The art of making a sandwich can be so simple: take two slices of bread, throw on some meat, cheese, maybe some vegetables, and you’ve got yourself a meal. Well here at the Jersey Shore, we take it up a few notches. We know how to eat, and these incredible Jersey Shore sandwiches prove that we’re not messing around. Cheesesteak, pork roll, Reubens, lobster rolls, and beyond – even a vegan option! – here is our guide to some Jersey Shore sandwiches in Monmouth and Ocean Counties that you can’t miss.

Have suggestions for us? Leave a comment below! These sandwiches are some of our favorites in Monmouth & Ocean counties, but obviously it’s hard to cover them all. Stay tuned for a follow-up article including YOUR favorite Jersey Shore sandwiches!

Our Guide to Jersey Shore Sandwiches in Monmouth and Ocean Counties (in no particular order)

Beach Tavern: Cod Po’ Boy

Head to Beach Tavern for lunch and be sure to order this beauty: crispy cod, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickled peppers, house made tartar sauce & old bay fries. Only fitting to chow down on fresh seafood while you take in the beautiful river view. 33 West Street, Monmouth Beach (732) 870-8999

Toast: Lobster Roll
It may surprise you that a favorite breakfast joint among the locals does a good, scratch that – great – lobster roll, but Toast has truly impressed us! Fresh lobster meat tossed in a little mayo and lemon, served on a traditional grilled roll with melted butter on the side. Perfection on a plate. 517 Cookman Avenue, Asbury Park (732) 776-5900; 45 Monmouth St, Red Bank (732) 224-1234

Via Roma: Vegan Sausage & Peppers
Sausage & Peppers is a classic New Jersey food, whether you’re getting a sandwich on the boardwalk or Mom is cooking it for dinner. Via Roma, an Italian restaurant in Toms River, offers all our favorite classic Italian foods, PLUS an extensive menu of gluten free and vegan options. And we don’t mean just boring salads and gluten free pasta. Their vegan version of one of our favorite sandwiches is proof that vegans can be well-fed – the Jersey way! 2360 Lakewood Dr (Route 9), Toms River (732) 364-1980

Jersey Freeze: The Jersey Melt
Hand rolled ground beef, applewood smoked bacon, and swiss, piled onto two fresh slices of rye bread. Yeah, did we mention that Jersey Freeze does more than just ice cream? They’ve been feeding locals Jersey Shore sandwiches and incredible soft serve since 1952. Some people might consider this patty melt a burger, but we just couldn’t leave it off our list of Jersey Shore sandwiches. 120 Manalapan Ave, Freehold (732) 462-3008

McDonagh’s Pub: Buffalo Chicken Meatball Parm
McDonagh’s changes up the sandwiches on special every week, but you can expect to see beauties like this Buffalo Chicken Meatball Parm topped with melted provolone and buffalo ranch sauce (our personal favorite), or the Buffalo Pulled Chicken Sandwich, Cuban Panini, Dublin Lawyer, and Irish Russian. Give the restaurant a call to see what they have on special any given week! 2 West Front Street, Keyport (732) 264-0999

Mulberry Street Italian Food Center: Grilled Chicken Panini
Mulberry Street specializes in anything Italian you can think of: prepared foods for the whole family, catered events, beautiful gift baskets, and even a quick lunch. Don’t let the lower-key sandwich go unnoticed among everything else they offer! We suggest this perfectly pressed panini with grilled chicken, sautéed broccoli rabe, roasted peppers & fresh mozzarella. 474 Brick Blvd, Brick (732) 477-4520

Klein’s Fish Market and Waterside Café: Crabcake Sandwich
In our very humble opinion, a good crabcake consists of about 90-95% fresh crabmeat. Mayo and seasonings are merely a side note, just there to hold the cake together when it fries up in the pan. Add a little sauce, a soft bun, and you’ve got yourself a winner. Klein’s Fish Market and Waterside Café does exactly that. Thank you for bringing crab back to the crabcake sandwich! 708 River Road, Belmar (732) 681-1177

Boondocks Fishery: Lobster Roll(Seasonal)
Lobster rolls are a touchy subject. Everyone has their preferences for what makes a great one, and what makes a seriously subpar one. Well, when you’re looking at the lobster capital of Red Bank, you can trust they’re going to do a pretty killer job. Boondocks Fishery specializes in lobster, and their lobster roll is definitely one way that they show their prowess. 1 Marine Park, Red Bank (732) 747-7177

Monmouth Meats: Grilled Pork Sandwich
It’s very easy to fall into the trap of just visiting Monmouth Meats to grab a steak, roast, burger or something else that needs to be grilled at home to perfection. In between glances at the USDA Prime Ribeyes and the Tomahawk steak, take a look at his sandwich board. Their sandwiches are some of the best around! Our favorite right now is the grilled pork sandwich, with melted fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers and balsamic. It’s perfection in every bite. 112 Monmouth Street, Red Bank (732) 741-5292