Sure you can make a sandwich at home, but are you going to bake your own bread every time you get a craving? If you do, good for you — for the rest of us, it’s worth the money for someone else to make the sandwiches. They’re cheap anyway.
Complicated sandwiches are filled with many layered components that require care, but they are oh so worth it.
Here’s our list of stellar sandwiches in Tucson to put on your radar and take with when hitting the trails.
4th Ave Deli takes a properly executed BLT and adds a California spin with cucumbers and avocado slices. You won’t miss the iceberg.
Keep up with 4th Avenue Delicatessen on Facebook.
The Smoked Beet Sandwich features a generous pile of sliced smoked beets with local pecan cheese, jalapeño cabbage slaw, and house-made organic ciabatta for a remarkable vegan sandwich.
For more information, call (520) 623-3888 or visit 5pointstucson.com.
Even though August Rhodes isn’t a barbecue restaurant, their brisket is easily some of the juiciest in town. Enjoy it on their special pillowy house-baked Japanese milk bread with Russian dressing and coleslaw.
For more information, visit augustrhodesmarket.com.
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For a hefty protein-heavy breakfast, order the Arizona Strong Man. The combination of eggs, bacon, sausage, and cheese on the fresh house-made bagel will keep your belly full for hours.
Keep up with the Bagel Joint on Facebook.
The combination of turkey breast, cream cheese, mayo, bacon, sprouts, tomato, and avocado on 12-grain bread is more than memorable.
Pro tip: ask for it with horseradish.
For more information, visit bagginsgourmet.com/menus.
The Jon Hamm & Cheese features provolone, Black Forest ham, and house-made bourbon mustard on sourdough. You just have to pair it with an old fashioned if you want to go full Don Draper.
For more information, visit batchtucson.com.
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Max’s Muffalotta lives up to its name with alotta filling: capicola, ham, pepperoni, provolone, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, olive paste, tomato, red onion, and vinaigrette on Beyond Bread’s freshly baked ciabatta.
For more information, visit beyondbread.com.
We appreciated this grinder enough that we made a spinning video of it.
For more information, visit bisonwitches.com.
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This sandwich features a Panko and Parmesan-crusted croissant with turkey, provolone, roasted red peppers, caramelized onions, and Dijon mustard.
For more information, visit cafealacarttucson.com.
From our editor, Kate Severino:
“The Presidio newcomer transports you out of the desert and straight to Europe. Imagine bustling Italian streets with patrons popping into tiny shops for bagged sandwiches, fresh twirls of pasta, and delightful baked treats. Yes, you’ve arrived. Expect to fork simply dressed, house-made pasta into your mouth between bites from a freshly made focaccia sandwich. The sandwich filling—light pesto; chunks of mozzarella; succulent, juicy slices of tomato; arugula; salami; and wisps of prosciutto—was heavenly.”
Keep up with CERES on Instagram. For more information, visit cerestucson.com.
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While Charro Del Rey is best known for their seafood, they also feature special grass-fed prime rib. In their Prime Rib Dip, enjoy it shaved on Barrio Bread with green chile horseradish, ancho chile jus, and mashed potatoes.
For more information, visit charrodelrey.com.
This Vietnamese sandwich isn’t banh mi. Instead, it combines the American roast beef sandwich and adds herb hoisin vinaigrette with fancy jalapeño mousse and sprouts for an elegant, creative creation.
For more information, visit chefchicaz.com.
Dining in a historic building in the heart of downtown Tucson is enough to lure you in. If you can make it past the rotating cake display to your table without ordering a slice, get the Tucson Dip. The quirky take on a sando—featuring local chile-marinated smoked tri-tip, cheddar, creamy horseradish, and crisp onions on a soft bakery roll—comes with a side of green chile jus… for dipping, of course. Get the napkins ready for the flavor explosion and drips escaping down your chinny chin chin.
For more information, visit hotelcongress.com/family/the-cup.
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Anything from Dickman’s will be great on a sandwich; especially the ugly steak. Whether you get a tri-tip sandwich or Italian sub, know that they get the ratio of ingredients and bread just right.
Dickman’s Meat & Deli at 7955 E. Broadway Blvd. can be reached at (520) 885-8020. The location at 6472 N. Oracle Rd. can be reached at (520) 229-9777. Keep up with Dickman’s on Facebook.
While chicken isn’t in the name at Divine Bovine, they still know their chicken. The Flying Buffalo features Swiss cheese, buffalo sauce, ranch, hot pickles, lettuce, tomato, and onion. You can order any of their sandwiches with the buttermilk-fried chicken breast, FYI.
For more information, visit divinebovineburgers.com.
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BLT + avocado + chicken = B.L.A.C.T. Out
Grilled or fried, it’s a delight.
For more information, visit thedrunkenchickenaz.com.
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For a heavy but oh-so-satisfying sandwich, get the Chicken Parmesan Sub. If you want to take it to the next level with garlic bread, order the Greasy Italian Sub. You’ll need your stretchy pants for this one.
Keep up with East Coast Super Subs on Facebook.
A food truck on St. Mary’s just west of the I-10, El Antojo Poblano focuses on the cuisine of Puebla. Try the glorious cemita, a style of torta with a breaded fried beef cutlet, salty ham, stringy queso Oaxaca, cilantro-like papalo herb, caramelized onion, smoky chipotle peppers, cool avocado, and olive oil.
Keep up with El Antojo Poblano on Facebook.
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Adventurous sandwich eaters should visit Ermanos every Monday, as each Monday features an original sandwich. Their house-made pickles also make every sandwich special.
For more information, visit ermanosbrew.com.
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Feast’s Grilled Cheese is one of the few things that don’t change with each menu change. The iconic sandwich features a combination of seared halloumi, honey-roasted eggplant, red onion, and tomato on a French roll.
For more information, visit eatatfeast.com.
For a French person’s take on the French Dip, order Le Bifteck. A baguette is stuffed with prime roast beef, sautéed onions, and garlic served with a side of jus.
For more information, visit ghiniscafe.com.
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The Cobb Grilled Cheese is a sandwich spin on the popular salad without so much of the lettuce. Instead enjoy grilled chicken, applewood bacon, local organic tomatoes, avocado smear, hard-boiled egg, aged sharp white cheddar, and Gorgonzola aioli on local multigrain bread.
For more information, visit harvestov.com.
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While HeeMee opened with mostly sweets, they’ve expanded their savory options with delights such as the Chicken Katsu Sando on the house brioche bun.
For more information, visit heemeebakery.com.
Ice Cream Sandwiches count as sandwiches. 😉 Choose two fresh-baked cookies with a scoop of ice cream at HUB Ice Cream Factory. Cookie flavors and ice cream flavors rotate.
For more information, visit hubicecream.com.
The Johnny Cubano features ham, shredded pork shoulder, pickles, roasted jalapeños, spicy dijonnaise, and Swiss cheese. Enjoy it with their sweet potato fries.
For more information, visit gibsonsmarket.com.
The BBQ Chicken Sandwich features vegan fried chicken tossed in a spicy and tangy buffalo sauce, topped with lettuce, tomato, and pickles on a locally baked bun. Add the house-made vegan blue cheese.
For more information, visit lovinspoonfuls.com.
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Italian Beef with everything is the way to go. The beef is juicy and fragrant with oregano, topped with a zingy giardiniera. The bread is saturated with beef jus creating a messy, sinfully enjoyable eating experience.
For more information, visit Luke’s Sandwiches on Yelp.
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For some reason, tortas haven’t really caught on in Tucson yet. But don’t miss out. At Maico, enjoy the Mexican sandwich with crispy, succulent carnitas.
Keep up with Maico on Facebook.
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Maynards takes the classic chicken salad sandwich and jazzes it up with organic chicken, currants, apples, pistachio, and lettuce on a toasted croissant.
For more information, visit hotelcongress.com/family/maynards.
Thanks to French colonization in Vietnam, the world now has the gift of the Vietnamese sandwich.
The cool, crisp cucumber and cilantro help balance the sharp grassy heat of raw jalapeño slices. The sweet-and-sour daikon and carrot pickles add moist crunch and balance the saltiness of the proteins. The spread of lightly sweet, buttery Vietnamese mayo and a dash of soy sauce brings it all together with the house-made cold cuts.
Keep up with Nhu Lan Vietnamese Food Truck on Facebook.
Choose between cornmeal-crusted oysters, shrimp, catfish, or andouille sausage for the Po-Boy, topped with lettuce, tomato, and a generous amount of tartar sauce on a baguette. Add a dash of the exceptional house-made fermented pepper hot sauce, too.
For more information, visit theparishtucson.com.
After an intense ziplining session, Peppersauce Kitchen hits the spot with their Grilled Cheese, augmented with bacon and onion.
Read our November 2019 article Zipline & dine: Arizona Zipline Tours’ Peppersauce Kitchen cooks homemade goodness.
For more information, visit ziparizona.com.
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From our Instagram queen, Melissa Stihl:
“A new food truck, Pop’s Hot Chicken, is serving up some seriously delicious Nashville hot chicken sandwiches on Fourth Avenue. I am a big fan of chicken sandwiches, and in my opinion, it really comes down to the chicken. The chicken from Pops’ food truck is a fried chicken thigh — essential to the makings of a delicious chicken sandwich. It’s lightly breaded, fried, and super crispy. Everything else on the sandwich just adds to the equation here — the avocado slaw, the brioche bun, pickles, and the hot sauce — it all just works. Pops Hot Chicken’s menu is simple with only a few items, but they are doing them right. This is the ideal post-drinking meal.”
Read our January 2020 article Pops Hot Chicken, Monster Sonoran Hot Dogs, Mariscos El Bochas join American Eat Co.
Keep up with Pops Hot Chicken on Instagram.
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Say bye to the everything bagel and hello to the everything croissant filled with prosciutto, pistachio pesto, muenster, American cheese, arugula, and scrambled egg.
For more information, visit prepandpastry.com.
The Sonoran Cheesesteak is almost a carne asada torta, but that’s not a complaint. The steak and cheese mingle with avocado and pico de gallo for a meal that won’t leave you feeling as heavy as a conventional cheesesteak.
Keep up with Raptor Canyon Cafe on Facebook.
Renee dresses up the sloppy Joe into The Tailored Tony, using local organic San Rafael Valley grass-fed beef, marinara, roasted red peppers, basil, and provolone on their organic focaccia. It’s served with your choice of a Tossed or Caesar Salad.
Fun fact — it was one of two dishes Guy Fieri ate when he visited.
Read our January 2020 article Renee’s Organic Oven expands to new location with bar, patio & menu updates.
For more information, call (520) 886-0484 or visit reneesorganicoven.com.
Cured salmon and beets aren’t for everyone but if you enjoy them both, then don’t miss out on the Lox & Beets. It features jalapeño schmear, cucumber, dill, capers, and red onion sandwiched in an everything bagel.
For more information, visit rinconmarket.xyz.
Nashville hot chicken meets Tucson with the Picoso Torta at Rollies. Fried chicken tossed with a Sonoran chili rub and topped with habanero coleslaw and pickled onions.
For more information, visit rolliestucson.com.
The Ultimate Roma features a blend of capocolla, Genoa salami, mortadella, provolone, giardiniera, roasted red peppers, lettuce, tomato, and balsamic vinaigrette.
But that’s not even its final form — Matt’s Special features all of the above with the addition of fresh mozzarella and prosciutto.
For more information, visit romaimports.com.
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The Omar gets all the love, but don’t miss out on the ‘The Famous’ Italian Grinder with Genoa salami, pastrami, provolone, lettuce, tomato, bell pepper, onions, pepperoncini peppers, oregano, and Italian dressing.
For more information, visit sausagedeli.com.
With house-made sausages and cured meats, it’s hard to go wrong with any of the Sausage Shop’s dozens of sandwiches. Just choose the one with the most appealing meat for you.
They’re also one of the best places to shop for meats to make your own sandwich.
Keep up with Sausage Shop Meat Market and Deli.
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Cochinita Pibil — a slow-roasted pork dish marinated in citrus and vibrant red achiote — tops the torta with pickled red onion, cilantro, smashed black beans, avocado, Roma tomato, queso Oaxaca, and Seis-Style chipotle crema.
For more information, visit seiskitchen.com.
Pair a pint of Dew Point Dunkel with The Cubano at Sentinel Peak. The medium-bodied beer complements the slow-roasted shredded pork, ham and provolone, while the bubbles help contrast the richness with the pickles and stone-ground mustard.
For more information, visit sentinelpeakbrewing.com.
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Smokey Mo’s star is the Pulled Pork Sandwich, featuring a spicy house barbecue sauce and a jicama citrus slaw on a sesame bun.
For more information, visit smokeymo.com.
The Kickin’ Chicken Sando brings the heat with its spicy buttermilk fried chicken, pickles, and mayo on a sesame seed bun.
For more information, visit 1055brewing.com.
If you appreciate artisanal crusty bread, Time Market is easily one of the best options. The humble Caprese Sandwich features the outstanding house-baked baguette, arugula pesto, tomato, house-made mozzarella, extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic, and basil.
In addition, their Fried Chicken Sandwich features exceptionally juicy chicken breast—order it “Tucson HOT” style for a quarter extra.
For more information, visit timemarket.xyz.
Available on the brunch and lunch menu, Tito & Pep’s Crispy Chicken Torta features pickled fried chicken, onions, tomato, and smoky morita-lime mayo. Get it for brunch if you’re into breakfast potatoes.
For more information, visit titoandpep.com.
House-cured pastrami shines alongside Swiss cheese, Thousand Island dressing, and sauerkraut or coleslaw on rye bread. Yum!
For more information, visit uniontucson.com.
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Vina’s Banh Mi Dac Biet features chicken pate, steamed red pork, Vietnamese ham, head cheese, cilantro, carrots, daikon, and jalapeños.
Keep up with Vina Vietnamese Street Food on Facebook.
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Welcome Diner features three chicken and biscuit sandwiches on the menu, but our favorite keeps it simple. The Bumblebee features a fried chicken breast with local honey, house mustard, bread and butter pickles, and house-baked biscuits.
For more information, visit welcomediner.net.
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Zona 78 highlights roasted chicken, fontina cheese, caramelized onion, green bell pepper, and chipotle mayo on a ciabatta roll for their Tuscan Panini.
For more information, visit zona78.com.
Do you know about any other stellar sandwiches we should try? Let us know in the comments.
