Italian cold cuts (mortadella, capicola, salami, prosciutto), sharp provolone, lettuce, tomato, onion, oregano, oil and vinegar on a long Amoroso roll. The classic Philly lunch.

The hoagie was born in South Philly's Hog Island shipyard during the First World War, when Italian-American workers (called Hoggies) brought submarine-style sandwiches to lunch. The roll, the cured-meat layering and the oil-and-vinegar finish were codified by Italian Market salumerias like Sarcone's, Esposito's and Cosmi's. In 1992 Mayor Ed Rendell declared the hoagie the official sandwich of Philadelphia. The defining variables are the bread (a long crisp-crusted Italian roll, Amoroso or Sarcone's), the meat stack and a careful drizzle of oil and red-wine vinegar with dried oregano.

3 editor picks for Philadelphia hoagie in Philadelphia, ranked by editorial score. All Philadelphia signature dishes · Philadelphia hoagie across every city.

Sarcone's Bakery ★ 4.8

$Bakery

Sarcone's Bakery in Philadelphia is the 1918 brick-oven Italian Market bakery on South 9th, fifth-generation Sicilian-American with tomato pie and seeded.

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John's Roast Pork ★ 4.8

$Street food

John's Roast Pork in Philadelphia is the 1930 South Philly counter at Snyder and Weccacoe, James Beard America's Classic 2006 with the city's defining roast.

OrderRoast pork sandwich, cheesesteak

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Famous 4th Street Delicatessen ★ 4.5

$$Jewish DeliQueen Village

Famous 4th Street Delicatessen in Philadelphia is the 1923 Queen Village Jewish deli on the Bainbridge corner, a 2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand for over-stuffed.

OrderPastrami on rye; matzo ball soup; the chocolate-chip cookie at the door on the way out.

TipCash gets a discount at the register. The triple-decker is too much; halve it with a friend.

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