16 Oregon Sandwich Shops That Give The State’s Marionberry Pie A Run For Its Money
Oregon isn’t just about breathtaking landscapes; it’s home to sandwich shops where flavors compete with the state’s famous Marionberry pie.
I visited places where fresh bread, inventive fillings, and local ingredients come together in unexpected ways that make every bite memorable.
Locals swear by these sandwiches, and after tasting them, it’s easy to see why. Each shop has its own charm, turning a simple meal into a culinary experience worth savoring.
1. Lardo
Pork fat rules everything around this place, and the name says it all without apology. Lardo built its reputation on sandwiches that make vegetables exciting and meat downright transcendent.
The Korean pork shoulder with kimchi slaw hits different when you realize someone actually cared about every single layer. Their dirty fries with pork scraps become a religious experience.
Chef Rick Gencarelli knows that great sandwiches need balance, acidity, and enough richness to make you momentarily forget your name.
2. Meat Cheese Bread
Sometimes the best restaurant names are the most honest ones. This spot strips away pretense and focuses on the holy trinity that makes sandwiches work.
Owners Micah Camden and Alex Yoder source ingredients like they are building edible architecture. Each component matters, from the house-cured meats to the bread baked fresh daily.
Their rotating specials keep regulars coming back, never knowing what genius combination might appear next. Simple done exceptionally well beats complicated done poorly every single time.
3. Elephants Delicatessen
Walking into Elephants feels like discovering a European market that somehow landed in the Pacific Northwest. The deli cases gleam with possibilities, and the sandwich counter buzzes with lunch rush energy.
Their Reuben stacks corned beef high enough to require structural engineering, while the turkey avocado keeps things fresh and California-inspired.
People throw around the word institution too easily, but this place earned it. Since 1979, they have been feeding Portland workers, families, and anyone smart enough to stop by.
4. Otto’s Sausage Kitchen
Germans know sausage, and Otto’s has been proving it since 1929. This family-run shop grinds, seasons, and stuffs everything in-house with recipes passed down through generations.
Grab a bratwurst sandwich with all the fixings, and suddenly you understand why people drive across town for lunch here.
The snap of the casing, the perfect spice blend, the way the mustard cuts through the richness.
Everything works together like a well-rehearsed symphony. Old-school butcher shops like this are disappearing, which makes Otto’s even more precious.
5. Güero
Mexican sandwiches deserve way more attention than they get, and Güero is here to fix that problem. Their tortas pack layers of flavor that make you question why anyone settles for boring lunch options.
The telera bread gets toasted just right, creating a crispy exterior that gives way to pillowy softness inside.
Carnitas, refried beans, avocado, pickled jalapeños, and crema all compete for attention in the best possible way. Chef Javier Hurtado brings authentic Mexican flavors without dumbing anything down for timid palates.
6. Best Baguette
France called, and they want to thank Portland for actually understanding what a proper baguette should taste like.
This Vietnamese-French bakery creates sandwiches that honor both culinary traditions with equal respect.
Their banh mi features pickled vegetables so perfectly balanced they could teach a chemistry class. The bread shatters under your teeth before melting into airy crumb.
Owner Huong Tran bakes everything fresh multiple times daily because stale bread is basically a crime against humanity. The line out the door tells you everything you need to know.
7. New York City Sub Shop
Salem harbors a secret that transplanted East Coasters discovered years ago. This shop nails the New York deli vibe without the attitude or the outrageous prices.
Their Italian sub layers Genoa salami, capicola, mortadella, and provolone with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and vinaigrette.
The roll holds everything together without falling apart halfway through, which is honestly an underrated skill.
Sometimes you just need a straightforward, no-nonsense sandwich that delivers exactly what it promises. This place gets it done every single time.
8. Laurelhurst Market
Butcher shops that also serve lunch are dangerous for your wallet and your waistline.
Laurelhurst Market combines a butcher counter, restaurant, and sandwich program that takes full advantage of their meat expertise.
The steak sandwich features beef they butchered that morning, cooked to perfect medium-rare, and topped with horseradish cream.
Quality ingredients need minimal fussing, and these folks understand that principle deeply.
Chef Ben Dyer and his team treat sandwiches with the same respect as their dinner menu, which means you are getting steakhouse quality at lunch prices.
9. Blue Scorcher Bakery & Cafe
Coastal Oregon needed a worker-owned cooperative bakery, even if nobody realized it until Blue Scorcher opened. Their sandwiches lean vegetarian-friendly while still satisfying dedicated carnivores who wander in.
Everything gets made from scratch, including the bread that forms the foundation of each creation. The tempeh Reuben converts skeptics who thought tempeh was punishment food.
Located in Astoria, this spot feeds fishermen, tourists, and locals who appreciate food made with intention and community values. Progressive politics taste surprisingly delicious between two slices of sourdough.
10. Grand Central Bakery
Before Portland became a bread city, Grand Central was already baking loaves that made people reconsider what good bread actually meant. Their sandwich program benefits from decades of perfecting every variety of bread.
The roasted turkey sandwich sounds basic until you bite into bread with actual flavor and texture. They roast their own turkey, bake their own bread, and make their own spreads.
Vertical integration might sound boring, but it means quality control at every step. Multiple locations across Portland mean you are never too far from a solid lunch.
11. Petite Provence
French cafes in America usually disappoint, but Petite Provence actually transports you to a Parisian corner bistro.
Their sandwiches embrace French simplicity, letting quality ingredients shine without unnecessary complications.
The jambon beurre proves that butter, ham, and good bread can create magic when treated with respect. Their croque monsieur arrives bubbling with béchamel and Gruyère, basically a hug in sandwich form.
The owners drew on time spent in France and brought back recipes that honor tradition while adapting to Oregon ingredients and sensibilities.
12. Snappy’s Sandwiches
Eugene marches to its own beat, and Snappy’s fits right into that quirky college town energy. Their menu reads like someone gave a creative writing student free rein in a deli, and somehow it all works beautifully.
Sandwiches have names like The Notorious P.I.G. and The Funky Chicken, which should be annoying but actually makes ordering more fun.
Behind the playful names hide seriously good combinations that balance flavors like seasoned professionals.
Students and professors alike pack this place during lunch, united by their appreciation for sandwiches that refuse to be boring.
13. Sammich
Bend needed a sandwich shop that matched its outdoor adventure energy, and Sammich delivered exactly that. Their menu leans into comfort food elevated just enough to feel special without getting pretentious.
The fried chicken sammich features buttermilk-brined chicken that stays juicy under a perfectly crispy coating. Pickles, slaw, and spicy mayo complete the picture.
After hiking Smith Rock or mountain biking Phil’s Trail, this place hits different. The casual vibe welcomes dusty hikers and downtown shoppers equally, which perfectly captures Bend’s inclusive outdoor culture.
14. Big Town Hero
Portland’s local submarine sandwich chain proves that regional chains can outperform national ones when they actually care about quality.
Big Town Hero started in the Pacific Northwest and spread across the metro area, including Vancouver, Washington, through word of mouth.
Their sandwiches arrive loaded with meat, cheese, and vegetables on rolls baked specifically for their shops. The Big Town Special combines turkey, ham, salami, and all the fixings into one glorious mess.
Sometimes you want fancy artisan creations, and sometimes you just need a giant sub that requires two hands and several napkins.
15. Taste Tickler
Neighborhood sandwich spots are disappearing across America, making places like Taste Tickler increasingly important for maintaining everyday deli traditions.
Their sandwiches get piled high with generously portioned deli meats, cheeses, and vegetables, built to order in a way that keeps regulars coming back decade after decade.
The Reuben here is not playing around with thin meat slices and sad sauerkraut.
Thick-cut corned beef, Swiss cheese, Russian dressing, and properly fermented kraut get grilled until the cheese melts into golden perfection. The owners keep old-school deli culture alive in Portland, one sandwich at a time.
16. Lottie & Zula’s
Breakfast and lunch spots that nail both meals are rare treasures. Lottie & Zula’s creates sandwiches that feel like someone’s cool aunt made them, full of love and just the right amount of indulgence.
Their fried egg sandwich with bacon, cheddar, and aioli on a biscuit makes mornings worth waking up for. Lunch brings rotating specials that change with the seasons and whatever inspiration strikes the kitchen.
The cozy interior and friendly staff create the kind of neighborhood spot that makes you want to become a regular immediately.