Lunch prices keep climbing, but a handful of New Jersey sub shops never got the memo. From Bergen County to Atlantic City, these counters still stack meats, cheeses, and cutlets on fresh rolls at prices that make your wallet breathe easy.
Some have been around since the 1940s, and a few still only take cash. Here are six old-school spots where a solid ten-dollar lunch is still very much on the menu.
1. Cosmo’s Italian Salumeria, Hackensack, NJ
A hero for about nine dollars sounds like a menu from 2003, yet that is the going rate at this Main Street salumeria. Prices here seem frozen in time, and nobody is complaining.
Cosmo’s is a long-running Italian shop with a retro look, little Italian treats around the room, and a short menu built on quality ingredients. The Italian sub and chicken parm hero lead the way, with chicken cutlets, eggplant parm, roast beef with gravy, and porchetta close behind.
Homemade soups, salads, and pasta dishes round things out if you want a side. Meats and cheeses are also sold for taking home.
Bring cash, because that is the only way to pay. Hours run Monday to Friday 9 AM to 4 PM, Saturday 9 AM to 3 PM, and Sunday 9 AM to 1 PM, so this is strictly a daytime stop.
Saturday is the crowded day. I would save this one for a weekday lunch break and take the sandwich to go, since there is no restroom on site.
2. Mike’s Giant Size Submarine Sandwiches, Keyport, NJ
The word giant is right there in the name, and Mike’s takes that promise seriously. Subs come out massive, made to order with fresh meat.
This family-owned shop on West Front Street has been a Bayshore fixture for a long time. The Italian sub, sometimes ordered as the Italian Special, is the one most people come in for.
Seating is available, though there is no table service, so you order at the counter and grab a spot. Kids are welcome, high chairs are on hand, and there is a restroom.
Parking is usually easy, with a free lot and free street spaces nearby. The shop is closed Mondays and open Tuesday through Saturday 9 AM to 7 PM, plus Sunday 9 AM to 6 PM.
Keep cash handy. A walk along Keyport’s waterfront afterward makes a nice way to work off half a sub, and you will likely have the other half for later.
3. Tastee Sub Shop, Edison, NJ
Some families in Edison have been ordering from Tastee since the 1980s, and they are still coming back for lunch with the next generation. That kind of loyalty says plenty.
Tastee is an iconic Central Jersey sub shop with a big lineup of cold and hot subs. The tuna and honey turkey subs come in generous sizes, on soft bread with toppings like mayo, oil, and vinegar.
The salad sub is a popular pick too. If you are skipping bread, any sub can be turned into a platter instead.
Here is the practical bonus: Tastee is open every day from 9 AM to 11 PM. That makes it a rare spot where a cheap lunch can also become a late dinner.
Friday and Saturday afternoons get busy, so expect a wait. Delivery and catering are available, and parking is usually easy at the Plainfield Avenue location.
4. Carmen’s Deli, Bellmawr, NJ
Down in South Jersey, nobody orders a sub. You order a hoagie, and in Bellmawr, Carmen’s has been the go-to address for years.
Folks from Bellmawr, Runnemede, Barrington, and nearby towns have long treated this deli as their hoagie headquarters. The rolls get as much attention as the fillings, which is how a Philly-style hoagie should be.
Cheesesteaks share the spotlight, and salads and party trays are on the menu for bigger orders. The deli also handles delivery and in-store pickup.
It is a busy place, so the line can move slowly at peak times. Friday and Saturday afternoons are the most crowded.
Hours are simple: 8 AM to 6 PM every day. There is no restroom, but free parking makes a quick grab-and-go easy.
5. White House Subs, Atlantic City, NJ
Frank Sinatra knew where to find a good sandwich in Atlantic City. White House Subs has been stacking them on Arctic Avenue since 1949, and it remains a true AC original.
The secret starts with Atlantic City bread, loaded with fresh fillings in a casual counter-serve setting. The White House Special is the signature, with Italian subs, meatball subs, cold turkey, and cheesesteaks also drawing steady crowds.
Full-size subs are big. To stay near that ten-dollar mark, a half-size sub makes a full lunch for most people.
Doors open daily from 10 AM to 8 PM. Weekend afternoons and Sundays get the heaviest traffic.
Dine-in, takeout, and delivery are all options. Parking is a mix of street spaces and paid lots, which is typical for the city.
6. Andrea Salumeria, Jersey City, NJ
Fifty years in one spot is no small thing in Jersey City. Andrea Salumeria has been on Central Avenue in the Heights since 1975.
The shop is a compact Italian market and deli, selling meats, cheeses, and prepared foods along with sandwiches. The combo sandwich and Italian sandwich are top orders, and the What’s Up sandwich has its own following.
Do not skip the cold cut pasta salad with fresh mozzarella. It pairs nicely with a sandwich or works as a light lunch by itself.
Hours are Monday to Friday 8 AM to 6 PM and Saturday 8 AM to 5 PM, with Sundays off. Parking is paid street parking only, so plan for a quick stop.
Delivery and in-store pickup are available too. It is the kind of place where you come for lunch and leave with groceries.
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