Best sandwich in San Diego? (Escondido, La Mesa: 2013, crime, to buy)

[Think4Yourself]

So which restaurants in San Diego do you folks think have the best sandwiches? I noticed that Zagat has a list of what they consider the nine best sandwiches in the city. Their list includes the Dapper Dipper at Rubicon Deli, the Aphrodite at Supernatural Sandwiches, the C.B.G.B at Lefty's, the Chicken Tawook at Alforon, The Grilled Pork at K's Sandwiches, the lamb shwarma at the Kabob Shop, the Avocado Highway at The Big Front Door (BFD), the Triple Threat at Carnitas Snack Shack, and finally the Ruben at D.Z. Akin's.

San Diego's 9 Best Sandwiches | sandwiches - Zagat

This is the 2013 "A List" best of San Diego list of top five sandwich shops. I do like A List because they try very hard to ferret out little known places and don't nominate places simply because they're long time favorites and instead really do try hard to judge places based upon the quality of the food. The named the top five as The Hungry Bear Sub Shop in Escondido, Lit'l Pepper of Miramar, Board & Brew in Del Mar, Devine Pastabilities on Midway, The District on Market St.

Sandwich Shop - San Diego area Top 5 - 2013 San Diego A-List

I have to say when it comes to sea food sandwiches there simply isn't a better restaurant out there than Supernatural Sandwiches on Miramar Road. We're talking truly iconic sandwiches of San Diego.

So which sandwich shops are tops in your book?

[Think4Yourself]

I'd imagine Mona Lisa Deli has to make the list too. They're by far the best Italian Deli in town and they have an astonishing selection of cured meats and cheeses to choose from. I'd bet if they opened up a place in Manhattan they'd survive just fine because they're just that good.

[elchevere]

was a big fan of Supernatural Sandwiches when they were based in Barrio Logan but they have since relocated to Mira Mesa which, unfortunately, is a bit of a drive just for lunch for me...great sandwiches, though, and I miss this place.

[bloom]

Originally Posted by elchevere

was a big fan of Supernatural Sandwiches when they were based in Barrio Logan but they have since relocated to Mira Mesa which, unfortunately, is a bit of a drive just for lunch for me...great sandwiches, though, and I miss this place.

^ they're just ok. the bread is weak.

[malcorub16]

My personal favorite is the rueben and pastrami sandwiches at Vic's La Fiesta Deli and Liquor Store right next to McGregor's pub. This guy might not ever be on any list because he is running his deli from his liquor store and he doesn't care about smoking a cigarette indoors as he makes your sandwich BUT GEEZE this guy's sandwiches are the bomb, no one does it better. The best East Coast pastrami sandwich (Italian bread with the works) foot long and a tall 16oz coke for $9 dlls. Although they are just as close to my work, I will never go to Capriotti's, Subway, or Jersey Mikes again.

Vics La Fiesta Liquor/Deli

In second place in my book is the Grilled Pork Bahn Mi Vietnamese sandwich with extra meat at K SANDWICH in Clairemont by Mesa College. It comes on a baguette with grilles pork, cilantro, jalapenos, mayonnaise, and pickled carrot/daikon. It is a great sandwich and much like Vics their drink selection is extensive. They even have Big Red and RC Cola in a can for my Texas taste or you can have one of their specialty drinks. The sandwiches are consistently good and you can even go and just buy their baguettes.

K Sandwich

New York on Rye food truck comes to our office every so often. They pretty good as well and I reccomend their rueben as well as a roast beef sandwich they call THE BEAST

NY On Rye

I have yet to find a torta place in San Diego to rave about.

[Think4Yourself]

Originally Posted by bloom

^ they're just ok. the bread is weak.

Huh? They get bread baked fresh three times a day from Bread and Cie. The bread is a high point.

[Think4Yourself]

Originally Posted by malcorub16

I have yet to find a Torta place in San Diego to rave about.

There are 4-5 places which started out in TJ but the owners moved north of the border because organized crime in TJ kept trying to shake them down for protection money. For the good but non-authentic try the nonconventional Cuban Torta at Torta and Beer in Hillcrest. The Reader recently reviewed them in their Best Sandwiches of the World collumn and the reader sounded pretty impressed. I haven't tried it myself yet though.

[hitman619]

Originally Posted by malcorub16

I have yet to find a torta place in San Diego to rave about.

Have you tried La Torta Cafe in Downtown La Mesa.
http://www.latorta.com/

I like "The Grove Grinder" in Lemon Grove, not the best but really big sandwiches.

[shmoov_groovzsd]

A tiny shop in Rolando called BMT was great for a short while, but think it changed hands and went a bit downhill.

But its hard to sum up. I am not big on sandwiches. Prefer subs and there arent many around that make proper subs. Many of the shops just give the option for bread type.

This little hole in the wall on Harbor Island made great subs (havent been in a while) called Papanani's. For anyone from Jersey, they actually service Pork Roll sandwiches (taylor ham.)

IMHO, any sandwich maker that has the pride to buy quality provisions for their sandwiches like Boar's Head typically doesnt disappoint.

[bloom]

Originally Posted by Think4Yourself

Huh? They get bread baked fresh three times a day from Bread and Cie. The bread is a high point.

They used a kind of white bread. Something more substantial would have been better.
K sandwich is good.
Which wich is good enough, fwiw.
My wife like the tortas from a food cart in TJ: tortas washmobile. I thought the meat was too charcoal charred tasting.
If you're in Chicago, Rick Bayless makes great tortas.