Gobble gobble: 5 must-try Thanksgiving sandwiches at the Jersey Shore

All year long, we look forward to the flavors of Thanksgiving: savory roasted turkey, buttery mashed potatoes, rich gravy and sweet cranberry sauce.

But we don't have to wait for the holiday meal to enjoy them — the Thanksgiving sandwich has it all. Wawa put this sandwich on the map with the Gobbler, but restaurants give it their own spin with scratch-made ingredients.

Andrew Vermilyea, owner of The Speakeatery in Asbury Park, started making his version of the sandwich years ago. It is called The Turk Diggler (the name was chosen in a customer contest) and is made with smoked turkey breast, roasted garlic Parmesan mashed potatoes, bacon gravy and cranberry aioli between two fried stuffing buns.

When he first launched the sandwich, Vermilyea offered it one day a week — and sold between 150 and 200 per day. The demand made it hard for the kitchen to keep up with other orders, so he began offering the Thanksgiving sandwich by pre-order four days per week.

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The restaurant makes about two dozen Thursdays through Fridays ($19.99), but Vermilyea will add more if need be.

"If there's a lot of demand, I try to keep up with it," he said. "I want as many people to eat it as possible."

Once you've tried "The Turk Diggler," here are some other places to find a Thanksgiving sandwich this year.

Fratello's Market, Long Beach Township

This is the first year for the turkey Gobbler at Fratello's, a market and eatery on Long Beach Island. The sandwich has house-roasted turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mayo and lettuce on seven-grain bread ($13).

Go: 2613 Long Beach Island Blvd., Long Beach Township; 609-661-7291, fratellosmarketlbi.com.

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Smokies Craft BBQ & Burgers, Berkeley Township

Brisket, pulled pork, burgers and cheesesteaks aren't the only dishes on the menu at Dave Kaminski's barbecue restaurant.

This time of year, he makes a Thanksgiving sandwich with house-smoked turkey breast, sausage stuffing, housemade cranberry relish and turkey gravy.

"We also offer it in a layered bowl with (the customer's) choice of mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, or sausage stuffing topped with the turkey, gravy and cranberry ($12.99, includes a small side)," he said.

Go: 333 Atlantic City Blvd., Bayville section of Berkeley Township; 732-281-8715, smokiescraftbbq.com.

The Local Market & Kitchen, Ship Bottom

During summer, The Local Market & Kitchen is packed with beachgoers in search of good coffee, grab-and-go lunches and bakery treats.

But in the off-season, locals in the know visit for The Harvest Joe, a hearty pressed sandwich of roasted turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and bacon ranch on multigrain bread ($14.99).

Go: 604 Central Ave., Ship Bottom; 609-342-0061, localmarketlbi.com.

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Harry's Smokin' BBQ, South Toms River

Keep an eye out for Harry Clayton's bright orange roadside food trailer and pull in for a Gobble Gobble Melt, a smoked turkey breast sandwich on toasted sourdough with cheddar cheese, housemade sausage stuffing, cranberry sauce and turkey gravy ($13).

He's also making a Gobble Gobble Burger — a turkey burger with cheese, stuffing, cranberry sauce and turkey gravy — and egg rolls stuffed with turkey, mashed potatoes, housemade sausage stuffing and cranberry sauce with turkey gravy for dipping.

(While you're there, check out Clayton's collaboration with Schiano's Pizza of Toms River: The Mother Clucker is a Buffalo chicken sandwich with macaroni and cheese, spicy Cheetos and ranch dressing on garlic knot bread.)

Go: 240 Dover Road, South Toms River; 848-223-9955, harryssmokinbbq.com.

Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to sgriesemer@gannettnj.com and subscribe to our Jersey Shore Eats newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Thanksgiving USA 2023: Gobbler sandwiches to taste at the Jersey Shore