A submarine sandwich (or just submarine where context would exclude the sea vessel, or even just sub) is any of various sandwiches made on a long roll split lengthwise, especially those including meat, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and various condiments, sauces or salad. Because the meat is not fried, submarine sandwiches are generally considered to be healthier than hamburgers.
In regions of the United States there are many different terms for local variations on the idea:
- Bomb -- New England, usually used for hot sandwiches with melted cheese (for example, a cheesesteak is often called a "Steak Bomb")
- Bomber -- New Jersey
- Cuban sandwich -- Florida (toasted in a sandwich press)
- Dagwood sandwich (from the comic strip character Dagwood Bumstead)
- Grinder -- Boston, Massachusetts, New Haven, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New England
- Hero sandwich -- New York, northern New Jersey and the eastern US
- Hoagie -- Philly, southern New Jersey, other eastern US
- Italian -- New Jersey, Maine
- Italian Beef -- Chicago
- Poor boy or "Po'boy" -- Louisiana
- Spuckie -- Boston, Massachusetts
- Torpedo -- New Jersey
- Wedge -- New Jersey and Westchester and Rockland Counties in New York
- Zep -- New Jersey
- In the Midwestern United States, they are generally known as subs, though 'hoagies' and 'grinders' are occasionally heard.
Submarine sandwiches are sold by delicatessens and a number of fast-food restaurant chains, including Subway, Quizno's, Mr. Sub, Blimpie , and Schlotzsky's .
See also cheesesteak - French dip sandwich - Hero sandwich
