50 Most Famous Sandwiches From Around The World

50 Most Famous Sandwiches From Around The World

I love sandwiches! It’s one of the fastest meals to make and you can always pack it in with enough protein, vegetables and carbohydrates in bread the best part is that you can use any kind of bread you like. Another top reason I like sandwiches is just how inexpensive and portable they are. Whether you’re travelling or going about your errands, it’s ideal because it is filling. 

These are the 50 most famous sandwiches from around the world that you must eat, ranging from the traditional American BLT to the delightful but filling Portuguese francesinha.

1. BLT

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A classic sandwich that comes to mind is the BLT. Bacon, lettuce, and tomato, or BLT, are the three important ingredients of this well-known sandwich.

The BLT can be cooked in a variety of ways, but at its most basic level, it is made up of two slices of toasted bread spread with mayonnaise and topped with bacon, lettuce, and tomato slices. Any kind of bread, such as whole wheat, rye, or white, can be used to make it.

2. Club Sandwich

A club sandwich, also known as a clubhouse sandwich, is a sandwich made with three slices of toasted white bread, bacon, gammon, chicken or turkey, tomato, lettuce and mayonnaise. Cocktail sticks are used to hold the sandwich together after it is cut into quarters or half.

It’s basically like a BLT but a bigger one and it is very popular and a personal favourite too. The usual ingredients include mayonnaise, white bread, lettuce, tomato, and bacon. Other items can be added to the sandwich according to preference including grilled chicken, turkey, gammon, roast beef, cheese and mustard.

3. PB&J

One of the first foods that comes to me when I think of the US and American cuisine is the PB&J. It’s one of the most famous sandwiches on this list. This straightforward but delicious sandwich, which is short for “peanut butter and jelly sandwich,” is a classic example of American comfort food.

4. Grilled Cheese Sandwich 

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Any type of melted cheese can be used to make grilled cheese sandwiches, though American or cheddar cheese are the most popular choices. Two slices of bread are layered with cheese, which is cooked until it melts and the bread browns.

Even though grilled cheese sandwiches are great on their own, they are even better when served with tomato soup. One of my all-time favourite food combinations is a grilled cheese sandwich with a steaming bowl of tomato soup.

5. Corned Beef Sandwich

Corned beef and mustard are placed between two slices of toasted rye bread to create the traditional Jewish deli sandwich. It can be cooked with sauerkraut and is usually served with a pickle on the side.

6. Reuben Sandwich

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A grilled corned beef sandwich is what is known as a Reuben. Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and thousand island dressing (or Russian dressing) are the ingredients, and they are sandwiched between two slices of grilled rye bread.

The Reuben sandwich’s genesis is the subject of numerous theories. According to a widely accepted source, it was named after Omaha, Nebraska-based Jewish grocery store owner Reuben Kulakofsky (also known as Reuben Kay).

7. Roast Beef Sandwich

Thin slices of roast beef are used to make the roast beef sandwich. A hamburger bun or two slices of bread with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cheese, mayonnaise, and mustard can be used to serve the roast beef, which can be served hot or cold (or horseradish).

In the US Boston’s legendary roast beef sandwich is created with ultra-rare, thinly sliced beef served in an onion bun with mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, and a piece of white American cheese. It is available in “junior beef,” “normal,” or “super beef” varieties.

8. Patty Melt

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Between two slices of grilled toasted bread, the patty melt is a sandwich made with a ground beef patty, melted cheese (usually Swiss cheese), and caramelised onions. It essentially is an American cheeseburger version that is served on sliced bread as opposed to a hamburger bun.

9. Tuna Sandwich

In a tuna fish sandwich, two slices of bread are layered with tuna salad, which is just canned tuna mixed with mayonnaise. It can also be cooked with extra ingredients, such as celery, onions, hard-boiled eggs, black olives, pickle relish, lettuce, and mayonnaise, depending on preference. A tuna melt is what it is called when it is made with melted cheese. 52 percent of all tuna in cans in the US is reportedly used for sandwiches, making it a “mainstay of practically everyone’s American childhood.”

10. Egg Salad Sandwich

Egg salad is made with hard-boiled or scrambled eggs, mustard, mayonnaise, and additional ingredients including celery, onions, herbs, and spices. It is similar to tuna or chicken salad. An egg salad sandwich is often made with two slices of bread, lettuce, tomatoes, and olives in addition to the egg salad.

11. Bean Sandwich

The well-known, understated West African breakfast sandwich is essentially a pick-your-own-adventure that begins with a few basic ingredients: red beans cooked in a spicy tomato paste with onions and myriad spices; baguettes, an important part of nearly any breakfast in Senegal (and a reminder of its French occupation until 1960); and a generous helping of mayonnaise and hot sauce. The difference with this sandwich is that you can add eggs, potatoes, onion sauce or even spaghetti. They usually wrap it in a newspaper and you’re pretty much good to go. 

12. Boh Loh Yau

The boh loh yau, or simple pineapple bun, is a delicious carbohydrate explosion made of butter, sugar, and even more butter. It’s important to note that original pineapple buns don’t include any actual pineapple. The sugar cookie-like substance that is spread on the bread dough, which is what gives the Hong Kong morning staple its name, melts and splits into a pineapple-like pattern while baking.

The outcome is a lovely bread that is soft and pillowy with a crispy sugar crust topping. The bun is sliced horizontally and a slab of cold butter is placed squarely in its centre, transforming the boh loh yau into a delightfully sweet morning sandwich of bread and butter.

13. Bagel Sandwich

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Who doesn’t enjoy a delicious bagel? If you’ve ever watched a movie where New York is involved then you must have heard someone asking for a bagel as they run to the office and spill their coffee on their white shirt. Bagels are the ideal breakfast dish in New York or Montreal and we guess it’s because they pair so well with cream cheese and it’s dense, chewy as well and slightly crispy on the outside, 

14. Bombay Sandwich

The Bombay sandwich is simply India’s vegetarian version of the club sandwich. Traditional ingredients like bacon are replaced with raw cucumber and beetroot slices, and lettuce and mayo are switched for a layer of spiced cooked potatoes and a generous amount of zingy cilantro chutney. In between the layers of bread, you won’t find any chicken or turkey, although tomatoes and cheese are part of it. 

15. Sloppy Joe

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Here’s another favourite that I like making at home. If you have ground beef, onions, tomato sauce or ketchup(which is better tasting), Worcestershire sauce and other seasonings plus hamburger bun, you already have all the right ingredients for a sloppy joe. It’s easy to make and though it’s messy it is satisfyingly yummy. 

16. Pulled Pork Sandwich

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One of the most well-liked and delicious sandwiches available in the southern US is the pulled pork sandwich. It is made of slow-smoked and grilled pork, typically hog shoulder, that has been shredded and is then served with a vinegar-based sauce in a bun. To provide the moisture required to cook for more than twelve hours, proper pulled pork is usually slow-cooked.

Pulled pork gets its name due to the fact that it is cooked for a very long time at a low temperature until it is suitably soft to be pulled apart. Now, when you put it as a sandwich, we guarantee that you’ll probably overeat and also appreciate the waiting process. 

17. Gyros

If you’ve ever visited Greece, you’ve probably seen street vendors carving meat from a big skewer or vertical rotisserie. This is a gyros, a Greek sandwich whose name derives from the Greek word gyros, which means “spinning.” It is prepared using cooked meat that has been wrapped in a pita with fresh veggies like tomatoes, onions, and lettuce, as well as fried potatoes and tzatziki.

Gyros are typically made with chicken or pork in Greece, although they can also be served with lamb or beef at Greek restaurants around the world. Gyros was first introduced to Greece by Greek and Armenian refugees from Ottoman Turkey. In the Ottoman Empire, roasting meat over a revolving grill was highly common, giving rise to the doner kebab, which is still a favourite dish today.

18. Croque monsieur

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Although it’s clear that this fatty sandwich isn’t among the list’s healthier choices, the flavours are simply too good to pass up. Between two slices of hearty bread, a croque monsieur is a hot sandwich made with sliced ham, Dijon mustard and Gruyere cheese.

The sandwich is then cooked and topped with a creamy bechamel sauce drizzled on top, just when you think it can’t get any better. The croque monsieur, which started out as a quick snack in French cafes and bars, can even become a croque madame if a fried egg is put on top.

19. Hoagie

Philadelphians call a submarine sandwich a “hoagie,” however other names for it include a sub, hero, grinder, or Italian. It is a collection of cold or hot sandwiches formed from a long bread roll split down the middle and stuffed with a selection of meats, shredded lettuce, vegetables, cheeses, and condiments.

Philadelphia’s official meal is the hoagie, a commonly eaten sandwich in the United States. The word “hoagie” is believed to have first appeared at Hog Island, a shipyard that constructed emergency cargo during World War I.

20. Philly Cheesesteak 

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Pat and Henry Olivieri are believed to have invented the Philly cheesesteak in the 1930s. They ran a hot dog stand and made a new sandwich with chopped meat and grilled onions. The Philly cheesesteak was created when a taxi driver fell in love with the sandwich and urged them to stop selling hot dogs and concentrate on manufacturing these steak sandwiches.

21. Pastrami on rye

The pastrami on rye sandwich, a favourite of many Jewish delis, is New York’s official sandwich. Simple pastrami slices on rye bread are topped with spicy mustard in this classic sandwich, which is also commonly served with kosher dill pickles on the side.

A Lithuanian immigrant named Sussman Volk, who managed one of the first delis in New York City, is believed to have started it in the first place in 1888. The greatest spot to get a delicious pastrami on rye sandwich today is Katz’s Delicatessen.

22. Monte Cristo Sandwich

The Monte Cristo is a traditional American sandwich made with two slices of white bread, a slice of cheese and either corned beef, turkey or chicken meat. The mixture is then dipped in beaten eggs and cooked in butter, creating a tasty, calorie-dense dish that is crispy on the outside and tender and custardy on the inside.

Although it is thought that the first Monte Cristo was served in southern California in the 1950s, other people claim that the sandwich is simply a version of the traditional French Croque Monsieur.

23. Meatball Sandwich

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A long Italian-style roll stuffed with meatballs, red sauce, and mild cheeses like mozzarella or provolone is the traditional ingredient of a meatball sandwich, an Italian-American dish. This sandwich is thought to have been created in the USA during the turn of the 20th century.

The meatball sandwich has several varieties today, but the meatballs are often made with a mixture of both beef and pork and are then enhanced with eggs, bread crumbs, garlic, basil, parsley, and onions. This sandwich should be followed by a glass of cold beer for the greatest experience.

24. Tombik Döner

Tombik döner, also known as gobit kebab, is a type of dish in which the minced meat is placed into a flatbread in the shape of a bun called pide ekmek. The interior of the bread is soft, while the exterior is crunchy. Depending on the customer’s preferences, this dish may also be served with other ingredients such as tomatoes, onions, lettuce, or other veggies and sauces.

25. Pambazo

Maybe when you think of Mexico, tortillas come to mind first. But one of the nation’s most well-known antojitos (snacks or appetisers) is the pambazo, a popular street food sandwich from Veracruz and Puebla that is supposed to have been inspired by the shape of a Mexican volcano.

It has bread that has been dyed red by soaking in guajillo sauce, which is mildly spicy. It is a seriously filling dish. With lettuce, cheese, and cream on top, the potatoes and Mexican chorizo inside can be seen.

26. Bifana

The traditional Portuguese sandwich known as bifana uses just a few simple ingredients yet it is usually so tasty. Pork steaks, either whole or cut into slices, are cooked in a garlicky sauce before being put into a bread roll. Depending on the locale, this classic may have slightly different variants.

Bifana is a popular Portuguese pork sandwich typically served with sautéed onions. Some regions marinate the meat before grilling, and mustard is a common side dish.

27. Jambon-beurre

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The jambon-beurre (ham-butter) sandwich is a traditional Parisian dish, despite the fact that the combination of ham and butter on a baguette may appear straightforward. These sandwiches are among the most popular snacks in France, where more than a billion of them were sold in 2013 alone.

Only the best baguettes, ham, and butter are used in France to make jambon-beurre, a sandwich that can rival or outsell hamburgers.

28. Sandwich de lomo

 This sandwich, known as sandwich de lomo or lomito, is made with thinly sliced lomo steak, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, mayonnaise, chimichurri sauce, ham, cheese, and a fried egg. It is large enough to satisfy even the hungriest diners. 

One can get creative with this sandwich by using aubergine instead of steak. It’s available on street carts in major cities of Argentina and Uruguay.

29. Montadito

Have you ever tried a montadito? It’s a Spanish tapa that’s basically an open-faced sandwich made with a long, thin loaf of bread. They load it up with all sorts of toppings like smoked pork, chorizo, cheese, pickled veggies, and even seafood like anchovies. It’s definitely a must-try if you’re into Spanish cuisine!

30. Italian Beef

If you’ve never had Italian beef before, you’re missing out. It’s this popular sandwich in Chicago that’s made with thin slices of roast beef that are all spiced up and served on some dense Italian bread. And get this – it’s usually topped with roasted green bell peppers or pickled giardiniera relish! Plus, you can even dip it in some jus. Yum!

The sandwich can also include mozzarella or cheddar cheese, depending on what you prefer. The Italian beef sandwich’s genesis is the subject of three widely accepted theories. One claims that it was created around the outset of World War II by Al Ferreri and his family, who run the restaurant Al’s Beef.

31. Bocadillo de pollo

Spanish chicken sandwiches, or bocadillo de pollo, come in a variety of forms. Like with other bocadillo kinds, barra de pan, a Spanish-style baguette, is the most typical bread option, though ciabatta or other types of bread may also be used for this sandwich.

The bread is sliced lengthwise and spread with mayo. Then it’s topped with chicken, tomato, lettuce, and crispy fried onions. Chicken can be prepared shredded, grilled, breaded, fried or in a creamy salad.

32. French Dip Sandwich

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French dip is a Californian sandwich that, despite its name, has little to do with France other than the fact that it is served au jus, which is French for with juice or broth. The sandwich includes a lot of thinly sliced roast beef (or roast pig, leg of lamb, turkey or ham), black pepper, mustard and horseradish on a long white French roll (or a baguette) that has been dipped into pan juices or gravy.

Occasionally, Swiss, American, Monterey Jack, or blue cheese may be added to enhance the flavours. Traditional sides include hard-boiled eggs, sweet or sour pickles, black olives, and yellow chilli peppers. Coleslaw, potato, and macaroni salads are very common.

33. Tramezzino

Popular in Italy, the triangle-shaped sandwich known as a tramezzino is created with crustless, chewy white bread with a variety of ingredients, including cheese, mayonnaise, tuna, and prosciutto. At the Caffè Mulassano in Turin, it is thought that the first tramezzino was created in 1925.

In Venice, where it’s often served with a glass of Spritz, it quickly gained a great deal of popularity. Tramezzini are a common snack in cafés all over Italy today. Pre-packaged variations that can be purchased in supermarkets are also widely available.

34. Butifarra

Butifarra is traditionally made with a white rosetta bun, spicy garlic-flavoured gammon (called jamón del pas), lettuce, radishes, salsa criolla, and chilli. But over the years, people have added and taken away ingredients to make it their own. 

The main ingredient of this sandwich is jamón del pais, which is made with boiling pig leg, garlic, oil, aj chile, and red peppers. Butifarra is thought to have first been sold at bullfights in early Republican Lima. The sandwich is now a standard during birthday celebrations and is usually included in a typical Peruvian breakfast.

35. Egg sandwich

An egg sandwich is a breakfast favourite that is served on a worldwide scale and usually has eggs between slices of bread. The sandwich can be improved with cheese and can be topped with some type of meat, including cold cuts or sausage.

36. Vada pav

One of the most popular sandwiches in Mumbai is the vada pav, which gets its name from the two main ingredients: pav, or white bread rolls, and vada, which is spicy mashed potatoes deep-fried in chickpea batter. Ashok Vaidya, a street vendor who operated close to the Dadar train station in the 1960s and 1970s, is believed to have invented this famous street snack.

The ideal dish, he reasoned, should be portable, inexpensive, and simple to prepare in order to satisfy the hungry workers. Vada pav was created by Ashok, and it quickly became quite popular, especially after the Shiv Sena, a Marathi-Hindu nationalist political organisation, began to advertise the sandwich as the perfect working-class lunch.

37. Chivito

The national dish of Uruguay is the Chivito sandwich. Legend has it that in the 1940s, a chef in a restaurant was asked to cook roasted goat, but since he didn’t have one, he constructed a sandwich out of scraps from just about everything in the kitchen. The name “Chivito” comes from the Spanish word for “little goat.”

Churrasco (grilled/roasted and thinly sliced beef) slices, corned beef, bacon, tomatoes, lettuce, melted mozzarella and fried (or occasionally boiled) eggs are all used as fillings for the sandwich. The sandwich buns, such as ciabatta bread, should be quite large.

38. Choripán

The choripán, a sandwich made with chorizo sausage, a variety of toppings and a crusty baguette, is the pinnacle of Argentine street food. Since it is usually offered from street stalls throughout Latin America, it is usually enjoyed on the go.

39. Bocadillo de jamón

Spanish bread with slices of Spanish ham, such as jamón Serrano or jamón Iberico, is used to make the sandwich known as a bocadillo de jamón (Iberian ham). A Spanish-style baguette (barra de pan) that has been split down the middle and layered with ham is what this sandwich really is. 

To make the sandwich juicier and more flavorful, the cut side of the bread is often drizzled with olive oil and rubbed with ripe tomato halves and garlic. The filling of the sandwich may also be improved with slices of cheese (often Manchego cheese), tomato slices, strips of roasted piquillo peppers, and pitted black olives.

40. Mollete

A bolillo bread roll is cut in half and topped with refried beans, cheese, and tomato salsa to make the classic Mexican sandwich known as a mole. It is available in a lot of coffee shops, eateries, and food stands all around Mexico.

The sandwich has its roots in Andalusia, Spain, where the word “molletes” alludes to a rustic, oval-shaped bread that has long been a favourite breakfast item. The Spanish version, served with tomato, garlic, and olive oil, is much more simple. Mexican molletes are served with pico de gallo and topped with bacon and mushrooms in the southern regions of the nation.

41. Po’Boy

The po’boy is a unique sandwich with a lengthy history. Early in the 20th century, two brothers named Benny and Clovis Martin created it in Louisiana. The Martins opened a sandwich business in New Orleans and began to manufacture po’boys, which are sandwiches made with French bread with a variety of meat or seafood, such as roast beef, ham and cheese, meatballs, oysters, crabs or shrimp.

42. Chicken Sandwich

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A chicken sandwich consists of bread and chicken—either a fillet or a meatloaf a choice of toppings. The meat can be shredded, deep-fried, roasted, grilled, or used cold cuts, and when it’s dark meat, it’s typically thigh meat.

Contrarily, bread can be any type of bread, including rolls, buns, and pieces cut from loaves. Both hot and cold options are available for the chicken sandwich.

43. Cuban Sandwich

A Cuban or Cubano is a grilled, pressed sandwich made with Cuban bread and filled with ham, roast pork, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard. Cuban immigrants in Florida who sought to create their own take on the traditional grilled gammon and cheese sandwich first came up with the idea.

There are many different Cubano versions available nowadays, so some add items like lettuce, tomatoes, and mayonnaise or utilise other types of bread.

44. Smørrebrød

Danish open-faced sandwiches known as Smørrebrød are traditionally served with vegetables, salads, and herbs. Smørrebrød is made of buttered rye bread with various toppings. There are many different types of toppings, including cold cuts of meat, cheeses, spreads, meatballs, caviar, and sauces like mayonnaise.

This sandwich was created in the 19th century by Scandinavian agricultural labourers who would bring a variety of open-faced sandwiches for lunch, usually cooked with leftovers from the previous evening, to keep them energised during the long workdays.

45. Avocado Toast

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Avocado toast is a dish made of toasted bread that has been topped with mashed avocado, salt, pepper, and (sometimes) citrus juice. This recipe comes in a number of flavours, so it can be enhanced with extras like salmon, tomatoes, onions, eggs, garlic, cheese, olive oil, or red pepper flakes.

Although the meal is quite simple and uncomplicated, its origin is not. Some people proclaim that it was invented in Australia, while others claim that it was created in Los Angeles. 

46. Lobster Roll

An iconic Maine dish, the lobster roll is made with cooked lobster meat, served on a long hot dog roll, and often topped with melted butter. Lettuce, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper can also be added, and it’s commonly served with French fries or potato chips on the side.

47. Arepa

Arepa is a cornbread that can be made in a number of ways using either precooked corn flour or ground corn dough. Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic are among the countries where it is commonly eaten. Arepas are eaten all around Venezuela, by most people at any time of the day.

The crispy, browned crusted golden crusts are often filled with a variety of ingredients, and the possible combinations are almost endless, ranging from beans, cheese, and avocado to shredded meat and onions. Arepas and a hot cup of dipping chocolate are the traditional breakfast foods of Venezuela.

48. Shawarma

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Shawarma is a wonderful Middle Eastern meat dish that is marinated and spit-roasted. Its origins can be found in the Ottoman Empire, and its name comes from the Arabic pronunciation of the Turkish term çevirme (lit. to turn; turning), which refers to the spinning skewer on which the meat is cooked.

49. Bánh mì

Vietnamese sandwiches, known as banh mi (pronounced “bun mee”), are made with a baguette as the main ingredient. The baguette was introduced to Vietnam during the colonial era and is one of the best recipes from that time.

While cilantro, chilli, and pickles are included for their fresh flavours and vibrancy, the crusty bread, sauces, and meats are all influenced by French and Chinese colonialism. Early banh mi sandwiches were typically made with bread, meat, and seasonings, with no additional vegetables.

50. Bocadillos

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In Spain, modern white bread, known as pan de molde, is used to make standard sandwiches. Nevertheless, bocadillos or bocatas are Spanish sandwiches made using Spanish-style baguettes known as barra de pan. The most typical bocadillo fillings include beef, cheese, tuna, eggs, jamón, or chorizo sausages.

The fillings of these sandwiches vary by region. Omelet bocadillos are eaten for breakfast or as an afternoon snack and contain eggs, cheese, beans, peppers, and potatoes. Meat-based bocadillos frequently contain chicken, beef, pork, horse, or goat. Fish-based bocadillos frequently contain cuttlefish, sardines, and squid.

Now that you know the most famous sandwiches, you can get to know more about the sandwich inventor John Montagu.