Penn Station: What’s Vegetarian Editorial Review

Penn Station’s sub menu is built around grilled cheesesteaks and cold deli meats, but it keeps two vegetarian subs on the regular menu and lets you build a third. That’s a stronger starting point than most sandwich chains offer, and it comes with the chain’s signature fresh-cut fries and fresh-squeezed lemonade on the side, both on the menu since the first Penn Station opened in 1985.

What to order at Penn Station

The Veggie sub (grilled mushrooms, banana peppers, onions, green peppers, cheese) and the Artichoke sub (artichoke hearts, provolone, parmesan, oregano, mayo, mushrooms) are both ready to order as is, hot, cold, wrapped, or as a salad. If neither sounds right, ask for a Dagwood without the meat and build your own from the topping bar of lettuce, tomato, banana peppers, onions, and pickles. Fresh-cut fries, fried in a peanut oil blend rather than any animal fat, and the fresh-squeezed lemonade round out a vegetarian meal.

What to watch out for

Both signature subs carry real dairy, cheese in the Veggie sub and provolone, parmesan, and mayo in the Artichoke, so neither one is vegan without asking for changes. Cheese bread and the chocolate chunk cookies are vegetarian but not dairy-free either. And every wrap or salad made from the meat subs, like the Dagwood, Club, Italian, or cheesesteak, is off the table unless you ask for the meat-free build instead.