The Cuban Roast is widely considered the best in town, though purists might say it’s not a true Cuban. Regardless, the slow-cooked pork shoulder — piled onto a split baguette with aioli, cilantro, pickled jalapenos, caramelized onions, and romaine lettuce — rocks our world like a Latin lover.
Paseo, 6226 Seaview Avenue Northwest (206-789-3100); 4225 Fremont Avenue North (206-545-7440 or paseoseattle.com).
The nomadic Korean-Hawaiian cuisine includes kimchi rice bowls, miso ginger chicken, kalua pork sliders, and kalbi tacos with meat steeped in a salty garlic-citrus marinade. Each goes down like a day at the beach.
Track the truck at marinationmobile.com.
Beecher’s is legendary for its impossibly delicious mac ’n’ cheese, but another comfort food star, the grilled cheese sandwich, is equally deserving of attention. Here, Beecher’s Flagship cheese and sweet Dungeness crab are pressed in chewy-crunchy artisan bread.
Beecher’s Handmade Cheese, 1600 Pike Place (206-956-1964 or beechershandmadecheese.com).
This Pioneer Square bakery and cafe tuna melts our heart. The kiddie fave gets grown-up raves when prepared with Albacore tuna, capers, lemon, celery, olive oil, mayo, and Beecher’s legendary cheddar. It’s then loaded onto sourdough and pressed to perfection.
Grand Central Bakery, 214 First Avenue South (206-622-3644 or grandcentralbakery.com).
The Pike Place Market lunchtime favorite serves one of our favorite grab ’n’ go sammies: the Parma. A Macrina roll gets loaded with paper-thin slices of Parma prosciutto, sharp Reggiano cheese, arugula, and truffle oil and is then grilled to a satisfying crunch.
DeLaurenti Food & Wine, 1435 First Avenue (206-622-0141 or delaurenti.com).
This little piggie went to market. But this little piggie made a deli dedicated to porcine love. Grab a sandwich; salted bacon caramel; or fresh cuts of lamb, goat, even rabbit. And don’t forget to bring home the bacon.
The Swinery, 3207 California Avenue Southwest (206-932-4211 or swinerymeats.com).
Jonesing for house-cured lox on a house-made bagel? Or a beef tongue sandwich with horseradish coleslaw on potato bread? Stopsky’s is your spot.
Stopsky’s Delicatessen, 3016 78th Avenue Southeast, Mercer Island (206-236-4564 or stopskysdelicatessen.com).
If we had a dollar for every time someone asked us for Seattle seafood recs, we’d be able to eat oyster sandwiches by the glow of the Pike Place Market sign every day of the week.
Matt’s in the Market, 94 Pike Street, suite 32 (206-467-7909 or mattsinthemarket.com).
Park your bike, pull up a chair, then channel Jean Seberg at this neighborhood cafe flush with French culture. Nothing beats a rosé on the patio — except, perhaps, a gooey croque-madame.
Cafe Presse, 1117 12th Avenue (206-709-7674 or cafepresseseattle.com).
Like to loaf around? You’ll find yourself pondering which sandwich to munch for lunch from gourmet bites like braised pork shoulder, drunken chicken, and lemon grass steak, with flourishes like harissa oil and apricot aioli.
Baguette Box, 626 North 34th Street (206-632-1511); 1203 Pine Street (206-332-0220 or baguettebox.com).
The sit-down sister to the much-loved Airstream messy burger and poutine place serves up a mean fried chicken sandwich with charred jalapeno aioli on potato bread.
Skillet Diner, 1400 East Union (206-420-7297 or skilletstreetfood.com).
There is no shortage of oyster po’boys in this city, but few stand out like the down-home goodness served from the NOLA-inspired food truck. Ten (count ’em — ten!) oysters swimming with Mama Lil’s peppers and pickles are loaded onto a simple hoagie-style roll that’s been lightly toasted.
Track the truck at whereyaatmatt.com.
East Coast-style sandwiches are this deli’s specialty, and the cheese steak comes close to an authentic Philly. Thin-sliced beef is piled onto a crusty Italian roll and topped with your choice of sweet, hot, or mixed peppers; grilled onions; mushrooms; and seven cheeses.
Tat’s Delicatessen, 159 Yesler Way (206-264-8287 or tatsdeli.com).
This Ballard gem has several tasty sandwiches on the menu, but the Rajun Cajun, with its warm Cajun-style turkey bathed in spicy mayo and piled high on a crunchy baguette, is especially delightful, if a tad sloppy.
The Other Coast Cafe, 5315 Ballard Avenue Northwest (206-789-0936 or othercoastcafe.com).
Head to this sandwich shop for an indulgent take on classics. We recommend the Reuben Revised with red wine kraut and Beecher’s Swiss-cheddar, and future best-seller: the turkey, bacon, and avocado.
Homegrown Sustainable Sandwich Shop, 1531 Melrose Avenue (206-682-0935); 3416 Fremont Avenue (206-453-5232); 2201 Queen Anne Avenue North (206-217-4745 or eathomegrown.com).
Comments