — Giofano’s in Blackwood and Pizza Garden in Pitman.
Get Authentic Salt Water Taffy in Ocean City, NJ
Historians trace the roots of salt water taffy to Atlantic City in the 1880s. Urban legends about ocean water flooding into a local candy shop are popular — no matter what you believe, salt water taffy is a staple of any visit to the Jersey Shore.
Salt water taffy was originally made with toffee in copper kettles, then cooled on marble slabs and wrapped in wax paper. Today’s taffy makers vacuum cook their sweet treats in stainless steel or copper, then use machines to pull and package their taffy.
Jersey Shore residents and visitors consistently name Shriver’s Salt Water Taffy in Ocean City as their favorite spot to grab this classic NJ candy. Founded in 1898, Shriver’s still uses classic copper kettles to make their salt water taffy in a wide array of flavors.
As of publication, Shriver’s website offers 40 varieties of salt water taffy to suit every taste — from chocolate to licorice, teaberry to blue raspberry, bubble gum to creamsicle. They also craft mint sticks, fudge, macaroons and gourmet chocolates.
Did We Miss Your Favorite NJ Food Spot?
There are always new, exciting hotspots where NJ locals discover great pizza, pork roll and Sloppy Joes. We’d love to hear about your favorite spot for iconic New Jersey eats — where do you go for a taste of the Garden State?
