5 Ordering Tips For The Best Meatball Parmesan Sandwich At Wawa

Wawa isn't just for gas. This Pennsylvania-born convenience store sells some of the best hoagies around. Whether you live in PA, New Jersey, or in one of the 10 states where Wawa is located, you can count on the shop for high-quality sandwiches, snacks, coffee, and more. We think the Meatball Parmesan Hoagie is the best Wawa hoagie you can order. It's rich and cheesy, and provides the perfect balance of meat and marinara sauce. But instead of ordering it as-is, here are some tips to amp up the sandwich even more.

From toasting the bun to adding jalapeños or choosing the right seasonings, we've compiled five ordering hacks to get the best Wawa meatball sub every time. Most of these tricks are fairly easy to do at the kiosks in the store or online through the Wawa app. Plus, they don't typically cost much extra to pull off. You might even have enough cash left in your budget to grab a Wawa cream smoothie for dessert.

Sure, you can find some pretty amazing meatball subs at classic Italian eateries or delis. But there's something truly special about Wawa's version, especially when you're ordering it from a spiffy gas station. So next time you're on a road trip or daily commute and need to fill up your tank, swing by Wawa for an even better meatball sub.

We've tried and ranked 14 Wawa hoagies, and they all taste great toasted. But the meatball sub tastes especially delicious when the bread has that extra crunch. When you order your sub, select the "toast whole hoagie or sandwich" option at the kiosk or the app; staff will pop it into the toaster oven for a few minutes. This melts the cheese even more and will make the bread extra crispy on the outside. It's the perfect balance of crunchy exterior and soft interior. 

Toasting your meatball sub transforms the entire sandwich. The classic hoagie roll is soft, pillowy, and has a dense chew. But when you toast it, it almost becomes like a French baguette, with a hard shell and fluffy insides. And you don't have to stick with the plain white roll — the wheat roll tastes great with this hack too. Whether you go for a shorti- or full-sized sub, toasting it makes all the difference in texture.

Many people associate crispy fried onions with green bean casserole, but they also make a great sandwich topping. Wawa offers crispy onions as a free add-on for its hoagies to elevate your sandwich's taste and texture. Between the bread, meatballs, and melted cheese, most meatball subs are pretty soft. So adding crispy fried onions will give it a bold crunch and zesty flavor it lacks. Think of it like adding potato chips to your sandwich.

As mentioned, the meatball parmesan sub is hands-down the best Wawa hoagie you can order, but adding crispy onions changes the sandwich dynamic... in the best way. If you don't like fried onions, you can add raw onions for free and get a similar crunch. So keep that in mind when you're standing at the kiosk!

Not everyone likes a spicy sandwich. But if you do, we highly recommend ordering your meatball sub with jalapeños. The peppers are another free topping at Wawa that adds a kick of heat. It won't taste too spicy either — the sweetness of the marinara and creamy cheese cut down the intensity. Meaning, you're left with a perfectly delicious spicy meatball sandwich.

Another reason it won't be too spicy? Wawa uses pickled instead of fresh jalapeños, which tend to be milder in flavor. So even if you're spice-averse, order them on the side and try them out. If you still want a milder flavor? Go for banana peppers instead. They're not as spicy, but still add a zingy touch. "I prefer them on sandwiches over jalapeños, which I treat more as a topping than an ingredient (better for nachos, for example)," one Redditor said on the r/Wawa thread.

Wawa's meatball sub already comes with seasoning, but to really elevate the sandwich, we encourage you to add more. Keep it simple with salt and pepper, or stick with the Italian theme by adding spices like oregano. You can even add powdered parmesan cheese to the sandwich! No matter what seasoning you choose, you'll be glad you added more depth and flavor to your meal — especially if you're used to well-seasoned sandwiches.

Sure, parmesan cheese is not necessarily a seasoning. But it's listed under the seasonings section on the Wawa ordering platform. So we're going with it. Cheese lovers will appreciate the extra sprinkle of rich, nutty flavor. In fact, upgrading the cheese is one of 16 tips you need for making a perfect meatball sandwich. Create the perfect contrast of flavors by pairing powdered parmesan with neutral creamy slices like provolone or American cheese. For $1 more, you can add extra slices — talk about a worthwhile upgrade.

Did you know that Wawa sells a side of meatballs and marinara sauce? That's right: If you're only in the mood for a little taste of the meatball hoagie, you can order this instead. But it's also a great way to upgrade your meatball sub. Order your sandwich, then get a side of meatballs and sauce, and use the extra marinara in the cup for dipping. You can also stuff the extra meatballs into the sandwich for a deluxe version. The classic side comes in small, medium, large, or family size.

This tip will cost you a little extra. The meatball sub itself is around $8.49, depending on location. But the meatballs start at $4.09 for a small cup. So keep that in mind before ordering. If you're willing to spring for it, it's well worth the upgrade. Plus, who doesn't love a super-saucy sandwich? Sure, the bread can get soggy, but you're in charge when it's on the side.