The Best Sandwich in Los Angeles

[kennygg]

I used to think that the best sandie in LA was at Black Dog Coffee on Wilshire. Multi seeded baguette (one of the seeds lavender and amazing) pesto, turkey, cranberry. I had one a few months ago that was pretty bad. Yesterday I tried one last time and it was DRY and the bread was OLD and it was permanently knocked off my list. I will try Larchmont Wine and Cheese today to see if it has moved to first place (always held a very firm second). My third was Cafe Tropical in Silverlake - pressed Cuban turkey. Delicious. The point of this email - where else is the best sandwich in LA? Just in case all my favorites fail me!

[WildSwede]

I, of course, love The Sandwich from Roma Deli in Pasadena. Quality and simplicity at its best. Just polished one off. I also really like the pastrami dip (dip on the side) at Gene's Grinders in Monrovia.

On Saturday, I was visiting friends and we went to the movies in Pico Rivera. We had been talking about them taking me for my first taste of Tortas Ahogadas. We went to the newest location of Chago Ahogadas in Pico Rivera. I ordered the Pork Ahogada which came with pickled onions and smothered in a tomato sauce. They brought us a squirt bottle of the deliciously, but incredibly spicy hot sauce which I slathered all over. That with lime and some salt really got my tastebuds singing! I gotta tell you, I am now a huge fan of Ahogadas and really wish I would have tried them sooner!

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Gene's Grinders
800 S Myrtle Ave, Monrovia, CA 91016

[wienermobile]

Sandwiches at Fundamental LA in Westwood are great. Menu changes daily. Try their pulled pork shoulder with SRIRACHA BBQ SAUCE, APPLE/JALAPENO SLAW on brioche. Also a really nice egg salad with EGG TWO WAYS, EVOO, CRÈME FRAICHE, PRESERVED TOMATOES, SPROUTS, CHIVES, LEMON JUICE, on brioche Good stuff.
http://fundamental-la.com/

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fundamental Los Angeles
1303 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024

[handlertaper]

A very decadent sandwich-roast turkey breast, stuffing and cranberry sauce on yummy bread at Tavern in Brentwood,

[echoparkdirt]

the lamb sandwich at Papa Cristo is amazing. Fabulous bread, big thick slices of lamb, with feta cheese and extra tzatziki. wonderful!

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Papa Cristos
2771 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90006

[bruinike]

I just had a fantastic sandwich at SANDWICH SPOT on Ocean Park Blvd in Santa Monica. They have a large menu with various options. They have the option of the dutch crunch bread that I have only ever had at the famous IKE'S PLACE in San Francisco. The bread is killer. I just got a standard grilled chicken with veggies. Filling and delicious. Don't know what took me so long to try it when it's so close.

[Gourmet Miser]

The organic curry chicken panini from La Provence Patisserie in Brentwood is amazing! It's made with apples and cranberries which perfectly complement the curry flavor. If you want something vegetarian, try the artichoke heart panini with fresh spinach and goat cheese. Also, a winner!

www.gourmetmiser.com

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La Provence Patisserie
11677 San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

[Phurstluv]

I had a great cemitas poblano today at Tacos Por Favor. I only write this up since I usually order my favorite tacos al pastor there, but today, decided to branch out a little.

Roll was toasted. Filled up with carnitas, huge chunks of pork, avocado (that's what sold it for me) red onion, chipotle salsa, and a mild but soft slice of queso, not sure what kind, cactique maybe? Anyway, with the addictive red salsa poured over it (the chipotle salsa was there, but not enough for me to taste) it was delicious. I'd definitely get that again!!

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Tacos Por Favor
1406 Olympic Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404

[mdpilam]

I tried their cemitas poblano a couple months ago, and was underwhelmed. It wasn't bad, it just made me wish that I had gone to the Smart and Final truck, which is probably the best cemita I've had.

[running pig]

For vegetarians: egg salad sandwich at Europane...mmm....

[foodiemahoodie]

I like 3 Square's sandwich sampler - you get three little sandwiches, and three sides. I'm hungry thinking about it.

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3 Square Cafe
1121 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291

[foodiemahoodie]

Since the recommendation of a duck confit sandwich on this thread left me hankering for just such a thing. Had one at Surfa's. Along with their "chocolate croissaint" (pain au chocolat).

And it was pretty disappointing. Just felt heavy with a dominate taste of cumin. (they should call it cumin duck confit - and then I would not have ordered it. ) The croissaint was okay, and only made me long for the real deal in France. Criskpy, buttery, flaky, etc.

[wienermobile]

Langer's ... It can be just the plain hand cut smokey tender pastrami with deli mustard and that incredible double baked rye bread or their #19, pastrami with slaw and swiss or #44 grilled with Sauerkraut and their nippy cheddar. Take your pick. There is no better sandwich in LA.
http://www.langersdeli.com/

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Langer's Delicatessen
704 S Alvarado St, Los Angeles, CA 90057

[jonahlee]

Brent's corned beef rueben is my favorite sandwich in LA bar none.

[Servorg]

So they do a corned beef rueben as well as their (rightly) famed black pastrami rueben?

[monku]

Isn't a Reuben normally corned beef?
But, I agree the best sandwich at Brent's is their black pastrami Reuben.

[Servorg]

Are you taking over for maxzook? ;-D> Evidently it is either corned beef, or pastrami (if you are inclined to believe Wikipedia).

[monku]

Are you taking over for maxzook?
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No.
Someone say's Reuben and I think corned beef. jonahlee must like their corned beef Reuben.

+Pointing out Brent's black pastrami Reuben is their best sandwich.

[Servorg]

Just kidding around about max. This all played out on another thread with max saying reuben's must be corned beef (even saying "check wikipedia" in his response - he must have missed seeing the OR word in the story) as that's when another hound linked to the wikipedia page which says a reuben can be either corned beef OR pastrami. I didn't know that at the time. I've only ever had their black pastrami reuben at Brent's. It's one of my favorite sandwiches in LA and I get it almost every time we go to Brent's. I didn't even recall seeing a corned beef reuben on their menu. Brent's corned beef is actually so lean as to be on the dry side at times.

[monku]

I remember seeing the corned beef/pastrami Reuben thread.

BTW: I know you're a stickler.... Should Reuben be capitalized?

[Servorg]

Spell check says it ought be capitalized but since this is a spell free / grammar free zone I use that fact to my advantage when feeling bushed (up since 1:45 AM and bike ride done and grocery shopping completed and all put away in the fridge).

[monku]

OK...Caesar salad falls into the same category too I suppose.

[Servorg]

How many foods do we have named after Italian Mexican's http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar_s... anyway? ;-D>

[bluesand]

I just went to Mendocino Farms the other day (new to LA) and I must say even though I am not much of a sandwich person -- this place rocks! The bread is great and all the ingredients are fresh as well. http://mendocinofarms.com

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Mendocino Farms
300 S Grand Ave Ste Lp40, Los Angeles, CA 90071

[Phurstluv]

+1 for Mendocino Farms.

The pork belly bahn mi is outstanding, and causing major cravings in this house. The steak sandwich is not too shabby either.

The only one my family was not impressed with was the peanut butter & jelly - too hip & earthy-crunchy for this old fashioned family!

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Mendocino Farms
300 S Grand Ave Ste Lp40, Los Angeles, CA 90071

[George]

No way is this the best sandwich in LA but it was the best sandwich one day recently for me: Bread Bar has a ham sandwich with radishes and cornichons and butter on one of their baguettes and what makes it is it is the fleur de sel baguette, sprinkled on the outside with salt.

[chowmominLA]

I'm not much of a sandwich person but I think the best sandwich ever is the hot turkey and avocado with "everything" (mayo, onion, lettuce and tomato), served panini style, at Santino's on Lincoln a few blocks from Rose in MDR. It used to be a sandwich shop called Werner's that I had frequented since going to high school down the street (over 20 years ago, yikes.) The owner had passed away and the place was sold and turned into a more European casual sandwich shop, but they kept the large variety of foreign and domestic beers and put in a bunch of TVs for soccer and such. Although they completely revamped the menu I was so relieved that that turkey/avocado sandwich is still basically the same, alhough can be made "panini" style now.

I'd love it if someone gave it a try and posted what they thought!

[Phurstluv]

They have now moved to Venice Beach at Windward, btw.

[hrhboo]

They have 2 locations, the one on Lincoln reopened last summer.

[Servorg]

Found their website with both locations noted. And it's good to see you posting again, hrhboo.

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Santino's
3021 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica, CA

[hrhboo]

Thanks :)

The Windward location is more casual and serves mostly sandwiches, salads, light tapas, empanadas etc. The Lincoln location is more of a restaurant, they serve beer and wine and have a back patio with a huge grill. On different nights of the week the grill is used to make different things like paella, grilled pizza or Argentinian barbeque. The Lincoln location has live music on certain nights as well.

[Servorg]

Have you ever had the paella?

[hrhboo]

I had it 2-3 years ago and it was very good. Then the place burned down, was closed for a couple of years and reopened a few months ago. I haven't tried it since then so can't vouch for it as I'm not sure if they have the same people cooking there. I can vouch for the Argentinian barbeque - very tasty, authentic and a fantastic deal. Platter for 2 people includes bread, salad, 5-6 different meats and costs $30.

[Servorg]

The platter sounds great. It's not that far from us and I am going to bring pressure to bear on my wife (pressure = begging & pleading) to go! ;-D>

[hrhboo]

Haha, I thought that might get you going! Call first to avoid disappointment, they usually have it on Sundays but not every Sunday. More like on Sundays when the owner feels like it. It's a quirky and interesting place, and the family who owns it couldn't be nicer.

The vibe is laid back, hanging on the patio drinking sangria/beer and gnawing on grilled meats. I should add that the cuts aren't particularly high end - it's usually chicken, sausage, short ribs, some kind of flank or skirt steak, sweetbreads and sometimes other bits and pieces thrown in. The service tends to be laid back too, a little like eating in your South American friend's backyard.

[Phurstluv]

Where is it on Lincoln, not the original location, that seems to be an empty storefront right now.

[Servorg]

Google has it right between Marine and Pier on the east side of the street.

[hrhboo]

It is the original location, they rebuilt after the fire.

[Phurstluv]

Strange, there's no signage, last time (last week) I drove by.

[feedthebelly]

larchmont wine and cheese..for the best sandwiches hands down.

[NAspy]

+1 for Larchmont Wine and Cheese -- the sandwiches are fresh, somewhat unique and oh so good

[hdalsy]

1. Bay Cities Deli in Santa Monica. The meat selection is huge, toppings are great (you have to get the mild peppers) and the bread it comes on is amazing! Do yourself a favor and order online so you don't have to wait in line....but it's well worth it!
2. Il Tramezzino in Beverly Hills. Pressed sandwiches...amazing! They also have a location in Studio City or North Hollywood

[Emme]

good recs

also good options at Clementine in century city and Belwood Bakery

[foodiemahoodie]

I like Bay Cities Deli - but to me the star of those sandwiches is the freshly baked bread. GREAT bread. The rest is stuff like Boar's Head mortadella, proscuitto, ham, provolone (that are some of the ingrediants of their famous "Godmother" sandwich.).

A good deli sandwich, but not even in my top 20 lifetime favorite sandwiches. But if we were just rating deli sandwiches? Well, that's a whole 'nuther subset.

[attran99]

The Artisan Cheese Gallery in Studio City makes awesome sanwiches. I'm particularly fond any sandwich they put on the daily special list.

[CoffeeMonkee]

Second the Artisan Cheese Gallery... I'd say check out the Duck Confit, or the Breakfast Sandwich!

k

[Steve2 in LA]

Third vote for the Duck Confit Panini at Artisan Cheese Gallery. Do yourself a favor and try the Muffuletta on an olive batard and their Grilled Veggie as well.

They are simply Out. Standing!

[Servorg]

You will definitely want to review this prior thread:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/497874

When you are done eating your way through the list please report back. ;-D