Hole-in-the-Wall Diners and Cheesesteak Spots in Monmouth and Ocean County

Some of the best food at the Jersey Shore comes off a flat-top grill in a room with a counter and a handful of booths. I'm Dennis Mark Interdonato, REALTOR® and Lifestyle Connector with Keller Williams Realty Ocean Living, and these are my picks for hole-in-the-wall diners, luncheonettes and cheesesteak shops across Monmouth and Ocean County. Every one is locally owned, and every one was checked as open on October 6, 2026.

A few of them keep short hours or take cash only, so read the notes before you go.

The Cheesesteak Shops

CheeseSteak Louie's, Seaside Heights and Tuckerton

CheeseSteak Louie's, 22 Boulevard in Seaside Heights, with a second shop at 224 West Main Street in Tuckerton. The classic is your choice of cheese, a big portion of seasoned beef and onions, and the menu goes from there into buffalo chicken and other versions. Both shops are open seven days a week, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Steaks Unlimited, Seaside Heights

Steaks Unlimited, 14 Dupont Avenue, Seaside Heights. The sandwich to know is the Seaside Tony: shaved-and-diced ribeye, white American, onions, peppers and fried cheeseballs, served in pizza bread instead of a roll. Steak sandwiches and platters are grilled to order.

Mike's Giant Size Submarine Sandwiches, Keyport

Mike's Giant Size Submarine Sandwiches, 103 West Front Street, Keyport. Family owned since 1961. Subs are built fresh with onion, lettuce and tomato, and the sides are the old-school salads: macaroni, potato, macaroni and cheddar, and coleslaw. Feeding a crowd? They make 3-foot subs. Cash only, closed Mondays.

Mike's Giant Submarines, Belmar

Mike's Giant Submarines, 700 8th Avenue, Belmar. A different Mike's, and a Belmar fixture for 35 years: subs, wraps and sandwiches for pickup or delivery, plus catering for small and large get-togethers.

The Diners and Luncheonettes

Mustache Bill's Diner, Barnegat Light

Mustache Bill's Diner, Broadway and 8th Street, Barnegat Light. A 1959 Fodero dining car that Bill Smith bought in 1972. Order the Cyclops, a ring-shaped pancake with an egg cooked in the middle, or the Trenton omelet with pork roll and fresh tomato. The creamed chipped beef is his father's Army recipe. Right now it's open Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and it's cash only.

Roberto's Freehold Grill, Freehold

Roberto's Freehold Grill, 59 East Main Street, Freehold. A railroad-style diner pushing 80 years old, with brown vinyl barstools at a chrome counter and booths along the windows. It was Tony's Freehold Grill until the 2022 change in ownership. Breakfast and lunch only: steak and eggs, corned beef hash, disco fries, burgers and a section of Mexican dishes.

Edie's Luncheonette, Little Silver

Edie's Luncheonette, 164 Rumson Road, Little Silver. The building dates to 1849 and was Little Silver's first post office. Food has been served here since 1928, and it became Edie's in 1973. The menu has the Garbage Omelet, the Skinny Mini, French toast and a Schickhaus hot dog with sauerkraut. Open seven days for breakfast and lunch.

Jillaney's Luncheonette, Keansburg

Jillaney's Luncheonette, 220 Main Street, Keansburg. Look for the green awning. Breakfast is eggs, corned beef hash, home fries, omelets, pancakes and waffles, and lunch is cold subs (Italian, ham, turkey, tuna salad) in halves or wholes. Open from 7 a.m., with later hours on Thursdays.

Sand Castle Diner, Beachwood

Sand Castle Diner, 634 Atlantic City Boulevard, Beachwood. Spyro and Dina Agrapides started in 1988 with a gyro stand on the Seaside pier and grew it into this diner, which the next generation of the family runs today. Omelets, pancakes, Belgian waffles, burgers and seafood, seven days a week.

Find More Around the Shore

The best diner in a town tells you a lot about it. If one of these has you curious, keep going:

• Seaside Heights and the free Seaside Heights guide.

• Keyport, Little Silver and Keansburg, each with its own free town guide.

• Freehold, Belmar, Beachwood and Barnegat Light.

• Every town guide for Monmouth and Ocean County, on the local guide page.

Recommendations and lists of the “best” or “top” places in this article are the personal opinion of Dennis Mark Interdonato alone. They are not the views of Keller Williams Realty Ocean Living or of any business named, and they are not a guarantee of any product or service. Every place was checked as open on October 6, 2026. Hours, menus and seasons change, so check with each place before you go.