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22 Must-Try Sandwiches to Seek Out in Metro Detroit

The most delicious options between sliced bread

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The sandwich is an incredibly versatile vessel for satisfying one’s hunger. It’s quite mobile, almost always filling, and afford. Pretty much anyone can make a fine sandwich, but not all are destined to be great. Here in metro Detroit there are a lot of excellent sandwiches worth the stomach real estate — whether you’re planning the big sports gathering, taking a quick lunch break, or need a satisfying takeout spot. From the monstrous stacked subs at Gonella’s Original to the mighty tortas at Mi Pueblo, here are 22 certified excellent sandwiches to seek out in metro Detroit.

Which sandwiches are worthy of greatness? Email us at detroit@eater.com.

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Hamido’s chicken shawarma is simple and delicious. The meat is spit-roasted imparting a nice char-grilled flavor. It comes out hot and juicy in a tightly wrapped pita with garlicky toum and a side of pickles. The restaurant is offering dine-in seating but also does a very steady carryout service.

The Lobster Pitstop

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The wildly popular Lobster Food Truck set down roots in Dearborn last fall, ensuring that diners can always find a lobster roll when the craving strikes. The rolls here are served on a non-traditional bun overflowing with big, juicy pieces of lobster. The whole thing is dressed up with garlic butter and herbs. Catch the truck roving around metro Detroit or order at the storefront.

El Rey de las Arepas

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This family-owned Venezuelan restaurant has gained a following among locals and even a few Major League Baseball players for its arepas, wonderfully deep-fried maize cakes filled with everything from cheese to shredded beef to avocado. El Rey’s affordable dishes including cilantro aioli and salsa rosa-slathered french fries are served in a casual atmosphere. Carryout and dine-in options are available.

Gonellas Foods

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One of the most enduring sandwich makers in metro Detroit comes from this mainstay, which has been serving monstrous subs for more than 75 years. This classic deli provides hearty stackers ranging from six to 18 meat-and-cheese layers and a variety of deli options, including gigantic dill pickles, pounds of cold salads, and one of the largest olive bars in the area.

Rincon Tropical

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This southwest Detroit Puerto Rican restaurant serves a menu filled with fried treats like meat-stuffed empanadillas, bolitas de yuca (cheese-stuffed cassava balls), and tostones. But the star is the jibarito — a bread-less sandwich with roots in both Chicago and Puerto Rico that’s held together by long slices of crisp, seasoned plantain stuffed with a choice of chicken, beef, or pork, melty cheese, lettuce, and tomato. Rincon Tropical is open for dine-in, takeout, and delivery through DoorDash.

A sandwich with plantains instead of bread is held together with toothpicks and has meat, cheese, and lettuce overflowing from the sides. Brenna Houck

Taqueria Mi Pueblo

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Mi Pueblo, a Detroit stalwart, started off years ago as an informal weekends-only taqueria in a house but has become a destination for its vast menu, friendly atmosphere, and colorful decor. Among its array of traditional Mexican dishes is the torta, made with a bolillo roll and filled with choice of Mexican-style meats like pollo milanesa, suadero, and chorizo, as well as veggie-friendly options like marinated mushrooms. Each torta is also filled with refried beans, jalapeños, avocado, lettuce, and tomato.

A torta stuffed with meat, guacamole, jalapeños, and other ingredients on a piece of parchment paper on a plate with a plate of rice, beans, and avocado and tomatoes Michelle Gerard

Mike's Famous Ham Place

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Steamed ham hocks are front and center in the shop window at Mike’s Famous Ham Place, a diner-style restaurant specializing in ham sandwiches, ham and eggs, and pea soup. Customers can sit at the counter and watch their meat carved right from the bone and onto a fluffy poppy seed roll. Take cash.

A large ham sandwich on a bun with poppy seeds. It has a slice of ham on top of the bune and a pile of pickles on the side Brenna Houck

Hygrade Restaurant & Deli

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This venerable, full-service Michigan Avenue delicatessen is known for its corned beef and pastrami sandwiches. The shop makes a mean Reuben piled high with thinly sliced corned beef, swiss, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing on toasted rye bread with a pickle on the side. Dr. Brown’s sodas are always on hand. Call in an order for carryout or dine-in at the restaurant.

A reuben sandwich from hygrade deli sliced in half with about an inch and a half of corned beef between two slices of toasted bread Brenna Houck

Detroit 75 Kitchen

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It’s practically impossible to go astray with this food truck's menu, but it’s always a wise choice to order the 3rd Street Philly with a side of cilantro fries. Sautéed bell peppers, mushrooms, onions, banana peppers, chopped steak, and provolone are layered between two fresh slices of sesame seed-topped bread and pressed. It’s crispy, spicy, and saucy in all the right ways. Place an order for carryout and eat on the patio or take it to-go. The restaurant also accepts delivery orders.

Mudgie's Deli

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Mudgie's offers an unbeatable variety sandwiches including the Brooklyn, served warm and made with house-smoked beef brisket, applewood smoked bacon, beer pub cheese, and caramelized maple onions on a brioche roll. Order a beer or a bottle of wine to wash everything down. The shop takes online orders for pickup at the walk-up window and also offers dine-in service.

Iggy's Eggies

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At Iggy’s Eggies it’s all about the breakfast sandwiches. Served from a walk-up window in Capitol Park, Iggy’s is a choose-your-own-adventure for eggs between bread. Pick a bread — English muffin, brioche, or biscuit — and add cheese and protein. The simplest (and biggest) sandwich order is the Bodega, featuring fried Sy Ginsberg bologna with white cheddar, a sunny side up egg, mayo, and mustard on a kaiser roll. The restaurant accepts online orders for pickup and delivery. Leave room for French toast sticks.

Bucharest Grill

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There’s other shawarma and then there’s the Bucharest chicken shawarma. The chicken is marinated and grilled on a flat top. Then the whole thing is wrapped in a pita with garlic sauce, pickle spears, accompanying veggies, and, of course, french fries. Order by phone for carryout or online (make sure to select the correct location).

A box of Bucharest shawarma wrapped in tin foil to-go. Bucharest Grill [Official photo]

Breadless

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Looking for ways to enjoy a delicious sandwich, without the carbs? Breadless opened its doors in March on East Jefferson Avenue, featuring a line of sandwiches that are wrapped in greens instead of bread. Enjoy sandwiches like the Cloud 9 Pastrami loaded with havarti cheese, shredded cabbage, pickle, red onions, spicy ground mustard, house-made reuben sauce — all in a collard green vessel. Round out the meal with a bag of Caulipops, one in a line of the restaurant’s delicious veggie crips.

Grab-and-go sandwiches can be a little limp, particularly when they’re picked up from the grocery store deli aisle. That’s not the case at Marrow in West Village, whose butcher shop offers a handful of carryout sandwiches daily that are wrapped and ready to go out the door. The selection rotates out depending on what meats are available in the shop at the time. Think: Roast beef with sliced white cheddar, pickles, and horseradish on sourdough bread. There’s also typically a robust vegetarian option as well such as marinated tofu.

A roast beef sandwich on sliced bread with sliced cheese, lettuce, and pickles. Brenna Houck

Rocco's Italian Deli

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Modern Italian deli Rocco’s has a way with sandwiches and the Zio Freddo’s Got Serious Beef is among the best of the bunch. The staff starts by melting provolone over a crusty hoagie roll and then stuffs it full of fragrant beef braised with slightly spicy giardiniera. Place orders online for curbside pickup.

An Italian beef sandwich with cheese melted over the roll on greasy wax paper. Brenna Houck

Mongers' Provisions

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Now with locations in Cass Corridor and Berkley, cheese and chocolate shop Mongers’ Provisions plays to its strengths with a selection of grilled cheese sandwiches. The uber-melty raclette sandwich is filled with crunchy Better Made potato chips and pickles. Each order comes flanked by crisp pickles or olives. Walk-ins are welcome but online ordering is available for pickup or delivery.

A grilled cheese sandwich sliced in half on brown paper next to apricots and pickles. Mongers Provisions [Official photo]

This hit noodle bar and izakaya also happens to make an outstanding karaage chicken sandwich. Ima’s sandwiches come in two varieties — mild and spicy — with the option of a juicy fried tofu patty instead of chicken. The sandwich is served on a brioche bun from Knickerbocker Baking Company in Madison Heights with furikake Kewpie mayo, tangy napa cabbage slaw, and sides of pickles and lemon. On the run? Ima founder Mike Ransom opened a fast-casual spot, SuperCrisp, earlier this year at 4830 Cass Ave. Suite C where varieties of the beloved karaage sandwiches are the stars of the menu. Dine in or place an order for carryout in-person or online.

Balkan House

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The German-style döner is the go-to item for customers at Balkan House, a casual mini chain with locations in Hamtramck and Ferndale. Served on springy Bosnian lepinja bread, this pocket sandwich features salty meat grilled on a flat top with garlic sauce and veggies. Vegetarian and vegan options are available. The restaurants offer dine-in and patio seating as well as online ordering.

A close up of a döner sandwich with veggies and meat stuffed in a pocket of soft white bread and drenched with creamy white sauce. Brenna Houck

Chef Greg's Soul-N-The Wall

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When it comes to Detroit sandwiches, few have achieved the legendary status of the Boogaloo Wonderland at Chef Greg’s Soul-N-the Wall: a hoagie topped with beef, tangy red sauce, American cheese, and caramelized onions. This carryout spot’s signature dish pays tribute to an original recipe at the now-shuttered Brothers Bar-B-Q and to the late “Boogie Wonderland” songwriter Allee Willis, who was a big fan of proprietor Greg Beard’s food. Call in to place an order for pickup or order delivery through DoorDash.

Ernie's Market

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Ernie’s isn’t just great, it’s beloved. Find huge sandwiches on fresh-baked onion rolls at this Oak Park landmark at affordable prices. Each one comes with a handful of Hershey’s kisses. Call ahead to place orders for carryout and remember to bring cash.

Matt & Mo's Italian Beef

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Former food truck Matt & Mo’s is now the resident kitchen at the Doug’s Delight stand in Hazel Park, serving up phenomenal Italian beef sandwiches and Guernsey ice cream. The beef for each sandwich is slow roasted in its own juices and a special spice mix and topped with spicy giardiniera and bell peppers. Order one dry, wet, or dipped in sauce at the walk-up window.

Que Huong

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This bustling Madison Heights Vietnamese restaurant is known for its pho, but it also makes a mean banh mi. The soft French rolls come filled with plenty of veggies, herbs, and protein like pork belly or chicken. Place orders by phone for takeout or dine-in.

Hamido

Hamido’s chicken shawarma is simple and delicious. The meat is spit-roasted imparting a nice char-grilled flavor. It comes out hot and juicy in a tightly wrapped pita with garlicky toum and a side of pickles. The restaurant is offering dine-in seating but also does a very steady carryout service.

The Lobster Pitstop

The wildly popular Lobster Food Truck set down roots in Dearborn last fall, ensuring that diners can always find a lobster roll when the craving strikes. The rolls here are served on a non-traditional bun overflowing with big, juicy pieces of lobster. The whole thing is dressed up with garlic butter and herbs. Catch the truck roving around metro Detroit or order at the storefront.

El Rey de las Arepas

This family-owned Venezuelan restaurant has gained a following among locals and even a few Major League Baseball players for its arepas, wonderfully deep-fried maize cakes filled with everything from cheese to shredded beef to avocado. El Rey’s affordable dishes including cilantro aioli and salsa rosa-slathered french fries are served in a casual atmosphere. Carryout and dine-in options are available.

Gonellas Foods

One of the most enduring sandwich makers in metro Detroit comes from this mainstay, which has been serving monstrous subs for more than 75 years. This classic deli provides hearty stackers ranging from six to 18 meat-and-cheese layers and a variety of deli options, including gigantic dill pickles, pounds of cold salads, and one of the largest olive bars in the area.

Rincon Tropical

This southwest Detroit Puerto Rican restaurant serves a menu filled with fried treats like meat-stuffed empanadillas, bolitas de yuca (cheese-stuffed cassava balls), and tostones. But the star is the jibarito — a bread-less sandwich with roots in both Chicago and Puerto Rico that’s held together by long slices of crisp, seasoned plantain stuffed with a choice of chicken, beef, or pork, melty cheese, lettuce, and tomato. Rincon Tropical is open for dine-in, takeout, and delivery through DoorDash.

A sandwich with plantains instead of bread is held together with toothpicks and has meat, cheese, and lettuce overflowing from the sides. Brenna Houck

Taqueria Mi Pueblo

Mi Pueblo, a Detroit stalwart, started off years ago as an informal weekends-only taqueria in a house but has become a destination for its vast menu, friendly atmosphere, and colorful decor. Among its array of traditional Mexican dishes is the torta, made with a bolillo roll and filled with choice of Mexican-style meats like pollo milanesa, suadero, and chorizo, as well as veggie-friendly options like marinated mushrooms. Each torta is also filled with refried beans, jalapeños, avocado, lettuce, and tomato.

A torta stuffed with meat, guacamole, jalapeños, and other ingredients on a piece of parchment paper on a plate with a plate of rice, beans, and avocado and tomatoes Michelle Gerard

Mike's Famous Ham Place

Steamed ham hocks are front and center in the shop window at Mike’s Famous Ham Place, a diner-style restaurant specializing in ham sandwiches, ham and eggs, and pea soup. Customers can sit at the counter and watch their meat carved right from the bone and onto a fluffy poppy seed roll. Take cash.

A large ham sandwich on a bun with poppy seeds. It has a slice of ham on top of the bune and a pile of pickles on the side Brenna Houck

Hygrade Restaurant & Deli

This venerable, full-service Michigan Avenue delicatessen is known for its corned beef and pastrami sandwiches. The shop makes a mean Reuben piled high with thinly sliced corned beef, swiss, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing on toasted rye bread with a pickle on the side. Dr. Brown’s sodas are always on hand. Call in an order for carryout or dine-in at the restaurant.

A reuben sandwich from hygrade deli sliced in half with about an inch and a half of corned beef between two slices of toasted bread Brenna Houck

Detroit 75 Kitchen

It’s practically impossible to go astray with this food truck's menu, but it’s always a wise choice to order the 3rd Street Philly with a side of cilantro fries. Sautéed bell peppers, mushrooms, onions, banana peppers, chopped steak, and provolone are layered between two fresh slices of sesame seed-topped bread and pressed. It’s crispy, spicy, and saucy in all the right ways. Place an order for carryout and eat on the patio or take it to-go. The restaurant also accepts delivery orders.

Mudgie's Deli

Mudgie's offers an unbeatable variety sandwiches including the Brooklyn, served warm and made with house-smoked beef brisket, applewood smoked bacon, beer pub cheese, and caramelized maple onions on a brioche roll. Order a beer or a bottle of wine to wash everything down. The shop takes online orders for pickup at the walk-up window and also offers dine-in service.

Iggy's Eggies

At Iggy’s Eggies it’s all about the breakfast sandwiches. Served from a walk-up window in Capitol Park, Iggy’s is a choose-your-own-adventure for eggs between bread. Pick a bread — English muffin, brioche, or biscuit — and add cheese and protein. The simplest (and biggest) sandwich order is the Bodega, featuring fried Sy Ginsberg bologna with white cheddar, a sunny side up egg, mayo, and mustard on a kaiser roll. The restaurant accepts online orders for pickup and delivery. Leave room for French toast sticks.

Bucharest Grill

There’s other shawarma and then there’s the Bucharest chicken shawarma. The chicken is marinated and grilled on a flat top. Then the whole thing is wrapped in a pita with garlic sauce, pickle spears, accompanying veggies, and, of course, french fries. Order by phone for carryout or online (make sure to select the correct location).

A box of Bucharest shawarma wrapped in tin foil to-go. Bucharest Grill [Official photo]

Breadless

Looking for ways to enjoy a delicious sandwich, without the carbs? Breadless opened its doors in March on East Jefferson Avenue, featuring a line of sandwiches that are wrapped in greens instead of bread. Enjoy sandwiches like the Cloud 9 Pastrami loaded with havarti cheese, shredded cabbage, pickle, red onions, spicy ground mustard, house-made reuben sauce — all in a collard green vessel. Round out the meal with a bag of Caulipops, one in a line of the restaurant’s delicious veggie crips.

Marrow

Grab-and-go sandwiches can be a little limp, particularly when they’re picked up from the grocery store deli aisle. That’s not the case at Marrow in West Village, whose butcher shop offers a handful of carryout sandwiches daily that are wrapped and ready to go out the door. The selection rotates out depending on what meats are available in the shop at the time. Think: Roast beef with sliced white cheddar, pickles, and horseradish on sourdough bread. There’s also typically a robust vegetarian option as well such as marinated tofu.

A roast beef sandwich on sliced bread with sliced cheese, lettuce, and pickles. Brenna Houck

Rocco's Italian Deli

Modern Italian deli Rocco’s has a way with sandwiches and the Zio Freddo’s Got Serious Beef is among the best of the bunch. The staff starts by melting provolone over a crusty hoagie roll and then stuffs it full of fragrant beef braised with slightly spicy giardiniera. Place orders online for curbside pickup.

An Italian beef sandwich with cheese melted over the roll on greasy wax paper. Brenna Houck

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Mongers' Provisions

Now with locations in Cass Corridor and Berkley, cheese and chocolate shop Mongers’ Provisions plays to its strengths with a selection of grilled cheese sandwiches. The uber-melty raclette sandwich is filled with crunchy Better Made potato chips and pickles. Each order comes flanked by crisp pickles or olives. Walk-ins are welcome but online ordering is available for pickup or delivery.

A grilled cheese sandwich sliced in half on brown paper next to apricots and pickles. Mongers Provisions [Official photo]

Ima

This hit noodle bar and izakaya also happens to make an outstanding karaage chicken sandwich. Ima’s sandwiches come in two varieties — mild and spicy — with the option of a juicy fried tofu patty instead of chicken. The sandwich is served on a brioche bun from Knickerbocker Baking Company in Madison Heights with furikake Kewpie mayo, tangy napa cabbage slaw, and sides of pickles and lemon. On the run? Ima founder Mike Ransom opened a fast-casual spot, SuperCrisp, earlier this year at 4830 Cass Ave. Suite C where varieties of the beloved karaage sandwiches are the stars of the menu. Dine in or place an order for carryout in-person or online.

Balkan House

The German-style döner is the go-to item for customers at Balkan House, a casual mini chain with locations in Hamtramck and Ferndale. Served on springy Bosnian lepinja bread, this pocket sandwich features salty meat grilled on a flat top with garlic sauce and veggies. Vegetarian and vegan options are available. The restaurants offer dine-in and patio seating as well as online ordering.

A close up of a döner sandwich with veggies and meat stuffed in a pocket of soft white bread and drenched with creamy white sauce. Brenna Houck

Chef Greg's Soul-N-The Wall

When it comes to Detroit sandwiches, few have achieved the legendary status of the Boogaloo Wonderland at Chef Greg’s Soul-N-the Wall: a hoagie topped with beef, tangy red sauce, American cheese, and caramelized onions. This carryout spot’s signature dish pays tribute to an original recipe at the now-shuttered Brothers Bar-B-Q and to the late “Boogie Wonderland” songwriter Allee Willis, who was a big fan of proprietor Greg Beard’s food. Call in to place an order for pickup or order delivery through DoorDash.

Ernie's Market

Ernie’s isn’t just great, it’s beloved. Find huge sandwiches on fresh-baked onion rolls at this Oak Park landmark at affordable prices. Each one comes with a handful of Hershey’s kisses. Call ahead to place orders for carryout and remember to bring cash.

Matt & Mo's Italian Beef

Former food truck Matt & Mo’s is now the resident kitchen at the Doug’s Delight stand in Hazel Park, serving up phenomenal Italian beef sandwiches and Guernsey ice cream. The beef for each sandwich is slow roasted in its own juices and a special spice mix and topped with spicy giardiniera and bell peppers. Order one dry, wet, or dipped in sauce at the walk-up window.