Pre-flight hoagie tradition in Terminal 2
Before Taylor Gourmet downsized around DC, the Terminal 2 DCA shop built a mini cult following among locals who refused to settle for a sad $12 turkey wrap. It sits post-security in Terminal 2, so you’re fine grabbing a sandwich on the way to most American gates. Price-wise, think mid-teens per hoagie, so $$ but not steakhouse money.
The move here is one of the Italian-style hoagies or a chicken cutlet build; reviews mention those as the most reliable orders. A single sandwich is big enough that people on Yelp talk about splitting one before a 45‑minute shuttle to LGA or BOS. If you’re hungry after a long day, keeping it all for yourself is very justifiable.
Portions run large even by airport standards: one reviewer flat-out says the sandwiches are “massive,” and that tracks with the 10–12 inch rolls they typically use. That size softens the airport markup, especially if two people share instead of buying two $15 sandwiches. Figure about 10 minutes to eat half a hoagie at the gate without rushing.
Bread can be hit or miss; several Google and Yelp reviews call it stale or overly chewy during slower mid-afternoon periods between, say, the 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. shuttle waves. Regulars suggest asking which bread was baked or delivered most recently and building your sandwich on that option. If the staff says the rolls are from early morning, consider a chicken cutlet with extra toppings to distract from the texture.
Lines here move slower than a typical airport fast-casual spot when only one or two people are working the counter, which reviewers flag around peak 6–8 a.m. and 4–6 p.m. bank times. Build a 15–20 minute buffer if you’re inside T2 with a tight departure. Final tip: grab your hoagie to go and eat onboard; it beats the snack basket on a 90‑minute hop.