Top 10 Sandwiches to Eat in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is known for its diverse food scene, and sandwiches are no exception. It seems like each neighborhood brings something unique to the table. These 15 sandwiches highlight how L.A. puts its own twist on a classic to turn the everyday sandwich into something that stands out.
Langer’s #19 Pastrami on Rye
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Langer’s opened in 1947 in Westlake. It serves hand‑sliced pastrami with Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and Russian dressing on double‑baked rye. This deli’s signature sandwich helped the shop earn a national James Beard Foundation mention; it was actually called the “Marilyn Monroe” of pastrami.
Bay Cities — The Godmother
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The Godmother stacks salami, prosciutto, ham, provolone, peppers, lettuce, onion, and in-house Italian dressing on fresh Italian bread. Since opening in 1925 in Santa Monica, this combo has become a local mainstay. You need to see the daily long lines of locals waiting to feast on its balanced layers of hand-cut meats.
Bub & Grandma’s Tuna Salad on Brioche
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Bub & Grandma’s sits in Glassell Park and combines house-made, buttery brioche buns with chunky tuna salad seasoned with celery and mustard. Customer reviews usually praise how the sandwich stays consistently creamy without being greasy. Patrons return regularly for this reliable and straightforward comfort food.
Bread Head Combo Grinder
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This Santa Monica sandwich features focaccia and ciabatta bread filled with roast pork, salami, provolone, spicy dressing, and greens. Each grinder is basically the size of a MacBook Pro, so you can share or enjoy it over two meals. The focus remains on bold flavors and fresh-baked bread.
Super Tortas DF — Torta Cubano
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The Torta Cubano appears in South L.A. from the Super Tortas DF food truck. It layers ham, fried chicken, chorizo, hot dog, cheese, avocado, jalapeños, and tomato on a telera roll. The item was created for late‑night crowds.
Hue Thai Bakery – Bánh Mì
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At this San Gabriel bakery, the baguette comes fresh from daily baking. Inside, grilled Thai-style chicken is combined with crisp pickled vegetables, cilantro, and spicy mayonnaise. The sandwich balances sweet and savory pretty well with crisp crunches and fresh flavors. It earned a spot on LA food guides in 2024 for combining Vietnamese-style composition with Thai ingredients.
Philippe’s – French Dip
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Philippe’s opened downtown in 1908 and pioneered the French dip concept. Its version places thinly sliced roast beef inside a soft roll, served alongside a cup of jus. A small dab of mustard adds tang. Interestingly, this nostalgic combo has not changed over the decades. You’ll pay less than ten dollars for a classic Jackhammer sandwich in 2025.
The Hat – Pastrami Dip
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This Pasadena staple, founded in 1951, offers pastrami and cheese on a warm roll, served with jus. Every week, 40,000 pounds of pastrami are sold across SoCal locations, to tell you how popular it is. This is the definition of a regional classic.
Canter’s – Monte Cristo
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Night owls and rockers were the regular customer base of Canter’s, especially after shows or sports events. Established in 1931, this place serves a fried ham-and-cheese sandwich dusted with powdered sugar. Esquire placed it on its national best-sandwich list, and it remains an L.A. fixture that’s open 24 hours.
Calabama – Southern Breakfast Sandwich
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Born as a pandemic-era “bucket drop,” this fluffy eggs‑bacon‑onions sandwich on griddled Bimbo bread now has a brick-and-mortar on Santa Monica Blvd. It developed a following and got celebrity endorsement from Will Ferrell and Halle Berry. Most fans eat it with a vinegar-based hot sauce.
Mamie Italian Kitchen – Panini Diva/Rossellini
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Mamie’s panini starts with Tuscan-style schiacciata bread, fermented for three days and pressed fresh. The Diva features mortadella, stracciatella, pistachio, and arugula. The Rossellini layers porchetta, gorgonzola cream, mushrooms, and arugula. The crust’s chew is regularly praised, alongside the contrast of rich and peppery fillings.
The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills – La Macellaia
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La Macellaia features imported Italian meats and cheeses on a soft baguette baked in-house. Host Link Neal called it “the best Italian sub I’ve ever put in my mouth” on Good Mythical Morning in 2025. This handmade sub prioritizes thin meats and firm bread. There is no excess sauce, so you can actually taste the ingredients clearly.
Attari Sandwich Shop – Falafel-Pita
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Attari in Westwood fills pita bread with crisp falafel, creamy tahini, chopped vegetables, and pickles. The crunch on the outside and density inside are its major selling points. It is cheap and delicious, and remains a popular vegan and vegetarian stop.
Ferrazzani’s – Mortadella-Stracciatella
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In Pasadena’s small Italian market that opened in 2019, Ferranzzani’s simple mortadella with stracciatella and pistachio on Bub & Grandma’s baguette is proof that less can be so much better. It was launched on a four-ingredient ethos, and its simplicity leaves many regulars surprised and delighted.
TakaTis Sanguchan – Peruvian Chicken Sandwich
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Inside Van Nuys, this Peruvian chicken sanguchan packs juicy grilled chicken, spicy chili sauce, fresh cilantro, and crisp onions into a soft roll. Reddit threads call it a “hidden gem.” It;s under $15 as of late 2024, so it meets both budget and flavor criteria.