Italian Hot Dogs at the Jersey Shore !!!

And it's the REAL THING !  Brand new place on the Ocean City, NJ boardwalk!
NEWARK STYLE ITALIAN HOT DOGS !

 
CJ'S STEAKS opened in May 2009.   I visited twice already...
It's on the boardwalk, and is a seasonal operation, (like most others)
LOCATION : Between 8th and 9th St., by the Music Pier..
 
ITALIAN HOT DOG , (double $6.99...) (the 2nd dog is hidden from view)

Hey, JOHN FOX, what do you think of these POTATOES ????
They were my favorite part!!  Thinly sliced, and on the crispy side; they almost tasted like potato chips..
(which is all good, all good !!!)
 
CLOSE UP view !  (with apologizies for blurry pic!)

 
CJ is a young guy, who says he get's his bread from BROOKYN, NY every day... real good pizza bread...
and he uses BEST'S hot dogs..
 
CJ'S STEAK'S, exit 25 off Garden State Parkway (20 minutes south of Atlantic City)
My bf is on the left, holding his soda from Mack and Manco's pizza.

He opted to get his favorite pizza in the WORLD, Mack and Manco's...
(it does'nt do much for me, personally, but it's got a cult following)
Bonus pizza pic....
 
Our Italian hot dog & pizza visit took place on Sat. June 6th.
I also visited CJ'S a few days earlier on my own ....
I had the CHEESESTEAK the first time...(also $6.99)
 
Ocean City, NJ busy boardwalk, Sat. June 6th, 2009

...

Great find Ellen! And excellent pictures as usual. It really adds something to be able to see what you are talking about in your post.

Yet another authentic Newark style Italian Hot Dog south of Essex and Union Counties. This looks like a good one. These potatoes are sliced even thinner than I slice mine when I'm in a rare mood to actually make one. And from the picture it looks like they may be a little drier than I would like. You did say that they are crunchy. I'm sure I would like it. I'll have to remember this place. Thanks for the post.

It's QUALITY, not quantity, on my hot dog thread replies!
I got ONE reply, but it's  from THE John Fox !
Thanks , John....
hope you are enjoying your weekend....happy Roadfooding!

Ellen-you sound very excited by these-As a notherner, i dont understand the concept of Italian dogs.Please enlighten me!!!By the way, they look great!

annpeeples


 i dont understand the concept of Italian dogs.Please enlighten me!!!

Sure Ann, and thanks for your interest....it makes me doggone happy!
An true Italian hot dog is sold as either a single or double dog, with fried peppers, onions, homemade potatoes, and mustard...(no ketchup, unless requested)
And very importantly, it's got to be on the special "pizza bread", as pictured..
 
The Italian hot dog originated at DICKIE DEE'S in Newark, NJ, which is still open...
they are mostly a NORTH Jersey thing....   (only a few Italian hot dog joints are in "South" Jersey, hence my exitement!)
It would be VERY rare if one could find an Italian hot dog out of the state of NJ..
DALE (aka Wandering Jew) would approve of these as being a very REGIONAL specialty..!

I am not sure which I find more peculiar - the Chicago or NJ hotdog.

Great post Ellen

Is CJ'S STEAK'S open during the week or just weekends.

How funny! We walked right past there when we were down there last, and I'm sure I just wasn't hungry at that time. That's a shame, because I think we ate at Charlie's and it was a negative experience after all these years there. So next time, yes! I can pretend I'm on the Hot Dog Tour. I wonder if I can order without the peppers and onions. Ya think?
 
Note: I just realized something. I think this might be a branch of the CJ's Steak and Eggs that's at Cottman and State Road in Philly...but I'm not sure!
 

ellen4641

annpeeples


 i dont understand the concept of Italian dogs.Please enlighten me!!!

Sure Ann, and thanks for your interest....it makes me doggone happy!
An true Italian hot dog is sold as either a single or double dog, with fried peppers, onions, homemade potatoes, and mustard...(no ketchup, unless requested)
And very importantly, it's got to be on the special "pizza bread", as pictured..
 
The Italian hot dog originated at DICKIE DEE'S in Newark, NJ, which is still open...
they are mostly a NORTH Jersey thing....   (only a few Italian hot dog joints are in "South" Jersey, hence my exitement!)
It would be VERY rare if one could find an Italian hot dog out of the state of NJ..
DALE (aka Wandering Jew) would approve of these as being a very REGIONAL specialty..!

There is one place in the Bronx that makes an authentic Italian Hot Dog. It was mentioned in an article that I posted a link to. I'll look for it when I get a chance. That is the only place I know of outside of Jersey that makes one.
 
The Italian Hot Dog originated with Jimmy Buff's in 1932. Dickie Dees came on the scene in 1958.

Nice report as usual Ellen. I agree with you about Mack and Manco's. I had a couple of slices there last summer and it was OK, but not more than that.
 
I'm not that big on Italian Hot Dogs, when I have that combination of ingredients on a roll (peppers, onions, fried potatoes) I prefer an Italian Sausage in there instead of a hot dog (must be my Italian side coming out..).

Thanks again, good to see you're still posting and getting out and about.

Thanks for the post and pictures. I Love an Italian hotdog or sausage sandwich...but boy that pizza bread better be fresh...Too often I get served one with several day old bread!!

Below is a link to an article in January about a new place in New York serving Italian Hot Dogs. I think the owner either had one in Jersey or read about them, but to me he isn't getting it 100 % because the article stated that he boils rather than fries the hot dogs.

http://www.yournabe.com/articles/2009/01/29/bronx/doc4981db56ccb85802552633.txt

Thanks, Ellen and John for the info-sounds like something i would truly enjoy!!!

ken8038


 I agree with you about Mack and Manco's. I had a couple of slices there last summer and it was OK, but not more than that.

AGREED! I  don't get the Mack and Manco's fascination, either...
all I know is that when my BF posted our Mack and Manco pizza pics on Facebook, his buds that moved away from the Jersey shore went WILD with envy! 
I think it's that "nostalgia" thing , people remember going there all thru their formative years, and then taking their own kids there, etc...   meanwhile I just don't get the place...
the crust tastes like CARDBOARD to me, (and breaks apart while one is eating it)....the cheese is some sort of "BLEND", (with cheddar mixed in, which is really not my thing on pizza, as much as I enjoy cheddar)...
and I find the red sauce bitter..
still , I'm glad to see it brings him so much happiness....

John Fox


Below is a link to an article in January about a new place in New York serving Italian Hot Dogs. I think the owner either had one in Jersey or read about them, but to me he isn't getting it 100 % because the article stated that he boils rather than fries the hot dogs.

http://www.yournabe.com/articles/2009/01/29/bronx/doc4981db56ccb85802552633.txt

Nice link, John; thanks...
It's nice to see young entrepreneurs, like this 22 year old guy.... who is trying to follow in his father and uncle's steps!
I hope he'll start frying those dogs, instead of boiling them, like you suggested in your comment to him....
 
It was sure a nice, lengthy article, but yet no mention of exactly what BRAND he uses!
All it says is that it won't be Kosher...
So perhaps he is keeping it "secret", like so many hot dog joint owners like to do..
( with all that "made special for us" speeches)  "BS" speeches, as usually the case...


 

John Sagi


Great post Ellen

Is CJ'S STEAK'S open during the week or just weekends.

Hi John, they seem to be open every day now, as I was there the first time on a Wed, (June 3rd), when I had the cheesesteak...
(although their hours may change after Labor Day)
 
Hope you are still producing that delicious chili!

 

ken8038

good to see you're still posting and getting out and about.

Thanks; Wish I could take some even longer trips, but we're real busy in the casino poker room the last few weeks or so...
extra tourneys going on , plus the live action games, adds up to lots of bodies !!
Always feels good to have the money rolling in; I'm grateful...
 
I may go to Reno/Lake Tahoe/San Diego in late July...
(I WON'T be looking for Italian Hot Dogs there , though!!)
Burgers, Mexican food, and casino prime rib buffets, baby!!!

harriet1954

 I think this might be a branch of the CJ's Steak and Eggs that's at Cottman and State Road in Philly...but I'm not sure!

Probably not, as the owner CJ grew up in Nutley/Cedar Grove (North Jersey), ....
and now he lives where you just WENT TO  yesterday...(SHIP BOTTOM...!!!)
 
This O.C. one is just "CJ'S Steaks".....  no eggs , but I may have to check that out that other (unaffiliated?) CJ sometime in Philly ...