You don't need to look far to find a great sandwich in the USA. We've rounded up the best sandwich joints in every state, spanning the range from old-school delis still whipping up traditional favorites to quirky, modern joints putting innovative ingredients to work. Have you tried your state's finest? Read on to find out.
Our selections are based on genuine user reviews, awards, and accolades, and the first-hand experience of our team. They're also regularly checked and updated.
This modern joint on the outskirts of Birmingham focuses on serving fresh, carefully sourced ingredients, transformed into tasty dishes. Aside from salads, there's an excellent selection of panini, with a choice of soup, salad, or mac 'n' cheese on the side. A favorite is the brisket panino (pictured), stuffed with caramelized onions and white barbecue sauce.
Straightforward deli sandwiches are this homely shop's specialty. You'll find all the classics at Sara's, from a French dip to a meatball sub. Or you can opt to make your own, with ingredients from Genoa salami and roast beef to sauerkraut and avocado. Go for The Keefer and you'll get Cajun turkey breast, buffalo chicken, and bacon layered with Pepper Jack cheese, honey mustard, and Cajun remoulade on a flaky croissant.
Hip and colorful, Zookz serves toasted sandwiches for breakfast, lunch, and even dessert. Egyptian-born Carole Meyer's sandwiches are inspired by her grandmother's recipe, with a rounded shape with crispy edges – and they're a huge hit with customers. The sandwiches are numbered, and No. 33 (pictured), a breakfast sammie with poached eggs, feta, and spinach, is a menu highlight. No. 55, with peanut butter, Nutella, roasted almonds, and banana, is well worth a try too.
Owner and chef Todd (TJ) has 25 years of experience under his belt, and it's put to good use whipping up creative sandwiches in laid-back surrounds at TJ's Sandwich Shop. The Vie de France hoagies – soft rolls doused in Parmesan-garlic butter, laden with fresh ingredients – steal the show. Get your taste buds around the Italian Stallion (pictured) with grilled prosciutto ham, Genoa salami, Asiago cheese, mozzarella, and fig jelly. Or, for something lighter but equally tasty, try the Maui Waui: grilled pineapple and chicken on sourdough.
This LA favorite oozes cool, with one location in a shipping container in the city's Frogtown neighborhood, and another in a former processing plant in Chinatown. The shop has won fans with its quirky specials and signature menu, on which the sandwiches are named after radio hosts. Sink your teeth into delights such as the Ira Glass – veggies, garlic aioli, and Tillamook Cheddar on rye – or specials such as burrata and heirloom tomato on grandma's ciabatta (pictured).
Gates Deli & Grog can be found in Denver, Colorado, serving up a wide and creative array of sandwiches and burritos – and there's a huge selection of salads, tacos, wings, and nacho trays on the menu too. The BBQ Carnitas Nachos, for example, feature 12-hour slow braised pork alongside a generous serving of cheese and ranch sauce, making them perfect for sharing. The shop operates from inside Platt Park Brewing Company, and reviews say the sandwiches make the perfect Colorado meal when paired with one of the brewery's IPAs.
Meat & Co. is not your average sandwich shop. The ever-changing menu is, according to the pair of local restaurateurs who dreamt it up, 'motivated by innovation and whimsy' – and that's evident from the joint's imaginative takes on old-school staples. Proper Villain, a crispy chicken cutlet with Kewpie mayo, bitter broccoli, mozzarella, and blistered peppers (pictured), is a crowd-pleaser, as is the Haute Tuna Melt, which is made with Sicilian tuna and fine American cheese.
Michael Ioannoni's Italian roots inspired him to open an easy-going sandwich shop, Ioannoni's Specialty Sandwiches – and it gets plenty of acclaim from customers. The Italian-inspired submarine sandwiches will please carnivores, with options of roast beef, tender pork, and meatballs. The Chicken Parmesan, a golden chicken cutlet paired with provolone cheese and red sauces, is always a winner too.
This spot in DC’s Dupont Circle area may be small, but it turns out some of the most belly-busting sandwiches around. The family-run joint, spearheaded by chef Jonathan Taub, is well-loved for its monstrous hoagies, which range from beef brisket soaked in veal jus to eggplant Parmesan. A perennial favorite is the Italian hoagie with cured meats, including Genoa salami and pepperoni, plus aged provolone, veggies, and a punchy relish.
Enriqueta's is the ultimate purveyor of Florida's famed Cuban sandwich. This veteran Miami shop offers a classic take on the sammie with perfect proportions of thinly sliced ham, roast pork, cheese, pickles, mustard, and mayo between panini-style bread. The beloved shop is famous for its hearty steak sandwich too.
This Atlanta venue screams industrial chic, with its hanging lights, wooden booths, and leather-stool-lined bar. But it's not a case of style over substance at Victory Sandwich Bar, whose menu is full of imaginative combos. Innovative options include the spicy Tea Bird – which sees chicken paired with ghost Pepper Jack cheese and sweet tea mayo – and Hambo (pictured): prosciutto, mozzarella, and apple. You can pair your sandwiches with an ice-cold beer or 'spiked' soda too.
Regional produce and wholesome ingredients are the USP of this healthy Honolulu joint. Sprout's sandwiches are piled high with leafy greens and Hawaiian vegetables, such as Waialua sprouts and juicy local tomatoes. Top choices include the Fonz, a pastrami, prosciutto, and salami offering with olive tapenade and Maui butter; and the Keiki, a banana creation with almond or peanut butter and Hawaiian honey.
With a rotating selection of totally bonkers creations, Meltz takes grilled cheese sandwiches to the next level (and then some). The rotating menu has some pretty mouthwatering choices, from a pork belly banh mi grilled cheese to a hearty take on a Reuben. For a special treat, try the CC Poutine with white Cheddar, braised beef short rib, deep fried cheese curds, beer-battered French fries, roasted shallots, and mushroom gravy. Who could resist?
If you want to find the best Italian beef sandwich – a Chicago staple – head straight for Publican Quality Meats. The small but perfectly formed menu draws in customers with an ever-changing line-up of sandwiches. You can't go wrong with the Chicken Parm: juicy fried chicken, piled high with tomato sauce, pesto, and mozzarella on a ciabatta roll.
Bringing a taste of Pennsylvania to the Midwest, Hoagies and Hops is the vision of a husband-and-wife duo who moved from the Keystone State in 2007. Meat-packed hoagies keep the crowds flowing in, with traditional or chicken cheesesteaks, and inventions such as the Always Sunny (pictured), with bacon bits, turkey, muenster cheese, horseradish mayo, and peppers.
Maid-Rite's original location is credited with the invention of the Tavern sandwich – ground beef topped with onions and pickles in a steamed white bun. The joint has now burgeoned into an established Mid-Western chain, but you can go back to where it all began, in Muscatine in 1926. On top of the traditional option, you can try a pork tenderloin, Iowa's staple sandwich, or pair your original Maid-Rite with blue cheese, jalapeños, or melted Cheddar cheese sauce.
This old-school shop has been open since 1932, and it's become something of a local institution. Full of comforting classics, Old Mill Tasty Shop's menu has changed little over the years: tuck into the seafood crab salad sandwich, served open-faced on egg bread, or try the hot turkey pastrami with Monterey Jack cheese and tangy Dijon mustard on rye. On top of its long list of sandwiches, the shop boasts an original soda fountain, which usually draws in the crowds too.
This much-loved sandwich shop in Lexington boasts impressive reviews – and rightly so. Not only does this bakery and café offer an incredible selection of all-day breakfast and lunch sandwiches (as well as tacos, salads, and baked goods), DV8 Kitchen also operates as a second-chance employment opportunity for people in the early stages of substance abuse recovery. If you're having trouble picking just one sandwich, go for the fan-favorite orange marmalade chicken. You won't be disappointed.
NOLA has plenty of spots to get a great po' boy, but Domilise’s Po-Boy and Bar's informal shop stands out from the rest. Soft white bread is crammed with mouthwatering fillings such as shrimp, catfish, oysters, and barbecue beef. Hot smoked sausage, turkey, and ham make an appearance on the menu too. Founded as a bar in 1918, the po' boy house has had plenty of time to perfect its recipes.
Now part of a quartet of New England venues (with locations in Boston and Burlington in Massachusetts, and Portsmouth, New Hampshire too), Bennett's Sandwich Shop was born in the pretty seaside town of Kennebunk. Open during the summer season, the Kennebunk shop makes the most of Maine's seafood, with the star of the show being the fresh lobster rolls (pictured). Lobster meat (knuckle and claw) plucked straight from Maine's waters is piled onto lettuce and white bread.
A pit beef sandwich is a Baltimore must-eat, and this is the best place to gorge on one. Gloriously messy, the offering at Chaps Pit Beef (now with several locations in the state) is a round roll crammed with tender beef and doused in horseradish mayo. If you fancy something else, the pork BBQ rivals the pit beef for flavor, while the fish option is lighter and fresher, seeing a generous hunk of fried cod slipped between white bread.
After bursting onto the scene in 2010, Cutty's hasn't had any problem grabbing local attention – especially since hosting foodie TV personality Guy Fieri. The teeny-tiny shop's flavor-packed menu features creations like Beef 1000 (pictured): brioche packed with slow-roasted beef, crispy shallots, sharp Cheddar, and Thousand Island dressing. Special mention goes to family-run joint Sam La Grassa's too.
The reputation of this Ann Arbor deli precedes it, and it lays on an impressive number of sandwiches without compromising on quality. There are seven corned beef options alone, from Sherman's Sure Choice (pictured), with Emmental cheese, crunchy coleslaw, and Russian dressing, to Oswald's Mile High, with corned beef and yellow mustard on double-baked Jewish rye bread. Veggies aren't forgotten either: opt for Leo's Friendly Lion, with avocado, green chilies, and Muenster cheese.
'Be greedy' is the motto of this Vietnamese sandwich shop, whose banh mi packs a true flavor punch. Bringing traditional Vietnamese baguettes to Minneapolis, the folks at Lu's Sandwiches use an exciting variety of ingredients including pork pâté, daikon, and cilantro. Sample the shredded chicken option cooked in Vietnamese five spice, or the tofu in kicking curry sauce.
The sandwiches at Monster Subs and Sandwiches are, by the owners' own admission, overstuffed. 'Bigger is better' is the enduring ethos of this shop, with fillings practically bursting from your choice of sub, marble rye, or kaiser roll. Try Monster's gargantuan New Yorker, complete with roast beef, Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and a coating of Dijon mustard, or opt for the Rachel, piled up with pastrami and also topped with slaw and Swiss.
This casual spot fancies itself as having 'St. Louis’ finest po' boys and muffulettas' and, given its popularity, this may well be true. The original roast beef po' boy is the jewel in Blues City Deli's crown, with hot roast beef, lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, and mayo. The 7th Street Sicilian – Genoa salami, cappicola, pepperoni, and provolone with vegetables and Italian vinegar oil – is another tasty pick.
Meeting Missoula's sandwich needs for over a decade, Tagliare Delicatessen keeps things simple with a relatively small menu packed full of carefully selected ingredients. The bread, sourced from a local bakery, is fired daily, and filled with such delights as prosciutto, provolone, and fig and walnut chutney (making up menu favorite, Kiss).
Star Deli serves a variety of sandwiches, soups, salads, and baked goods. With its very own gallery space, showcasing local artists, the deli is heavily involved with Omaha community, popping up and selling sandwiches at festivals, fundraisers, and other events in the area. On the menu, you’ll find classics like the BLT alongside more creative combinations like the Peach N’Pork, which features pork loin, peach and bacon jam, caribe peppers, and slices of fresh peach.
In true Vegas style, the offerings at this Sin City venue are larger than life. Goodwich describes its towering creations as 'stacked-rite', and its traditional sandwiches are indeed kicked up a gear. Choose from signatures such as the Reuben-ish, a classic Reuben with fennel sauerkraut, or the B-Fast Sammie, with scrambled eggs, bacon or sausage, American cheese, and chipotle mayo.
With a sandwich shop downstairs and a sports bar upstairs, The Nashua Garden has plenty going for it. Those after a quick bite for lunch won't be disappointed, as the sizeable menu ranges from meaty creations to nourishing veggie options. Meat lovers should try the Green Monster, with roast beef, pepper turkey, and dill havarti cheese, while vegetarians can sample The Spaceman, filled with red pepper hummus and plenty of vegetables.
This sandwich shop has been running since 1946, and Atlantic City locals are extremely fond of it. Founded by an Atlantic City tailor in the wake of the Second World War, the White House Sub Shop has welcomed a string of showbiz heavyweights in its time: Oprah Winfrey, Frank Sinatra, and The Beatles have all stopped here for their hoagie fix. Order the White House Special (pictured): a two-foot-long white sub stuffed with deli meats such as salami and capocollo, and finished with provolone cheese.
It's not unusual to see a line at this Uptown joint, which serves epicurean sandwiches made fresh with organic produce every day. Relish's menu makes good use of hatch chiles (that New Mexico is famed for), with crowds snapping up the Albuquerque Turkey: toasted sourdough heavy with roasted turkey, havarti cheese, chipotle mayo, and the green chile. The double-decker Reuben (pictured), which has an extra wedge of marbled rye stuffed in, is another top choice.
New York is a city made for sandwich lovers, so narrowing the options down to one fantastic shop is almost impossible. Cutlets in Midtown isn't much to look at, but the sandwiches are simply superb. An updated version of a traditional deli, Cutlets focuses on reinventing classics with quality ingredients. The top choice here is the signature Number 1 (pictured): chicken cutlet with thick-cut bacon and white Cheddar, smothered in Cutlets' special sauce. Notable mentions go out to two other New York icons: Parisi Bakery and Katz's Delicatessen.
A favorite among students at the nearby University of North Carolina, Merritt's Store & Grill specializes in BLTs and other classic sandwiches. A stand-out that gets the most praise is the single BLT (pictured). With quality ingredients and perfectly balanced flavors, customers praise Merritt's Grill's perfect ratio of bacon, lettuce, and tomato, all hugged by crispy toasted white bread.
Customers keep coming back for the imaginative specials at this Minot spot. The lengthy menu at Magic City Hoagies features hot, cold, or pressed hoagies up to 12 inches long. The Tangy Porky combines roasted pork and salty bacon, lifted with honey mustard, horseradish, and crispy jalapeños, and the Knockout special (pictured) makes regular appearances too. Mouth-wateringly indulgent, this winning sammie consists of Pepper Jack cheese melted over roast beef and pastrami, with crispy onions and zingy mustard.
This established spot in Cincinnati whips up all the classics in its pocket-sized shop. You can't go wrong with J & W Sandwich Shoppe's Little Italy: a 16-inch sub roll lined with salami, ham, capacolla, oozing provolone, and softened vegetables. For a warming treat, go for the steak hoagie hot sandwich, with Swiss, American, or provolone cheese.
This cool sandwich bar focuses on two things – hot melts and cold beer. Fans of this relaxed joint come back time after time for its grilled cheese sandwiches. The menu standout is the Macaroni Pony (pictured), the Mule's signature. Jalapeño cornbread is stuffed full of chipotle barbecue pulled pork, three-cheese mac 'n' cheese, and pickles, then toasted to perfection.
Effortlessly cool, this Portland joint (with three Oregon locations and one in Las Vegas, Nevada) began as a food truck – but the great reception convinced chef and owner Rick Gencarelli that it was time to set up shop. Lardo celebrates its self-described 'gonzo approach' with an eclectic menu. There's a pork meatball banh mi with Sriracha mayo and plenty of cilantro, and the Pho’Rench Dip, which comes with shaved steak, hoisin sauce, sambal mayo, and pho broth.
Cheesesteaks are obligatory at all Philly sandwich shops, but this venue takes the humble classic to new heights. 'Farm to takeout' is Stockyard Sandwich Co.'s mantra. Its reimagined cheesesteak features braised beef, homemade 'whiz' cheese, onions, and mushrooms in a pillowy baguette. Other delicious bites include a salmon burger in a potato bun with roasted tomato mayo, and a mouthwatering banh mi.
This venue has been going strong since 1963, so you know you're sure to get a mean sandwich here. The Sandwich Hut is best known for its 'hut-made' meatballs, which you can order served with red sauce and gooey provolone cheese on an oven-toasted roll (add grilled peppers and onions for extra deliciousness). If you fancy a deli-style option, you have the choice of oodles of cured meats, plus smoked mozzarella, house-made sweet pickles, and more.
A stylish spot in dreamy Charleston, Circe's Grotto prides itself on fresh produce and a great relationship with the local community. The venue is family-owned and run, and the menu is filled with nourishing ingredients. Turkey pops up in many of the sandwiches, coupled with avocado and honey mustard, or topped with stuffing, cranberry sauce, and mayo for a year-round Thanksgiving treat. The roast beef sandwich, spread with Boursin cheese, is another must-try.
For creative sandwich choices in Sioux Falls, head straight for Bread & Circus Sandwich Kitchen. Open since 2017, this trendy spot has quickly made a name for itself thanks to amazing meaty, veggie, and vegan options, an atmospheric outdoor seating area, and its fantastic beer selection. The menu includes delights like the Korean-inspired Blugogi Cheesesteak (bulgogi beef, gochujang whiz, peppers, and onions) and the Curried Cauliflower: pitta bread piled high with curry-tossed cauli, red lentil hummus, arugula, radish, and cilantro.
Famous in Nashville for running out of food on its opening day back in 2008, chef David Mitchell's Mitchell Delicatessen has enjoyed continued success ever since. Much of this is due to the deli's popular sandwiches – especially its smoked BBQ beef brisket and Asian flank steak offerings, which earn high praise from customers.
Austin has no shortage of cool lunch spots, and Otherside Deli is no exception. Known for its meaty creations, this hip sandwich joint has a menu filled with favorites, from its Reuben to its Meatball Parm. Don't miss the creative specials. Past offerings have included braised brisket on sourdough with Cheddar and horseradish sauce, and a banh mi with pastrami and chicken liver.
A cozy counter-service shop, The Robin's Nest has become a Salt Lake City staple. Touted as a 'year-round reason to be thankful', The Gobbler will not disappoint: a Thanksgiving dinner in a sandwich, it sees succulent roast turkey breast, melting cheese, avocado, and homemade cranberry jelly tucked into a light ciabatta. The regular specials continue the creativity, with new options every week.
The Stowe Sandwich Company was once known as The Kitchen – but the current name is fitting, since sandwiches are quite literally its bread and butter. Whether you're after something light and nourishing or a snack with extra oomph, you'll find it here. The Italian Grinder sees a generous layer of deli meat packed into a sub with provolone, while the sweet and spicy fried chicken is paired with sweet red chili sauce on a toasted kaiser roll.
Earl's prides itself on its homemade offerings, and customers love them too. This spot has been serving mouthwatering sandwiches in generous proportions since 2005, delighting punters with simple yet delicious creations. Plump for turkey breast with cranberry relish on grilled multigrain bread, or pork loin, chipotle mayo, and French fries all cased in ciabatta. Vegetarians will love the breaded eggplant concoction too.
This Capitol Hill spot has been serving sandwiches from lunch through to dinner since 1999 – and its popularity shows no sign of waning. Take a bite out of Chaka's Favorite: a demi baguette filled with turkey, dill havarti, peppers, and ranch dressing made in-house. Gluten-free bread is available, and there's an ample range of vegan and veggie options brimming with seasonal produce too.
This low-key spot in South Charleston brings a taste of Vietnam to West Virginia with its superb banh mis. Its baguettes, baked in-house, are packed with a choice of fillings (from Vietnamese ham and lemongrass beef to shredded pork and chicken), then topped with fresh vegetables and finished with a tangy garlic-chili sauce. Customers praise the pork meatball banh mi in particular.
Local favorite Stalzy's Deli is the place to go for some home comforts, with an emphasis on Wisconsin produce in generous proportions. The sandwiches are packed full of everything from roast beef to pork schnitzel and even meatloaf, but top choices include the Reuben, the Rachel (pictured), and the Brooklyn Breakfast with pastrami.
Wyoming’s Night Heron Books & Coffeehouse is exactly as its name implies: a bookshop with a great food and coffee offering. Reviews state that the shop serves the best coffee in town, and claim its atmosphere to be ‘second to none.’ Its bakery and sandwich offerings get switched up daily, and can often be found announced on Twitter, but particularly famed is the Bison Reuben sandwich. This is the perfect cozy spot to make yourself at home with coffee, a great sandwich, and your next favorite book.