Phoenix Guide
The 8 Best Sandwiches in Phoenix
The best sandwiches in Phoenix are at Paper Bag Sandwich Co., Pane Bianco, Frank’s New York Style Deli and Miracle Mile Deli — plus four more delis and counters worth the drive.
Phoenix is a better sandwich town than it gets credit for. We have a Jewish deli that’s been slicing pastrami since 1949, a focaccia counter from a James Beard–winning pizza maker, an Italian market that’s been stacking subs since 1975, and a corner sub shop Yelp named the best sandwich spot in Arizona.
We also make sandwiches for a living, so yes, we put ourselves at No. 1. But every other spot on this list is somewhere our crew actually goes on a day off, and every order below is one we’d bet our own lunch on.
Phoenix sandwich shops at a glance
| # | Sandwich Shop | Best For | Order This | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paper Bag Sandwich Co. | Schiacciata | Hall Pass | Uptown | $$ |
| 2 | Pane Bianco | Italian Combo | Italian Combo | Central Ave | $$ |
| 3 | Frank’s New York Style Deli | Italian Subs | The Tony | West Camelback | $ |
| 4 | Miracle Mile Deli | Hot Pastrami | The Straw | 16th St | $$ |
| 5 | Cheese ’N Stuff | Classic Deli | The Doughboy | Central Ave | $ |
| 6 | Chula Seafood | Tuna Melt | Hatch Chile Tuna Melt | Uptown Plaza | $$ |
| 7 | Monroe’s Hot Chicken | Fried Chicken | Fried Chicken Sandwich | Downtown | $ |
| 8 | Romanelli’s Italian Deli | Italian Market | Italian Stallion | West Phoenix | $ |
01. Paper Bag Sandwich Co. — Best Sandwiches in Phoenix
Every sandwich here starts with schiacciata we bake every morning: a crackly, olive-oil Tuscan flatbread that holds a real stack of fillings without going soggy. When the bread’s gone, we’re done for the day.
First timers should get the Hall Pass: turkey, whipped ricotta, arugula, hot honey and cracked black pepper. Roast beef people go for the Lunch Money, with provolone, horseradish crema and caramelized onions. The Field Day (stracciatella, tomato, pesto and balsamic) is the best vegetarian sandwich in town. We’ll fight you on that.
- Order This:
- The Hall Pass. Back for round two? The Lunch Money or the Group Project.
- Good to Know:
- Bread is baked fresh daily and sandwiches can sell out. Come early or order ahead online. Closed Mondays.
- Hours:
- Tue–Sat 10:30 AM–4 PM · Sun 10:30 AM–3 PM
- Website:
- paperbagsandwich.co
02. Pane Bianco — Best Focaccia Sandwich in Phoenix
Pane Bianco is the lunch counter from Chris Bianco, the pizza maker who put Phoenix on the national food map and has two James Beard Awards to show for it. The bread is baked in house, and the sandwiches are simple, Italian and built on it.
The Italian combo (mortadella, spicy soppressata and capicola with aged provolone and pickled vegetables) is the one we’d order. Grab a loaf of bread for home on the way out.
- Order This:
- The Italian combo, plus a NY-style slice if you’re still hungry
- Good to Know:
- Dine-in is lunch only, Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 2:30 PM. Dinner is takeout pizza, Wednesday through Saturday.
- Website:
- pizzeriabianco.com
03. Frank’s New York Style Deli — Best Italian Sub in Phoenix
Frank’s has been making New York–style subs since 1982 from a small shop on a residential street just north of Camelback. In 2024, Yelp named it the best sandwich spot in Arizona.
The order is the Tony: pepperoni, hot capicola and genoa salami with provolone, lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo, mustard and Italian dressing. It’s big enough to split. Nobody splits it.
- Order This:
- The Tony
- Good to Know:
- It’s easy to drive past. Look for it on Orange Drive at 23rd Avenue, just north of Camelback.
04. Miracle Mile Deli — Best Pastrami in Phoenix
Family owned and operated since 1949, Miracle Mile is the closest thing Phoenix has to a New York deli: hot pastrami and corned beef sliced to order, matzo ball soup made from scratch and a case full of pie.
Order the Straw, hot pastrami with Swiss and sauerkraut. It’s been the top seller for decades, and the deli goes through about two tons of pastrami a month.
- Order This:
- The Straw, plus a cup of matzo ball soup
- Good to Know:
- There’s a hand-carved turkey dinner every evening after 3 PM, if you want the whole Thanksgiving plate on a Tuesday.
- Hours:
- Mon–Sat 11 AM–7 PM
- Website:
- miraclemiledeli.com
05. Cheese ’N Stuff — Best Old-School Deli in Phoenix
Cheese ’N Stuff has been on Central Avenue since 1949. It closed in spring 2025, and a lot of Phoenix held its breath. That November, new owners reopened it with the same recipes, the same suppliers and the same menu, and they got the old neon sign glowing again.
Get the Doughboy: turkey, bacon, avocado and mayo on toasted sourdough, with pickles on the side. It’s been the order here for decades.
- Order This:
- The Doughboy
- Good to Know:
- Hours have shifted since the reopening, so check before you go.
06. Chula Seafood — Best Tuna Melt in Phoenix
Chula is a seafood market first: fresh fish in the case, poke and smoked fish by the pound, and a kitchen that turns all of it into lunch. The Uptown shop is in Uptown Plaza at Central and Camelback.
The sandwich to get is the Hatch chile tuna melt, a menu staple that local critics have been calling out for years. It’s the best tuna melt in Phoenix, and it isn’t close.
- Order This:
- The Hatch chile tuna melt
- Good to Know:
- The fish market opens at 10 AM and the kitchen at 11 AM. Sunday is an all-day happy hour.
- Hours:
- Mon–Thu 10 AM–8 PM · Fri–Sat 10 AM–9 PM · Sun 10 AM–8 PM
- Website:
- chulaseafood.com
07. Monroe’s Hot Chicken — Best Chicken Sandwich in Phoenix
Monroe’s does Nashville-style hot chicken in downtown Phoenix, and the chicken sandwich is the reason to go: crispy fried chicken, southern slaw, pickles and kick-it-up sauce on a toasted brioche bun.
There are six heat levels, from “Southern” with no heat at all up to “What Da Cluck!,” which comes with a waiver. Medium or Hot is plenty.
- Order This:
- The fried chicken sandwich at Medium or Hot
- Good to Know:
- The chicken is fried in 100% peanut oil, so skip it with a peanut allergy. There’s a Tempe location too.
- Website:
- monroeshotchicken.com
08. Romanelli’s Italian Deli — Best Italian Deli in Phoenix
Romanelli’s has been three businesses in one since 1975: an Italian deli, a market full of imported groceries and a bakery. Phoenix New Times named it the city’s best Italian deli in 2024.
The house sub is the Italian Stallion: ham, capicola, genoa salami, pepperoni and provolone, with lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo, mustard and Romanelli’s own Italian dressing. Get it on the Italian roll.
- Order This:
- The Italian Stallion on Italian bread, and a cannoli for the road
- Good to Know:
- The parking lot fills up at lunch. Leave time to shop the market shelves.
The best sandwich in Phoenix for every craving
Not sure where to start? Here’s the list sorted by what you’re in the mood for.
- Italian Subs:
- Frank’s for the Tony, Romanelli’s for the Italian Stallion and Pane Bianco for the Italian combo.
- Deli Classics:
- Miracle Mile Deli for hot pastrami and Cheese ’N Stuff for the Doughboy.
- Something Different:
- Chula Seafood’s Hatch chile tuna melt or Monroe’s hot chicken sandwich.
- Fresh-Baked Bread:
- Paper Bag, where every sandwich is on schiacciata we bake that morning.
- Vegetarian:
- The Field Day at Paper Bag: stracciatella, tomato, arugula, pesto and balsamic.
How we picked
We’re a sandwich shop, so we took this one personally. Every spot had to clear three bars:
- Locally owned. No national chains. Every shop here was started in Phoenix and is still run here.
- The bread matters. A great sandwich starts with great bread, whether it’s baked in house or picked with care.
- One order we’d bet on. Every entry comes with the sandwich we’d tell a friend to get.
Think we missed your favorite? Tell us on Instagram. We update this list as Phoenix’s sandwich scene changes.
Phoenix sandwich FAQ
Where is the best sandwich in Phoenix?
We’re biased, but Paper Bag Sandwich Co. at 1215 E Missouri Ave in Uptown Phoenix. Every sandwich is built on schiacciata baked fresh that morning. Start with the Hall Pass. For a classic deli sandwich, go to Miracle Mile Deli for hot pastrami or Frank’s for the Tony.
What is the best Italian sub in Phoenix?
Frank’s New York Style Deli’s Tony (pepperoni, hot capicola and genoa salami) is the one Yelp put on the map. Romanelli’s Italian Stallion and Pane Bianco’s Italian combo are close behind.
Where can I get good pastrami in Phoenix?
Miracle Mile Deli on 16th Street has been serving hot pastrami since 1949. Order the Straw, with Swiss and sauerkraut.
What is schiacciata?
Schiacciata is a Tuscan flatbread, similar to focaccia but thinner and crispier, made with plenty of olive oil and salt. It’s the bread we bake every morning at Paper Bag.
What are the best sandwich shops in central Phoenix?
Paper Bag Sandwich Co. on Missouri Avenue, Pane Bianco and Cheese ’N Stuff on Central Avenue, Chula Seafood in Uptown Plaza and Miracle Mile Deli on 16th Street are all within about ten minutes of each other.
Where can I get sandwiches for a group or office lunch in Phoenix?
Paper Bag Sandwich Co. does catering for offices and events, with sandwich boxes and platters. Request a quote on our catering page and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours.
More Phoenix food guides
- The 10 Best Places to Eat in Phoenix
- Our top ten across every category, from tacos and BBQ to sushi.
- The 8 Best Lunch Spots in Phoenix
- Where to go when you’ve got an hour and you’re hungry.
- The Best Restaurants in Uptown Phoenix
- Our own neighborhood, block by block.
Sources: Axios on Frank’s and Yelp, Axios on Cheese ’N Stuff’s reopening, Phoenix New Times Best Italian Deli 2024, The State Press on Monroe’s and each restaurant’s own website. Hours and menus change, so check with each restaurant before you go.
Photo Credits: Photos are courtesy of each restaurant and link to their source.
- Paper Bag Sandwich Co.: Paper Bag Sandwich Co.
- Pane Bianco: Pane Bianco
- Miracle Mile Deli: Miracle Mile Deli
- Chula Seafood: Chula Seafood
- Monroe’s Hot Chicken: Monroe’s Hot Chicken on Instagram
Craving a Great Sandwich?
Try Paper Bag.
Fresh-baked schiacciata, real ingredients, built to order. Made fresh daily — once it’s gone, it’s gone.