These best sandwiches in America are worth a road trip (or a detour)

These best sandwiches in America are worth a road trip (or a detour) From Jacksonville's camel rider to Phoenix's porchetta, this coast-to-coast collection spans classic, regional and inventive combinations.

Key points

• Details: 100 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, 305-701-9914; 350 South County Road, Palm Beach, 561-833-6295; 1901 South Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, 561-469-1917; buccansandwichshop.com.
• Main St., 9720 Atlantic Blvd., 1103 Dunn Ave., 2953 Philips Highway, 5172 Normandy Blvd., 7361 103rd St., all in Jacksonville; sheiksandwiches.com.
• Beef Carpaccio Sandwich at Buccan Sandwich Shop Coral Gables, Palm Beach, and West Palm Beach, Florida.
• Some of our favorite Midwestern sandwich spots include Stage Deli in Detroit, Subito in Indianapolis, and Alveo near Cincinnati.
• More: 7 Delaware sandwiches worth a bite in 2026, from cutlets to po' boys.

Which Midwest city has the best sandwich? We road trip to find out.

Some of our favorite Midwestern sandwich spots include Stage Deli in Detroit, Subito in Indianapolis, and Alveo near Cincinnati. There's something regarding fall that makes us crave a sandwich.

Is it back-to-school vibes? Football tailgates? Picnics pit stops on fall leaf-peeping hikes?

Our food writers love spotlighting the country's top restaurants, but there's something to be remarked for celebrating the simple sandwich. Or sometimes – not so simple.

From the perfect porchetta at Phoenix's famous Pane Bianco, to the mouthwatering mortadella at Boston's Bricco Salumeria, we've scoured the country for the best thing since – er, between – sliced bread.

You'll find everything from chicken salad with a hint of sweet jam to a spice bomb crunchy with chips (yes, inside the bread), plus sandwiches that are regional signatures – known and loved by the locals who live there. Here are standout sandwiches worth the detour – or the pilgrimage. Porchetta Sandwich at Pane Bianco Phoenix, Arizona. Details: 4404 N. Central Ave., Phoenix; 602-234-2100; pizzeriabianco.com/pane-bianco.

When you enter Pane Bianco, take in the wooden communal tables. Then you'll notice the kitchen and market to the right. Lean in a little and you'll be hit with a tantalizing smell of fresh pizza and can steal a peek inside the wood-fired oven. James Beard Award-winning restaurateur and chef Chris Bianco. This person additionally owns Pizzeria Bianco and Tratto, opened Pane Bianco in central Phoenix in 2003. Notably, the star here are the sandwiches, served mostly on house-made breads like focaccia and country loaf. They're all good, but if you're only going to order one, don't skip the porchetta ($16). Focaccia is packed with crispy-skinned, buttery-tender pork, slathered with a bright Italian salsa verde and lemon mayo that cut through the fat and balance the bite beautifully. Peppery arugula adds just the right freshness. For context, the bread's blistered crust and craggy crumb adds another fantastic dimension. It's a well thought out flavor composition that's as memorable as it is delicious. – Bahar Anooshahr/Arizona Republic.

More: Our critic's 10 favorite sandwiches in metro Phoenix right now. The Leclair at Pan Fayetteville, Arkansas. Details: 105 Hay St., Fayetteville; 910-491-3105; facebook.com/panfaync.

At Pan, the menu is built around house-made vinaigrettes, tapenades, relishes and pestos paired with locally sourced ingredients. Bread comes from two local bakeries, Bread & Sugar by Dali and Superior Bakery. The Leclair, featuring chicken, fresh mozzarella, two kinds of pesto, mixed greens and a balsamic vinaigrette, all created to order on ciabatta, is the first sandwich listed on the panini menu. It's additionally the first thing that employees at this award-winning shop will recommend to new customers. – Alex Goldstein/The Fayetteville Observer. More: Five sandwiches from Fayetteville shops you've obtained to try.

For context, the CEO at The Lunch Spot Palm Desert, California. Details: 74-868 Joni Drive, Suite 1-A, Palm Desert; 442-334-7171; thelunchspotpd.com.

I'm on a slow mission to eventually try each of the 19 sandwiches at The Lunch Spot. It created Yelp's top 100 sandwich shops in America list in 2025, and the CEO (No. 19 on the menu) is one that I have to fight myself not to order every time I visit. With oven roasted turkey, bacon, red onion, sprouts, pepperoncini, pepper jack cheese and spicy aioli on grilled rosemary bread, it has the perfect combo of a little bit of spice and herby fresh sprouts and it comes with a side of ranch to satisfy my lingering Midwestern tendencies. Served hot, it's the perfect sandwich I wish I had the ambition to create myself at home. – Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun.

More: Where to obtain 10 of greater Palm Springs' best sandwiches. French Dip at La Boutique Fort Collins, Colorado. Details: 216 Pine St., Fort Collins; 970-694-2836; la.boutique. TikTok's top Fort Collins lunch pick? La Boutique.

For context, a search for "lunch in Fort Collins" sent a Coloradoan reporter to La Boutique.

Lunch feels like a quick escape to a small European café at La Boutique. It pairs specialty meats and cheeses with fresh baguettes and pretzel buns, creating a menu that's both elevated and approachable. A standout is the French Dip. Packed with roast beef and melted Swiss cheese and served with a side of French onion soup for dipping, it's a classic done right. Notably, the combination is rich, savory and deeply comforting, especially after a dunk in the warm broth. – Abigail Flores-Johnson, Fort Collins Coloradoan. More: Looking for lunch? Start with these 9 Fort Collins sandwiches.

In practice, the Bobbie at Capriotti's Multiple locations in Delaware.

They start making The Bobbie the night before – when 25-pound frozen Butterball turkeys are hoisted into sizeable pans and slid into pizza ovens in each Capriotti's shop nationwide. The Wilmington, Delaware-born chain still does it the way it always has: slow-cooking the turkeys overnight before being handpicked early the next morning. A hoagie roll stuffed with the fresh-roasted turkey, homemade stuffing, cranberry sauce, and mayonnaise is the original "Thanksgiving on a roll" sandwich and has been copied by competitors for years. Sure, some old-school customers complain the sandwich isn't as hefty since the chain was sold and went national. That's why we order ours with extra turkey. -Ryan Cormier/Delaware News Journal.

Buccan Sandwich Shop's beef carpaccio sandwich is the reason plenty of first-timers become regulars. Built with the same attention to detail that created chef Clay Conley's restaurants local favorites, it layers thinly sliced raw beef with arugula, parmesan, crispy and balsamic onions, mayo and lemon vinaigrette on a crusty baguette. The combination delivers crunch, richness and brightness in almost every bite. What began as a Palm Beach sandwich shop has expanded to West Palm Beach and Coral Gables. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis proclaimed it the state's best sub during his 2026 visit. Political opinions may vary, but on this point, plenty of sandwich lovers agree. – Diana Biederman/The Palm Beach Post.

Proof that lunch can be a destination: The best sandwiches in Palm Beach County. Camel Rider at The Sheik Sandwiches and Subs Jacksonville, Florida.

Details: 2708 N. Main St., 9720 Atlantic Blvd., 1103 Dunn Ave., 2953 Philips Highway, 5172 Normandy Blvd., 7361 103rd St., all in Jacksonville; sheiksandwiches.com.

If Jacksonville has a "signature" sandwich, surely it must be the humble camel rider. (Just ask Mick Jagger, who offered the sandwich a shout-out at a 2019 concert in Jacksonville.) A pita stuffed with sliced deli meat (usually ham, salami and bologna) with a touch of lettuce, tomato and cheese and a bit of dressing, it is a great one-handed sandwich, at least at the start. You can find riders on the menu at dozens of lunch places around town, but the sandwich probably obtained its name from The Sheik. It opened north of downtown in 1972 and now has franchiese all over town. -Tom Szaroleta/The Florida Times-Union.

Lunch break: Ten sandwiches to try in Jacksonville. Chicken Al Pastor at Terra Craft Sandwiches Melbourne, Florida. Details: 231 W. Hibiscus Blvd., Melbourne; 321-237-2311; terracraftsandwiches.com.

Tucked into a small Melbourne storefront, Terra Craft Sandwiches has earned a loyal after for its made-from-scratch approach. One standout is the Chicken Al Pastor, a flavorful creation that combines seared chicken, grilled pineapple, cilantro aioli and chili sambal slaw. The ingredients are layered between two flaky parathas, creating a balance of savory, sweet and spicy flavors with plenty of texture in every bite. The sandwich showcases the kitchen's knack for blending familiar ingredients with unexpected twists. ― Amber Olesen, Florida Today. More: 11 Florida sandwich shops worth the drive from Brevard County.

Godsmac at Slicers Hoagies Naples, Florida. Details: 13040 Livingston Road, Naples; 239-280-0703; slicershoagies.com.

Tucked into a strip mall in Naples, Slicers Hoagies serves delicious sandwiches – classic favorites to oddball new creations. Every sandwich is worth tasting, but a standout is the Godsmac. It is packed with Buffalo chicken, white American cheese, onions, jalapeños, crushed nacho cheese Doritos, mac and cheese, sriracha mayo and Frank's RedHot sauce. With every bite you obtain crunch, an unexpected twist and just the right amount of spice. ― Kendall Little, Naples Daily News. More: These 6 Naples sandwich shops are worth the hype. Il Maestoso at A Mano Panino Pensacola, Florida.

Details: 1010 N. 12 Ave. Suite 128, Pensacola; 850-400-3657; amanopanino.com.

Notably, a cute, casual Tuscan-inspired sandwich shop, A Mano Panino – a mano means "by hand" – has a Michelin bib gourmand and has become a foodie destination. Il Maestoso is a must-try thanks to owners Alex and Ashley Lamonte's skillfully slow-roasted porchetta. It features Duroc pork belly rolled with roasted garlic and house seasoning and cooked over charcoal and applewood. The meat is then paired with a zesty giardiniera relish, creamy garlic artichoke spread and fresh zucchini. As you might expect from the shop's name, the bread – the trendy schiacciata – is created from scratch daily and forms the foundation of all the shop's famous street sandwiches that resemble just the kind you find (and afterwards crave) traveling through Italy. – Brittany Misencik, Pensacola News Journal.

More: Here are the 10 Pensacola sandwiches I'm obsessing over. The Revelo at Subito Indianapolis, Indiana. Details: 34 N. Delaware St., Indianapolis; 317-220-8211; subitosoups.com.

In practice, the Revelo serves thick scraps of mojo pork, pickled jalapeños and cilantro cloaked in Swiss cheese and aioli on truly excellent panini-pressed sourdough, whose ever-fermenting starter predates plenty of of the businesses neighboring this downtown shop. This is just an incredibly well-constructed sandwich, a little hot and a little sour and an ever-present threat to my financial wellbeing as a downtown office worker. – Bradley Hohulin/IndyStar. More: These 10 sandwiches create the case for Indy's best. Breaded Pork Tenderloin at Smitty's Tenderloin Shop Des Moines, Iowa. Details: 1401 Army Post Road, Des Moines; 515-287‑4742; smittystenderloinshop.com.

Meanwhile, the vibe at Smitty's Tenderloin Shop is pure Iowa, from the no-frills dining room to the hand-breaded pork tenderloins that have created it a local institution since 1952. The sandwich arrives in classic Hawkeye State fashion, with a crispy, golden-fried cutlet spilling well beyond the bun. Its status as the "Godfather" of Des Moines tenderloins and a longtime favorite of locals and visitors alike makes it an essential stop for anyone exploring versions of Iowa's signature sandwich. – Susan Stapleton/Des Moines Register.

More: 5 best breaded pork tenderloins in Des Moines that locals love. Queen Anne Benedictine Sandwich at The Cafe Louisville, Kentucky. Details: 731 Brent St., Louisville; 502-589-9191; thecafetogo.com.

Louisville is credited with inventing a bright green spread that's a go-to for Kentucky Derby parties. Jennie C. Benedict, a famous Louisville caterer and a former editor for The Courier Journal's "Household" section, created the popular recipe for Benedectine spread, created of cucumber and cream cheese, that is usually spread thick between thin slices of bread, near the beginning of the 20th century. The Café, a popular restaurant in Louisville's Paristown neighborhood that opened in 1996, elevates the traditional finger sandwich with homemade Benedictine spread served on artisan walnut wheat bread. It's garnished with sliced cucumbers, bacon and lettuce. – Amanda Hancock/Louisville Courier Journal.

More: Where to find the best sandwiches in Louisville. Chicken Tip Sub at Anthony's Food Shop York, Maine. Details: 679 Route 1, York; 207-363-2322; anthonysfoodshop.com.

Fishermen and construction workers stop by first thing in the morning to obtain lunch. Families on the way to the beach stop here, too. Local workers go regularly. And not-so-local folks create the trip. So should you. Anthony's offers all the classics, from a BLT to pastrami, and makes meatballs and marinara created in-house. Try the House Italian, the deli's all-time favorite blend of Italian-style cold cuts – Genoa salami, mortadella, ham and provolone. And don't be afraid to brave the lines. Anthony's has been making sandwiches since 1990, and they know how to move fast. – Jane Murphy/Seacoastonline.

More: Here are 20 Seacoast NH and Maine sandwich shops locals love. Mortadella Sandwich at Bricco Salumeria & Pasta Shop Boston, Massachusetts. Details: 11 Board Alley, Boston; 617-248-9629; briccosalumeria.com.

Head to the North End, the historic Italian section of the city, to find this hidden gem, tucked down a long, narrow alleyway. The shop is small and take-out only with limited outdoor seating – and draws customers near and far, including regulars and tourists. Our favorite order is the Mortadella sandwich, featuring 10 thin slices of imported mortadella, topped with creamy stracciatella, Italian pear jam and crushed pistachios on thick, fluffy focaccia bread. – Joanna Tzouvelis/Wicked Local.

More: What's the best sandwich in the Boston area? Here's Wicked Local's pick. Sweet Sandwich at Bees and Thank You Worcester, Massachusetts. Details: 160 Green St., Worcester; 508-556-4598; beesandthankyou.org.

For now, these best sandwiches in America are worth a road trip (or a remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.