The hero is traditionally at least two Italian meats and provolone on a small or half loaf of crusty Italian bread with roasted peppers, vinegar, olive oil, and lettuce. It is a pork based sandwich; popular meat choices include ham, prosciutto, pepperoni, capicolla, mortadella and salami.
Tomatoes were not a historical ingredient of the hero, but are often included in modern heroes.
Similar sandwiches are called grinders or po' boys.