25 essential Orlando sandwiches that are especially good to go

Steaky Breaky Heart Sandwich at Yellow Dog Eats

1236 Hempel Ave., 407-296-0609
There are not many restaurants on the fringes of Orlando that are worth the travel, but Yellow Dog Eats is at least one exception. Although you'd never guess it from the name, Yellow Dog Eats is a chic, charming, family-owned restaurant in the Windermere area that looks more like a Vermont country inn. The menu offers primarily a selection of sandwiches and wraps, and the results resemble something out of the pages of Gourmet magazine. Think along the lines of the "steaky breaky heart” sandwich, layered with sliced smoked flank steak, topped with provolone cheese sauce, fried onions, and a little steak sauce on the bun.

Photo via Yellow Dog Eats/Facebook

Philly cheesesteak at Ragazzi's Pizza

3201 Edgewater Drive, 407-999-9973
Ragazzi’s offers a full-scale menu bursting with Italian classics, and their sandwiches have the same love and care put into them as the rest of the entres. With classics ranging from the Chicken Parmigiana hot sub to the Italian Cold Sub you’re sure to find something to strike your fancy.

Photo via Ragazzi’s/Facebook

Ancho chipotle chicken sandwich at Melt’d Fresh Salads and Grilled Subs

8475 S John Young Pkwy, 407-601-5351
Melt’d is known for their, well, melts. Their freshly grilled gourmet sandwiches range from vegetarian options like Three Cheese to bold and unique flavors like their Ancho Chipotle Chicken sub, which includes grilled chicken, red onions, green peppers, Pepper Jack cheese, jalapeños and — you guessed it — ancho chipotle sauce.

Photo via Melt’d Fresh Salads and Grilled Subs/Facebook

The Ninja at Bad As’s Sandwich

207 N. Primrose Drive, 407-757-7191
Orlando's thriving food truck scene is a sure sign of its gastronomic health, and when food truck proprietors like John Collazo get into the brick-and-mortar game, all the more so. At Bad As's Sandwich, Collazo's Milk District eatery, the fruits of his labor come in the form of monstrous, sometimes decadent, always inventive sammies. And Bad As's sandwiches are unquestionably inspired. Case in point: the Ninja, packed with deliciously crispy fried Asian pork belly, garnished with Asian slaw, cilantro, and their signature spicy miso lime aioli. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more original sandwich in the city.

Photo via Bad As’s Sandwich/Facebook

The Kraft at Grilled Cheezus

400 Pittman St, 407-420-7073
Located inside of Brew Theory and across from the Marriott, Grilled Cheezus is the holy land of grilled cheese. With signature creations with toppings ranging from candied bacon to Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, Grilled Cheezus offers a variety of unique flavors for your favorite childhood snack. Did we mention the witty names for each sandwich (like “Challah ‘Atcha Boy” for a Jewish-inspired ‘wich)? The Kraft is one of the most popular menu items for a reason — with white American and sharp cheddar cheeses accompanied by candied bacon on a brioche bun, it takes a spin and becomes the new classic.

Photo via Grilled Cheezus/Instagram

Bulgolgi beef sub at Nifty’s Korean-American Craft Cooking

145 S. Orange Ave., 407-868-9259
Merging Korean classics with American favorites is the eccentric Nifty’s Korean American Craft Cooking hotspot for Korean-Ameircan fusion. Their name might be a mouthful, but so are their sandwiches! Menu options are idiosyncratic – hot dogs, egg platters, Italian beef sandwiches and bibimbap – but extremely practical for a place sited in a large office building. They're serving breakfast all day (YAY), various sandwiches, wraps, rice bowls, kimbap rolls, milkshakes and fruit smoothies, and prices seem low.

Photo via Nifty’s Korean-American Craft Cooking/Facebook

Cheesesteak and onion sandwich at Kappy’s Subs

501 N Orlando Ave, Maitland FL, 407-647-9099
Family-owned and operated Kappy’s has given us their famous cheesesteaks, burgers and hand-dipped milkshakes in a casual, vintage atmosphere since 1967. With their menu always served fresh and made to order, Kappy’s is renowned for their sandwiches. One of their unique offerings is the Philly Pizza Steak, topped with provolone cheese and marinara sauce.

Photo via Kappy’s Subs and Fries/Facebook

Mama Ling Ling's Thanksgiving at Pom Pom's Teahouse and Sandwicheria

67 N. Bumby Ave., 407-894-0865
What can we say about this instant classic? It's a whole Thanksgiving dinner pressed between two slices of bread: turkey, stuffing, cranberry chutney, mashed potatoes and a side of gravy. Located in the Milk District, Pom’s Pom’s is here to deliver eclectic, gourmet sandwiches with a twist. Open 24 hours Friday and Saturday.

Photo via Pom Pom’s Teahouse and Sandwicheria/http://www.pompomsstpete.com

Italian hoagie at LaSpada’s Original Cheesesteaks and Hoagies

1010 Lee Road, 407-539-0067
This sandwich is a gargantuan architectural marvel featuring ham, salami, capicola ham, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, pickles, sweet peppers, hot peppers, oil, vinegar and oregano, on an overstuffed soft roll. Lettuce, tomato and onion come standard, and you can add hot or sweet peppers for a slight upcharge. I recommend both. It smells like heaven and tastes even better. If you order the large, you simply can’t finish the whole thing in one meal. Half of it will be larger, more filling and more satisfying than a typical “foot-long” sub at most chains.

Photo via LaSpada’s/laspadashoagies.com/

Mojo pork sandwich at Meson Sandwiches

6622 Eagle Watch Drive Lee Vista Promenade, 407-852-3131
Meson Sandwiches, a restaurant chain with three locations in Central Florida, specializes in Caribbean flavors all the way from Puerto Rico, where they are one of the most popular fast-serve options on the island. Ever since Meson opened its location on Lee Vista Promenade near the Orlando International Airport, they’ve consistently cranked out Caribbean-inspired sandos including but not limited to their phenomenal mojo pork sandwich or even better, their Argentino, which features roast beef, a flavorful chimichurri sauce, and swiss cheese.

Photo via Meson Sandwiches/http://mesonsandwiches.com/

The Banh Mi Dac Biet at Banh Mi Nha Trang

1216 E. Colonial Drive, 407-374-9999
The bread I’ve been hoping for,” one of our tasters was heard to say, upon biting into Banh Mi Nha Trang’s “chewy,” “beautiful, caramel-colored,” “crispy pretzel” baguette bun of the Banh Mi Dac Biet sandwich, the house special combo. This sandwich was also one of the few with onion – red onion, in fact, along with fish sauce, which ensured the sandwich packed a punch with its sharp bite alongside the flavorful meat.

Photo via Nha Trang Subs/https://nhatrangsubs.com/

When Pigs Fly at 903 Mills Market

903 S. Mills Ave., 407-898-4392
903 Mills serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the food is worth a stop. I have yet to eat breakfast there, but the sandwiches are creative, tasty and huge (the "Grateful Bread," a combination of turkey, blue cheese, stuffing, onions and cranberry mayo on sourdough is a personal favorite); the dinner blue plates don't disappoint, and there's always a kettle of soup on. In the age of the 7-Eleven, community grocery stores are a rare and wonderful thing, and this one is a gem.

Photo via 903 Mills Market/Instagram

The Smokehouse at Toasted

11551 University Blvd., 407-751-2480
With Toasted, their business model places emphasis on “crafted” grilled cheese sandwiches, meaning havarti, Gruyere, fontina and the like are utilized, along with artisan bread from Olde Hearth Bread Co. and out-of-the-ordinary fillings like blackberries, arugula and sweet potato. Vegetarian and, yes, surprisingly, even vegan options abound, with a house-made vegan cheese and a vegan burger patty – a restaurant rarity, as they’re usually bound with cheese or egg. The sandwiches are rich and buttery - these aren’t light meals designed to make you feel energized, but comfort food that may make you snoozy.

Photo via Toasted/Instagram

The grilled chicken hot sub at Art’s Sandwich Shop

1018 S. O.B.T, 407-425-7814
Step into Art’s Sandwich Shop, the family-owned sandwich joint specializing in sandwiches of all shapes and sizes. You can buy a bunch of sandwiches en masse with one of their assorted sub trays, or go for their renowned cheesesteak. No matter what you choose, you’ll leave with a full belly and a smile on your face. At Art’s, they even sell their own “Famous Seasoning,” an original blend tracing back to 1960.

Photo via Art’s Sandwich Shop/https://artssandwichshop.com/

Arepa de camarón at Arepera La Nueva

29 S. Semoran Blvd, 407-482-0087
Serving up delicious and authentic Venezuelan-style Arepas is Arepera La Nueva. If you walk in and the menu isn’t in English, you know you’ve found an incredible food spot. Their menu is simple - order the arepa that corresponds to the number of fillings that you want. There’s a 3, 5, or 6 filling arepa, all with varying prices - if you want any more, it’ll cost you 99 cents per additional filling. Stuff both your arepa and your mouth at this gem of a Venezuelan arepa restaurant.

Photo via Arepera La Nueva/https://www.areperalanueva.com/

The hot reuben at Beefy King

424 N. Bumby Ave., 407-894-2241
Rightfully reigning at the top of the Beefy King food chain is roast beef, cooked fresh daily and simply delicious. Also on the standard sandwich menu are ham and cheese, turkey breast, pastrami and cheese, corned beef, barbecue beef and barbecue pork. Prices range from $2 for a junior to $4 for an extra large. this mighty little sandwich shop that has survived for 33 years by doing it better than all the big players. Simple, focused quality – now there's a lesson everyone should learn.

Photo via Beefy King/Instagram

The Buffalo chicken platter at Bread Box

6000 Universal Blvd, 407-224-3663
If you’ve been to Universal CityWalk, then you’ve probably seen Bread Box’s bright and eclectic building proudly designating itself as an indicator of CityWalk’s incredible food scene. With its sign out front proclaiming that their sandwiches are handcrafted, deli fresh sandwiches await guests. One can expect to find quintessential sandwich classics such as egg salad and buffalo chicken, and all sandwiches come complete with fries or tater tots as an added bonus.

Photo via Google Maps

Pan con Lechon at Black Bean Deli

1835 E. Colonial Drive, 407-203-0922 1346 N. Orange Ave. Winter Park, 407-628-0294
While some other Cuban kitchens tag onto the pan-Latin craze and expand their menus to include influences from Central and South America, the humble Black Bean Deli in Winter Park remains doggedly devoted to homespun Cuban food. After 18 years, it's still a prime choice for sturdy, soul-warming lunches and dinners. Black Bean Deli, the beloved local Cuban restaurant, specializes in delicious sandwiches, empanadas and soups. Sandwiches are long and flat, wrapped in wax paper and generally served warm. In lieu of the in-demand Cuban sandwich (sweet ham, roast pork and Swiss cheese pressed into a slice of Cuban bread), we chose the "media noche" (midnight) ($3.95), which is basically the same sandwich, only it's presented on a soft, yellow, toasted sweet roll.

Photo via Black Bean Deli/Facebook

The Pizzaroni Cheesesteak at Loading Zone Philly Steaks

24 E. Washington St., 407-751-7131
Tucked comfortably beside Gringos Locos Tacos in downtown Orlando, the folks at The Loading Zone are pros at crafting the perfect, authentic cheesesteak. They might be known for their cheesesteaks, but their hoagies are equally as fantastic. With the bread that they use on their cheesesteaks and hoagies delivered fresh daily, The Loading Zone has everything you could want from a neighborhood philly joint.

Photo via Google Maps

The Al Pastor Torta at Tortas El Rey

6151 S. Orange Blossom Trail, 407-850-6980
Tortas El Rey, which loosely translates to “the King of Sandwich,” brings forth authentic Mexican flavors that you can fit in the palm of your hand. From their signature Al Pastor torta that includes marinated pork in bold spices to something as simple as a quesadilla, Tortas El Rey has it all. Be warned — they’re open every day of the week except Mondays.

Photo via Tortas El Rey/Facebook