A Minnesotan’s Guide to Local Sandwiches

Photo by Zapata Palms Pictures

For me, the sandwich is the perfect food—portable, craveable, infinitely variable. Done correctly, it is a symphony of textures and flavors that you just can’t get out of your head. And while we don’t have a sandwich directly associated with Minnesota (no Philly Cheesesteak, no Chicago Italian Beef, no Louisville Hot Chicken, or even Iowa’s Maid-Rite), we do have sandwiches that are local icons. With newer sandwich destinations making a splash, like Marty’s Deli in Minneapolis and Mario’s in St. Paul, this is a great time to be a Minnesota sandwich enthusiast.

Banh Mi

• LU’S SANDWICHES: Pan-Fried Chicken Sandwich
  Classic banh mi flavors with a twist. Multiple locations in Minneapolis, lusandwiches.com
• MI SANT KITCHEN & BAKERY: Korean Bulgogi
  Bulgogi beef and kimchi, plus the usual banh mi toppings. 1881 Minnesota State Highway 36, Roseville, mi-sant.com
• QUANG RESTAURANT: Thit Nguoi
  Lunch-only with red roasted pork, ham, pate, and pork patty. 2719 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis, quang-restaurant.com

JASON’S PICK: Trung Nam French Bakery

The banh mi at Trung Nam is a classic and it’s perfectly executed. Bring cash to pay for this under $8 delight, with freshly baked French baguette, mayo, pate, carrots, pork, cilantro, and jalapeño. 739 University Ave. W., St. Paul, trung-nam.squarespace.com

Photo by Jaguar92images

Old-School Delis

• CECIL’S DELI: Corned Beef on Rye
  I know many love the pastrami here, but I’m more of a corned beef guy. Great vibes in one of the only Jewish delis in the state. 651 Cleveland Ave. S., St. Paul, cecilsdeli.com
  

  

• CLANCEY’S MEATS & FISH: Roast Beef
  Top round roast beef topped with freshly ground horseradish on perfect bread. 3804 Grand Ave. S., Minneapolis, clanceysmeats.com
• NELSON CHEESE & DELI: Town of Nelson
  One of the more underrated delis in the state, this is a classic. Turkey breast, ham, Swiss, and Monterey Jack on caraway rye. 1562 Como Ave., St. Paul; 359 83rd Ave. NE, Spring Lake Park, nelson-cheese.com
• NORTHERN WATERS SMOKEHAUS: Smoked Salmon
  If you don’t go to Northern Waters, have you really gone to Duluth? Their new location is bright with lots of seating, and their own smoked salmon just feels right overlooking Lake Superior. 394 Lake Ave. S., Suite LL1, Duluth, northernwaterssmokehaus.com

JASON’S PICK: Brianno’s Italiano at Brianno’s Deli Italia

Is it the bread, that homemade hoagie roll? Is it the combo of three Italian meats, a soppressata, capicola, and salami? Maybe it’s the juicy basil vinaigrette with a couple cheeses, lettuce, tomato, and onion. It’s one of the best sandwiches in the state. 2280 Cliff Road, Eagan, briannos.com

Courtesy of Mario's Deli

New-School Delis

• MARIO’S DELI: Italian Combo
  It’s the bread for me at Mario’s, the perfect bookends for a loaded Italian combo. 232 Cleveland Ave. N., St. Paul, mariosstp.com
• MARTY’S DELI: The Raffi Luigi
  Salami and prosciutto with sweet peppers, fennel slaw, and maybe the best ratio of sauce to sandwich in town (a mustard aioli with a pop). Marty’s knows how to build a sandwich. 400 Lowry Ave. NE, Minneapolis, martysdeli.com

JASON’S PICK: Tuna Confit at South Lyndale Liquors & Market

Chef Matt Bickford has recreated his classic from Be’Wiched Deli: the Sashimi-grade tuna confit sandwich. The textures and flavors are amazing—the crunch from cucumber, the acid from preserved lemon, just perfection. 5516 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis, southlyndale.com

Courtesy of Marty's Deli

Hot Sammies

• ALL SQUARE: The Jerk
  Nothing jerky about All Square, but their jerk chicken grilled cheese balances the cheesy goodness with a spiced Jamaican chicken. 4047 Minnehaha Ave., Minneapolis, allsquarempls.com
• CARBON KITCHEN + MARKET: The Dipper
  A pit-roasted beef sandwich with a little more smoke than you might expect, served with a great au jus so you can enjoy French dip style. 2400 University Ave. NE, Minneapolis, carbonkitchenmarket.com
• MANNY’S TORTAS: 3 Little Pigs
  Manny Gonzalez has been making these tortas for 25 years. I go all in on meat with pork loin, ham, and bacon, and load up that sandwich with refried beans, avocado, and chipotle pepper mayo. 920 E. Lake St., Suite 125, Minneapolis, mannystortas.com
  

  

  Courtesy of Manny's Tortas

• MAVERICK’S REAL ROAST BEEF: Roast Beef Sandwich
  The sandwich Arby’s wishes it was—simple, tender, beefy, perfect. 1746 Lexington Ave. N., Roseville, mavericksbeef.com
• MAYSLACK’S: The Original Roast Beef Sandwich
  I love this dive bar classic—nice heat from the horseradish, roast beef piled high. 1428 Fourth St. NE, Minneapolis, mayslacksbar.com
• YUM! KITCHEN AND BAKERY: Tuna Melt
  I love the comfort of a tuna melt, and yum! elevates it with a homemade English muffin and muenster cheese. Multiple locations across Twin Cities metro, yumkitchen.com

JASON’S PICK: Sandwich Cubano at Victor’s 1959 Cafe

This version of a Cuban sandwich has it all—it’s salty, juicy, hot, and packed with flavor. They take smoked honey ham and slow-roasted pulled pork, top it with Swiss cheese, mustard, and pickles, and press it on a slightly sweet Cuban bread. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. 3756 Grand Ave. S., Minneapolis, victors1959cafe.com

Courtesy of Degidio's

Exceptional Hero-Style

• CAFFREY’S DELI & SUBS: Hot Shot Italian
  Caffrey’s has been serving up sub sandwiches for 40 years. I’m partial to the grilled ham, capicola, salami, and pepperoni combo with Italian dressing. 3008 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis, caffreysmpls.com
• DEGIDIO’S RESTAURANT & BAR: Old Fashioned Hot Dago
  This is a knife and fork sandwich. I dig the spicy Italian sausage patty just swimming in a red sauce and smothered in baked mozzarella. 425 Seventh St. W., St. Paul, degidios.com
• SEA SALT EATERY: Shrimp Po’boy
  Why does eating shrimp near Minnehaha Falls feel so good? I know it’s the off-season, but I’m already thinking about getting back to Sea Salt next year. 4825 Minnehaha Ave., Minneapolis, seasaltmpls.com 

  

  Courtesy of Sea Salt Eatery

• SMACK SHACK: Original Chilled Lobster Roll
  Simple perfection. A hint of lemon and tarragon, some creaminess from aioli, and chunky, beautiful lobster. Multiple locations across Twin Cities metro, smack-shack.com

JASON’S PICK: Italian Sausage Hero at Cossetta Alimentari

Dave Cossetta once told me a successful business has one thing that makes them famous and another that makes them rich. The Italian Sausage is what made Cossetta famous. The perfect snap on the sausage, with a little more heat than many Italian sausages, on their homemade Italian roll, topped with a classic Italian red sauce. Do it with peppers if you want to pretend you’re being healthy and eating your veggies. 211 Seventh St. W., St. Paul, cossettas.com