Where to find the best sandwiches in the St. Louis area, from Ian Froeb’s STL 100
Sandwiches are the indisputable go-to when it comes to lunches. And if you're looking for a spot to find your lunch — or maybe even a breakfast sandwich — look no further than Post-Dispatch restaurant critic Ian Froeb's STL 100. He has recommendations on where you might find your new favorite sandwich.
"Appealing takes on classic styles abound, from a roast beef with jus to a Vietnamese banh mi. Ed’s also rewards indulgence with its buttered ham-and-cheese sandwich and a luscious crab roll with zippy chili crisp."
Read more about Ed's Delicatessen here.
Where•222 North Main Street, Edwardsville Hours•Lunch Monday-Saturday, dinner Tuesday-Saturday (closed Sunday)Pricing•$-$$More info• 618-560-5213;
"Annie Gunn’s and its adjacent gourmet grocery and sandwich shop the Smokehouse Market have undergone the most obvious physical transformation of the 14 restaurants honored in every year of the STL 100."
Read more about Annie Gunn's here.
Where•16806 Chesterfield Airport Road, ChesterfieldHours•9 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday (closed Monday)Pricing•$More info•636-532-3314;
"He builds biscuit sandwiches with fried chicken and sausage patties smashed on the griddle like skinny burger."
Read more about The Biscuit Joint here.
Where•2649 Washington Avenue Hours•8 a.m.-1 p.m. dailyPricing•$More info•314-769-9434; thebiscuitjoint.toast.site
"The menu draws on Chris Bolyard’s fine-dining background for grace notes like the black garlic aioli on the mushroom-Swiss smash burger or that aioli and duxelles on the Fiesty Bull pulled beef sandwich."
Read more about Bolyard's here.
Where • 2733 Sutton Boulevard, Maplewood Hours • 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday (closed Monday) Pricing • $ More info • 314-647-2567;
"The Mother Clucker ranks as one of St. Louis’ best fried chicken sandwiches with its garnishes of Red Hot Riplets, red-pepper jelly and a bechamel sauce made with Provel."
Read more about Byrd & Barrel here.
Where•1221 Tamm AvenueHours•Lunch and dinner daily (closed Tuesday)Pricing•$More info•314-261-4901; b
"The breakfast burrito at Clara B’s Kitchen Table wraps up everything I love about Jodie Ferguson’s food truck and Belleville restaurant in a dish you can hold in your hand — until the overstuffed package inevitably falls apart."
Read more about Clara B's Kitchen Table here.
Where•720 South Illinois Street, Belleville Hours•7 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday and Thursday-Friday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday (closed Tuesday-Wednesday)Pricing•$More info•618-416-1812;
"You will leave feeling exactly as [co-owner Madeline] Hissong intended: damn fine."
Read more about Damn Fine Hand Pies here.
Where•4000 Shaw Boulevard Hours•8 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday and Thursday-Sunday (closed Tuesday-Wednesday)Pricing•$More info•
"For all the region’s sandwich shops, Italian or otherwise, none can compete with that tender, subtly spiced sausage, a shoo-in for the Mount Rushmore of iconic St. Louis foods."
Read more about Gioia's Deli here.
Where•Multiple area locations, including 1934 Macklind AvenueHours•Lunch Monday-Saturday (closed Sunday; Maryland Heights closed Saturday-Sunday)Pricing•$More info•314-776-9410;
"From Quincy Street to Grace, [chef and owner Rick] Lewis has honed his approach to Southern comfort fare to an entire menu of can’t-miss dishes..."
Read more about Grace Meat & Three here.
Where • 4270 Manchester Avenue Hours • Lunch and dinner Wednesday-Sunday (closed Monday-Tuesday) Pricing • $-$$ More info • 314-533-2700;
"Sandwiches are still the heart of Havana Cuisine’s menu: the classic arrangement of ham, roast pork, Swiss cheese, mustard and pickles; that luscious roast pork by itself; ropa vieja."
Read more about Havana's Cuisine here.
Where•12 South Euclid Avenue Hours•Lunch and dinner Monday-Saturday (closed Sunday)Pricing•$-$$More info•314-899-9977;
"These are also ideal biscuits for sandwiches, holding their form against the trio of cheese, egg and bacon, pork sausage or spicy chicken chorizo."
Read more about Honey Bee's Biscuits + Good Eats here.
Where•200 North Kirkwood Road, KirkwoodHours•7 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday (closed Monday-Tuesday)Pricing•$More info•314-650-0762;
"Though bagels are obviously Lefty’s focus, Lefton and Goldenberg have also filled the area’s need for a Jewish deli with such classic fare as pastrami, corned beef, smoked whitefish and matzoh-ball soup."
Read more about Lefty's Bagels here.
Where•13359 Olive Boulevard, ChesterfieldHours•7 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday (closed Monday)Pricing•$More info•314-275-0959;
"His bakery is a James Beard Award semifinalist for “Outstanding Bakery” nationwide. It has ranked as St. Louis’ premier bakery since its 2016 — in no small part for its broad appeal."
Read more about Nathaniel Reid Bakery here.
Where•11243 Manchester Road, KirkwoodHours• 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday (closed Sunday-Monday)Pricing•$More info• 314-858-1019;
"Keis’ plant-based fare has always been ahead of the curve — her Sweet Burger, which doesn’t pretend to be a “real” burger, predated and has outlasted the faux beef patty trend."
Read more about SweetArt here.
Where•3701 Lindell Boulevard Hours•Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily (closed Tuesday)Pricing•$More info•314-771-4278;
"In a town with no shortage of great sandwiches, Blues City Deli is a destination for multiple styles and often multiple choices within those styles."
Read more about Blues City Deli here.
Where•2438 McNair Avenue Hours•10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Saturday (closed Sunday)Pricing•$More info•314-773-8225;
"Since Sean Netzer and Ted Wilson opened Union Loafers in 2015, they have built a modern empire of dough. It began and continues to revolve around Wilson’s exemplary Light & Mild sourdough bread and other loaves, which are available for retail sale and anchor Union Loafer’s sandwich menu."
Read more about Union Loafers (and Bagel Union) here.
Where•1629 Tower Grove Avenue Hours•Dinner Tuesday-Saturday, lunch Tuesday-Sunday (closed Monday)Pricing• $$More info• 314-833-6111;
"Go with a large enough group, and you can try the whole breakfast slate and a couple of the can’t-miss lunch dishes, too, like the smash burger and the Reuben with peppery, sumptuous housemade pastrami."
Read more about Bowood by Niche here.
Where•4605 Olive Street Hours•9 a.m.-3 p.m. dailyPricing• $$More info•314-454-6868;
Ian Froeb | Post-Dispatch
Restaurant critic
Ƶ partner Feast Magazine has guides for a variety of suburbs, including Brentwood and Webster Groves, and city neighborhoods.
