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A close-up of a chimi de pierna, a Dominican sandwich on a torta stuffed with pulled pork, cabbage, carrots, and pink salsa. — The chimi de pierna at Mechos Dominican Kitchen.

15 Sandwiches to Try Around D.C. Right Now

Where to grab one of these handheld masterpieces

by Missy Frederick, Gabe Hiatt, and Tierney Plumb Updated Feb 28, 2022, 5:11pm EST

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The chimi de pierna at Mechos Dominican Kitchen.

| Rey Lopez/Eater D.C.

by Missy Frederick, Gabe Hiatt, and Tierney Plumb Updated Feb 28, 2022, 5:11pm EST

D.C. has no shortage of great grab-and-go meals. But there are certain sandwiches, hoagies, and grinders that every Washingtonian should seek out almost as a civic duty. Some can transport diners to far-off destinations like Italy, Mexico, or Vietnam. Others are so historic, they’re edible nostalgia.

Many of these essential sandwiches are found in 9-to-5 lunch zones, but others serve residential neighborhoods with fewer dining options, creating a cast of loyal regulars. Some are even worth a short drive. And some popular sandwich pop-ups born during the pandemic, like Fight Club and Your Only Friend, plan to open permanent D.C. locations this year.

—Updated by Eater staff

Don’t see a personal favorite on the list? Sound off in the comments or shoot us an email (dc@eater.com).

Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.

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The Girl and The Vine

Takoma Park’s adorable cafe and wine shop counts the “Chip-wich” hoagie as one of its most popular orders since day one. The sandwich hides house kettle chips inside for a surprise crunch in every bite, joined by smoked turkey, smashed avocado, pepper jack cheese, bacon, sprouts, and dijonnaise.

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7071 Carroll Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Wagshal's (Multiple Locations)

This delicatessen, with two local locations, is a standard-bearer for pastrami, not to mention beef brisket. Those without a lot of restraint can give multiple meats a sample with the Superior, which stacks roast beef, corned beef, ham, pastrami, Russian dressing, slow, cheddar spread, and chopped liver.

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3201 New Mexico Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20016

Visit Website

Wagshal’s display case, with several meats showing behind glass — The display case at Wagshal’s

Mechos Dominican Kitchen

Since its fall 2019 debut, Mechos has been in the business of introducing boardwalk-style chimichurri sandwiches to D.C. There are four types available: try the chimi de pierna, which is stuffed with pulled pork, cabbage, carrots, and pink salsa, and served on a torta.

Open in Google Maps

2460 Market St NE, Washington, DC 20018

Visit Website

A close-up of a chimi de pierna, a Dominican sandwich on a torta stuffed with pulled pork, cabbage, carrots, and pink salsa. — The chimi de pierna at Mechos.

Lulu’s Wine Garden

The Southwestern-style replacement to Vinoteca serves a solid smoked pork belly pastrami sandwich on Texas Toast, piled high with fermented red cabbage, pickles, crispy shallots, and an aioli made from pork drippings.

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1940 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Visit Website

A smoked pork belly pastrami sandwich at Lulu’s Winegarden comes on Texas Toast with fermented red cabbage, pickles, lots of crispy shallots, and an aioli made from pork drippings — A smoked pork belly pastrami sandwich at Lulu’s Winegarden.

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Capo Italian Deli (multiple locations)

The home of the original Fauci Pouchy is also famous for its Italian combo subs absolutely stuffed with sliced meats. Its new Western Market food hall stall will soon be joined by a Northern Virginia location in Tysons Corner.

Open in Google Maps

715A Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chyno: The Blue Bearded Foodie (@thebaltimorefoodie)

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Colada Shop

A good Cuban sandwich can be surprisingly tough to find in the greater D.C. region, but Colada Shop has an excellent version. Theirs leans traditional, with ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, mustard, pickles and cilantro aioli, on Cuban-style bread, of course.

Open in Google Maps

1405 T St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Visit Website

A Cuban sandwich, cut in half and being stretched apart — The Cuban sandwich at Colada Shop

Also featured in:

Nim Ali Shukos & Antojitos

Shaw’s Guatemalan street food pop-up, operating out of Jake’s Tavern since fall 2019, is best known for its shukos served on big, toasted buns. The “Chingo” is a foot-long monster stuffed with a whopping six types of meat: beef frank, Mexican chorizo, fajita asada, al pastor, bacon, and ham. Founders Rosario Guzman and Karla Alonzo, a married couple who hail from Puebla, Mexico, and San Lorenzo, Guatemala, respectively, will soon open a stall in Western Market.

Open in Google Maps

1606 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Visit Website

Guatemalan-style shukos from Nim Ali get doused in condiments — Guatemalan-style shukos from Nim Ali get doused in condiments.

Also featured in:

Where to Find Hot Dogs of All Styles Around D.C.

Jetties

There’s a special appeal when it comes to Thanksgiving sandwiches that can be found year-round. The Nobadeer at Jettie’s puts roasted turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and mayo on sourdough bread, and there’s no need to make the turkey dinner the day before in order to sample it.

Open in Google Maps

1609 Foxhall Rd NW, Washington, DC 20007

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jetties DC (@jettiesdc) on Jan 13, 2020 at 9:03am PST

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Stachowski's Market

Around since 2011, Georgetown’s beloved butcher has a devoted neighborhood following for its hot pastrami, roast beef on rye, and meatball grinders. Its half-smokes and bratwurst are now featured on the menu at at Solace Brewing’s new Navy Yard tap room.

Open in Google Maps

1425 28th St NW, Washington, DC 20007

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Solace Outpost (@solaceoutpost)

Also featured in:

13 Hearty Half-Smokes Around D.C.

A. Litteri, Inc.

This Italian market near Union Market has been a low-key destination for Italian hoagies for many years. The classic features a mixture of capicola, Genoa salami, mortadella, Prosciutto, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, hot peppers, and Italian seasoning.

Open in Google Maps

517 Morse St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Visit Website

El Sol Restaurante & Tequileria

A pambazo torta stuffed with mashed potatoes and chorizo is a top seller at Shaw’s El Sol. Its chef Alfredo Solis used to make the dish for dinner as a teenager in Mexico.

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1227 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

El Sol pambazo — A pambazo torta from El Sol

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Bub and Pop's

Family-owned Bub and Pop’s has the answer to just about any imaginable sandwich craving — whether that’s chicken and eggplant Parmesan, a classic Italian cold cut hoagie, or Pop’s beefy brisket sandwich. Sandwiches are available in half or hefty, whole portions.

1815 M St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Po Boy Jim Bar and Grill

The family-owned icon on H Street NE offers an extensive selection of its eponymous sandwiches, all served with a side of Cajun fries. Shrimp po’boys here come three ways (barbecue, grilled, or battered), but pulled pork, lobster, steak and cheese varieties are also fan favorites.

Open in Google Maps

709 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Po Boy Jim (@poboyjim)

Also featured in:

Grazie Grazie

Taylor Gourmet founder Casey Patten launched a second act with this Philadelphia-style sandwich shop in 2019. The tiny store is best known for its cheesesteaks built with grass-fed beef and Cooper sharp provolone.

Open in Google Maps

85 District Square SW, Washington, DC 20024

Visit Website

A Philly Special cheesesteak from Grazie Grazie shows off layers of grass-fed beef, Cooper sharp provolone, lettuce, red onion, and tomato on a golden roll — A Philly Special cheesesteak from Grazie Grazie

Also featured in:

Banh Mi DC Sandwich

Excellent crispy bread and affordable prices help distinguish this banh mi purveyor from the pack (though D.C. has no shortage of excellent versions of the traditional Vietnamese sandwich). Go with the #1 (Banh Mi Dac Biet), a combination of various meat fillings, including Vietnamese cold cuts and pate.

Open in Google Maps

3103 Graham Rd #C, Falls Church, VA 22042

A station of cold cuts and condiments with a worker slathering on dressing — The sandwich station at Banh Mi DC Sandwich

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The Girl and The Vine

7071 Carroll Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912

Takoma Park’s adorable cafe and wine shop counts the “Chip-wich” hoagie as one of its most popular orders since day one. The sandwich hides house kettle chips inside for a surprise crunch in every bite, joined by smoked turkey, smashed avocado, pepper jack cheese, bacon, sprouts, and dijonnaise.

Open in Google Maps

7071 Carroll Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912

Visit Website

Wagshal's (Multiple Locations)

3201 New Mexico Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20016

This delicatessen, with two local locations, is a standard-bearer for pastrami, not to mention beef brisket. Those without a lot of restraint can give multiple meats a sample with the Superior, which stacks roast beef, corned beef, ham, pastrami, Russian dressing, slow, cheddar spread, and chopped liver.

Open in Google Maps

3201 New Mexico Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20016

Visit Website

Wagshal’s display case, with several meats showing behind glass — The display case at Wagshal’s

Mechos Dominican Kitchen

2460 Market St NE, Washington, DC 20018

Since its fall 2019 debut, Mechos has been in the business of introducing boardwalk-style chimichurri sandwiches to D.C. There are four types available: try the chimi de pierna, which is stuffed with pulled pork, cabbage, carrots, and pink salsa, and served on a torta.

Open in Google Maps

2460 Market St NE, Washington, DC 20018

Visit Website

A close-up of a chimi de pierna, a Dominican sandwich on a torta stuffed with pulled pork, cabbage, carrots, and pink salsa. — The chimi de pierna at Mechos.

Lulu’s Wine Garden

1940 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

The Southwestern-style replacement to Vinoteca serves a solid smoked pork belly pastrami sandwich on Texas Toast, piled high with fermented red cabbage, pickles, crispy shallots, and an aioli made from pork drippings.

Open in Google Maps

1940 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Visit Website

A smoked pork belly pastrami sandwich at Lulu’s Winegarden comes on Texas Toast with fermented red cabbage, pickles, lots of crispy shallots, and an aioli made from pork drippings — A smoked pork belly pastrami sandwich at Lulu’s Winegarden.

Capo Italian Deli (multiple locations)

715A Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001

The home of the original Fauci Pouchy is also famous for its Italian combo subs absolutely stuffed with sliced meats. Its new Western Market food hall stall will soon be joined by a Northern Virginia location in Tysons Corner.

Open in Google Maps

715A Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chyno: The Blue Bearded Foodie (@thebaltimorefoodie)

Colada Shop

1405 T St NW, Washington, DC 20009

A good Cuban sandwich can be surprisingly tough to find in the greater D.C. region, but Colada Shop has an excellent version. Theirs leans traditional, with ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, mustard, pickles and cilantro aioli, on Cuban-style bread, of course.

Open in Google Maps

1405 T St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Visit Website

A Cuban sandwich, cut in half and being stretched apart — The Cuban sandwich at Colada Shop

Nim Ali Shukos & Antojitos

1606 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Shaw’s Guatemalan street food pop-up, operating out of Jake’s Tavern since fall 2019, is best known for its shukos served on big, toasted buns. The “Chingo” is a foot-long monster stuffed with a whopping six types of meat: beef frank, Mexican chorizo, fajita asada, al pastor, bacon, and ham. Founders Rosario Guzman and Karla Alonzo, a married couple who hail from Puebla, Mexico, and San Lorenzo, Guatemala, respectively, will soon open a stall in Western Market.

Open in Google Maps

1606 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Visit Website

Guatemalan-style shukos from Nim Ali get doused in condiments — Guatemalan-style shukos from Nim Ali get doused in condiments.

Jetties

1609 Foxhall Rd NW, Washington, DC 20007

There’s a special appeal when it comes to Thanksgiving sandwiches that can be found year-round. The Nobadeer at Jettie’s puts roasted turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and mayo on sourdough bread, and there’s no need to make the turkey dinner the day before in order to sample it.

Open in Google Maps

1609 Foxhall Rd NW, Washington, DC 20007

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jetties DC (@jettiesdc) on Jan 13, 2020 at 9:03am PST

Stachowski's Market

1425 28th St NW, Washington, DC 20007

Around since 2011, Georgetown’s beloved butcher has a devoted neighborhood following for its hot pastrami, roast beef on rye, and meatball grinders. Its half-smokes and bratwurst are now featured on the menu at at Solace Brewing’s new Navy Yard tap room.

Open in Google Maps

1425 28th St NW, Washington, DC 20007

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Solace Outpost (@solaceoutpost)

A. Litteri, Inc.

517 Morse St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

This Italian market near Union Market has been a low-key destination for Italian hoagies for many years. The classic features a mixture of capicola, Genoa salami, mortadella, Prosciutto, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, hot peppers, and Italian seasoning.

Open in Google Maps

517 Morse St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Visit Website

El Sol Restaurante & Tequileria

1227 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

A pambazo torta stuffed with mashed potatoes and chorizo is a top seller at Shaw’s El Sol. Its chef Alfredo Solis used to make the dish for dinner as a teenager in Mexico.

Open in Google Maps

1227 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

El Sol pambazo — A pambazo torta from El Sol

Bub and Pop's

1815 M St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

Family-owned Bub and Pop’s has the answer to just about any imaginable sandwich craving — whether that’s chicken and eggplant Parmesan, a classic Italian cold cut hoagie, or Pop’s beefy brisket sandwich. Sandwiches are available in half or hefty, whole portions.

1815 M St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

Visit Website

Po Boy Jim Bar and Grill

709 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002

The family-owned icon on H Street NE offers an extensive selection of its eponymous sandwiches, all served with a side of Cajun fries. Shrimp po’boys here come three ways (barbecue, grilled, or battered), but pulled pork, lobster, steak and cheese varieties are also fan favorites.

Open in Google Maps

709 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Po Boy Jim (@poboyjim)

Grazie Grazie

85 District Square SW, Washington, DC 20024

Taylor Gourmet founder Casey Patten launched a second act with this Philadelphia-style sandwich shop in 2019. The tiny store is best known for its cheesesteaks built with grass-fed beef and Cooper sharp provolone.

Open in Google Maps

85 District Square SW, Washington, DC 20024

Visit Website

A Philly Special cheesesteak from Grazie Grazie shows off layers of grass-fed beef, Cooper sharp provolone, lettuce, red onion, and tomato on a golden roll — A Philly Special cheesesteak from Grazie Grazie

Banh Mi DC Sandwich

3103 Graham Rd #C, Falls Church, VA 22042

Excellent crispy bread and affordable prices help distinguish this banh mi purveyor from the pack (though D.C. has no shortage of excellent versions of the traditional Vietnamese sandwich). Go with the #1 (Banh Mi Dac Biet), a combination of various meat fillings, including Vietnamese cold cuts and pate.

Open in Google Maps

3103 Graham Rd #C, Falls Church, VA 22042

A station of cold cuts and condiments with a worker slathering on dressing — The sandwich station at Banh Mi DC Sandwich

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