A consummate hole-in-the-wall, Taste Tickler has been serving its deli-style sandwiches to the Broadway crowd for decades now. Though it’s been passed down from owner to owner, the concept has stayed largely the same: traditional submarine sandwiches and bento dishes. Sandwiches here are topped with the usual fixings: mayonnaise, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions, and pepperoncini, along with provolone and parmesan. Ordering the eponymous Taste Tickler is a worthy choice, a sub sandwich with ham, salami, and pepperoni, and the usual toppings. However, another pro move is the turkey and cranberry, which gets cream cheese and cuts the toppings down to lettuce, tomato, mayo, and provolone. It’s nothing too fancy, but it is honest, and good. Taste Ticklers offers walk-in and call-in takeout orders.

A bright and sunny sandwich shop decked out with plants and Mexican artwork, Güero is all about the tortas. The restaurant’s takes on the classic Mexican sandwich come on a crispy telera roll, served hot with a variety of offerings including roasted meats like achiote-marinated chicken or braised beef; they’re joined by vegetarian sandwiches, from the fried masa and potato pancake to the refried bean sandwich. Most come with some manner of slaw, avocado, peppers, and cotija cheese, though there’s variety there, as well. The ahogado is an especially messy treat and an iconic menu item: Pork, jalapeno slaw, and cilantro comes on a grilled bolillo roll. It’s served with a side of achiote sauce for either dipping or, more traditionally, drenching the whole thing. Güero is available for online orders.

One of the city’s most celebrated steakhouses is also a fantastic sandwich shop. During the day, this restaurant opens the butcher shop and deli, with an array of sandwiches utilizing Laurelhurst Market’s quality meats. For cold sandwiches, the smoked turkey and bacon on levain is a surefire pleaser, topped with pickles, cheese, onion, and pile of fresh arugula. There’s always a vegetarian special, as well as a daily special: get in on a Tuesday for one of the city’s best fried chicken sandwiches, served on levain with red onion, shredded iceberg lettuce, and pickled zucchini. Laurelhurst Market offers walk-in and call-in orders for takeout.

A relatively new player, Snappy’s opened just before the pandemic truly struck the city. The restaurant, a tiny shop with bodega vibes squeezed between Marukin Ramen and Nong’s Khao Man Gai, focuses on nailing a few diner staples, like a turkey club, tuna melt, patty melt, and chicken salad. It’s quick and affordable, slinging solid, well-made sandwiches with quality ingredients. All the necessary sides (chips, sodas, pickles, etc) are also available. 

Snappy’s offers walk-in and online orders for takeout.

It’s hard to imagine a sandwich shop in Portland more well-known and celebrated than Lardo. What started as a food truck ended up with two sandwich shops and pasta restaurant offshoots, and today it still brings in the long lines for its meaty, over-the-top sandwiches. Its flagship is the Korean pork shoulder, with strips of juicy pork belly topped with kimchi, cilantro, and a generous portion of chili mayo on fluffy ciabatta. It’s audacious, especially if paired with some pork-and-pepper-covered dirty fries, and sums up what Lardo is all about. The Pho’Rench Dip, a Vietnamese take on the sandwich with phở jus, is another hit. Lardo offers online orders for takeout and delivery for both shops at its website.

This SE Division food cart has become a favorite among East Coast expats craving old-school Italian grinders, hoagie rolls stretched wide and stuffed with breaded chicken cutlets, pork-and-beef meatballs, or thinly sliced eggplant. The cart’s Italian cold cut sub, however, is a thing of beauty, layers of ham, pepperoni, salami, and coppa topped with a pile of house giardiniera, hot peppers, shredded lettuce, onions, tomatoes, and the customary oil and vinegar. Order it for takeout onsite or for delivery.

This SE Powell sandwich shop is all about the Philly cheesesteak, from the traditional with Cheez Whiz and onions to the “supremes” with added veggies and white American. These hulking sandwiches come with a choice of added toppings and the big three cheeses (wiz, white American, or provolone), as well as others like cheddar and pepperjack. However you order it, the foundational meat on Steakadelphia sandwiches is juicy, thinly shaved, and plentiful — as it should be. Steakadelphia is open for takeout, including online orders, phone orders, and walk-ins.

A bánh mì institution, Best Baguette drive-thru lines have been reliably filled for years now. The quick and cheap sandwich and bubble tea shop offers a broad array of baguette sandwiches, each topped with mayo, slivered and pickled carrots and daikon, slices of jalapeno, and thick bunches of cilantro. It’s difficult to go wrong here, but newcomers should start with the Best Baguette Special, which comes with pate, ham, pork roll, and head cheese. Other standouts include the barbecue pork and grilled chicken. Best Baguette offers takeout with walk-in and drive-through orders. 

While places like Best Baguette may carry more name recognition, An Xuyên has quietly served some of the city’s best bánh mì to a faithful crowd for years now. The secret must be in the bread, baked daily in house. It manages to have a crispy, flaky crust, but stays perfectly soft the rest of the way through for ease of dining. Fillings range for the more traditional pate and Vietnamese ham to chipotle chicken, lemongrass pork, and vegetarian options including tofu or faux meat. All of them come with cucumbers, pickled carrot and daikon, cilantro, and jalapenos. None of them clock in at over $5. Beyond the sandwiches, An Xuyên also carries savory and sweet bao, along with a plethora of baked goods from macarons to fluffy tea cakes. An Xuyên offers takeout with walk-in orders.