13 Sandwiches That Crush Drive-Thru Burgers

ByJD Alewine Published On Updated on

These picks have real texture, serious drip, and personality. They are built fast, but not rushed. Every one brings something a paper-wrapped burger just cannot.

Spicy Lamb Grinder: Idaho

spicy lamb grinder
Maddy Alewine / Them Bites

Tender lamb, melty cheese, and a chile kick tucked into a toasted roll. It hits rich and bright at the same time.
Recipe: https://thembites.com/spicy-lamb-grinder/

Horseshoe Sandwich: Springfield, Illinois

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.

Texas toast base, your choice of meat, a pile of fries, and cheese sauce poured over everything. Fork required, napkins optional. Controlled chaos that always hits.
Recipe: https://thembites.com/horseshoe-sandwich-recipe/

Vermonter Sandwich: Vermont

A stacked sandwich with layers of sliced turkey, shredded cheese, apple slices, and onions on whole grain bread, displayed on a wooden cutting board with a sliced red apple in the background.

Turkey, sharp cheddar, apple slices, and honey mustard on hearty bread. Sweet and tangy cut through the richness for a clean, balanced finish.
Recipe: https://thembites.com/vermonter-sandwich/

Pit Beef: Baltimore: Maryland

A person holds a sandwich cut in half, revealing layers of pastrami, sliced onions, and creamy sauce between two slices of golden bread—a hearty creation inspired by a classic Pit Beef Recipe—resting above a wooden cutting board.

Char-grilled top round sliced thin, piled on a kaiser with horseradish and onions. Smoky edges, juicy center, perfect bite after bite.
Recipe: https://thembites.com/pit-beef-recipe/

French Dip: Los Angeles, California

A hand holds a French Dip Sandwich—baguette stuffed with melted cheese, sliced roast beef, and caramelized onions—hovering over a cup of au jus for dipping.

Roast beef on a crusty roll, dipped in hot jus. Simple idea, huge payoff. That dunk is everything.
Recipe: https://thembites.com/french-dip-sandwich/

Runza: Nebraska

A bowl with three baked runza pastries, two of which are cut open to reveal a filling of ground meat and vegetables, likely cabbage or pickles. The pastries have a golden, slightly glossy crust and a soft, fluffy interior.
Maddy Alewine / Them Bites

Seasoned beef and cabbage sealed inside golden bread. Portable comfort with steam you can see.
Recipe: https://thembites.com/runza/

Beef on Weck, Buffalo: New York

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

Roast beef on a salty kummelweck roll with caraway and a hit of horseradish. The roll makes the rules here.
Recipe: https://thembites.com/beef-on-weck/

St. Paul Sandwich: St. Louis, Missouri

St. Paul Sandwich
Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Crispy egg foo young patty with lettuce, pickles, and mayo on white bread. Crunch, soft, tang, repeat.
Recipe: https://thembites.com/st-paul-sandwich/

Pork Roll, Egg and Cheese: New Jersey

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

Salty-snappy pork roll with a runny egg and gooey cheese on a hard roll. Breakfast, but make it an event.
Recipe: https://thembites.com/pork-roll/

Kalua Pork Sandwich: Hawaii

kalua pork sandwich
Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Smoky, tender pork piled on a soft bun, often with sweet onions or slaw. Beach picnic energy in a sandwich.
Recipe: https://thembites.com/kalua-pork-sandwich/

Chicken Fried Steak Sandwich: Texas

Two crispy chicken fried steak sandwiches with lettuce and tomato on shiny brioche buns, placed on a wooden cutting board next to a wire rack with more fried chicken.
Maddy Alewine / Them Bites

A pounded, breaded steak that shatters at the edges. Add mayo and pickles, then brace for silence at the table.
Recipe: https://thembites.com/chicken-fried-steak-sandwich/

Shrimp Po’ Boy: New Orleans, Louisiana

shrimp po boy
Maddy Alewine/Them Bites

Crispy shrimp, shredded lettuce, tomato, and remoulade on a French roll. Light crunch, big satisfaction.
Recipe: https://thembites.com/shrimp-po-boy/

Chopped Cheese: New York City

A Chopped Cheese Sandwich Recipe on a white plate, filled with shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes, seasoned meat, and topped with mayonnaise, set against a plain white background.

Flat-top chopped beef and onions, melted cheese, lettuce, tomato, and mayo on a hero. Late-night perfection at any hour.
Recipe: https://thembites.com/chopped-cheese-sandwich-recipe/

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