Whether you like to go gourmet or stick to the classic PB&J, sandwiches are the best option when you need a quick meal.
So, where in the U.S. can you find a standout sammich?
To mark National Sandwich Day on Nov. 3, Lawn Love ranked 2023’s Best Cities for Sandwich Lovers.
We looked for cities with plenty of high-quality sandwich shops and award-winning sandwiches. We also measured residents’ cravings through Google searches for sandwich-related terms.
Bite into our rankings and in-depth analysis below.
In this article
City rankings
See how each city fared in our ranking:
The upshot
Deli meat on the move
Big and busy cities are full of beloved spots to grab a speedy sandwich.
A diverse population leads to a diverse dining experience. Whether you’re craving bagels, Reubens, bahn mis, or tortas, you can find them in New York. NYC takes first place overall, with the highest sandwich Quality and Interest out of all the cities in our ranking.
Quick eats are also popular in professional hubs like Washington (No. 3) and San Francisco (No. 5). Sandwich artists are abundant in the Golden City, which has the most sandwich shops per square mile. Washington has the second highest Access.
With ample choices, these three cities give busy big shots mouthwatering variety when their stomachs start rumbling.
Local tips:
- New York: Sandwiches are for breakfast, too, so grab a bagel with lox from Russ & Daughters. Or have a “When Harry Met Sally” moment with a pastrami on rye from the oldest deli in NYC, Katz’s Delicatessen.
- Washington: Enjoy comforting homestyle hoagies from Bub and Pop’s. Residents also love fresh, locally sourced sandwiches from SUNdeVICH. Vegans can appease their appetites at Bubbie’s Plant Burgers, which boasts vegan takes on Reubens and patty melts.
- San Francisco: Hungry San Franciscans should head to Limoncello, which has a menu boasting more than 20 sandwiches. Hot Johnnie’s is another local fave featuring signature smoked pastrami.
Sandwich sovereigns
Some cities have a lasting lunchtime legacy from being home to some of America’s most iconic sandwiches.
The Big Easy, for one, loves big, easy meals. Two quintessential sandwiches got their start in New Orleans (No. 2) — the muffaletta and the po’boy. Tourists and locals alike adore these sandwiches, bringing Crescent (Roll) City’s Quality to second place.
Panera Bread traces its roots to St. Louis (No. 4), but that’s not the only reason it’s a top city for sandwich lovers. St. Louis still serves up Quality (No. 5) lunches, including its signature St. Paul sandwich and fried brain sandwich.
You can’t beat a true Philly cheesesteak from Philadelphia (No. 7). Philly is also known for its Italian hoagies and roast pork sandwiches. Three delicious bucket-list bites bring high Quality (No. 3) to the City of (Bread)erly Love.
Local tips:
- New Orleans: Despite sustaining damage from Hurricane Ida, Central Grocery & Deli continues to serve up their original muffuletta. Grab a cochon de lait po’boy from Walker’s Southern Style BBQ or shrimp po’boy from Louisiana Pride Seafood.
- St. Louis: Visit Mai Lee, where you can pick one of five varieties of the St. Paul sandwich. Schottzie’s Bar and Grill still cooks up the signature brain sandwich, and locals love Gioia’s Deli for hot salami subs.
- Philadelphia: Grab a cheesesteak from the inventor, Pat’s King of Steaks, and from its neighborly rival, Geno’s Steaks, for a blind taste test to determine which is best. You can also find quality roast pork from Tommy DiNic’s and John’s Roast Pork. If you’re in the mood for an Italian hoagie, go to the popular and highly rated Cosmi’s Deli.
Holding out for a hero
Texans need sandwiches — stat! Lone Star cities lack sandwich stops, with only two out of 26 Texas cities ranking above average in Access.
Sure, there are plenty of places to grab quality BBQ and tortas, but that still doesn’t match the hunger of these sprawling cities. Texas Triangle cities are especially hungry for grab-and-go grub. Houston (No. 37), Dallas (No. 38), and San Antonio (No. 45) have high Interest, placing just below New York in the number of Google searches for nearby sandwich shops in the past year.
Sub shops in Dallas and San Antonio land in the better half of our Quality ranking. Mesquite lands at the bottom overall, just above our worst-ranking city, Paterson, New Jersey.
Despite low Access, there are still some places to stack up a sub. Which Wich Superior Sandwiches was founded in Dallas, and Austin (No. 60) is home to the original Schlotzky’s.
Local tips:
- Houston: Help yourself to a hearty torta from Las Tortas Perronas. Locally loved Thien An Sandwiches specializes in bahn mis, with 12 signature sandwiches from which to choose.
- Dallas: The Great American Hero has been gracing Dallas with superb subs since 1974. Uncle Uber’s Sammich Shop serves up a varied menu, including shaved ribeye, bacon and goat cheese, and blackened fish sandwiches.
- San Antonio: You can find great cheesesteaks at the highly acclaimed Gino’s Deli. Chomp down on wraps, hoagies, and more at W.D. Deli, or try the city’s top tortas — specifically tortas ahogadas — at El Chivito and Ro-Ho Pork & Bread.
Expert take
Sandwiches are a national staple, and they’re being innovated every day. We turned to a panel of experts to learn more about the nation’s favorite lunch food. Read below to find out what they had to say.
- What is one underrated regional sandwich?
- What is one difference between American sandwiches and sandwiches made abroad?
- What is one unconventional ingredient or condiment you’d recommend to those who want to amp up their sandwich game?
- In your opinion, is a hot dog a sandwich? Why or why not?
Ask The Experts
What is one underrated regional sandwich?
The Muffuletta Sandwich from New Orleans: Stacks of assorted meats and cheeses drenched with pickled Italian veggies (giardiniera) and olives stuffed in between sesame bread and then allowed to sit overnight to absorb all the amazing flavors.
What is one difference between American sandwiches and sandwiches made abroad?
Sandwiches in America are constantly changing and adapting to the flavors that reflect the culture of regions. In America, though, our sandwiches are significantly larger with more filling and meat.
What is one unconventional ingredient or condiment you’d recommend to those who want to amp up their sandwich game?
Honey is a game changer in a sandwich. Just a small squirt spread over the bread, or better yet, mix it with your mayo or mustard before spreading. Vegans, try maple syrup.
In your opinion, is a hot dog a sandwich? Why or why not?
A hot dog is a sandwich with a name. If history is correct, the sandwich was created by John Montagu. Montagu wanted something he could eat with his hands while he worked, and the hotdog checks all the boxes, something to eat with your hands and quick enough to eat while working.
What is one underrated regional sandwich?
There are two. Obviously, the most heralded sandwich of my region –– Philly –– is the cheesesteak. But there is an underrated variant of it: the West Philly Ethiopian Cheesesteak. The other underrated Philly sandwich is the Roast Pork Sandwich with broccoli rabe and sharp provolone.
What is one difference between American sandwiches and sandwiches made abroad?
Always more meat in the US, more cheese, more sauce, and more condiments.
What is one unconventional ingredient or condiment you’d recommend to those who want to amp up their sandwich game?
Harisa.
In your opinion, is a hot dog a sandwich? Why or why not?
Yes, it is a sandwich. It is meat between bread and portable. That is a sandwich.
What is one underrated regional sandwich?
Where I live, in Northeast Ohio, I would say corned beef on rye bread with swiss cheese is perhaps underrated because it is a relatively common type of sandwich, but it’s the quality and preparation based on generational knowledge that makes this an underrated regional sandwich. The bread is often from scratch, as is the corned beef.
What is one difference between American sandwiches and sandwiches made abroad?
Type of bread primarily: loaf-sliced vs. stone-oven flatbread, for example, as well as the type of meat and/or vegetables added. The seasonings vary, of course, as well. Think American vs. Indian vs Vietnamese.
What is one unconventional ingredient or condiment you’d recommend to those who want to amp up their sandwich game?
Increasingly, even chain sandwich shops have more options in this regard, but in my opinion, it would be pickled or fermented, east-Asian variety vegetables, known as Pao Cai (泡菜) in China.
In your opinion, is a hot dog a sandwich? Why or why not?
Yes –– and based on the USDA and Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, a hot dog meets the definition of a “sandwich,” which is, meat or other food “sandwiched” in between two pieces of bread or wrapped in a split baked product.
Behind the ranking
For each of the 200 biggest U.S. cities, we gathered publicly available data on the factors listed in the table below.
We then grouped those factors into three categories: Access, Quality, and Interest.
Next, we calculated weighted scores for each city in each category.
Finally, we averaged the scores for each city across all categories.
The city that earned the highest average score was ranked “Best” (No. 1), while the city with the lowest was ranked “Worst” (No. 200). (Note: The “Worst” among individual factors may not be 200 due to ties among cities.)
Sources
Food Network, Food & Wine, Google, Mashed, Restaurant Hospitality, Travel Magazine, TripAdvisor, World Food Championships, and Yelp
Final thoughts: Best thing before sliced bread
Sandwiches predate sliced bread by more than a century, and they’re still the best.
We’ve all had a standout sandwich. For you, it might be a classic Philly sandwich, a gourmet grilled cheese, or what your parents always threw in your lunch box when you were a kid.
They’re easy to stack up at home, but it’s still fun to try national favorites. Take a trip to these iconic sandwich destinations:
Buffalo, New York
In addition to buffalo wings, this city serves up iconic beef on weck sandwiches (carved roast beef on a kimmelweck roll).
Since 1837, Schwabl’s has been a favorite spot loved by locals and Anthony Bourdain. They serve comfort food, sandwiches, and old-fashioned cocktails.
Chicago
If you enjoyed Hulu’s “The Bear,” you have to try a Chicago-style Italian beef sandwich. Al’s Beef has been serving up sandwiches since 1938, or you can head to Mr. Beef on Orleans, where the series was filmed.
Los Angeles
The beloved French dip was purportedly invented in 1917 at Philippe The Original (though Cole’s also stakes a claim to the sandwich’s origins). If you’re craving hot pastrami, head over to Langer’s Deli.
Louisville, Kentucky
The Brown Hotel is a culinary landmark for introducing hot browns to the world. This glamorous open-faced sandwich with turkey, bacon, and Mornay sauce became popular in the 1920s. Head to The Cheddar Box Cafe for some world-famous chicken salad.
Nashville, Tennessee
Music City specializes in sweet country music and spicy Nashville hot chicken. The city’s signature sandwich was created and popularized by Prince’s Hot Chicken. Locals also love Hattie B’s Hot Chicken and Red’s 615 Kitchen.
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Main photo credit: iStock