10 New Jersey Sandwich Words Outsiders Always Get Wrong At The Counter
Walking into a New Jersey sandwich shop can feel like stepping into another world if you’re not from around here.
The locals speak a language of their own—one born from generations of deli counters, quick lunch orders, and neighborhood pride. Every word, from “hoagie” to “sub,” carries its own unspoken rule, and getting it wrong earns you a playful grin from the sandwich maker who’s seen it all.
Between the crackle of fresh bread and the rhythm of meat slicers, there’s a sense of belonging that only true Jersey natives seem to understand—and it all starts with how you order.
1. Gabagool
My first time at Town Hall Deli in South Orange, I confidently asked for capicola on my sub. The guy behind the counter didn’t even look up from slicing meat. He just said, “You mean gabagool?” and everyone in line chuckled.
This isn’t just mispronunciation. It’s a badge of honor in New Jersey Italian American culture. The word comes from generations of Italian immigrants whose dialects transformed capicola into something entirely new.
Order it with confidence at Town Hall Deli, where they pile it high on fresh bread with sharp provolone. Pronounce it wrong, and you’re basically announcing you just moved here from Kansas.
2. Mutz
Standing in line at Fiore’s House of Quality in Hoboken, I watched a tourist ask for fresh mozzarella cheese. The sandwich maker nodded politely, but I could tell he was mentally placing this person in the outsider category. Locals just say mutz.
Fresh mutz is the creamy, soft mozzarella that comes in water, not the rubbery stuff on pizza. When you order a sandwich with mutz, roasted peppers, and balsamic, you’re speaking the native tongue.
Fiore’s has been making legendary sandwiches since 1927. Their mutz is delivered fresh daily, and pairing it with prosciutto creates pure magic between two slices of bread.
3. Proshoot
Prosciutto becomes proshoot faster than you can say “make me a sandwich” in Jersey. At Vito’s Italian Deli in Hoboken, this transformation is gospel. Pronouncing every syllable marks you as someone who learned Italian from a textbook instead of from their grandmother’s kitchen.
This paper thin, salty, melt in your mouth ham is expensive for good reason. The real stuff comes from Italy and gets aged for months until it reaches perfection.
Vito’s slices their proshoot so thin you can practically see through it. Pair it with fresh mutz and you’ve got yourself a sandwich that’ll make you forget every chain sub shop you’ve ever visited.
4. Rigott
Ricotta gets the Jersey treatment and becomes rigott, losing a syllable somewhere between Italy and the Garden State. Belgiovine’s Italian Deli in Montclair serves up sandwiches where rigott plays a starring role, creamy and smooth against crusty Italian bread.
Not every sandwich shop offers rigott on their menu, but the ones that do know their audience. It adds moisture and richness that transforms a simple sandwich into something memorable.
When you order at Belgiovine’s, ask for it the right way and watch the staff’s faces light up. They’ve been serving Montclair since the 1970s, and they can spot a local pronunciation from three blocks away.
5. Soppressata
Some words don’t get shortened in Jersey, they just get pronounced with an attitude that makes them sound completely different. Soppressata is one of those salami varieties that separates the locals from the tourists at places like White House Sub Shop in Atlantic City.
This dry cured salami comes studded with peppercorns and has a coarse texture that adds serious flavor to any sub. The spicy version brings heat that builds with every bite.
White House has been an Atlantic City institution since 1946. Order their sub with soppressata, and you’re tasting history. Just make sure you roll those Rs and don’t pause between syllables, or everyone will know you’re from out of state.
6. Pork Roll
Call it Taylor ham at Johnny’s Pork Roll & Coffee Too in Red Bank, and you might start a friendly debate that lasts longer than your lunch break. This processed pork product is a New Jersey breakfast staple that divides the state geographically.
North Jersey folks tend to say Taylor ham, while South Jersey residents insist on pork roll. Either way, it’s sliced thick, griddled until the edges crisp up, and served on a hard roll with egg and cheese.
Johnny’s knows the debate well and named their shop diplomatically. The meat tastes incredible no matter what you call it, salty and savory with a texture that’s uniquely Jersey.
7. Italian Hot Dog
This isn’t your ballpark frankfurter on a bun. At Jimmy Buff’s in Kenilworth, an Italian hot dog means deep fried dogs nestled in pizza bread with peppers, onions, and fried potatoes. Ordering it like a regular hot dog will get you nowhere fast.
The whole thing gets wrapped up in wax paper, creating a handheld meal that’s messy, delicious, and totally Jersey. The potatoes soak up all the grease and flavor, making every bite better than the last.
Jimmy Buff’s claims to have invented this masterpiece back in 1932. Whether that’s true or not, they’ve certainly perfected it over the decades.
8. Texas Wiener
Despite the name, this hot dog never saw Texas and probably never will. Dickie Dee’s in Newark serves up Texas Wieners topped with spicy chili, mustard, and onions, a combination that’s pure New Jersey through and through.
The chili isn’t the thick, bean heavy stuff from actual Texas. It’s a thinner, spicier meat sauce that soaks into the bun and creates a flavor bomb with every bite.
Ordering a Texas Wiener in Texas would probably get you blank stares, but in Jersey, it’s a beloved classic. Dickie Dee’s has been serving them since 1951, proving that sometimes the best regional foods have the most confusing names imaginable.