A hero is, by definition, a long roll filled with items such as meat, cheese, and vegetables. Simple, right?
Luckily for us, New York City is anything but ordinary.
In a place where we can see chicken dyed pink in baby stroller on a subway platform, do you really think any old hero will do? We didn't think so.
So, New Yorkers, you won't find any old generic roll cut in half and filled with mere brand name turkey and cheese on here. Only the best of the wild and craziest have made the cut.
1. The Ten Condiment Sandwich from Shopsin's (120 Essex Street)
If you have OCD, suffer from seizures, or just generally hate lots of things smashed together in a tiny little space, do NOT check out the menu at Shopsin's.
We kid. But seriously our OCD is running rampant right now and we're having a hard time looking away from their menu. SO MANY CHOICES! Seriously, this place may have the most menu options we've ever seen.
That being said, it was extremely hard for us to choose just one of their crazy combos. For example, who could pass up bacon and eggs sandwiched between mac & cheese pancakes? Yea, you heard right. Or double cheeseburger sliders between two doughnuts? Oh baby, we're just getting started.
You have to try their "Ten Condiment Sandwich." There are ten options of meat: bacon and eggs, bbq pork or beef brisket, chicken schnitzel, turkey hash patty, roast turkey or chicken, grilled chorizo, flamed chicken or duck, chicken or tuna salad, fried shrimp, or Philly cheesesteak. And that's just the meats!
Your choice of meat will be placed on a soft-cut hero and topped with garlic, waffle fries, red onion, avocado, lettuce, tomato, jack cheddar, hemp hearts, poppy seeds, sunflower kernels, and wasabi slaw. Whew. Mouthful.
2. Lamb Merguez from Mile End Deli (various locations)
brunchboys #brunch at @mileenddeli !! The best!! Here is their Lamb Merguez with Hummus, harissa slaw, crispy shallots, on a split top roll!! #brunchboys #nyc #wtf www.TheBrunchBoys.com
So you're not in the mood for the "Grandpa" sandwich, which consists of smoked turkey, rillettes (pate), pickles, mustard, and rye. That's okay. You're not feelin the "Fried Green Tomato" sandwich, topped with blue cheese mayo, lettuce, and pickled onion.
We hear ya. But here's what you need in your life.
Order the "Lamb Merguez." A lamb merguez is a red, spicy lamb sausage with North African spices. This thing also comes with a slaw made with harrisa (a North African hot chili paste), and crispy shallots.
We can say that you won't find this sandwich at many other joints in the city. You can also get it with smoked meat poutine (fries, cheese curds, brisket, and roasted chicken gravy).
3. Joe-Bana from Sunny and Annie's Gourmet Deli (94 Avenue B)
A couple of days ago, we told you about the "Biden sandwich" in our list of chicken sandwiches that aren't from Chick-fil-A. But Sunny and Annie's offers oh so much more.
For instance, the "Bush Sandwich" consists of teriyaki, chicken, roasted seaweed, hot pepper, avocado, cucumber, onions, fresh mozzarella, and ranch dressing.
Of course, the name probably raises some eyebrows, but when combined with the rest of the menu (which consists of plenty of other Presidents and VP's) you understand.
The "Joe-Bana" is made up of lemon chicken, pepperoni, melted mozzarella, pine nuts, walnuts, basil, tomatoes and sausage on a hero roll. There aren't too many heroes in NYC that have nuts in them, let alone two types of nuts. This hero is chock full of protein, to say the least.
4. Alessandra's Delicacy from Tino's Delicatessen (2410 Arthur Avenue - the Bronx)
Typically, we don't see broccoli rabe on sandwiches. Especially when it's combined with grilled chicken and fresh mozzarella.
Luckily for you, the peeps at Tino's Deli have experimented and come up with this amazing combination. A lot of times, heroes consist of overly salty lunch meats and wilted vegetables that lack essential nutrients.
This is definitely not the case with the "Alessandra's Delicacy." You'd have no reason to feel the post-meal guilt that often follows a great food (nutritious or not).
,5. A Great Hero After 5 Great Singers (#129) from Lioni Italian Heroes (7803 15th Avenue- Brooklyn)
Tip: Do not come here with your friend who can never make up their minds about what they want to eat. With 139+ options, plus the option to make up your own, Lioni's is not for the indecisive.
That is, unless the indecisive likes veal, meatball, and eggplant parms. Because that's what this sandwich is comprised of. Seriously, its a veal, meatball, and eggplant parm topped with melted mozzarella and sauce on a hero.
It's named after Frankie Lane, Don Cornel, Johnny Desmond, Vic Damone, and Alan Dale. You already know that to honor FIVE great singers, the sandwich has to be good.
If you want to see something really spectacular? Order one of their half-Italian, half-American hero wheels for your next party. We pretty much guarantee you'll win the award for best host of the year in your friend group.
6. The King Kong from Johnny's Luncheonette (124 West 25th Street)
We bet you pretty much restrict your breakfast sandwiches to bagels, croissants, english muffins, biscuits, or toast. You need to broaden your minds, peeps. Jump on the next big thing.
Just think- french toast hero. Too bad you didn't think of it first.
Johnny's Luncheonette leads the pack with "The King Kong." Which, considering it's named after a giant ape who pretty much destroyed NYC in Hollywoodland, means that this sandwich either is going to be too much for you to handle, or so lovable that you can't bare to see him die (spoiler alert: he dies).
This "King Kong" is a french toasted hero with fried eggs, bacon, banana, cinnamon, and syrup. For realz. Do you think we'd lie to you about something as serious as King Kong or a breakfast hero? Didn't think so.
This is so crazy and delicious that it just makes perfect sense.
Honorable Mention: The Super Human from Mill Basin Deli (5823 Avenue T- Brooklyn)
The cost of this giant sammy? $34.94, hence the name. "The Super Human" from Mill Basin Deli is so big, you can win a free official Mill Basin Deli T-Shirt if you can stuff this whole thing by yourself. Challenge accepted? Wait til you hear what's in it!
It's got corned beef, pastrami, turkey, salami, bologna, sweet peppers, sliced pickles on club bread, topped with cole slaw and Russian dressing. Sounds like it's a no biggie right?
Wrong. This thing is huge. It costs over $30!!! That's like 2 days worth of meals that you're going to try and scarf down for a t-shirt?? You're braver than we are.
Check out 8 Amazingly Fresh Bakeries That'll Warm Your Soul in NYC.
[Feature Image Courtesy of Instagram]