clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

16 Spots for Takeout Sandwiches

Where to go for handhelds stuffed with yummy ingredients

View as Map

Sandwiches might be the most underrated food. Usually relegated to noon meals, sandwiches are more than just two pieces of bread and a filling. They span from unwieldy handhelds stuffed with tender meaty morsels to sublime seafood offerings — and you can find the entire range of sandwiches in San Diego County. Don’t believe us? Read below for 16 spots to satisfy your sandwich craving. Are we missing your go-to sandwich spot? Let us know in the comments below.

Read More
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Moto Deli

Copy Link

Encinitas’ answer to the deli is this breezy spot specializing in chef-crafted sandwiches. At face value, each sandwich looks like something you’ll see at other delis but look closer and you’ll find house-smoked turkey, carefully caramelized onions or housemade spreads throughout the menu.

Turketta
Moto Deli/Facebook

Poor Boy Subs

Copy Link

This locally owned and operated San Diego sandwich shop mini-chain (the other shop is in Pacific Beach) offers 28 different hot and cold offerings. While the menu is basic, you can taste the freshness in the bread with fillings like ham, salami, roast beef and/or bacon stuffed inside.

Poor Boy Subs/Facebook

Supernatural Sandwiches

Copy Link

Sammies take an Asian-infused seafood spin at this local chain with shops in Miramar and Little Italy. Popular go-to choices include the Aphrodite, a bacon-and-shrimp grilled cheese creation. Non-seafood offerings are good too, like the Minotaur featuring Korean BBQ steak. The Miramar location offers online ordering but call ahead or visit the Little Italy spot to place an order.

Aphrodite
SuperNatural Sandwiches/Facebook

Mendocino Farms

Copy Link

This sandwich shop got its start in Downtown Los Angeles but San Diegans can chow down on its chef-crafted sammies at five county-wide locations (Carlsbad, Del Mar, Downtown San Diego, La Jolla and Mission Valley). The Southern California-centric menus include Peruvian steak featuring Oaxacan cheese as well as a variety of soups and salads to round out your meal. Order ahead via Mendocino’s app, online or just call it in.

Mendocino Farms/Facebook

Lit'l Pepper Gourmet

Copy Link

This family-owned-and-operated sandwich shop has been a fixture in the Kearny Mesa area for the last 25 years and with good reason. From breakfast handhelds to gourmet sandwiches and vegetarian options, this shop’s extensive menu has something for everyone.

Lil’ Pepper Gourmet/Facebook

K Sandwiches

Copy Link

K Sandwiches’ temporary closure due to a fire in 2015 did nothing to slow down this popular Vietnamese shop. Banh mi sandwiches are the big draw but the shop is also known for breakfast sandwiches featuring their storemade croissants and French loaves. Egg rolls, salad rolls, rice and noodles dishes and fresh pastries round out the rest of the menu.

K Sandwiches/Facebook

Board & Brew - Pacific Beach

Copy Link

The original Del Mar location is still in operation but you can find Board & Brew locations throughout most of Southern California plus Tempe, Ariz. Specialty sandwiches are a good starting point, like the Turkado, a turkey and cheese sammie topped with avocado on sourdough bread. Order online for a quick pickup.

Turkado
Board & Brew/Facebook

Sandwich Emporium

Copy Link

Serving sandwiches since 1974, this small but mighty local chain serves an extensive menu of sandwiches. Order or call ahead at the Clairemont or Mira Mesa location for signature offerings stuffed with meatballs, roasted turkey, albacore tuna and more. Craving something different? Try the Pho Wich, a handheld inspired by a bowl of pho.

Sandwich Emporium/Facebook

Grater Grilled Cheese

Copy Link

Grilled cheese sandwiches headline the menu at this Mission Valley shop. Order from one of ten shop creations like the lobster grilled cheese or make your own custom sandwich with choice of bread, spread and add-ons like BBQ short ribs or Buffalo-fried chicken.

Grater Grilled Cheese Shop

Cheba Hut Toasted Subs

Copy Link

If you haven’t guessed, cannabis is the theme of this sandwich shop but you don’t have to be toasted to appreciate their creations. Sandwiches come served on a choice of white, whole wheat or garlic herb bread. As for fillings, choose from BBQ roast beef, ham, turkey and vegetarian options. Visit the store or order online.

Cheba Hut/Facebook

Big Front Door

Copy Link

This University Heights deli is a cozy spot for people watching and digging into a big sandwich. There’s a variety of handhelds to choose from spanning from cold creations like Lions of Fire featuring chili roast pork loin to hot sandwiches like Sonoran chicken.

Big Front Door/Facebook

Ike's Place

Copy Link

Ike’s made its way from San Francisco to San Diego, and it’s a popular choice for those living near the Hillcrest, Point Loma and Downtown areas. If you haven’t been, study the menu as choices are daunting with 800+ sandwich variations including secret menu items to boot.

Ike’s Sandwiches/Facebook

Fatboy's Deli & Spirits

Copy Link

Sammies are big here like the Hot Poppa, a roll stuffed with turkey, pepper jack, cream cheese, jalapeños and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. The not-so-adventurous can also make their own creations. If you have the extra time, place an order in person and peruse the cold cases while you wait because there are plenty of drink options to accompany your sandwich.

Fatboy’s Deli/Facebook

Rubicon Deli Mission Hills

Copy Link

Come in for the freshly baked bread for your sandwich fix— options include blue cheese, Dutch crunch, garlic cheese, jalapeño jack, pesto, wheat or gluten-free French. Once the hard part of choosing your bread is over, the easy part is deciding the fillings like roast beef with au jus for the intensely meaty Dapper Dipper.

Dom Pastrami

Mona Lisa Italian Foods

Copy Link

Visit during any lunch hour and you’ll encounter people lining up for custom-made Italian sandwiches and subs. Fill up on proscuitto (domestic or imported), caprese, Genoa salami and other Italian cured deli meats on your choice of Italian bread or focaccia.

Giorgino's

Copy Link

Those craving East Coast-style sandwiches only need to travel to Golden Hill for a meal. The menu features traditional cheesesteaks, chicken cheesesteaks, pork rolls and Italian subs. Order online for pickup or delivery, or visit the restaurant to soak in the retro cafe-like atmosphere.

Giorgino’s/Facebook

Loading comments...

Moto Deli

Encinitas’ answer to the deli is this breezy spot specializing in chef-crafted sandwiches. At face value, each sandwich looks like something you’ll see at other delis but look closer and you’ll find house-smoked turkey, carefully caramelized onions or housemade spreads throughout the menu.

Turketta
Moto Deli/Facebook

Poor Boy Subs

This locally owned and operated San Diego sandwich shop mini-chain (the other shop is in Pacific Beach) offers 28 different hot and cold offerings. While the menu is basic, you can taste the freshness in the bread with fillings like ham, salami, roast beef and/or bacon stuffed inside.

Poor Boy Subs/Facebook

Supernatural Sandwiches

Sammies take an Asian-infused seafood spin at this local chain with shops in Miramar and Little Italy. Popular go-to choices include the Aphrodite, a bacon-and-shrimp grilled cheese creation. Non-seafood offerings are good too, like the Minotaur featuring Korean BBQ steak. The Miramar location offers online ordering but call ahead or visit the Little Italy spot to place an order.

Aphrodite
SuperNatural Sandwiches/Facebook

Mendocino Farms

This sandwich shop got its start in Downtown Los Angeles but San Diegans can chow down on its chef-crafted sammies at five county-wide locations (Carlsbad, Del Mar, Downtown San Diego, La Jolla and Mission Valley). The Southern California-centric menus include Peruvian steak featuring Oaxacan cheese as well as a variety of soups and salads to round out your meal. Order ahead via Mendocino’s app, online or just call it in.

Mendocino Farms/Facebook

Lit'l Pepper Gourmet

This family-owned-and-operated sandwich shop has been a fixture in the Kearny Mesa area for the last 25 years and with good reason. From breakfast handhelds to gourmet sandwiches and vegetarian options, this shop’s extensive menu has something for everyone.

Lil’ Pepper Gourmet/Facebook

K Sandwiches

K Sandwiches’ temporary closure due to a fire in 2015 did nothing to slow down this popular Vietnamese shop. Banh mi sandwiches are the big draw but the shop is also known for breakfast sandwiches featuring their storemade croissants and French loaves. Egg rolls, salad rolls, rice and noodles dishes and fresh pastries round out the rest of the menu.

K Sandwiches/Facebook

Board & Brew - Pacific Beach

The original Del Mar location is still in operation but you can find Board & Brew locations throughout most of Southern California plus Tempe, Ariz. Specialty sandwiches are a good starting point, like the Turkado, a turkey and cheese sammie topped with avocado on sourdough bread. Order online for a quick pickup.

Turkado
Board & Brew/Facebook

Sandwich Emporium

Serving sandwiches since 1974, this small but mighty local chain serves an extensive menu of sandwiches. Order or call ahead at the Clairemont or Mira Mesa location for signature offerings stuffed with meatballs, roasted turkey, albacore tuna and more. Craving something different? Try the Pho Wich, a handheld inspired by a bowl of pho.

Sandwich Emporium/Facebook

Grater Grilled Cheese

Grilled cheese sandwiches headline the menu at this Mission Valley shop. Order from one of ten shop creations like the lobster grilled cheese or make your own custom sandwich with choice of bread, spread and add-ons like BBQ short ribs or Buffalo-fried chicken.

Grater Grilled Cheese Shop

Cheba Hut Toasted Subs

If you haven’t guessed, cannabis is the theme of this sandwich shop but you don’t have to be toasted to appreciate their creations. Sandwiches come served on a choice of white, whole wheat or garlic herb bread. As for fillings, choose from BBQ roast beef, ham, turkey and vegetarian options. Visit the store or order online.

Cheba Hut/Facebook

Big Front Door

This University Heights deli is a cozy spot for people watching and digging into a big sandwich. There’s a variety of handhelds to choose from spanning from cold creations like Lions of Fire featuring chili roast pork loin to hot sandwiches like Sonoran chicken.

Big Front Door/Facebook

Ike's Place

Ike’s made its way from San Francisco to San Diego, and it’s a popular choice for those living near the Hillcrest, Point Loma and Downtown areas. If you haven’t been, study the menu as choices are daunting with 800+ sandwich variations including secret menu items to boot.

Ike’s Sandwiches/Facebook

Fatboy's Deli & Spirits

Sammies are big here like the Hot Poppa, a roll stuffed with turkey, pepper jack, cream cheese, jalapeños and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. The not-so-adventurous can also make their own creations. If you have the extra time, place an order in person and peruse the cold cases while you wait because there are plenty of drink options to accompany your sandwich.

Fatboy’s Deli/Facebook

Rubicon Deli Mission Hills

Come in for the freshly baked bread for your sandwich fix— options include blue cheese, Dutch crunch, garlic cheese, jalapeño jack, pesto, wheat or gluten-free French. Once the hard part of choosing your bread is over, the easy part is deciding the fillings like roast beef with au jus for the intensely meaty Dapper Dipper.

Dom Pastrami

Mona Lisa Italian Foods

Visit during any lunch hour and you’ll encounter people lining up for custom-made Italian sandwiches and subs. Fill up on proscuitto (domestic or imported), caprese, Genoa salami and other Italian cured deli meats on your choice of Italian bread or focaccia.

Related Maps

Giorgino's

Those craving East Coast-style sandwiches only need to travel to Golden Hill for a meal. The menu features traditional cheesesteaks, chicken cheesesteaks, pork rolls and Italian subs. Order online for pickup or delivery, or visit the restaurant to soak in the retro cafe-like atmosphere.

Giorgino’s/Facebook

Related Maps