Where Jersey Shore Folks Get Their Favorite Pork Roll Sandwiches On National Pork Roll Day

Hey New Jersey, Let’s Celebrate National Pork Roll Day.!

On May 23^rd, the Garden State celebrates a holiday we can all get down with, National Pork Roll Day.

Sorry North Jersey, there is no such thing as National Taylor Ham Day. 

That controversial breakfast meat has its own special day and we’re all here for it.

According to Jerseyporkroll.com, Pork Roll is a food developed by John Taylor of Trenton, New Jersey, in the late 19th century.

Taylor is the brand name for pork roll made by Taylor Provisions, Inc., of Trenton. Taylor also manufactures pork roll under the Trenton brand. Trenton by Taylor has been an advertiser on the outfield wall at Mercer County Waterfront Park in Trenton since it opened in 1994.

Taylor kept the recipe for the product he created in 1856 secret. Taylor originally called his product “Taylor’s Prepared Ham” but was forced to change the name after the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 was passed, since the product did not meet the new legal definition of “ham”. The new name was “Pork Roll” and it was marketed as both “Taylor’s Pork Roll” and “Trenton Pork Roll”. Competitors marketed products with similar names like “Rolled Pork” and “Trenton style Pork Roll” and were sued by Taylor. A 1910 legal case ruled that the words “Pork Roll” could not be trademarked.

In 1910 it was described as “a food article made of pork, packed in a cylindrical cotton sack or bag in such form that it could be quickly prepared for cooking by slicing without removal from the bag.”

That cotton sack of pork product is the food of the Gods here in the Garden State.

We even have a store in Allentown dedicated to this salty breakfast meat. You can visit The Pork Roll Store at 1251 Yardville Allentown Rd, Allentown, NJ 08501.

Their website reads: The Pork Roll Store of Allentown NJ is a family-owned butcher shop that customizes in specialty meat orders and prime cuts. Proudly serving customers for over 100 years. Voted the number one Pork Roll!

Here at WRAT, we have a category in the WRAT Shore Awards for Best Pork Roll On the Jersey Shore. This year, Tommy's Kitchen on Herbertsville Road in Brick took the honors.

Let's not argue about what this delicious savory breakfast meat is called. Let's agree that Jersey folks love it, no matter what it's called.

Let’s take a look at where some of our NJ pork roll enthusiasts go to get a great pork roll sandwich.

Definitely one of the best pork roll, egg, and cheese sandwiches in the area, maybe even in Ocean County. Most everyone who chose Jovo’s said the sandwich is perfectly stacked with melted cheese, not just a slice or 2 of cheese thrown onto the sandwich. High marks all the way for Jovo’s!

Thanks to Diana, Ken, Kyle, and Steve for the heads up on this place. They all give this place major props for the PEC. Diana has tried some of the omelettes offered here and loved each of them, saying, “They’re perfectly cooked with an even ratio of items added to the omelettes.”

They make a great breakfast sandwich! Plus, they have an excellent list of Blackboard Specials For Breakfast & Lunch, Tell Stacey, Robyn sent you.

Mark’s makes nice hearty stuffed sandwiches, Tortas Mexicanas, tacos, and unbelievably delicious breakfast sandwiches. The pork roll and egg sandwiches with a nice cup of fresh coffee is a great start to your day, and the people there are very nice.

Many folks who work or live in the area say you can get a great breakfast sandwich here. Order the bacon, and egg, and cheese, the pork roll, egg, and cheese, or the sausage, egg, and cheese. You can’t go wrong with any of these choices.  If you stop by for lunch, the chicken salad is highly recommended.

Excellent Arepas, Empanadas, Tostones, and Pork Roll breakfast sandwiches. The bagels are fluffy and have the perfect texture, so I’m ordering my PEC on a nice fresh bagel. Come on by this friendly family-owned establishment and grab breakfast and lunch.

 I lost count of the amount of people who reached out to tell me  that Johnny’s is their favorite. Don’t forget to visit the food truck in Asbury – North Eats – 1600 Ocean Ave.  The Pork Roll Yid has Johnny’s at #1 with a 9.5 rating on Johnny’s “Pulled Pork Roll” sandwich, and a 9.3 for the PEC.

Jimmy R. lives and works in the area and says’ Lenny’s Pork roll, egg, and cheese rocks his socks off. He’s not alone, because plenty of other folks chose Lenny’s for the PEC. You’ll find this fantastic place in the Silverton section of Toms River.

Locals try to keep this place a secret, but that’s nearly impossible. The pork roll, egg and cheese sandwich is so good. That’s not just my opinion, it’s the opinion of the majority of folks who’ve eaten it. Kyle Aronofsky, aka, The Pork Roll Yid“, gave Fast break a 9.1  score for their PEC.

Cindy, the owner, and her staff are friendly, and the food is hearty and delicious!

If you love a stack of pork roll, then slater’s has you covered. Last time I shared a PEC article,  I didn’t include Slater’s, and the verbal beatdown was harsh. I’ll never make that mistake again. Bring your appetite, these breakfast sandwiches are huge.  The PEC is one of the best selling sandwiches on the menu.

How can I not include the Allenwood General Store! They were voted Best Pork Roll by the RAT Rock Nation in 2021 WRAT Shore Awards.

I get yelled at every time this place isn't included. After seeing photos of the pork roll, egg, and cheese on an everything bagel, I can see why I get yelled at. It looks delicious.