Radio (tuna fish sandwich)
A tuna fish sandwich (or a tuna salad sandwich) on toast is called a "radio" (or "radio down") in diner slang. "Tuna" was taken for "tune it," and "tuna…
Rainbow Bagel
Entry in progress -- B.P. QuickTapSurvey BlogRainbow Bagels Are Breaking The Internet: Why Innovation Will Save Your BusinessBy Shereen Dindar on February 3, 2016The Bagel Store in Brooklyn, New…
Ramen Burger
A "Ramen Burger" is a hamburger with a ramen noodle bun. The dish was created by Keizo Shimamoto and was served at Brooklyn's Smorgasburg in August 2013. The burger also contains…
Ramenrrito (ramen + burrito)
Presstea (167 Seventh Avenue South in Manhattan) introduced the "ramenrrito" (ramen noodles + burrito) in 2013. The name "ramenrrito" was trademarked with a first use in…
Ranchify (add ranch dressing to food)
To "ranchify" food is to add ranch dressing to it. The term "ranchify" was popularized during Hidden Valley Original Ranch's BzzAgent marketing campaign, September 6,…
Ranchize or Ranchise (add ranch dressing to food)
To "ranchize" (or "ranchise") food is to add ranch dressing to it. "Ranchize" was the Word of the Day on the Food Republic blog on November 16, 2002: "To ranchize…
Ranchocado (ranch dressing + avocado)
"Ranchocado (ranch dressing + avocado) is a portmanteau for "avocado-ranch dressing." "Avocado ranch dressing: has been cited in print since at least 1993. Vegan Sandwiches Save…
Random Acts of Pizza
"Random acts of pizza" (random acts of kindness + pizza) gives free pizza to people. Figaro's Pizza had "Random Acts of Pizza" campaigns in 2004 and 2006, when it randomly…
Razzleberry Pie
"Razzleberry pie" was trademarked by Marie Callender's restaurants, with a "first use" date of 1998. Marie Callender's razzleberry pie is made with raspberries and…
Recession Special (reduced-price food)
Gray's Papaya began in 1973 at Broadway and West 72nd Street, offering hot dogs and papaya juice just like the older Papaya King. In the late 1980s or early 1990s, Gray's began offering a…
Recessipe (recession recipe)
The economic recession of 2008-2009 caused many people to choose simpler, less expensive meals. The word "recessipe" (recession recipe) was popularized in February and March 2009. A blog…
Recon Chip (chip used to take a broken chip out of the dip)
Chips (such as potato chips or tortilla chips) often break in a dip. "#iHate when the chip break in the dip and you send in the recon chip, and it break too!" was posted on Twitter by…
Rectum Rocket (White Castle hamburger nickname)
White Castle's hamburgers have been unofficially called "rectum rockets" since at least 1986 because of what the hamburgers supposedly do to the human digestive system. Other…
Red Beans and Rice
"Red beans and rice" is an important Creole dish in New Orleans, Louisiana. The term "red beans and rice" was cited in print in The Daily Picayune (New Orleans, LA) on June 13,…
Red Diamond (goji berry nickname)
Goji berries (also called wolfberries) have long been popular in China, but were almost unknown in the United States before 2002. The commercially promoted health qualities of goji juice helped to…
Red Flannel Hash
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: FlannelRed Flannel Hash is a breakfast hash originally from New England that involves beets. Here is the legend: Suspecting her husband of unfaithfulness a…
Red Hook (cocktail)
Red Hook used to be a rough area of Brooklyn filled with longshoremen, but Red Hook is rapidly being gentrified. In 2008, New York City's first IKEA store opened there. The Red Hook cocktail…
Red Hots
"Red hots" came into use before the term "hot dogs." Some say that Harry Stevens coined "red hots" at the Polo Grounds in the early 1900s. Like the standard "hot…
Red Ink (cheap red wine)
"Red ink" has been a nickname for "cheap red wine" since at least 1863. The nickname was frequently used in Italian restaurants in America, which were called "red ink…
Red Mike and Violets (corned beef and cabbage)
"Red Mike and violets" was hash house slang for a dish of "corned beef and cabbage." Corned beef is red, cabbage is violet and "Mike" is a traditional Irish name.…