The Great American Sandwich Trail visits the City of Brotherly Love

The name Philadelphia comes from the Greek for “brotherly love”. The city was founded in 1682 between the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. Philadelphia is home to the Liberty Bell, the Declaration of Independence, and great food, namely Philly Cheesesteaks, Hoagies and Soft Pretzels. This is the perfect place for sandwiches, but what aboutEagles? You’d be hard-pressed to find this majestic bird in the wild anywhere in the city of brotherly love. Except on the football field, that’s where the Philadelphia Eagles shine. They made it all the way to this year’s Big Game. To celebrate the team and the city, Sandwich America® flew all over town to find the Best Sandwiches in Philadelphia to add to The Great American Sandwich Trail.

From cheesesteaks to hoagies to deli classics and beyond, here are five of the Best Sandwiches in Philadelphia (in no particular order).

Dalessandro’s Steak and Hoagies

600 Wendover St, Philadelphia, PA 19128

Best Sandwiches in Philadelphia: Dalessandro's

Photo Courtesy of Luu Tran/Dalessandro’s Steak and Hoagies

Open since 1960 “Dell’s”, as its known locally, serves up rib-eye steak on soft fresh Italian rolls. Dell’s cooks chopped steak with the onions and cheese, giving the sandwich a variety of flavors in every bite.  The meat is meaty and lots of it. It’s juicy, not greasy or grisly. The tomato sauce – if you want a ‘pizza cheesesteak’ –  is tangy and delicious, too.

When Sandwich America partnered with 10Best to find the Best Cheesesteak in the state Dalessandro’s was voted the best cheesesteak in Philadelphia

Many say this place is better than some of the more famous (and tourist favorite) cheesesteak shops such as Pats or Genos.

Woodrow’s Sandwich Shop

630 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 1914

Best Sandwiches in Philadelphia: Woodrow's

Photo Courtesy of Woodrow’s Sandwich Shop

Woodrow’s is a Sandwich Shop with a great variety of sandwiches. More than just hoagies and cheesesteaks, the best sandwich is their House Roasted Turkey.

Amazing things happen inside a simple sesame-seeded roll. It starts with perfectly roasted turkey. Add cheddar cheese, bacon-cranberry jam, and herb mayo then top it with crisp greens. And, YUM!!!

There are a lot of great tastes rolled up in this sandwich.

Hershel’s East Street Deli

51 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Best Sandwiches in Philadelphia: Hershel's East Street Deli

Photo Courtesy of Hershel’s East Street Deli

Hershel’s is a real, authentic deli experience located in the heart of the Reading Terminal Market. The Pastrami Reuben is our favorite. House-cured pastrami is incredibly juicy with just the right kick from a peppery-crust, The meat quality shines through with great sauerkraut, Russian dressing and swiss cheese. The Reuben is grilled to perfection and delivers a blend of classic tastes and textures. It rightfully earns its place on the Best Sandwiches in Philadelphia list.

John’s Roast Pork

14 Snyder Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148

Best Sandwiches in Philadelphia: John's Roast Pork

Photo Courtesy of John’s Roast Pork

John’s Roast Pork doesn’t do “small”, but they do do “crowded”. A slightly-chaotic restaurant John’s Roast Pork serves up a variety of classic Philly favorites. While some claim John’s Cheesesteak is the best in the city (and many did when we partnered with our friends at 10Best to find the best in Philly), we’ll focus on their eponymous Roast Pork sandwich. It’s so good, they even have a special line designated for it. The sandwich features slow-roasted pork butt, sliced paper-thin, ladled with roasting gravy between each yummy layer on a sesame hoagie bun. Topped with melted sharp provolone cheese and spinach, it’s a juicy flavorful masterpiece and one of the Best Sandwiches in Philadelphia.

Cosmi’s Deli

1501 S 8th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

Best Sandwiches in Philadelphia: Cosmi's Deli

Photo Courtesy of Arthur J. Shreffler III and Cosmi’s Deli

Choosing between a cheesesteak and a hoagie may be the hardest part of visiting most Philly sandwich shops. When in the mood for a hoagie, we suggest Cosmi’s in the heart of South Philly. Anything with Italian Meats is good, but if you’re up for it, we suggest The Godfather. On the list of Best Sandwiches in Philadelphia, this is real Italian bliss. This sandwich is a combo of prosciutto, soppressata, fresh mozzarella, roasted peppers, sundried tomatoes, fresh basil, extra virgin olive oil, and a splash of balsamic vinegar. Cosmi’s offers a choice of seeded bread from Carangi’s or Sarcone’s or unseeded from Aversa.

Who’s on Your List of Best Sandwiches in Philadelphia?

Next time you find yourself in the City of Brotherly Love, check out one of these shops…or, better yet make a stop at each as part of your own Great American Sandwich Trail. Then drop us a line and let us know if your list of the Best Sandwiches in Philadelphia matches ours.