09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
The 18 best sandwich shops in Greater Boston
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All-Star Sandwich Bar
All-Star Sandwich Bar
With its retro vibe and outrageously comforting menu, this Inman Square staple exudes devil-may-care largesse. After a night out, recover the next day with a grilled meatloaf sandwich blanketed in melted Jack cheese on sourdough, or a sinfully thick grilled cheese on white, further corrupted by béchamel sauce. From fries drenched in All Star's 'Inner Beauty' hot sauce to gravy-smothered poutine — there are no rules here.
Address:
1245 Cambridge Street, Cambridge
Phone:
Find online:
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Al's Cafes
Al's Cafe
Al's is where long lines go to die: Even during the peak of lunch rush, it's possible to be in and out in five minutes thanks to the efficient sandwich-assembly process. Al's is also one of the last places in Boston where you can get a hearty, quality sandwich (the chicken salad is can't-miss) at a reasonable price. The subs are so big you might have leftovers for dinner, but so tasty that you shouldn't count on it. There are multiple locations in the Boston area.
Address:
114 State Street, Downtown, and other locations
Phone:
Find online:
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Ba Lẹ
Ask any bánh mì aficionado which place makes their favorite sandwich and you are likely to hear about this shop, which also sells Vietnamese prepared foods and smoothies. Ba Lẹ has been making stellar bánh mì in Dorchester for decades. The key is the bread: crusty, baguette-like rolls baked daily. The team behind the counter slathers them with house-made mayo and layers on grilled meats, pâté, and pickled vegetables at warp speed; the inevitable lunch line moves swiftly. Other locations in Malden and Quincy.
Address:
1052 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester
Phone:
Find online:
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Chacarero
Chacarero
Adam DeTour for The Boston Globe; Food styling by Shiela Jarnes
This tiny Chilean counter-service place is legendary among sandwich lovers, especially among the Financial District's office workers who frequent it. After starting out as a downtown pushcart, Chacarero is known today in part for what put it on the map — the BBQ beef sandwich made with house-made round bread and also stuffed with cheese, tomatoes, green beans, avocado, and a tangy hot sauce. It's a taste of Chile in downtown Boston.
Address:
101 Arch Street, Downtown
Phone:
Find online:
Cutty's
Husband-wife chefs Charles and Rachel Kelsey met while working at America's Test Kitchen. When they opened Cutty's in 2010, it was one of the first shops in the area to elevate sandwiches with top quality ingredients, house-roasted meats, and locally grown vegetables. Since then, they've racked up the accolades, including being named to The New York Times's list of the 25 best restaurants in Boston. The broccoli rabe, tomato jam, mozzarella, and provolone on a seeded roll is a testament to their skill and imagination.
Address:
284 Washington Street, Brookline
Phone:
Find online:
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Dave's Fresh Pasta
Dave's Fresh Pasta
Catch a bit of bottega culture at this Davis Square mainstay for pasta, provisions, and charcuterie, where wheels of Willoughby cheese share real estate with Tuscan wines and porcini ravioli. Load up your basket, then order lunch from a sandwich menu packed with house-roasted meats and top-notch cheeses and produce (there are vegetarian options, as well). The soft, herbaceous lamb piled high on a web of olive-oil soaked focaccia is a revelation.
Address:
81 Holland Street, Somerville
Phone:
Find online:
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Jim's Deli
Jim's Deli
Order a sandwich and settle into a booth at this throwback spot, established in 1990 down the street from a police station and hospital, for an unforgettable Brighton experience. It's hopping from breakfast through dinner. Sandwiches and wraps include the hearty steak-and-egg sub with grilled onions on a roll and turkey melt on toast. Portions are large, while the service is brusque but friendly — and speedy.
Address:
371 Washington Street, Brighton
Phone:
Find online:
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Joe's Famous Steak & Cheese
Joe's Famous Steak & Cheese
Adam DeTour for The Boston Globe; Food styling by Shiela Jarnes
There's no stress about what to order at this friendly Nubian Square staple. The only question: Steak and cheese with what? Peppers and onions are a good starting point, but mushrooms and eggs are options as well — and you can't go wrong. Even a 'small' sub spills over with shaved meat and mild melted cheese, piping hot off the grill. Other sandwiches and pizza are on the menu, as well.
Address:
140 Dudley Street, Roxbury
Phone:
Find online:
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Meridian Food Market
Meridian Food Market
The love is palpable and portions generous at this Eastie staple featuring Italian classics from jumbo arancini (rice balls) to chicken Parmesan. The star here comes off the extensive sub menu: The Meridian Special packs chicken cutlets, prosciutto, mozzarella, roasted peppers, and basil into a perfectly-toasted bun. Locals return again and again for the food as well as the East Boston vibe, complete with family photos that let you know who keeps the place going.
Address:
121 Meridian Street, East Boston
Phone:
Find online:
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Monica's Mercato & Salumeria
Monica's Mercato & Salumeria
Adam DeTour for The Boston Globe; Food styling by Shiela Jarnes
At Monica's in the North End, the size of the sandwiches is matched only by the perfectly balanced flavors. The Italian sub is a favorite, with heaping piles of prosciutto, mortadella, salami, and provolone stacked atop hot peppers, pickles, and more. Monica's signature balsamic glaze adds a subtle sweetness to this glorious combination of salt, acid, and fat. Tip: Order ahead online and pick it up at the counter to avoid waiting.
Address:
130 Salem Street, North End
Phone:
Find online:
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Pemberton Farms Marketplace
Pemberton Farms Marketplace
James Saidnawey
This family-run market, established in 1930, has top quality ingredients for whatever you're cooking. But the stars here are the made-to-order sandwiches, starting with eggy delights at breakfast, and for later, a wide array of lunch options, including the toasty, spicy Cuban panini with ham, pulled pork, Swiss, and chipotle mayo on ciabatta. While you wait, grab a cookie or three from the tempting display.
Address:
2225 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge
Phone:
Find online:
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Pennypacker's
Pennypacker's
Brian Samuels Photography
Located in the High Street Place Food Hall, Pennypacker's earns its spot on the list on the strength of its porchetta sandwich alone: Think the most flavorful, garlicky, herb-kissed roast pork belly and shoulder, unctuous meat against crispy skin, with a bright condiment (such as onions agrodolce or pepper relish) for contrast. It's hard to look past this standout, but the roast chicken, lamb, and grilled mushroom-brie sandwiches would like a word.
Address:
100 High Street, Downtown
Phone:
Find online:
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Pikalo
The small sandwich board outside Pikalo belies the hefty empanadas served inside this no-frills Dominican eatery. The empanadas come with a host of savory filling choices, from the traditional beef and chicken to the less common eggplant and conch, all housed in a flaky dough. Or try a Caribbean-style sandwich, such as the patacón, which substitutes fried green plantains for bread. To wash it down, there's a selection of refreshing juices and smoothies. Locations in Jamaica Plain and East Boston, as well as Lawrence and Lowell.
Address:
360 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain, and another location
Phone:
Find online:
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Tenóch Mexican
Tenóch Mexican
Lane Turner/Globe staff
Now a home-grown mini-chain, Tenóch first earned a following in Medford with its husky tortas: a pressed stack of marinated meat, vegetables, mild Oaxacan cheese, and a zippy slather of chipotle mayo on spongy telera bread. Those are a filling meal (and, at about $11, an affordable one). But Tenóch does it all equally well, including a dozen varieties of tacos, and enchiladas rolled in a hauntingly sweet, brothy mole sauce. Lines move fast, too.
Address:
382 Highland Avenue, Somerville, and other locations
Phone:
Find online:
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Tostado Sandwich Bar
This friendly Dominican shop on a lively block in Jamaica Plain serves a variety of made-to-order sammies including the classic Cubano. This standout offers a slice of ham buried in savory shredded pork topped with pickles, melty Swiss and the house mojo sauce. Packed into a soft bread and crisped up in the press, this beauty is best washed down with one of many tropical juices on offer (don't miss the passion fruit).
Address:
300 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain
Phone:
Find online:
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Tutto Italiano
Tutto Italiano
Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff
If you believe (rightly) that bread is the foundation upon which sandwich excellence rests, make this family-owned Italian shop your next stop. Choose from a cornucopia — ciabatta, bastone, and, especially, braided treccia — baked in house daily. Fillings are equally worthy, from prosciutto with fresh mozzarella to chicken parm to the indecisive person's holy grail: the Italian, containing all the salumi at once. There is always a line, and it's always worth it.
Address:
1889 River Street, Hyde Park
Phone:
Find online:
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Vinal General Store
Vinal General Store
Josh Reynolds for The Boston Globe
The menu at the very cool, very Somerville Vinal General includes a range of overstuffed sandwiches such as the 'spuckie' — that's Boston for sub sandwich, in this case with mortadella, salami, and more on Iggy's ciabatta — plus adventurous wines and soft serve to top it off. And that's just the start: You'll find many snack items and host gifts in the retail section; and peanut butter dog biscuits are made at the Vinal Bakery next door.
Address:
220 Somerville Avenue, Somerville
Phone:
Find online:
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