Hobby’s Hoagies: the best sandwiches in Oklahoma City
by Greg | July 3, 2008 | 20 Comments
(votes: 13, average: 4.31) 
Loading ...Hobby’s Hoagies is located at 222 S. Santa Fe in Edmond, north of Oklahoma City (map). They are open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 9pm and Sunday from 11am to 3pm. For more information, visit their website.
“This ain’t Subway.”
That is what I heard George Hobson, owner of Hobby’s Hoagies, tell a customer more than a decade ago. There’s no production line at Hobby’s. You can ask for something to be left off, but if you don’t say anything, they’ll make it the same way they always do — delicious.
I’ve had the pizza at Hobby’s. I’ve had the spaghetti. But if you’re going to Hobby’s Hoagies, do yourself a favor and get a sandwich, because it’s one of the best you’ll ever have.
Most sandwiches come in two sizes at Hobby’s — 7-inch or footlong — and they all come with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, oils, spices and Hobby’s special hoagie peppers on a homemade Italian roll.
That pillowy bread is a big part of the appeal. Unlike some of the stale rolls you’ll get at other sandwich shops, Hobby’s rolls are soft and satisfying, soaking up the oils and flavors of the sandwiches.
Don’t wait too long to eat the Special Italian ($6.59 for a 12-inch), or the ends will get wet with juice — not that that’s ever stopped me before. The Special Italian has capicola, ham, salami and provolone, but the ingredients I love most are those special peppers. They make every sandwich spicy and sweet with just enough heat to keep things interesting.
These days, I usually opt for the Philly Cheesesteak ($7.59 for a footlong) with its tender steak which is cooked on the flat grill with peppers and onions. Every bite is good, but every few bites you get that perfect blend of onion, steak and cheese that makes you stop and close your eyes. It keeps me coming back every time.
That cheesesteak is so good, in fact, that I order a cheesesteak whenever I see one on any menu. I am routinely disappointed. Nobody in the area seems to be able to capture the same juicy, flavorful quality you get at Hobby’s.
My wife loves the deli menu, often ordering a grilled cheese ($3.69) which comes on crisp, thick-cut toast. It’s not a complex dish, but Hobby’s does it well. I’m also partial to the reuben on rye ($6.29) and for vegetarians, there’s the veggie ($4.19) with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, bell peppers, sprouts, pickles, peppers, oil and spices.
This is no knock on the pizza or the pasta — Hobby’s does a good job at both — but I don’t know if I’ll ever get past those sandwiches. Who cares about gas prices? Hobby’s Hoagies is worth the trip.
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So far, 20 people have responded to this article. Won't you join in?July 29th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Hobby’s Hoagies is the only place in this area that makes a real hoagie and cheese steak.
I grew up in the Philadelphia area but have lived here for over 30. I was almost in tears when I finally found their restaurant a few years ago.
The roll itself is a big part of what makes a good hoagie.
August 14th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
[...] part of a review from from [...]
August 15th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Check out the link above if you haven’t already. Steve Lackmeyer points out the fact that a second Hobby’s Hoagies location is about to open in the Legacy apartments at Arts Quarter downtown, near the Civic Center and the Art Museum. This is great news for those in or around downtown.
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:41 pm
I was going to write down all my gushy reactions to Hobby’s Hoagies (well, actually, Hobby’s Philly Cheesesteaks), but I would merely be repeating what’s already been highlighted. It’s a real Philly Cheesesteak, and it’s absolutely The Best!
Great little place, always satisfying. And for a wonderful light dessert, try the Chocolate Ice… mmm!
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:36 pm
My husband and I ate here the other day. I was totally pumped to try it because he just loves cheese steaks. We each had a cheese steak and split an order of piping hot fries. I was thoroughly impressed. I did want more cheese though. Unfortunately, my spouse thought it was just okay. He likes Jersey Mikes better…gasp, a chain. He didn’t like that his bread got soggy. I pretty much told him he should just eat faster. I thought they were wonderful and am somewhat sad that he didn’t love them too…of course the drive from South Side to Edmond is quite the trek for a sandwich even if it is delicious, yummy goodness.
September 7th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Great sandwiches at affordabe prices.
September 21st, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Hobby’s Hoagies is a one-of-a-kind deli. I was shocked the first time that I went in…I’d never eaten in a real deli — one where your sandwich and pickle are wrapped in butcher paper. Great ambiance and fabulous Reuben!
October 30th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
I love this place. They have a fantastic cheesteak sandwich. Highly reccomended.
October 30th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
I wasn’t all that impressed with the sandwich I got, apparently I should have gotten the Philly Cheesesteak. I absolutely loved the fries though, very hot, fresh and yummy!
January 27th, 2009 at 11:01 am
The Mr. Hobson and he family most certainly have the best of many things here. By far the best we have in deli’s in the metro.
April 4th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
I’m originally from NYC, and have been here in OKC since being transferred in the USAF 20 years ago. Based on the review and recommendations, I braved the Edmond traffic (folks still treat Broadway like the Indy 500, even with the present Construction Zone), and made it to Hobby’s Hoagies. The young people working the counter were very courteous, and gave me a to-go menu to take home. I tried the Philly Cheesesteak, and it was delicious-not exactly like Geno’s or Pats in the City of Brotherly Love, but authentic, with very good bread. I was very pleased, and had some room left, so I ordered a small pizza for dessert. It was very tasty, with lots of greasy, stretchy cheese and a crispy crust. They have TastyKakes, an East Coast staple, but I can pick those up at the Tinker Commissary. It was after I finished that I noticed they carry a couple varieties of Cannolli, so I brought some home to eat later–they were very good, and you can’t find good Cannolli in very many OKC-area places. I look forward to my next visit (maybe to the Downtown location on N. Walker), and I plan to try the Reuben or Special Italian–maybe both!!
April 20th, 2009 at 7:13 am
I visited the new Hobby’s Hoagies downtown location last Friday. I picked up a couple of philly cheesesteaks to take home. They were awesome! We had tried Jersey Mike’s earlier in the week and while their philly cheesesteak was good, it was not as good as Hobby’s. What a wonderful addition to places to eat downtown. It was very clean, plenty of seating and a couple of tv’s to watch while you’re waiting. The shop is located in the Legacy shops, store front of the the Legacy Apartments on the west side of Walker. Check them out…..I’m ready to go again.
April 22nd, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Got to go back to Hobby’s Hoagies in Edmond yesterday. I’m working the early shift, so I can get into and out of Edmond before the afternoon Rush Hour. Had the Special Italian sandwich and an order of French Fries–both were fantastic! That with a drink will put you over ten bucks, but the sub’s a footlong, so you leave out of there very full, I assure you. The bread and spicy peppers really compliment the Italian cold cuts–well worth the repeat trip! To quote AHH-nold, “I’ll Be Back!”
April 27th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
I was in Edmond again, getting my oil changed, so I swung by Hobby’s Hoagies for lunch before heading home. I ordered the Reuben and french fries, and it was AWESOME!! The Reuben was piled with a good amount of corned beef and sauerkraut, and served on thick-sliced toasty rye with thousand island dressing. It went well with Hobby’s delicious fries, a cold drink, and a crisp dill pickle spear–yummy! This is my third visit, and I’m convinced stopping by Hobby’s Hoagies for any reason is time well-spent.
May 19th, 2009 at 9:47 am
I am addicted to Hobby’s Hoagies philly cheesesteak. The bread is so soft and fresh. Love the NY Style pizza too, it’s huge and cheesy. At the downtown location you can buy it by the slice. Next I am going to try the Philly Cheesesteak Pizza, a combo of my 2 loves! The cannoli’s are great, and the italian ice flavors are perfect for hot summer days.
June 13th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
I’m from New Jersey and I must say – if you’re looking for a good Italian hoagie, this is the place to get it. Gotta love the B+G pepper mix. I’ve had better back east on a few occasions, but being here for so long, I come to this place and it reminds me of home.
The only other place that is not as good and comes close is Jersey Mike’s…and I hate to say that as I’m an anti-chain-ite. But Hobby’s has filled the hoagie void in my heart.
June 16th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Was here on a Saturday dinnertime. Expected the place to be full of patrons and to my surprise walked in to an empty restaurant. Not a problem as we then had the place to ourselves and decided to stay and eat in. Well, maybe we should have taken note as to why all the other people seen were picking up their orders to go. The 3 employees were rather short and dry with personality. The floor and several tables were spattered with oils and food crumbs. Giving it a shot we ordered the Philly and Chicken Philly. Unfortunately, at the very sight of the Philly Cheese, I had a vision of the cardboard box with the words STEAK-UMM written on it. One bite and it was Steak-umm all the way. Was expecting something “different” I guess. The Chicken Philly was just ok as well. The soggy bottom of the roll burst open from the gallon of juices that accompanied the chicken. Ended up being an open-face chicken sandwich. Overall, was aaaaverage-ish but nothing to rave about.
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:33 am
Let me first start off by saying that I love this place, but not for their cheese steaks like everyone keeps raving about. My wife and I have tried the steak and chicken phillys, and we both agreed that neither were anything worth writing home about. The fries are just average as well.
What keeps us coming back to Hobby’s is their Special Italian hoagie. It is absolutely delicious. You have to get the Special Italian though, not the Itailian. It’s the capicola that makes this sandwich (along with the oils and the peppers).
Do yourself a favor next time you’re thinking about Subway, and go to Hobby’s instead and get a #2.
December 1st, 2009 at 2:19 pm
I have been to the downtown location several times an always get the cheesesteak. Wait I always get chicken though, so is that cheesechicken? Anyway, the subs are great!
February 7th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
This happens to be my first cousin – I am from wilmington, de and the hoagies in this area rule and I can see George took this with him to Oklahoma where it has become such a success.
Please tell us what you think.