# Cole slaw: side dish or condiment? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 17, 2016, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427 "2016-04-17T00:12:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lubricious\_Integument](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/82dd89/32.png) [@Lubricious\_Integument](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lubricious_Integument)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/1 "2016-04-17T00:12:47Z")
Condiment. It goes on the sandwich, not in a cup next to it. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/2 "2016-04-17T00:13:57Z")
It can go on pulled pork, but on the side for everything else. Sent from my LG-V495 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/3 "2016-04-17T00:21:06Z")
Stays in the container unless exceptionally good. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/4 "2016-04-17T00:23:22Z")
Mmm corned beef, mild cheese, and cole slaw on toasted rye. I prefer the vinegar-based type, but even the white stuff is OK. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/5 "2016-04-17T00:32:15Z")
Side dish. (Also, I don’t care for the types of sandwiches I’ve seen it on, which probably doesn’t help.) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/6 "2016-04-17T00:34:07Z")
Cole slaw is sometimes a condiment and always a side dish. There are only a few sandwiches that it works well on, but it can stand alone next to almost anything. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/7 "2016-04-17T00:37:45Z")
Depends on how good it is, of course. I love the coleslaw from the fish cove, very very finely chopped - very fine - with carrot and pineapple, and a sweetish mayonnaise dressing. Usually it’s served in a little cup alongside the main dish or sandwich, and of varying quality. I don’t like it on a sandwich, it can get too soggy, but I don’t mind putting it on my sandwich myself from the little cup just before I eat it… ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/8 "2016-04-17T01:06:09Z")
As a condiment, on a great big cheesesteak, with tomatos and french fries – all served on fresh Italian bread. (But it has to be vinegar slaw – it has that lovely tang to it) Pair that up with a cold beer and you’ve got Heaven on a bun. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/9 "2016-04-17T01:21:33Z")
Most of the time, it’s a side for me. Pulled pork and perhaps a Rachel are the only exceptions so far. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/10 "2016-04-17T01:24:57Z")
Side dish, always. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/11 "2016-04-17T01:28:55Z")
why not both? ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/12 "2016-04-17T01:35:20Z")
All the cole slaw I’ve ever had has been disguised, cleverly, as potato salad. (I hate cole slaw) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/13 "2016-04-17T01:35:30Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > Depends on how good it is, of course. I love the coleslaw from the fish cove, very very finely chopped - very fine - with carrot and pineapple, and a sweetish mayonnaise dressing. Usually it’s served in a little cup alongside the main dish or sandwich, and of varying quality. I don’t like it on a sandwich, it can get too soggy, but I don’t mind putting it on my sandwich myself from the little cup just before I eat it… You drain it first so it’s not so wet. \ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/14 "2016-04-17T01:41:43Z")
Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/15 "2016-04-17T01:44:02Z")
Side dish unless it is served with Carolina BBQ. Sent from my laptop using TilapiaTalk ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/16 "2016-04-17T01:50:22Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > It can go on pulled pork, but on the side for everything else. Quoted for truth. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/17 "2016-04-17T02:04:02Z")
Cole Slaw is ambi-sexual. It can screw your sandwich as a condiment if it’s bad, or make love to your sandwich if it’s good. As a side, it doesn’t matter—if it’s good, eat it; if it’s bad, leave it and eat the deli pickle instead. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/18 "2016-04-17T02:20:06Z")
Usually when I’m having coleslaw, I’m also having baked beans. I don’t mix the two, but I do set them side by side on the plate. And in some spoonfuls you get a little bit of baked bean mix with a little bit of coleslaw. And those spoonfuls are absolutely divine. Also, I mix sunflower seeds in with my coleslaw. If I were to use coleslaw as a condiment, that crunchy goodness would be lost on a sandwich. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/19 "2016-04-17T02:45:43Z")
I’m a south Georgia resident, transplanted from central Indiana. I taught high school here for 26 years. One day my first year here, the cafeteria was serving strange brilliant fluorescent red cylinders that sort of smelled like meat. I asked what they were. Hot dogs, they said. I said OK, where’s the mustard? They looked at me funny, but fetched a few packets for me. I sat down with the other teachers, put the mustard on the unnaturally red dog, and ate. I then ate a forkful of the slaw. The others grimaced and told me I was supposed to put the slaw on the hot dog. Since then, I have tried slaw on a hot dog, and it’s pretty good, but mustard still rules. Those neon dogs (I derisively call them red velvet dogs) are still gross, however. Oh, yeah- slaw is a side dish. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/20 "2016-04-17T02:50:01Z")
Entree. I loves me my cabbage. I understand some people not of Irish or Central/Eastern European heritage suffer digestive upset from eating too much of it. This is solved by training their guts. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427.md?page=2)