A Local’s Guide to Philly’s Signature Sandwiches
Philadelphia takes sandwich construction seriously. The city’s essential trio includes the cheesesteak, the roast pork sandwich and the hoagie, each built on a long roll sturdy enough to carry lunch and, occasionally, the rest of your afternoon.
Before we start discussing cheese choices like they belong on a ballot, Philly Crawling would like to nominate itself for a place on your itinerary. Shocking, we know. Our Liberty History Tour Pub Crawl is an adults-only history tour pub crawl through Old City’s local taverns and pubs. Tours run daily at 4:00 and 7:00 p.m. and last around 2 hours and 15 minutes, giving you plenty of time to plan a signature sandwich before or after your expert local guide serves up hidden and hilarious Philadelphia history.
The Long Roll Holds the Whole Operation Together
Meat and cheese get most of the attention, but the roll quietly keeps the entire operation out of your lap. A good Philadelphia long roll has a crisp exterior, a chewy interior and enough structure to handle hot beef, pork gravy or several layers of Italian meats without surrendering halfway through lunch.
Seeded or unseeded is a personal choice. Both have supporters. Philadelphia has strong sandwich opinions, but you are visiting, not sitting for an oral examination.
The Cheesesteak: Choose Your Own Cheese Adventure
A classic cheesesteak starts with thinly sliced beef cooked on a griddle and tucked into a long roll. Fried onions are popular, and cheese options commonly include Cheez Whiz, American, provolone and Cooper Sharp. Whiz is not a tourist crime. Cooper Sharp is not an entrance exam. Order the combination that sounds best to you and enjoy your lunch in peace.
Pat’s King of Steaks traces the sandwich to 1930, when hot dog vendor Pat Olivieri grilled beef and onions for his own lunch. According to the family story, a cab driver smelled an opportunity and suggested that Pat start selling it. Cheese joined the operation later, and Philadelphia gained a sandwich with enough fame to require its own travel strategy.
At fast-moving shops such as Pat’s, “wit” means with onions and “wit-out” means without them. That shorthand is useful there, but it is not a citywide password. If you order “a cheesesteak with provolone and onions” in a complete sentence, the sandwich will still recognize you.
The Roast Pork: Philadelphia’s Other Hot Sandwich Star
The Italian roast pork sandwich combines slow-roasted pork and its juices with sharp provolone on a long roll. Broccoli rabe, spinach and long hot peppers are familiar additions. The finished product is rich, garlicky and delightfully unconcerned with remaining tidy.
John’s Roast Pork has served roast pork and cheesesteaks in South Philadelphia since 1930. At DiNic’s in Reading Terminal Market, the Nicolosi family’s sandwich tradition traces back to a South Philadelphia butcher shop opened in 1918. Either stop gives roast pork the attention it deserves.
Experienced eaters lean forward before taking a bite. This is known as the Philadelphia sandwich hunch, a highly technical maneuver designed to direct pork juice toward the wrapper instead of your shirt.
The Hoagie: Cold Cuts, Sharp Provolone and No Shortage of Opinions
The Italian hoagie layers cured meats such as salami, capicola, mortadella and prosciutto with provolone, lettuce, tomato and onion. Oil, oregano, peppers and other dressings finish the job. Vinegar, mayonnaise, mustard and pickles vary by shop and customer, despite what any self-appointed sandwich referee tells you.
The origin of the word “hoagie” remains disputed. The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia notes several competing stories, including a connection to workers at the former Hog Island shipyard. The mystery has not interfered with anyone’s appetite. In 1992, Mayor Ed Rendell declared the hoagie Philadelphia’s official sandwich, giving it civic recognition and the cheesesteak something to discuss at dinner.
Where to Try Philadelphia’s Signature Sandwiches
No single shop owns the correct version. These current options make sense for different Philadelphia itineraries:
- Campo’s in Old City serves cheesesteaks, hoagies and house-roasted pork, along with vegan and gluten-free alternatives. It is especially convenient before a 4:00 p.m. Philly Crawling tour or after an afternoon around Independence Mall.
- Reading Terminal Market is one of America’s oldest and largest public markets. Try Uncle Gus’ Steaks for a cheesesteak made with Cooper Sharp, then return for DiNic’s roast pork after you have completed the advanced culinary technique known as becoming hungry again.
- Pat’s offers the classic South Philadelphia cheesesteak experience at its original location near the Italian Market.
- John’s Roast Pork serves both of Philadelphia’s famous hot sandwiches, making it a useful stop for travelers who dislike choosing favorites prematurely.
- Ricci’s Hoagies has made Italian hoagies since 1920 and operates locations in South Philadelphia and near the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Build Your Own Philadelphia Sandwich Tour
You do not need to choose one official winner. Split sandwiches with friends, compare cheese strategies and save room for a second stop. Couples can turn lunch into a highly competitive tasting exercise, while solo travelers gain full control over the long hots.
Once you have handled Philadelphia’s sandwich history, join Philly Crawling for the stories that pair nicely with a drink. Learn more about the Liberty History Tour Pub Crawl and reserve a place on the 4:00 or 7:00 p.m. tour through historic Old City.