Credit: Courtesy of brand
7 min read
Here to prove that a sandwich can be a satisfying and flavour-packed meal – and one that has been given all the care, attention and expertise of any other restaurant dish worth its salt – these super-sized options are quite possibly the best things since sliced bread.
If you’ve been on Instagram recently, you may have noticed a growing trend for the Sandwich Selfie™. A plethora of closely cropped shots of generously loaded sandwiches with a layered array of fillings have taken over our feeds – and we’re not mad about it.
Far from a blurry snap of a meal deal, these sarnies are so much more than a couple of slices of ham and some limp lettuce between some long-life bread. For a start, they’re supersized. You can add a bag of crisps or some chips if you really want to, but these sandwiches are here to satisfy – delighting our taste buds just as much as our rumbling stomachs with their flavour-packed, serious approach to lunch time.
Loaded with everything from Italian deli meats to house made sauces, creatives takes on the classics and creations that will have you thinking “how can that possibility all fit between two slices of bread?”, many of the options include filings to please all tastes and dietary requirements. Vegans and vegetarians are well-catered for here – with the challenge of preparing food that’s both meat and dairy free one that many eateries are rising to with an array of tempting sandwiches sure to please any self-respecting meat eater.
Keen to upgrade your lunch hour? Read on to discover some of the best super-sized sandwiches to try in London.
Pophams
With locations in Islington, London Fields and Victoria Park, this cult artisan bakery is popular for a good reason. While it may be known for its drool-worthy collection of freshly baked bread and ever-changing pastry specials, don’t sleep on trying one of its daily sandwiches.
The options always feature the bakery’s very own bread, with the three sarnies currently on the menu ticking all the boxes whether you’re a meat eater, fish lover or are vegan – including a miso mackerel filling, a take on a classic chicken caesar and finally, a curried root vegetable-filled offering.
19 Prebend Street, London, N1 8PF
197 Richmond Road, London, E8 3NJ
110A Lauriston Road, London, E9 7HA; pophamsbakery.com
Good Things Deli
From the team behind middle eastern-inspired all day dining and brunch spot, The Good Egg, comes Good Things Deli.
Serving up bagel sandwiches in Stoke Newington, expect classic deli fillings on fresh-out-of-the-oven bagels, including salt beef, smoked cheddar, house mustard and pickles and trout lox and schmear – with plenty of soups, salads and deli pots to take away, too.
56 Stoke Newington Church St, London, N16 0NB; thegoodegg.co/good-things-deli
The Black Pig
If you’ve visited Borough Market, it’s likely that you’ll have been tempted in by the epic sandwich creations dished up by The Black Pig – who have been serving their Italian pork and cheese ciabattas in the location for a number of years.
Made using Blythburgh free range pork and fresh ciabatta from fellow market traders Bread Ahead Bakery, the aptly named The Best One is the perfect place to start your sandwich (re)education, but fans line-up for the signature Honey Truffle Parmesan – with the honey truffle mayo also available to buy to take home.
8 Southwark Street, London, SE1 1TL; theblackpiglondon.co.uk
Experimental Sandwich Shop
Fans of Bad Boy Pizza Society will already be aware of this new opening from the same team, which launched just last month – breaking away from pizza to specialise in some serious sandwiches.
The largely Italian-American flavours (Meatball Sub and Voddy Chicken Parm, I’m looking at you), were inspired by the founders’ recent trip to New York – but with the menu changing every two weeks, you can expect a varied and flavourful approach to the humble sarnie. The likes of the vegan What The Duck, the salmon pastrami-loaded Pimp My Fish and Ralph’s Fried Chicken are all currently on the roster. Find them every Wednesday to Sunday from 12pm.
Vinegar Yard, 72-82 St Thomas St, London SE1 3QX; @experimental_sandwiches
Mondo Sando
Starting out with friends Jack and Viggo serving fully-loaded sandwiches during the pandemic, Mondo Sando moved to Camberwell’s Grove House Tavern in 2021, and now can also be found in Peckham’s The White Horse.
Both locations feature a frequently changing menu, with creative, bold and eclectic stacked sandos at the heart of what they do. Dishes draw on a range of global influences – from Hayao Miyazaki films to Redwall novels and even The Beano, with the current selection featuring everything from salami and mortadella to onion and carrot bhajis and mushroom “barbacoa”-stuffed subs.
26 Camberwell Grove, London, SE5 8RE
20 – 22 Peckham Rye, London, SE15 4JR; @mondo.sandwiches
Bread & Truffle
Want to travel to Rome, without the air miles? Then head to Bread & Truffle, who serve up traditional Italian sandwiches from their London Fields and Monument locations every day (with delivery-only shops also found in Battersea and Canary Wharf),
Featuring their own secret recipe focaccia – which is fermented for 16 hours for optimum flavour and texture – fillings range from pistachio pesto, mortadella and ricotta, to speck and brie and the indulgent truffle cacio e pepe cream, Tuscan sausage, pecorino cheese, red chicory and truffle oil. Bellissima.
Arch 376, Helmsley Place, London, E8 3SB
Peek House, 20 Eastcheap, London, EC3M 1EB; breadandtruffle.com
Secret Sandwich Shop
This not-so-secret shop has been serving picture-perfect super-sized sarnies since 2021. Based on a Japanese wanpaku sandwich (with wanpaku meaning cheeky or naughty), the stacked creations are guaranteed to be filled with colourful layers of flavour and texture, all tucked between two slices of pillow-y Japanese shokupan bread.
The signature Secret Sandwich is not to be missed – with five seasonal vegetables, avocado, tomato and kewpie mayo – but we’re partial to The House Egg Salad, with perfectly soft-boiled eggs, watercress, dijon and kewpie mayo. Open daily from 11am to 3pm, order on their app and be sure to check their social pages for secret specials.
103 Talbot Road, London, W11 2AT; secretsandwichshop.com
Chatsworth Bakehouse
Found between Crystal Palace and Penge, this sandwich shop has a somewhat elusive repetition (in the best possible way, of course).
The small scale operation releases its menus every Monday at 12.30 to pre-order for lunch from Wednesday to Friday. But with only a limited number available, you’ve got to be quick to snap up the likes of The Kimchi Face-plant (with sticky roasted aubergine and kimchi-style chopped salad) and The Pickleback (with dill pickles and provolone).
All served on home made bread (you can also order their much-loved focaccia slabs), the sandwiches are not to be missed – but come Saturday, expect the operation to turn into a pizza joint, slinging 100 slices until they sell out.
Anerley Road, London, SE19; @chatsworthbakehouse
The Dusty Knuckle
You don’t need us to tell you to add The Dusty Knuckle to your list. Started in 2014 by friends Max, Rebecca and Daisy, the bakery, café and social enterprise not only makes knockout food but, but also works to help young offenders with training and employment prospects at the same time.
Alongside its original Dalson site, the second location in Harringay opened in 2021, which serves up a variation on their seasonal, artisan menu. Although recently launching pizzas on weekend evenings, sandwiches are still at the heart of what they do – and they’re executed very well indeed. Expect fillings that range from roasted aubergine and tahini sauce, lime and galangal marinated pork and much more, all served between their signature freshly baked bubbly bread.
Abbot Street Car Park, London, E8 3DP
429 Green Lanes, London, N4 1HA; thedustyknuckle.com
Kossofs Bakery
This indie bakery has been serving sandwiches in the heart of Kentish Town since 2021 – but its history dates as far back as the 1920, when Jewish refugee Wolf Kossoff opened a range of bakeries across East London after fleeing Kiev.
Several generations later, Kossofs has diversified to include a broader range of baked goods, while still keeping the Jewish tradition alive. Alongside fresh sourdough loaves, baguettes, pastries and salads, a range of sandwiches are on offer – including the staples of jerk chicken, BLT and coronation chicken, as well as a new jambon-beurre baguette.
259 Kentish Town Road, London NW5 2JT; kossoffs.com
Finks
Cant get enough of The Dusty Knuckle’s potato sourdough and fresh focaccia? Creating even more XXL sandwich offerings, Finks makes the most of the artisanal breads.
With a rotating menu, the eatery changes up its creations seasonally, with everything from the mayos to pestos and all accompaniments made in house. Currently, the selection includes Tahini Ranch Roast Chicken, Carrot Bhaji and curried mayo, Baharat Aubergine and Beer Battered Cod.
Clissold Park, London, N16 9HJ
62 Chatsworth Road, London, NW2 4DD
88 Gillespie Road, London, N5 1LN
70 Mountgrove Road, London N5 2LT; @finks.london
Photography: Courtesy of brands
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