The Chef Amazing Charts · November 2026
The Sandwich 100
The 100 best sandwiches in the world, from pastrami on rye in New York to a bánh mì in Hoi An and a schiacciata in Florence: the one to order at each shop, the line to expect, and Chef's recipe to make that style at home.
The top ten
1
Katz's Delicatessen
Get: Pastrami on rye, hand-cut, with mustard and a plate of half-sour and full-sour pickles
Line: A line out the door most weekends, but it moves. Take a ticket at the door and don't lose it. Beat it: weekday mid-afternoon, or late at night on Friday and Saturday.
2
All'Antico Vinaio (Via dei Neri)
Get: La Favolosa: schiacciata with sbriciolona salami, pecorino cream, artichoke cream and spicy eggplant
Line: Expect 20 to 40 minutes on Via dei Neri at lunch; the line runs along both sides of the street. Beat it: before 11am or after 4pm.
3A photo like it
Bánh Mì Phượng
Get: The mixed bánh mì (thịt nguội): pork, pâté, ham, egg and herbs, with chili sauce
Line: A queue on the pavement most of the day, but they assemble fast, so it's rarely more than 15 minutes.
4A photo like it
Le Petit Vendôme
Get: The jambon-beurre: half a baguette, Paris ham off the bone and thick Normandy butter, made to order
Line: Office workers queue at the counter from noon to 1:30pm. Beat it: go at 11:30am or after 2pm.
5
Langer's Delicatessen
Get: The #19: hot pastrami, Swiss cheese and coleslaw with Russian dressing on twice-baked rye
Line: A short wait at lunch; it closes in the afternoon and is closed Sundays. Use the MacArthur Park Metro station across the street.
6
Schwartz's
Get: Smoked meat on rye, medium-fat, with mustard, a pickle and a cherry soda
Line: A line down the Main at dinner and on weekends; they seat you wherever there's a gap. Beat it: mid-afternoon on a weekday, or get it to take out next door.
7A photo like it
John's Roast Pork
Get: Roast pork with sharp provolone and sautéed spinach, dipped in the pork juices
Line: A line at the window at lunch, and it closes in the late afternoon. Beat it: go at 10am, or on a weekday after 2pm.
8
Parkway Bakery & Tavern
Get: The fried shrimp po'boy, dressed (lettuce, tomato, pickles, mayo), and the roast beef with debris gravy if you're sharing
Line: A line in the yard at weekend lunch and before Saints games. Beat it: weekday mid-afternoon; it's closed Tuesdays.
9A photo like it
Er Buchetto
Get: A porchetta panino on a ciriola roll, with a glass of wine from the tap
Line: A few people at the counter at lunch; the room seats almost no one. Closed Sundays.
10A photo like it
Bánh Mì Huỳnh Hoa
Get: The house bánh mì: layers of cold cuts, pâté, pork floss and pickles in a loaf so full it barely closes
Line: A queue of motorbikes and walkers from opening; they serve fast. Beat it: mid-afternoon.
11 to 25
11A photo like it
Al's #1 Italian Beef (Taylor Street)
Get: An Italian beef, dipped, with hot giardiniera (and sweet peppers if you like)
13
Mustafa's Gemüse Kebap
Get: The chicken Gemüse Kebap: chicken, grilled vegetables, potatoes, feta and a squeeze of lemon
14A photo like it
Sabich Frishman
Get: Sabich: fried eggplant, hard-boiled egg, hummus, tahini, chopped salad and amba in a pita
15
Central Grocery
Get: A half muffuletta: Genoa salami, ham, mortadella, provolone and Swiss under the olive salad, on a round sesame loaf
16A photo like it
Schønnemann
Get: Pickled herring three ways with a shot of aquavit, then the hot fried plaice with remoulade
17
Fan Ji La Zhi Rou Jia Mo
Get: Rou jia mo: pork braised for hours in a spiced master stock, chopped and stuffed into a crisp baiji flatbread
18A photo like it
Dalessandro's Steaks
Get: A cheesesteak with fried onions and American cheese (or Whiz), and hot cherry peppers from the jar
20
Philippe The Original
Get: A lamb French dip, double-dipped, with the house hot mustard and a dill pickle
21
Antico Forno Roscioli
Get: Pizza bianca, warm from the oven, split and filled with mortadella
22
Da Nerbone
Get: Panino con lampredotto, bagnato: the bun dipped in the broth, with salsa verde and spicy oil
23A photo like it
Café Santiago
Get: The francesinha with an egg on top and fries to soak up the beer and tomato sauce
24
L'As du Fallafel
Get: The falafel special: falafel, fried eggplant, cabbage, hummus and tahini, with harissa
25A photo like it
Mr. Beef on Orleans
Get: An Italian beef, dipped, with hot giardiniera, or the combo with an Italian sausage
26 to 50
26
Red's Eats
Get: The lobster roll: the meat of more than a whole lobster on a buttered, toasted roll, with butter or mayo on the side
27A photo like it
Hajji's (Blue Sky Deli)
Get: The chopped cheese: ground beef and onions chopped on the griddle with American cheese, on a hero with lettuce and tomato
28
O Trevo
Get: The bifana: thin pork in a garlic and wine marinade, on a soft papo-seco roll with mustard, and a small beer
29A photo like it
Bar La Campana
Get: The bocadillo de calamares: fried squid rings on a crusty roll, with a beer
30
Australia Dairy Company
Get: The scrambled egg sandwich on soft white toast, with macaroni soup and milk tea
31A photo like it
Lan Jia Gua Bao
Get: Gua bao, half fat and half lean (zonghe), with pickled mustard greens, peanut powder and cilantro
32A photo like it
Tonkatsu Maisen Aoyama
Get: The hire katsu sando (pork fillet cutlet sandwich) to take away, crusts off
33A photo like it
Reem Cafeteria
Get: A chicken shawarma (or two; they're small), with garlic sauce and pickles
34A photo like it
Sanguich de Miami
Get: The Cubano: roast pork, ham, Swiss, pickles and mustard on pressed Cuban bread, with a batido
35A photo like it
Bay Cities Italian Deli
Get: The Godmother: Genoa salami, mortadella, capicola, ham, prosciutto and provolone, "with the works" and hot peppers
36A photo like it
Caffè Mulassano
Get: A tramezzino with tuna and capers, then one with a seasonal filling, at the marble bar with a vermouth
37A photo like it
Friggitoria Chiluzzo
Get: Pane e panelle with crocchè: chickpea fritters and potato croquettes in a sesame roll, with lemon
38A photo like it
Mordi e Vai
Get: Allesso di scottona: braised beef brisket in its broth, with chicory, on a roll
39A photo like it
Defonte's Sandwich Shop
Get: The Nicky Special: roast beef, fried eggplant and mozzarella, or the hot roast pork hero
40
Salumeria Simoni
Get: A panino with mortadella di Bologna, sliced thin, maybe with squacquerone cheese
41A photo like it
Bar do Mané
Get: The mortadella sandwich: about 300 grams of hot mortadella and melted provolone in a French roll
42
El Chinito
Get: Pan con chicharrón with sweet potato and salsa criolla, for breakfast
43A photo like it
Bar Arocena
Get: The chivito: steak, ham, mozzarella, egg, bacon and peppers, stacked, with fries
44A photo like it
Golden Dish
Get: A steak or masala steak Gatsby: a footlong roll stuffed with chips, meat and sauces, cut to share
45A photo like it
Molinari Delicatessen
Get: The Renzo or the Joe's Special: salami, mortadella, prosciutto and provolone on a Dutch crunch roll
48A photo like it
DiNic's Roast Pork
Get: Roast pork with sharp provolone and broccoli rabe, juice on the side
49A photo like it
Zingerman's Delicatessen
Get: The #2, Zingerman's Reuben: corned beef, Swiss, sauerkraut and Russian dressing on grilled rye
50A photo like it
Howlin' Ray's
Get: The Nashville hot chicken sandwich, at the heat you can take (medium is plenty)
51 to 100
52A photo like it
Brücke 10
Get: A Bismarck herring roll, or the Backfisch (fried fish) roll, with onions and remoulade
53A photo like it
Stubbe's Haring
Get: Broodje haring: raw herring on a soft roll with chopped onions and pickles
54A photo like it
Tarihi Eminönü Balık Ekmek
Get: Balık ekmek: grilled mackerel on bread with onions and lettuce, and a glass of pickle juice from the cart
55A photo like it
Trześniewski
Get: Six little open sandwiches (Brötchen): egg and onion, herring, speck, with a Pfiff (an eighth-liter) of beer
56
Café de Flore
Get: The croque-monsieur: ham and cheese on toasted pain de mie, at a terrace table
57A photo like it
Chez Alain Miam Miam
Get: The galette or sandwich of the day, loaded with cheese and grilled on the plancha
58A photo like it
Kappacasein
Get: The cheese toastie: Montgomery cheddar, Ogleshield and Comté with onions and leeks on sourdough, pressed till it leaks
59A photo like it
Can Conesa
Get: A toasted bocadillo of sobrassada and cheese, or the house frankfurt, with the spicy potatoes
60
Dishoom Covent Garden
Get: The bacon naan roll: smoked streaky bacon, cream cheese, chili tomato jam and herbs in a fresh naan, with a chai
61A photo like it
BAO Soho
Get: The classic bao: braised pork, peanut powder, pickled greens and cilantro in a soft steamed bun
62
Kissa Madrague
Get: The Corona egg sandwich: a thick, soft omelet in toasted bread with mustard and mayo
65A photo like it
Marrickville Pork Roll
Get: The pork roll: roast pork, pâté, pickles, chili and herbs on a crackling roll
66
Ya Kun Kaya Toast (Far East Square)
Get: Kaya toast set: thin toast with kaya and butter, two soft-boiled eggs and kopi
67A photo like it
HaKosem
Get: Falafel in pita with tahini, salads and a fried eggplant slice; they'll hand you a hot falafel while you wait
70A photo like it
Conga – Casa das Bifanas
Get: The bifana in its spicy sauce, with a glass of green wine
71A photo like it
La Lucha Sanguchería
Get: The chicharrón sandwich with sweet potato and salsa criolla, and a chicha morada
72A photo like it
Chori
Get: The Chori Clásico: house-made pork sausage, tomato, arugula and mayo on a soft cheese-crusted roll, with chimichurri
74A photo like it
La Esquina del Chilaquil
Get: The torta de chilaquiles with green salsa and a milanesa
75A photo like it
Cervantes
Get: The roast pork sandwich with pineapple (pernil com abacaxi) and a chope
77A photo like it
J.P. Graziano Grocery
Get: The Mr. G: prosciutto, sopressata, hot capicola, genoa salami, provolone and truffle mustard
78A photo like it
Angelo's Pizzeria
Get: The cheesesteak on Angelo's own seeded roll, with fried onions and American
79
Pat's King of Steaks
Get: A "wit Whiz": cheesesteak with Cheez Whiz and fried onions
80
Cochon Butcher
Get: The muffuletta, made with the house's own cured meats, served warm
81
Domilise's Po-Boy & Bar
Get: The fried shrimp po'boy, dressed, with a Barq's in a bottle
85A photo like it
Sal, Kris & Charlie's Deli
Get: The Bomb: every cold cut in the case, cheese and peppers, on a hero
86A photo like it
Faicco's Italian Specialties
Get: The Italian Special hero, or the chicken cutlet with fresh mozzarella
91A photo like it
Paseo
Get: The Caribbean Roast: slow-roasted pork, caramelized onions, aioli and jalapeño on a toasted baguette
92A photo like it
Aamanns Deli
Get: Two or three smørrebrød: the potato, the herring and the roast beef, to eat in or take to the park
94A photo like it
Hattie B's Hot Chicken (Midtown)
Get: The hot chicken sandwich, medium or hot, with pimento mac and cheese
95A photo like it
I Fratellini
Get: A little panino with finocchiona (or truffle cream and pecorino), and a glass of Chianti on the wall shelf
97A photo like it
Schwabl's
Get: Beef on weck: rare roast beef, hand-carved, on a kummelweck roll with horseradish
98A photo like it
Wilensky's Light Lunch
Get: The Wilensky Special: grilled beef salami and bologna on a pressed roll with mustard, and a cherry cola from the fountain
99A photo like it
Turkey and the Wolf
Get: The collard green melt: collards, Swiss, coleslaw, pickled cherry peppers and Russian dressing on griddled rye
100
Fu Hang Dou Jiang
Get: The thick shaobing with egg (houbing jiadan), a flaky flatbread with an omelet inside, and a bowl of warm soy milk
How Chef picks
Sandwiches you'd cross a city for, ranked by how good the one sandwich is, the bread it's on, how consistent the shop is, and whether people still line up for it. One to order at each, so you never stare at a menu board, plus the line to expect and how to beat it. No burgers: a sandwich here is something in or on bread. Every shop was checked open in November 2026. A new chart every month: shops move up, come on and fall off.
More to eat
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place's page; "a photo like it" is the same kind of sandwich, not from that shop. Chef Amazing is not paid by any place on this chart.
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