Buffalo doesn’t get enough credit as a sandwich town – I mean, maybe we do as locals, but as someone who came from the outside… I had NO idea that Buffalo has so many delicious sandwiches to offer.
We talk wings, we talk beef on weck (okay, that one’s a sandwich too that I love), we talk pizza. But the truth is, some of the best eating in this city happens between two slices of bread. I’ve spent more lunches than I’d like to admit tracking down the best of the best across the city and the surrounding suburbs. Here are my (current) picks, in no particular order.
1. Panko Chicken Salad: Chris’ NY Sandwich Co (Delaware Ave.)
Walk into Chris’ and you’d swear you’d been teleported to a deli on the Lower East Side. The panko chicken salad is the move. It’s crispy, creamy, and stacked generously enough that you’ll be unwrapping foil for the rest of the afternoon.
2. The Aaliyah (Breakfast): Breadhive Bakery & Cafe
Breadhive bakes its own bread daily, and it shows. The Aaliyah has earned a cult following for good reason. It’s the kind of sandwich that makes you rearrange your schedule to swing by before they sell out.
3. Reuben: Mayback’s Deli
A hoagie with some heat and a whole lot of personality. Mayback’s does deli-classic the right way: quality meats, real bread, no shortcuts.
4. Beef on Weck: Charlie the Butcher’s Kitchen
You can’t write a WNY sandwich list without the hometown legend. Charlie the Butcher earned its reputation the old-fashioned way. The man was literally a butcher, and it shows in the quality of the roast beef. A pilgrimage-worthy stop – we swing by after every Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Friday morning show and if we’re heading to the airport. Don’t forget the sides… and the dessert.
5. Any Hoagie: Hoagie Hounds
Exactly what the name promises. No frills, no gimmicks, just a properly built hoagie with the right bread-to-filling ratio, which is rarer than it should be.
6. The Marty: Zios Deli and Heroes
A Buffalo deli staple. The Marty lives up to its name; it’s a two-hands, extra-napkins kind of sandwich that will ruin you for gas station subs forever. I named this the “super hero” in my notes because it had a little bit of everything you want in a sub – you can also build your own favorite sandwich.
7. Vegan Beefless Weck: Betty’s
I love Betty’s – everything I’ve ordered there has been yummy. If you’re looking for a vegan sandwich option that tastes amazing (and like the “classic”), this is the sandwich for you.
More to Try
Here are two other options that are on my TBE (to be eaten) list: the Banh Mi at Pham’s Kitchen, the Stinger from Franco’s Pizzeria (their fries – chef’s kiss).
Did I miss your favorite? Drop it in the comments or send me an email (mel@buffalorising.com) – I’m always looking for the next great lunch.