NY doesn’t claim to have the the best Philly cheese steak, but it dominates in cold cut heroes. As far as hot heroes go, it’s also going throw down hard when it comes to meatball parms and chicken cutlet sandwiches. NY has some pretty bad cheese steaks, Philly can have that one. Also Pat’s and Geno’s may as well be rat meat. Not discounting the many good places but the tourist trap spots are atrocious.

Growing up in the NY area I was surprised and saddened when I found out that Delis are not available everywhere. It’s such a staple in NY. I remember having a chain/fast food hero for the first time and I was confused when they gently laid down 6 pieces of ham across bread and called it a sandwich. Then when they ring it up it costs just as much if not more as an Italian Combo that is stacked with like 1/2lb of boars head deli meats and imported provalogne.

Don’t get me wrong, other places have good Delis here and there, but the density of them is not the same. In NYC and surrounding area, there are several delis in every neighborhood. And they are all going to offer something that a Jersey Mike’s or Subway will never be able to measure up to.