12 Regional Sandwiches America Needs to Taste

ByJD Alewine Published On Updated on

If you want to understand America’s regional roots, start with these sandwiches. Each one is a local legend, packed with personality and plenty of stories. Some you know, some you need to meet.

Horseshoe Sandwich

Crinkle-cut French fries and a burger patty on a plate, topped with a generous drizzle of creamy yellow cheese sauce being poured from above—just like in a classic Horseshoe Sandwich Recipe.
Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Springfield, Illinois’ open-faced masterpiece: toast, burger patties, fries, and a cascade of cheddar cheese sauce. Decadent and unforgettable. Get the Horseshoe Sandwich recipe

Cudighi Sandwich

A toasted Cudighi Sandwich with melted cheese, sautéed green and red bell peppers, and tomato sauce sits on a wooden board. Bowls of tomato sauce and bell peppers are beside the sandwich.
Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula brings the heat with spicy Italian sausage, peppers, and melty cheese on a crusty roll. Get the Cudighi Sandwich recipe

Shrimp Po Boy

shrimp po boy
Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

New Orleans’ crunchy shrimp, dressed with lettuce, tomato, and spicy sauce on a baguette. Pure Gulf Coast genius. Get the Shrimp Po Boy recipe

Pork Chop Sandwich

A close-up of a crispy fried chicken sandwich and a Pork Chop Sandwich on a wooden board, topped with lettuce, tomato slices, and mustard in soft, shiny buns. The background shows an out-of-focus kitchen setting.
Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Butte, Montana’s legendary fried pork chop on a soft white bun. Messy, meaty, unforgettable. Get the Pork Chop Sandwich recipe

Spicy Lamb Grinder

spicy lamb grinder
Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Idaho’s spicy lamb sausage, peppers, and cheese packed into a crusty roll. Get the Spicy Lamb Grinder recipe

Pork Roll, Egg & Cheese

An open hamburger on a wooden surface, featuring a juicy patty topped with melted cheese and finished with Pork Roll Egg and Cheese flavors, while the other bun is generously spread with ketchup.
Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

New Jersey’s signature breakfast sandwich: pork roll, fried egg, and gooey cheese on a kaiser roll. Get the Pork Roll, Egg & Cheese recipe

Albuquerque Turkey Sandwich

A close-up of an Albuquerque Turkey Sandwich with sliced turkey, melted cheese, avocado, roasted green chilies, and tomato on whole grain bread, resting on a wooden surface.
Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Smoky turkey, green chile, and jack cheese on sourdough. New Mexico’s lunch star. Get the Albuquerque Turkey Sandwich recipe

Kalua Pork Sandwich

kalua pork sandwich
Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Hawaiian pulled pork, smoky and sweet, piled on a soft bun. Island vibes in every bite. Get the Kalua Pork Sandwich recipe

Fried Pork Tenderloin Sandwich

A crispy Fried Pork Tenderloin Sandwich with lettuce, tomato, and a sesame seed bun, placed on a wooden board.
Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Indiana’s claim to crispy fame—oversized, breaded pork tenderloin fried and stuffed in a bun. Get the Fried Pork Tenderloin Sandwich recipe

Sailor Sandwich

A beef on weck from the side, so you can see the entire sandwich.
Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Richmond, Virginia’s classic: pastrami, knockwurst, Swiss, and mustard on rye. Get the Sailor Sandwich recipe

Navajo Taco

Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

New Mexico’s frybread topped with chili, cheese, lettuce, and tomato. An indigenous classic with big flavors. Get the Navajo Taco recipe

Beef on Weck

Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Buffalo’s juicy roast beef stacked on a salty kummelweck roll with a smear of horseradish. Get the Beef on Weck recipe

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