On a roll: In a carni-centric food format, Chickies does the veggie hoag justice. photo by michael persico

Field Guide

Hoagie’s Heros

by Tim McGinnis

Ah, the smell of freshly sharpened pencils. The start of the school year is right around the corner and kids are already thinking of maladies to fake to avoid the self-esteem-crushing halls of high school. Moms, make the transition a little easier on your young Einsteins and send them off to school with a lunch that scores better than that hormone-laced beef bologna sandwich you usually make. Get the Cosby sweaters out too.

If You’re Feeling Unoriginal

A baseball diamond away from Geno’s cheesesteak ethnocentrism sits Chickie’s Italian Deli (1014 Federal St. 215.462.8040). The veggie hoagie stuffed with eggplant, roasted red peppers, broccoli rabe and sharp provolone won’t demand you practice your English before you walk through the door. S Q $ 2 V B

If You Look on the Bright Side

After years of French imperialism, communist dictatorship and U.S. aggression, the Vietnamese emerged with a new perspective on the world and an amalgam of a hoagie called the banh mi. The best of which, at Café Nhu Y (802 Christian St. 215.925.6544), consists of pulled pork, shredded carrots, cilantro and jalapeños served on a baguette slathered with mayo and a soy/fish sauce. Cheap too. S Q $ 2 V D

If Te Gusta

Some of the friendliest hoagie handlers work at Gusto’s (240 S. 22nd St. 215.546.7200) near Fitler Square. In addition to making an ethereal eggplant parmigiana hoagie with freshly fried eggplant, rich Italian “gravy” and melted Romano and sharp provolone cheeses on a Carangi sesame seed roll. Q $ 2 V D

If You Coulda Been a Contender

In a city as sandwich-obsessed as Philly, one would be hard pressed to find an undisputed champ. But the Jewish Hoagie at Koch’s Deli (4309 Locust St. 215.222.8662) beats most other hoagies into a sniveling bloody pulp. It’s piles and piles of corned beef, pastrami, spiced beef, kosher salami, American cheese, lettuce and tomato on an Amoroso roll. If you want to beat the champ, you gotta eat like the champ. Q 2 V B

If You Can Keep a Secret

The Italian hoagie at Salumeria (45 N. 12th St. 215.592.8150) inside the Reading Terminal Market is made with quality capicola and salami, deli provolone, romaine lettuce, summer tomatoes, roasted red peppers and artichoke hearts on D’Ambrosio bread. The hoagie is drizzled with a house dressing they swear they’ll never give up the recipe to. Even if they’re waterboarded. It’s a segreto. Q 2 V D

If You Keep It in the Famiglia

Sarcone’s Deli (734 S. Ninth St. 215.922.1717) boasts “hoagies made on the best bread in the world.” They’re a bit biased since their family owns Sarcone’s bakery, but they could be right. The Sarcone Special Hoagie with thinly sliced prosciutto, roasted red peppers, caramelized garlic and sharp provolone makes even an anti-nepotist a believer. S Q 2 V D