The best sandwiches in Los Angeles

Operating out of the same storefront since 1947, this James Beard Award-winning Jewish deli always hits the spot thanks to hot, hand-cut pastrami from recipes that’ve been passed down for generations. There are plenty of other deli classics here, too, but at Langer’s it’s all about the pastrami. The #19 is in and of itself a local icon, and is easily one of the most quintessential sandwiches in the city: hot pastrami with Swiss, slaw and Russian-style dressing on rye, stacked and thick and juicy. Plus, the deli itself is a bit of a time warp, only adding to the charm of recipes that haven’t changed in decades.

The Godmother at Bay Cities is one of those dishes that you have to try before you can really call yourself an Angeleno. Piled high with salami, mortadella, prosciutto, coppa, ham, provolone cheese, mild or spicy peppers and served on freshly baked, housemade bread, it’s a sandwich that draws lines almost every hour of the day. There is a shortcut, though, and you can take it by ordering from Bay Cities’ website and picking up your colossal sandwich instead. Inside, a gourmet market offers Italian specialty foods, like fresh pasta, olive oil and cheeses. But really, you’re going to come here and not get a sandwich? Fuhgeddaboudit.

For years, this wholesale bakery business has laid the groundwork for many of L.A.’s best sandwiches, so it comes as no surprise that Bub and Grandma’s new-school deli crafts even better ones in-house. A simple egg and cheese, only served before 11am; a creamy tuna salad on a warm yellow brioche; an off-menu muffaletta, packed full of olives, cold cuts and cheese: All of these sandwiches, and more, have compelled carb-loving Angelenos to turn up to this Glassell Park eatery in droves. Though the wait for a table can be punishing, even on weekdays, the all-around excellent sandwich selection at Bub and Grandma’s simply can’t be topped.

A beautiful, impossibly crackly focaccia crust bookends the delicious creations at this blink-and-you’ll-miss-it sandwich pop-up inside Santa Monica’s JuneShine. Despite the limited hours (Wed–Fri noon–5pm), the distinctive housemade bread—plus the prospect of a proper Bread Head storefront along Montana Avenue by summer’s end—translates into a superb Westside lunch destination and soon-to-be top L.A. sandwich shop. Made fresh daily by Jordan Snyder and Alex Williams—formerly of Ludo Lefebvre’s now-closed Trois Mec—each bread slice’s golden, buttery half combines with high-quality meats, luscious cheeses and a mélange of flavorful spreads. Though the pair rotate through six menu items at a time, our go-to evergreen option is the Mozzarella, which pairs the namesake soft cheese with pickled red onions, sliced avocado, alfalfa sprouts and a creamy za’atar mayo.

Massive rolls of telera—the traditional Mexican torta roll—rule the day at this popular South L.A. food truck that opens most days after 4pm. The most popular sandwich here is the torta cubano, a meaty mix of ham, milanesa (fried chicken cutlet), chorizo, egg, hot dogs and a few kinds of cheese, plus avocado, jalapeños and tomato. Regardless of which Mexico City-style sandwich you get, however, the cheese manages to melt from the freshly cooked meat, melding the entire sandwich together into a wondrous smorgasbord of texture and flavor.

The freshly made French rolls and crispy, chewy baguettes at this no-frills, cash-only deli in Rosemead take the top spot for the overall best banh mi in Los Angeles (though for chargrilled lemongrass pork specifically, I prefer the one at Banh Mi My Tho across the street). With either style you choose, the bread comes nicely warmed and generously slathered with housemade pate and mayonnaise, particularly on the banh mi dac biet, the trio of cold cuts by which Vietnamese sandwich shops are judged. The housemade bread makes every bit of difference here; Hue Thai’s version skips cucumbers but piles on the jalapeno slices and pickled vegetables. The prices also can’t be beat—it’s around $6 for one sandwich. While you’re at it, I recommend picking up some summer rolls, banh beo (savory steamed tapioca rice cakes) or a few trays of Vietnamese sweets to take home.

Abbot Kinney has landed the first L.A. outpost of Florence’s most famous sandwich shop, and honestly, this is a rare case where the hype is justified. Filled with prosciutto, mortadella, pistachio cream and any other high-quality Italian import you can imagine, All’Antico Vinaio’s schiacciata creations puts most of L.A.’s imitation focaccia sandos to shame. The crusty, slightly oily Tuscan flatbread is the perfect canvas for everything from lardo and gorgonzola (the truffle honey-adorned Dolcezze d’Autunno) to the signature La Paradiso, which combines mortadella, stracciatella, pistachio cream and toasted pistachios into a must-try sandwich. Of course, lines are already stretching to an hour or more on the weekends at the Venice spot, but arrive early (10:30am is when they open) or try your luck on a weekday to cut down on your wait time. In the near future, All’Antico Vinaio also plans to expand to Koreatown, so if you’d rather not trek to the Westside, you’re in luck.

In business since 1908, Philippe the Original claims to have invented the famed French dip—and whether or not you believe them, there’s no denying the eatery slings an exemplary sandwich. Savvy customers make their way across the sawdust-covered floor to select a traditional lamb, beef or turkey filling, then ask their server to double-dip the bread in the meaty juice; add some of the sinus-clearing house mustard and you’re golden. A bevy of sides include coleslaw, macaroni and potato salad, hard-boiled eggs and pickles—all to be eaten in the midst of friendly strangers, whom you’ll inevitably wind up talking to.

The name of this operation encompasses just about everything except sandwiches, but trust us, Larchmont Village Wine, Spirits & Cheese is renowned for its sandwiches. Hidden inside the back half of a damn fine wine store is a sandwich counter, where a team of masters slice veggies, meats and cheeses for Italian countryside-style sandwiches. Served on a choice of pillowy ciabatta or crusty baguette, the seven options on Larchmont’s gourmet menu each come with a little side of salt-cured olives and crunchy cornichons, and make for a surprising value for such high-end ingredients.

At this old-school Pasadena spot, you’ll find an octogenarian, a meat slicer and a single $6 sandwich available—dubbed “the Sandwich”—that is literally just meat and cheese on a roll with an olive oil drizzle. It’s remarkably simple, and simply perfect. There’s no room for pickles and peppers to muck up the meaty simplicity of this Italian specialty: paper-thin slices of mortadella, capocollo and salami, topped with provolone and an olive oil drizzle on a homemade crackly roll.

This family-run Chinatown staple has made excellent Italian sandwiches for over 60 years—and been around for even longer. Here, you can find the same textbook combination of mortadella, salami, capicola and provolone that has kept this old-school spot around for generations. Our recommendation? The spicy Italian cold cut, which adds hot peppers to the mix. Alongside this standard-bearer you can also get Chicago-style beef (a newer item inspired by The Bear), a mean chicken parm and a host of generously portioned hot sandwiches filled with meatballs, sausage and pastrami that you can definitely share with a friend.

Immaculately crafted charcuterie boards put this sister-run wine and cheese shop on the map, but did you know that Lady & Larder also makes some of the best sandwiches in Santa Monica? Available only for walk-in orders from noon to 3pm, Tuesday through Sunday, the seasonal creations incorporate produce from the famous nearby Santa Monica Farmers’ Market, plus sliced bread from Bub and Grandma’s and baguettes from Clark Street Bakery. In the summer, we look forward to the Venice Cowgirl, which uses stone fruit, apricot habanero jam and luscious triple cream cheese to create the perfect sweet, peppery sandwich. The rest of the year, enjoy evergreen standouts like the Hot Girl Salami and the Talk to Me Goose (mortadella, aged cheese, pepper relish, pepperoncinis, shaved onions and pickle-flavored potato chips).

This classic Chinatown shop at the intersection of Broadway and Ord offers the most affordable, delicious banh mi in L.A. proper. The Vietnamese sandwich shop and produce stall also offers inexpensive fruits and vegetables in a rainbow of colors to supplement their banh mi in a range of options. The sandwiches are sizable and only $4.50 apiece, with fillings such as grilled pork (sausage), chicken, pâté, or pork with skin, and they all involve cilantro, jalapeño, shredded carrot and pickled radish on a crusty French loaf. Make it a meal by adding a bottle of fresh locally made soy milk or some fresh fruit and you’ll still find yourself below $10. Just remember: This spot is cash-only.

This chef-driven Koreatown café specializes in delicious riffs on the city’s immigrant cuisines, all sandwiched between two slices of bread. Made with Clark Street baguettes and housemade milkbread, Open Market’s gluten-anchored spins on Thai satay (the Olympic), Hainan chicken (the Alhambra) and Korean kimbap (the Kenmore) distill an array of second-generation foodways into an excellent lunch. The most popular item, however, is the Normandie, which draws inspiration from Phillipe’s famous French dip. A separate natural wine and market section stocks artisan goods like Awan ice cream, and best of all (at least for those not within walking distance), there’s two hours of free validated parking in the underground lot just off Catalina.

We’ve tried every sandwich shop in Silver Lake (shoutout to La Sorted’s mortadella focaccia sando), but this cheery daytime-only spot outshines them all with an amazing slate of Genovese-style focaccia sandwiches and other nonna-approved baked goods, sweets and pasta trays. Italian chef-owners Francesco Lucatorto and Francesca Pistorio crowdsourced recipes from their friends’ family traditions, including a decades-old one for a crackly, bright yellow focaccia. At Ceci's, the flatbread comes stuffed with meatballs, frittatas, zucchini parm or caponata—a delightfully tangy, plant-based mix of eggplants, onions, celery and olives. You can also opt for the house special sandwiches made with imported salumi, including the Il Mortazza. The mortadella, grilled eggplant, burrata and arugula make for a one-in-a-million bite that’s creamy, fatty, earthy and balanced all at once. 

Part of Highland Park’s new culinary guard, Jeff Strauss’s permanent pop-up inside Flask liquor store serves some of the most delicious, one-of-a-kind sandwiches in town. A chaotic mash-up of global ingredients like kimchi (the Kold Kim Cheezy) and chili crisp (the Hainan-Style Chicken Salad) fold beautifully into the shop’s signature creations. For something a little more classic, order the Jubano, which combines thin-sliced smoked pork shoulder with hand-cut pastrami, melted Comte cheese, pickle slices, mustard and aioli; you’ll probably need to take a nap afterwards, but these indulgent sandos make it all feel worth it.

This New Orleans-style sandwich shop is making po’boys right in the heart of Chinatown. A small market specializing in Southern goods and Cajun delicacies fills a large space that’s primarily dedicated to producing some of the finest sandwiches this side of the Mississippi (or at least L.A.). The po’boys—NOLA’s famed sandwiches that hold fried mollusks or crustaceans in a “dressed” remoulade-coated long bun—are the primary draw here, but Little Jewel serves a wide variety of deli goods, including an excellent muffaletta, as well as simpler ham, turkey, and sausage options.

Made with minimally processed ingredients like beans, chickpeas and tofu, the deli “meat” sandwiches defy all flavor and taste expectations at this daytime-only vegan spot. Owned by namesake chef Maciel Bañales Luna and her husband, Joe Egender, the storefront offers fully plant-based takes on classics including a delicious Italian cold-cut sandwich made with vegan cheese from Follow Your Heart. Before noon, there’s a delicious breakfast burrito and French toast, and a small selection of desserts and sides (we recommend the chicharrones made with tofu skin). A cold case towards the back also offers packages of housemade deli meats, if you’re interested in bringing home a taste of Maciel’s.

Packed full of meat and cheese, the cheesesteak sandwiches at this family-run Mid-City storefront would make any East Coast transplant a little bit homesick. They’re made with hoagie rolls flown in from Philly and can be modded out with your choice of Cheez Whiz, white American or provolone. But South Philly Experience doesn’t stop there: The slow-roasted roasted pork sandwich (also available with broccoli rabe) will take you back to your nonna’s kitchen, as will the saucy chicken parm. The shop also stocks Taylor pork roll for the ultimate East Coast all-day breakfast sandwich, and offers local delivery as well. How’s that for a one-stop (sandwich) shop?

You can order a decent version of these Puebla-style tortas at your neighborhood taco truck, but you’d miss out on the perfectly constructed, absolutely gargantuan creations at this Van Nuys lunch staple. Stuffed with ultra-ripe avocado, queso fresco, salsa, onions and your choice of meat (or tofu), Don Adrian’s sandwiches punch well above their weight class, especially once you throw in the supplemental Oaxacan string cheese. The milanesa lomo de puerco (a thin, crispy flattened piece of pork loin) and beef milanesa are go-to orders if you’re a first timer here, but you can also diversify later on with queso de puerco (pork head cheese), pata de res (beef tendons) and cecina adobada (a salted, dried meat). There's also a few tofu-based options for vegetarian and vegans.

In a building owned by CIM, the powerful real estate company that’s slowly transforming (in other words, gentrifying) West Adams, this new-school deli serves excellent pastrami sandwiches that live up to the legacy of the original Johnny’s Pastrami, which closed in 2015. Though the new Johnny’s has added a few Jewish deli-inspired items and dropped the second half of the name, the juicy, flavorful pastrami sandwiches are still the main focus here. While you can continue to get the French dip-style version that uses thinly cut pastrami, the move here is the thick-cut pastrami served on Tartine marble rye, which can be further jazzed up with reuben toppings, mustard or coleslaw. The sandwich makes for a satisfying meal, especially when paired with drinks from the bar next door, but it’s also a particularly great late-night snack—Johnny’s stays open until midnight every day it’s open, unlike the other pastrami purveyors on this list.

After a successful run at nearby Smorgasburg L.A., professional sandwich slinger Daniel Son now has two brick-and-mortars: one in Chinatown and another in San Gabriel. Paired with excellent housemade milk bread, these Japanese-style sandwiches shine thanks to high-quality ingredients and a unique honey walnut shrimp katsu. If you’re in a rush, head to the konbini-inspired grab-and-go fridge, which stocks egg salad and dessert sandos tightly packed with seasonal fruit and whipped cream. Unlike most other sandwich shops on this list, Katsu Sando stays open until 8pm, so you can also drop by here if you’re craving a handheld for dinner.

Out in Whittier, there’s nothing quite like Aaron and Sarah Melendrez’s cozy neighborhood deli and gourmet mini-mart, where the made-to-order sandwiches use bread from Bellflower’s Hey Brother Baker and a slate of chef-preferred ingredients. Think mouth-watering navel cut pastrami from RC Provisions (who also supply Langer’s and Brent’s, albeit tailored to each shop’s preferences), line-caught wild tuna and smoked Kurobuta ham. If you’re within 20 minutes’ drive of Whittier, I’d say there’s no better sandwich shop for you than here. Both the egg and curry chicken salad use Japanese mayo, which gives each sando a tangy, unique flavor profile. Factor in the various Italian-inspired sandwiches—including the Spicy Gabagool—and you’ve got one of the most well-rounded, tasty sandwich menus in the Gateway Cities.

It's no wonder this San Fernando Valley gem—both their Northridge and Westlake Village locations—is always packed to the gills. Their pastrami is not only the best in the Valley, it's among the best anywhere in Los Angeles. Choose between the standard pastrami, which is available on its own, and the cult favorite Black Pastrami Reuben, which seems to be what everyone orders here. Slices of the brined, smoked and steamed meat with extra seasoned edges are piled between a layer each of Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, Russian dressing and two slices of grilled rye bread. Request extra lean or even fatty meat if that's what you prefer in your pastrami, but one thing we love about Brent's pastrami is that it's flavorful and juicy without any of the residual grease.

This beloved North Hollywood lunch spot serves unique Armenian-influenced subs, salads and wraps that are worth the drive from elsewhere. Classic sandwich fillings like egg salad, roast chicken and pastrami are given a twist with Armenian-influenced seasonings, sauces, pickles and peppers. Wholly original sandwiches like the ground turkey patty with basil (Kotlette), or shredded chicken with serrano chiles (Foreman's Special), are served—like the classics—on a fresh-baked Armenian soft roll. If it's your first time, we recommend the Ben's pastrami or the slightly spicy Kobi Dan, which comes in a pita wrap.

Tucked away in a garden-patio oasis just south of UCLA, this delightful sandwich shop takes complex Persian cuisine and serves it in the middle of a simple American-style hoagie. Dressed with tomato, mayo, pickles and a lettuce-and-parsley mix, the sandwiches are served out of a small shop that might be crowded with fans watching soccer games. Great vegetarian options like the kuku sabzi (comparable to a frittata) and the olivieh (a potato-and-egg salad) share the menu with brain and tongue. That tongue sandwich—braised til soft and seasoned wonderfully—is rightly famous, but any option at Attari is going to be a great choice.