It would be easy to declare the French Dip the state sandwich of California as it was invented in LA, but that just didn’t encompass California’s greatest contribution to the sandwich world – avocado! The Hass avocado is native to California, and the state has some 4,000 growers, so it's easy to see why this creamy, healthy-fat-filled vegetable comes in all sorts of sandwiches throughout the state. B.L.A.T., California Club, Powerhouse ... this ingredient has so permeated the California sandwich world that there are more variations of an avocado sandwich in California than perhaps any other sandwich category.
We asked 10Best, USA TODAY and Sandwich America readers to vote for their favorites, and after four weeks of voting, the polls have closed.
The top 10 winners in the category Best Avocado Sandwich in California are as follows:
- South Coast Deli - Santa Barbara
- The Carving Board - Tarzana
- Rosine's Restaurant - Monterey
- Beach Hut Deli - Various Locations
- Gayle's Bakery & Rosticceria - Capitola
- Mendocino Farms - Los Angeles
- Dry Creek General Store - Healdsburg
- Grub Restaurant - Hollywood
- Davey Jones Deli - Sausalito
- Swingers Diner - Hollywood & Santa Monica
A panel of experts picked the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. Experts Anne Chalfant (10Best Local Expert), Erika Kerekes (Not Ketchup), Tom Molanphy (10Best Local Expert), Jenny Peters (10Best Local Expert), Joe Truskot (The Salinas Californian), Jennifer Daskevich (Sandwich America) and Terry French were chosen based on their familiarity with California's dining scene.
Other nominees in this category included Arguello Market in San Francisco, Elli's Great American Restaurant in Salinas, Izzy's Deli in Santa Monica, Rubicon Deli in San Diego, Semifreddi's in the Bay Area, Sessions West Coast Deli in Newport Beach, Sweet Butter Kitchen in Sherman Oaks, The Tap Room in Pebble Beach and Westside Tavern in Los Angeles.
Congrats to all our winning delis, and keep this list handy next time you're feeling hungry in Cali.
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The Experts
Anne Chalfant
Years as travel editor for a San Francisco... Read More
Years as travel editor for a San Francisco Bay Area newspaper shaped Anne's understanding of what travelers want to know. Anne conveys the wonder and "whoa's!" of travel, and is always eager to share travel tips. The San Francisco Bay Area is home for Anne; she lives with husband and cat Sherpa. Despite Sherpa's traveler name, he thinks travel is for the birds. When the suitcases come out, he heads under the bed.
Anne Chalfant
Years as travel editor for a San Francisco Bay Area newspaper shaped Anne's understanding of what travelers want to know. Anne conveys the wonder and "whoa's!" of travel, and is always eager to share travel tips. The San Francisco Bay Area is home for Anne; she lives with husband and cat Sherpa. Despite Sherpa's traveler name, he thinks travel is for the birds. When the suitcases come out, he heads under the bed.
Erika Kerekes
Erika Kerekes is the founder of Not Ketchup... Read More
Erika Kerekes is the founder of Not Ketchup sauces, savory condiments made from cherries, blueberries, dates, figs and tangerines. A native New Yorker, she's been living in and eating her way across Los Angeles for two decades. Look for Not Ketchup at Whole Foods and on Amazon.
Erika Kerekes
Erika Kerekes is the founder of Not Ketchup sauces, savory condiments made from cherries, blueberries, dates, figs and tangerines. A native New Yorker, she's been living in and eating her way across Los Angeles for two decades. Look for Not Ketchup at Whole Foods and on Amazon.
Tom Molanphy
The only thing that Tom Molanphy loves more than... Read More
The only thing that Tom Molanphy loves more than the food, art, music, and culture of San Francisco is sharing it with others. San Francisco never gets old for Tom. Tom has lived in the San Francisco Bay area since 2000. His journalism has appeared in The San Francisco Chronicle, SF Weekly, and 7x7. He teaches writing, journalism and literature at the Academy of Art University in downtown San Francisco. His latest book, Loud Memories Of A Quiet Life, is available through Outpost19.
Tom Molanphy
The only thing that Tom Molanphy loves more than the food, art, music, and culture of San Francisco is sharing it with others. San Francisco never gets old for Tom. Tom has lived in the San Francisco Bay area since 2000. His journalism has appeared in The San Francisco Chronicle, SF Weekly, and 7x7. He teaches writing, journalism and literature at the Academy of Art University in downtown San Francisco. His latest book, Loud Memories Of A Quiet Life, is available through Outpost19.
Jenny Peters
Jenny Peters – aka Jet Set Jen – is a Los... Read More
Jenny Peters – aka Jet Set Jen – is a Los Angeles-based freelance journalist, editor and party columnist specializing in travel, entertainment, film, food, wine, fashion and the other good things in life. She is a founding/voting member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, who present the Critics’ Choice Awards every January. Her favorite places to be are on the beach in Southern California playing volleyball, scuba diving with the sharks in warm tropical waters or strolling the streets and soaking in the atmosphere of one of the world's great cities (New Orleans and Florence are her favorites).
Jenny Peters
Jenny Peters – aka Jet Set Jen – is a Los Angeles-based freelance journalist, editor and party columnist specializing in travel, entertainment, film, food, wine, fashion and the other good things in life. She is a founding/voting member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, who present the Critics’ Choice Awards every January. Her favorite places to be are on the beach in Southern California playing volleyball, scuba diving with the sharks in warm tropical waters or strolling the streets and soaking in the atmosphere of one of the world's great cities (New Orleans and Florence are her favorites).
Joe Truskot
For the past three and half years, Joe Truskot has... Read More
For the past three and half years, Joe Truskot has been responsible for the Living Section of The Salinas Californian which includes recipes, restaurant reviews, and much more. One of his fondest memories places him at his grandmother’s kitchen table, legs swinging underneath the chair, cracking two dozen eggs for her to make biscotti. As both of his parents worked, he was often responsible for making dinner. His cooking skills were increased dramatically when he joined the Peace Corps and was sent to Iran. If he wanted to enjoy the food from home, he would have to learn to make it from scratch. He has spent much of his life in his own kitchen, gathering up family recipes and exploring new foods. He spent 30 years as an arts administrator and is the author of the “Central Coast Rose Manual” – another passion of his.
Joe Truskot
For the past three and half years, Joe Truskot has been responsible for the Living Section of The Salinas Californian which includes recipes, restaurant reviews, and much more. One of his fondest memories places him at his grandmother’s kitchen table, legs swinging underneath the chair, cracking two dozen eggs for her to make biscotti. As both of his parents worked, he was often responsible for making dinner. His cooking skills were increased dramatically when he joined the Peace Corps and was sent to Iran. If he wanted to enjoy the food from home, he would have to learn to make it from scratch. He has spent much of his life in his own kitchen, gathering up family recipes and exploring new foods. He spent 30 years as an arts administrator and is the author of the “Central Coast Rose Manual” – another passion of his.
Jennifer Daskevich
After winning the World Sandwich Championships,... Read More
After winning the World Sandwich Championships, Jennifer took her love of America’s first and still favorite “hand held device” better known as the sandwich, and founded Sandwich America, America’s comprehensive sandwich driven meal occasion platform. Jennifer believes that “a sandwich is the only food genre that is good for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, or a snack.” Jennifer has won numerous cooking competitions and is a restaurateur, wine sommelier, award winning food photographer, TV food personality with NBC Affiliate WFLA in Tampa and appeared on FYI’s original series World Food Championships. She looks forward to embarking on The Great American Sandwich Trail this summer. Socialize with Sandwich America on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Jennifer Daskevich
After winning the World Sandwich Championships, Jennifer took her love of America’s first and still favorite “hand held device” better known as the sandwich, and founded Sandwich America, America’s comprehensive sandwich driven meal occasion platform. Jennifer believes that “a sandwich is the only food genre that is good for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, or a snack.” Jennifer has won numerous cooking competitions and is a restaurateur, wine sommelier, award winning food photographer, TV food personality with NBC Affiliate WFLA in Tampa and appeared on FYI’s original series World Food Championships. She looks forward to embarking on The Great American Sandwich Trail this summer. Socialize with Sandwich America on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Terry French
Terry French, The World’s Extreme Chef, has cooked... Read More
Terry French, The World’s Extreme Chef, has cooked in 86 countries and traveled around the world 8 times. His global-to-local cuisine perspective and belief that “ hand-held ” food is the carrier of food culture may seem in stark contrast to his being born and raised in Evansville, Indiana. But diversity and uncommon is Terry defined. Winning Food Network’s World Extreme Chef in 2012 celebrated his amazing and adventurous life and his “French’s KISS” belief to food – Keeping it simple and sustainable. From Ice fishing with his father and cooking with his mother as a boy to hosting Taste Asia in Times Square, Terry French makes every meal a cuisine adventure. Terry believes that “Hand-held foods and sandwiches are the global cuisine language. From Thai street food to Philly cheese steaks – the world eats with our hands for centuries and now more than ever”. Follow Terry’s Extreme Chef adventures on Facebook and Instagram .
Terry French
Terry French, The World’s Extreme Chef, has cooked in 86 countries and traveled around the world 8 times. His global-to-local cuisine perspective and belief that “ hand-held ” food is the carrier of food culture may seem in stark contrast to his being born and raised in Evansville, Indiana. But diversity and uncommon is Terry defined. Winning Food Network’s World Extreme Chef in 2012 celebrated his amazing and adventurous life and his “French’s KISS” belief to food – Keeping it simple and sustainable. From Ice fishing with his father and cooking with his mother as a boy to hosting Taste Asia in Times Square, Terry French makes every meal a cuisine adventure. Terry believes that “Hand-held foods and sandwiches are the global cuisine language. From Thai street food to Philly cheese steaks – the world eats with our hands for centuries and now more than ever”. Follow Terry’s Extreme Chef adventures on Facebook and Instagram .
