10 Iconic New Jersey Foods Outsiders Can’t Pronounce Right
When you’re from New Jersey, you know the drill, outsiders butchering the names of our beloved local foods. I’ve cringed countless times hearing tourists try to order some of our iconic dishes.
It’s not their fault, really, but there’s something special about the way we say things around here that’s as unique as the foods themselves. Here’s my rundown of ten Garden State specialties that leave out-of-towners tongue-tied.
1. Pork Roll / Taylor Ham
Growing up in South Jersey, I’d fight anyone who called this breakfast meat ‘Taylor Ham.’ This iconic Jersey breakfast meat causes endless debates even among locals. The proper name is pork roll, though North Jerseyans might disagree!
The correct pronunciation is straightforward, ‘pork roll’., but the controversy lies in what you call it. Taylor is just one brand of pork roll, like calling all tissues Kleenex. When sliced and fried until the edges curl up, this salty, tangy meat becomes the perfect companion to eggs and cheese on a bagel.
2. The Ripper (Deep-Fried Hot Dog)
The first time my cousin from California asked for a ‘rippah,’ the hot dog vendor at Rutt’s Hut nearly fell over laughing. These deep-fried hot dogs get their nickname from the way they split open—or ‘rip’—during the frying process.
Say it with me: ‘RIP-er,’ not ‘rye-per’ or ‘reaper.’ Native Jerseyans know these crispy dogs are best enjoyed with Rutt’s famous relish, locally known as ‘the stuff.’
The combination creates a perfect symphony of snap, crunch, and tang that’s worth the pilgrimage to Rutt’s Hut in Clifton, which is still going strong today.
3. Texas Weiner
Last summer, my Texan brother-in-law was thoroughly confused by this misnamed Jersey classic. Despite its name, the Texas Weiner was popularized in North Jersey’s Paterson area by Greek-immigrant cooks in the 1920s. Outsiders stumble by saying ‘WHY-ner’ instead of the correct ‘WEE-ner.’
These deep-fried hot dogs are smothered in a distinctive cinnamon-spiced meat sauce, mustard, and onions. The ‘all the way’ order is practically one word to locals.
Found primarily in North Jersey, especially in Passaic County, these dogs have been a staple since Greek immigrants created them in the 1920s.
4. Disco Fries
My late-night diner adventures always end with a plate of these gravy-soaked treasures. Disco Fries—often credited to the Tick Tock Diner in Clifton—are pronounced exactly as written, though slurred speech at 2 AM often creates amusing variations. They’re New Jersey’s answer to Canadian poutine.
French fries smothered in melted mozzarella cheese and brown gravy create the perfect post-party comfort food. Legend has it the name stuck because disco-goers in the 1970s would order them after a night of dancing.
Found in virtually every NJ diner, they’re best enjoyed in the wee hours when your judgment is impaired and your hunger is peaking.
5. Sloppy Joe
The first time I served a Jersey Sloppy Joe at a potluck, my out-of-state friends were thoroughly confused. Unlike the ground beef sandwich most Americans picture, our version is a triple-decker rye bread affair layered with ham, turkey, or roast beef, Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and Russian dressing.
Pronounced ‘SLAH-pee JOE,’ this sandwich is claimed to have originated at Town Hall Deli in South Orange. As the deli tells it, the inspiration came from a bar called Sloppy Joe’s in Cuba, where the recipe was discovered in the 1930s.
Visitors often do a double-take when their order arrives, expecting the tomato-sauced meat mixture.
6. Tomato Pie
‘Can I get a slice of tomato pie?’ I asked in Trenton, confusing my Midwestern friend who expected some kind of dessert. Jersey tomato pie is our regional pizza style, but don’t you dare call it ‘toe-MAH-toe pie’ – it’s ‘tuh-MAY-toe pie’ in these parts.
What makes it special is the assembly: cheese first, then sauce on top. Famous shops like Papa’s Tomato Pies (established 1912, now in Robbinsville) and De Lorenzo’s (also in Robbinsville) have perfected this craft for generations.
7. Salt Water Taffy
My grandma tells stories of watching taffy being pulled on the Atlantic City Boardwalk as a kid. Despite the name, there’s no actual salt water in this chewy treat – just a clever marketing story tied to a candy shop flood on the boardwalk in the 1880s.
Most tourists say ‘SALT wah-ter TAF-ee’ with equal emphasis on all syllables. Locals run it together more casually: ‘salt-wuh-ter-taffy.’ The colorful candy comes in dozens of flavors and has been a Jersey Shore tradition for over a century.
Watching the hypnotic pulling machines stretch the candy is as much a part of the experience as eating the sweet, chewy result.
8. Italian Hot Dog
My uncle from Rome was thoroughly confused when I introduced him to this Jersey specialty that has nothing to do with authentic Italian cuisine. The Italian Hot Dog is a Newark-area invention credited to Jimmy Buff’s in 1932, and the brand’s West Orange shop is still serving them today.
Outsiders often emphasize the wrong syllables, saying ‘eye-TAL-yun’ instead of our quicker ‘ih-TAL-yun.’ Created at Jimmy Buff’s in Newark in 1932, this gut-busting sandwich is deep-fried to perfection. The key is the hollowed-out Italian bread that cradles all those delicious ingredients without falling apart.
9. Crab Fries
Last baseball season, I overheard a visitor at a Phillies game disappointed that her ‘crab fries’ had no actual crab meat. This South Jersey/Philly region specialty causes constant confusion because of its misleading name.
These crispy french fries are seasoned with a secret blend of spices,primarily Old Bay-style seasoning, and served with a creamy cheese sauce for dipping. The name comes from the crab seasoning, not any crustacean content.
Made famous by Chickie’s & Pete’s, which still has several New Jersey locations, these addictive fries have spread throughout the Delaware Valley and Jersey Shore.
10. Mootz-a-RELL
Nothing makes me laugh harder than hearing someone order ‘mozzarella sticks’ with the formal Italian pronunciation at my local pizzeria. In New Jersey, especially in Italian-American communities, mozzarella cheese has a distinctive pronunciation that immediately identifies outsiders.
While most Americans say ‘mot-sa-RELLA,’ Italian-American Jersey locals often shorten it to ‘MOOTZ-a-rell’ or simply ‘MOOTZ.’
This pronunciation difference extends to our famous pizza shops and delis. Fresh mozzarella, the kind that comes in water and is used on our best pizzas, is particularly subject to this linguistic quirk.