The 10 Best Sandwiches in Seattle and the Surrounding Area

10. Classic Cubano at El Cubano To Go

• Where: 19920 Aurora Ave. N., Shoreline

A good Cubano does not need much tinkering, and El Cubano To Go keeps things refreshingly traditional. Its Classic Cubano combines ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, yellow mustard, and pickles before everything is pressed together into a hot, crispy sandwich.

One detail that helps set it apart is the bread. El Cubano To Go uses Cuban bread sourced from La Segunda Bakery in Florida, giving the sandwich the crisp exterior and softer interior that a great Cubano needs. The Shoreline restaurant continues to earn excellent customer reviews and has become a destination for Cuban food north of Seattle.

9. Tat’strami at Tat’s Delicatessen

• Where: 159 Yesler Way, Seattle

Tat’s Delicatessen has been a Pioneer Square favorite for years, especially among anyone craving the kind of oversized East Coast-style sandwich that can easily become an entire meal. Cheesesteaks get plenty of attention here, but the Tat’strami deserves a spot near the top of the menu.

The sandwich piles house pastrami onto a hoagie roll with creamy coleslaw, melted Swiss cheese, and Russian dressing. It is rich, messy, and exactly the type of sandwich you probably should not attempt to eat while walking. Tat’s also has more than a thousand Yelp reviews behind it, making it one of the most established sandwich spots on this list.

8. Grilled Pork Bánh Mì at Yeh Yeh’s

• Where: 19915 64th Ave. W., Suite 101, Lynnwood

You will have to head north of Seattle for this one, but fans of Yeh Yeh’s would argue that the drive is worth it. The Lynnwood shop specializes in Vietnamese sandwiches, with its grilled pork bánh mì being one of the standouts.

The sandwich combines deeply marinated grilled pork with creamy mayo, crisp vegetables, and traditional bánh mì toppings stuffed inside a crunchy baguette. That combination of smoky meat, fresh vegetables, and crisp bread has helped Yeh Yeh’s build a remarkably loyal following.

7. Notorious P.I.G. at Layers Green Lake

• Where: 7900 E. Green Lake Drive N., Suite 107, Seattle

The sandwiches at Layers are not exactly shy. Creative combinations and big flavors are the norm, and the Notorious P.I.G. is one of the best examples of what made this former food truck such a popular Seattle sandwich destination.

Tender pork belly provides the richness, while Fresno pepper jelly brings sweetness and just enough heat to keep things interesting. Layers rotates portions of its menu, so this particular sandwich may not always be available. If you see it listed, however, it is one worth grabbing.

6. Milanese at Hushy’s Sandwiches

• Where: 3400 Stone Way N., Seattle

Hushy’s has built its reputation around house-made focaccia, which gives nearly every sandwich here an immediate advantage. The bread is thick enough to handle substantial fillings without overwhelming them, and the Milanese puts that focaccia to particularly good use.

Inside is a fried local pork chop topped with a red wine and honey glaze and creamy kimchi-Kewpie slaw. The result lands somewhere between an Italian-inspired sandwich and an inventive Seattle creation. Hushy’s has also earned recognition for its focaccia sandwiches, helping establish the Stone Way shop as one of the city’s newer sandwich destinations worth knowing.

5. Chicken Amiga at Tubs Gourmet Subs

• Where: 10415 Beardslee Blvd., Bothell

Tubs has been making gloriously over-the-top toasted subs for decades. The restaurant originally operated in Seattle before moving its Lake City location to Bothell, where longtime fans continue to make the trip for sandwiches that are anything but restrained.

The Chicken Amiga combines sliced chicken, cheddar, bacon, barbecue seasoning, and Tapatío, with house ranch served alongside for dipping. It is spicy, cheesy, smoky, and unapologetically messy. Tubs also has an extensive history of strong customer reviews, making it one of the Seattle area’s most established sandwich destinations.

4. The Fortuna at Fortuna

• Where: 7619 Greenwood Ave. N., Seattle

Fortuna is one of the newer names on this list, but it did not take long for the Greenwood sandwich shop to start attracting attention. Its specialty is schiacciata, the crisp yet chewy Tuscan-style flatbread that makes an excellent base for substantial Italian sandwiches.

The namesake Fortuna piles on thinly shaved porchetta with truffle Gorgonzola, crushed marinated olives, lemon olive oil, red onion, and arugula. There is a lot happening, but the combination balances rich pork and cheese with acidity, salt, and fresh greens.

3. Nem Nướng Hà Nội at Voi Cà Phê

• Where: 6105 13th Ave. S., Seattle

Georgetown’s Voi Cà Phê serves Vietnamese coffee and food, but its bánh mì lineup alone gives sandwich lovers a reason to visit. Among the choices, the Nem Nướng Hà Nội is particularly hard to ignore.

At its center is a juicy pork sausage patty flavored with lemongrass, paired with mint, mayo, pickled vegetables, and black pepper inside a crisp baguette. The combination is savory, bright, herbal, and crunchy all at once. Voi Cà Phê has also received some of the strongest critic scores among Seattle’s current crop of sandwich spots.

2. Albacore Tuna Sando at Local Tide

• Where: 401 N. 36th St., Suite 103, Seattle

Fremont’s Local Tide approaches the sandwich differently than most places on this list. Rather than deli meat or slow-cooked pork, seafood is the star, making this an especially appropriate Seattle entry.

The Albacore Tuna Sando features seared Oregon Coast albacore loin with house pickles, celery ribbons, frisée, pickled Fresno peppers, and house mayo on toasted sourdough. The tuna remains the focus while the peppers, pickles, and vegetables provide plenty of acidity and crunch. Local Tide has earned exceptional reviews from diners and food critics alike.

1. Caribbean Roast at Un Bien

• Where: 7302.5 15th Ave. NW, Seattle

There are plenty of arguments to be had about Seattle’s best sandwich, but Un Bien is almost impossible to leave out of the conversation. The colorful Caribbean sandwich shop has developed a devoted following, and its Caribbean Roast is the sandwich that best explains why.

Slow-roasted marinated pork shoulder is loaded onto a toasted Macrina Bakery baguette with aioli, cilantro, pickled jalapeños, romaine, and deeply caramelized onions. Juices from the pork soak into the bread while the jalapeños and herbs keep the sandwich from becoming overwhelmingly rich.

Un Bien has earned thousands of positive customer reviews and some of the highest praise from Seattle food critics. There are now multiple Seattle locations, but whichever one you visit, the Caribbean Roast is the sandwich to start with.