13 Regional Sandwiches That Deserve A Bigger Stage
Every state has a sandwich that deserves a national following, but some are still waiting for their spotlight. These thirteen regional heroes capture the heart of their hometowns and deserve to headline menus far beyond their borders.
Chicken Spiedie
Binghamton, New York’s marinated chicken sandwich is backyard grilling perfection. Skewered cubes of tangy meat, grilled, and slid into Italian bread; simple, smoky, and wildly underappreciated.
Pueblo Slopper
Pueblo, Colorado’s Slopper isn’t just messy; it’s a glorious disaster. A cheeseburger swimming in green chile sauce, it’s the kind of regional comfort that deserves its own food network show.
Olive Burger
Michigan’s claim to fame combines briny green olives and mayo over a juicy beef patty. It’s strange on paper but irresistible in practice; a perfect Midwestern quirk worth sharing.
Chow Mein Sandwich
From Fall River, Massachusetts, comes a sandwich that rewrites expectations; crispy noodles and saucy chow mein in a hamburger bun. It’s chaos, comfort, and history in every bite.
Horseshoe Sandwich
Springfield, Illinois doesn’t do small portions. With toast, hamburger patties, fries, and a flood of cheese sauce, the Horseshoe Sandwich might be the Midwest’s boldest contribution to lunch.
Benedictine
Created in Kentucky, this cool cucumber and cream cheese spread sandwich is as refreshing as a Southern breeze. It’s old-school hospitality layered between slices of soft bread.
Runza
Nebraska’s baked bread pocket filled with beef and cabbage was built for practicality; and flavor. It’s a road trip hero that deserves more love from the rest of the country.
Polish Boy
Cleveland knows how to pile it high; kielbasa, fries, coleslaw, and barbecue sauce all share the bun. It’s equal parts comfort and chaos, the kind of combo that earns cult status fast.
Hani
Born in Michigan diners, the Hani is a crispy chicken wrap with lettuce, tomato, and cheese, pressed on the grill. It’s a late-night legend that’s long overdue for national stardom.
Fried Bologna Sandwich
Across the South, this humble sandwich turns nostalgia into gold. Fried bologna on soft white bread with mustard; it’s proof that the simplest things often hit the hardest.
St. Paul Sandwich
St. Louis’ unexpected classic features an egg foo young patty on white bread with mayo and lettuce. It’s Chinese-American ingenuity gone handheld, and it deserves the spotlight.
Loose Meat Sandwich
Iowa’s diner staple proves restraint can still be powerful. Ground beef, onions, and a soft bun; simple, classic, and worth rediscovering on every road trip through the Midwest.
Crab Melt
Maryland’s crab melt mixes rich seafood with gooey cheese on toasted bread. It’s coastal comfort food that deserves a prime spot on menus from coast to coast.