The 50 States of Sandwiches

Earlier than we go any additional, please perceive, this isn’t one other best-of listing. Sure, what follows is a number of 50 sandwiches, one for every state, however sandwiches are simply too private, too certain up in devotion and emotion, in regional pleasure and cortex reminiscence, for us to inform you that our favourite in New York (Bartlett Home‘s ham and cheese baguette) or Hawaii (Leoda’s patty soften), for instance, is healthier than yours. We wouldn’t try this to you. As an alternative, consider this challenge as a reference information to an unimaginable sandwich in every state, one value going out of your means for.

To fill out this roster, we relied on our personal expertise consuming throughout the nation and pulled in some native consultants: cooks, resort managers and authors. Mainly, we’re speaking people who know meals and know the place the most effective sandwich of their respective states is likely to be hiding. This mixed mind belief turned out wise selections (a baller Italian cutlet in Philly; an Alabama BLT the place the ‘T’s are fried and inexperienced) in addition to curveballs. We’ve acquired a tuna soften within the desert, Aussie barbecue down on the Jersey Shore and multiple meatless Reuben. So scroll down to soak up this wonderful nation of sandwiches, a complete new which means of amber waves of grain. (If you happen to’re on the lookout for an indulgence of a specific variety, a jaunt on considered one of America’s meals trails might be so as.)

Rama Jama’s, Tuscaloosa
Named for the Crimson Tide’s stadium-rattling cheer, this scrappy luncheonette within the shadow of Bryant-Denny does all of your regular sandwich fare, however the sleeper is the southern twist on the BLT. Tangy inexperienced tomatoes in shatteringly crunchy shells elevate this traditional to championship standing.

Pucker Wilson’s, Juneau
“Pucker Wilson’s is a super-cool meals truck the place chef and proprietor Chad Edwards makes extremely scrumptious sandwiches,” says Midgi Moore, founding father of Juneau Meals Excursions. “His specials — just like the Pucker’s Clucker, fried hen with all of the extras — are legendary. It’s juicy, it’s messy and it’s scrumptious.”

Geography is only a mind-set at Chula’s, the seafood market-cafe with three places within the landlocked Phoenix metro. Chula’s fishing boats in San Diego deliver impeccable species ashore, together with luscious albacore tuna, spiced with Hatch chiles, greened with chimichurri, melted down with Oaxaca cheese and sandwiched between toasted Noble Bakery bread.

Hill Station, Little Rock
The sandwiches at Hill Station have a secret weapon: brother enterprise Hillcrest Artisan Market (AKA HAM), a deli and butcher store that sources and slices the mortadella, soppressata and Parisian white ham (a cool departure from the prosciutto script) for the restaurant’s dynamite Italian Grinder. Shaved iceberg, pepperoncini, pink onion, aioli and French dressing add crunch and zing for the parade of lusciously fatty meats. You don’t essentially anticipate Arkansas to have top-of-the-line Italian-style sandwiches within the nation, but right here we’re.

Sol Meals, San Rafael
Geography is only a mind-set at Chula’s, the seafood market-cafe with three places within the landlocked Phoenix. “With all due respect to the banh mi at Saigon Sandwich, Arguello Market’s Dutch Crunch turkey sandwich, and the cemitas at Carnitas El Canelo, my favourite sandwich in California is the Chuletón on the San Rafael Puerto Rican restaurant, Sol Meals. There may be nothing sophisticated about it. It’s simply pan-fried pork chops, sautéed onions, mayo and jack cheese on pressed French bread. However when it’s all pressed collectively, the mix of the salty, smoky pork and onions, the creaminess of the mayo and melted jack, and the acid and warmth from the house-made pique scorching sauce on the aspect flip the consuming expertise virtually spiritual. And like every religious follower, I attempt to make a pilgrimage there a minimum of as soon as every week” — Kevin Alexander, writer, Burn the Ice; co-author, California Soul, The Lemon

Roaming Buffalo Bar-B-Que, Denver
“I like the Actual McCoy as a result of it’s a splendidly indulgent nod to Colorado’s culinary traditions. The sandwich is piled a mile excessive with beef brisket burnt ends’ (barbecue’s at present ‘it’ protein), beneficiant chunks of sausage constructed from bison (an animal native to this area), inexperienced chile (fortunately adopted from our New Mexico neighbors) and cheddar cheese, a layer of smoked gouda cheese and slices of honey-pickled jalapeños,” says Adrian Miller, award-winning writer of Black Smoke. “The nice people at Roaming Buffalo are glad to oblige if you wish to double down on the Colorado vibe by including sublimely smoked lamb or venison sausage.”

Gaetano’s Deli, Stratford, Westport and Shelton
Crunchy house-made cutlets anchor the gloriously saucy and tacky hen parm from Gaetano’s, an independently owned trio of Italian American Connecticut delis with origins on Arthur Avenue within the Bronx. One chew of this hero, glued along with house-made mozz, and also you is likely to be tempted to sing to it a la Peyton Manning in that Nationwide business: Hen parm you style so good.

Ioannoni’s Specialty Sandwiches, New Citadel
“Having lived and cooked in Philly for ten years, I can sacrilegiously however confidently say that this model is a minimum of nearly as good as John’s and Dinic’s,” says Tyler Akin of Wilmington’s Le Cavalier. “The pork, broccoli rabe and bread couldn’t probably be extra good. Gild the lily with some house-roasted lengthy hots. These true masters could be working the most effective sandwich store in Philly if it had been 20 miles north.”

Chug’s Diner, Coconut Grove
Chef Michael Beltran mashes up his Cuban heritage and Miami birthplace and upbringing at his colourful Coconut Grove diner, and the killer breakfast sandwich (served until 5 pm) is a perfect ambassador: gooey fried egg, Taylor ham, American cheese, Duke’s mayo and crispy yuca matchsticks on a luxurious Cuban roll.

Heirloom Market BBQ, Atlanta
Twenty minutes north of downtown Atlanta, Heirloom bridges its homeowners Korean (Jiyeon Lee) and Southern (Cody Taylor) backgrounds. To wit: This flavor-bomb smoked pork sandwich sauced with fiery gochujang, topped with kimchi slaw and candy pickles, on a comfortable spherical roll.

Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Store, Lahaina
Leoda’s is a sunny luncheonette tucked in a turn-off on the rippling coast street between Wailea and Lahaina, making it a super cease for an individually sized pie (chocolate macadamia nut, guava chiffon) and a Kobe beef-ed improve to a traditional patty soften. The glistening fats of the superrich patty seeps into the toasted rye, merging with melted Swiss and caramelized onions right into a heat, virtually molten filling. Not advisable earlier than browsing. (Notice: Lahaina, the city the place Leoda’s relies, was affected be the Hawaiian wild fires, and whereas the restaurant itself survived, lots of its almost 300 workers have both misplaced their properties or been displaced. Take into account donating to their Worker Aid Fund.)

Lemon Tree, Boise
“You may’t go mistaken with any sandwich combo at Lemon Tree, however the Sausage & Pear surprises you from the very first chew,” says Angela Taylor, curator of Indulge Boise Meals Excursions. “The mix of crumbled sausage, fennel jam, pear and goat cheese on a recent ciabatta bread from an area bakery is totally scrumptious.”

Dove’s Luncheonette, Chicago
The title couldn’t be extra modest: Breakfast Sandwich. However the spicy, candy, savory and harbeacous concoction Dove’s assembles (on Tuesdays mornings solely) surpasses these 4 self-deprecating syllabes. if there are different spots whose breakfast sandwich includes inexperienced chorizo and sticky onion-apricot jam joined with arugula and American cheese on a potato roll, we don’t know them.

Nick’s Kitchen, Huntington
The pork tenderloin sandwich is to the Hoosier State what the Cubano is to South Florida: legend standing. Nick’s is the alleged inventor (c.1908) of this behemoth, starring a pork cutlet pounded so thinly it overlaps not solely its bun however generally additionally its plate. Lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles accompany however actually, it’s all in regards to the crispy pork.

Miles Inn, Sioux Metropolis
This Iowa-born sandwich goes by different names (unfastened meat, tavern, Maid-Ceremony), however Siouxland Miles Inn calls the star of its beer-splashed menu a Charlie Boy, allegedly named for the unique proprietor’s son. Served on a squishy spherical bun with pickles, yellow mustard and yellow-er American cheese, it’s not fairly a sloppy joe, not fairly a burger, however one thing else solely, with a heap of coarse, well-seasoned floor beef that cements its legend standing.

1900 Barker, Lawrence
Do you know top-of-the-line bakery-cafes within the nation lives within the little school city of Lawrence, Kansas? The fluffy egg patty, peppery mustard greens, smoked cheddar and smoky chipotle aioli are contribute to a legit-delicious breakfast sandwich, however this magnificence actually hinges on the ultra-flaky hybrid roll, considered one of Barker’s many unimaginable house-baked breads.

The Cafe, Louisville
“I’ll most likely be doxxed for not saying the new brown, however my coronary heart and abdomen belong to The Cafe’s Rubino,” says Fritz Bailey, model ambassador for Coopers’ Craft Bourbon. “Their tackle the traditional Reuben is a deli hound’s delight. Salty and peppery, the skinny slices of corn beef nestled with tomatoes, coleslaw and Swiss lovingly tucked between artisanal Milwaukee rye. Throw a ramekin of scratch-made Dijonnaise, and also you’re good to go.”

Stein’s Deli, New Orleans
“The Sam sandwich is pastrami, swiss, coleslaw, and Russian dressing on rye bread,” says Mason Hereford of Turkey and the Wolf, Molly’s Rise and Shine and the upcoming Hungry Eyes in New Orleans. “I order mine with additional coleslaw on seeded rye bread. I like the sandwich as a result of it’s all the pieces. Once I was on the brink of open Turkey and the Wolf, three blocks from Stein’s Deli, I known as Dan Stein, the proprietor, and mentioned ‘Hey man, I discovered a spot for Turkey and the Wolf, and it’s three blocks from you.’ As an alternative of him being like, ‘Shucks, new sandwich competitors,’ he mentioned, ‘You’re gonna want slicer. Are you aware something about slicers? In all probability not. I’m going to repair up a slicer for you. Pay me again for it while you begin creating wealth.’ I at present have a tab at Stein’s Deli that I repay each couple months, however Dan nonetheless hasn’t let me pay for the slicer. It simply sits on my tab. He’s a pleasant and caring particular person. I’ve a tattoo of Dan subsequent to the considered one of my spouse on my arm.”

Crimson’s Eats, Wiscasset
As cliché as a Maine lobster roll sounds, the overloaded one which’s served on the little red-and-white shack that Crimson’s has been working out of for many years is value looking for out. Served with regionally made butter or mayonnaise on the aspect, Crimson’s sandwich is piled excessive with succulent tail meat and comes on a roll that’s been buttered and grilled. Candy and salty, Crimson’s lobster roll is a staple for vacationers and locals alike for a cause.

The Level Crabhouse and Grill, Arnold
Maryland is likely to be synonymous with crab, however that undoubtedly doesn’t imply each crab home is serving native blues, even after they’re in season. The Level, within the canal-laced Annapolis-adjacent borough of Arnold, is likely one of the good guys. Their crab cake sandwich contains a meaty, golden-seared softball of calmly certain, MD-or-die crustacean, plus bibb and tomato on a remoulade-dabbed potato roll. Bonus: the thicket of house-made waffle chips.

Sizzling Field, Somerville
Roast beef is faith on the North Shore, and Sizzling Field in Somerville, the place they slice the rose-pink Angus spherical as skinny as tissue paper, is ok a temple as any. The griddled, sesame-seeded bun tries valiantly to regulate the pile of savory beef served “three means,” native parlance for mayo, barbecue sauce and American cheese. (Sure, we all know Somerville isn’t on the North Shore, however that’s the place Sizzling Field’s homeowners grew up. It’s legit.)

Zingerman’s Delicatessen, Ann Arbor
No disrespect to the peppery house-made pastrami, however the most effective Reuben rendition at this Ann Arbor legend stars brisket, slowly braised in Zingerman’s personal candy and tangy barbecue sauce. Between the ends of the Zingerman’s Bakehouse Paesano roll, the supple shreds of brisket distinction towards crunchy coleslaw, and provolone offers every chew a deliciously sharp edge.

Fika, Minneapolis
Each museum ought to hope to have a restaurant as considerate and completed as Fika, situated simply off the light-washed foyer at Minneapolis’s American Swedish Institute. The Nordic-style menu contains open-faced sandwiches just like the silky house-made gravlax layered on sturdy, spiced Danish rye.

Fayard’s, Ocean Springs
“Discovering the most effective sandwich in Mississippi isn’t simple, however I’d put the Roast Beef Po’ Boy from Fayard’s Po’ Boys in Ocean Springs on the prime of the listing,” says chef-caterer Michael Paoletti. “This roast beef sandwich is the proper ‘dressed and pressed’ Southern sandwich that has at all times been a staple within the Gulf Coast area. At Fayard’s, situated inside a Marathon fuel station right here on the coast, their roast beef sandwich is dressed completely with gravy, lettuce and tomato after which put again on the griddle to be pressed — creating the tremendous crispy breading that each sandwich ought to have. The roast beef sandwich has been round for years and years, however nobody has perfected it fairly like Fayard’s.”

Mai Lee, St. Louis
The Tran household does a crustacean-crammed model of the traditional St. Louis sandwich whose origins allegedly lie in St. Paul, Minnesota. It’s primarily an egg foo younger patty on white bread with LTO, pickles and mayo — crunchy, comfortable, sloppy and scrumptious.

The Wich Haus, Whitefish
Triple the smoke (sliced hen, house-made bacon, gouda), triple the flavour on the Wich Haus, a sunny counter-service cottage and backyard the place Ellie and Orion Heyman apply their fine-dining, from-scratch culinary pedigrees to the artwork of sandwiches. Served on a fluffy house-baked wheat bun, the Smoked Hen additionally contains onion jam, garlic mayo and a tuft of greens, leading to a sandwich you’ll be fascinated about all day whereas mountain climbing in close by Glacier Nationwide Park.

Salmex, Omaha
The pupusas get lots of consideration at this cosy Salvadoran-Mexican spot, however the torta Salvadoreña is value touring from anyplace in Nebraska to devour. Ham and beef, beans, lettuce, salsa, avocado, squiggles of crema, all pressed collectively on a canoe of a protracted white roll.

Pho Thanh Huong, Las Vegas
Vegas is stacked with terrific banh mi, however this sandwich filled with crispy Chinese language sausage and fluffy eggs (plus all the standard Vietnamese hoagie accouterments) stands out as notably dynamite—to not point out a strong hangover treatment en path to the airport.

Gusto Italian Cafe, Heart Harbor
The Firenze is a really primary but extremely elegant meeting of high quality elements: prosciutto di Parma and Toscana salami with recent mozzarella and arugula on olive-oiled focaccia. What I like most about it’s the means that each one the elements come collectively in a playful rotation of sensations and textures, like a gustatory juggling act of candy, salty, bitter and bitter on the palate. The bread is splendidly fluffy and offers good area for all of the fillings to have a voice with out tasting too busy.” —Matt Energy, Tamworth Distilling

Wildwoods BBQ, North Wildwood
Through the pandemic, Aussie buddies Joel Romano and David Gill (previously the pitmaster at Brooklyn’s Hometown BBQ) relocated to the Jersey Shore and opened Wildwoods BBQ, the place they’re smoking essentially the most luscious, fat-rippled, closely black peppered brisket this aspect of Texas. It’s unimaginable by itself, however possibly even higher as a sandwich joined with house-made cucumber and onion pickles and a dab of sauce on a comfortable potato roll.

Manko Native American Fusion Truck, Santa Fe
“This Native American-owned meals truck makes use of solely pre-contact proteins comparable to bison and turkey,” says Cheryl Alters Jamison, Santa Fe resident, prolific cookbook writer, and host of the Heating It Up radio present. “The chef-owner, Ray Naranjo, mashes up different elements, although, as he sees match to provide you with imaginative taste bombs. This off-the-hook sandwich, which has a filling of turkey, cheddar and New Mexico inexperienced chile, is dipped in a tempura-style batter and fried crisp, then drizzled with fuchsia prickly pear cactus syrup and dusted with powdered sugar. It resembles a Monte Cristo sandwich, however veers off in a very Chef Ray means. Well worth the drive, 10 ten miles north of Santa Fe.”

Bartlett Home, Ghent
Housed in a former circa-1870s railroad resort, the good-looking redbrick Bartlett Home is the type of casually fashionable daytime scenario haunted by people weekending in and who’ve relocated to the Hudson Valley. There’s not an oz of pretense within the simple, expertly rendered ham and cheese: crusty house-baked baguette that makes your molars work, smears of tangy cultured butter and grainy mustard, good ham and Gruyere. Nothing else is required.

Rosetta’s Kitchen, Asheville
“I might always remember the vegan reuben at Rosetta’s Kitchen,” says Clarence Robinson, who runs Asheville’s Cooking with Comedy catering and meals truck. “That tasty, grilled, marinated, native Smiling Hara Tempeh with traditional house-cultured kraut and herb-walnut sauce on rye focaccia—NICE! Makes certain to get the chili cheese fries, too.”

Crimson Pepper, Grand Forks
“The Every part Grinder consists of ham, turkey, salami, Swiss cheese, Colby cheese, taco meat, scorching sauce, white sauce and shredded lettuce,” says Stephanie Miller, chef at Bismark’s Butterhorn. “I went to school in Grand Forks so this sandwich is nice as a result of it’s scrumptious (in fact), low cost, fast and cures a depraved hangover.”

Larder, Cleveland
Larder’s Jeremy Umasky actually wrote the e book on koji (Koji Alchemy), which he employs at his neo-Jewish deli (housed in an previous firehouse) to treatment the meat for this showstopping umami-and-spice pastrami sandwich. Grainy mustard and pink kraut play the supporting forged on Jewish rye, however this one is admittedly all in regards to the meat.

thirtieth Road Market, Oklahoma Metropolis
“I stumbled upon this place whereas out strolling and feeling actually hungry,” says Andrew Black of Oklahoma Metropolis’s Gray Sweater, Black Walnut, and Gilded Acorn. “I went in with out realizing something about it, and this sandwich was so unimaginable. Each single ingredient is nice: actually good turkey, recent focaccia, chimichurri mayo, avocado, lettuce, tomatoes, pepperoncini, spicy onions. Each taste is effectively thought out. This sandwich will get straight to the purpose in one of the best ways potential.”

Fermenter, Portland
“It is a distinctive and savory sandwich that options lots of method, from the smoked and roasted beets to the ruby kraut,” says Gregory Gourdet of Kann in Portland, one of many hottest eating places within the nation. “I benefit from the gluten-free choice of this plant-based sandwich, which options nice native, gluten-free bread from New Cascadia Conventional. My good pal Aaron Adams, the proprietor of Fermenter, was working tremendous eating after which went vegan, and Fermenter was born. He does an distinctive job with fermentation – most likely essentially the most superior and scrumptious fermentation program on the town.”

Angelo’s South Philly Pizzeria, Philadelphia
What different noise might this legendary, elusive, supersonic South Philly sandwich make? Recent mozzarella, stay-crisp hen cutlets and lethal stuffed lengthy hots collect on a house-baked seeded roll. It might need pizza within the title, however Danny DiGiampietro’s Italian Market store is sandwich heaven.

Aunt Carrie’s, Narragansett
There are lobster rolls and there are crab rolls, however to us, the king of New England’s roll membership is the whole-belly clam, flash-fried and piled excessive like they do it at Aunt Carrie’s, a Rhode Island establishment that dates to 1920.

Outdated Daufuskie Crab Firm, Daufuskie Island
Not gonna lie: This extraordinary sandwich takes some work to expertise. Daufuskie Island is accessible solely by boat, both personal craft or ferry from Hilton Head. On the north finish of this lethargic atoll, Ernestine Smith fries meaty Could River softshells to a crackly crisp and slips them between slices of nation wheat with bark-like bacon, candy tomatoes and tender lettuce. The BLT is almost as transporting because the setting, a ragtag assortment of picnic tables, umbrellas and bars dealing with the Freeport Marina.

Wandering Bison Espresso, Sizzling Springs
“My favourite sandwich within the state is a gluten-free breakfast sandwich from Wandering Bison Espresso in Sizzling Springs,” says Rebecca Christensen, whose restaurant, Buffalo Dreamer, is close by. “It has sausage, egg and cheese and is served on a gluten-free English muffin. It’s a easy breakfast sandwich, however all the pieces is cooked to perfection, seasoned effectively and at all times served on an excellent comfortable, heat gluten-free English muffin. Tremendous scrumptious and satisfying.”

Prince’s Sizzling Hen Shack South, Nashville
Lengthy earlier than KFC and different chain eating places began knocking it off like counterfeit purses, scorching hen was (is) the specialty of André Prince Jeffries, the queen of Prince’s Sizzling Hen on the outskirts of Nashville. Glossed in an oil slick of ferocious spices, this audibly crunchy firestarter is usually served by itself, however contemplate the lunchtime sandwich named for the matriarch: tangy “candy warmth” sauce, pickles, slaw and a moist-inside, crispy-outside hen breast dressed within the “gentle” warmth degree. Be warned: Gentle at Prince’s nonetheless means rattling scorching.

The Pit Room, Houston
Houston might not be the barbecue capital of Texas, however the sprawling metropolis holds its personal with a number of first-class smokehouses, together with the sensible, six-year-old Pit Room within the Montrose neighborhood. Right here, the sandwiches are build-your-own-adventures on shiny, grilled buns. You select one or two meats, which is admittedly no selection in any respect. Our most popular duo: the gloriously juicy pulled pork coupled with slices of the house-made, coarsely floor, Czech-style beef sausage.

Feldman’s Deli, Salt Lake Metropolis
“Feldman’s Deli within the Canyon Rim neighborhood of Salt Lake Metropolis makes top-of-the-line pastrami Reubens that I’ve had,” says Michael Showers, culinary director of Excessive West Distillery. “The construction of a Reuben is essential. The bread, an incredible Jewish rye, must be toasted completely; the entire scorching elements just like the sauerkraut, the Swiss cheese and pastrami should be scorching; and the Russian dressing should be tangy and funky, including the proper accent of sweetness for the sandwich. Get it with a aspect of crispy, golden, house-cut fries, and don’t overlook to ask for an additional pickle.”

Maple Leaf Tavern, Wilmington
That amber ripple of candy and smoky crunch hiding within the grilled cheese on the supremely cozy Maple Leaf Tavern within the ski-and-art enclave of Wilmington, Vermont? On-brand maple-glazed bacon. Order this golden, gooey-crunchy sandwich with an area cider and a sidecar of tomato soup.

Sub Rosa Bakery, Richmond
When does a croissant represent a sandwich? When its flaky cloverleaves disguise pedigreed salami and luxurious cave-aged cheese? When it’s satisfying sufficient to function a standalone lunch? Actually, it doesn’t matter, as a result of Sub Rosa’s SAC is likely one of the absolute best baked items, from one of many absolute best artisan bakeries within the nation. Name it no matter you want. And name forward to ensure they haven’t bought out.

Un Bien, Seattle
“Un Bien is a Seattle restaurant run by the household that based, constructed, then bought Paseo however neatly stored the recipes,” says Windfall Ciciero, the award-winning Seattle-based meals author. “The toasted baguette is usually able to absorbing the juicy goodness of that oh-so-yielding pulled pork, grilled onions and gobs of peppery mayo, but it surely’s finest to roll your sleeves simply in case a few of that top-secret marinade finds its means all the way down to your elbows.”

Coleman’s Fish Market, Wheeling
Not a lot has modified about Coleman’s because it opened in 1914 within the Metropolis Centre Market of the small Ohio River city of Wheeling, least of all its beloved fish sandwich. The legend is incongruously satisfying and craveable for one thing this dead-simple: completely fried fish between two slices of smooshy white bread. We advise upgrading the protein to flaky Canadian white, a 35-to-60-cent premium, based mostly on market costs.

Chicago’s Home of Hoagies, Menasha
Lona Yung acquired such a optimistic response when she started posting sandwiches on her private Fb, she determined to parlay the eye right into a brick-and-mortar and produce some Windy Metropolis swagger (and The Bear-famous scorching giardiniera) to a city 40 minutes south of Inexperienced Bay. These Italian-style pickled veggies mild up the magnificent turkey hoagie, which comes loaded with fresh-sliced breast, tomato, onion, salt and pepper, pepperoncini, mayo, hoagie sauce and your selection of cheese, all on a grilled roll.

Native Restaurant & Bar, Jackson
“I like the blackened trout sandwich at Native right here in Jackson,” says Sadek Darwiche, basic supervisor of the Resort Jackson. “The trout is so recent, crispy on prime, actually tender on the within, with coleslaw and tartar sauce. Simply so flavorful.”