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]
History
While there is some dispute over their origin, locals widely agree that disco fries first appeared by name on the menu at the 24/7 service Tick Tock Diner in Clifton, New Jersey, U.S., in the 1970s.[1][3] In their original form at the diner, the dish was topped with melted mozzarella and brown turkey gravy.[4] The dish derives its name from its popularity as a late-night snack among young crowds returning from disconightclubs, especially as "drunk food".[1][3][4]
John Russell of LGBTQ Nation argues that disco fries are emblematic of the cuisine of LGBTQ culture in the United States, given their popularity among gay nightclub–goers and their association with the queer disco community of the 1970s.[5] A 2025 book by Erik Piepenburg titled Dining Out: First Dates, Defiant Nights, and Last Call Disco Fries at America's Gay Restaurants discusses the history of LGBTQ cuisine in the United States.[6]
Disco fries are often compared to the Canadian dish poutine, which was similarly popularized in the late 20th century, and is solely distinguished by its use of cheese curds in place of melted cheese.[2][11]
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