The Sandwich Bucket List

At its simplest, a sandwich is two slices of bread enclosing a filling. At its most complex, it’s akin to a work of art.

The perfect sandwich is a conglomerate of all the right ingredients and cooking methods smooshed into one handheld delicious delicacy. It’s a mélange of a hearty center ingredient garnished with complementary condiments and the perfect bread selection. It takes thoughtful skills to strike the perfect balance of textures, between crunchy and melty, tangy and spicy, or savory and sweet.

But there’s one other thing you should know—sandwiches are always better when someone else makes them for you. The good news is, a glorious dawn is upon us (this is probably what Carl Sagan had always alluded to)—we’re in the Golden Age of sandwiches. From high-end restaurants to franchises, chefs are stepping up their game and offering some truly world-class gourmet sandwiches.

Now, it’s easier than ever to sink your teeth into a mouthwateringly good sandwich—and we’re here to help you navigate this wonderful world. Here’s our salute to some of our favorite sandwich shops around.

Jersey Mike’s Subs

Founded in 1956, Jersey Mike’s is one of the original pioneers of the true American sandwich. To this day, Jersey Mike’s remains as one of the top sandwich stops, thanks to their unwavering commitment to quality. All of their meats and cheese are sliced to order. Angus top rounds are trimmed and cooked in-house. And their bread is baked fresh in-house daily. Simply put, their model works, and it has long set the precedent for sandwich chains.

Al’s Beef

Al’s Beef is the one true sandwich love for any real Chicagoan—not liking Italian beef is almost as sacrilegious as putting ketchup on your hot dog. If you’re new to the Italian beef sandwich scene, Al’s Beef is the original purveyor of this decadent Midwestern staple. It’s beauty lies in its simplicity—thin slices of seasoned roast beef on a long Italian-style roll. It’s then topped with spicy giardiniera or sweet peppers and dipped in its own juices.

Jimmy John’s

There’s nothing worse than having to wait too long for your sandwich. Luckily, Jimmy John’s lives up to its motto—they really are freaky-fast. This brand is also one of the original quick-service gourmet sub shops. Their bread is incredibly fresh and soft and their ingredients are as high-quality as possible—no additives or fake stuff here. Their Beach Club is one of their all-star sandwiches. This sandwich is loaded with turkey, provolone, avocado spread, lettuce, tomato, mayo, sliced cucumber and alfalfa sprouts for an added satisfying crunch.

Penn Station East Coast Subs

Despite its name, this chain was founded in Cincinnati. Since 1985, they’ve been dishing up some comforting classics, like the Philadelphia Cheesesteak, the Reuben, Chicken Cordon Bleu, Pizza (with pepperoni, ham, provolone, Parmesan and marinara sauce), and a classic Italian. They have lighter options, too, including grilled artichoke and grilled vegetables. If you really feel like stuffing your face, try the Dagwood—a sandwich piled high with several meats, provolone, lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, banana peppers, oil, vinegar, salt and pepper, oregano and mayo. It sounds like a food coma in the making, and for that, it’s a sandwich that’s 100 percent worth trying.

Firehouse Subs

Originally started by two firefighters, Firehouse Subs offers sandwiches with firehouse-inspired touches. Try the Hook & Ladder (piled with turkey, ham and melted Monterrey Jack cheese). Other specialty subs include the Smokehouse Beef & Cheddar Brisket, with beef brisket that’s been smoked for more than 16 hours topped with Cheddar and their special sauce.

Which Wich

This brand takes a different approach to the normal sandwich ordering process. To create your ultimate sandwich, you use a Sharpie to mark up a sandwich bag, naming your preferences in 10 categories. But it’s the stuff inside the bag that matters—their super-customizable sandwiches range from French dip au jus and a corn and black bean patty to a Sriracha tuna sub to a decadent turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce sandwich.

Au Bon Pain

Au Bon Pain was one of the first sandwich chains to go the gourmet route. This Boston-based brand is probably best known for its coffee and pastries, but they have a killer lunch scene, too. Sandwiches come both hot and cold, in varieties like Black Angus roast beef and herb cheese, chicken salad on country white with cranberries and almonds, and the Chicken Pomodoro on ciabatta.

Einstein Bros. Bagels

Sandwiches are good. But sandwiches on bagels are even better. This chain offers nearly 20 different varieties of bagels, including pretzel and six-cheese. Once you pick the perfect foundation, you’re free to pile on whatever toppings your heart desires. From bacon, avocado, turkey and chicken salad, to mixed veggies, asparagus and mushroom, we should probably eat more of our sandwiches on bagels.

Potbelly Sandwich Works

Hands down, Potbelly offers some of the best (and spiciest) giardiniera out there—that topping alone makes this chain one of the best in the segment. The sandwiches are pretty good, too. They’re all toasted and served hot on regular or multigrain rolls, and they come with classic fillings like meatballs, smoked ham, roast beef, chicken salad and grilled chicken and Cheddar. For first-timers, A Wreck is the brand’s signature sandwich—it’s filled with salami, roast beef, turkey, ham and Swiss. We recommend washing it all down with one of their milkshakes.

Subway

No sandwich list is complete without Subway. After all, they very well may be the reigning king of fast-food style sandwich chains. Most of us probably smell Subway before we even see it—that’s the distinct smell of their bread baking, and these days, it’s a familiar smell wafting throughout nearly every street corner. Subway will always offer up the classics, but they’re also not afraid to evolve with our changing tastes. In the past few years, they’ve introduced things like flatbreads, Sriracha-infused dressings, Buffalo chicken and veggie patties.