Are pepperoni rolls a common lunch anywhere else in the US or is it unique to the Ohio Valley?

27 comments

1. We have pepperoni and sausage rolls here in NJ. Either one or the other or both.

   They’re like little strombolis

2. West Virginia is known for pepperoni rolls and you can find them in Virginia along the WVA border.

3. Pretty unique to that area. Had then in PA when I lived there, and apparently they’re commen in West Virginia? But if you asked for a pepperoni roll down here no one would know what you meant. Man I want ‘roni rolls now…

4. Been all over the South, West, and Southwest, but not much of the northeast. I’ve never even heard of them, so likely a local thing?

5. I lived in Ohio for 22 years and never did this lol

6. I’ve only seen them in West Virginia / Western Pennsylvania area

7. They’re easy to find in Texas but I don’t know how common they are for lunch.

8. I like ‘em slightly microwaved.

9. Anywhere there is people of Italian descent, there’s bread cheese and pepperoni

10. I’m from WI/IL and had to look up what this is. I’ve never seen it before.

11. Florida here. A lot of local or small chain pizza places make pepperoni rolls. Five Star has the best ones around here in my opinion.

    https://fivestarpizza.com/pepperoni-rolls-2/

12. Actually pretty common thing for much of Southeast Michigan. Every other locally owned corner store or deli has em available.

13. I’ve never heard of them

14. What makes them special?

15. According to the Internet they’re a WV thing, and since I’ve never done more than pass through that state I never would have heard of them otherwise.

16. Not as such but similar rolls, pockets, and sandwiches aren’t impossible to find in gas stations and delis.

    I grew up with my mom doing something similar with pepperoni and canned bread dough and cheese, but never as a “pizza ball.”

17. Never heard of them before. Is it like a Totinos pizza roll?

18. I have never heard of them.

19. I don’t think we’re known for them but there’s a minit mart that sells them in my town.

20. This wiki article says they originated in West Virginia and is popular in the Appalachia regions

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepperoni_roll

21. Manhattanite here. Ew, no

22. Never heard of them

23. Got your regions off a little bit. Pepperoni rolls are a northern Appalachian dish hailing from WV and can be found around the proximity of the state, especially in Southeast Ohio and southwest PA.

    I wouldn’t say they’re super common for lunch, but are definitely the go-to lunch choice for most central Appalachians on a road trip. They’re a great and filling snack and hard to fuck up, and nearly every gas station down here supplies them.

24. Wtf is a pepperoni roll

25. Definitely regional. Every time I mention them here I get a lot of people from outside the area who have no idea what they are, minus a few from Texas and New England for some reason.

26. No and now this question has made me homesick. I grew up in VA near the WV border. Last time I went home I meant to grab some but forgot to and have been wanting one since. There was a store near me that claimed to have pepperoni roll and I got excited about it. Absolutely joy in my face went away from my face when they handed me what was essentially a cheap ass toaster struddle. I do remember coming across a YouTube video of where a guy was talking about his favorite snack that he made up. Dude accidentally discovered the pepperoni roll and everyone from Appalachia that had seen it was quick to point it out to him.

27. Pepperoni rolls are indigenous to WV. You might find them around the border states, but that’s it.