The Best Sandwiches in Boston
Spuckies, North End Italian subs, Chacarero, and Dorchester bánh mì — the best sandwiches across Greater Boston.
29 spots · cited reviews. Open the app to see them all on a map near you.
Cuban panini
Pemberton Farms Marketplace
2225 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140, USA
Known for high-quality ingredients, this family-run market serves a toasty Cuban panini with ham, pulled pork, Swiss, and chipotle mayo, perfect for lunch.
via bostonglobe.com
Italian sub
Monica's Mercato
130 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113, USA
Famous for its Italian sub loaded with prosciutto, mortadella, salami, and provolone, with a balsamic glaze that adds sweetness to the perfect salty combination.
via bostonglobe.com
Meridian Special
Meridian Food Market
121 Meridian St, Boston, MA 02128, USA
This market's star is the Meridian Special, featuring chicken cutlets, prosciutto, mozzarella, roasted peppers, and basil on a toasted bun, beloved by locals.
via bostonglobe.com
steak and cheese
Joe's Famous Subs & Pizza
140 Dudley St, Roxbury, MA 02119, USA
At this friendly Nubian Square staple, the question is always about the steak and cheese, with various options like peppers and onions to choose from.
via bostonglobe.com
herbaceous lamb sandwich
Dave's Fresh Pasta
81 Holland St, Somerville, MA 02144, USA
At this pasta mainstay, the sandwich menu features house-roasted meats piled high, including a soft, herbaceous lamb on focaccia that is a real standout.
via bostonglobe.com
bánh mì
Bánh Mì Ba Lẹ & Bakery
1052 Dorchester Ave, Boston, MA 02125, USA
Known for its stellar bánh mì, this shop bakes baguette-like rolls daily and layers grilled meats, pâté, and pickled vegetables for a delicious sandwich experience.
via bostonglobe.com
La Schiacciata del Boss
All'Antico Vinaio
565 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116, USA
This famous Italian shop offers world-renowned sandwiches filled with Italian meats and cheeses, including the popular La Schiacciata del Boss with prosciutto, pecorino, and truffle cream.
via bostonglobe.com
curried meat and vegetables roti
Ali's Roti Restaurant
1188 Blue Hill Ave, Boston, MA 02126, USA
This Trinidadian spot is beloved for its huge roti sandwiches, featuring curried meat and vegetables held together by Indian-Caribbean flatbread. A true comfort food, with just the right amount of heat.
via bostonglobe.com
chicken salad
Al's Cafe
27 School St, Boston, MA 02108, USA
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. One of the last places in Boston for hearty, quality sandwiches at reasonable prices.
via bostonglobe.com
Cuban
Tostado Sandwich Bar
300 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130, USA
For those still nursing a Cuban sandwich-sized hole in their stomachs after El Oriental de Cuba shut down, Tostado offers a reliable alternative. Tostado's Cuban comes hot and toasty, with shredded pork and grilled ham layered with melty Swiss cheese and thick, tangy pickle slices. A generous dab of mustard brings each bite together.
via Eater
Pastrami
Sam LaGrassa's
44 Province St, Boston, MA 02108, USA
It wouldn't be a Boston sandwich map without Sam LaGrassa's. The downtown restaurant's menu is vast - like, 50 sandwiches vast - but the move at LaGrassa's is the splurge-y (with good reason) pastrami. Opt for the devilishly delicious pastrami diablo, which pairs its famous dry-cured and smoked pastrami with barbecue sauce, chipotle mayo, applewood-smoked bacon, jack cheese, and hot cherry peppers. The sauces and piled-high meats blend together between a classic round roll for a spicy-fatty-savory mashup.
via Eater
Moni’s Chile Biscuit
Verveine Cafe & Bakery
298 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
Verveine has fast become a crowd favorite for its completely gluten-free menu, including baked goods, fresh breads, and, of course, sandwiches. Moni's spicy chile biscuit pairs a soft, house-made biscuit (gluten-free but you wouldn't know it) with fluffy scrambled eggs, spicy chile jam, arugula, and avocado.
via Eater
Super Beef
Hot Box
5 Bow Mkt Wy, Somerville, MA 02143, USA
The North Shore-style roast beef sandwich is - in all of its sloppy, messy glory - an iconic Massachusetts bite. The classic version (or the "super beef," as it's known in most shops) consists of an onion or seeded roll piled high with rosy-pink roast beef shaved impossibly thin and topped with mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, and a slice of white American cheese. It's known colloquially as a "three-way," and that's exactly how Hot Box prepares its version. This Union Square shop's beef compares favorably to all the best spots north of the city, from Revere Beach to North Beverly.
via Eater
Green Muenster
Roxy's Grilled Cheese - Allston
485 Cambridge St, Allston, MA 02134, USA
How do you choose from the menu at one of Boston's best grilled-cheese spots? Option A: close your eyes and point. Option B: simply pinch yourself the signature Green Muenster — applewood smoked bacon with guacamole. The name sells it alone.
via Boston Magazine
Porchetta
Pennypacker's
514 Medford St, Somerville, MA 02145, USA
This fast-casual spot has expanded well beyond its food-truck days, but it's Pennypacker's porchetta we first fell for — and we're smitten still. The super-flavorful, skin-on pork, lovingly marinated with garlic and herbs, gets a slightly different treatment every day and reliably offers pleasant surprises even after all these years.
via Boston Magazine
Pilgrim Sandwich
Mike's City Diner
1714 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118, USA
Thanksgiving comes once a year, but at this landmark South End diner the Pilgrim sandwich — house-roasted turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce (add the gravy) — is available year-round. One of the whoppers that made Mike's a hit with Guy Fieri.
via Boston Magazine
Double Awesome
Mei Mei Dumplings - Factory, Cafe and Classroom
58 Old Colony Ave, Boston, MA 02127, USA
We'll say it twice: the Double Awesome at Mei Mei is delicious. The cult-famous Boston sandwich wraps scallion pancakes around over-easy eggs, cheddar, and pesto. So good it survived Mei Mei's pivot to prepared foods — meal kits make five, with spicy ketchup for dipping.
via Boston Magazine
Roast Beef 1000
Cutty's
280 Washington St, Brookline, MA 02445, USA
Boston doesn't want for great roast beef, but you haven't had one that racks up as many points as the 1,000 at Cutty's. Juicy slices sit inside a slightly toasted black-pepper brioche bun, topped with Thousand Island, crispy shallots, and sharp cheddar. This is how you do it, people.
via Boston Magazine
Chacarero
Chacarero
101 Arch St, Boston, MA 02110, USA
Chacarero knows what it's all about: the chacarero, a Chilean sandwich Time once named one of the 13 sliced-bread wonders of the world. Fluffy bread rolls are filled with grilled steak and chicken, plus steamed green beans, luscious avocado spread, tomato, and Muenster. A revelation, weekdays only.
via Boston Magazine
Big Papi
Blunch
59 E Springfield St, Boston, MA 02118, USA
Big Papi's no longer on the Fenway field, but he's still on the menu at this spectacular little South End breakfast-and-lunch shop. The sandwich bearing Ortiz's name is a crusty, hot-pressed baguette filled with seasoned Black Forest ham, pickles for snap, spicy house-made aioli for zing, and Swiss for a little nuttiness. Home run.
via Boston Magazine
steak-and-egg sub
Jim's | Deli & Restaurant
371 Washington St, Brighton, MA 02135, USA
This throwback spot features hearty sandwiches like the steak-and-egg sub with grilled onions on a roll. Known for large portions and speedy service.
via bostonglobe.com
Steak & Cheese
Joe's Famous Subs & Pizza
140 Dudley St, Roxbury, MA 02119, USA
Sub shops in Boston are often measured by the quality of their steak and cheese, and Joe's version is one of the best - the roll is pillowy, the shaved steak is tender, the cheese is abundant and melty, and the peppers and onions add a sweet and zesty zip. This Roxbury shop is not to be missed.
via Eater
Corned Beef Rachel
Michael's Deli
256 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446, USA
Michael's deems itself the 'corned beef king,' and it's well earned. Meet the Rachel (corned beef with coleslaw) and Reuben (corned beef with sauerkraut), both with Russian dressing and Swiss on pumpernickel. It also mixes things up with 'dirty' sandwiches topped with flavored potato chips. Kiss the ring.
via Boston Magazine
Geneva Ave
M&M BBQ
1250 Massachusetts Ave, Dorchester, MA 02125, USA
A great BBQ sandwich is a thing of beauty, and the Geneva Ave at M&M Ribs — a decades-spanning food truck now with a Best of Boston-winning shop at Dorchester Brewing Co. — is an absolute stunner: shredded beef brisket with pickled onions and smoked cheese sauce in a toasted brioche bun.
via Boston Magazine
Fried Chicken Sandwich
Highland Kitchen
150 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA 02143, USA
The fried chicken here is kinda famous — it started as a Monday-night special and inspired a whole spinoff restaurant. Highland Kitchen's fried chicken sandwich piles a pickle-brined breast with pickles and lettuce, and lets you pick from seven sauces, including Sriracha mayo, buttermilk ranch, and pineapple sweet-and-sour.
via Boston Magazine
Double Mushroom "Steak" & Cheese
Earnest Drinks
399 Binney St, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
Your friends in Philly might have a heart attack, but this vegetarian sub stands up to any meat-filled steak and cheese. The 'steak' is seasoned maitake and honshimeji mushrooms, sautéed with onions and peppers and positively doused with house-made pimento cheese sauce on a sub roll. Haters gonna hate.
via Boston Magazine
Torta
Chilacates Amory St
224 Amory St, Boston, MA 02130, USA
At this upstart local mini-chain, terrific burritos and tacos tend to overshadow the torta — which is actually the best way to experience Chilacates' fantastic fillings. Chipotle-smoky chicken tinga or pineapple-marinated pork meets refried beans, melted jack, guacamole, pico de gallo, and jalapeño mayo.
via Boston Magazine
Farmer's Lunch
City Feed and Supply
672 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130, USA
A simple rule of sandwich-making: best ingredients, tastiest result. The Farmer's Lunch at this beloved JP market is the proof — an Iggy's-baked baguette cradling sliced Granny Smith apples, pickled green tomatoes, red leaf lettuce, New England cheddar, and zesty grain-mustard mayo. Sounds simple, tastes spectacular.
via Boston Magazine
Atomic Meatloaf Meltdown
All Star Sandwich Bar
1245 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
This Inman Square mainstay lives up to its name with the Atomic Meatloaf Meltdown — an explosive sourdough press of grilled house-made meatloaf, jack cheese, and red onion jam, spiked with chef Chris Schlesinger's legendary Inner Beauty Hot Sauce. A spice-bomb of flavor.
via Boston Magazine