If you have ever tried to keep a monster sub from spilling into your lap, this list is your new roadmap. New Jersey’s Italian delis build handheld feasts stacked so high you need a strategy. You will find crusty bread, overflowing meats, and outrageous mozz that squeaks with freshness. Bring napkins and an appetite, because these subs do not play small.
Vito’s & Son Italian Deli – Hoboken, New Jersey
Vito’s & Son is mozzarella theater, where creamy slices get layered like velvet onto a hero built for two hands. The Italian combo turns into a skyscraper with prosciutto, ham, salami, and sharp provolone. Oil, vinegar, and oregano tie it together with that old-school Jersey zing.
The bread holds form without scraping the roof of your mouth, a crucial detail you will appreciate halfway through. Roasted peppers slide out, you tuck them back in, and keep going. It is a dance between structure and chaos, always delicious.
Ask for extra mozz if you dare. The counter crew will smile knowingly. Before you know it, you are carrying a sandwich that feels like a friendly challenge.
Tastee Sub Shop – Edison, New Jersey
Tastee Sub Shop keeps it classic with razor-thin meats stacked into a surprisingly dense hero. The Italian stands tall with ham, salami, provolone, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, and that signature oil blend. It is the bite you remember from childhood, only bigger than you thought possible.
They slice to order and wrap it tight, so the roll absorbs flavor without collapsing. The crunch of shredded lettuce against the tang of vinegar hits just right. You will keep nodding after every bite like, yep, this is it.
Grab a whole if you are sharing or starving. Half still feels like a full meal. The line proves what locals already know, consistency is king here.
White House Subs – Atlantic City, New Jersey
White House Subs is Atlantic City legend, a shrine to long rolls and longer layers of meat. The Italian sub stretches like a board, stuffed with provolone, salami, capicola, and ham. Add onions, tomatoes, shredded lettuce, oil, vinegar, and you have a boardwalk feast.
The bread is seeded and sturdy, yet soft enough to bite cleanly. Your hands will shuffle to keep fillings in line. Every bite tastes like Jersey summer, salty and bright and loud.
Expect a crowd, expect autographed photos, and expect to leave stuffed. The half is huge, the whole is heroic. You will talk about this one for days and plan a return trip.
Sub of a Beach – Point Pleasant, New Jersey
Sub of a Beach brings playful shore energy with sandwiches that do not mess around. The Italian-inspired builds come stacked with salty meats, creamy mozzarella, and beach-friendly crunch. Oil and vinegar drizzle like sunscreen, keeping everything bright and zippy.
The bread is beach-proof, holding up during boardwalk strolls. Expect roasted peppers, long hots if you ask, and a satisfying chew. You will need two hands and maybe a picnic table to manage the spill factor.
Portions lean generous, prices fair, and vibes sunny. Order ahead on busy weekends. You will walk out grinning, bag heavy, ready to conquer the sand with a sub that could feed your crew.
Tony Boloney’s – Atlantic City – Atlantic City, New Jersey
Tony Boloney’s in Atlantic City turns sub building into wild art. Expect fried cutlets, house mozzarella, and toppings that push past tradition without losing soul. The result is a heavy, messy, gloriously unpretentious monster that tests your grip.
Spicy sauces cut through richness, while pickled veggies add snap. The bread holds structure like a champion, even with rivers of cheese. Every bite surprises, yet it still feels comfortingly Jersey at heart.
Go hungry and curious. Ask for staff picks if indecisive. You will likely discover a new favorite combo and leave with sauce on your sleeve and zero regrets.
Hoagitos – Oakhurst, New Jersey
Hoagitos balances modern flair with classic hoagie comfort. The Italian lineup lands rich and bright, featuring capicola, salami, sharp provolone, and perky greens. House spreads add personality without drowning the whole show.
The bread is soft yet resilient, with a gentle crust that nails the bite. Portions are surprisingly hefty for the price. You will juggle the sandwich like a football if you order extra toppings.
Expect quick service and clean prep, ideal for lunch runs or beach detours. Customize heat with long hots or extra vinegar. You will finish full, happy, and probably plotting an excuse to swing back tomorrow.
Porfirio’s Italian Market & Cafe – Hamilton Square, New Jersey
Porfirio’s doubles as a market, so the subs benefit from incredible ingredients. Thinly sliced prosciutto and sharp cheeses meet pillowy bread with a delicate crust. Roasted peppers, basil, and oil give a soulful finish you can taste in every bite.
The heroes are generous, often tipping into two-hand territory. Ask for fresh mozzarella and watch them cut it to order. You will smell olive oil and oregano as soon as the wrapper opens.
Grab pantry treasures while you wait, like olives and canned tomatoes. The staff knows pairings if you want sides. You will leave with a sandwich and a little Italian grocery haul that feels like a win.
Dolce & Clemente’s – Robbinsville Twp, New Jersey
Dolce & Clemente’s is a paradise of cutlets and fresh mozz, with subs that qualify as arm day. The long seeded rolls cradle chicken or pork cutlets, bitter broccoli rabe, and roasted peppers. Sharp provolone fights through richness in the best way.
The counter team stacks like engineers, achieving impressive height without collapse. Bite in and you get crunch, juice, and spice. Add long hots if you like a kick that lingers.
Weekends get busy, but the payoff is huge. You might grab arancini and cookies while waiting. You will leave juggling a heavy bag, excited for a feast that barely fits the table.
Deli King of Clark – Clark, New Jersey
Deli King of Clark is generous to a fault, piling meats until the roll can barely button up. The Italian hero brings salami, capicola, ham, provolone, and a tangy oil vinegar balance. The bite stays clean thanks to sturdy bread and careful stacking.
Ask for extra onions or long hots if you want more punch. The heft is real, so consider splitting. You will find yourself nodding at the price to size ratio.
Service is friendly and fast, perfect for weekday cravings. Grab a pickle spear and chips to finish the experience. You will head out with a sub that demands two hands and maybe a halftime break.
Fiore’s House of Quality – Hoboken, New Jersey
Fiore’s is a Hoboken ritual, where fresh mozzarella still feels warm and the roast beef swims in savory gravy. You order, then brace your hands, because the sub arrives heavy like a brick. The roll is crusty outside, tender inside, soaking up just enough juice to stay intact.
Ask for the daily special and watch the magic. The mozzarella stretches as you bite, salty and creamy at once. You will need napkins, maybe even a friend, because these layers of meat, peppers, and oil turn into a glorious, messy tower.
Lines can look intimidating, but they move fast. Bring cash and patience. You will leave happy, full, and already planning your next visit.
Giovannis Italian Deli – Secaucus, New Jersey
Giovannis Italian Deli treats the Italian combo like a craft. Paper-thin meats layer into a smooth stack that eats easier than it looks. Add mozzarella or provolone, roasted peppers, and a whisper of balsamic, and the flavor snaps awake.
The roll has that ideal chew, holding tight through the final bites. Even loaded, the sandwich stays balanced. You will appreciate how each ingredient gets its moment without overshadowing the rest.
Ordering is easy, pickup is quick, and portions are shareable. Ask for suggestions if you like heat or extra acidity. You will leave with a hero that tastes thoughtful and feels satisfyingly heavy in hand.
Mordi’s Sandwich Shop – Jersey City, New Jersey
Mordi’s blends Italian flavors with street food swagger. Cutlets come crisp and juicy, then meet sharp cheese, herb dressings, and pickled kick. The result is a sub that drips just enough to make you grin and reach for napkins.
The bread hugs everything without tearing your mouth, landing a gentle crunch. Each bite tastes bright, savory, and slightly spicy. You will keep chasing that perfect cross-section for the next mouthful.
Portions are bold, pacing is quick, and the vibe stays fun. Ask about specials, they experiment well. You will walk out with a sandwich that feels modern while honoring classic Jersey deli roots.
Andrea Salumeria – Jersey City, New Jersey
Andrea Salumeria is where you go when you want an Italian combo that means business. The sub is stacked with prosciutto, capicola, soppressata, and mortadella, balanced by sharp provolone. Add roasted peppers, vinegar snap, and a whisper of pesto, and suddenly you are holding a masterpiece.
The bread crackles as you squeeze, threatening to give way under all that salumi. Each bite hits salty, sweet, and tangy notes, with greens adding crunch. The owners guide you like friends, fine-tuning the build to your taste.
Go early or expect a line that loops past the door. Everything is sliced to order. You will walk out hugging a sub like precious cargo, beaming all the way home.
Second Street Bakery – Jersey City, New Jersey
Second Street Bakery brings bakery bread swagger to every sub. Those sesame-crusted loaves hold serious weight, so the fillings get permission to go wild. Expect thick mozzarella slices, garlicky broccoli rabe, and cutlets stacked like shingles.
The crew works fast, piling meats without apology, then finishing with oil and vinegar rain. Each bite is crust, chew, crunch, and juicy tenderness. You will fight drip gravity while grinning like you got away with something.
It is cash friendly and neighborhood warm, the kind of place locals guard like a secret. Order a “heavy” and accept your fate. You will leave with a forearm workout and a sandwich that could feed a small crowd.
Hobby’s Delicatessen & Restaurant – Newark, New Jersey
Hobby’s is Newark history, a deli where sandwiches arrive like celebrations. The Italian-leaning builds layer high with quality meats, sharp cheeses, and crisp veggies. Oil, vinegar, and spices deliver that familiar Jersey zip in every juicy bite.
The bread keeps structure while soaking flavor, a feat you will appreciate by the second half. Expect generous cuts and confident seasoning. You will probably pause mid-sandwich just to admire the cross-section.
Friendly staff, quick service, and big-city energy make the experience special. Grab pickles and a side if you want the full ritual. You will leave satisfied, carrying leftovers and already plotting a return with friends.