Cheap eats at the Jersey Shore: Pizza, hoagies, ice cream, donuts, seafood, and more

Eating may be the all-consuming activity at the Jersey Shore. If we’re not actually eating, we’re thinking about food.

Sure, you can splurge on a fine-dining experience, but by and large, visitors seek out those wonderfully calorific but typically low-priced treats that define vacation food: baked goods, ice cream, pizza, sandwiches, and breakfasts.

To compile this sampling of Shore food favorites, I quizzed dozens of locals and longtime visitors from Long Beach Island to Cape May. Keep in mind this is but a sampling. Your favorites might not be here. Share yours with me: mklein@philly.com.

Browns: Famous for doughnuts. 110 Boardwalk, Ocean City

Crazy Susan’s Cookies: Chocolate chip cookies dipped in dark chocolate. 1345 West Ave., Ocean City

Fractured Prune: Customizable doughnuts. 1225 Asbury Ave., Ocean City

Holiday Snack Bar: Oversize cakes and pies, plus a diner menu. 401 Centre St., Beach Haven

Hot Bagels & More: The snack-size pastry known as rugelach is a specialty. 7807 Ventnor Ave. and 9414 Ventnor Ave., Margate, and 639 Tilton Rd., Northfield

Kohler’s Bakery: Cinnamon buns have been a specialty for 70 years. 2709 Dune Dr., Avalon

Mallon’s Homemade Sticky Buns: The name says it all. 2105 Ocean Dr., Avalon; 1340 Bay Ave., Ocean City; and 5008 Landis Ave., Sea Isle City

Mrs. Brizzle’s Buns: Homemade buns sold out of a deli. 4601 Landis Ave., Sea Isle City

No. 7311: The coffee shop is an arm of Steve & Cookie’s. 7311 Ventnor Ave., Ventnor

RSK Donuts: Hot and fresh. 505 Carpenters Lane (Washington Street Mall), Cape May

Shore Good Donuts: Made to order. 1211 Long Beach Blvd., Ship Bottom

Side Door Donuts & Coffee: Euro-style baking. 1501 Long Beach Blvd., Beach Haven

Ward’s Pastry: All kinds of baked goods — and scrapple pie. 730 Asbury Ave., Ocean City

Berenato’s Corner Deli: Famous for 19-inch hoagies. 47 Atlantic Ave., Ocean City

Dino’s Subs: Get the tuna. 8016 Ventnor Ave., Margate

Giovanni’s Delicatessen: It’s all Italian here. 4309 Landis Ave., Sea Isle City

Pete’s Subs: The classics. 501 Zion Rd., Egg Harbor Township

Sack O’ Subs: Oversize sandwiches in plain surroundings. Various locations

Tony Boloney’s: Creative sandwiches and pizza. 300 Oriental Ave., Atlantic City

Vic’s Subs: How much meat do you like on your sandwich? You’ll get even more. And don’t forget the pepper relish. 742 Ohio Ave., Absecon

Voltaco’s: Pizza, subs, and Italian food to go. 957 West Ave., Ocean City

White House: “Home of Submarines,” the neon sign proclaims. Arguably the Shore’s most famous sandwich shop. 2301 Arctic Ave., Atlantic City

Barry’s Do Me a Flavor: 24 flavors of ice cream, plus a comprehensive food menu. 309 Centre St., Beach Haven

Duffer’s: House-made ice cream, and mini-golf. 5210 Pacific Ave., Wildwood

Kessel’s Korner: Dipping Breyer’s for years, as well as providing a food menu. 2760 Asbury Ave., Ocean City

Kohr’s: Frozen custard, more properly. Various locations

Margate Dairy Bar: Ice cream and burgers. 9510 Ventnor Ave., Margate

Springer’s Homemade Ice Cream: Rich, super-premium ice cream. 9420 Third Ave., Stone Harbor

Sweet Charlie’s: Rolled ice cream. 928 Boardwalk, Ocean City

TJ’s Ice Cream Plus: 60 flavors. 100 E. Atlantic Blvd., Ocean City

Chicken or the Egg: The Chegg is known for 24-hour breakfasts (in-season), and wings. 207 N. Bay Ave., Beach Haven

Dock Mike’s Pancake House: Sweet potato pancakes! 110 N. Broadway, Cape May, and 4615 Landis Ave., Sea Isle City

Gilchrist’s: Breakfast-sandwich specialist. 804 N. Rhode Island Ave., Atlantic City; 9400 Atlantic Ave., Margate; 734 W. White Horse Pike, Absecon; and at the Tropicana in Atlantic City

Jon & Patty’s: Breakfast tacos. 637 Asbury Ave, Ocean City

Mad Batter: Oatmeal pancakes. 19 Jackson St., Cape May

Uncle Bill’s Pancake House: Ubiquitous for good reason. Various locations

Varsity Inn: Breakfast-sandwich specialist. 605 E. Eighth St., Ocean City

Cappelletti’s: The Phat Johnny, loaded with meats. 1432 Texas Ave., Cape May

Carluccio’s: Coal-fired pizza. 1200 New Rd., Northfield

DeNunzio’s Brick Oven Pizza & Grille: The Crunked Chicken Pizza, with vodka sauce, chicken, mozzarella, and basil. 3500 Boardwalk, Sea Isle City

Manco & Manco: Sauce hose forever. Three locations on Ocean City’s boardwalk, and Ocean Heights Shopping Center, Somers Point

Piccini: House-made mozzarella makes a difference. 1260 West Ave., Ocean City

Poppi’s Pizza Napoletana: Twists on the pizza include such toppings as mac and cheese. 4709 New Jersey Ave., Wildwood

Stone Harbor Pizza Pub: The South of the Border, with chorizo, jalapeño, sour cream, tomatoes, scallions, and black beans. 315 96th St. at The Reeds, Stone Harbor

7 Mile Pies: Vegan options. 261 96th St. (Harbor Square Mall), Stone Harbor

Tony’s Baltimore Grill: The very definition of old-school. 2800 Atlantic Ave., Atlantic City

Tony P’s House of Pie: The Jersey Shore, with Taylor pork roll, onion, and tomatoes (get it with the fresh garlic). 986 Boardwalk, Ocean City

Uncle Oogie’s: “Granma-style” pizzas, with two locations in Philly. 6118 Landis Ave., Sea Isle City

Valentina’s: Brick-oven pizza. 200 Tilton Rd., Northfield

Allen’s Clam Bar: Your no-frills seafooder. 5650 U.S. 9, New Gretna

The Clam Bar (a.k.a. Smitty’s): Ultra-casual drop-in at Smith’s Marina (breakfasts, too). 910 Bay Ave., Somers Point

Marie’s Seafood: Combo seafood market and casual dining room. 4304 Park Rd., Sea Isle City

Mike’s Seafood: Century-old fish house on the water. 4222 Park Rd., Sea Isle City

Rick’s Seafood: "Clab” chowder (combo of crab and clam). 435 W. Spruce Ave., North Wildwood

The Surfing Pig: Oysters, barbecue, and sunset views. 231 W. 10th Ave., North Wildwood

Anchorage Tavern: Landmark with something for everyone. 823 Bay Ave., Somers Point

Bourre: New Orleans themer with a major outdoor setting. 201 S. New York Ave., Atlantic City

Charlie’s Bar: Spot for wing and BBTs (boneless breast tenders). 800 Shore Rd., Somers Point

Cherry’s Natural Foods: Organic-leaning market and dining room. 2038 U.S. 9, Cape May Court House

Crunchik’n: Casual Korean snack shop. 1348 Boardwalk and 1138 Boardwalk, Ocean City

Dino’s Seaville Diner: Comfort food, and lots of it. 33 Route 50, Ocean View

Dogtooth Bar & Grill: Crabcakes. 100 E. Taylor Ave., Wildwood

Downbeach Deli: Jewish-inspired deli. 8 S. Essex Ave., Margate

Flight Deck Diner: Casual eatery at Cape May Airport. 505 Terminal Dr., Rio Grande

George’s Place: Greek-inspired breakfast/lunch/dinner BYOB. 104 N. Main St., Cape May Court House

Hank Sauce: Pinchos — meats on a skewer, covered in sauce and served, swordlike, with toasted French bread at the bottom. 8605 Landis Ave., Sea Isle City

Harbor Burger Bar: Burgers washed down with spiked milkshakes. 271 96th St., Stone Harbor

Key West Tacos: Conch Republic island themer. 479 W. Perry St., Cape May

Maynard’s Café: Something for everyone, breakfast through dinner, plus live music. 9306 Amherst Ave., Margate

North Shore Bar & Kitchen: Elevated food at this renovated drop-in. 301 New York Ave., North Wildwood

Pancho’s Mexican Taqueria: Handmade tortillas yield tasty results at this Ducktown taqueria. 2303 Arctic Ave., Atlantic City

Shoobie’s Good Eats: You’re urged to try the jelly fries (fries topped with cream cheese and spicy pepper jelly). 2501 New Jersey Ave., Wildwood

Star Diner Café: Classic neon diner with full on-site bakery. 325 W. Spruce Ave., North Wildwood

Tortilla Flats: Family-friendly Mexican/Southwestern. 2540 Dune Dr., Avalon

Tuckers Tavern: Sharp-looking pub (don’t skip the Bloody Mary). 101 S. West Ave., Beach Haven

Vagabond Kitchen: Burgers at 4 a.m.? Of course. 672 N. Trenton Ave., Atlantic City

Wine Bar at the Marketplace at the Borgata: Fairly priced wines and cheese plates. Atlantic City

Wonder Bar: Locals’ favorite for sitting on the dock of the bay. 3701 Sunset Ave., Atlantic City

Yianni’s Café: Greek specialties. 841 Asbury Ave. and 1735 Simpson Ave., Ocean City, and 1213 W. Brigantine Ave., Brigantine