Hoagie vs. Sub: What’s the Real Difference?

When you’re in the mood for a hearty sandwich piled high with meats, cheeses, and crisp veggies, you might find yourself heading to the local delicatessen to order a submarine sandwich. Or wait…should you order a hoagie? These words are often used interchangeably to describe the stacked and loaded sandwiches Americans love to eat for lunch. Whatever word you choose, know that you’re not necessarily wrong.

And if you head to Fat Sal’s to munch on late-night eats , where does a Fat Sandwich fit in? Is it a sub, a hoagie, or a beast entirely in its own category?

There’s no definitive correct answer when it comes to sandwich semantics, but what you choose to call a sandwich is based on a mix of where you’re from, regional traditions, and filling choice.

Short for submarine sandwich, and named after the long, torpedo-shaped Italian roll it comes served on, the sub is one of the most widely recognized names for this style of sandwich in the United States. This sandwich was born from the practical needs of Italian immigrants working as laborers and in naval yards, who had to bring lunch to go.

Subs can stay true to their Italian-American origins, featuring salami, other cold cuts, slices of provolone, and crisp veggies, or take on a modern-day spin of featuring totally different fillings.  Proteins could instead include meats like ham, turkey, or roast beef, or even go the vegetarian route, stuffed full of veggies and avocado. There are no rules for condiments; the standard Italian combo would be oil and vinegar, but mayo and mustard are also top choices for subs.

Throughout the United States, the phrase sub sandwich seems to function like more of an umbrella term, covering everything from simple ham and cheese combos to more extravagant, fully-loaded creations. Chain restaurants have helped standardize the term, making it a common name no matter what state you’re from.

In much of the country, sub is the most common name for this sandwich style, though names like grinder, hero, wedge , and, of course, hoagie, also appear in local dialects with subtle variations.

The hoagie has roots in Philadelphia, and just like the sub, it has the same origin story, but with a twist. Italian immigrants packed large sandwiches to take to work on the Hog Island shipyard during World War I. These were called “hoggies,” eventually morphing into “hoagies” in the Philly dialect.

A true hoagie often sticks more closely to its Italian-American roots. The bread is key here: The aptly named hoagie roll is firm and crusty on the outside with an incredibly soft interior. It’s layered with cold cuts such as capicola, salami, mortadella, and provolone. Instead of mayonnaise, a hoagie is usually dressed with oil, vinegar, oregano, and sometimes hot or sweet peppers.

If there’s any doubt of the origins of this sandwich, in 1992, Philadelphia declared the hoagie its official sandwich, cementing its place in the city’s culinary identity.

We consider the Fat Sandwich as taking the essence of the classic sub, and adding the toppings only found in your wildest food dreams. Were mozzarella sticks included in the original sandwiches brought to Hog Island? Most definitely not. But is it delicious? Undeniably so.

If you want the classics and familiar, we offer hoagies true to style and form, like our Irresistible Italiano with ham, salami, pepperoni, provolone, sweet or hot peppers, shredded lettuce, tomato, onion, vinaigrette, and Italian spices. While our Fat Sandwiches do come served up on a hero roll (what subs are called in New York), they do stray quite far from the standard spread of meat, cheese, and veggies. Take our Fat Sal – in between a garlic hero roll comes thinly sliced ribeye steak, mozzarella sticks, onion rings, fries, brown gravy, and mayo. Note: You probably wouldn’t be able to return to work at the naval yards after this sandwich.

In the end, the difference between a hoagie and a sub isn’t a matter of right or wrong, but more so where you’re from and how you like your sandwich built. While there are no strict rules separating the two sandwiches, regional habits make the difference here. And when you need something decadent that takes a sub or hoagie sandwich to the next level, go for a Fat Sandwich. If you head to Fat Sal’s, come with a big appetite and an open mind, because you’ll need to be okay with onion rings on your sandwich.