From hoagies to toasties – here’s where you can find Brisbane’s best (and salivation-worthy) sandwiches
It’s safe to say that the humble sanga has ascended to the status of foodie icon – and rightfully so. Toasted or fresh, stacked or simple, sweet or savoury, it’s hard to beat the diversity and deliciousness afforded by stuffing ingredients between two slices of bread. Brisbane’s fleet of first-class sandwich spots are serving up sumptuous fillings and artisan breads that’ll have you forgetting all the soggy sandwiches of your school lunchbox days. We’ve assembled a list of Brisbane’s must-try sandwich spots, sorted into alphabetical order. Read on to see who made the cut …
Brisbane City, Petrie Terrace and Spring Hill
Anytime Coffee, Brisbane City: One of The City’s best coffee spots is now serving similarly sensational sandwiches! Seek out Anytime Coffee and nab a made-to-order deli-style sandwich boasting vibrant-yet-balanced flavours. There’s a breakfast bap with baked omelette, gruyere, tarragon butter and chutney, a refreshingly crunchy salad sandwich with seasonal veg, avocado, mint, sunflower seeds and green dressing, a cold cut-packed deli sandwich with leg ham, salami cotto, capocollo, provolone, green olives and guindilla peppers, and a roast porchetta number with chutney, mustard and herb salad.
Joe’s Deli, Brisbane City: Though born in Broadbeach, Joe’s Deli’s menu, space and concept is an ode to the retro diners and delis of America. After satiating sandwich lovers on the coast, Joe’s expanded into Brisbane City last year, setting up an outpost on Albert Street. Priding itself as the home of a “Proper Sandwich”, Joe’s menu is stacked with an array of classic sandwich combos from Sicilian chicken to meatball subs, Reubens, club sandwiches, hot dogs and toasties. Our omnivores will be in luck as well with Joe’s serving up a generous plant-based menu – complete with vegan meatballs, cheeses and sauces.
Mercatus Deli, Brisbane City: This Euro-style provisioner on Creek Street stocks a seemingly endless array of imported goods, pantry fillers as well as a stacked cabinet of fresh sandwiches and pastries. Beyond the decadent desserts (including a drool-worthy pistachio tiramisu), Mercatus serves up a delicious selection of sandwiches, fresh baguettes and scacciata (Sicilian-stuffed flatbread). A fan favourite is the mortadella scacciata (chewy flatbread with ribbons of mortadella, gooey burrata and crushed pistachio). Described as your ‘home-town deli’, Mercatus serves up a simplistic sandwich selection, jam-packed with authentic Italian flavours.
Fortitude Valley, Newstead, New Farm and Teneriffe
The Bakeologists, New Farm: If you love a sandwich with a bit of size, wait until you get a look at the whoppers that are available from this Merthyr Road bakery. Highlights on the Bakeologists menu include The New Yorker (house cooked and locally cured cornmeat, gherkin relish, Swiss cheese and mustard mayo on malted barley pane Italiano), The Vego (roast pumpkin, zucchini, spinach, fetta, hummus, red-capsicum mayo and sunflower seeds) and The Davey (mayo, poached chicken breast, salami, chilli, sun-dried tomatoes, baby spinach and double cheese on a panini roll).
Colin’s Specialty Coffee, Fortitude Valley: The crew behind Colin’s Speciality Coffee at 1000 Ann are experienced when it comes to feeding folks. The sibling venue to Paddington Social, Colin’s focuses in on express eats, which means sandwiches are a staple. A six-strong selection of made-to-order options includes a gooey sauteed mushroom melt with garlic, truffle and Swiss cheese, and the house-made smoked-brisket sandwich with mustard relish, sauerkraut, pickle, cheese and special sauce.
James & Antler, Fortitude Valley: Nearly every morning, there’s a cluster of sandwich seekers waiting patiently to order one of James & Antler’s famous croques. Beyond the gooey must-try monsieurs and madames, guests may also spy a sugo bolognaise croque (featuring pecorino romano cheese, bechamel sauce and roasted peppers smushed between 72-hour fermented sourdough) and a cod brandade croque, among many other worthwhile options!
Kin, Teneriffe: Though widely beloved for its brekkie plates, sublime coffee and coveted specialty beverages, Kin in Teneriffe is an underrated sandwich pick primarily thanks to its rotating toastie offering. Depending on when you visit, those in the mood to munch can cop the likes of butter-chicken toasties with green cardamom pickles and provolone, pulled-pork vindaloo toasties, and smoked-mushroom toasties with honey, tarragon and caramelised onion jam.
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LOVEMENOT, Fortitude Valley: Tucked beneath the TC Beirne & Co building in Chinatown Mall, LOVEMENOT’s menu features a selection of sandwiches built on focaccia from Danny’s Bread and select smallgoods from Salumi Australia. Must-try options include the Wife Material, layered with prosciutto, buffalo mozzarella, fresh basil, tomato, rocket, balsamic glaze and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil. Love Accidentally sees mortadella paired with stracciatella, dijon mustard cream, pickles, crushed pistachios and honey, while the Red Flag is stacked with beef brisket, mayo, provolone, chipotle sauce, lime-coriander slaw and tortilla chips.
New Farm Deli, New Farm: If you’re looking to make a killer sandwich at home, New Farm Deli has all of the gourmet goodies needed to do so. But, if you want someone to do the work for you, the cafe’s panini selection is precisely what you should be inspecting. Our picks? We’re eyeing off the La Grande (mortadella, hot salame, artichoke, jarlsberg, tomato and olives), the Sorrento (prosciutto, bocconcini, pesto and rocket) and the Great Italian (pesto, tomato, pan-fried eggplant and provolone cheese).
South Bank, South Brisbane and West End
Cordeaux Social Club, West End: 2022 was a massive year for our sandwich scene. Cordeaux Social Club counts itself amongst this cohort of sandwich slingers, and it’s quickly established itself as one of Brisbane’s best. Though folks rave about the evening menu, we reckon the daytime offering is just as good. With a range that includes club sandwiches and one of the best tuna melt sandwiches you’ll find anywhere in Brisbane, we’re seriously considering downing tools and paying Cordeaux Social Club a visit right now.
La Favolosa, West End: Ever tried schiacciata? This Tuscan-style flatbread is the flatter, crispier cousin of focaccia and few spots in Brisbane do it better than La Favolosa. Slabs of this crispy-edged goodness are sliced and stuffed with an array of mouth-watering ingredients, with stand-out options including La Caprese (basil pesto, fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil, salt, pepper and EVOO), the veggie-filled Pitagora (eggplant, zucchini, artichoke pesto, mushrooms and provolone), the Lucifer (‘nduja, pecorino Romano cream cheese, hot soppressata and eggplant) and the Paradiso (stracciatella, pistachio cream, rocket, truffle mortadella, truffle paste and pistachio).
Suburbs and beyond
Alby’s, Wavell Heights: Brisbane cafe veteran Daniel Bowles, known for Gaythorne’s Butter, has brought his winning formula to Wavell Heights with Alby’s. A line-up of inventive toasties – from beef rendang to three-cheese with hot honey – can be enjoyed in-house or on the go, alongside expertly brewed Single O coffee, tea, matcha and iced drinks.
Boney’s Deli, Redcliffe: The Redcliffe sandwich spot is famed for its Reuben sandwich, filled with corned beef, smoked ham, pastrami seasoning, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and cabbage slaw topped with a punchy wasabi ranch. But that’s not all Boney’s has on its own – its selection of deli-style melts are also worth investigating. Swing through for its ham-and-cheese melt and herby mushroom melt, or try Boney’s cold-cut sandwich – a tasty number filled with hot salami, mortadella, smoked ham, thick-cut tomato, fior di latte, rocket, vinaigrette and chunky red pesto.
Butter Cafe, Gaythorne: Toasties are king at Butter, the sunny sandwich spot from the Sister Cafe crew. Though its menu is small, Butter’s list ticks off classics like pastrami (with American cheese, mustard pickles, kraut and Tiger sauce), thyme-roasted mushroom (boasting gooey mozzarella, pecorino, basil pesto and truffle mayo), a cheeky chicken melt (punched up with caramelised onion and Japanese sesame mayo) and a four-cheese toastie – a lip-smackingly gooey number that fuses mozzarella, aged cheddar, pecorino and gruyere.
Deli Dakota, Mount Gravatt East: The Gift Shop in Wishart was once upon a time a proud entrant on this list. Although it’s now closed, its spiritual successor Deli Dakota is ensuring that the sandwiches live on. This cosy cafe splits its menu of hand-held eats into two categories. First is a range of flat sandwiches and melts like the Ham from the Heavens (smoked free-range ham, cheddar, Swiss and parmesan bechamel) and the Forest Mushrooms (garlic and thyme Swiss brown and porcini mushrooms, parmesan béchamel and Swiss cheese with white truffle oil). The other category features slightly more involved options like the D.F.C. (crispy fried-chicken thigh fillet with chipotle mayonnaise and house slaw on a toasted milk bun) and the BBQ Brisket Reuben (house-made smoked brisket pastrami with spicy mayonnaise, house barbecue sauce, sauerkraut, sweet pickles and American cheese on rye). No matter your choice, it’s bound to be a good feed.
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Dijon, Tarragindi: Taking inspiration from mighty Melbourne institutions like Hector’s Deli, Dijon is dedicated to crafting deluxe sandwiches and tantalising toasties – and to great success. Tucked away in the shadow of the M1 in the backstreets of Tarragindi, Dijon slings a simple menu of sambos, coffee and New York-style cookies. On the sandwich menu, you’ll find a selection of fresh sandwiches (the Freshies), like The Reuben, a ham and three-cheese sandwich and The Chicken Fried, as well as its loaded toasties (the Hot Sangas). You can pair your decadent sandwich with comfort-food classics like golden potato gems and a hot fudge sundae.
Eat at Billy’s, Rosalie: Brisbane’s sandwich-obsessed folks have likely already added Eat at Billy’s to their rotation after the eatery found TikTok fame last year. Located in Rosalie Village, Eat at Billy’s is by the neighbourhood’s beloved butcher Meat at Billy’s – so suffice it to say, they know their way around curing, frying and roasting some stellar sandwich fillings. On the menu you’ll find around six or so sandwich varieties – and you’ll want to get in early because Eat at Billy’s is known to sell out. Feast on faves like The Butcher – a beefy number featuring 150 g of Cape Grim grass-fed rump steak with caramelised onions or the Big Paulie – 150 g of carved Berkshire pork belly porchetta with crispy crackling, plus a bunch more.
Fatty Patty, Underwood: The family-run spot, helmed by brothers Bilal, Zainuddin and Shehzad Ghumra, is earning praise for its menu of deli-style sandwiches, think house-smoked pastrami on pillowy shokupan, wagyu steak sangas layered with cheese, fries and griddled onions, and Italian-style focaccia stacked with beef mortadella or vibrant vegetarian fillings. Each is built with care, turning simple ingredients into something special.
Frankie’s on 4th, Sandgate: Nestled within the old Salad Days spot, Frankie’s on 4th opened its doors earlier this year. Home to around eight fresh and flavourful sandwich combinations, Frankie’s on 4th offers a small and simple menu done well. Sample the crispy succulence of the chicken schnitzel sandwich (featuring panko-crumbed chicken breast, iceberg lettuce and herb mayo on fresh white bread) or try its take on a classic deli-style sandwich (packed with ham, salami, fresh tomato, Italian-style aioli and gem lettuce with balsamic). Served up in crusty bread, Frankie’s on 4th is a must-try when on the northside.
Ham On Rye, Paddington: The Remy’s and Hai Hai team’s sandwich specialist Ham On Rye is a love letter to the classic deli-style dispensaries of New York. Not just in aesthetics, either – the sandwich joint serves some sensational riffs on classic options. Ham On Rye’s menu features fresh sourdough sandwiches like the Chopped Chicken (chopped chicken with taragon, lettuce, tomato, cheese and mojo mayo) and the Big Deli Salad (lettuce, tomato, red onion, cucumber, cheese, carrot, alfalfa, mojo mayo and fresh beetroot), as well as a selection of toasties including the Spicy Beef (braised beef, pickles and jalapeno jam, mozzarella and ranch) and the signature Ham On Rye (double-smoked Ham, mozzarella and caramelised onion).
Janus Deli, Slacks Creek: Gold Coast-born Janus Deli blends Korean flair with classic American deli sensibilities to create crave-worthy sandwiches. The menu spans toasted and fresh sambos like the Seoul Sub (Korean galbi meatballs, poached egg, jalapeno and mozzarella) and the Janus Deli Delight (mortadella, leg ham, salami and kiwi-yoghurt dressing), alongside hearty toasties such as the Moo-licious and the wild Chicken Donut Sanga.
The Loaf, Stafford: This Stafford spot promises bangin’ toasties and it doesn’t disappoint. Why are they so good? Perhaps it’s because of the quality sourdough, the house-smoked meats and house-made sauces. Either way, with options like the classic Reuben toastie, smoked-lamb toastie, beef-ragu toastie and the chicken bacon ranch with hot honey on the menu, it’s easy to see why Stafford locals are eager to get a load of The Loaf.
Mr Badger’s, Woollongabba: This Logan Road favourite offers old-school aesthetics and a menu of throwback eats, including a selection of drool-worthy two-handers. The Green & Gold (grilled halloumi, avocado, beetroot hummus, shredded lettuce tomato on toasted shokupan bread), the South Brissy Cheesesteak (beef steak topped with melted provolone and mozzarella cheeses, onion capsicum and mustard on a toasted deli white roll) and the Havana Heat (crispy pork belly, smoked bacon, Swiss cheese, pickles mustard jalapeno and aioli on lightly toasted deli white roll) are highlight options.
Riser Bread, Toowong: Being a bakery, Riser Bread already has its loaves on lock. In addition to bread and pastries, the popular Toowong carb dispenser also sells sandwiches. The options change up regularly, but sometimes you can find the likes of classic egg salad sandwiches with smoked cheddar, pickle and mustard mayo, roast pumpkin with caramelised onion, herb crumb and hummus, and smoked-ham sandwiches.
Sarni, Ascot: Road. Described as a New York diner meets European deli, Sarni’s menu features a selection of deli-style sandwiches (made on house-made bread) filled with smoked, cured and chargrilled meats. The menu changes often, but can feature the likes of Italian beef made with 2GR wagyu topside, chicken katsu, lamb with tzatziki, hoisin barbecue brisket, classic mortadella and caprese salad on focaccia.
Sunny Side Sandwiches, Windsor and Paddington: When a sandwich shop cites Hector’s Deli and Nico’s Sandwich Deli as inspirations, you know the sandos are going to be a notch above the rest. Sunny Side’s menu offers takes on some iconic bread-and-filling combos, from its panko-crumbed chicken schnitzel roll and beef and pickles sanga to its egg-salad sandwich and salad sandwich. Plus, a constantly rotating option keeps things interesting for those with experimental tastes.
Supernice, Bowen Hills: A cosy cafe in a Bowen Hills back alley is one of the finest spots for a sambo in town. The sandwiches at Supernice are, as you can guess by the name, super nice – especially the tuna melt with tangy sauce, creamy American cheddar, white onion‚ pickled chilies and dill, as well as the Bologna – a whopper of a mouthful boasting mortadella, stracciatella, pistachio and Bee One Third honey on focaccia.
Toastbuds, Bulimba: How good are toasties? Don’t answer that – we know you were going to say, “So good.” Toastbuds might have perfected the art of the toastie. The cafe’s tight list includes classics and inventive specials. You might find toasties loaded with the likes of Greek-style lamb shoulder, Peruvian-style pork belly and sweet potato, and spaghetti bolognese (served on toasted cheesy bread).
Wilburs General Store, Holland Park: When we think general store, we think essentials. Few dishes are as essential to our day-to-day wellbeing as the humble sandwich and Wilburs boasts a sensational selection to choose from. First they take bread from from Danny’s Bread and Sprout Artisan Bakery and fill it with the likes of salami, basil pesto and brie, roast beef, apple slaw and Swiss cheese, and pumpkin and ricotta with hazelnut and mint pesto. These beauties are made fresh daily and constantly sell out, so you need to get in quick.