Submarine sandwich Food historians generally agree with the modern American sub , hero , wedge , hoagie , grinder, Po'Boy, Rich Girl, gondola, torpedo, zepplin..and their heated cousins Philly cheesesteak & Chicago Italian beef are regional variations on the same culinary theme. Vietnamese Banh Mi are the current trend. This overstuffed meat, cheese and vegetable oblong-shaped foods nestled between thick Italian or chewy French bread were recipes built on local culinary traditions and ethnic preference. Six-foot sandwiches surface in New York City, circa the 1950s. Old-world filled bread ( calzones, empanadas, pasties, &c. ) were introduced to America in the 19th century by immigrant labourers. The classic "Sub" (salami, cheese, peppers, olives, oil) was introduced to America by immigrants from Southern Italy in the early part of the 20th century. The progenitor of the sub was probably the muffuletta . After World War II Italian food gained popularity