Hoagie Throwdown 2026

Hoagie Throwdown 2026 takes over Other Half Brewing in Fishtown on Sunday, October 25, from 12 PM to 4 PM. It's an iron-chef style sandwich competition presented by the Delicious City Podcast, hosted by chef Eli Kulp, radio producer Marisa Magnatta, and food influencer Dave Wez (@FeedingTimeTV). The premise is simple: the city's best chefs, delis, and sandwich makers compete for the title of Philadelphia's Hoagie Champion, with an actual championship belt on the line and the winner chosen by the people in the room.

There are more than 20 contenders this year, and the list reads like a map of the city's sandwich scene. You'll find Bad Brother, Breezy's Deli, Campo's, Cantina La Martina, Caphe Roasters, Castellino's Italian Market, Gass + Main, Huda, Ippolito's Seafood, Liberty Kitchen, Louie G's, Other Half Brewing, Rumblefish, Stina, Wilson's Secret Sauce, Wine Dive, and Yanaga Kappo Izakaya. The variety is the point—you'll see everything from traditional Italian markets and seafood spots to an izakaya and a brewery all putting their own spin on the hoagie.

And then there's the wrestling. While you're sampling, pro wrestlers from Pro Wrestling Entertainment and BTA will be throwing people around a ring just feet from the food. The main event features Luigi Primo defending his title against Griffin McCoy. The whole thing is built on that contrast: a serious sandwich competition running right alongside a pro wrestling show. Last year's edition crowned Chef Reuby of The Undertikka and featured a surprise 'bread beatdown,' and Kulp says that after seeing some of the city's best chefs completely reinvent what a hoagie could be, the bar is being raised even higher for this one.

Admission is $60, which gets you unlimited hoagie tastings plus one beer or non-alcoholic beverage. Beyond the eating and the wrestling, there are wrestler meet-and-greets, photo ops, exclusive merch, a vendor marketplace, and on-site prizes. All ages are welcome, though you'll need to show ID to drink if you're 21 or over. It runs from 12 PM to 4 PM at Other Half Brewing, 1002 Canal Street in Fishtown.