Over 2,000 pounds of potatoes get cut by hand here every single week. All of them end up stuffed into round pizza bread with fried hot dogs, peppers, and onions.
That sandwich has a name. It’s the Italian hot dog, and it started at a card table in 1932.
A wife cooked it for her husband and his card-playing buddies. Nobody could have guessed it would become one of New Jersey’s signature foods.
What gets me is the bread. It’s soft, wide, and shaped like a fat pita, so the whole pile actually fits.
I’d absolutely make a detour for that kind of engineering.
A Card Game In Newark Started Everything
Card night in 1932 Newark produced more than a few winning hands. James Racioppi, known to friends as Jimmy Buff, had a crew that liked to play late.
His wife, Mary Racioppi, fed them with something new. She fried hot dogs, potatoes, peppers, and onions, then tucked everything into Italian bread.
The card players clearly approved. That same year, the first Jimmy Buff’s opened at 14th Avenue and 9th Street in Newark.
Back then, people called the creation the Newark Hot Dog. Today, most folks know it as the Italian hot dog, a true New Jersey original.
I love that the story starts in a home kitchen. No test lab, no marketing team, just a hungry table of friends and a cook who knew what she was doing.
Jimmy Buff’s Of West Orange Italian Hot Dogs carries that same recipe forward. The family still credits the 1932 creation as the start of it all.
Think about how many food trends have come and gone since then. This one simply kept going, one sandwich at a time.
Not bad for a snack meant to keep card players happy. Some legends begin with grand plans, and others begin with a hungry Friday night.
The Family Brought The Recipe To West Orange In 1960
Nearly three decades after Newark, the Racioppi family planted a flag in West Orange. The shop opened in 1960 and has stayed in the family ever since.
Tom Racioppi, son of Jimmy Buff himself, runs the West Orange location today. That’s a direct line from the original card table to the counter.
You’ll find the shop at 60 Washington St, West Orange, NJ 07052. It sits right in town, easy to reach from much of North Jersey.
Family members also run the Kenilworth location. Tom’s cousin, Mike Loikith, owns that one, so the name stays in trusted hands.
Here’s why that matters to you. Family ownership usually means the recipe doesn’t drift with every new manager or trend.
Jimmy Buff’s Of West Orange Italian Hot Dogs has stuck with the same basic method for generations. The oil, the bread, and the toppings all follow the old way.
Plenty of famous food spots get sold, rebranded, or turned into chains. This one still feels like a family business because it actually is one.
Honestly, that might be the rarest ingredient on the menu.
That Pizza Bread Holds A Small Mountain
Round, flat, and soft, the pizza bread is the secret hero here. It’s a quarter or half of a large Italian roll, shaped a lot like a fat pita.
Inside goes a deep-fried hot dog, or two if you order a double. Then come sautéed onions, peppers, and sliced potatoes.
Everything cooks in the same hot oil as the dogs. That’s how it’s been done since 1932, using soybean oil.
Toppings are simple. You can add mustard, ketchup, or the house onion relish.
A lot of first-timers start with the double. It’s the classic order, and it shows off the whole idea best.
My one tip is to grab extra napkins. Potatoes, peppers, and two dogs in one pocket of bread won’t stay perfectly tidy.
The funny part is how logical it feels once you see it. A regular bun could never handle this load, but the pizza bread barely blinks.
Each bite mixes crispy, soft, salty, and sweet pepper flavor. It’s a full meal wearing a hot dog costume, and New Jersey wouldn’t have it any other way.
Sausage Fans Get Their Own Version, And More
Not a hot dog person? The kitchen has you covered with the Italian sausage sandwich.
It uses the same pizza bread and the same pile of potatoes, peppers, and onions. Only the star of the show changes.
Can’t decide? The combo sandwich puts a hot dog and a sausage together in one roll.
I’d say that’s the diplomatic choice.
The menu stretches further too. You’ll see cheesesteaks, cheeseburgers, and chicken sandwiches on the board.
There’s also the Potato Boat, a side order of the shop’s signature fried potatoes, with peppers and onions available as optional additions.
This range makes the spot easier for groups. One friend can chase the legend while another orders a cheesesteak without guilt.
Still, the Italian hot dog stays the headliner. Everything else on the menu feels like the supporting cast in a long-running show.
If you plan a return trip, try something different each time. Start with the classic, then work through the sausage and combo on later visits.
That’s a pretty tasty to-do list for anyone exploring New Jersey food traditions.
Two Thousand Pounds Of Potatoes Don’t Slice Themselves
Over 2,000 pounds. That’s how many potatoes the West Orange shop reportedly cuts each week for its sandwiches.
Let that number sink in for a second. It’s roughly the weight of a small car, turned into crispy slices tucked into bread.
The potatoes aren’t a side here. They’re baked right into the identity of the Italian hot dog.
Fresh ingredients are a big part of the shop’s reputation. Consistency over the decades matters just as much.
That kind of volume tells you something. A lot of sandwiches leave this counter every week.
It also explains why the potatoes taste like part of the recipe, not an afterthought. They cook in the same oil as the dogs and peppers, so flavors blend.
I have to admit, I’m curious about whoever handles all that cutting. That’s some serious arm work.
Next time you bite into one of these sandwiches, notice the potatoes. They carry a surprising amount of the flavor and the crunch.
Jimmy Buff’s Of West Orange Italian Hot Dogs proves a humble spud can become a headliner with enough care.
Stand At The Counter And Watch The Magic Happen
Fancy decor isn’t the point here. The interior is cozy and no-frills, built around a counter and a busy kitchen.
You order at the counter and wait while your food gets made fresh. Watching the cooks work is half the fun.
The room has an old-school look that hasn’t chased trends. That’s a big part of its charm.
Space is tight, so plan accordingly. Many people grab their order to go.
Fair warning about these sandwiches. They’re messy, so eating in a car takes real skill and plenty of napkins.
The aroma from the fryer greets you right away. It does more selling than any sign could.
Staff members get plenty of credit for being friendly. Owner Tom Racioppi personally thanks people who post about their visits online, which says a lot.
I can see why the place feels like a time capsule. The counter, the menu board, and the frying setup all point back to another era.
That steady, classic setting fits the food perfectly. A legend this old deserves a room that still looks the part.
Bring Cash, And Then Thank Yourself Later
Here’s a practical heads-up before you go. Jimmy Buff’s Of West Orange Italian Hot Dogs is known as a cash-only spot at the counter.
There is an ATM on site. Still, showing up with cash saves you an extra step.
Delivery apps also list the restaurant. That’s handy if you’d rather eat at home.
Hours run from 10:30 AM most days. Sunday starts later at noon and wraps up earlier in the evening.
Friday and Saturday stay open the latest. That’s useful for a weekend dinner run.
Calling ahead is a smart move for bigger orders. It cuts down your time standing around hungry.
Also, check the board for specials. The shop has run deals on certain weekdays, so it pays to ask.
None of these tips are complicated. They just make your visit smoother, especially if you’re coming from outside New Jersey.
Think of it as a little homework before the tasty part. A wallet with a few bills is the only ticket you really need for this piece of food history.
Fame Followed This Sandwich All The Way To Space
Yep, this hot dog joint has a space connection. New Jersey astronaut brothers Scott and Mark Kelly brought a Jimmy Buff’s t-shirt to the International Space Station.
That’s a long trip for a shirt from a hot dog shop. Pretty impressive bragging rights.
Back on Earth, the attention kept rolling in. Fodor’s named Jimmy Buff’s among the top hot dogs in America.
The Travel Channel featured it. So did State Plate with Taylor Hicks, Every Day with Rachael Ray, and the Chicago Tribune.
In 2020, Weird NJ readers crowned it TOP DOG. Fans of quirky New Jersey culture clearly know a classic when they taste one.
Then came 2022. The West Orange location joined the New Jersey Historic Wooden Collection as its 25th addition.
That honor recognized 90 years of continuous service. It’s the kind of milestone few restaurants ever reach.
What gets me is the variety of fans. TV hosts, travel guides, quirky magazines, and astronauts all ended up at the same humble sandwich.
Okay, that’s impressive for something born at a card table.
Can’t Make The Trip? The Legend Ships
Moved away from Jersey and missing home? There’s good news for you.
Jimmy Buff’s offers nationwide shipping of its Italian hot dogs. That means the taste can travel far beyond Washington Street.
This makes a fun gift for homesick friends. It’s also a great way to introduce out-of-state family to a true local classic.
Of course, nothing beats eating one fresh from the fryer. The shop itself adds history and atmosphere you can’t pack in a box.
So here’s my plan if you can swing it. Visit in person first, then ship some later when the craving returns.
For locals, this feature works differently. It’s a way to share a piece of New Jersey pride with people across the country.
I’m not sure what’s more surprising. A 1932 card-night snack ships coast to coast, or a sandwich this messy survives the trip.
Either way, the legend keeps growing. Jimmy Buff’s Of West Orange Italian Hot Dogs started with friends around a table, and now it reaches tables everywhere.
That’s a pretty sweet ending for a Newark original.
