# 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:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/21 "2016-04-17T02:50:50Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > 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. This. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/22 "2016-04-17T02:51:47Z")
It’s a side dish. Cole slaw doesn’t belong in sandwiches unless it’s turned to sauerkraut. ---
**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, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/23 "2016-04-17T03:13:10Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > It’s a side dish. > > Cole slaw doesn’t belong in sandwiches unless it’s turned to sauerkraut. Don’t ever come to Pittsburgh, you blasphemer. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/24 "2016-04-17T04:31:13Z")
Like it on pulled pork and on hot dogs. I make mine with cabbage, red onion and jalapenos, and a bit of mayo. ---
**Author:** ![davey77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@davey77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davey77)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/25 "2016-04-17T06:30:51Z")
Both, of course. I especially like slaw on hot dogs, West Virginia style. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/26 "2016-04-17T07:04:06Z")
I’d never consider coleslaw (one word, at least around these parts) to be a “condiment” - that’s tomato/BBQ/hot/hipster sauces or mustards. It’s a good side dish and it’s excellent in some sandwiches, but I’d argue as soon as it becomes part of the sandwich it’s technically filling. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/27 "2016-04-17T15:42:29Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Most of the time, it’s a side for me. Pulled pork and perhaps a Rachel are the only exceptions so far. Very sensible and true post. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/28 "2016-04-17T15:44:02Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > It can go on pulled pork, but on the side for everything else… This. Anything can be a condiment if you want it to be, but I consider coleslaw (one word) to be a side dish. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/29 "2016-04-17T15:54:28Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > Very sensible and true post. Agreed as well. It takes a distinctively flavored meat in a sandwich to balance well with slaw. I have made hamburgers topped with coleslaw and Russian dressing, it works, but a really good burger is better off on it’s own. If you put slaw on a sandwich with something like bland turkey you’re making a slaw sandwich and the turkey could be left out. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/30 "2016-04-17T16:10:52Z")
I like it in pita bread with hummus and black olives. ---
**Author:** ![amaguri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@amaguri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amaguri)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/31 "2016-04-18T16:12:08Z")
I vote condiment, but I’m also a fan of eating food all mushed together (for example, Thanksgiving dinner) so maybe my judgment is suspect 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/32 "2016-04-18T16:46:39Z")
Both, but never the creamy kind. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/33 "2016-04-18T17:17:11Z")
To each their own. I _only_ like the creamy kind. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/34 "2016-04-18T17:21:08Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > To each their own. I _only_ like the creamy kind. Your opinion is wrong! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/35 "2016-04-18T17:28:30Z")
I think it is both depending on what you’re having with it. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/36 "2016-04-18T19:22:10Z")
Side dish; as in on the side of someone else’s dish. All kidding aside, even though I don’t eat it I’ve never heard of it as anything other than a side dish. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/37 "2016-04-18T20:58:08Z")
Cole slaw would have to become almost sour to be a sandwich condiment. So really, what I’m saying is that cole slaw has to be sauerkraut or kimchi to be on a sandwich. That gloppy cabbage and mayo stuff is not appealing, but I do truly love a vinegar slaw with just the right amount of bite as a side dish. ---
**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 18, 2016, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cole-slaw-side-dish-or-condiment/752427/38 "2016-04-18T21:16:33Z")
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