Beyond Subway: 8 New York Sandwich Spots That Always Satisfy & 8 That Totally Steal The Show
New York City’s sandwich scene goes way beyond the chain restaurants you’ll find on every corner.
As a lifelong New Yorker, I’ve spent years hunting down the perfect bite between two slices of bread.
From old-school delis slicing pastrami so thin you can see through it to modern spots crafting sandwiches that belong in food magazines, the city offers incredible options for sandwich lovers everywhere.
1. Katz’s Delicatessen: Where Pastrami Dreams Come True
The line stretching down Houston Street tells you everything you need to know about Katz’s. I still remember my first bite of their pastrami – stacked impossibly high between two slices of rye, with mustard applied just right. The meat literally melts in your mouth!
Founded in 1888, this Lower East Side institution has survived world wars, depressions, and countless food trends. Their sandwich-making process hasn’t changed much in over a century – and thank goodness for that.
While tourists flock here for the ‘When Harry Met Sally’ experience, locals know to visit during off-hours and always save room for a half-sour pickle on the side. The prices might make you wince, but that first juicy bite makes you forget all about your wallet.
2. Court Street Grocers: Sandwich Artistry In Carroll Gardens
Tucked away in Brooklyn’s Carroll Gardens neighborhood, Court Street Grocers elevates the humble sandwich to an art form. My personal favorite, The Reuben, combines house-made corned beef with tangy sauerkraut and Russian dressing on grilled rye that somehow stays crisp without getting soggy.
What sets this place apart isn’t just quality ingredients – it’s their obsessive attention to texture and balance. Nothing here feels random or thrown together. Each component plays its part perfectly, creating sandwich harmony.
The tiny space fills up quickly during lunch hours, with neighborhood regulars mixing with food pilgrims who’ve traveled across boroughs. Don’t miss their house-made sodas, which provide the perfect counterpoint to their salty, savory creations.
3. Defonte’s Sandwich Shop: Red Hook’s Blue-Collar Legend
Defonte’s has been slinging massive Italian sandwiches since 1922, and frankly, not much has changed – including some of the staff! First time I walked in, I ordered their famous Nicky Special without realizing it could feed a small family. Fried eggplant, salami, provolone, ham, and their magical hot salad piled higher than seems physically possible.
This Red Hook institution embodies old Brooklyn, from the no-nonsense counter service to the photos of neighborhood kids who grew up to become cops and firefighters. The sandwiches arrive wrapped in butcher paper, heavy enough to use as dumbbells.
Construction workers line up alongside suited office folks, all united by the promise of a sandwich that requires both hands and several napkins. Cash only, no fancy coffee drinks – just sandwich perfection that hasn’t changed in generations.
4. Ba Xuyên: Bánh Mì Brilliance In Sunset Park
Hidden among Sunset Park’s vibrant Vietnamese community, Ba Xuyên creates bánh mì sandwiches that transport me straight to Saigon with every bite. My first visit happened by accident – I got lost looking for the subway and stumbled in, hungry and frustrated. That classic pork bánh mì completely turned my day around!
Crusty French bread cradles a perfect balance of savory meats, bright pickled vegetables, and fresh herbs. The special pâté they spread adds a richness that distinguishes their sandwiches from others around the city.
For less than the price of a fancy coffee, you’ll get a sandwich bursting with flavors that somehow complement rather than compete with each other. The tiny shop doesn’t offer much seating, but these sandwiches travel well – perfect for enjoying in nearby Sunset Park with Manhattan skyline views.
5. Brancaccio’s Food Shop: Windsor Terrace’s Hidden Place
Blink and you might miss Brancaccio’s, a tiny food shop nestled on a quiet Windsor Terrace street. Their rotating sandwich menu reads like a chef’s personal playground – which makes sense considering owner Joe Brancaccio’s fine dining background. The porchetta sandwich I had last week featured slow-roasted pork with crackling skin, bitter greens, and a house-made aioli that haunts my dreams.
Unlike places with thirty sandwich options, Brancaccio’s offers just a few daily specials, each executed with precision. The bread comes from nearby bakeries, selected specifically to complement each filling.
Local families stock up on their prepared foods, while sandwich enthusiasts make special trips for creations you won’t find elsewhere. The tiny space offers zero seating, but Prospect Park sits just blocks away – nature’s perfect dining room for these culinary masterpieces.
6. Anthony’s Paninoteca: Staten Island’s Italian Sandwich Haven
Worth the ferry ride alone, Anthony’s Paninoteca brings a taste of Italy to Staten Island. My cousin dragged me here last summer, promising “the best Italian sandwich outside of Naples,” and honestly? He wasn’t exaggerating. Their signature Italiano combines imported prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers, and basil on bread that’s simultaneously crusty and chewy.
The family-run spot feels like stepping into someone’s home kitchen in Southern Italy. Mama might literally come out from the back to ask if you’re enjoying your sandwich – and you definitely will be.
Unlike the rushed atmosphere of Manhattan delis, Anthony’s encourages lingering. Regulars chat across tables while sipping espresso and debating Yankees versus Mets. The sandwiches aren’t massive but perfectly proportioned, allowing you to appreciate each carefully selected ingredient without unhinging your jaw.
7. S&P Lunch: Midtown’s Revived Classic Sandwich Counter
When the beloved Eisenberg’s closed after 91 years, collective sandwich mourning swept through Manhattan. Thankfully, Court Street Grocers’ team rescued this historic lunch counter, reopening as S&P while preserving its old-school charm. My grandmother used to bring me here for tuna melts in the 90s, and I nearly cried when I bit into that same sandwich last month – perfectly toasted rye, the right amount of mayo, and cheese melted just so.
The narrow space with its worn counter and spinning stools feels like a time capsule from mid-century New York. Businesspeople and construction workers sit shoulder-to-shoulder, united by excellent sandwiches.
While they’ve gently updated some recipes, classics remain untouched. The egg salad, pastrami, and famous “New York on Rye” (pastrami and corned beef together) taste exactly as they should – simple, unfussy, and deeply satisfying.
8. Pastrami Queen: Upper East Side’s Deli Royalty
Pastrami Queen earned its crown the hard way – by consistently serving one of the city’s best pastrami sandwiches without the tourist lines of more famous spots. First time I visited, an elderly gentleman at the next table leaned over and whispered, “I’ve been coming here since 1956, and I’ve never had a bad sandwich.” After my first bite, I understood his lifetime commitment.
Their hand-carved pastrami achieves that magical balance between lean and fatty, with a peppery crust that provides the perfect seasoning. The rye bread holds together despite the sandwich’s juiciness – a feat of engineering that deserves recognition.
Unlike some delis that rest on reputation, Pastrami Queen maintains quality and portion size year after year. The small storefront on Lexington Avenue doesn’t look impressive from outside, but inside awaits sandwich nirvana that locals have treasured for generations.
9. Salt Hank’s: Innovative Sandwiches From A Brooklyn Pop-Up
From humble beginnings as a pandemic pop-up to cult sandwich status, Salt Hank’s represents Brooklyn’s new wave of sandwich artisans. I discovered them through Instagram during lockdown and drove 40 minutes for curbside pickup of their smoked turkey sandwich with bacon jam – a journey that proved 100% worthwhile.
Founder Hank Weiser approaches sandwiches with a chef’s mindset, smoking meats in-house and fermenting vegetables to create layers of flavor that evolve with each bite. His rotating menu keeps fans checking social media to track his latest creations.
Currently operating out of various Brooklyn locations while working toward a permanent space, Salt Hank’s exemplifies how passion and technique can elevate sandwiches beyond fast food. The handcrafted quality justifies both the price and the occasional wait. Follow them online to catch their next pop-up – your taste buds will thank you.
10. Casa Cugine: Carroll Gardens’ Italian-American Masterpiece
Brothers Dave and Peter Cugine transformed their grandfather’s old-school Italian recipes into Casa Cugine, a sandwich shop that feels both nostalgic and thoroughly modern. Their chicken parm hero – my personal kryptonite – features chicken that remains impossibly crisp under a blanket of homemade marinara and the perfect amount of melted cheese.
The brothers greet regulars by name while Frank Sinatra plays softly in the background. Photos of family gatherings and old Brooklyn scenes line the walls, creating an atmosphere that honors their heritage without feeling like a theme restaurant.
Beyond the chicken parm, their Italian combo showcases imported meats and house-pickled vegetables on bread delivered fresh each morning. While the sandwiches aren’t cheap, the portions are generous enough that half can easily satisfy most appetites – though you’ll likely find yourself finishing every last crumb.
11. Brennan & Carr: Sheepshead Bay’s Beef-Dipped Tradition
Some sandwiches transcend trends, and Brennan & Carr’s roast beef has been doing exactly that since 1938. My grandfather first brought me to this Sheepshead Bay institution when I was ten, ordering us both the signature “hot beef” – thinly sliced roast beef on a kaiser roll, completely submerged in rich, savory broth before serving.
The standalone cottage with its weathered shingles and neon sign looks like it was plucked from another era. Inside, bow-tied servers have been delivering these gloriously messy sandwiches for decades, some working there their entire adult lives.
Nothing about the experience is fancy – you’ll need multiple napkins and possibly a change of clothes if you’re clumsy. But that first bite, with beef that practically dissolves and bread that soaks up the flavorful jus while somehow maintaining integrity, explains why this place has survived while flashier restaurants have come and gone.
12. Mama Louisa’s Hero Shoppe: Queens’ Italian Sandwich Legend
Mama Louisa’s feels frozen in time – in the absolute best way possible. This Bayside, Queens institution has been stuffing heroes to impossible proportions since the 1970s, when current owner Mike’s mother (the actual Louisa) first opened its doors. My father-in-law introduced me to their Italian Special – a monster combining five different Italian meats, provolone, and the works – claiming it would change my sandwich standards forever.
He wasn’t wrong. Each hero comes wrapped in white butcher paper that immediately develops oil spots from the generous ingredients inside. The bread strikes that perfect balance between crusty exterior and soft interior that defines great Italian sandwiches.
The tiny shop barely fits five customers at once, but nobody minds the tight quarters or occasional wait. Neighborhood kids who grew up on these sandwiches now bring their own children, creating a multigenerational sandwich tradition that continues to thrive in an era of fast-casual chains.
13. Sarge’s Delicatessen: Murray Hill’s 24/7 Sandwich Savior
Three in the morning with a desperate craving for pastrami? Sarge’s has been there for New Yorkers since 1964. My first late-night visit happened after a concert ten years ago – I was starving, slightly tipsy, and their Monster sandwich (corned beef, pastrami, roast beef, turkey, salami, and Swiss on rye) seemed like the obvious solution to all life’s problems.
Founded by a former police sergeant (hence the name), this Murray Hill deli survived a devastating fire in 2012 to reopen better than ever. Their round-the-clock operation makes them a beacon for night shift workers, insomniacs, and anyone needing Jewish comfort food at odd hours.
While their pastrami doesn’t quite reach Katz’s heights, it’s still excellent – especially at 4am when options are limited. The vintage police memorabilia decorating the walls reminds you of the deli’s origins while you devour sandwiches that could feed a small precinct.
14. Yonah Schimmel’s Knish Bakery: Lower East Side’s Square Sandwich Alternative
Is a knish technically a sandwich? After heated debate with friends, we’ve decided that Yonah Schimmel’s potato knishes – which they’ve been making since 1910 – qualify as “filling enclosed by carbs” and therefore deserve inclusion on any serious New York food list. My grandmother would bring me here as a child, teaching me to appreciate these dense, savory potato squares as part of our cultural heritage.
The tiny storefront on Houston Street looks virtually unchanged from a century ago. Behind the counter, workers still hand-roll dough and fill it with seasoned potato mixtures before baking to golden perfection.
Beyond classic potato, they offer variations with kasha, spinach, and sweet cheese that satisfy different cravings. While modern food trends come and go, Yonah Schimmel’s continues making knishes exactly as they did generations ago – a taste of old New York that connects today’s diners with the immigrants who established these food traditions.
15. Alidoro: SoHo’s Italian Sandwich Institution
Walking into Alidoro feels like discovering a secret portal to Italy hidden in SoHo. Their strict “no substitutions” policy initially struck me as pretentious until I tasted the Pinocchio – prosciutto, sopressata, mozzarella, sweet roasted peppers, and olive paste on a perfectly crusty semolina loaf. The combination was so perfectly balanced that I immediately understood why they don’t let customers mess with their recipes.
The tiny original shop barely fits a handful of customers, with sandwiches prepared meticulously behind a small counter. Each creation bears an Italian name rather than a description, adding to the authentic European feel.
While they’ve expanded to additional locations, sandwich purists insist the Sullivan Street original provides the definitive experience. The sandwiches aren’t enormous but offer such intensity of flavor that each bite feels completely satisfying – the epitome of quality over quantity.
16. Mekelburg’s: Williamsburg’s Gourmet Grocery Sandwich Heaven
Mekelburg’s brilliantly combines a craft beer bar, specialty grocery, and sandwich counter into one of Brooklyn’s most satisfying food experiences. Their salt-baked potato with crème fraîche and caviar gets all the Instagram love, but sandwich enthusiasts know their Wagyu roast beef with black garlic aioli represents the pinnacle of modern sandwich craftsmanship.
The industrial-chic space invites lingering, with communal tables where strangers often become friends over shared food recommendations. Owners Alicia and Daniel Mekelburg source ingredients obsessively, resulting in sandwiches that showcase both technical skill and exceptional products.
Beyond the roast beef, their porchetta with broccoli rabe and provolone delivers perfect textural contrast between crispy pork and chewy bread. While certainly pricier than old-school delis, each sandwich justifies its cost through thoughtful composition and premium ingredients that transform lunch into a genuine culinary experience.