10 Under-The-Radar Minnesota Sandwiches Worth The Journey
Minnesota might be best known for its hotdish, snowy winters, and endless lakes, but the true gems often hide between two slices of bread.
Over the years, I’ve crisscrossed the state in search of its most underrated sandwich spots—from smoky little joints in Duluth to cozy butcher shops that moonlight as lunchtime havens.
These aren’t fast-food finds or corporate creations; they’re handcrafted works of art built with care, local ingredients, and a dash of Midwestern pride. Each sandwich tells a story, each bite a reward for those willing to venture off the beaten path. Trust me—every one is worth the drive.
1. Northern Waters Smokehaus — The Cajun Finn
Smoked salmon on a sandwich might sound fancy, but this Duluth creation proves it can also be downright addictive. The Cajun Finn stacks house-smoked fish with tangy scallion cream cheese, roasted red peppers, and just enough pepperoncini to wake up your taste buds without starting a fire.
Northern Waters Smokehaus sits in Duluth’s Canal Park at 394 Lake Ave S, Suite LL1, where they’ve been perfecting their smoking game for years. The cult following isn’t just hype—one bite explains why people plan entire road trips around this sandwich.
Check their posted hours before you go, because this place gets busy with both tourists and locals who know what’s up. The fish is silky, the cream cheese is herby, and the whole thing comes together like a Lake Superior sunset.
2. St. Paul Cheese Shop — Turkey Club or Tuna Bánh Mì
Grand Avenue holds a tiny counter shop that punches way above its weight class. St. Paul Cheese Shop doesn’t just slap meat on bread—they source every ingredient like they’re building edible art, and the Turkey Club shows off that dedication with layers of real roasted turkey and crisp bacon.
But here’s the plot twist: their Tuna Bánh Mì takes Vietnamese flavors and runs them through a cheese shop lens, creating something totally original. You’ll find them at 1573 Grand Ave, where the menu changes with what’s fresh and what’s inspired the crew that week.
Hours are live on their site, and trust me, you want to catch them when they’re open. The creativity here makes every visit feel like discovering something new, even if you order the same thing twice.
3. Nelson Cheese & Deli — Town of Nelson or Hero
Old school never goes out of style, especially when it’s done this right. Nelson Cheese & Deli has been stacking subs at 1562 Como Ave since before food Instagram existed, and their Town of Nelson proves that sometimes tradition beats trends every single time.
The Hero lives up to its name with enough meat and cheese to fuel an afternoon of actual heroic deeds. Everything here feels like your neighborhood deli should—friendly faces, generous portions, and zero pretension about what makes a great sandwich.
Their specialty sandwich list reads like a greatest hits album, and the posted hours make planning easy. This is the kind of place where regulars have their usual order, but newcomers are welcomed like family who just haven’t visited in a while.
4. Kramarczuk’s Eastern European Deli — Kielbasa or Polish Sausage Hoagie
Northeast Minneapolis wouldn’t be the same without the smell of grilled sausage wafting from Kramarczuk’s at 215 E Hennepin Ave. This landmark has been serving up Eastern European comfort since 1954, and their Kielbasa hoagie is proof that some traditions deserve to last forever.
The Polish Sausage option brings that same house-made quality with a snap that tells you everything was made with care. Kramarczuk’s isn’t trying to reinvent anything—they perfected their recipes decades ago and stuck with what works.
Hours and operations are confirmed and current, so swing by when hunger strikes. The deli counter also sells their sausages to take home, which means you can recreate the magic or just admit that it tastes better when someone else does the grilling.
5. Lu’s Sandwiches — Bánh Mì #1
Speed and freshness collide beautifully at Lu’s Sandwiches, where Bánh Mì #1 has become an Eat Street institution. Located at 2624 Nicollet Ave S with multiple locations around the city, this spot proves that fast food can also mean real food made right in front of you.
The baguette arrives crusty on the outside and pillowy inside, stuffed with pickled carrots, daikon, cilantro, jalapeños, and your choice of protein. Everything tastes bright and balanced, like sunshine in sandwich form, and the price won’t drain your wallet either.
Hours stay consistent and the service moves quick, perfect for lunch breaks or dinner on the run. Lu’s has mastered the art of doing one thing exceptionally well, then doing it over and over without losing an ounce of quality.
6. Clancey’s Meats & Fish — Roast Beef or Daily Special
Butcher shops that serve sandwiches hit different because they control the whole story from cut to plate. Clancey’s at 3804 Grand Ave S takes that advantage seriously, turning out roast beef sandwiches that remind you what actual quality tastes like when it’s not mass-produced.
The Daily Special keeps things interesting for repeat visitors, showcasing whatever the butchers are excited about that week. Maybe it’s pastrami, maybe it’s turkey—either way, you’re getting meat that was probably broken down in the back room that morning.
Current address and hours make planning easy, and the counter service keeps things casual despite the upscale ingredients. Watching your sandwich get built while surrounded by pristine cuts of meat somehow makes everything taste even better, like you’re in on the secret.
7. Uncle Franky’s — Chicago-Style Italian Beef
Chicago might have invented Italian beef, but Uncle Franky’s brings it to Northeast Minneapolis with all the authenticity and none of the attitude. This tiny spot at 728 Broadway St NE earned its reputation one messy, delicious sandwich at a time, and locals treat it like sacred ground.
The beef gets sliced thin, piled high, and dunked in au jus until it’s gloriously sloppy in the best possible way. Giardiniera adds the right amount of heat, and the whole thing requires either a fork or a complete lack of shame about how you look while eating.
Site and hours are live, which is good because you’ll want to plan around their schedule. Dogs are also excellent here, but the Italian beef is the real reason people make the pilgrimage.
8. St. Paul Meat Shop — Ham Situation Mk III or Turkey Club
Whole-animal butchery means nothing goes to waste and everything gets used creatively. St. Paul Meat Shop at 1674 Grand Ave practices this philosophy, then channels it into a short but knockout sandwich board that changes based on what they’re breaking down that week.
The Ham Situation Mk III sounds like a software update but eats like poetry—house-cured ham layered with whatever brilliant additions the team dreamed up. Their Turkey Club takes the classic formula and elevates it with meat you won’t find in any grocery store, roasted in-house and sliced to order.
Posted hours stay active, and the shop itself feels like a throwback to when butchers knew their customers by name. Every sandwich here carries the confidence of people who know their craft inside and out, literally.
9. Nelson Bros. (Clearwater Travel Plaza) — Build-Your-Own Gourmet Sandwich
Road trips usually mean gas station sadness, but Clearwater Travel Plaza flips that script entirely. Nelson Bros. operates a Food Court at 950 State Hwy 24 where you can build your own gourmet sandwich using actual bakery breads and ingredients that belong in a proper deli, not a highway pit stop.
The made-to-order system means you control every layer, from the bread type to the final topping. Fresh vegetables, quality meats, and real cheese turn what could be a forgettable travel meal into something worth remembering and repeating.
Restaurant operations are confirmed and running, so add this to your route next time you’re heading north. It’s proof that good food can exist anywhere if someone cares enough to make it happen, even at a travel plaza.
10. Lakeview Drive Inn — Pork Tenderloin or Toaster Sandwiches
River towns know how to do classic American food right, and Lakeview Drive Inn in Winona carries that torch proudly. At 610 E Sarnia St, this seasonal spot serves a big sandwich board that includes a pork tenderloin that could cover two plates and toaster sandwiches that bring back childhood summers.
The pork tenderloin gets pounded thin, breaded thick, and fried golden—it’s the kind of sandwich that requires strategic bites to get bread and meat in the same mouthful. Toaster sandwiches lean into nostalgia with buttery grilled bread and melted cheese that stretches just right.
Active website, social media, and third-party ordering make finding them easy despite seasonal hours. This is the drive-in experience done authentically, where the food tastes like memory and the view comes free with every order.