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Arguably, sandwiches are the most perfect self-contained food, and Los Angeles boasts more than a handful of greats in this genre. Angelenos can’t get enough of bread layered with varied and hearty ingredients, with vast selections like the iconic meaty classic French dip at Philippe the Original, Matū’s deeply rich wagyu cheesesteak, or chicken parm from the Heights Deli & Bottle Shop, which has two locations in Lincoln Heights and Glassell Park. There is no shortage of sandwich excellence in and around the Southland.
Here are 16 outstanding sandwiches to try throughout Los Angeles. New to this update: Torrance convenience and liquor store Caps and Corks, Glendale’s deli and Armenian store, Corner Market, and the Heights Deli & Bottle Shop. When it comes to sandwiches, Altadena native Mona Holmes keeps it real.
The bread, meat, and cheese ratio is always key, but she’ll always maintain a soft spot for LA’s longtime legendary sandwiches. LA street pastrami at Dan’s Super Subs This longtime San Fernando Valley favorite slings sandwiches out of a tight dining room on Ventura Boulevard in Woodland Hills. From the outside, it doesn’t look like much, but the constant flow of regulars tells a different story.
The sandwich to order is the LA Street Pastrami, which comes piping hot and stuffed with pastrami, provolone, bacon, grilled onions, lettuce, tomatoes, chopped pickles, jalapeños, and a spicy homemade sauce. This sandwich is meant to be eaten without substitutions, so if looking to make a major swap, it may be best to look at the other pastrami options on the menu first. A post shared by Wiseaac (@thisiswhyimthicc247) The spicy Italiano at the Corner Market One of LA’s best sandwiches begins with a crusty 10-inch toasted roll.
The staff at Corner Market and deli then layer it with spicy capicola, spicy salami, a healthy slice of provolone cheese, lettuce, pepperoncini, red wine vinegar, and a wonderful cherry pepper aioli. If this isn’t the sandwich for you, visit TikTok or Instagram to see influencers showcase others like the 15-hour smoked brisket pastrami or the chopped cheese on an English muffin. While at this Glendale establishment, enjoy the selections from an impressive Armenian market with coffee, spices, and beans that are ideal for preparation at home.
Best to order the spicy Italiano, pick up a bottle of wine, fresh produce (especially the dates), soda, and sit down to consume the sandwich on the spot. — Mona Holmes, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest Flores at Maciel's Plant-Based Butcher & Deli Maciel’s Plant-Based Butcher & Deli is the vegan sandwich shop LA didn’t know it needed. But now that the city is keen on Bañales-Luna’s incredible creations, there’s no turning back.
While all of the sandwiches stuffed with scratch-made proteins are hearty and flavorful, it’s the jackfruit-filled Flores that never fails to satisfy. Imbued with Mexican chiles, tomatoes, spices, and a touch of maple syrup, the jackfruit’s smoky and spicy profile is not to be missed. Also featured in: The Best Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants in Los Angeles The 17 Best Restaurants in Highland Park Vegan torta milanesa at Delicias Bakery and Some This 32-year-old Highland Park bakery serves a vegan torta milanesa in addition to its line of plant-based pan dulce.
The torta is prepared with pounded-flat vegan “meat,” along with queso fresco, chipotle mayonnaise, avocado, lettuce, cabbage, jalapeños, red onion, and tomato. Order one of the aguas frescas and the tres leches cake to go along with the sandwich. Final note: This family-operated business has been open since 1991, long before the trendy spots swarmed in.
Head there and give Delicias some support. A post shared by Delicias Bakery & Some | Highland Park (@deliciasbakeryandsome) Also featured in: The Best Gluten-Free and Vegan-Friendly Bakeries in Los Angeles The 13 Best Underrated Bakeries in Los Angeles Chopped cheese at Bodega Park Chef Eric Park’s sandwiches pull influences from New York City, Korea, and Southern California in the best way. His chopped cheese is a love letter to the NYC classic with slight LA elements, piling chopped beef patty, American cheese, grilled onions, roasted jalapeños, shredded lettuce, tomato, ketchup, and mayo on a pressed hero roll.
Former New Yorkers, beware: This sandwich might come with an overwhelming sense of nostalgia, but with a twist. Bodega Park’s coffee is on point, especially the misugaru black sesame that’s shaken with oat milk and two shots of espresso. Also featured in: The Best Restaurants in Silver Lake 20 Seriously Decadent Breakfast Sandwiches in Los Angeles Sign up for our newsletter.
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Please enter a valid email and try again. Chicken Parm at The Heights Deli & Bottle Shop Set in the heart of Lincoln Heights (and on the edge of Glassell Park), the Heights Deli & Bottle Shop is a local favorite for excellent sub sandwiches, natural wines by the bottle, and one of the best selections of canned beer in LA. Any sandwich off this menu is sure to be a hit, but the chicken Parm stands out from the pack with its crusty exterior and tender chicken cutlets.
Served hot, the sandwich is filled with breaded chicken cutlets pounded thin and slathered with rich marinara sauce. Melted mozzarella cheese ties it all together, adding a pleasant saltiness to the acidic tomato sauce. It’s a classic chicken Parm in all the best ways, and doesn’t try to be anything that it’s not.
And as a plus, the bread is just the right texture to avoid that mouth-slicing sensation that often comes with too-crusty loaves. On nice days, enjoy the sandwich on Lincoln Heights’ attached outdoor patio. — Rebecca Roland, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest Also featured in: The Best Chicken Wings in Los Angeles French dip at Phil’s Deli & Grill Though the French dip at Philippe the Original may be the most widely known in town, the version from Phil’s Deli & Grill is a contender for the best in town.
The French dip here is served with thinly sliced tender brisket that comes pre-dipped in a salty au jus. A soft French roll holds it all together without getting in the way of the rich meatiness. The sandwich comes with a side of bone broth au jus for extra dipping needs, or sipping pleasure.
Wagyu cheesesteak at Matū Matū introduced the wagyu cheesesteak as a special in 2022 and made it a permanent menu item due to popular demand. The Philly cheesesteak-style number is made with chopped grass-fed wagyu from First Light Farms, melted Cooper sharp cheese, grilled onions, and roasted hot pepper, all on a plush sesame-seeded bun. The sandwich is available in the dining room for dinner when ordered as part of the Lock, Stock, and Barrel dinner for four, or at the bar or during lunch service.
Note: This drippy, messy dish pairs beautifully with a dry martini. Also featured in: The 18 Best Beverly Hills Restaurants 10 French Fries That Are Actually Good in Los Angeles Beef double-dip at Philippe the Original This isn’t the place to debate whether Philippe the Original invented the French dip over a century ago. It’s a pillar of the LA community that makes one feel like time hasn’t passed, complete with sawdust floors, old-timer servers who prepare sandwiches to order, and coffee payable in pennies.
The crowds come for the beef double-dip made with a heavy dose of salty jus, tender slices of roast beef, and a few dabs of the famous spicy mustard to round it out. Others opt for a similar version made with sliced lamb. Philippe’s gets crowded before Dodger games and is a perfect five-minute walk to the stadium shuttle at Union Station.
Also featured in: The Best Restaurants Near Dodger Stadium, According to Eater Editors Los Angeles's 18 Most Iconic Restaurant Dishes No. 19 at Langer's Delicatessen There are many terrific sandwiches to be had at this decades-old deli in Westlake, but the pastrami stands above the pack. The No.
19 is a near-perfect Jewish deli sandwich that features house-baked rye bread, Russian dressing, cheese, coleslaw, and freshly sliced slivers of the most achingly perfect smoked pastrami on earth. Like all good delis, Langer’s serves its pastrami with a crisp pickle spear on the side. Also featured in: 20 Classic Los Angeles Restaurants Every Angeleno Must Try 20 Iconic LA Dishes Still Available For Delivery and Takeout Godmother at Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery Arguably one of the most iconic sandwiches in Los Angeles, the Godmother is comprised of a house-baked roll filled with Boar’s Head deli meats, cheese, mustard, and veggies.
Though there are other excellent sandwiches on the menu, especially the hot variety, this classic Italian sandwich is the most talked about and a must-try for every Angeleno. Actor Matt Damon even confessed his love for the Godmother on the Late Show With Stephen Colbert . It’s available pre-made in the refrigerated section of Bay Cities or made-to-order from the sandwich counter.
Beef stick sandwich at A&J Seafood Shack One of the best dishes at A&J Seafood Shack in Long Beach contains no seafood at all. A menu mainstay since day one, the beef stick sandwich starts with a toasted hoagie roll filled to maximum capacity with fatty and flavorful lemongrass-scented beef, carrot and green papaya slaw, cucumber spears, cilantro, and jalapeños. A rich and spicy sriracha mayo spread, along with a mellow hum of chargrilled smoke, ties the whole package together.
Also featured in: The Best Dishes Eater LA Editors Ate This Year, Mapped The 20 Best Long Beach Restaurants.
