New Jersey
New Jersey’s most popular condiment isn’t what you’d expect
Condiment – noun: a substance such as salt or ketchup that is used to add flavor to food.
Summer means the start of barbecue season in New Jersey, so we’re going to be using a lot of condiments in the coming months.
Slathering a hot dog or hamburger with your favorite toppings is one of the best parts of an outdoor hangout in the summer, but do you think you can guess what the Garden State’s most popular condiment is?
Gourmet Grilled All Beef Hots Dogs with Sides and Chips
If it were up to me: it would be hot sauce. No question.
Whether it’s a national brand like Frank’s Hot Sauce or something Jersey-made like White House Station sauce, any food item is just a vehicle for me to basically set my tongue on fire.
whitehousesauceco via Instagram
However, a recent study shows that New Jerseyans prefer something much different when it comes to condiments.
The experts at The Cookie Rookie used Google search data to see which popular sauces are the most loved in each U.S. state and nationally.
According to their research these are New Jersey’s top ten searched sauces:
🔟 Ranch dipping sauce
22,200 annual searches
9️⃣ Hot sauce
22,400 annual searches
Hot sauce on a table
8️⃣ Tartar sauce
22,900 annual searches
7️⃣ Relish
26,300 annual searches
A bowl of relisch with Kirby pickling cucumbers in the background
6️⃣ Ketchup
27,300 annual searches
Heap of fried potato with ketchup on white background. Top view.
5️⃣ Mayonnaise
28,500 annual searches
Bowl with mayonnaise isolated on white background. Close up.
4️⃣ Salsa
31,800 annual searches
Mexican nachos and salsa with female hand
3️⃣ Pesto
45,600 annual searches
Fresh pesto with basil
2️⃣ Sriracha Sauce
46,000 annual searches
Photo by Chris Liverani on Unsplash
Drum roll for our number one most searched sauce in New Jersey…
1️⃣ Worcestershire sauce
Photo by Kelsey Todd on Unsplash
What? How? Why? Are we sure that this isn’t googled 50,600 times a year because nobody has a clue how to properly spell it?
I have to believe the only reason this is number one in NJ is because people aren’t googling “how to make grandma’s tomato pasta sauce,” otherwise there’d be no competition.
LOOK: Here are copycat recipes from 20 of the most popular fast food restaurants in America
The best supermarkets in New Jersey
These are the highest-rated supermarkets in each of New Jersey’s 21 counties. The ratings are based on reviews left by customers on Google. To be included in the top, a supermarket had to have a substantial number of reviews (typically at leas a thousand).
The post above reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5’s Kylie Moore. Any opinions expressed are Kylie’s own. You can follow Kylie on Instagram.
Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story.
Let’s be honest, we didn’t need a national list to tell us this. New Jersey has the best restaurants, the best food, and some of the most talented chefs anywhere in America.
It’s something locals have been saying forever, and now the rest of the country is catching up. Still, it’s always nice to see that recognition on a big stage.
We Already Knew New Jersey Was the Best
USA TODAY’s 2026 Restaurants of the Year list highlights standout dining destinations across the country.
From humble roadside gems to chef-driven hotspots earning major buzz, the list celebrates places that truly stand out, and New Jersey showed up in a big way.
Three New Jersey Spots Earn National Recognition
This year, three Garden State restaurants made the prestigious list:
- The Pasta Shop – Denville
- Ram & Rooster – Metuchen
- Anjelica’s – Sea Bright
And yes, that includes a Jersey Shore favorite, because of course it does.
These restaurants represent everything people love about dining in New Jersey, quality, creativity, and flavors that keep you coming back.
A Jersey Shore Standout Shines
There’s something special about seeing a Jersey Shore restaurant included among the best in America. It’s not just about great food, it’s about the full experience, the atmosphere, and that unmistakable local charm.
Anjelica’s in Sea Bright earning a spot only reinforces what shore locals already know: some of the best meals you’ll ever have are right here, close to home.
No Surprise, Just Well-Deserved
At the end of the day, this recognition feels less like a surprise and more like confirmation. New Jersey’s food scene has always been top-tier, and lists like this just make it official.
Keep Reading: Beloved New Jersey Restaurant is Closing
So whether you’re heading to Denville, Metuchen, or down the shore, you already know, you’re in for something special.
PHOTOS: Step Inside a 1970s Kitchen — 34 Things You’ll Recognize
From Tupperware jugs (you know the ones) to those ever-present knife sharpeners, let’s take a nostalgic trip back to the quintessential ’70s kitchen.
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
If You Grew Up in the ’70s and ’80s, These Foods Were Super Fancy
From Babybels to Toblerone chocolate, take a nostalgic bite out of these ‘fancy’ childhood foods that made us feel way more elegant than we really were.
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
FIFA and New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill have become embroiled in a war of words this past week as the prospect of $150 train tickets to travel to World Cup games and plans to close parts of New York’s Penn Station have angered residents.
The recent uproar began after reports surfaced April 6 that parts of Penn Station would be closed to NJ Transit commuters not attending World Cup games for four hours before kickoff during the eight matches at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.
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Moreover, round-trip train tickets between Penn Station in Manhattan and MetLife Stadium, where the final of the FIFA World Cup is set to be played, were announced by NJ Transit to come in at $150 per person.
A return ride on the same line typically costs $12.90, according to NJ Transit.
The FIFA World Cup Trophy is displayed during the Los Angeles stop of The FIFA World Cup 26 Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at LA Live in Los Angeles on March 24, 2026.
In a press release on April 17, Sherrill said the move to increase prices was caused by FIFA’s decision to eliminate parking at MetLife Stadium. The Democratic governor said price increases happened because FIFA did not agree to cover the costs of transporting fans.
“We are committed to ensuring costs are shared fairly. As I have said repeatedly, FIFA should cover the cost of transporting its fans. If it won’t, we will not be subsidizing World Cup ticket holders on the backs of New Jerseyans who rely on NJ TRANSIT every day,” Sherrill said.
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More: Going to World Cup at MetLife Stadium? Expect $150 train tickets and no parking
FIFA, on the other hand, has said the price increase would have a “chilling effect” on fans attending games in New Jersey and said Sherrill’s demands asking FIFA to absorb transportation costs for fans were “unprecedented.”
“Elevated fares inevitably push fans toward alternative transportation options. This increases concerns of congestion, late arrivals, and creates broader ripple effects that ultimately diminish the economic benefit and lasting legacy the entire region stands to gain from hosting the World Cup,” Heimo Schirgi, COO for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, said in a statement to USA TODAY.
The NJ Transit logo is seen in the lobby of the New Jersey Transit headquarters ahead of a press briefing on the New York/New Jersey FIFA World Cup 2026 regional mobility plan in Newark, New Jersey on April 17, 2026.
What are other cities doing with World Cup transportation?
New Jersey has not been the only place where transportation costs have been the subject of discussion ahead of the World Cup. In Boston, round-trip train train tickets on the MBTA from Boston’s South Station to Gillette Stadium are being sold for $80.
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Special event trains to Foxborough for New England Patriots NFL games and New England Revolution MLS matches are usually $20 for a round trip, according to local news station CBS Boston.
Other cities have not seen increases like the ones in New Jersey and Boston. In Atlanta, for example, train fares on the city’s MARTA will be $2.50 per ride, with children able to travel for free with a paying adult.
Kansas City is offering $15 round-trip shuttle rides for fans parking in four different park-and-ride locations, as well as those coming from FIFA’s Fan Festival in the city. Los Angeles, on the other hand, is offering fans a $3.50 round trip train ticket on its Metro Train.
SEPTA in Philadelphia is also keeping its prices low, with fans set to pay the base $2.90 fare for a ride on its Broad Street Line, which takes riders to Lincoln Financial Field, set to host six matches.
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Katie Sobko from USA TODAY Network’s NorthJersey.com contributed to this report.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: World Cup fans going to MetLife Stadium to pay $150 for NJT ticket
Who’s footing the bill to get to the FIFA World Cup? That’s the question on everyone’s mind as New Jersey gears up to host eight games at MetLife Stadium this summer.
Governor Mikie Sherill says the skyrocketing transportation costs have a $50 million price tag — one that she’s not willing to pass on to commuters.
Ticket prices have been a hot topic, but we may have to wait a bit longer for an answer.
Transportation officials on Friday will be talking about how NJ Transit service is going to be impacted.
Four hours before those matches, NJ Transit service from New York Penn Station to New Jersey is expected to be suspended, exclusively going to MetLife Stadium only.
Friday’s press conference is happening to discuss what alternatives there are for commuters during those four hours when service could be restricted.
Four World Cup matches are during the week, so this service disruption will impact the afternoon commute for many people.
There have been rumors recently that a round-trip New Jersey Transit ticket to attend the FIFA World Cup could cost up to $150. The normal price is $12.90.
A set price has not been announced yet, so that’s a big question still, and it may be brought up at Friday’s press conference or we may have to wait a bit longer for an answer.
NJ Transit says it’s going to cost around $48 million to provide service during the World Cup, primarily because of extra security.
Gov. Sherrill says she doesn’t want to pass that cost onto every everyday commuters.
She released a video on social media saying FIFA should pay for the rides, but FIFA says that’s not part of the original deal.
“I won’t stick New Jersey’s commuters with that tab for years to come. That’s not fair. So here’s the bottom line, FIFA should pay for the rides, but if they don’t, I’m not going to let New Jersey commuters get taken for one,” Sherrill said.
Sherrill says her predecessor set up the deal.
The press conference is set to be held at 11:30 a.m.
There is parking available at the American Dream Mall. Those prices are set by FIFA and could run over $200 per space.
Those who park at the mall will have access to mall festivities and celebrations.
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