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Where to Order Some of Seattle’s Most Sensational Sandwiches

Chicago beef-style monstrosities, fried catfish sandwiches, a smoked tofu Reuben, and more hand-held treats

by Eater Staff Updated
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A sandwich from Layers
| Layers
by Eater Staff Updated

An expertly crafted sandwich can be a perfect meal on its own — and it’s tailor-made for takeout if you’re in a hurry. While lots of restaurants offer a great sandwich or two, this map covers some of the best sandwich shops dedicated to the form in its many incarnations, from Philly cheesesteaks to fried catfish sandwiches to a smoked tofu Reuben. Note that there’s also a whole separate guide for banh mi, since the city has so many excellent options; a breakfast sandwich-focused list; and a map dedicated to fried chicken, which includes yet more sandwiches.

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Zylberschtein's

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Pinehurst Jewish deli Zylberschtein’s features thick-cut pastrami and corned beef sandwiches on freshly baked rye among its more popular items, while options like whitefish salad and a smoked tofu Reuben provide an alternative to the otherwise meaty menu. You can also sign up for a bagel club with a wide delivery range across Seattle.

11752 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98125
(206) 403-1202
(206) 403-1202

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Sammich Seattle

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In spring 2023, Oregon-based sandwich impresario Melissa McMillan planted a truck outside the Project 9 brewery in Maple Leaf and it demands a pilgrimage from any serious ‘wich worshiper. Sammich specializes in meaty, messy sandwiches like the Italian Beef, which is loaded with peppers and best enjoyed with au jus poured all over everything. Sammich sandwiches pair nicely with beer, but also with an afternoon nap.

1409 NE 80th St, Seattle, WA 98115
(206) 790-6889
(206) 790-6889

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Layers Green Lake

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Layers has evolved from a sandwich truck into a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Green Lake, finally providing a permanent home for Avery and Ashley Hardin’s sophisticated sandwich creations, which put the textures and flavors of a high-end restaurant meal between two slices of bread. Standouts include Sebastian’s Sunset, which is crab cake with pickled fennel, arugula, and remoulade, and I’d Date a Jalapeno, a grilled cheese with Deglet Noor dates and jalapenos.

7900 East Green Lake Dr N #107, Seattle, WA 98103

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Un Bien

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The sons of the former owner of Seattle sandwich icon Paseo now run Un Bien, with two locations in Ballard — including one in Shilshole along the Burke-Gilman Trail’s western terminus — serving wonderful Caribbean sandwiches, covered in aioli, cilantro, pickled jalapenos, and caramelized onions on toasted baguettes. The Caribbean roast sandwich is the star, with its marinated pork shoulder falling apart at a glance, but all the sides and sandwiches are worth your time.

7302.5 15th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98117
(206) 588-2040
(206) 588-2040

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Stumbletown Ballard

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Making a great Italian-inspired sandwich is easy. All you need is the highest-quality peppers, sundried tomato spreads, and meats; then you put those fixings between two halves of warm Sea Wolf ciabatta, then you add the perfect amount of arugula and olive oil to balance out the cheese and meat. Just be perfect at pretty much everything, and you’ll be this low-key Ballard spot.

6256 3rd Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 453-8307
(206) 453-8307

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Mean Sandwich

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Mean Sandwich, the acclaimed Ballard counter, offers winners such as the shop’s eponymous sandwich (griddled corned beef, pickled red cabbage, yellow mustard, and fresh mint), oyster po’ boys, and the vegetarian Midnight at the Oasis, with falafel, hummus, harissa beets, and Persian pickles — not to mention a mind-blowing burger.

1510 NW Leary Way, Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 789-9999
(206) 789-9999

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Local Tide

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Local Tide is a seafood dream, drawing long lines in particular for its well-crafted Dungeness crab roll with mayo on a griddled split-top bun, currently available just Friday through Sunday. Of course, you might argue a crab roll, like a hot dog, isn’t even a sandwich. If so, the popular Fremont shop has you covered with other stellar sandwiches, from a salmon BLT to a rockfish banh mi to fried dover sole on a brioche bun.

401 N 36th St Suite 103, Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 420-4685
(206) 420-4685

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Post Alley Pizza

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The problem with Post Alley Pizza is that if you get one of their ballyhooed slices (and you should) you’re probably going to be too full to also order an Italian hoagie, which is surely one of the best lunches in Pike Place Market, if not the entire universe. The finocchiona (a salami variety), provolone, smoked ham, and the dressing hit spicy, sharp, meaty, and creamy notes that add up to a beautiful symphony.

1123 Post Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 382-8475
(206) 382-8475

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Tat’s Delicatessen

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Tat’s Delicatessen, an East Coast-style sandwich shop in Pioneer Square (with a roving food truck and an outpost at the Crocodile), runs the gamut with monster hoagies, grinders, and cheesesteaks. Don’t miss the Tat’strami, a cheesesteak-pastrami mash-up, and the monster meatball sub with beef, pork, and veal.

159 Yesler Way, Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 264-8287
(206) 264-8287

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Jackson’s Catfish Corner

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Treasured since its inception in 1985, Jackson’s Catfish Corner has closed and reopened multiple times now, most recently making a triumphant return to the Central District in 2021. While the namesake catfish is great on its own, the crispy fried fish is absolutely delightful on a squishy bun topped with the restaurant’s famed tangy tartar sauce and slices of pickles. Don’t forget the side of hush puppies.

2218 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98144
(206) 420-3911
(206) 420-3911

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The Original Philly's

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Even though it’s a long way to Philadelphia, this no-frills sandwich shop in South Seattle does cheesesteaks right. The Original Philly’s generously stuffs chopped-up beef, mushrooms, and peppers into its sandwiches, and also allows you to work on your arguments for the eternal debate: melted cheese on the bottom or cheese sauce on top? Can’t go wrong either way.

3019 Martin Luther King Jr Way S, Seattle, WA 98144
(206) 723-7445
(206) 723-7445

The Swinery

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The Swinery, an impressive butcher shop in West Seattle, also serves burgers and sandwiches involving all manner of pork. The Swinery Spectacular in particular is worth unhinging your jaw for, stuffed as it is with pulled pork, ham, pork belly, and Swiss cheese, all dressed in Dijonnaise.

3207 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
(206) 932-4211
(206) 932-4211
A meat-packed sandwich on rye from the Swinery.
The Swinery in West Seattle.
The Swinery/Facebook

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Tony's Bakery

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One of many popular Vietnamese spots near Othello Station, the unassuming Tony’s Bakery serves some of the city’s best banh mi on wonderfully flaky bread. While the dac biet banh mi is popular, those in the know order banh mi ca xa ot, with fried catfish and a smear of garlic-chive aioli. It makes for as good a start as any to a wider Seattle banh mi tour.

6020 Martin Luther King Jr Way S, Seattle, WA 98118
(206) 722-8800
(206) 722-8800

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Zylberschtein's

11752 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98125

Pinehurst Jewish deli Zylberschtein’s features thick-cut pastrami and corned beef sandwiches on freshly baked rye among its more popular items, while options like whitefish salad and a smoked tofu Reuben provide an alternative to the otherwise meaty menu. You can also sign up for a bagel club with a wide delivery range across Seattle.

11752 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98125
(206) 403-1202
(206) 403-1202

Sammich Seattle

1409 NE 80th St, Seattle, WA 98115

In spring 2023, Oregon-based sandwich impresario Melissa McMillan planted a truck outside the Project 9 brewery in Maple Leaf and it demands a pilgrimage from any serious ‘wich worshiper. Sammich specializes in meaty, messy sandwiches like the Italian Beef, which is loaded with peppers and best enjoyed with au jus poured all over everything. Sammich sandwiches pair nicely with beer, but also with an afternoon nap.

1409 NE 80th St, Seattle, WA 98115
(206) 790-6889
(206) 790-6889

Layers Green Lake

7900 East Green Lake Dr N #107, Seattle, WA 98103

Layers has evolved from a sandwich truck into a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Green Lake, finally providing a permanent home for Avery and Ashley Hardin’s sophisticated sandwich creations, which put the textures and flavors of a high-end restaurant meal between two slices of bread. Standouts include Sebastian’s Sunset, which is crab cake with pickled fennel, arugula, and remoulade, and I’d Date a Jalapeno, a grilled cheese with Deglet Noor dates and jalapenos.

7900 East Green Lake Dr N #107, Seattle, WA 98103

Un Bien

7302.5 15th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98117

The sons of the former owner of Seattle sandwich icon Paseo now run Un Bien, with two locations in Ballard — including one in Shilshole along the Burke-Gilman Trail’s western terminus — serving wonderful Caribbean sandwiches, covered in aioli, cilantro, pickled jalapenos, and caramelized onions on toasted baguettes. The Caribbean roast sandwich is the star, with its marinated pork shoulder falling apart at a glance, but all the sides and sandwiches are worth your time.

7302.5 15th Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98117
(206) 588-2040
(206) 588-2040

Stumbletown Ballard

6256 3rd Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107

Making a great Italian-inspired sandwich is easy. All you need is the highest-quality peppers, sundried tomato spreads, and meats; then you put those fixings between two halves of warm Sea Wolf ciabatta, then you add the perfect amount of arugula and olive oil to balance out the cheese and meat. Just be perfect at pretty much everything, and you’ll be this low-key Ballard spot.

6256 3rd Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 453-8307
(206) 453-8307

Mean Sandwich

1510 NW Leary Way, Seattle, WA 98107

Mean Sandwich, the acclaimed Ballard counter, offers winners such as the shop’s eponymous sandwich (griddled corned beef, pickled red cabbage, yellow mustard, and fresh mint), oyster po’ boys, and the vegetarian Midnight at the Oasis, with falafel, hummus, harissa beets, and Persian pickles — not to mention a mind-blowing burger.

1510 NW Leary Way, Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 789-9999
(206) 789-9999

Local Tide

401 N 36th St Suite 103, Seattle, WA 98103

Local Tide is a seafood dream, drawing long lines in particular for its well-crafted Dungeness crab roll with mayo on a griddled split-top bun, currently available just Friday through Sunday. Of course, you might argue a crab roll, like a hot dog, isn’t even a sandwich. If so, the popular Fremont shop has you covered with other stellar sandwiches, from a salmon BLT to a rockfish banh mi to fried dover sole on a brioche bun.

401 N 36th St Suite 103, Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 420-4685
(206) 420-4685

Post Alley Pizza

1123 Post Ave, Seattle, WA 98101

The problem with Post Alley Pizza is that if you get one of their ballyhooed slices (and you should) you’re probably going to be too full to also order an Italian hoagie, which is surely one of the best lunches in Pike Place Market, if not the entire universe. The finocchiona (a salami variety), provolone, smoked ham, and the dressing hit spicy, sharp, meaty, and creamy notes that add up to a beautiful symphony.

1123 Post Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 382-8475
(206) 382-8475

Tat’s Delicatessen

159 Yesler Way, Seattle, WA 98104

Tat’s Delicatessen, an East Coast-style sandwich shop in Pioneer Square (with a roving food truck and an outpost at the Crocodile), runs the gamut with monster hoagies, grinders, and cheesesteaks. Don’t miss the Tat’strami, a cheesesteak-pastrami mash-up, and the monster meatball sub with beef, pork, and veal.

159 Yesler Way, Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 264-8287
(206) 264-8287

Jackson’s Catfish Corner

2218 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98144

Treasured since its inception in 1985, Jackson’s Catfish Corner has closed and reopened multiple times now, most recently making a triumphant return to the Central District in 2021. While the namesake catfish is great on its own, the crispy fried fish is absolutely delightful on a squishy bun topped with the restaurant’s famed tangy tartar sauce and slices of pickles. Don’t forget the side of hush puppies.

2218 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98144
(206) 420-3911
(206) 420-3911

The Original Philly's

3019 Martin Luther King Jr Way S, Seattle, WA 98144

Even though it’s a long way to Philadelphia, this no-frills sandwich shop in South Seattle does cheesesteaks right. The Original Philly’s generously stuffs chopped-up beef, mushrooms, and peppers into its sandwiches, and also allows you to work on your arguments for the eternal debate: melted cheese on the bottom or cheese sauce on top? Can’t go wrong either way.

3019 Martin Luther King Jr Way S, Seattle, WA 98144
(206) 723-7445
(206) 723-7445

The Swinery

3207 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116

The Swinery, an impressive butcher shop in West Seattle, also serves burgers and sandwiches involving all manner of pork. The Swinery Spectacular in particular is worth unhinging your jaw for, stuffed as it is with pulled pork, ham, pork belly, and Swiss cheese, all dressed in Dijonnaise.

3207 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
(206) 932-4211
(206) 932-4211
A meat-packed sandwich on rye from the Swinery.
The Swinery in West Seattle.
The Swinery/Facebook

Tony's Bakery

6020 Martin Luther King Jr Way S, Seattle, WA 98118

One of many popular Vietnamese spots near Othello Station, the unassuming Tony’s Bakery serves some of the city’s best banh mi on wonderfully flaky bread. While the dac biet banh mi is popular, those in the know order banh mi ca xa ot, with fried catfish and a smear of garlic-chive aioli. It makes for as good a start as any to a wider Seattle banh mi tour.

6020 Martin Luther King Jr Way S, Seattle, WA 98118
(206) 722-8800
(206) 722-8800

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