 Disco fries atHamburger America | |
| Type | Fast food |
|---|---|
| Course | Side dish,snack |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | New Jersey |
| Main ingredients | French fries, browngravy, melted shreddedcheese |
Disco fries are a dish of American origin consisting offrench fries topped with browngravy and melted shreddedcheese (typicallymozzarella). Popularized in the 1970s by the Tick Tock Diner inClifton, New Jersey, U.S., they are a staple ofNew Jersey cuisine, commonly served atdiners throughout the state.[1]
In the 2020s, disco fries gained popularity at restaurants throughout the United States. In 2024,The Takeout wrote that disco fries "may be New Jersey's greatest contribution to the snack food pantheon".[2]
While there is some dispute over their origin, locals widely agree that disco fries first appeared by name on the menu at the24/7 service Tick Tock Diner inClifton, New Jersey, U.S., in the 1970s.[1][3] In their original form at the diner, the dish was topped with meltedmozzarella and brown turkeygravy.[4] The dish derives its name from its popularity as a late-night snack among young crowds returning fromdisconightclubs, especially as "drunk food".[1][3][4]
John Russell ofLGBTQ Nation argues that disco fries are emblematic of the cuisine ofLGBTQ culture in the United States, given their popularity amonggay nightclub–goers and their association with thequeer disco community of the 1970s.[5] A 2025 book by Erik Piepenburg titledDining Out: First Dates, Defiant Nights, and Last Call Disco Fries at America's Gay Restaurants discusses the history ofLGBTQ cuisine in the United States.[6]
While disco fries are traditionally topped with melted shreddedmozzarella cheese, some variants opt forcheddar,Gruyère,provolone, orAmerican cheese.[2][7][8][9]
In the 2020s, in whatEater dubbed a "disco fries fever," variants of disco fries spread beyond New Jersey to restaurants throughout the United States.[1] Notable examples include the Thai disco fries atThai Diner inNolita, Manhattan, which are topped with amassaman curry,peanuts, andcoconut milk;[10] a variant withfive spice and chicken gravy atKing BBQ inCharleston, South Carolina; and a variant withbrisket,pho gravy andsambal aioli atLittle Rituals inPhoenix, Arizona.[1]
Disco fries are often compared to the Canadian dishpoutine, which was similarly popularized in the late 20th century, and is solely distinguished by its use ofcheese curds in place of melted cheese.[2][11]