Almost half of all adults in America eat at least one sandwich every day. Most people consider a sandwich to be incorporating some sort of food products in between two slices of bread and the choices of ingredients are limited only by your imagination. Not surprisingly, some of the most popular sandwiches in the U.S. are the classics – peanut butter and jelly, grilled cheese, and bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches. Also at the top of the list are hearty and meat-filled club sandwiches, breakfast sandwiches with eggs, and deli sandwiches that can contain any combinations of meats, cheeses, and toppings.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture categorizes burgers, hot dogs, and breakfast sandwiches (on bagels, biscuits, or croissants) as sandwiches. Some would argue this point, but suffice to say there are endless sandwich possibilities. (If all this sandwich talk is making you hungry for one, see this list of 24 iconic sandwiches you can make at home.)
Some folks eat even more than one sandwich every day, and when you add up how many sandwiches teens and children eat, the numbers soar. Estimates from various sources suggest that on the whole, we eat somewhere between 200 and 300 million sandwiches a day.
Burgers will always be popular, but by at least one measure, non-burger sandwiches are even more popular than burgers. Proving that point, the fast-food Subway chain operates almost 21,000 locations nationwide compared to around 13,500 McDonald’s outlets. Besides Subway, there are also Jimmy John’s, Arby’s, Quizno’s, Jersey Mikes, and more.
But independent sandwich shops throughout the country offer some things the big chains can’t. One of those thing is fresher and higher quality ingredients. They also offer a greater variety of unique specialties that don’t appeal to a mass market. Fast food may be consistent from one Subway to the next, but any local deli’s sandwiches will probably be more distinctive and better-tasting.
To compile a list of some of the best independent sandwich shops, including delis, diners, or cafés that make sandwiches a specialty, 24/7 Tempo referenced reviews and ratings on a variety of culinary and general interest websites, including Thrillist, The Daily Meal, Eater, Delish, Far & Wide, and Yelp, as well as local and regional sites. While a few of the places chosen may have more than one location, none are chains.
Here are the best local sandwich shops by state:
Alabama: The Peppered Pig
This Huntsville shop features a shaved steak sandwich with mushrooms and blue cheese on sourdough bread, as well as a blackened salmon BLT.
Alaska: DW Grill & Catering
In Fairbanks, DW Grill & Catering serves a mean jalapeno cheesesteak and sunshine burger with egg.
Arizona: The Subslingers
Sandwiches at The Subslingers include The Triple (ham, turkey, roast beef), and The Rodeo (Buffalo chicken, bacon, avocado).
Arkansas: Jimmy’s Serious Sandwiches
Jimmy’s Serious Sandwiches in Little Rock features an award-winning Garden sandwich with Swiss, cheddar, provolone, mushrooms, sunflower seeds, and spinach pâté.
California: Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery
This Santa Monica deli offers The Godfather sandwich with prosciutto, cooked ham, capicola, mortadella, Genoa salami, provolone, and other Italian specialties.
Colorado: Curtis Park Delicatessen
This Denver delicatessan makes a fish sandwich with smoked rainbow trout and house-made aïoli. Their Park sandwich with a fried egg and proscuitto is also a winner.
Connecticut: Press On Sandwich Crafters
This North Stonington shop whips up imaginative sandwich combinations like Roast beef, bacon, cheddar, roasted peppers, fresh pesto mayo, fig jam, on grilled rye, named Tim the Enchanter.
Delaware: Ioannoni’s Specialty Sandwiches
This New Castle sandwich shop serves Italian speciality sandwiches like roast beef and coleslaw with Russian dressing.
Florida: D’Best Sandwich Shop
A Boca Raton favorite, D’best Sandwich Shop, features a Lincoln Tunnel cheese steak sandwich with onions, peppers, mushrooms, and provolone.
Georgia: The Best Sandwich Shop
Hawaii: Poi Dog Deli
Idaho: Lemon Tree Co.
At The Lemon Tree Co., sandwich choices include salami and artichoke, and sausage with pear.
Illinois: Fontano’s Subs and Pizzeria
A Chicago favorite, Fontano’s Wise Guy sandwich comes loaded with Prosciuttini, Capocolo, Genoa Salami, and Provolone.
Indiana: Subito
Subito in Indianapolis creates tasty sandwiches like the Poeta, with fresh turkey, Tillamook cheddar, roasted garlic and sun-dried tomato aïoli.
Iowa: Hansen’s Manhattan Deli
This Des Moines deli is known for their Bambino sub with capicola, hard salami, pepperoni, provolone cheese, Italian salsa, mayo and oil dressing on a hoagie bun.
Kansas: Kimlan Sandwiches
One of the best sandwiches at this Wichita shop is the combination bánh mì with pork roll, BBQ pork, meatball, pickled carrots, and jalapeños.
Kentucky: Wallace Station
This Versailles restaurant does a brilliant take on a Kentucky classic dish with their Inside Out Hot Brown made with roast turkey, ham, bacon, tomato, and white cheddar mornay.
Louisiana: La Boulangerie
Maine: The Local Press
Portland’s The Local Press combines prosciutto, ham, fig jam, Amish blue cheese, and provolone on their Goodlife panini sandwich.
Maryland: Vagabond Sandwich Co.
The Vagabond Sandwich Co. in Bel Air features a delicious crab cheddar grilled cheese sandwich, along with a great veggie melt.
Massachusetts: Mamaleh’s
Mamaleh’s has great breakfast sandwiches and a wicked good mushroom Reuben.
Michigan: Zingerman’s Delicatessen
This classic Ann Arbor deli makes just about any sandwich you could ask for. Their Bob & Roz’s Fiesta combines grilled chicken breast withWisconsin muenster, fire-roasted chiles, and adds house-made roasted red pepper spread.
Minnesota: Manny’s Tortas
Manny’s Tortas in Minneapolis has a lot to choose from, but you simply can’t go wrong with The 3 Little Pigs sandwich that has pork loin, ham, bacon, cheese, avocado, jalapeños, refried beans, and chipotle mayo.
Mississippi: T&D’s Sandwich Shop
Canton is home to this sandwich shop that serves tasty chicken bánh mì and pork roll sandwiches.
Missouri: Bay Boy Specialty Sandwiches
One stand out sandwich at this Kansas City shop is called The Wiz. The combination of bacon, bananas, Nutella, peanut butter on this sandwich is a taste treat.
Montana: Montana Sub Shop
Whether you like your subs cold or hot, this Great Falls shop has you covered. Their Big Sky Sub with pastrami and Swiss cheese is a fan favorite.
Nebraska: McAlister’s Deli
Nevada: Woods Family Sandwiches
Henderson’s Woods Family Sandwiches’ menu features a pastrami sandwich that gets rave reviews.
New Hampshire: Sub Station
The sandwich choices at Sub Station in Hooksett feature a seafood salad sub and an Italian sausage sub.
New Jersey: Second Street Bakery
The fresh bakery bread makes all the difference at this Jersey City bakery. You can’t beat their sausage rolls and meatball parm sandwiches.
New Mexico: Mucho
New York: Defontes
This Brooklyn deli is the real deal. Their famous Nicky Special is a colossal hero sandwich featuring capocollo, salami, ham, fried eggplant, provolone, marinated mushrooms, lettuce, tomato, and their signature “hot salad.”
North Carolina: Merritt’s Store & Grill
In Chapel Hill, Merritt’s is famous for their triple BLT, but they also make an amazing vegetarian sandwich with fresh lettuce, tomato, cucumbers, onion, guacamole and balsamic mayo.
North Dakota: Magic City Hoagies
Ohio: Herb’n Twine
One of the most popular menu items at this Cleveland sandwich shop is the shaved prime rib sandwich that comes with cheddar, fire roasted peppers, arugula, balsamic glazed onion, and horsey sauce.
Oklahoma: Neptune Submarine Sandwiches
At Neptune’s in Oklahoma City, they serve the subs on freshly baked bread and they have perfected the Old Italian sub with Genoa salami, ham, Italian cheese, topped with spiced Italian dressing.
Oregon: Mike’s Original Sub Factory
The Wrecker comes with ham, cotto salami, bologna, pastrami, pepperoni, and provolone. It’s a favorite at this Portland sub shop.
Pennsylvania: Triangle Bar & Grill
Pittsburgh”s Triangle Bar and Grill features the Battleship made with ham, salami, and provolone, served on a 24-inch roll.
Rhode Island: Ocean State Sandwich Co.
This quaint shop in Providence makes a delicious Apple Tree Chicken Salad sandwich with diced Apple, fresh dill, dried cranberries, and celery, topped with lettuce & tomato.
South Carolina: Alvin Ord’s of Bluffton
At Alvin Ord’s of Bluffton, the freshly baked bread is what makes all the sandwiches great. Their roast beef and turkey with three toasted cheeses is one of the best.
South Dakota: Bread & Circus Sandwich Kitchen
When in Sioux Falls, a stop at this fun restaurant is a must for their outstanding Vietnamese fried chicken sandwich.
Tennessee: Rae’s Gourmet Sandwich Shoppe
At Rae’s in Nashville one of the most popular items on the menu is the Beastie Girl Sandwich featuring roast beef with smoked mushroom sauce, cheddar cheese, lettuce, and tomato.
Texas: Otherside Deli
Austin’s Otherside Deli makes all the classics and stuffs them with loads of meats and cheese. The Pastrami with mustard is a gem.
Utah: Feldman’s Deli
This Salt Lake City deli’s take on the Turkey Reuben is a winner, piled high with turkey, sauerkraut, and swiss, served on Jewish rye.
Vermont: The Sandwich Shoppe
The Sandwich Shoppe in Rutland makes The Big Robin with grilled chicken salad, cheddar, and bacon.
Virginia: Sam’s Texas Sub Shop
One of the exceptional sandwiches at this Norfolk sub shop is the Four Horsemen with slow-roasted brisket, cheddar, and hot pepper relish.
Washington: My’s Vietnamese Sandwiches & Deli
This Seattle restaurant specializes in Vietnamese sandwiches like the BBQ lemongrass tofu bánh mì.
West Virginia: Yen’s Sandwiches
Yen’s in South Charleston gets rave reviews for their bánh mì with red pork and ham.
Wisconsin: CC Sandwiches
CC’s Sandwiches in Cambridge is home to the famous Kaboom! that features grilled chicken, spicy BBQ sauce, jalapeños, topped with pineapple coleslaw on ciabatta.
Wyoming: Saratoga Sandwich Company
This Saratoga sandwich shop offers deli sandwiches as well as breakfast sandwiches. One specialty is their popular French onion grilled cheese.