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If there's one thing this city excels at, it's the sandwich
Philly is at its heart a sandwich town. Cheesesteaks are synonymous with the city, but locals know there’s so much more to try here: roast pork sandwiches, roast beef sandwiches, Jewish deli sandwiches, hoagies of every variety, and packed banh mi. Start with these 15 shops — they’ll never let a sandwich lover down.
Read MoreThis Mount Airy bakery gives a New Orleans spin to a Philly classic with its fish hoagie. Lightly battered seafood is piled onto garlic-buttered, toasted long rolls and generously drizzled with rémoulade. The offerings here aren’t limited to white fish filets — fried shrimp, mussels, and salmon are also on offer.
In Kensington, Martha’s list of hoagies covers all the bases, from the vegan jawn with carrots impersonating cured meat, to the Italian made with fennel and Calabrese salami.
North Philly’s finest can be found in this impressive hoagie spot that also serves ice cream. The showstopper here is their chicken caesar hoagie that is more than just a salad-turned-sandwich, but a culinary tour de force.
The Philly favorite for ginormous breakfast sandwiches and even bigger lunch options has been such a hit since it opened in 2017 that it has a second outpost in Fishtown. There, all the sandwiches you’d find at the Washington Square West location are available to eat in or take to-go. The So Long Sal — with Italian meats and cheeses, artichoke relish, and balsamic mayo — is a favorite.
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The best bagel sandwiches are here and they are scrumptious. Smoked salmon, juicy brisket, cured meats, and more are all available on their varieties of fresh bagels that give these sandwiches bold flavor and texture in each bite.
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There are plenty of meaty sandwiches in the city to turn to — but one of the best is vegan. Don’t miss out on the various iterations of “chick’n” sandwiches served at Hip City Veg — let this be the last time.
Though they offer fundamentally different sensations, the hoagie and the breakfast sandwich at Honeysuckle Provisions are both sandwiches worth their salt. The breakfast sandwich can be made with either maple sage sausage or homemade black-eyed pea scrapple, and the hoagie is either a turkey or turnip hoagie made with benne seed mayo. Everything about the sourcing matters at Honeysuckle, so each sandwich is as thoughtful as it looks.
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James Beard award-winner Ellen Yin cuts no corners in her latest expansion of the High Street universe. From the Bella Vista (piled with beef and mushroom meatballs, marinara, parmesan, mozzarella and basil) to their cured and smoked pastrami sandwiches — prepare to eat works of culinary art.
After leaving Abe Fisher, chef Yehuda Sichel turned his attention to sandwiches with this fast-casual shop in Rittenhouse serving creative combinations on their own sourdough bread and fluffy milk buns. Order online for sandwiches like the grilled swordfish and kimchi tartar sauce for pickup or delivery.
There’s a reason why this sandwich haven has been featured on the Food Network. Their no-fuss approach to making sandwiches with quality meats, cheeses, and toppings has set a notable standard in the city for years. Start with their impeccable Cajun Mahi-Mahi (which includes chipotle mayo, cilantro-lime zest, onion, lettuce, mango puree) and take it from there.
Bread lovers unite — Angelo’s owner Danny DiGiampietro is known for his pizza dough, but deserves equal praise for the fresh baked seeded loaves he uses in his epic sandwiches. They’re massive, messy, and loaded up with breaded chicken cutlets, cured meat, fresh mozzarella, and shaved Parm. Call ahead for takeout. It’s cash only.
Slow-cooked porchetta and excellent ciabatta are the base elements of the pork-centric sandwiches at Chad Durkin’s Washington Avenue walk-up window, which is next door to Durkin’s bakery. Go with the OG, complete with crisp bits of cracklin’, or tackle a Philly-style sandwich with provolone and a bitter rapini pesto. Preorder online.
A banh mi is a beautiful thing and at Ba Le Bakery on Washington Avenue, diners can order banh mi in more than a dozen ways. Go the traditional route or try something more adventurous like the spicy sardine. Bonus: Ba Le has an epic list of boba teas to go alongside any sandwich order. Order online in advance.
Philadelphia is home to all sorts of creative takes on cheesesteaks but none satisfy like this cafe’s homage to the ubiquitous sandwich. The “cheesesteak a la Mexicana” features extras like caramelized onion and serrano peppers, along with chipotle mustard and a side of pico de gallo. Takeout, delivery, and onsite dining are available.
Serving since 1938, this South Philly institution (which also has locations outside the city) deals in cold beers and gravy-soaked roast beef sandwiches. While roast beef is the go-to, the roast pork is worth trying too. All sandwiches are best ordered as a combo: topped off with broccoli rabe and a slice of provolone. Order online through DoorDash or Caviar; there’s also takeout and onsite dining.
This Mount Airy bakery gives a New Orleans spin to a Philly classic with its fish hoagie. Lightly battered seafood is piled onto garlic-buttered, toasted long rolls and generously drizzled with rémoulade. The offerings here aren’t limited to white fish filets — fried shrimp, mussels, and salmon are also on offer.
In Kensington, Martha’s list of hoagies covers all the bases, from the vegan jawn with carrots impersonating cured meat, to the Italian made with fennel and Calabrese salami.
North Philly’s finest can be found in this impressive hoagie spot that also serves ice cream. The showstopper here is their chicken caesar hoagie that is more than just a salad-turned-sandwich, but a culinary tour de force.
The Philly favorite for ginormous breakfast sandwiches and even bigger lunch options has been such a hit since it opened in 2017 that it has a second outpost in Fishtown. There, all the sandwiches you’d find at the Washington Square West location are available to eat in or take to-go. The So Long Sal — with Italian meats and cheeses, artichoke relish, and balsamic mayo — is a favorite.
The best bagel sandwiches are here and they are scrumptious. Smoked salmon, juicy brisket, cured meats, and more are all available on their varieties of fresh bagels that give these sandwiches bold flavor and texture in each bite.
There are plenty of meaty sandwiches in the city to turn to — but one of the best is vegan. Don’t miss out on the various iterations of “chick’n” sandwiches served at Hip City Veg — let this be the last time.
Though they offer fundamentally different sensations, the hoagie and the breakfast sandwich at Honeysuckle Provisions are both sandwiches worth their salt. The breakfast sandwich can be made with either maple sage sausage or homemade black-eyed pea scrapple, and the hoagie is either a turkey or turnip hoagie made with benne seed mayo. Everything about the sourcing matters at Honeysuckle, so each sandwich is as thoughtful as it looks.
James Beard award-winner Ellen Yin cuts no corners in her latest expansion of the High Street universe. From the Bella Vista (piled with beef and mushroom meatballs, marinara, parmesan, mozzarella and basil) to their cured and smoked pastrami sandwiches — prepare to eat works of culinary art.
After leaving Abe Fisher, chef Yehuda Sichel turned his attention to sandwiches with this fast-casual shop in Rittenhouse serving creative combinations on their own sourdough bread and fluffy milk buns. Order online for sandwiches like the grilled swordfish and kimchi tartar sauce for pickup or delivery.
There’s a reason why this sandwich haven has been featured on the Food Network. Their no-fuss approach to making sandwiches with quality meats, cheeses, and toppings has set a notable standard in the city for years. Start with their impeccable Cajun Mahi-Mahi (which includes chipotle mayo, cilantro-lime zest, onion, lettuce, mango puree) and take it from there.
Bread lovers unite — Angelo’s owner Danny DiGiampietro is known for his pizza dough, but deserves equal praise for the fresh baked seeded loaves he uses in his epic sandwiches. They’re massive, messy, and loaded up with breaded chicken cutlets, cured meat, fresh mozzarella, and shaved Parm. Call ahead for takeout. It’s cash only.
Slow-cooked porchetta and excellent ciabatta are the base elements of the pork-centric sandwiches at Chad Durkin’s Washington Avenue walk-up window, which is next door to Durkin’s bakery. Go with the OG, complete with crisp bits of cracklin’, or tackle a Philly-style sandwich with provolone and a bitter rapini pesto. Preorder online.
A banh mi is a beautiful thing and at Ba Le Bakery on Washington Avenue, diners can order banh mi in more than a dozen ways. Go the traditional route or try something more adventurous like the spicy sardine. Bonus: Ba Le has an epic list of boba teas to go alongside any sandwich order. Order online in advance.
Philadelphia is home to all sorts of creative takes on cheesesteaks but none satisfy like this cafe’s homage to the ubiquitous sandwich. The “cheesesteak a la Mexicana” features extras like caramelized onion and serrano peppers, along with chipotle mustard and a side of pico de gallo. Takeout, delivery, and onsite dining are available.
Serving since 1938, this South Philly institution (which also has locations outside the city) deals in cold beers and gravy-soaked roast beef sandwiches. While roast beef is the go-to, the roast pork is worth trying too. All sandwiches are best ordered as a combo: topped off with broccoli rabe and a slice of provolone. Order online through DoorDash or Caviar; there’s also takeout and onsite dining.
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