Lenny's Sub Shop, Houston

Lenny's Sub Shop opened in the suburbs of Memphis in 1998, to bring the joy of philly cheese steaks to a new neighborhood. Over the years, the restaurant expanded to locations in 15 states, but the way Lenny's crew makes the sandwiches has remained the same. They start by taking a customer's order, then slicing the meats and cheeses that form the core of the sandwich. They throw the contents of hot subs on the grill, or pile their cold cuts directly onto their fresh-baked bread. They put about a half-pound of meat into their regular-sized sandwiches, doubling that for the large size, meaning each meal packs enough calories to banish a hearty hunger and also counts as a workout if you carry it around the restaurant enough times.