The #1 sandwich spot in Sydney is the Marrickville Pork Roll. This institution is notoriously known for having customers queue up Deep Depression Era-style for their coveted bánh mì. The bakery’s winning formula for Vietnamese pork rolls has remained unchanged: a crunchy baguette, a swipe of pâté and mayo, generous with barbeque pork, fresh herbs, a good kick of chilli and tangy pickles – all just for some loose change. But there are a few more options. Meatball, Chicken and Salad bánh mì find a place on Marrickville Pork Roll’s menu too. We love their generously filled Meatball Roll with its bold saucy flavour, crisp salad and radish batons.

Sandoitchi Cafe is a petite Japanese eatery that puts together one of the finest Sando & bánh mì sandwiches in Sydney. Apart from the place’s discernably Japanese aesthetic and cuisine, it has a noticeable hint of Thai meshed in it. Their menu features 13 sandwiches, with the famous pork sando; cheese, nori, pickled carrot, cabbage, tonkatsu mayo, thick-cut, white bread and chicken banh mi; pate, apple kimchi, nori, pickled carrot, daikon, spring onion, coriander, spicy tonkatsu mayo, crunchy white roll. The cafe’s chefs have created a more textural and healthier option with their bowls & smoothies & coffee.

South Dowling Sandwiches is simply sublime. This mom-and-dad operation has been making seriously delicious sandwiches and salads since 1999. When there, you can choose from thickly cut, freshly made bread options and 13 types of sandwiches; all made for ingredients prepared daily. Popular choices include the Hugo sandwich; chicken schnitzel, herb mayo, lettuce, tasty cheese, Roma tomato, cucumber and caramelised carrots or the Jimmy; chilli chicken, lettuce, avocado, caramelised carrots, cucumber, Spanish onion, rocket and red pesto. They also serve large salad bowls loaded with greens, herbs, mayo and your choice of meat.

Joe’s Sandwich Bar may come off as a meaty macho food joint. Wrong! This institution is the best sandwiches spot in Sydney for vegans. This spot takes pride in making a great vegan sandwich by focusing on mixing up the veggies, loading them with spice and slowly roasting ingredients rather than trying to find crappy alternatives to make things taste like meat. Be sure to try the chipotle pumpkin; chipotle roasted pumpkin, almond ricotta, kale herbs, chilli relish & pickles and can be upgraded to a meal that includes a Kambucha and a vegan cookie. Another favourite is the smoked potato sandwich; paprika-spiced potato, chimichurri, white bean purée, sprouts, kale & raisin dressing.

Mrs Palmer Sandwhcih isn’t your average grab-and-go sandwich shop. This hole-in-the-wall’s sandwich menu consists of 5 flavoursome types: beef, chicken, pork, falafel and smoked Wagyu pastrami, mortadella & spicy salami one called The Cure. But if you’re wary of your carb intake, opt for a salad version of the sandwich. Their Margarita bar tucked away at the back of the shop, is a mellow and quirky spot to sit at. The bar’s sandwich menu features their famous Philly cheesesteak on a soft white roll and the famous spicy beef brisket; 8 hours slow-cooked brisket in an American spicy BBQ marinade, caramelised onion chutney, horseradish, buttercup lettuce, purple cabbage, pickles & crispy shallots.

Like many delis, it’s all about exotic foods, cuts of meat & cheeses. But who said that Continental Deli is just another deli? With two bustling locations, the CBD & Newtown, this spot features an extensive European style menu with Continental classics and sells speciality deli essentials, be it charcuterie for your next days sandwich, Fromage for a friend and rare cheeses as well as an impressive range of tinned delicacies. At every lunch, there’s a sandwich menu of mortadella, ham and butter or a meatball and Parmigiano-Reggiano. And their opening menu includes a trio of pasta: a mafaldine (like a Fettucine) and rigatoni with sausage, broccolini, bottarga and cuttlefish.

Brickfields Cafe is a petite cafe that specialises in pastries, bread and sandwiches. Loved by many for its homely interior, sociable staff and quality produce, its short menu features manchego, pickles, lemon aioli and its owner’s favourite streaky bacon on a seeded ciabatta. And for those with a sweet tooth, the fig and walnut toast with fresh ricotta, stone fruit and caraway will hit the spot. Brickfield’s version takes ham, spinach, rosemary and goat’s cheese and wraps it all up in shatteringly flaky pastry. Gorge into their beef brisket sandwich comes with radish, anchovy mayo, chilli, and beef that has been slow-roasted for six hours.

Renowned for its coffee, top-notch customer service and brioche bun sandwiches, it’s safe to say that Ten Thousand Coffee & Bakery is a serious contender on this list. With a clean and modern interior, they offer an Australian-style menu featuring a gamut of coffee beverages including their Double Einspanner and Vanilla Con Panna. Regulars usually opt for a coffee-brunch fix from their brunch menu focusing on eggs, such as their popular egg bomb and egg toast. And unlike any other sandwich shop, this place’s coffee is luscious cocoa, nutty notes to appreciate the essence of espresso. The syrupy body of the blend will have you properly caffeinated.

Hearty sandwiches, wraps and Vietnamese rolls – that’s what City Edge Cafe is about. This hole-in-the-wall sandwich shop is a Surry Hills staple and is notorious for its scrumptious sandwiches and palatable wraps as it is for its long line formations down Reservoir St. When there, you can choose from an impressive range of ten sandwiches, ten wraps, ten types of Turkish bread, and many daily specials. The cafe is also renowned for its Vietnamese style chicken schnitzel roll – a classic Vietnamese roll with a twist – tangy Asian slaw, spicy mayonnaise, fresh Vietnamese herbs and homemade chicken schnitzel. Or try their spicy meatball and basil roll.

There are sandwiches shops and then there’s Lucky Pickle. When in Surry Hills, you’ll discern an inner-city terrace that’s been rebaptised into a go-to spot for locals who seek coffee & gourmet sandwiches. The lunch variations are ritzy variations of classic sandwiches, using homemade sauces and ingredients prepared in-house. Take their pork belly sandwich, for example, it comes with duck liver pate, veggies and sriracha. With the heat from the chilli and the spice from the coriander thrown in there, you get a unique twist on the classic Vietnamese banh mi. They also make a great chicken katsu, dished up with sesame and red cabbage, as well as the traditional Japanese tonkatsu sauce.

Vietnamese bakeries are nothing new to Sydney, but if there’s one that transcends suburban lines and reels in customers from near and far, it’s Hong Ha Bakery. For over three decades, this shop has purveyed three types of pork from its same menu; Vietnamese devon, cured and barbecued pork all with a hearty slathering of pâté, mayo and a salad make this quite the stomach-pleasing two-hander. And their special chilli sauce hits with a sweet tinge before bringing the heat to your tastebuds– each element working in harmony. And if you don’t like pork banh mi, try the chicken, schnitzel or meatball roll instead. The bakery additionally makes spring rolls, dim sims and rice-paper rolls.

Whether it’s breakfast, brunch or lunch, The Hungry Spoon Cafe has you covered. As a finalist in the 2021 St George local business awards, the cafe is celebrated for its gourmet sandwiches, cakes, coffee, smoothies & juices. Located in the heart of Oatley, corner of Rosa and Neville Street, this sandwich food gem offers a variety of dishes while providing gluten and vegan options. Serving you all-day breakfast and lunch as well as roasted wood fire coffee, tea, freshly squeezed juices, smoothies, crushes, milkshakes cakes and plenty more. Their gourmet marinated chicken sandwich is a crowd favourite and highly recommended.

Part deli, part pasta shop, part commercial kitchen, Fabbrica is a revolutionary joint on this list that has made quite a splash in Sydney’s food scene. The shop has been doling out fresh pasta by the gram and other delicious things related to the ritual of making pasta. When waltzing into Fabbrica, you’ll be overwhelmed with the pristineness of the shop and the vast selection of menu options. In the mornings, you can get a coffee and house-made bombolone (Italian doughnuts). Their sandwiches are usually sold out after midday, and a couple of varieties will be chosen each day with just 20 to 30 of each, so you get in early to sink your teeth into one.

Savouring crispy and succulent meats in a roll? Then Mr Crackles is your best bet. Founded by two professional chefs, this Asian-Australian sandwich roll shop looks exactly like most grab-and-go joints. It’ll be filled with a couple of school kids, blue-colour and even white-collar workers. Funny how food homogenises us, ah? Anyhoo, while most neighbourhood sandwich joints make their sandwiches hours before serving them, Mr Crackles chops and assembles everything in front of you when ordering. Their 12-hour braised lamb shoulder, in a roll with tahini, rocket and caramelised onions, is their most coveted roll and is far from the dry roast meat of old-school Aussie sandwich shops.

The best thing about Two Chaps is its unique menus and space. It sports upcycled furniture including wall-mounted bikes, has an open kitchen and steel shelves loaded with sacks of flour; so fully hipster. The place’s menu is also subject to change based on the time of the day and season of the year — which is a good thing. Almost everything is made from scratch and most of the produce is organic and sourced from nearby or made by the guys themselves. The Mediterranean-influenced vegetarian menu features daily house-made doughnuts, cakes and pastries, salads, sandwiches, and bigger dishes. All their bread is baked on-site, including a durum semolina loaf and white or wholemeal organic ciabatta.

In Haymarket, you’ll catch sight of many things; sex shops, massage parlours, small convenience stores and washed out restaurants, and then you’ll see The Sandwich Shop. This sandwich haven serves up premium sandwiches and makes almost every ingredient in-house. They source the best quality sourdough, slow cook their meats and make special sauces and dressings using top produce. All available in a splendid restaurant near Darling Harbour. Serving up everything from a corn beef-filled Reuben to wasabi tuna offering, there are hearty flavours to satisfy your hunger. And If you’re popping by for breakfast, don’t go past the gooey melted cheddar and caramelised onion toastie.

Lox Stock & Barrel is a deli with bare lightbulbs, serving Classic New York Katz’s like seasonal plates and baked goods. There are four varieties of soft and delectable bagels doled out on site every day and they’re not too sweet. And if it’s a truly Jewish-style meal you’re hunting for, try their chopped liver, egg and onion on a sweet onion bagel with a side of pickles, or the house-made brisket pastrami on rye. If it’s something lighter you’re after go for the salads; which are textural, fresh and herby. Ans interestingly, their seafood-esque menu option deploys sustainable fish coupled with tasty, cured sardines on grilled toast or slices of albacore tuna in a panini with jalapenos and miso-dressed slaw — a true taste of New York-style Jewish food.

Cafe Monaka showcases everything the northern beaches café culture has to offer, but with a riff on Japanese inspired food and beverages. The cafe is the only spot where you can get Asagohan; a Japanese style breakfast of steamed rice with “Furikake” seasoning, grilled salmon marinated in fermented rice, egg omelette,  marinated vegetables, pickles and miso soup. Another favourite served up is the Monaka soba salad; green tea soba noodles, carrots, edamame, leafy greens, cherry tomatoes, sesame or soy vinaigrette; and you mix it up with grilled chicken breast or salmon. The rest of the cafe’s menu features creative takes on acai bowls, avocado on toast, poke, burgers, and toast.

Meats, sandwiches, coffee and Tiny Teddies. Welcome to Charc Specialty Meats & Coffee. The stalwart institution is loved for its house-made brined lean-beef pastrami, sauerkraut, cheese and house-made Russian dressing. They use top bakery sourdough, usually rye, and includes a slice of Swiss cheese. Co-owner Pete Wilmot tried more than a dozen different sauerkrauts until he found the perfect one, as well as six mayos and four cuts of beef for the pastrami. There’s a “rookie”-sized Reuben for $9.90. The regular size is $12.90 and comes with pretzels and a bottle of water. The owner says it has the perfect ratio of meat to other ingredients.

Good times await sandwich lovers at Good Ways Deli. Everything at this joint is made in-house. And with only a couple of sandwiches on the menu, it’s what goes into those sangas and bread that makes this place so formidable. But this part sandwich shop, part deli, part bakery isn’t your average sanga store. They dole out the likes of kangaroo mortadella sandwich topped with fermented chilli, as well as chicken sandwiches with walnuts and apple, fancy Vegemite scrolls, house-made jams and pickles to take home and everyone’s favourite — lamingtons.  The deli also prides itself in using wattleseed in its gluten-free brownies.

For a sandwich shop that strives for simplicity in its menu, John Montagu brings the heat. There are four sandwiches to choose from; their signature 12-hour beef cheeks; rocket, cheese, horseradish mayo, secret sauce, toasted; the chicken katsu; cheese, rocket, mint, apple, cucumber, chipotle mayo, fresh; the vegan falafel sandwich of red cabbage, pickled salad, ajvar, chilli, miso tahini, fresh and classic BLT. And if you’re up for something more simple, order their sough-after sausage and egg bun or signature Mexican spiced grilled chicken; mixed greens, Mexican beans, chilli, parmesan, chipotle mayo. The sandwich shop sells a fine selection of speciality coffee, teas and juices.

Humble Bakery is a sandwich staple in Surry Hills slinging baked goods such as finger buns layered with pink icing; baked-bean toasties; and sausage rolls. In the morning, expect to find several Italian and South American-inspired bakery treats, from Jamon and cheese croissants to quince danishes and caramelised onion and chorizo snails. There are five sandwiches – many of which are filled with ham, gruyere and zucchini butter pickle, and eggplant parmigiana with fresh mozzarella. And if you have a  sweet tooth, house-baked cakes; fennel cake; baked cheesecake; flan and apricot tart; and spinach and ricotta pie are available.

Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Surry Hills is Cafe Kentaro. This fine sandwich sanctum brings a Japanese twist to all your favourite Aussie dishes. The Karage Sambo (think Japanese fried chicken, kimuchi and mayo on bread), and there’s a heap of new ones to pick from, like the Matcha French Toast and Japanese Poutine. There are no eggs on toast or avocado smashes, it’s either popular dishes from Oratnek or entirely new creations.  The signature katsu sandwich, matcha French toast and the omelette with fried rice are loved.

Nostalgic neon signs, monochromatic photos and retro diner seating and American-style diner sandwiches. At Harvey’s, you can pick from the line-up of 11 signature and classic subs. There’s a Philly cheesesteak, a muffuletta, a beef dip and a Nashville-style hot chicken. There’s also and a meatball with port and veal meatballs, garlic butter, marinara sauce and mozzarella. And if you’re hankering for dessert, or you’re still peckish after your sandwich, the diner serves up a Nutella fountain designed to drown cookies and cookie sandwiches in choc-hazelnut goodness.

Toastiesmith is the perfect lunchtime staple and late-night food spot. There are 12 toasties to choose between from the home-style classics we all love as well as a few with a twist, think roast beef, pork katsu or grilled fish. All sandwiches come complete with an egg omelette inside. The Signature Eggsmith is loaded up with scrambled eggs, cheese, roasted sesame flavoured slaw, spicy tomato relish, sweet corn, fish roe, chives and chipotle. There’s also a taro toastie, a wagyu beef don toastie and a yakitori toastie, with actual skewers. Toastiesmith does their refreshing smoothies and sodas. Including mango, pear, chia seed and pineapple smoothie, lemonade and rose lychee soda.