Spicy tacos and gooey cinnamon rolls — these are the best things we ate in NJ this week

We've all seen that old Eddie Murphy "welfare burger" bit, where his mom serves him a stove-cooked patty on two slices of wheat bread and calls it a hamburger. As a young boy who just wanted McDonald's, he was pretty destroyed, and — for generations — home viewers went on to laugh at his misfortune.

But, here's the thing; when I was a kid? My parents actually did that.

And, not even with real meat (or actual bread).

That's right: my 2006 welfare burger was a Morning Star Farms veggie burger between two slices of discontinued high-protein Men's Bread. To offset the taste of flax seeds, I also got a layer of French's yellow mustard, whose watery run-off slid down the sides of a single waxy slice of American cheese solidified to the top of the patty.

In other words? I've upgraded since then.

Here are the five best things I ate this week.

'Ohana' Breakfast Sandwich, Dutch's Sandwich Shop

Dutch's Sandwich Shop may be known for its pastrami and bacon-topped "Dutch Daddy," but — when I hit the spot this week? It was all about the Ohana.

An ode to Hawaii, the hefty, stacked sandwich featured multiple layers of fried spam between melty cheese, double eggs and creamy chipotle mayo. The bread choice on the creation was a soft brioche, and the toasty, buttery edges remained ever-so-slightly crispy, even under all of those saucy, sloppy ingredients.

I loved just about everything about the Ohana, from its thick-cut spam (such a fun choice) to its generous portion size. The best part about the dish, however, was the melt-in-your-mouth bun. In a world of dry kaiser rolls and hard bagels, an airy brioche was a refreshing change.

Go: 16 Church St., Montclair; 973-939-5037, dutchsmontclair.com.

Smoked Oxtail Empanada, Cubita Café

Every time I think Gus Gutierrez of Cubita Café can't make a better empanada, he always finds a way to prove me wrong. He's about to have a hard time, though, finding a way to top his most recent flavor.

Called the Smoked Oxtail, the new empanada is stuffed solely with slow-cooked oxtail and soft onion, but that doesn't stop it from being the most delicious thing the vivacious chef has ever served in his restaurant. Here's why.

To give the oxtail its unique taste, Gutierrez cooks it in aged beef tallow (fat skimmed from other cuts of the cow). He then shreds that meat and folds it into a rich, pastry-like dough — similar to the outside of a pot pie — and tops it with a thick, seven-day-simmered demi sauce.

Flash-fried on the outside, yet tender and drippy on the inside, the decadent finger food is a umami showstopper of an appetizer.

Go: 234 Franklin Ave., Nutley; 973-630-9220, cubitacafenj.com.

Chicken Bacon Alfredo Pizza, @backyardpizzadad

Sometimes I find the best dishes I ate in a week at fine dining restaurants by James Beard-nominated chefs.

And other times? I find them in a local dad's backyard.

This week, I experienced the latter.

Hailing from Wayne, Dan Piasecki is a pizza-obsessed father of two who often hosts pizza parties around his personal, backyard pizza oven. Recently, he rose to internet prominence after a video he posted of one of his pies went viral on Instagram, and launched him to nearly 30 thousand followers over night. Today, he's pushing 50K, and goes by @backyardpizzadad.

After the sudden hype around Piasecki's dough-slinging passion, I decided to stop by his Passaic County home and try some of his pizzas for myself (because someone had to do the Lord's work). As I expected, they were just as tasty as they looked, boasting thin crust, indulgent toppings and greasy pepperoni sizzles.

Though I sampled a truffle pie, margherita and more, my favorite of the bunch was a cheesy Chicken Bacon Alfredo. The white sauce used was thick and creamy, and the bacon topping was perfectly salty and crispy. From the moment it was pulled from the oven — cheese bubbling under its own heat — I knew I was going to love it.

Go: Wayne, in Dan Piasecki's backyard (for now). Stay tuned to @backyardpizzadad for upcoming pop-ups.

Fish Taco, Taco Time

Fish tacos are my go-to order at Mexican restaurants, and Taco Time, a hole-in-the-wall taco joint in Norwood, is my go-to Mexican restaurant.

So, AKA, if I'm craving something south of the border? This is the dish I'm going for.

Featuring beer-battered fish, fresh pico, chipotle aioli and a wedge of creamy avocado over two corn tortillas (because one isn't enough to hold that level of slop together), the taco is soft-yet-crispy, cool-yet-spicy and loaded with dynamic flavors.

And, even better? It's $4.95.

Go: 559 Livingston St., Norwood; 201-750-8888, tacotime.smartonlineorder.com.

Cinnamon Roll, Kevin's Slice of Heaven Bake Shop

Like the Cinnabon one, but homemade.

Sweet, melty, buttery and gooey, the cinnamon roll from Kevin's Slice of Heaven is the closest I've ever found to the famous franchised dessert — and it's a local Jersey must-try.

Go: 1 S Main St., Lodi; 201-456-4129, kevinssliceofheaven.com.

Hungry for more?

Want more on this week's latest food news? Check out some of my best articles at NorthJersey.com/food, or keep up with me @northjerseyeats.

And as for next week? I've got a purple cheeseburger, blue empanada and real-life Willy Wonka factory on the schedule.

So stay tuned to Instagram as I (quite literally) taste the rainbow.

Kara VanDooijeweert is a food writer for NorthJersey.com and The Record. If you can't find her in Jersey's best restaurants, she's probably off running a race course in the mountains. Catch her on Instagram: @karanicolev & @northjerseyeats, and sign up for her North Jersey Eats newsletter.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Five must-try Jersey dishes: spicy tacos, gooey cinnamon rolls