Best Sandwiches in Austin

If you’re hunting for Best Sandwiches in Austin, here’s the honest truth: tacos get the headlines, but Austin sandwiches quietly go hard. This list is built like a good lunch plan clear categories, what to order, and the little details that matter (crunchy bread vs. soft bread, meat-to-bread ratio, and whether the dressing makes the whole thing sing). Eater’s Austin sandwich map is a great signal of just how deep the scene goes, from bánh mì and Cubanos to classic deli builds and po’boys.

Whether you’re Googling best sandwiches in austin tx, looking for the best sandwich shops in austin near where you’re staying, or just trying to find the best sandwich in austin for your specific craving this guide will get you there.

Quick Picks: Best Sandwiches in Austin by Craving

  • Best Overall Sandwich in Austin: Mum Foods Pastrami – smoked, stacked, and deeply flavorful; a must for deli lovers
  • Best Deli-Style Sandwich: NeWorlDeli Reuben – classic build, reliable execution, true Austin deli energy
  • Best Hot Sandwich: Allday Pizza Vodka Chicken Parm – crispy, cheesy, and perfectly sauced on sesame bread
  • Best Pressed Sandwich: Tropicana Cuban Restaurant Cubano – hot, melty, and pressed just right
  • Best Turkey Sandwich: Uncle Nicky’s Turkey Pesto – pesto mayo and arugula keep it fresh and flavorful
  • Best Vegetarian Sandwich: Bouldin Creek Cafe Kool Hummus – herby, crunchy, and genuinely filling
  • Best Customizable Lunch Sandwich: FoodHeads – fast, fresh, and ideal if you want control over every layer

Best deli-style sandwiches in Austin

Mum Foods (smokehouse-meats-deli)

If your ideal sandwich involves smoked meats stacked like a flex, Mum Foods belongs at the top of your deli day list. They describe themselves as a BBQ smokehouse and delicatessen, and Eater specifically points to them for killer pastrami.
What to order: pastrami (or whatever smoked-meat sandwich is calling your name that day).
Why it hits: smoke + deli energy, with the kind of depth you don’t get from a standard cold cut.

FoodHeads (build-your-own done right)

FoodHeads is a move when you want something fresh, fast, and customizable without feeling basic. Their lunch menu makes it easy: pick a bread (like ciabatta, baguette, sourdough, whole wheat), choose a protein (including roasted turkey), and dial in cheese + extras.
What to order: a roasted turkey deli sandwich on ciabatta (or sourdough) with crisp veggies.
Bonus: they also have the classic half sandwich + soup” appeal for a solid lunch combo. 

NeWorlDeli (classic Austin deli vibes)

Eater calls out New World Deli as one of Austin’s classics, and their menu leans into that with a proudly labeled Award Winning Reuben lineup.
What to order: their Reuben (corned beef or pastrami) if you want the full deli experience.
Why it hits: this is the kind of place you keep in your back pocket for repeatable, reliable deli satisfaction.

Otherside Deli (Reuben fans, pay attention)

Eater literally highlights the kimchi Reuben here so if you like a traditional Reuben but also love a tangy twist, Otherside Deli is your moment.
What to order: the Reuben (classic) or kimchi Reuben-style option.
Why it hits: bold flavors, the kind of sandwich that feels Austin without being weird just to be weird.

Best hot sandwiches in Austin (melts, pressed, toasted)

Knuckle Sandwich (big flavor, big crunch)

The Infatuation hypes Knuckle Sandwich for its Italian sub and calls out details that matter light, crunchy bread, plus serious cured-meat energy.
What to order: the Knuckle Sandwich.
Why it hits: it’s built for that hot day, cold drink, perfect bite energy salty, crunchy, and loud in the best way.

Allday Pizza (vodka chicken parm sandwich)

Yes, this is under pizza, but The Infatuation says the sandwich of Allday Pizza is worth skipping pizza for: crispy chicken cutlet, cheese, vodka sauce, and great sesame bread.
What to order: vodka chicken parm sandwich.
Why it hits: saucy + crunchy + cheesy, without turning into a sloppy mess.

Tropicana Cuban Restaurant (pressed Cubanos)

Eater points to Tropicana for pressed Cuban sandwiches that are hot and melty, with house-baked bread crisped to order.
What to order: the Cubano (pressed).
Why it hits: the press + heat transforms everything this is a warm sandwich people sandwich.

Local Foods (Gulf Seafood Poboy)

When you want something different from meat-and-cheese, Local Foods has a Gulf Seafood Poboy with shrimp, blue crab, tomato, pickled onion, and green goddess dressing on a toasted roll.
What to order: Gulf Seafood Poboy.
Why it hits: rich seafood + bright dressing = surprisingly refreshing for a hearty sandwich.

Best turkey sandwiches in Austin

Uncle Nicky’s (Turkey Pesto)

Uncle Nicky’s menu spells it out: turkey, provolone, pesto mayo, tomato, red onion, arugula, and Italian dressing on a seeded roll.
What to order: Turkey Pesto.
Why it hits: pesto + arugula keeps it lively, and it feels like a real sandwich, not a cafeteria throwback.

Home Slice (turkey sub)

Even if you know Home Slice for pizza, their menu includes a turkey sub built on a toasted, home-baked sesame roll with classic deli toppings.
What to order: Turkey cold sub (toasted roll).
Why it hits: it’s simple, stacked, and satisfying ideal no thoughts, just lunch food.

Best vegetarian sandwiches in Austin

Bouldin Creek Cafe (Kool Hummus Sandwich)

This is a classic Austin vegetarian move. Bouldin’s Kool Hummus Sandwich is built around hummus + a punchy pesto vibe with a pile of crisp veggies.
What to order: Kool Hummus Sandwich.
Why it hits: it’s crunchy, herby, filling, and doesn’t feel like a sad veg option.

Conclusion

The Best Sandwiches in Austin aren’t one single winner they’re a lineup. Go deli-style when you want stacked classics, go hot when you want melty comfort, go turkey when you want a clean-but-filling lunch, and go Reuben when you want maximum flavor per bite. If you’re building content for Explore Austin Tx, this is exactly the kind of guide people bookmark because it’s practical, specific, and easy to use.

FAQ

It depends on the style you want: smoked pastrami (Mum Foods), deli classics (NeWorlDeli), or a standout sub (Knuckle Sandwich).

Try Otherside Deli (kimchi Reuben twist), NeWorlDeli (award-winning style), or Little Deli (menu-labeled Austin’s Best Reuben).

FoodHeads is great for customizable deli sandwiches, and Eater’s sandwich map is a strong guide for lunch-worthy spots across the city.

Yes, Bouldin Creek Cafe’s Kool Hummus is a long-time favorite, and FoodHeads has solid veggie builds too.

Uncle Nicky’s Turkey Pesto is a top pick if you want turkey that’s flavorful (pesto mayo + arugula).

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