What Are Disco Fries? The New Jersey Delicacy, Explained

Diners are the heart of New Jersey’s local cuisine, and the most notable dish of them all is disco fries, a heap of French fries covered in melted cheese and piping hot gravy.

Disco fries were invented at the Tick Tock Diner — founded in 1948 — in Clifton, New Jersey, which is still in business today, but the dish’s legacy was established in the 1970s.

The name “disco fries” came from its link to the club scene as young crowds looking to fill up after a night at the disco club would drop in and chow down on the indulgent dish.

While they were traditionally made with crinkle-cut French fries and shredded mozzarella cheese, variations have emerged over time, although the brown gravy remains consistent.

Often compared and confused with Canada’s famous poutine, the use of shredded cheese in disco fries as opposed to cheese curds sets it apart from the Canadian dish.