The Best Sandwiches in Philly Are Not Cheesesteaks

Only found on the lunch menu, this stunner is crafted with Japanese eggplant sauced with marinara, basil pesto, burrata, and a healthy topping of arugula-fennel salad. Expect to be wowed because this isn’t the average parm sandwich—chef Marcie Turney, co-owner of several Midtown Village eateries, is known for her otherworldly food.

Gilben’s bills itself as a bakery, but the real draw is the specialty sandwiches that pay homage to the rich flavours and cooking traditions of the American south—particularly the city of New Orleans. The fish hoagie fuses the Philly classic of fried whiting with the fixings of a Louisiana po’boy. Tender, cornmeal-crusted morsels of fish are drizzled with remoulade and tucked inside a toasted long roll, making for a pretty substantial. Call it soul food or comfort food—it’s all good.

It should be noted that Philadelphia owes many of its delicious eats to its influential Italian-American population and some of the city’s best sandwiches are inspired by the flavours of 'The Boot'. The Chicken Cutlet Italiano at Shank’s is an obvious love letter to all things Italian; a generous portion of breaded chicken is served with either sautéed broccoli rabe or spinach and topped with melted sharp provolone. The sandwich is fully customisable as there are a fairly extensive number of options available, but save yourself the hassle of making too many decisions and go with the surefire winning combination of a seeded roll, sharp provolone, broccoli rabe, and Italian long hots (peppers).

Ironically, John’s serves up one of the best cheesesteaks in the city, but the Italian roast pork sandwich is the biggest draw at this no-frills roadside joint. Aged provolone, thinly-shaved pork bathed in its own jus, and a generous heap of bitter, garlicky greens are packed into a sturdy seeded roll, a recipe that hasn’t changed since the restaurant’s 1930 opening. The city may be overflowing with restaurants serving their own versions of the sandwich, but John’s has solidified its status as the real deal. National acclaim and a James Beard Award haven’t inflated the ego of this Philly institution; its menu still maintains an offering of simple but delicious fare.

That’s right—Philly is home to a sandwich so good that it requires a trademark. The Schmitter® is a hybrid of sorts; it’s a unique cross between a sub and a cheesesteak and is the brainchild of old-school pub McNally’s Tavern in Chestnut Hill. It has many of the elements of the famed cheesesteak like sliced steak, fried onions, and melted cheese but takes a bit of an oddball (but tasty) turn with the addition of grilled salami, tomatoes, and a sloppy slathering of a top-secret special sauce. Gone is the familiar long roll used in so many local greats; the overflowing contents of The Schmitter® are stuffed between a Kaiser roll which makes eating this zaftig delight an absolute two-handed task.

Anyone who’s ever visited Reading Terminal Market knows that one of the country’s oldest public market draws huge crowds daily and navigating the crowded space can sometimes be an exercise in both patience and elbow throwing. The market is truly a food lover’s paradise with myriad dining hotspots housed under one roof, but there is perhaps no greater standout than DiNic’s. Hailed for its gargantuan sandwiches piled high with slow-roasted meat, the decades-old institution is responsible for many a traffic jam as both residents and visitors alike vie for a spot in line. Though often overshadowed by the menu’s famous roast pork sandwich, the roast beef here absolutely holds its own. The folks at DiNic’s know that good bread is the foundation of any great sandwich and the roast beef sandwich begins with a split Italian roll and can be topped with a combination of sharp provolone, broccoli rabe, sautéed spinach, or roasted long hots (peppers).