The 16 Best Sandwiches in the World
Every culture eventually puts its best ideas between bread. Vietnam layered a French baguette with pâté and pickles, Uruguay built a steak sandwich so complete it needs cutlery, Porto drowned one in beer sauce. These are the 16 best sandwiches in the world — ranked, and each with an authentic recipe.
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Bánh Mì
VietnamCrisp baguette, pâté, pickled daikon, chili and cilantro — colonial history rewritten into the world's most perfect sandwich.
Meet Banh Mi, the irresistible Vietnamese sandwich that packs a whole world of flavour into a single crisp baguette. The name simply means fresh bread, and that crackling crust is the canvas for savoury meat, pickled vegetables, …
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Chivito
UruguaySteak, ham, bacon, egg, olives and mozzarella in one tower — Uruguay's national dish happens to be a sandwich.
Say hello to the chivito, Uruguay's gloriously over-the-top answer to the steak sandwich. Layered with seared beef, melting cheese, ham, fresh tomato and creamy avocado, it is the kind of hearty, generous bite that has won fans …
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Francesinha
PortugalPorto's 'little Frenchie': layered meats under melted cheese, drowned in spicy beer sauce. Cutlery mandatory.
Meet the Francesinha, the pride of Porto and one of Portugal's most indulgent creations. This towering sandwich stacks layers of juicy grilled meats between toasted bread, drapes the lot in melted cheese and drowns it all in a …
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Philly Cheesesteak
USAThin-sliced ribeye and molten cheese in a hoagie roll — Philadelphia's greatest argument starter (wit or witout).
Sink your teeth into the Philly Cheesesteak, the legendary sandwich born on the streets of Philadelphia! Thin slices of tender beef, sweet griddled onions and a generous blanket of melted cheese all pile into a soft, fresh hoagie …
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Croque Monsieur
FranceHam and Gruyère under grilled béchamel — the Paris café classic that makes toast aristocratic.
Meet the Croque-Monsieur, the toasted ham-and-cheese sandwich that turned a simple Parisian café snack into a national treasure. Crisp and golden on the outside, oozing with melted Gruyère within, it is the kind of unpretentious …
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Torta Ahogada
MexicoGuadalajara's 'drowned sandwich' — crusty birote submerged in chile de árbol salsa, eaten fast and messily.
Meet Tortas Ahogadas, the gloriously messy pride of Guadalajara! These crusty rolls are stuffed with tender pork and then quite literally "drowned" in a fiery, deeply savoury chilli sauce — ahogadas means "drowned" for good …
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Vada Pav
IndiaA spiced potato fritter in a soft bun with fiery chutneys — Mumbai's beloved one-rupee legend.
Bring the buzz of a Mumbai street corner straight into your kitchen with Vada Pav, India's beloved answer to the burger. A spiced potato fritter is tucked into a soft bread roll and slathered with punchy chutneys, giving you a …
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Sabich
IsraelFried eggplant, egg, amba and salad in pita — the Iraqi-Jewish Sabbath breakfast that conquered Tel Aviv.
Discover Sabich, one of Israel's best-loved street foods! This generous pita sandwich brings together silky fried aubergine, sliced hard-boiled egg and a swirl of nutty tahini, all lifted by fresh herbs and a spoonful of fiery …
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Choripán
ArgentinaGrilled chorizo split into crusty bread with chimichurri — the smell of every Argentine match day.
Meet Choripán, Argentina's most sociable street food! A chorizo sizzled over open coals, tucked into a crusty roll and crowned with punchy green chimichurri — it is the sandwich that fuels football terraces, roadside grills and …
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Gyros Pita
GreeceSpit-roasted pork, tzatziki, tomato and fries wrapped in warm pita — Greece's handheld pride.
Discover Gyros Pita, one of Greece's most beloved street foods! Tender, well-seasoned meat, crisp fresh vegetables and a generous swirl of cool, herby sauce all come wrapped in warm, pillowy flatbread. It is the kind of food that …
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Chicken Shawarma
LebanonMarinated chicken shaved off the spit into flatbread with toum — the Levant's gift to hungry nights.
Say hello to Chicken Shawarma, a Lebanese favourite that has won over food lovers the world over. Tender, marinated chicken is layered with warm spices and fresh vegetables, then tucked into soft flatbread or served on a plate …
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Panino con Porchetta
ItalyHerb-stuffed, crackling-skinned roast pork in a crusty roll — central Italy's roadside masterpiece.
Meet the Panino con Porchetta, one of Italy's most irresistible street-food sandwiches. Tender, herb-scented pork is tucked between fresh, crusty bread to create something far greater than the sum of its parts. Born in the Lazio …
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Räksmörgås
SwedenAn open-faced mountain of shrimp, egg and dill on buttered bread — Sweden's luxurious lunch icon.
Say hello to Räksmörgås, Sweden's beloved open prawn sandwich and a true celebration of the country's love of fresh seafood. Piled high with juicy prawns, creamy mayonnaise and crisp vegetables on a slice of hearty rye, it is as …
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Broodje Kroket
NetherlandsA molten beef croquette crushed into a soft bun with mustard — Dutch lunch culture in one bite.
Meet the Broodje Kroket, the Netherlands' most cheerfully unpretentious street snack. A piping-hot, crispy croquette filled with a velvety ragout, tucked into a soft bread roll and finished with a generous swipe of mustard — it is …
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Gatsby
South AfricaCape Town's foot-long feast stuffed with fries and masala steak — built to be shared, rarely is.
Meet the Gatsby, Cape Town's legendary submarine sandwich and a true feast for the senses. Born in the working-class kitchens of the Cape Flats, it crams crispy chips, juicy meat and punchy sauces into a soft, pillowy roll. …
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Cucumber Sandwich
EnglandCrustless, cool and precise — the quiet aristocrat of the afternoon tea table.
Few things say afternoon tea quite like a plate of cucumber sandwiches. These dainty little triangles pair soft, crustless white bread with a smear of creamy butter or cream cheese and wafer-thin slices of crisp cucumber. The …
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