The best sandwiches in NYC

What's on it? A combination of Vietnamese cold cuts on house-baked bread. 

Why we love it: The humble bánh mì is often associated with street eats, one that often comes at a low price. But chef Nhu Ton's operation in the East Village is giving the classic sandwich its long-due respect. Every day, chef Ton starts with the bread, kneading and stretching dough in the basement before baking it in the oven right before service. The football-sized rolls play host to over eight different kinds of bánh mìs, but we have to give it up to the O.G. Bánh Mì. Each bite yields a different texture: smooth, unctuous pate, gelatinous and meaty bites from the cold cuts, a crunch from a medley of herbs and a good amount of pork floss that melts into a brown sugared sweetness. Oh, and that bread? It crackles and shatters upon touch, leaving a telltale trail of crumbs post-sandwich bliss. Start here and then work your way through all eight on the menu.  

Price: $14.95

Address: 99 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10003 

Opening hours: Tue–Thu 6–10pm; Fri–Sun noon–4pm, 6–10pm

What's on it? Pulled pork, fried cheese, maduros and bark sauce.

Why we love it: A few years ago, Bark Barbecue's Chopped Chicharrón and Brisket Sandwich got all of the praise, earning a rightful shout on The New York Times list "57 Sandwiches That Define New York City.” It was deserved, of course, but we are here to make the case for another treat from the mind of Ruben Santana: the Tres Golpes. Taking the classic Dominican breakfast and putting it on a sandwich, the Tres Golpes hits all of the levels, all of them good, with tender and smoky pulled pork, two fried and salty hunks of fried cheese, a sweet kiss from the maduros and a helpful squeeze of bark sauce, cause why the hell not. No, we wouldn't recommend ordering it for breakfast, as you'll be out of commission before your morning meeting wraps up. But you can definitely order it for lunch at Time Out Market and Bark's new location in Bushwick. 

Price: $16

Address: Bushwick: 25 Thames St, Brooklyn, NY 11206; Time Out Market: 55 Water St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

What’s on it? Pastrami and mustard on rye bread (with a sour pickle on the side).

Why we love it: There are countless things that tourists come to eat in New York that are actually awful. The pastrami at Katz’s Deli is not one of them. (And no best sandwiches in NYC list would be complete without it.) Put simply, when it comes to pastrami in the city, this is still the best of the best (and one of our best delis, in fact). It’s also large enough to get two or three meals out of one order. But for the love of God, just remember not to lose your ticket, or you will lose out on your sandwich. 

Price: $28.95

Address: 205 East Houston St, New York City, NY 10002

Opening hours: Mon–Thu 8am–11pm; Fri 8am–Sun 11pm

What's on it? Pistachio-studded mortadella, creamy straccitella cheese, pistachio pesto and crushed pistachios. 

Why we love it: There's a lot of love put into Anthony's Paninoteca. That's because chef Anthony Valois does a little of everything, from tying up and crisping up porchetta on the weekly to importing cheeses, meats and other goodies, all from Italy. But even the simplest of sandwiches shine here. The Panini Mortadella is one such example, as ribbon-thin mortadella mesh with spoonfuls of stracciatella. The pistachio pesto and a helpful shower of rough-chopped pistachios bring nuttiness and a bit of zest, all sandwiched between plush focaccia slices.

Price: $20

Address: 3994 Amboy Rd, Staten Island, NY 10308 

Opening hours: Sun 11am–4pm; Mon– Sat 11am–8:30pm

What's on it? Pork belly asado, grilled pineapple relish, bok choy, pork jus and hero roll. 

Why we love it: The Unapologetic Foods crew is good at what they do, and they do it unapologetically. Their latest sandwich shop on the roster continues the tradition, with two-handed, saucy sammies with bold flavors from the Philippines that can barely be contained by the bread they're served on. The Lechon Dip is such a sandwich, as a sturdy hero roll houses sizzling, equal parts shredded and gelatinous bits of roasted pork asado. It is served with a sidekick of jiggly, peppery, and slightly vinegary jus for dipping that somehow adds to the richness and cuts the savoriness, all in one. 

Price: $15

Address: 149 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003

Opening hours: Wed, Thu 4–9pm; Fri–Sun noon–9pm

What's on it? Spicy ribeye steak with chiles, garlic, Thai basil and cheese in a hoagie roll.

Why we love it: We recommend a lot of things at Thai Diner—the breakfast sandwich, the Thai disco fries for sharing, and the coconutty and candied peanut-crowned sundae. After ordering this on a whim, the Cheesesteak Phat Bai Horapha is now officially added to that list. Tinged with chili and garlic, this cheesesteak also feels like it walked along the garden before heading to the table, grabbing Thai basil by the handful that's been sautéed right up with the ribeye. This fresh addition helps to bring a little levity to this classic sandwich that's usually a bomb of cheese and meat.

Price: $21

Address: 186 Mott St, New York, NY 10012

Opening hours: Mon–Wed 8:30am–10:30pm; Thu, Fri 8:30am–11:30pm; Sat 10am–11:30pm; Sun 10am–10:30pm 

What’s on it? Salami, coppa, mortadella, provolone, pickled hot peppers, shredduce, XVO and vinaigrette

Why we love it: I’ve had plenty of Italian subs in my life. I’ve also had plenty of bad Italian subs. I know this now because I had a really, really good one at Ends Meat. Located in Industry City, Ends Meat is a whole animal butchery and salumeria from self-taught butcher John Ratliff. Damn, everything is made in-house, from the cured coppa down to the ciabatta bread that the sandwiches are served on. The sub hits all the right notes—meaty and funky, interspersed with a needed zip from the pickled peppers and the bright vinaigrette. And it's big enough to feed two or stash a half for a second dinner down the road. (Psst...the steak sandwich also pictured above is just as killer.)

Price: $17

Address: 254 36th St, Brooklyn, NY 11232

Opening hours: Mon 11am–5pm, Tue, Wed 11am–6pm; Thu, Fri and Sat 11am–7pm; Sun 11am–6pm

What's on it? Ribeye, Cooper Sharp cheese, and onions on a housemade sesame-studded roll.

Why we love it: We can't say New York is necessarily known for its cheesesteak—the obvious holder of that title goes to a certain state further south. But with the opening of Danny and Coop's, we have a sandwich worth its weight in cred. The restaurant is from two Philly legends: Danny DiGiampietro, owner of Philly's Angelo's Pizzeria, one of the best places in the country for the classic sub. And a little-known actor by the name of Bradley Cooper. The two introduced the sandwich late last year, griddling thin slices of ribeye blanketed in cheese, only Cooper sharp, and onions thrown into the mix. It all spills out of a golden-brown sesame-seeded roll that remarkably stays intact given the juiciness it has to hold up. This is a sammie that needs a bit of pepper to liven things up, so ask for sweet or spicy, or really, get both.  

Price: $24.50

Address: 151 Ave A, New York, NY 10009

Opening hours: Sun–Thu noon–7pm; Fri, Sat noon–9pm

What's on it? Prosciutto cotto, Genoa salami, mortadella, aged provolone, spicy olive relish on sesame focaccia.

Why we love it: Last year, Amanda Perdomo took over the AM hours at Strange Delight with Amanda's Good Morning Cafe. It was an easy fit, as the chef's time spent in New Orleans meshed nicely with the restaurant's seafood and Creole leanings. While the chef has sadly moved back to NOLA, her pastries and breakfast goodies live on in her absence. The Muffuletta is included in her parting gift, thick with prosciutto, salami and mortadella, finished with a generous swipe of chunky olive tapenade. It is all served on a plush, sesame-studded focaccia that is guaranteed to leave your hands a bit slick from all of the glorious olive oil that it's been cooked with.

Price: $25

Address: 63 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Opening hours: Mon–Thu 5–9:30pm; Fri 5–10:30pm; Sat 8–11am, 11:30am–3:30pm, 5–10:30pm; Sun 8–11am, 11:30am–3:30pm, 5–9:30pm

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What’s on it: Havarti, bacon and ginger deluxe on a scallion pancake. 

Why we love: When friends come into town, I always make a point to take them to Win Son Bakery. A visit always includes a coffee, both of the mochi doughnuts (both the millet mochi and the fermented red rice donut have that QQ texture) and their BEC, one of the best takes in the city. A griddled scallion pancake swaps out the bagel here, lending a crispy and chewy bite as you work your way through fluffy eggs, cheese that oozes and crunches of bacon. It’s everything you could want in a BEC, and then some. 

Price: $15

Address: 164 Graham Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11206; 23 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

What’s on it? Salami, pepperoni, roast beef, ham, turkey, pastrami, mortadella, chicken and American and provolone cheese on a 14-inch-long hero roll.

Why we love it: The word "sandwich" doesn't do The Bomb justice. When you order this baby from "The Sandwich King of Astoria," don't expect to down the whole thing in one sitting. No, it'll take at least two, if not three, meals to demolish it yourself. Luckily, it's also great to share with friends and family. The staff at Sal, Kris & Charlie's actually cuts The Bomb into quarters because they know just how gigantic it is. As you might expect, with so many meats and cheeses stacked on it, it tastes divine—it's your ultimate hero.

Address: 33-12 23rd Ave, Astoria, NY 11105

Opening hours: Sun 5am–3pm; Mon–Sat 5am–7pm

What's on it? Cucumber, scallion, crispy duck skin, hoisin sauce and house chili oil on a bolo bun. 

Why we love it: It is true that good things come in small packages. And The Sandwich Board is a solid example of such. Just a little window on Elridge Street, the shop stands out due to its bold swipe of teal coloring. That and its starting lineup of sandwiches are just as diverse as the city that it sits in, waking us up with mala-tinged and eggy wraps and Dominican sandwiches for breakfast. The Tsangwich has been a solid day one for a reason, as shredded Cantonese-style duck finds balance with hoisin sauce and paper-thin cucumbers that still retain a good bit of crunch. But the bolo bun (aka a pineapple bun) brings the greatest equilibrium, breaking softly in its sweetness. 

Price: $16

Address: 115 Eldridge St, New York, NY 10002

Opening hours: Daily 9am–8pm

What’s on it? A housemade biscuit, fried chicken, McClure's pickles, chipotle, honey and malt mayo

Why we love it: There’s nothing like The Bonnie’s Hot Honey Fried Chicken Biscuit in the morning after a long night out or during particularly rough Sunday scaries. Created by Chopped contestant and executive chef Nick Testa, the fried chicken is always crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside and both sweet and hot thanks to the symphony of sauces that drench it under a sturdy biscuit. It’s not healthy in any respect, but it does the soul good and keeps you full through the day. The only thing better is to pair it with an Irish coffee or a mimosa or two. 

Price: $17

Address: 29-12 23rd Ave, Astoria, NY 11105

Opening hours: Mon–Thu 4pm–midnight; Fri noon–2am; Sat 10am–2am; Sun 10am–midnight

What’s on it? Roasted broccoli rabe, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing on a toasted ciabatta hero.

Why we love it: I have a love affair with Reuben sandwiches; that much is true. So when I saw the meat-free alternative at Calyer, a Clinton Hill sandwich and coffee shop near Pratt University, I was down to give it a try. And luckily, I was rewarded. The charred broccoli gives it some texture and heft while the sauerkraut and Russian dressing bring in the tart, familiar flavors. It’s a sturdy alternative that scratches that need, even if it is meat-free.

Price: $13.95

Address: 519 Myrtle Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205

Opening hours: Mon–Fri 8am–4pm; Sat, Sun 9am–4pm