'Which' Sandwich is the Best?

Philadelphia is known for cheese steaks, but there are plenty of other things you can stack between two slices of bread. Although you can never go wrong with an Italian hoagie from Wawa, here is a list of sandwiches (in no particular order) I recommend ordering if you're trying to go a little outside your convenience store comfort zone.

1. Middle Child - egg sandwich AND the surfer

Breakfast sandwiches count too, right? You have to force yourself out of bed and go before 11:30 AM to try the classic egg, cheese, and arugula sandwich on potato bread. This sandwich is MESSY- grab a whole napkin holder and don't be like me and try to touch your phone with greasy fingers. The cashier saw me dropping my sandwich everywhere and gave me a plate, which she said she thinks is more practical than a bowl (I second this notion). Despite reading insider scoop behind how Middle Child gets their eggs to be so fluffy, it is still a mystery to me. They definitely deserve the title of "best eggs in Philadelphia"! If you miss breakfast and go for lunch, then get "the surfer." The blueberry jam and turkey combo reminds me of Thanksgiving (turkey and cranberry sauce), and this sandwich is so big it might as well be a Thanksgiving feast.

2. Yeeroh - lamb gyro

Is a gyro is a sandwich? It is in my book! Yeeroh (which is apparently the correct way to pronounce gyro) is probably tied with Goldie and the halal trucks for having the best gyros in the city. If it's a cheat day, go with their traditional lamb gyro, smothered in tzatziki and stuffed with french fries, which (according to Becca) is a tradition in Israel! If you're craving something on the lighter side, go with one of their chicken gyros, which is just as good!

3. Schlesinger's - Mr. Schlesinger's Special

Warning: view discretion advised. What you're about to see is food porn. Like Middle Child, this sandwich is M-E-S-S-Y and nearly impossible to get your mouth around, so don't order this on a first date. However, just the thought of a mountain of corned beef, warm melted cheese and globs of Russian dressing and sauerkraut sandwiched between two slices of buttery, toasted rye is enough to get your mouth watering. Since one Reuben probably has your day's worth a calories (although, who's counting?), I recommend ordering the combo- one half a sandwich with a cup of matzo ball soup, a Jewish delicatessen staple. Schlesinger's currently has a sign on their window that says "The world's best mood lifter. Our corned beef sandwich." I can attest that this sandwich will take your mood from 0 to 100 after the first bite.

4. Craftsman Row- mozzarella stick grilled cheese

If you've heard of Craftsman Row, you know that this old city saloon specializes in eccentric milkshakes and sandwiches, most infamously the mozzarella stick grilled cheese. The sweet potato fries are not the only orange thing in this photo, however. The mozzarella sticks are encrusted with cheddar Doritos dust, making this sandwich triply cheesy. Just look at the cheese oozing out of the mozzarella sticks in the cross section. This meal was a splurge for my 20th birthday, but I wouldn't recommend ordering this more than once a year, since it is literally a heart attack on a plate; of course I licked my plate clean anyway.

5. Waterfront Gourmet - turkey addiction

Finally, a healthy(ish) sandwich! If this list was in order of favorites, this would be in my number 1 spot. I am (pun intended) addicted to this sandwich and Waterfront, a small cafe that offers a variety of healthy sandwiches, wraps and salads, as well as breakfast pastries and caffeinated beverages. Believe it or not, this colorful sandwich tastes even better than it looks. The star of the dish is the heaping pile of turkey, but this rainbow of ingredients also includes tangy mayonnaise, creamy brie, crunchy arugula and (my personal favorite) tart fuji apple, all enveloped between multigrain toast. I have recreated this sandwich at home several times; once you try it, you'll become addicted too.

6. Misconduct Pub and Tavern - avocado grilled cheese

You're never too old to have a grilled cheese, but why not dress it up a bit and make it a little more mature by adding some avocado? Misconduct's grilled cheese is extra cheesy and extra greasy; the sourdough bread is shining like Edward in Twilight. Nevertheless, Misconduct is is a bar; I've come here for drinks with friends and nearly gotten into a fight with a drunk man who said I was "looking at him funny." Therefore, bar food is their forte, including apps, burgers, and flat breads. Their sweet potato fries are hit or miss, but when they're hit (like they were in this photo), they're impossible to beat. The best part about Misconduct, aside from the food and drinks, is that their kitchen is open later than most pubs, so you can still grab a bite to eat (I also recommend the pulled pork grilled cheese) or a midnight snack at 1 AM. It's my go-to post concert late dinner destination!

7. Silk City Diner - turkey club

Diners are somewhat hard to come by in Philadelphia, or at least the quintessential 24/7 diner serving pancakes for dinner. Unfortunately, Silk City is not one of those types of diners, but it does take diner food to the next level. A joint bar with live music and a restaurant, Silk City was featured on Food Network's Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives hosted by Guy Fieri, and in case you didn't know that, there's a sign on the wall reminding you when you enter. Although you can't order breakfast for dinner or stroll in at 3 in the morning, and the food is a little more expensive than your typical diner, the flavor profiles are so ingenious and creative, blending diner fare with southern flare, that it's worth every penny. Coming for brunch? Then I recommend the chicken and waffles with gravy. Coming for dinner? A turkey club with a mound of french fries is sure to hit the spot, especially if you're coming from the bar.

8. Merkaz - cauliflower sandwich

From the team behind Federal Donuts, Laser Wolf and Abe Fisher, comes Merkaz, a casual Mediterranean eatery in the Gayborhood. When I heard about the grand opening of a Dizen Goff/Goldie combo, I couldn't wait to try the best of both worlds! Upside- they have more sandwich varieties than Goldie, which only has falafel. Downside- they have less hummus bowl flavors than Dizen Goff, which rotates every day. Given the option of hummus bowls OR pita sandwiches, however, I went with the cauliflower sandwich. My boyfriend got the chicken schnitzel sandwich, and both of them were stuffed to the brim, overflowing with tzatziki and vegetable salad. I've heard this place is a nightmare at lunchtime, but try to get there early because by 6 pm they were already sold out. We actually got there without a minute to spare and got the two last pita sandwiches (our waitress congratulated us when she gave us our food).

9. Banh Mis and Bottles - French dip banh mi with au jus

Banh mis are the Vietnamese version of a hoagie, and I would like to personally thank whoever thought of the idea of putting cilantro on a sub! Banh mis and Bottles, a small Vietnamese restaurant and bar on South Street, has more than just banh mis and bottles to offer; they also have pho that (almost) lives up to the late Pho Saigan. However, I do recommend going for happy hour to take advantage of those half prices wine and appetizers. I never would have thought of the idea of transforming a French dip into a banh mi, complete with a side of au jus, but "viola"- you have the perfect sandwich. The pork belly banh mi (also pictured) is another classic and delicious choice, but I prefer the French dip.

10. Primo Hoagies - turkey diablo

This turkey diablo from Primo is HOT, HOT, HOT. Wawa, who? I think I have been converted to the seeded roll; it adds a bit of crunch and texture to a hoagie, and the bread is usually thicker and more robust. This hoagie is STACKED with turkey and pepper jack cheese, but I always add LTO, mayonnaise and pickles. This sandwich definitely brings the heat, and you will be sinfully lusting over this hoagie (or sub, depending on where you are from), despite the fact that if you can finish a classic size, then you'll be feeling quite gluttonous afterward.