12 Ohio Sandwich Joints Locals Claim Outshine The Big Chains
As a self-proclaimed sandwich enthusiast, I’ve spent years exploring Ohio’s culinary scene in search of the perfect bite.
While chain restaurants may be convenient, they often lack the character and flavor of local eateries.
That’s why I’m excited to share my findings with you: 12 incredible sandwich shops that showcase the best of Ohio’s food scene.
From my hometown favorites to hidden gems I’ve discovered on the road, these spots are sure to satisfy your cravings and leave you wondering why you ever settled for a chain sandwich.
1. Slyman’s Restaurant — Cleveland
Located at 3106 St Clair Avenue NE in Cleveland, Slyman’s has been piling corned beef sky-high since 1963.
Walk into this place on any given weekday and you will see a line stretching toward the door, filled with construction workers, business folks, and tourists who heard the legend.
The corned beef here weighs in at nearly a pound per sandwich, hand-sliced and steaming fresh.
Forget those wimpy chain sandwiches with their three measly slices of mystery meat.
Slyman’s gives you a mountain of tender, peppery perfection that requires both hands and serious jaw commitment.
Regulars swear by the classic preparation on rye with just a smear of mustard, letting the quality meat speak for itself.
The no-frills diner atmosphere adds to the charm, with worn booths and veteran servers who have seen it all.
Cash is king here, so hit the ATM before you go.
One sandwich easily feeds two normal humans or one very determined Clevelander.
2. Katzinger’s Delicatessen — Columbus
Operating since 1984 in German Village at 475 South Third Street, with a second location in Dublin, Katzinger’s brings authentic New York deli culture to the heart of Ohio.
The moment you step inside, the aroma of smoked meats and fresh-baked bread transports you straight to Manhattan.
Their pastrami gets cured and smoked in-house following old-school recipes that have earned them countless local awards.
Year after year, Columbus residents vote this place the best deli in town, and for good reason.
The Reuben here is a thing of beauty, with layers of corned beef, tangy kraut, melted Swiss, and Russian dressing grilled to golden perfection.
Beyond sandwiches, the deli case overflows with imported cheeses, pickles, and salads that make you want to clear out your fridge and start fresh.
The staff actually knows their products and can guide you through the overwhelming options with genuine enthusiasm.
Grab a ticket, browse the shelves, and prepare for sandwich excellence.
3. Jack’s Deli & Restaurant — Cleveland
Situated at 14490 Cedar Road in University Heights, Jack’s has been a Cleveland-area institution since 1948.
This family-run operation still makes their own corned beef, pastrami, and roast beef right in the back, following recipes passed down through generations.
My cousin dragged me here on a visit last year, insisting I try the hot pastrami, and I have not stopped thinking about it since.
The meat was so tender it practically melted, with a peppery crust that added just the right kick.
Unlike corporate chains that ship in pre-sliced mystery meat, Jack’s controls every step from brining to slicing.
The neighborhood vibe feels like stepping into your favorite uncle’s kitchen, where everyone knows your name and your usual order.
Regulars pack the place during lunch, creating a pleasant buzz of conversation and clinking plates.
The matzo ball soup deserves its own fan club, dense and flavorful in rich golden broth.
Skip the drive-through window and experience real deli tradition.
4. Buck City Sammies — Columbus
Found inside the East Market food hall at 34 S 4th Street in downtown Columbus, Buck City Sammies represents the new wave of sandwich artistry.
Chef-driven and unapologetically creative, this spot takes familiar deli concepts and launches them into delicious new territory.
The menu changes with the seasons, featuring locally sourced ingredients and flavor combinations that somehow work perfectly despite sounding wild on paper.
One week you might find a roasted pork sandwich with apple mostarda and sharp cheddar, the next a turkey creation with cranberry relish and brie.
Despite the modern approach, the fundamentals remain rock solid with quality bread, generous portions, and proper technique.
The small operation means each sandwich gets individual attention rather than assembly-line treatment.
Lines form quickly during peak lunch hours, but the wait moves fast and gives you time to study the chalkboard menu.
Locals have embraced this place wholeheartedly, making it a downtown lunch staple.
The East Market setting adds to the experience with multiple food vendors creating a lively atmosphere.
5. Frenchi’s Deli — Columbus
Operating at 5745 Cleveland Avenue in Columbus, Frenchi’s keeps things refreshingly simple with a focus on doing classic deli right.
The counter setup feels like walking into a time capsule where the priorities remain unchanged: quality meat, fresh bread, fair prices.
Their corned beef develops a cult following among those who appreciate traditional preparation without fancy twists or trendy additions.
Sliced to order and piled generously, the meat showcases the perfect balance of salt, spice, and tender texture.
Pastrami fans find equal satisfaction here, with the smoky, peppery edges providing that essential flavor punch.
The no-nonsense approach extends to the service, where friendly staff take your order, make your sandwich, and send you on your way happy.
Prices remain reasonable compared to the highway robbery you encounter at chain sandwich shops charging premium rates for mediocre results.
Regulars appreciate the consistency, knowing they will get the same great sandwich every single visit.
Sometimes the best approach is keeping things classic and executing flawlessly.
6. Wario’s Beef & Pork — Columbus
With locations in the Arena District at 411 Neil Avenue and Clintonville at 3000 High Street, Wario’s brings authentic East Coast sandwich culture to central Ohio.
The cheesesteaks here rival anything you would find on the streets of Philadelphia, with thinly sliced ribeye grilled to perfection and topped with your choice of cheese.
Owners who grew up eating the real deal in Pennsylvania refuse to compromise on technique or ingredients.
Beyond cheesesteaks, the roast beef sandwiches pack serious flavor with tender meat and creative topping combinations.
Lines stretch out the door during Columbus Blue Jackets game days, with fans fueling up before heading to the arena.
The portions justify the prices, leaving you stuffed and satisfied rather than still hungry like after a typical chain sub.
Fresh-cut fries make the perfect sidekick, crispy outside and fluffy inside.
The casual atmosphere welcomes everyone from college students to business professionals grabbing a quick lunch.
Once you taste a proper cheesesteak, those frozen chain versions become completely unacceptable.
7. Daylily Deli — Cincinnati
Nestled in the Columbia-Tusculum neighborhood at 3201 Linwood Avenue, Daylily Deli brings serious culinary credentials to the sandwich game.
Chef-owner Tom Molnar trained in New York City and returned to Cincinnati with a mission to elevate deli food beyond the ordinary.
The menu reads like a greatest hits of creative sandwich making, with options like smoked brisket, house-cured pastrami, and rotating seasonal specials.
Everything gets made from scratch, from the bread to the pickles to the various spreads and sauces.
I stumbled upon this place while visiting family in Cincinnati and immediately texted everyone I know about the duck pastrami sandwich.
The attention to detail shows in every bite, with balanced flavors and textures that demonstrate real kitchen skill.
Small batch production means some items sell out, so arriving early increases your options.
The cozy space fills quickly with neighborhood regulars who treat this place like their personal lunch club.
Prices reflect the quality ingredients and labor-intensive preparation, but value seekers still leave satisfied.
8. J & W Sandwich Shoppe — Norwood
Located at 4611 Montgomery Road in Norwood just outside Cincinnati, J & W has been feeding locals since 1952.
The unassuming exterior gives no hint of the massive sandwiches waiting inside, but regulars know what treasures lie beyond that door.
Portions here defy logic, with sandwiches so stuffed that eating them requires strategic planning and possibly a nap afterward.
The menu covers all the classics without pretension or gimmicks, just honest ingredients assembled with generous hands.
Decades of neighborhood love have kept this place thriving while flashier competitors came and went.
The atmosphere feels like visiting your grandmother’s kitchen, comfortable and welcoming with zero attitude.
Prices remain stuck somewhere in the previous decade, making your wallet as happy as your stomach.
Three generations of the same family have run this operation, maintaining consistency and quality throughout.
Locals guard this place like a secret, though the steady crowd suggests the secret is out.
Sometimes simple done right beats complicated done poorly every single time.
9. New England Grinders — West Chester
Operating in West Chester at 9461 Cincinnati-Columbus Road near Cincinnati, New England Grinders brings authentic Northeast sandwich tradition to southwestern Ohio.
The grinders here follow classic New England style with soft rolls, quality cold cuts, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, and oil.
Owners transplanted from Connecticut refuse to compromise on the proper way to build these regional specialties.
The Italian grinder stacks multiple meats and cheeses in perfect proportion, creating a flavor symphony rather than a jumbled mess.
Loyal followers drive from across the region, proving that good sandwiches build communities beyond immediate neighborhoods.
The casual counter service keeps things moving efficiently during the lunch rush when office workers flood in.
Fresh ingredients get prepped daily, ensuring crisp vegetables and properly stored meats rather than sad wilted lettuce and questionable deli slices.
The menu offers enough variety to keep regulars interested while maintaining focus on core strengths.
Once you experience a proper grinder, those chain subs taste like cardboard by comparison.
10. Original Sub Shop & Deli — Toledo
Serving Toledo since 1972 at 1058 S Reynolds Road, Original Sub Shop & Deli has earned its place in local sandwich history.
The made-to-order approach means your sandwich gets built exactly how you want it, with fresh ingredients sliced and assembled while you watch.
Toledo residents grow up eating these subs, creating childhood memories tied to specific sandwich orders and family traditions.
The bread comes from local bakeries daily, providing the proper foundation that chain restaurants ignore in favor of cheap shipped-in rolls.
Generous portions ensure you get your money’s worth without the corporate shrinkflation plaguing national chains.
The family-owned operation maintains personal connections with regular customers, remembering orders and asking about kids and grandkids.
During my college years in Toledo, this place saved me from cafeteria food more times than I can count.
The simple menu focuses on doing subs right rather than trying to be everything to everyone.
Consistency over decades builds the kind of trust that keeps customers returning for life.
Support local businesses that actually care about their community and their sandwiches.
11. Diamond Deli — Akron
Situated at 792 West Market Street in Akron, Diamond Deli has achieved legendary status among locals who appreciate seriously stacked sandwiches.
The deli case displays an impressive array of meats, cheeses, and salads that make decision-making both exciting and overwhelming.
Sandwiches here arrive at your table piled so high that structural integrity becomes a genuine concern.
The corned beef and pastrami earn particular praise, with proper texture and seasoning that demonstrate real deli expertise.
Akron natives defend this place fiercely against any suggestion that chain delis could possibly compete.
The neighborhood location means regular customers create a steady rhythm of familiar faces and friendly conversation.
Prices reflect the generous portions and quality ingredients, offering actual value rather than corporate markups on mediocre products.
The casual atmosphere welcomes everyone from blue-collar workers to university professors seeking lunch excellence.
Takeout orders require sturdy bags because these sandwiches weigh more than your average chain offering.
Local legends get built one satisfied customer at a time over many years.
12. All The Best Delicatessen — Dayton
Located at 6106 Far Hills Avenue in Dayton, All The Best Delicatessen brings authentic New York deli tradition to southwestern Ohio.
The relatively newer operation has quickly gained local acclaim by refusing to cut corners on quality or technique.
Pastrami gets cured and smoked following traditional methods that take days rather than the rushed industrial processes chains employ.
The corned beef rivals anything found in established deli cities, with proper spicing and that essential tender texture.
Dayton residents hungry for real deli food finally have a local option that delivers without requiring a road trip to Columbus or Cleveland.
The menu covers classic deli offerings without trying to reinvent traditions that work perfectly as designed.
Fresh-baked bread from local bakeries provides the proper vehicle for the premium fillings.
The owners clearly love deli culture and work to educate customers about what makes these sandwiches special.
Early success suggests Dayton was hungry for this kind of authentic operation.
Sometimes the best new places are those that honor old traditions with respect and skill.