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These are the best signature sandwiches in all 50 states (and DC)
51 signature winning sandwiches
Over the course of a year, 10Best and Sandwich America teamed up to find the best sandwich in each U.S. state and Washington DC. After 10Best readers also weighed in over several rounds of voting, we had our answers. These are the best signature sandwiches as voted by you.
Alabama - Smokey C's Bar-B-Que & Wings
The BBQ chicken sandwich at Smokey C's Bar-B-Que & Wings in Decatur comes piled high with sliced smoked boneless chicken breast and an award-winning spicy white sauce. It comes in two sizes and is best washed down with a big glass of sweet tea.
Alaska - Tiki Pete's Island & Alaskan Dogs
Tiki Pete's Island & Alaskan Dogs in Anchorage specializes in hot dogs and sausages, including the best reindeer sandwich in Alaska, with a range of topping options. (Yes, a hot dog counts as a sandwich.) Diners can get their reindeer Polish sausage topped with everything from mac 'n cheese to grilled onions.
Arizona - Emerson Fry Bread
Emerson Fry Bread in Phoenix makes their food fresh everyday, including the best fry bread tacos that have made them famous throughout the state. The restaurant started out as a food stall at the 1967 Arizona State Fair, and in 2011, it transitioned to a food truck. Diners pick their protein – carne adobado is always an option – as well as how they want it rolled.
Arkansas - The Sonflour Bakery
The folks at the Sonflour Bakery in Dumas make their pimento cheese sandwich from a mixture of Monterrey jack, pepper jack and cheddar cheeses with a signature blend of spices. The creamy cheese comes with lettuce on a croissant or spinach herb tortilla wrap.
California - South Coast Deli
Having won accolades in Santa Barbara already including “Best of Best Sandwich and Deli” in 2011, South Coast Deli serves up the best avocado sandwich in Califorina. They make our list with several avocado-centric items, including "The Marin," a delicious toasted sammie with sliced chicken breast smothered in Swiss cheese with fresh basil, mayo, pepperoncini, sliced avocado and sprouts.
Colorado - The Buckhorn Exchange
Any of the half dozen burgers on the menu at The Buckhorn Exchange in Denver, home of Colorado's best buffalo burger, can be made with fresh buffalo meat. That includes the Mexican, which comes with guacamole, green chile and Monterey jack cheese, or the Big Bleu with blue cheese and sautéed mushrooms.
Connecticut - Super Sandwich
The variation of the chicken parm sandwich served at Super Sandwich in Shelton is called the Chicken Cutlet Italiano, and it's made from fresh chicken cutlets (never frozen), mozzarella, roasted red peppers, prosciutto di parma, baby arugula and a house-made balsamic vinaigrette on fresh-baked ciabatta bread.
Delaware - Mickey's Family Crab House
When fresh soft shell crabs are in season, Mickey's Family Crab House can serve them in Delaware's best soft-shell crab sandwich. The crab is buttermilk-battered and fried in a fresh, locally baked brioche roll with lettuce, tomato, bacon, homemade tartar sauce and a side of fries.
District of Columbia - Meats & Foods
You'll find the best half-smoke in Washington at Meats & Foods. A blend of beef and pork, handmade and smoked in-house, it's grilled to order and topped with toppings of choice. The classic version comes with all-beef chili, onions and yellow mustard, but other options include sauerkraut, bacon or vegetarian chili.
Florida - Michelle Faedo's On The Go
Tampa native Michelle and her husband Robert say Cubans are in their blood. Given the humble origins and working man appeal of the Cuban, it's only fitting that a food truck is known for serving one of the best Cuban sandwiches in Florida. Michelle is lauded by her followers (literally they follow her truck around) for putting love and attention into every aspect of her Cuban creation, which includes honey ham, pork roasted in house, handmade pickles and La Segunda bread – considered the best in Tampa. She has been awarded the best Cuban several times at the Cuban Sandwich Festival held every year in the Tampa area, and anyone who has tried it agrees.
Georgia - PDQ
Looking for the best fried chicken sandwich in Georgia? According to the votes of our readers, look no further than PDQ. The Crispy Chicken includes a hand-breaded breast made to order with mayo, lettuce, tomato and Grillo's pickles, while the Honey Butter Chicken is dipped in homemade honey butter and served with Grillo's bread and butter pickles.
Hawaii - Highway Inn
The winning Kalua pig from the Highway Inn comes in the form of sliders – hand-shredded pork prepared using a 70-year-old family recipe and served with bell peppers, onions and a spicy Hawaiian chili aioli on a taro roll with a side of taro chips and salsa.
Idaho - Twin Falls Sandwich Company
Twin Falls Sandwich Company sources the trout for their winning trout sandwich from nearby Clear Spring Farms. Fresh filets get hand-breaded and served with lettuce, tomato, red onion and garlic aioli on a Stone Ground cornmeal bun with a side of house-made Idaho Russet potato chips.
Illinois - Novi's Beef
Novi’s claim to fame for the best Italian beef sandwich in Illinois lies in their time-honored recipe of beef sliced thin and coupled with a selection of tantalizing spices. Founded by Nick "Novi," a man with a vision to create a local restaurant where "ordinary people could stop in and get a great beef sandwich for a good price," Novi's still uses its original recipe today.
Indiana - O'Bryan's Nine Irish Brothers
Jerry O'Bryan, owner of O'Bryan's Nine Irish Brothers, is the youngest of nine boys (he also has five sisters, honored with an inscription above the bar). While much of the menu is decidedly Irish, it does feature the best pork tenderloin sandwich in Indiana, consisting of an enormous breaded tenderloin, served with lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles on a soft bun.
Iowa - Canteen Lunch in the Alley
The loose meat sandwich is a specialty at Canteen Lunch in the Alley, and it comes with ketchup, mustard, pickle and onions. Guests can add a slice of cheese as well. The menu also includes hot dogs, shakes, malts and sodas.
Kansas - Joe's Kansas City BBQ
Anthony Bourdain has named this wildly popular barbecue destination inside an old gas station, "One of Thirteen Places to Eat Before You Die." Formerly called Oklahoma Joe's, Joe's Kansas City BBQ only serves the best burnt end sandwich in the state on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, and they almost always go fast.
Kentucky - Wild Eggs
Wild Eggs prides itself on serving food that is as refined and beautiful as fine dining, but at affordable prices. Their version of the hot brown is called the Kelsey “KY” Brown and includes toasted sourdough bread, roasted turkey, Applewood-smoked bacon, diced tomato, white cheddar Mornay sauce and smoked paprika with the surprise topping of a perfectly fried egg.
Louisiana - Parkway Bakery and Tavern
Parkway Bakery and Tavern first opened for business in 1911, and it has been a NOLA icon ever since, serving up the best po' boys in the state. Diners rave about the slow cooked roast beef, while others return time and again for the fried shrimp. Can't decide? The Parkway Surf and Turf features both!
Maine - Bayview Takeout
Open seasonally, this fast food joint describes itself as serving "wicked good seafood and burgers" and is a favorite of locals, including lobster boat owners. Their winning lobster roll is what lobster dreams are made of: a butter-toasted bun topped with tender, sweet lobster meat and just enough mayo to bind it all together. Diners order from a takeout window and enjoy it to-go or on nearby picnic tables.
Maryland - Crabcake Factory USA
True to its name, Ocean City's Crabcake Factory USA cooks up crab cakes filled with huge lumps of crab meat. If that's not enough crab for you, they also make a mean crab Bloody Mary to sip alongside the sandwich, which comes on a toasted kaiser roll.
Massachusetts - Bramhall's Country Store
In 1828, George Bramhall paid $25.00 for a circa 1750 building that had housed one of the first U.S. post offices. That building would become Bramhall’s, known today for three summer staples: lobsters, corn and ice cream. Despite being open less than half the year, their lobster rolls are described as "lobster roll heaven." This takes the form of a buttered and grilled New England-style roll filled with fresh, sweet, cold, chunky lobster meat and just enough mayo to hold everything together, served with a smile through a take-out window.
Michigan - Pasty Central
Pasty Central, a pasty kitchen on the Upper Peninsula, make their U.P.-style pasties with beef, pork, potato, onion, carrot, rutabaga and a spice blend. Their Cornish pasty omits the carrots, and veggie and breakfast pasties are also on the menu. Online orders are available during the fall, winter and spring.
Minnesota - Crooked Pint Ale House
The Crooked Pint Ale House knows that a craft beer pairs perfectly with a Juicy Lucy, and that's why there are over half a dozen options on their burger menu. Aside from The Classic, which comes stuffed and topped with American cheese, the pub also serves a Beer Cheese Lucy stuffed with house-made beer cheese sauce and served on a pretzel bun with bacon, bistro sauce, habanero jack and haystack onions.
Mississippi - Restaurant Tyler
Find the best catfish sandwich in Mississippi at Restaurant Tyler in Starkville, where catfish gets dredged in pork rind, fried and topped with dill pickle pesto, fermented cole slaw and sunflower sprouts.
Missouri - Plowboys Barbeque
Plowboys Barbeque has its roots in competition barbecue, so it makes sense that they serve the best burnt ends sandwich in Missouri. Available only at the downtown Blue Springs location and only on Wednesdays and Fridays, Plowboys burnt ends are made from Angus beef seasoned with Bovine Rub and smoked for nine hours.
Montana - Boulder Creek Lodge
At Boulder Creek Lodge, a winning juicy elk burger features on the regular menu, served Thursday through Saturday, as well as on Monday Burger Night. Made from a half-pound of 100-percent elk meat, the burger comes with lettuce, tomato, pickles and a side of fries.
Nebraska - Crescent Moon
Founded in 1996, Crescent Moon names its best Reuben in the state for the Blackstone Hotel which is just a few steps away – and is credited with the creation of the Reuben sandwich. Theirs boasts slow-cooked corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss, Thousand Island dressing and a couple other special ingredients, all grilled on marble rye.
Nevada - The Goodwich
The Patty, the most popular sandwich on the menu at The Goodwich in Las Vegas, is a unique twist on a traditional patty melt burger. A griddled 4-ounce beef patty is seasoned and mixed with caramelized onions before getting chopped and pulled (much like a cheesesteak). As the meat finishes cooking, smoked cream cheese is folded in, along with roasted jalapeños. It all comes on buttered marble rye bread with house-made aioli, pepper jack cheese, a fried egg and a crispy chicken skin. No wonder it's the best over-the-top burger in the state.
New Hampshire - Banners Restaurant
Hungry travelers in Conway can feast on a Mighty Monte Cristo at Banners Restaurant. This hearty 'wich includes thin-sliced ham, oven-roasted turkey breast and Swiss cheese, grilled on Texas-style French toast and served with a side of maple syrup and home fries.
New Jersey - Sapore Ravioli
Domenick Discenza developed his passion for Italian flavors while growing up in the Italian town of Baranello. He brings that passion with him to Sapore Ravioli, a gourmet Italian food store and deli. The Dom, Sapore's signature sub and the best Italian sub in New Jersey, is piled with a mixture of hot and sweet capicola, hot and sweet soppressata, ham, pepperoni, prosciutto, house-made mozzarella and roasted red peppers.
New Mexico - Blake's Lotaburger
Blake's Lotaburger, a fast food chain exclusive to New Mexico, has a legion of local fans who stop in or drive through for their winning green chile cheeseburger. Order the LOTA Burger topped with cheese and Hatch Valley green chile, and don't let the fast food label fool you – this green chile is spicy!
New York - Zucker's Bagels and Smoked Fish
On opening day of Zucker’s, owner Matt got word that his bagel machine operator could not report to work. In a scramble, he found someone who could hand-roll and kettle-boil bagels, and the response to the bagels was so fantastic that the business model changed immediately. And that's what lead them to win the best bagel and lox in New York. Zucker's pairs their bagels with lox from Acme Smoked Fish, a four-generation institution out of Brooklyn.
Photo courtesy of Zucker's Bagels and Smoked Fish / Facebook
North Carolina - Stamey's Barbecue
Stamey's cooks their pork shoulders "Lexington-style" over all hardwood coals for eight to 10 hours. Besides mouth-watering barbecue and a secret recipe sauce, or "dip," Stamey's is also famous for introducing the hush puppy to the North Carolina barbecue scene. Their winning BBQ pork sandwiches come piled with chopped or sliced pork and a dollop of Stamey's barbecue slaw.
North Dakota - Charlie's Main Street Cafe
The folks at Charlie's Main Street Cafe in Minot make their mashed potatoes fresh each morning – a key ingredient in their hearty hot beef sandwich topped with juicy roast beef and house-made beef gravy.
Ohio - The Pit BBQ Grille
The signature Polish Boy from The Pit BBQ Grille in Columbus comes topped with fresh-cut fries, slaw and barbecue sauce, while the Polish Girl has pulled pork as well.
Oklahoma - Tally's Good Food Café
While Tally's Good Food Café has won awards for its breakfast fare, particularly its cinnamon rolls, the rest of the menu is well worth a look. Tally’s Famous Chicken Fried Steak Sandwich comes in a bun with lettuce, tomato and mayo, and unlike many renditions of the sandwich, this one comes with a side of gravy as well.
Oregon - Deschutes Portland Public House
Deschutes Brewery in Portland serves a winning Dungeness Crab Roll Sandwich – Pacific crab tossed with celery, onion, lemon and mayo in a seared bun. This 'wich pairs well with the brewery's Pacific Wonderland Lager.
Pennsylvania - The Groove Cheesesteak Co.
Visiting Philadelphia natives credit The Groove Cheesesteak Co. (formerly Southside Steaks) as the closest to a Philly original you can get in Pittsburgh. The classic rendition comes with sliced beef on a soft Italian roll with sauteed onions, peppers and cheese sauce, while the "Pittsburgh" comes topped with mozzarella, french fries, lettuce, tomato and cole slaw.
Rhode Island - Shayna's Place
The classic Italian grinder (the best in the Rhode Island) at Shayna's Place in Wickford is called the Vinny's Kitchen, named after Shayna's grandmother, Vincenzia Olerio. This traditional sandwich is made with salami, prosciutto and capicola layered on a ciabatta roll with Shayna's house balsamic vinaigrette, provolone, tomatoes, red onion and banana peppers.
South Carolina - Smoky Dreams BBQ
Fresh pork is slow-smoked to perfection at Smoky Dreams BBQ in Greenville. Piled atop a delicious bun, the best BBQ pork sandwich comes with two sides (which should also be award-winning) and a choice of four different sauces, including a mustard-based sauce and a spicy vinegar sauce.
South Dakota - Drifters Bar & Grille
Diners at Drifters Bar & Grille in Fort Pierre can get their walleye sandwich fix two ways. Walleye sliders are made from beer-battered walleye garnished with poppy seed coleslaw and zingy jalapeño aioli, while the popular walleye tacos come with all of the above, plus pineapple pico de gallo.
Tennessee - Bluegrass Grill
The winning biscuit sandwich menu at Chattanooga's Bluegrass Grill includes just about any combination of bacon, sausage, ham, eggs and cheese inside half whole wheat, half white flour biscuits.
Texas - Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que
Located in the town of Llano outside of Austin, Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que is famous for their Lone Star brisket – peppery on the outside and juicy on the inside. This joint's winning brisket sandwich is of the chopped variety. The restaurant offers a condiment table where you can fill a Styrofoam cup with the thin house BBQ sauce, only on the side and never used in cooking.
Utah - Lucky 13
At Lucky 13 in SLC, burger lovers can bite into the best pastrami burger in Utah. The juicy patty is topped with hickory smoked pastrami and melted Swiss cheese and comes with a side of fries.
Vermont - Jericho Center Country Store
At Jericho Center Country Store, hungry diners can order a Vermonter Panini stuffed with ham, fresh granny smith apple, cheddar, honey mustard, tomato and onion.
Virginia - Turner Ham House & Fulks Run Grocery
While Turner Ham House inside Fulks Run Grocery offers a cooked ham sandwich year-round, their signature fried country ham sandwich is only available on Fridays.
Washington - Adrift Restaurant
The Salish Burger from Adrift Restaurant in Anacortes happens to be the best salmon sandwich in Washington. It can be made with wild caught grilled or Cajun blackened salmon topped with lemon avocado dressing, balsamic glazed red onions and lettuce.
West Virginia - The Donut Shop
The Donut Shop in Buckhannon specializes in two things: donuts and pepperoni rolls. Unlike other rolls in the state, The Donut Shop's pepperoni rolls use shredded pepperoni instead of sliced (and they don't skimp on it either) and melted cheese.
Wisconsin - Usinger's
After learning from the best German wurstmachers, Fred Usinger came to Milwaukee in the late 1870s with $400 and his favorite sausage recipes. Four generations of Usingers have maintained operations of this nationally recognized business devoted to the craft of sausage making, which has lead them to serve the best bratwurst in Wisconsin.
Wyoming - The Senator's Steakhouse
Find the best bison burger in Wyoming at The Senator's Steakhouse in Cheyenne, where any burger from the menu can be upgraded to bison meat. Options include a BBQ bacon cheddar burger, mushroom Swiss burger, jalapeño burger or a peppercorn bleu cheese burger.