With Dallas’s diverse population comes a diverse range of cuisines, and if there’s one dish every culture can boast, it’s some version of a sandwich. Dallas offers countless ways to eat meat, cheese, and veggies packed between a couple of slices of bread, with international flavors well represented. Whether you’re on the hunt for a saucy Italian sub, a lobster roll loaded with plump meat, or a solid banh mi lathered with pate, consider this list a guide to some of the city’s best. Go forth, and wrap your hands around seven of the best sandwiches in the Metroplex.
Quôc Bao Bakery
Dallas has no shortage of top-tier Vietnamese restaurants, but this bakery in Garland is the place to go for banh mi. Because it’s a bakery first and banh mi shop second, the baguettes are made fresh on site and achieve the perfect crunchy-to-soft ratio. The meat is plentiful and the price is right — between five and six dollars per sandwich, or buy-two-get-one-free. The Combination Banh Mi stands among the most popular, layered with pork belly and two types of ham with all the fixings, including cucumber for a refreshing bite. 3419 W Walnut St. #104, Garland
Jimmy’s Food Store
For those who long for the classic Italian delis of the East Coast, Jimmy’s is a worthy Texas alternative. The grocery store and wine shop, which stocks only Italian wines, is the Dallas go-to for satisfying subs. The shop slings sandwiches the size of birthday cake rounds, and customers polish them right off. Jimmy’s enthusiasts can’t agree on a favorite, but the Muffuletta ($19) is a must-have, brimming with mortadella, ham, Genoa salami, Provolone cheese, and olive salad. The Italian Stallion ($14) and Cuban ($8) are close seconds. 4901 Bryan St., Dallas, jimmysfoodstore.com
Cattleack BBQ
If there’s one thing Dallas has a bounty of, it’s top notch barbecue, which means there is no shortage of sandwiches loaded with tender smoked meats. Cattleack BBQ, recently awarded Michelin’s Bib Gourmand, draws snaking lines for its burnt ends, wagyu baloney, and cornbread. You can’t go wrong with any of the sandwiches, but the Toddfather, built with brisket, pulled pork, sausage, and homemade slaw with barbecue sauce, is downright famous in town. 13628 Gamma Rd., Dallas, cattleackbbq.com
Weinberger’s Deli
People who have no reason to go to Grapevine veer out of their way just for Weinberger’s Deli. The casual, counter-service institution stays true to its Chicago-deli roots, and its claim to fame is the Italian Beef sandwich ($11). Served “wet” or “dry” on fresh Italian bread, the sub holds plenty of beef, homemade pepper relish, and a choice of fixings. Owner Dan Weinberger is a sandwich buff who prepares the Italian beef daily according to an old family recipe. 601 S. Main St., Grapevine, weinbergersdeli.com
Pizzeria Testa
Pizzeria Testa is as authentic a Neapolitan restaurant as you’ll find in Dallas. In addition to tasty pies, the menu features Panuozzi, wood-fired sandwiches cooked dome-shaped ovens. The Caprese ($14) layers sliced tomatoes grown in the soil of Mt. Vesuvius with fresh mozzarella and basil, and seasoned with sea salt and extra-virgin olive oil. Frankly, it’s worth popping into Pizzeria Testa just to smell it. 8660 Church St., Frisco, pizzeriatesta.com
Urban Seafood Company
It might come as a surprise that land-locked Dallas has such a long list of fine seafood restaurants, and in turn, lots of worthy lobster rolls to choose from. Urban Seafood slings the purist version. A toasted hot-dog bun teems with giant chunks of lobster meat dressed only in drawn butter. Every bite is ecstasy, even once you’ve finished and moved on to the crispy fries. 1104 14th St., Plano, urbanseafoodcompany.com
El Atoron
There’s a reason why this grab-and-go taqueria has four locations around the Metroplex – its enormous tortas have a rabid fan base. The popular Mexican street food is known for its fluffy buns filled with various meats, cheeses, beans, and condiments. At El Atoron, the buns are baked fresh in house, and the variety of sandwiches is geographical. There are Spanish, Hawaiian, and German offerings, with the fillings reflecting each location’s cuisine. The Cubana is among the best, made with pork sausage, ham, hot links, fried steak, and your choice of fixings, including avocados and onions. Enjoy with the made-in-house salsas, which are delightfully spicy. Multiple locations, elatorondallas.com
