411 E Menomonee St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Not only does the dog-friendly Riley's Social House top our sandwich list at number one with no questions asked, but they are also the only spot we mention with multiple sandwiches listed. Specializing in super tender sous vide beef tenderloin steak and organic chicken on a soft house roll, you really cannot go wrong with any of their 20+ options. We are partial to both their CBR (chicken, bacon, ranch) and their Steak Kensington, but if it's St. Paddy's Day, you can be sure we are stopping by for their famous Reuben specialty.
217 N Broadway, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Bavette started as a whole animal butcher shop concept in 2013, but Milwaukee native Chef Karen Bell soon came to find that she had so much more to offer. For example, the craveable Korean Steak sandwich: tender steak topped with kimchi aioli, cabbage slaw, peanuts and a hot pot broth. Though much of her influence came from running a restaurant in Madrid, you'll see that the sandwich section of the menu is as diverse as they come, from a Cuban to a Corned Beef Tongue Reuben to a Muffuletta; and all are worth trying.
405 S 2nd St, Milwaukee, WI 53204
We all love tacos, so why wouldn't we love a taco sandwich? That is essentially what a torta is, swapping out the tortilla shell for a soft and fluffy telera bread. La Chinampa, which replaced the late Boo Boo's Sandwich in Walker's Point (R.I.P, you would've made the list, Boo Boo's), is home to our favorite torta in the city. Specifically the asada/steak torta that comes with beans, cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayo, onions, pickled jalapeno, sourcream and mayo. So much yum.
Multiple Locations
If someone asks us where the best spot for seafood is, we will always mention St. Paul, which can be found at the Milwaukee Public Market downtown or at their larger location out in Mequon. Check out their Google review and you'll see nothing comes even close in mentions to their Maine Lobster Roll, a butter toasted brioche split top bun stuffed with heaps of cold lobster. It may be surprising to see this East Coast sandwich so high on a Milwaukee list, but we can confidently say this lobster roll rivals any we've had in Boston or Maine.
2659 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207
We know what you're thinking. Sausages: do those really count as sandwiches? Well, it's Milwaukee, so yes, yes they do. Especially if we're talking about The Vanguard, a Bay View institution that offers an elevated approach to Milwaukee's beer & brat tradition. At the Vanguard you can choose from several house-made sausage and styles, and nothing is considered off the table or too weird. For newcomers, we're apt to recommend the Milwaukee Style (cheese curds, shredded cheddar and cheez whiz), but we also love their styled sausages including the Thai Breaker and Duck BLT.
7203 W North Ave #1819, Wauwatosa, WI 53213
If you haven't been to Cosmo's yet because you think it'll be "just another gyro", we might politely disagree and offer you a ride there ourselves. What the Tosa restaurant lacks in frills, they make up for in really great authentic Greek sandwiches. Cosmo's go-to is a perfectly marinated and cooked jerk chicken and gains their establishment a high rating and a lot of praise. You also can't go wrong with their authentic Greek-style Pork Souvlaki, which came with fries and a delicious garlicky sauce.
Multiple Locations
Like St. Paul, West Allis also has two locations with one located in the Public Market (the other, of course, is in West Allis). Doubling as a cafe and cheese shop, West Allis Cheese & Sausage has endless fresh sandwich options for all tastes, whether it be a Cheezy Joe, Neuske's Liver Sausage or a tuna melt. Our favorite is the Sriracha Melt: pepperoni, ham, mozz, jalapenos and sriracha mayo on white bread. If you're there for brunch, they have tons of great breakfast sandwich options and one of the most epic Bloody Marys in town (click on the image for a peak).
5930 W North Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53208
Part grocery store / part restaurant, Mekong Cafe is quietly dishing out some of the best Southeast Asian cuisine in the area. With Laos, Thai, and Vietnamese offerings, they have a diverse menu with tons of options. There's one item that we keep coming back for though: the Sai-Oua Banh-Mi. This signature sandwich with "Grandma's recipe" laotian pork sausage and the usual banh-mi toppings has a very different bite to it than a normal banh-mi thanks to the full sausage, but it's so full of flavor that you won't mind. Get over there and try one yourself and find out why this unique sandwich is so high on our list.
1239 S 11th St, Milwaukee, WI 53204
While the jibarito has Puerto Rican roots, it was actually invented just south of us in Chicago back in the 90s. If you're not familiar, a jibarito is a sandwich made with flattened, fried green plantains instead of bread, aioli or garlic-flavored mayonnaise, and a filling that typically includes meat, cheese, lettuce and tomato. The original jibarito has a steak filling, but you can typically order them with pork or chicken as well. Johanna's serves their jibarito with a sharp American cheese and the result is a garlicky mouthwatering bite. Because it is a little lesser known, this sandwich can be hard to find and we are grateful that we have a delicious one in town. Tip: call ahead, they get busy!
1215 W Layton Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53221
Eric has a deep love of Chicago, and it might have been born from his love of an Italian beef. We all know Chicago does it better than anybody, but Martino's does it as close to Chicago as we've found. Maybe an Un-Wisconsin opinion, but we recommend ordering without the cheese and dipped (with hot peppers, of course).
1011 E Brady St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Although this almost 80 year old establishment recently just changed ownership, you can still count on their deli to fill that Italy shaped hole in your heart. The Human Torth is touted as a "local favorite" on their website, and we can't disagree with that designation. Featuring calabrese salami, capocollo, provolone, and both hot pepper and hot olive salads, this sandwich is packing a bit of a punch, but not too much to overtake the other flavors. Not quite a classic italian sub, but still our favorite in the area.
Multiple Locations
Allie Boy's made a big splash when they opened in Milwaukee during covid, bringing to the area something we previously lacked: a New York/Middle Eastern inspired bagel shop with inventive cream cheese and sandwich options. While their offerings change often, we are happy that our favorite nosh, The Veg Head, is a static menu item. Topped with avocado, raw crunchy veggies, lemon vinaigrette, and a pesto cream cheese schmear, this sandwich should have vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike swarming their ordering system (and they do- the bagelry, which is open Thursday-Sundays, is always reliably busy).
400 N Water St, Milwaukee, WI 53202
If you've visited the Milwaukee Public Market, you'll know Foltz from their impressive case of sausages and premade deli options. With a large range of offerings, we find ourselves coming back mainly for their paninis. In particular, we love the creamy chicken pesto panini which is warm pressed with grilled chicken breast, provolone, basil, pesto, roasted tomatoes and carmelized onions. If you only have one visit to the market, we suggest a bang-bang: one stop at St. Paul for the lobster roll and one at Foltz's for this delicious panini.
6967 S 27th St, Franklin, WI 53132
If you lived in Milwaukee during your young party years, chances are you've indulged in some cheeseteaks from Chubby's. But we're here to tell you that there is something more, something better. And you don't even have to go to Philadelphia for it; just a few minutes south to Franklin to an unassuming spot called the Grill Shack that specializes in both American and Mediterranean cuisine. Grill Shack's Philly is made with 100% U.S.D.A. choice steak mounded with American cheese, sautéed onions, green peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, and mayo, and it's the best we've found in the city. We'll just imagine you taking your first bite now- you're welcome.
2378 S Howell Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207
Heirloom first entered the scene as an extremely popular food truck, offering high quality burgers, chicken sandwiches and cheese curds made from locally sourced ingredients. They've since taken over the old Lazy Susan in Bay View, but you can still get most of their original offerings. Though there is a lot of competition, we are willing to claim that Heirloom serves the best fried chicken sandwich in the city. Theirs is a buttermilk fried Bell & Evan's organic chicken breast and you can choose from two options: original with LTO and remoulade or our favorite, the hot dipped with creamy slaw and pickles.
Multiple Locations
Breakfast meats, cheese and eggs on a breakfast pastry: what's not to love about a breakfast sandwich? While there are a lot of great ones in the city, we find that Donut Monster's is elevated above the rest. Maybe it's their from-scratch English muffins, or their use of local ingredients. But mostly, we think it's the delicious Pine River Cold Pack sharp white cheddar cheese spread that gets those taste buds dancing.
31 Lone Oak Ln, Hartford, WI 53027
This one would quite honestly top our list, if it weren't for the fact that it is located a 40 minute hike outside of Milwaukee in Hartland, WI. The menu focuses on doner only, and once you've had a chance to see what they're about, you'll understand why. We recommend the classic doner, a flatbread (made fresh in-house) filled with juicy off-the-spit steak strips, shredded lettuce, chopped red cabbage, sliced onion, and tomatoes. You can choose from one of three signature sauces (spicy, herb, or garlic), but they (and we) recommend adding all three.
2675 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207
Mainly known as "Crafty Cow" for their burgers, we find that the fried chicken is where it's at when it comes this three location retro-themed restaurant. Located in Bay View, Tosa, and Oconomowoc, Crafty Cow has the best Nashville Hot in the area, and they can deliver some serious spice. Choose between the classic (LTO and special sauce on a cornbread bun) or the Fancy Chicken topped with broccoli & snap pea slaw, chipotle aioli, and pickles on a cornbread bun. On a budget? Check out their cheap date nights on Thursdays: 1 Starter, 2 Entrees, and 1 Dessert for just $39.
3109 S 92nd St, Milwaukee, WI 53227
It may not be too surprising that the most raved about corned beef in the city can be found at an establishment that specializes in just that. With a streamlined menu,Top Corned Beef is the place to go when you're craving that salt-cured brisket sandwich. Expect a no-frills counter service spot that serves a large portion of tender and juicy chunks of fresh cured meat topped with a special seasoning on rye. Deciding to order which sandwich comes down to your topping preference (mustard for corned beef and a kraut slaw and homemade thousand island dressing for the reuben).
1901 E North Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Beans & Barley on the East Side has been a health food institution since 1973, reopening as the market and deli we know today in 1994 after a fire took down the original location. Beans has a lot to offer as far as healthy sandwiches go, but we had to mention their take on the chicken salad, which is made with lemon-shallot mayo and served on wheat bread with lettuce and tomato. You can pick it up at their deli too if you like it as much as we do. It can get busy, but not to worry- you can browse their market of specially selected groceries, imported wines, and unique gifts while you wait.
