rank sandwich restaurant description price address city phone website full_address formatted_address lat lng 1 BLT Old Oak Tap The B is applewood smoked—nice and snappy. The L is arugula—fresh and peppery. The T is a fried green slice—jacketed in cornmeal and greaseless. Slathered with pimiento cheese, the grilled ciabatta somehow stays crisp, providing three distinct layers of crunch. Truly inspired. $10 2109 W. Chicago Ave. Chicago 773-772-0406 theoldoaktap.com 2109 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago 2109 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622, USA 41.8957344 -87.6799598 2 Fried Bologna Au Cheval Thought your bologna-eating days had retired with your lunchbox? Luscious house-cured mortadella dotted with black pepper, sliced thin, and piled into layers on a spongy brioche bun should put you right back in the game. No thermos necessary. $9 800 W. Randolph St. Chicago 312-929-4580 aucheval.tumblr.com 800 W. Randolph St., Chicago 800 West Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60607, USA 41.8846721 -87.647754 3 Woodland Mushroom Xoco Leave it to Rick Bayless and crew to come up with a vegetarian sandwich—garlicky roasted mushrooms commingling with tangy goat cheese and sharp arugula—as satisfying as the rest of the meat-packed menu. The three-chili salsa is a must-drizzle. $9.50. 445 N. Clark St. Chicago 312-334-3688 rickbayless.com 445 N. Clark St., Chicago 445 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654, USA 41.8906019 -87.6309254 4 Roast Beef Al’s Deli The Francophile brothers behind this deli, which has been in the family for 63 years, have turned simple ingredients into a sophisticated sandwich that balances savory and sweet: just rare roast beef, fresh tomato, Swiss cheese, and homemade béarnaise sauce on a buttery croissant. $9.40. 914 Noyes St. Evanston alsdeli.net 914 Noyes St., Evanston 914 Noyes Street, Evanston, IL 60201, USA 42.0584418 -87.6844254 5 PB&L Publican Qualty Meats When this place opened in February, it quickly rose to the top tier with its refined roster of sandwiches. Take, for instance, the one with grilled housemade pork belly and lamb sausage. It’s sprinkled with feta, cilantro, and sweet and spicy pipérade and tucked into a toasted, buttered lobster roll. It’s like the quarterback on a team packed with future Hall-of-Famers. $10 825 W. Fulton Mkt. Chicago 312-445-8977 publicanqualitymeats.com 825 W. Fulton Mkt., Chicago 825 West Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607, USA 41.8866372 -87.6485525 6 Belgian Chicken Curry Salad Hendrickx Belgian Bread Crafter The mom-and-pop aesthetic is a yeast-scented breath of fresh air in glitzy Streeterville, and the bakery turns out one gorgeous chicken salad. Chewy Belgian country bread encapsulates pulled chicken breast sauced with a delicate housemade curry. $7.25. 100 E. Walton St. Chicago 312-649-6717 100 E. Walton St., Chicago 100 East Walton Street, Chicago, IL 60611, USA 41.900246 -87.625163 7 Lobster Roll Acadia In a town that recently discovered the joys of lobster rolls, nobody does them better than Ryan McCaskey. He flies in fresh crustaceans from Maine daily, poaches them, sprinkles them with paprika and chives, and cradles them in buttery grilled rolls. From the Atlantic to your belly in 24 hours. $16 1639 S. Wabash Ave. Chicago 312-360-9500 acadiachicago.com 1639 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago 1639 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL 60616, USA 41.858965 -87.625142 8 Smoked Salmon Salad Birchwood Kitchen Birchwood’s sandwich-slinging virtuosos consistently wow us with their seasonal menus. This time around, they’ve put a fallish slant on salmon salad, adding subtle notes of squash, red onion, sage, and chopped arugula to the mix and smooshing it inside a buttery, toasted sesame bagel. $10 2211 W. North Ave. Chicago 773-276-2100 birchwoodkitchen.com 2211 W. North Ave., Chicago 2211 West North Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647, USA 41.9103244 -87.6828424 9 Atomica Cemitas Cemitas Puebla Standing three inches high, the Atomica is something to behold. It’s also a finely tuned blend of textures and spices: Krakus ham, guajillo pork loin, breaded milanesa, avocado, and Oaxacan cheese. For an extra kick, sprinkle salsa over the multitiered meat fiesta. $9 3619 W. North Ave. Chicago 773-772-8435 cemitaspuebla.com 3619 W. North Ave., Chicago 3619 West North Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647, USA 41.9098499 -87.7175808 10 Grilled Laughing Bird Shrimp and Fried Oyster Po’ Boy Nana Grilled Laughing Bird shrimp and fried oyster po’ boy, Nana
Will it be shrimp? Or, gee, the oysters? In Cajun country, you are forced to choose. So bless Bridgeport, where the friendly organic joint Nana packs a meal-and-a-half-size baguette with both—grilled Laughing Bird shrimp, perfectly fried oysters—and, for good Midwestern measure, adds housemade giardiniera. $17 3267 S. Halsted St. Chicago 312-929-2486 nanaorganic.com 3267 S. Halsted St., Chicago 3267 South Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60608, USA 41.8345589 -87.6460491 11 Ham and Raclette Panino Lula Cafe A crusty ciabatta bun is a flavorsome sponge for oozing Swiss cheese, rich egg yolk, and mustard with sweet-and-sour bursts of black currant. Smoky cured ham seals the deal. $11 2537 N. Kedzie Blvd. Chicago 773-489-9554 lulacafe.com 2537 N. Kedzie Blvd., Chicago 2537 North Kedzie Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60647, USA 41.9270848 -87.7072641 12 Breaded Steak Ricobene’s This is what put Ricobene’s on the map: breaded skirt steak topped with housemade meat sauce on a crusty Turano French roll and finished with your choice of cheese and peppers. It’s juicy and sloppy, and you will finish every last bite. $5.49. 252 W. 26th Street Chicago (312) 225-5555 ricobenespizza.com 252 W. 26th Street, Chicago 252 West 26th Street, Chicago, IL 60616, USA 41.845754 -87.633895 12 Breaded Steak Ricobene’s This is what put Ricobene’s on the map: breaded skirt steak topped with housemade meat sauce on a crusty Turano French roll and finished with your choice of cheese and peppers. It’s juicy and sloppy, and you will finish every last bite. $5.49. 271 N. Weber Road Bolingbrook (630) 378-4466 ricobenespizza.com 271 N. Weber Road, Bolingbrook 271 Weber Road, Bolingbrook, IL 60490, USA 41.7032627 -88.1256531 12 Breaded Steak Ricobene’s This is what put Ricobene’s on the map: breaded skirt steak topped with housemade meat sauce on a crusty Turano French roll and finished with your choice of cheese and peppers. It’s juicy and sloppy, and you will finish every last bite. $5.49. 5160 S. Pulaski Road Chicago (773) 284-2400 ricobenespizza.com 5160 S. Pulaski Road, Chicago 5160 South Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL 60632, USA 41.7989562 -87.7234342 12 Breaded Steak Ricobene’s This is what put Ricobene’s on the map: breaded skirt steak topped with housemade meat sauce on a crusty Turano French roll and finished with your choice of cheese and peppers. It’s juicy and sloppy, and you will finish every last bite. $5.49. 9135 W. 159th Street Orland Hills (708) 460-9966 ricobenespizza.com 9135 W. 159th Street, Orland Hills 9135 West 159th Street, Orland Hills, IL 60487, USA 41.6015413 -87.8414067 13 The Hawkeye Frog n Snail We didn’t expect a Man v. Food–esque behemoth on Dale Levitski’s menu, but there it was: a shiny egg bun dripping grease from its delectable pan-fried and ground pork innards. And ten minutes later, there it wasn’t. $14 3124 N. Broadway Chicago 773-661-9166 frognsnail.com 3124 N. Broadway, Chicago 3124 North Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657, USA 41.9385126 -87.6444655 14 Chicken Dip Crosby’s Kitchen Luscious nuggets of white meat from the kitchen’s rotisserie stand in for the French dip’s usual fatty beef. Swathed in melted Jack cheese and heaped with tomato, onion, and arugula, they fold it into a soft-crisp baguette with authority. The jus is just windowdressing. $10 3455 N. Southport Ave. Chicago 773-883-2525 crosbyskitchenchicago.com 3455 N. Southport Ave., Chicago 3455 North Southport Avenue, Chicago, IL 60657, USA 41.9450868 -87.6638068 15 Wild Boar Sloppy Joe Longman & Eagle With its toasted brioche, peppery pickled jalapeños, crispy onions, and fried sage, this Joe is a man-size wowzer spilling over with tender, spicy ground boar. It’s better to cheat and use silverware than let any meaty morsels get away. $13 2657 N. Kedzie Ave. Chicago 773-276-7110 longmanandeagle.com 2657 N. Kedzie Ave., Chicago 2657 North Kedzie Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647, USA 41.9301009 -87.7072427 16 Meatball Sub Bari No condiments, no fuss, just saucy meatballs (from the owners’ 80-year-old family recipe) on a crunchy Upper Crust roll, provolone optional. Sure, this Italian-heavy stretch of Grand Avenue is paved with meatballs—but at lunch the line starts and ends here. $4.50. 1120 W. Grand Ave. Chicago 312-666-0730 bariitaliansubs.com 1120 W. Grand Ave., Chicago 1120 West Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 60642, USA 41.8912131 -87.6555343 17 Corned Beef Manny’s The most famous deli sandwich in Chicago is also the gold standard: a sliced-to-order spectacle of salty-sweet meat that’s so tender, juicy, and lean you’ll savor it, sans the mild rye or the mustard, using only your fork. $11.95. 1141 S. Jefferson St. Chicago 312-939-2855 mannysdeli.com 1141 S. Jefferson St., Chicago 1141 South Jefferson Street, Chicago, IL 60607, USA 41.8677925 -87.6420625 18 Turkey Club Eggy’s Cut in quarters and stabbed with cellophaned toothpicks, this turkey club on whole-wheat toast gets everything right, especially the thick slices of juicy turkey. Love the red onion, and the smear of housemade cilantro mayo is brilliant. $11.50. 333 E. Benton Pl. Chicago 773-234-3449 eggysdiner.com 333 E. Benton Pl., Chicago 333 East Benton Place, Chicago, IL 60601, USA 41.8854054 -87.6176413 19 Falafel Old Jerusalem The fritters of mashed chickpeas are perfectly cooked and seasoned—no burnt balls here. Fresh tomatoes and lettuce and creamy tahini sauce only add to the tastiness. $6.25. 1411 N. Wells St. Chicago 312-944-0459 oldjerusalemchicago.com 1411 N. Wells St., Chicago 1411 North Wells Street, Chicago, IL 60610, USA 41.908 -87.634157 20 Crab Cake Mindy’s HotChocolate In these parts, crab cakes are always a gamble. Mindy Segal’s sandwich hits the jackpot with its perfectly round patty that boasts a high crab-to-filler ratio, a spread of zesty giardiniera tartar sauce, and a housemade brioche bun gleaming with butter. $15 1747 N. Damen Ave. Chicago 773-489-1747 hotchocolatechicago.com 1747 N. Damen Ave., Chicago 1747 North Damen Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647, USA 41.913699 -87.6774495 21 Chicken Schnitzel Olga’s Delicatessen A no-frills thrill, the schnitzel is a classic sandwich (white bread, tomato, lettuce, cheese, mayo, onion) made special by Olga’s Old World touch, which creates an experience as familiar and personal as dinner at Grandma’s. $5 3209 W. Irving Park Rd. Chicago 773-539-8038 3209 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago 3209 West Irving Park Road, Chicago, IL 60618, USA 41.9538058 -87.708466 22 Shawarma Dawali Mediterranean Kitchen Dawali’s filling shawarma escapes a common problem—the seasoned lamb-beef combo is in just the right proportion to the tahini sauce, greens, cucumbers, and pita bread. $6 1625 N Halsted St. Chicago (312) 944-5800 dawalikitchen.com 1625 N Halsted St., Chicago 1625 North Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60614, USA 41.911714 -87.6482182 22 Shawarma Dawali Mediterranean Kitchen Dawali’s filling shawarma escapes a common problem—the seasoned lamb-beef combo is in just the right proportion to the tahini sauce, greens, cucumbers, and pita bread. $6 4911 N Kedzie Ave Chicago (773) 267-4222 dawalikitchen.com 4911 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago 4911 North Kedzie Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625, USA 41.9707823 -87.7085034 23 Toasted Pimiento Cheese Big Jones Not the gooiest but definitely the kickiest grilled cheese around, thanks to the genius who thought to melt local heirloom pimientos right into the tangy cheddar. Chow-chow made with sautéed onions, cabbage, and peppers adds to the glow it leaves in your mouth. You’ll fall for the toasted marbled rye, too. $8 5347 N. Clark St. Chicago 773-275-5725 bigjoneschicago.com 5347 N. Clark St., Chicago 5347 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60640, USA 41.9794572 -87.6681775 24 Vegetarian Panino La Pane La Pane might be known for pizza, but it offers a veggie panino with a punch. The power is in the piquant green pesto, made from peppers imported from Serbia, which is also delish on a freshly baked croissant. $5.99. 2954 W. Irving Park Rd. Chicago 773-539-5321 lapanechicago.com 2954 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago 2954 West Irving Park Road, Chicago, IL 60618, USA 41.9540244 -87.7025206 25 Cali Chèvre Pastoral Sometimes you come across a sandwich with a combination of fillings so wacky it works. For example, why would anyone put avocado, goat cheese, spiced almond butter, celery, and red onions on a baguette? We love it—whatever the reason. $7.52. 2945 N. Broadway Chicago (773) 472-4781 pastoralartisan.com 2945 N. Broadway, Chicago 2945 North Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657, USA 41.9359824 -87.6442561 25 Cali Chèvre Pastoral Sometimes you come across a sandwich with a combination of fillings so wacky it works. For example, why would anyone put avocado, goat cheese, spiced almond butter, celery, and red onions on a baguette? We love it—whatever the reason. $7.52. 53 E. Lake Chicago (312) 658-1250 pastoralartisan.com 53 E. Lake, Chicago 53 East Lake Street, Chicago, IL 60601, USA 41.8856078 -87.6259252 25 Cali Chèvre Pastoral Sometimes you come across a sandwich with a combination of fillings so wacky it works. For example, why would anyone put avocado, goat cheese, spiced almond butter, celery, and red onions on a baguette? We love it—whatever the reason. $7.52. 131 N. Clinton St Chicago (312) 454-2200 pastoralartisan.com 131 N. Clinton St, Chicago 131 North Clinton Street, Chicago, IL 60661, USA 41.884106 -87.641231 26 Pastrami Max’s Deli Pastrami is the bacon of deli meats—a succulent, salty guilty pleasure that’s rarely described as lean. Max’s must have a surgeon working in the kitchen because we’ve never seen pastrami this svelte and tender. And the juice from the warm meat soaks into the chewy rye bread. $11.95. 191 Skokie Valley Rd. Highland Park maxs-deli.com 191 Skokie Valley Rd., Highland Park 191 Skokie Valley Road, Highland Park, IL 60035, USA 42.1558155 -87.8042198 27 The Fredo Lucky’s Sandwich Co. This hulk—which stacks copious amounts of coleslaw and salty skin-on fries over layers of Italian deli meats and cold provolone on white—admits very few to the Clean Plate Club. $7.50. 717 Maxwell Street. Chicago (312) 733-5700 luckysandwich.com 717 Maxwell Street., Chicago 717 West Maxwell Street, University of Illinois, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Richard J. Daley Library, Chicago, IL 60607, USA 41.8647002 -87.6459216 27 The Fredo Lucky’s Sandwich Co. This hulk—which stacks copious amounts of coleslaw and salty skin-on fries over layers of Italian deli meats and cold provolone on white—admits very few to the Clean Plate Club. $7.50. 3472 North Clark St. Chicago (773) 549-0665 luckysandwich.com 3472 North Clark St., Chicago 3472 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60657, USA 41.945241 -87.655353 28 Smoked Ham City Provisions Each element of this highfalutin deli delight—smoky ham, pungent Gruyère, mayo studded with chunks of apple and onion, a robust oatmeal rosemary baguette—is special enough to squelch your remorse about dropping the big bucks on it. $12.95. 1818 W. Wilson Ave. Chicago 773-293-2489 cityprovisions.com 1818 W. Wilson Ave., Chicago 1818 West Wilson Avenue, Chicago, IL 60640, USA 41.9651612 -87.6752161 29 Jibarito Papa’s Cache Sabroso Two razor-thin fried plantains—crispy, not starchy—hold in place the sweet grilled onions, well-seasoned strips of beef, and a white cheese mild enough not to overwhelm a lilt of garlic. It’s a true original: a cheesesteak-inspired jibarito. $7 2517 W. Division St. Chicago 773-862-8313 papascachesabroso.com 2517 W. Division St., Chicago 2517 West Division Street, Chicago, IL 60622, USA 41.9028871 -87.6902641 30 Shaved Prime Rib Bavette’s Bar & Boeuf Any respectable diner offers this humblest of sandwiches, the French dip. At his interpretation of a French steak house, Brendan Sodikoff flips the paradigm by serving one with succulent prime rib and a gravy boat full of jus. It’s like a French dip in the witness protection program. $21 218 W. Kinzie St. Chicago 312-624-8154 218 W. Kinzie St., Chicago 218 West Kinzie Street, Chicago, IL 60654, USA 41.8894019 -87.634925 31 Serrano ham and Manchego cheese Hannah’s Bretzel A perpetually jammed workday lunch stop has no right turning out such beautifully marbled sliced-to-order ham. Nor should it top said ham with such thick and tasty fig chutney and encase it in an ultrafresh pretzel baguette. $9.79. 400 N. LaSalle St. Chicago hannahsbretzel.com 400 N. LaSalle St., Chicago 400 North LaSalle Street, Chicago, IL 60654, USA 41.8896595 -87.633211 31 Serrano ham and Manchego cheese Hannah’s Bretzel A perpetually jammed workday lunch stop has no right turning out such beautifully marbled sliced-to-order ham. Nor should it top said ham with such thick and tasty fig chutney and encase it in an ultrafresh pretzel baguette. $9.79. 131 S. Dearborn St. Chicago hannahsbretzel.com 131 S. Dearborn St., Chicago 131 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60603, USA 41.879804 -87.628283 31 Serrano ham and Manchego cheese Hannah’s Bretzel A perpetually jammed workday lunch stop has no right turning out such beautifully marbled sliced-to-order ham. Nor should it top said ham with such thick and tasty fig chutney and encase it in an ultrafresh pretzel baguette. $9.79. 180 W. Washington St. Chicago hannahsbretzel.com 180 W. Washington St., Chicago 180 West Washington Street, Chicago, IL 60602, USA 41.883445 -87.633509 31 Serrano ham and Manchego cheese Hannah’s Bretzel A perpetually jammed workday lunch stop has no right turning out such beautifully marbled sliced-to-order ham. Nor should it top said ham with such thick and tasty fig chutney and encase it in an ultrafresh pretzel baguette. $9.79. 233 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago hannahsbretzel.com 233 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago 233 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60601, USA 41.8868791 -87.6238168 32 Tuna Salad La Fournette Pierre Zimmermann claims to be a fourth-generation French baker. One bite of his housemade multigrain baguette laced with flax, sunflower, sesame, and pumpkin seeds convinced us. Glad he’s not too proud to stuff it with a light and creamy tuna salad with sprouts and capers. $9.75. 1547 N. Wells St. Chicago 312-624-9430 lafournette.com 1547 N. Wells St., Chicago 1547 North Wells Street, Chicago, IL 60610, USA 41.9105284 -87.6346775 33 Paramount Reuben Paramount Room Briny lean brisket, kraut, and melted Gruyère neatly packaged between two thick slices of toasted marble rye can be a mighty attractive alternative to the classic mountain of corned beef. $13 415 N. Milwaukee Ave. Chicago 312-829-6300 paramountroom.com 415 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago 415 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60654, USA 41.8895778 -87.644861 34 The Istanbul Melt Sandwich Shoppe Sweet figs, salt-speckled bread, and smoky Gouda are an answered prayer from the lunch gods. As is the price of this oversize, splittable Turkish delight. $7.95. 1840 N. Damen Ave. Chicago 773-681-9914 meltsandwichshoppechicago.com 1840 N. Damen Ave., Chicago 1840 North Damen Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622, USA 41.9150582 -87.677692 35 B.A.D. Floriole Cafe & Bakery The silky smooth almond-date spread makes this a standout. No, wait, it’s that perfect bacon. Actually, it could be the wonderfully grainy housemade cornmeal bread. Whatever. This sandwich doesn’t live up to its name. $9 1220 W. Webster Ave. Chicago 773-883-1313 floriole.com 1220 W. Webster Ave., Chicago 1220 West Webster Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614, USA 41.921921 -87.659215 36 Duck Confit and Mozzarella First Slice Pie Café Duck is not your typical sandwich meat, but First Slice’s panino—a wonderland of blistery mozzarella, mushrooms, grilled red onions, and sun-dried tomato spread—overflows with hunks and slivers of duck confit. Ethereal and glorious. $9 5357 N. Ashland Ave. Chicago 773-275-4297 firstslice.org 5357 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago 5357 North Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60640, USA 41.9796644 -87.669512 37 Croque Monsieur Troquet Not fair that Parisians are so famously skinny, with grilled cheese like this at their disposal—hefty with ham, oozy with Swiss and béchamel, a feast on crusty sourdough bread. With frites, bien sûr. $8 1834 W. Montrose Ave. Chicago 773-334-5664 troquetchicago.com 1834 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago 1834 West Montrose Avenue, Chicago, IL 60613, USA 41.9615902 -87.6759419 38 Green Garbanzo Grahamwich With chewy strips of preserved lemon rind, moist couscous studded with bright garbanzo beans and pine nuts, and a squishy flatbread encasement, this vegetarian pick has serious star power. Just like Graham Elliot, the splashy chef who oversees the joint. $8 615 N. State St. Chicago 312-265-0434 grahamwich.com 615 N. State St., Chicago 615 North State Street, Chicago, IL 60611, USA 41.8929427 -87.6278316 39 The Hen House Saigon Sisters Caramelized chunks of dark and white meat chicken meld with a lemongrass-ginger marinade, and the ever-important baguette attains the flawless combo of chewy and crusty, ensuring that this banh mi rules the roost. $7 567 W. Lake St. Chicago (312) 496-0090 saigonsisters.com 567 W. Lake St., Chicago 567 West Lake Street, Chicago, IL 60661, USA 41.885302 -87.642321 39 The Hen House Saigon Sisters Caramelized chunks of dark and white meat chicken meld with a lemongrass-ginger marinade, and the ever-important baguette attains the flawless combo of chewy and crusty, ensuring that this banh mi rules the roost. $7 131 N. Clinton St. Chicago (312) 496-0094 saigonsisters.com 131 N. Clinton St., Chicago 131 North Clinton Street, Chicago, IL 60661, USA 41.884106 -87.641231 40 Tuscan Chicken Rosalia’s Tuscan Chicken When a boneless chicken breast is dripping with jus, somebody did something right. It’s crammed into a grilled sourdough roll from Biondillo Bakery along with mushrooms, roasted red peppers, and pesto ranch dressing. Damn right. $6 241 N. York Rd. Elmhurst rosaliasdeli.com 241 N. York Rd., Elmhurst 241 North York Street, Elmhurst, IL 60126, USA 41.9049399 -87.9398531 41 The Marty Z&H MarketCafe The generous application of muhammara—a zesty Middle Eastern spread involving peppers, ground walnuts, and pomegranate molasses—elevates this panino of grilled eggplant and tomatoes with Muenster cheese on herbed focaccia. $7.25. 1323 E. 57th St. Chicago 773-538-7372 zhmarketcafe.com 1323 E. 57th St., Chicago 1323 East 57th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, USA 41.791193 -87.5938199 42 Whitefish Market House on the Square Could a sandwich sound more unsexy? Hardly. But this thick, juicy breaded fillet—all dolled up with sweet chili vinaigrette, shallots, and basil—is a player. Ditto for the irresistible fries. $11 655 Forest Ave. Lake Forest themarkethouse.com 655 Forest Ave., Lake Forest 655 Forest Avenue, Lake Forest, IL 60045, USA 42.251828 -87.841322 43 Oat Bread, Pecan Butter, and Fruit Jam Elaine’s Coffee Call The chalkboard menu is ambiguous about whether this pressed-to-order snack (in which housemade jam crafted from Green City Market fruit seeps from between freshly baked oat bread) is meant for breakfast or lunch, so we’ll just order it every time we’re in the neighborhood. $6 1816 N. Clark St. Chicago jdvhotels.com/hotels/chicago/lincoln 1816 N. Clark St., Chicago 1816 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614, USA 41.915304 -87.634502 44 Cauliflower Melt Marion Street Cheese Market Who says veggie sandwiches are healthy? This beefy number is indulgent and delightfully greasy. Thick browned cauliflower drips with zippy cheddar and plentiful curry aïoli; soak it (and your guilt) up with toasted multigrain bread. $9 100 S. Marion St. Oak Park marionstreetcheesemarket.com 100 S. Marion St., Oak Park 100 South Marion Street, Oak Park, IL 60302, USA 41.8867374 -87.8025146 45 Cubano Cafecito The success of this sandwich, a Cuban tradition with shredded pork, glazed ham, Swiss cheese, yellow mustard, and pickles, rests with the bread. Cafecito’s simple white slices are crisp around the edges and spongy within: perfect bookends for a grilled sandwich. $5.49. 26 E. Congress Pkwy. Chicago 312-922-2233 cafecitochicago.com 26 E. Congress Pkwy., Chicago 26 East Congress Parkway, Chicago, IL 60605, USA 41.8758037 -87.626366 46 Kufta Chickpea Nestled within the freshest, chewiest pita pocket our teeth have ever met, twin logs of impeccably spiced ground lamb and beef mingle with grill-marked tomatoes, green peppers, and onions. With a crown of smooth tahini sauce, it’s a kebab fit for a sheikh. $8 2018 W. Chicago Ave. Chicago 773-384-9930 chickpeaonthego.com 2018 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago 2018 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622, USA 41.896178 -87.677832 47 Debbie’s Egg Salad The Goddess and Grocer Nothing quite satisfies the comfortfood hunger like some unfussy egg salad on multigrain toast. With no more than a dash of salt, a sprinkle of pepper, and a dollop of Dijon, this one is a testament to the sheer power of simplicity. $6.50. 25 E. Delaware Pl. Chicago 312-896-2600 goddessandgrocer.com 25 E. Delaware Pl., Chicago 25 East Delaware Place, Chicago, IL 60611, USA 41.89899 -87.6272901 48 Beef Curry Zenwich Proof positive that sandwiches have surpassed pizza as the most versatile meal on the planet: Zenwich packs the makings of beef curry into a ciabatta roll—potatoes, pulled beef, carrots, onions, curry gravy, and all. Sloppy and satisfying. $7.50. 416 N. York St. Elmhurst eatmyzenwich.com 416 N. York St., Elmhurst 416 North York Street, Elmhurst, IL 60126, USA 41.9106615 -87.9399283 49 Le Végétarien Toni Patisserie Toni Cox spreads rich white bean hummus on a baguette and loads it up with soft roasted red peppers, baby spinach, red onions, and a splash of tomato vinaigrette. Standard veggie fare? Perhaps. But when the components soak into the bread, this sandwich becomes epic. $8.75. 65 E. Washington St. Chicago 312-726-2020 tonipatisserie.com 65 E. Washington St., Chicago 65 East Washington Street, Chicago, IL 60602, USA 41.883212 -87.6254057 50 The Gatsby Phoebe’s Bakery The best thing about Phoebe’s panini is the crunchy multigrain bread. Steer clear of the cheese-heavy varieties and go for the Gatsby, with roasted chicken, provolone, and a lovely, light pesto mayo dipping sauce. $6.85. 3351 N. Broadway Chicago 773-868-4000 phoebesbakery.com 3351 N. Broadway, Chicago 3351 North Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657, USA 41.9427393 -87.6443419