Food critic Craig LaBan from The Philadelphia Inquirer recently completed a restaurant tour of Delaware County and gave the scene high marks.

But no trip to Delaware County is complete without a hoagie circuit. Part of his tour included trips to several hoagie shops in the county.

That includes the DiConstanza family in Boothwyn, who have been making sandwiches here since 1925. They were part of a half dozen “hoagie origin” stories he wrote about.

He made sure to reference the Delco hoagie style—which requires a top layer of meat, usually pepper ham.

 “We want to show Philly up so we put more on there,” jokes Dave Avicolli of Ro-Lynn Delicatessen in Brookhaven.

LaBan visited nine “well-regarded” shops in Delco and had a hoagie showdown at his friends’ home in Swarthmore, with beers from Aston’s 2SP and Media’s Sterling Pig.  Making his list?

• Ro-Lynn Deli
• A Cut Above Deli in Newtown Square.
• Mike & Emma’s Sandwich Shop in Folsom.
• LaSada’s Original Steaks & Hoagies in Milmont Park
• Leo’s Steak Shop in Folcroft
• Liberty Steaks and Hoagies in Woodlyn
• The Hot Dog Stand in Milmont Park
• DiCostanza’s in Boothwyn
• The 320 Market Café in Swarthmore

Read The Philadelphia Inquirer story for more detailed reviews of the chosen shops.

__________

Channel 6 traces the history of the hoagie.

Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on DELCO Today in February 2022.