30 essential Detroit area sandwich shops you should have tried by now

By on Wed, Aug 12, 2020 at 3:44 pm

Let's be real: We've never met a sandwich we didn't like.

In fact, our personal nutritional pyramid is made up of 65% sandwich and/or sandwich material and condiments. No, but really. Like, if we had a final meal — be it death row, apocalypse, or another four years of Trump (we'd prefer the death row/apocalypse, please) — it would be a sandwich from one of these 30 essential metro Detroit sandwich shops. Would we choose a pastrami and rye from one of the area's beloved and classic Jewish delicatessens? Or a Moroccan-spiced chicken sandwich? What about some sort of breakfast-on-a-bagel situation? Well, hopefully, we have some time before we have to select a final meal but for now, we don't have to pick just one. Follow your heart, dreams, and hunger pangs. And grab some antacid while you're at it!

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Saffron De Twah 7636 Gratiot Ave., Detroit; 586-359-6138; saffrondetwah.com Though this 2020 James Beard Award semi-finalist for best new restaurant has a lot more to offer than just sandwiches, its sandwiches are a standout offering. At Saffron De Twah, the Moroccan fried chicken sandwich, Moroccan Fried Fish Sandwich, and the Moroccan Smash Burger are among some favorite bites. Photo via Saffron De Twah / Facebook

Saffron De Twah


7636 Gratiot Ave., Detroit; 586-359-6138; saffrondetwah.com
Though this 2020 James Beard Award semi-finalist for best new restaurant has a lot more to offer than just sandwiches, its sandwiches are a standout offering. At Saffron De Twah, the Moroccan fried chicken sandwich, Moroccan Fried Fish Sandwich, and the Moroccan Smash Burger are among some favorite bites.

Photo via Saffron De Twah / Facebook
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Stadium Deli 1956 S. Industrial Hwy., Ann Arbor; 734-662-2885 For years, Stadium Deli has been serving U of M’s community, known for its different variations of Stromboli. It also serves wine, beer, and liquor because you don't need football to tailgate. Photo via GoogleMaps

Stadium Deli

1956 S. Industrial Hwy., Ann Arbor; 734-662-2885
For years, Stadium Deli has been serving U of M’s community, known for its different variations of Stromboli. It also serves wine, beer, and liquor because you don't need football to tailgate.

Photo via GoogleMaps
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Que Huong 30820 John R. Rd., Madison Heights; 248-588-0988; quehuongdetroit.com Pho might be Que Huong’s specialty but this Madison Heights strip mall spot has some of the city's best banh mis, but they're sort of a secret, as they're not listed on the menu. But ask the server and you shall receive. The Vietnamese-French sandwiches are served on a big, crusty roll similar to a baguette. The barbecue pork banh mi is assembled with a sweet and acidic layer of pork, crunchy shredded carrots, sprigs of cilantro, slices of spicy jalapeño, and large slices of cucumber. Photo via Shutterstock.com

Que Huong


30820 John R. Rd., Madison Heights; 248-588-0988; quehuongdetroit.com
Pho might be Que Huong’s specialty but this Madison Heights strip mall spot has some of the city's best banh mis, but they're sort of a secret, as they're not listed on the menu. But ask the server and you shall receive. The Vietnamese-French sandwiches are served on a big, crusty roll similar to a baguette. The barbecue pork banh mi is assembled with a sweet and acidic layer of pork, crunchy shredded carrots, sprigs of cilantro, slices of spicy jalapeño, and large slices of cucumber.

Photo via Shutterstock.com
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New York Bagel 23316 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-548-2580; newyorkbagel-detroit.com We’re not telling you what to do with your life but we think that life is better when sandwiches are made with bagels. That’s right. We’re talking about a Lox sandwich on a fresh-out-of-the-bagel-oven everything bagel. How about egg, cheese, and tomato on a rosemary and sea salt bagel? For 100 years, New York Bagel has slayed and sliced the boil-and-bake bagel game and for that we are grateful and hungry. Photo via GoogleMaps

New York Bagel


23316 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-548-2580; newyorkbagel-detroit.com
We’re not telling you what to do with your life but we think that life is better when sandwiches are made with bagels. That’s right. We’re talking about a Lox sandwich on a fresh-out-of-the-bagel-oven everything bagel. How about egg, cheese, and tomato on a rosemary and sea salt bagel? For 100 years, New York Bagel has slayed and sliced the boil-and-bake bagel game and for that we are grateful and hungry.

Photo via GoogleMaps
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Pickles and Rye 6724 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield; 248-737-3890; picklesandryedeli.com Since 2014, Pickles and Rye has offered multi-meat sandwiches, salads, soups all of which are made-in-house with locally-sourced ingredients. If multi-meat offends your vegetarian or vegan palate, there are plenty of deli favorites that can be made to order. Photo via Pickles and Rye/Facebook

Pickles and Rye


6724 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield; 248-737-3890; picklesandryedeli.com
Since 2014, Pickles and Rye has offered multi-meat sandwiches, salads, soups all of which are made-in-house with locally-sourced ingredients. If multi-meat offends your vegetarian or vegan palate, there are plenty of deli favorites that can be made to order.

Photo via Pickles and Rye/Facebook
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Gonella’s 295 Oakwood Blvd., Detroit; 313-841-3500 | 10021 Telegraph Rd., Redford Charter Twp.; 313-535-7827; gonellas.com Gonella’s is Detroit’s original Italian deli. It’s been serving food for over 75 years, and recently opened a Redford location. It specializes in Italian meats and a large selection of sides and toppings. Photo via Gonellas Foods / Facebook

Gonella’s

295 Oakwood Blvd., Detroit; 313-841-3500 | 10021 Telegraph Rd., Redford Charter Twp.; 313-535-7827; gonellas.com
Gonella’s is Detroit’s original Italian deli. It’s been serving food for over 75 years, and recently opened a Redford location. It specializes in Italian meats and a large selection of sides and toppings.

Photo via Gonellas Foods / Facebook
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Bread Basket Deli Various locations; breadbasketdelis..com Al Winkler launched his corned beef empire in 1967, resulting in the beloved Detroit deli chain, Bread Basket. With multiple locations throughout metro Detroit, Bread Basket specializes in and revolves around corned beef, which is cooked fresh every three hours. Bread Basket churns through 20,000 lbs weekly, the most of any one restaurant in the nation. Photo via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/breadbasketdelilincolnpark/photos/a.5731

Bread Basket Deli


Various locations; breadbasketdelis..com
Al Winkler launched his corned beef empire in 1967, resulting in the beloved Detroit deli chain, Bread Basket. With multiple locations throughout metro Detroit, Bread Basket specializes in and revolves around corned beef, which is cooked fresh every three hours. Bread Basket churns through 20,000 lbs weekly, the most of any one restaurant in the nation.

Photo via 27 of 30
El Rey de las Arepas 7701 McGraw Ave., Detroit; 313-307-2210 If you&#146;ve never had a homemade Venezuelan arepa, this is the place to go. An arepa is a sandwich made with ground maize dough and meats and veggies in between. Photo via El Rey de las Arepas/ Facebook

El Rey de las Arepas

7701 McGraw Ave., Detroit; 313-307-2210
If you’ve never had a homemade Venezuelan arepa, this is the place to go. An arepa is a sandwich made with ground maize dough and meats and veggies in between.

Photo via El Rey de las Arepas/ Facebook
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Iggy&#146;s Eggies 34 W. Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-986-1174; picklesandryedeli.com Do not doubt the power of the breakfast sandwich. Walk-up grab-and-go spot in Capitol Park, Iggy&#146;s Eggies has the egg and bread situation on lock. Each sandwich comes with a &#147;jammy-yolk egg, Iggy&#146;s sauce, and choice of bread.&#148; You can build your own or snag the Bodega, made with griddled lll-beef bologna, jammy-yolk egg, white cheddar, mayo and mustard on an onion kaiser roll. They also have hashbrowns, French toast sticks, and coffee. Lots of coffee. Photo by Devin Culham

Iggy’s Eggies


34 W. Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-986-1174; picklesandryedeli.com
Do not doubt the power of the breakfast sandwich. Walk-up grab-and-go spot in Capitol Park, Iggy’s Eggies has the egg and bread situation on lock. Each sandwich comes with a “jammy-yolk egg, Iggy’s sauce, and choice of bread.” You can build your own or snag the Bodega, made with griddled lll-beef bologna, jammy-yolk egg, white cheddar, mayo and mustard on an onion kaiser roll. They also have hashbrowns, French toast sticks, and coffee. Lots of coffee.

Photo by Devin Culham
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Siegel&#146;s Deli 3426 E. West Maple Rd., West Bloomfield Twp.; 248-926-9555; siegelsdeli.com If traditional Jewish delicatessen gets you verklempt, look no further than Siegel&#146;s Deli in West Bloomfield, which offers homemade soups, salads, and huge deli sandwiches., including an entire menu selection of &#147;overstuffed sandwiches.&#148; They have non-overstuffed offerings, too, but we figure it&#146;s best to go big or go home. Preferably go home with a sandwich. Photo via Siegel&#146;s Deli/Facebook

Siegel’s Deli


3426 E. West Maple Rd., West Bloomfield Twp.; 248-926-9555; siegelsdeli.com
If traditional Jewish delicatessen gets you verklempt, look no further than Siegel’s Deli in West Bloomfield, which offers homemade soups, salads, and huge deli sandwiches., including an entire menu selection of “overstuffed sandwiches.” They have non-overstuffed offerings, too, but we figure it’s best to go big or go home. Preferably go home with a sandwich.

Photo via Siegel’s Deli/Facebook
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