Best Sandwich in Phx?

Question

I'm taking nominations for the Best Sandwich in Phoenix. I have had so many bad ones here that it's almost incredible. I'm looking for great bread, a great choice of meats - hot or cold, and an interesting combination of flavors. A big, hearty, drip-all-over-the-place-take-it-to-the-dry-cleaners-later type of sandwich. The kind that you crave. Interesting combinations or old stand-by's....I don't care.

I've lived here since 1983 and haven't found it. Am I missing something?

I was lamenting to my wife today that if I don't find it soon I'm starting my own sandwich place.

Come on people...show me what you've got.

EJS.

Answer

Flancer's in Gilbert and Mesa (new location) has some really good sandwiches with interesting combinations.

Scott's Generations Deli has some great ones. Huge menu of options. 

Dilly's Deli has several locations in the Valley and have some really good sandwiches. I got a somewhat traditional Italian on their focaccia recently that was amazing.

There are some Mexican sandwich places that are supposed to have amazing tortas, but I'm blanking on the names at the moment.

-----
Flancer's Cafe
610 N Gilbert Rd Ste 300, Gilbert, AZ 85234

Scott's Generations Restaurant
5539 N 7th St # 108, Phoenix, AZ

Flancer's Cafe
1902 N Higley Rd, Mesa, AZ 85205

Answer

Pane Bianco
Tortas El Guero
Los Reyes de la Torta

-----
Pane Bianco
4404 N Central Ave Ste A, Phoenix, AZ 85012

Tortas El Guero
2518 N 16th St Ste 2, Phoenix, AZ 85006

Los Reyes de la Torta
9230 N 7th St Ste E, Phoenix, AZ 85020

Answer

i'm a fan of duck and decanter..... and lisa g's does some great sammies too..... they definitely run high end..... 

i'd be interested in finding a REALLY good french dip...... not an overly salty mess...

Answer

Has anyone been to Primenti Bros. in Pittsburgh? Amighetti's in St. Louis? Molinari's in San Fran? These are the sandwiches that legends are made of! Although I'm not searching for only Italian places, are any of these in that league?

Answer

Pane Bianco, each sandwich there is terrific ... DeFalco's makes excellent meatball wedges and cheesesteaks ... Uncle Sam's @ 32nd and Shea makes a nice chicken cheese steak ... Calabria Grocery makes great sandwiches, especially the stuffed eggplant and the ones with chicken cutlets ... Pino's sanwiches are sublime -- get them on focaccia. City Bakery's roasted chicken sandwich is pretty good. Tortas del Guero, Los Reyes de la Torta and La Tolteca make mighty fine tortas. Has anyone had a cimeta at Guero's? Oh, and Carly's has a nice, sort of Cuban panini.

Answer

sigh ... I'll try again. Pane Bianco, all of them are terrific. DeFalco's has excellent meatball wedges and cheesesteaks. Uncle Sam's @ 32nd and Shea does a nice chicken cheesesteak. Calabria Grocery makes great sandwiches, especially the stuffed eggplant and the ones with chicken cutlets. Pino's sandwiches are sublime -- get them on focaccia. Tortas del Guero, Los Reyes de la Torta and La Tolteca make superb tortas. Has anyone had a cimeta at Guero's? Oh, and Carly's has a nice, sort of Cuban panini.

Answer

The steak sandwich (the "Encore") and the salmon sandwich (the "Mona"), both at Sacks.

http://sacks.info/

Answer

I second Flancer's, just about any sandwich there is great as long as you get it with the green chili mayo! I also love Miracle Mile's "New Yorker"- pastrami with russian dressing and coleslaw. The place gets mixed reviews, but I absolutely love that sandwich... definitely need to make a trip to the dry cleaners after that!

-----
Miracle Mile Delicatessen
1949 E Camelback Rd Ste 160, Phoenix, AZ 85016

Answer

I always crave sandwiches from Paradise Bakery. It’s casual dining and their turkey cranberry is delicious, they make their own bread- it’s to die for!

Answer

my top 3 :

1. lamb escarole - if its the market sandwich at pane bianco, it'll be a perfect day
2. improv at sacks - turkey, stuffing, and cranberries on a hoagie, its my weakness *and there's on on 5th ave and thomas*
3. jp turkey at mcgurkee's - to die for. i LOVE this simple sandwich. no wonder mcgurkee's has been open for about 70 years *give or take ;)* on 15th ave and osborn

sorry - but place links hate firefox, at least on my machine :(

Answer

I think the torta de conchinta de pibil at Barrio is the ultimate

Answer

Sausage at Pane Bianco. Actually, pretty much anything at Pane Bianco. But the sausage is amaaaaaazing. And I'm not usually a huge fan of Italian sausage. 

I'm fond of Andreoli as well; have tried 2 or 3 things there so far, all good.

On a good day the turkey sandwich at Palatte is very very tasty. Other days, just eh. But I like that it's actual hunks of roasted turkey -- like you'd use the day after Thanksgiving to make a sandwich for yourself -- rather than the thin thin deli sliced type stuff you get at most places.

Answer

My top three (in no particular order):

Brown sugar pork and the chicken/sage pesto/goat cheese, The Herb Box

Sweet potato/moz/arugala and the chicken continental, Wildflower

Cajun chicken w/grilled onions, AJ's

Used to also love the turkey ciabatta at Dragonfly Cafe, but haven't been since they sold the place, so not sure how it's changed.

Answer

I'm really fond of Chompies deli. Their pastrami reubens are especially messy. 

But then I'm a displaced east coast gal.

Answer

I wonder if Tukee's is still open for walk-in business. It's been years since I've been in, but back then it would change your entire idea of what a good sandwich was. The website is live, so call ahead to see if they still do seating and takeout.

http://www.tukees.com/

Answer

Good thread. I now have some new places to try this weekend.

I like Pane Biano of course. That bread is wonderful. Andreoli is also very, very good. The family that runs it is very nice. But my fav is the Havarti, asparagus and arugala sandwich at Bertha's Cafe in central phx. I actually dream of that sometimes. The flavors are complex, the aspagus just a bit crisp, the cheese melty, the arugala perfectly bitter and the dressing is spicey. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. I don't know how they came up with this concoction, but it is a winner.

Answer

Haven't seen mention of that Vietnamese sandwich place in Chandler yet (name escapes me), but the flavor combinations are certainly interesting. And the bread's pretty good too: fresh, crusty, and a little chewy.

Answer

Sone vert giid recommendations. I've been to all the torta places mentioned and they are excellent. Also, Phoenix Ranch Market has good tortas. I'm a fan of the Cubano. they are huge and messy.

Lee's in Chandler is definitely on the list. Ask for extra meat. There's a small extra charge but it's worth it.


Finally, a place that is easy to forget is Miracle Mile Deli in the Collanade Shopping Center on Camelback. They are on the backside with poor visibility. They have a wide variety of deli sandwiches and a couple of specialty sandwiches as well. Big portions.

The places you've mentioned - particular.ly Primanti's - are iconic just like Geno's Philly Cheesesteaks. That doesn't necessarily mean anyone that isn't an iconic sandwich shop puts out a lesser product.

Answer

Recently had the California panini from Grazie (their N Scottsdale location) and it was excellent - bread from the wood-fired oven, great ingredients. Going to try a few others.

As an aside, Miracle Mile is opening a new branch up on FLW blvd in the Scottsdale Promenade area.

-----
Grazie Pizzeria Winebar
18835 N Thompson Peak Pkwy, Scottsdale, AZ 85255

Answer

Chestnut Lane's prosciutto and brie sandwich - simplicity at it's finest. Unfortunately, today was their last day open for a couple months - they're remodeling.

Answer

I just wanted to support a lot of the places listed so far. I totally agree with Pane Bianco, Andreoli, Lee Sandwiches, Bertha's Cafe and Calabria. To this list I would add one more.

I know there's a lot of support for Tortas El Guero and Los Reyes de la Torta when it comes to "best torta in town." I do like both those places, but if you would like to try an authentic Mexican sandwhich with a little bit higher quality ingredients, a little less greasy and with a similar price, try TORTA RICA on 91st Ave and Thomas. They have a fresher tasting torta that is addictive. Right ther with TR is El Mantantial, another torta y jugo shop on 67th and Camelback.

Answer

As this old thread has been well and truly revived: my personal favorite is the capacollo, hard salami and provolone sub (with everything plus hot pepper relish) at DeFalco's. It's not "the same" as vaguely similar subs in, say, Philadelphia, but as a lover of cold cuts sandwiches in general, I really like this one.

-----
De Falco's
2334 N Scottsdale Road, scottsdale, az

Answer

One of my favorites is the signature sandwich at Goldies:

Tenderloin Focaccia
Vinaigrette marinated tenderloin, sautéed onions, & honey garlic mayo. 8.95

I will sometime add mushrooms and cheese.. Nice messy meal that goes great with a cold pint (or two) of beer.

Answer

Try the Duck Club at Parlor Pizzeria. I would rub that Red Wine Tomato Jam in my eyeballs if I could, it's that good.

Answer

May I suggest the meatball sub at Raffaele's, which is behind the 7-Eleven at 19th Avenue and Glendale?

Answer

A little late, but no one has mentioned Miracle Mile at the Camelback Colonnade shopping center. It will definitely drip all over the place. My husband craves it, so that's all I have to go on.

Answer

I love the sueben at teakwoods on 28th and indian..its a pastrami sandwich with the works delish... and luv scotts generations also

Answer

I vote for DeFalco's eggplant parm sandwich or Green Vegetarian's Secret BBQ chicken sandwich -- really delicious, with a side of thyme fries.

Answer

Tortas have been mentioned previously on the string as has Los Reyes de la Torta. I've tried this place several times and have been impressed with everything particularly the Tortas. The two best are the Los Reyes and the Cubano. I also think those sandwiches say something about Phoeniix or at least the southwest beyond the "imports" from the east like Pastrami and the various Italian sandwiches. Of course these are imports from Mexico but still...

I concur with the comments about Miracle Mile and the Straw sandwich. Everytime I say I am going to get some else and end up ordering the straw. I think I will try it with the roll next next as the rye bread, while tasty and appropriate, does not hold up well as pointed out.

Answer

I nominate the Mediterranean Roasted Vegetable sandwich at Essence in Tempe -- roasted red peppers, zucchini, eggplant, goat cheese, a bit of pesto, on rosemary focaccia. I think it gets better every time I eat it.

Answer

My vote would be the Nine Iron at Postino. Good stuff.

Answer

This time of year, one of the best sandwiches is the one you make yourself at/from one of the farmer's markets... fresh bread from a local bakery, veggies, cheeses, jams/jellies/pickles/sauces/honey/mustards, etc. Even protein-wise, there are purveyors of beef, pork, lamb, eggs, seafood. 

Subway might seem like a steal for $5 for a foot long, but for $3 you can get a real, basic baguette (@ about twice the size) and simply dip it in olive oil, swirl it in marinara, spread on some cheese or load it up with Pork Shop bacon and heirloom tomatoes (or dozens of other combos), feeding 2 or 4 people.

That's no help if you're on a 30-minute lunch break, but if you have a free Saturday morning, it's bounty time at regional markets and all you have to do is a little bit of assembly (and there are now more markets different days of the week).

Answer

If someone mentioned this deli, then I missed it and apologize. BUT I was surprised everyone didn't mention Miracle Mile Deli....since I retired years ago and moved out to the desert very east of the valley I haven't been there but it was THE PLACE to go for lunch when I was an office worker in the 1970's. It's been around since 1949!! And I see on their website they have 3 locations now. http://www.miraclemiledeli.com/menu.html 
I think I ate thousands of corned beef on rye sandwiches there! This is genuine deli not just a sandwich shop.

Answer

This quaint restaurant is maybe the best kept secret. They have the most delicious "super Sicilian" toasted sub and the chicken Athena toasted sub. To be honest I rarely get anything but the super Sicilian. I have been eating there for 15 years and the consistency is uncanny. Don't forget the pickles and peppers on the side. The owners work this every day. If you have never visited, you must.

-----
Mcgurkee's J P Sandwich Shop
2822 N 15th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85007

Answer

Am I the only fan of Capriotti's on Chandler Blvd? They make delicious sandwiches... wish that there was a CenPho location!

Answer

The "Sheridan" at the Main Ingredient on 7th St. in Phoenix is really good. Lovely crusty baguette, salami, medium-thick sliced turkey (yay for real turkey instead of weird deli turkey "loaf" stuff), mayo and tasty grainy mustard, a little bite from the melty sharp cheddar, plus nice field greens and fresh local tomato. It's crunchy and warm and melty and a little drippy and just good. 

I've had it twice; meant to try something different on my 2nd visit and ended up just getting the Sheridan again. Next time....

Answer

Flancer's in Mesa is great. So is Arcadia Farms in Scottsdale.

Answer

Azteca Bakery - Carnitas Torta. Better than anything.

Answer

Azteca Bakery - Best Carnitas Torta. Really the Best. Worth a long trip.

Answer

Revisiting this thread and find it hard to believe that no one -- myself included -- nominated the Italian sandwich at Niccoli's. I had my most recent one yesterday and it is as good as ever.

Answer

If everything goes according to plan, I will soon be serving one of the best sandwiches to Greater Phoenix area residents.

Topics

Locations

Your post has been published!

Best Sandwich in Phx?

Chowhound Recommends

Explore

Hometown Heroes: The Best Regional Sandwich Chains That Should Go National

More from Chowhound

Guides

The Ultimate Spring Produce Guide: What's in Season & How to Use It

Recipe Round-Ups

Quick and Easy Instant Pot Breakfast Recipes for Less Morning Stress

Guides

How to Care for Enameled Cast Iron So It Lasts a Lifetime

Home

The Best Tool to Clean a Wood Cutting Board Is Probably in Your Compost Bin

Trending Discussions

Chowhound Recipes That You are Saving

A Final Goodbye for Chowhound

Favorite Chowhound Memories

NY Times: Chowhound Closes After 25 Years of Food Obsession, Wisdom and Debate

January–April 2022 Baking COTM: DESSERT PERSON by Claire Saffitz

Quick Links

Latest Discussions

Cookbook of the Month

Dish of the Month

Weekly Menu Planning

Get fresh food news delivered to your inbox

12 Irish Foods to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day That Aren’t Corned Beef and Cabbage

Chowhound

Policies

Community

Editorial

Content