The Best Sandwiches in Denver Right Now

The holidays are approaching, and the world is…complicated at the moment, so we’re craving comfort food. And what’s more comforting than a well-made sandwich? Familiar yet full of endless possibilities, these vessels can hold a mix of flavors and textures (some even hold all the flavors of the holiday season). But which are Denver’s best?

Nearly every restaurant has some version of a sandwich on offer, so in our search for the tastiest in town, we had to narrow the field. We skipped certain types that could fill a list of their own, like breakfast sandwiches, or fried chicken sandwiches, or hot dogs. (Just kidding! We don’t believe that hot dogs are sandwiches! That’s bologna — which we do enjoy fried on white bread with mustard.)

Instead, we’re serving up the seven lunch-worthy creations that comprise our current local sandwich bucket list, then offering up our favorite neighborhood sandwich-centric spots, old-school Italian delis and the top picks for sandwiches on a budget. In all, here are 26 different places to fulfill your sandwich dreams:

Seven Must-try Sandwiches

Jambon Beurre from Get Right’s
6985 West 38th Avenue, Wheat Ridge
The French would argue that the jambon beurre is the best sandwich and if so, we would argue that the best version you can get in the metro area is at Get Right’s. This small bakery does a lot, dishing up excellent pastries, pizza and bread. But it’s the simple combination of the spot’s perfectly crunchy, hot baguette loaded with gently folded River Bear ham and a very healthy slathering of cultured herb butter that makes it our current top sandwich pick. This is one you’re not going to want to share, and for just $11.50, you don’t have to. Just be sure to grab a few extra napkins — the butter drippings are part of the fun.

The Lee at Congress Park Market
2620 East 12th Avenue
In 2021, Jake Riederer launched a sandwich concept dubbed Open, which touted a menu of offerings created with the help of some of Denver’s top chefs. But by the end of 2022, Open had closed up shop. Flash forward a year later, when Riederer and his wife, Cecelia Jones, launched Congress Park Market, formerly 12th Avenue Market, where Open’s most popular sandwich lives on. The Lee is the result of a collaboration with Uncle and Hop Alley owner Tommy Lee; it includes succulent braised beef brisket, arugula, white onions, red wine sesame mayo and provolone on a not-too-crunchy baguette. The kicker that really puts it over the top is the Sichuan peppercorn dipping broth that comes alongside. You’ll pay $15.99 for a sandwich that’s a full-on flavor bomb.

The Original at The Porchetta House
1510 Humboldt Street
AJ Paloni launched this all-porchetta, all-the-time spot in the Spices Cafe space in the spring of 2023, and more than two years later, we’re still obsessed. The slow-roasted pork is available on sandwiches and loaded fries al pastor-style (achiote-rubbed and paired with caramelized pineapple pico and cotija cheese) or banh mi-style (red miso marinated and served with banh mi veggies and black sesame kewpie) but we keep going back to the Original ($16). It’s a simple formula, and we hope it never changes: slices of traditional Italian porchetta loaded onto a ciabatta bun from Breadworks with arugula and pink peppercorn Kewpie mayo.

The Whiz Wit at Little Arthur’s Hoagies
205 East Seventh Avenue
We’ve been craving Aj Schreffler’s sandwiches since he first started slinging Philly-inspired hoagies as a pop-up. In August 2024, Little Arthur’s found a permanent home at Out of the Barrel Taproom, where you can get some of the best pizza in town alongside the hoagies that have inspired a cult following. Though there are several on offer, plus specials that roll out regularly, the best place to start is the classic Whiz Wit cheesesteak with shaved Angus beef, fried onions and Cheese Whiz on a house-made sesame roll. It’s $20 but well worth the cost, and definitely big enough to share. If you’re in the Arvada area, check out Schreffler’s other concept, Arty’s inside New Image Brewing Company, which serves burgers and a variety of sandwiches (including specials that drop every Tuesday) on freshly baked potato rolls.

Steak & Kimcheese at Golden Banh Mi
2648 South Parker Road, Aurora
There are some beloved banh mi spots that have been around for years, but the Banh mi scene in the metro area has evolved lately, with more options than ever before for these Vietnamese sandwiches, from the traditional to the surprising — and we love surprises. That’s why we love the Steak & Kimcheese ($15) from Golden Banh Mi, a small sandwich spot owned by the same team as Golden Saigon next door. It’s a cultural mash-up that results in a sandwich like no other: Korean bulgogi-style marinated steak is sautéed with umami-packed kimchi and cheese; it comes on a freshly baked baguette that’s soft inside but firm enough outside to stand up to all the fillings, which include big, crunchy pieces of pickled daikon and carrots, cucumber, onion and jalapeño and a slathering of butter and chicken pâté. While all the banh mi on the menu are tasty, this is the kind of sandwich that you’ll dream about long after.

The Cutlet from Pizzeria Leopold
1990 Wadsworth Boulevard, Lakewood
In 2018, Chris and Lindsay Lyons purchased longtime Lakewood staple Deli Italia. In 2022, the couple rebranded the spot as Pizzeria Leopold, named after their first child, who was born just after the restaurant reopened following the mandated shutdown of indoor dining during the 2020 pandemic. Three years and three more kids later, Pizzeria Leopold is better than ever — and is serving more than pizza. Its sandwich lineup, available on seeded Black Box Bakery baguettes or (our favorite) thick slices of house-made focaccia for $1 more, includes ten options. While you can’t go wrong, you can go very, very right with the Cutlet ($18), which pairs a house-breaded chicken cutlet with fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, arugula, mayo, and red wine vinegar. Soon, diners in Colorado Springs will be able to get a taste, too — the family has relocated there and plans to open a second location in the coming months.

Chicken Caesar at Mead St. Provisions
3625 West 32nd Avenue
Chicken Caesar in wrap form is at peak popularity, but it’s time to reconsider your options. Exhibit A: this spin on the classic built on fluffy yet sturdy City Bakery ciabatta. A fixture in the Highland neighborhood for over thirty years, Mead Street closed in 2020 for some major renovations and a slight rebrand. We adore everything at Mead St. 2.0, from the soups and salads to charcuterie boards, flatbreads and small plates. The sandwiches are all top-notch, and the Chicken Caesar deserves its own time in the spotlight. Zippy dressing, shaved Parm, romaine and a punch from blistered tomatoes all combine with a solid cutlet for a sandwich that’ll have you saying “that’s a wrap.”

Best Neighborhood Sandwich Shops

To become a neighborhood sandwich go-to, a place needs a mix of variety, consistency and value. Here are the spots that hit the mark:

Baker

Baker Market
713 West Fourth Avenue
Berlinda Olivas bought this longtime neighborhood market during the pandemic and has kept the charm of the low-key spot that dishes up made-to-order hot and cold sandwiches that range from the Thanksgiving-inspired Gobbler to a cheesesteak, BLT, classic Italian and more.

Berkeley

Blackbelly Market
4324 West 41st Avenue
In 2024, Michelin-recommended Boulder restaurant Blackbelly brought a location of its daytime market to the Berkeley neighborhood. Since then, it has become a go-to for high-quality sandwiches like the Cubano, a wagyu beef Italian dip, and a house-smoked ham and brie.

The Grateful Gnome Sandwich Shoppe & Brewery
4369 Stuart Street
The Gnome opened in 2018, and while cold beer is a great reason to visit the spacious jam band-loving brewpub, the New Jersey-inspired sandwiches are the headliners. There are dozens of hot and cold options to choose from, including an excellent chopped cheese.

Civic Center

Leven Deli Co.
123 West 12th Avenue
Since 2018, Leven has been a sandwich leader in town, known primarily for its housemade pastrami, which takes twelve days to make (there’s a smoked beet version for vegetarians, too). We also love the chicken shawarma and the turkey club with herb mayo. This year, Leven added a Wash Park outpost, and next year, it’s opening a location downtown.

Curtis Park

Curtis Park Deli
2532 Champa Street
The original Curtis Park deli has been a neighborhood staple since 2011, and also has locations on East Sixth Avenue and in Boulder. We love its succinct menu of perfectly lunch-sized hits made with fresh ingredients loaded onto chewy ciabatta rolls. Options include the Curtis, with corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and house-made Thousand Island, and the Caprese with house made aioli, pesto, tomato, mozzarella, balsamic glaze, prosciutto and arugula tossed with lemon.

Five Points

Duke’s Good Sandwiches
2748 Welton Street
It’s been more than three years since this little New York-inspired sandwich shop tucked into an alley debuted. The menu is very small — there’s a burger, dog, floats and four sandwiches. The undeniable star is the Denver chopped cheese, black Angus beef chopped with white cheddar and served with diced onion and pepperoncini on a hoagie roll slathered with butter and mayo.

Lou’s Italian Specialties
3357 Downing Street
In 2018, Josh Pollack added this East Coast-style deli in Five Points to his growing collection of New York-inspired concepts, which includes Original Famous J’s and Rosenberg’s Bagels. Lou’s has a solid selection of both hot and cold sandwiches, available in full or half sizes – and a full is enough to split or last for two meals. Generously loaded with freshly sliced meats and cheeses, the Louie is a great intro to what this place does best, as is the hot porchetta broccoli rabe.

Glendale

Las Tortas
682 South Colorado Boulevard
Among the chain restaurants that dominate this part of town is a local must for tortas. Formerly located on Leetsdale Avenue, Las Tortas (which also has locations in Greeley and Federal Heights) moved to the CitySet complex in 2023. When ordering at the counter, newbies will be told that the Norteña, with carne asada, breaded steak and cheese, is the best seller. Like all of the standard torta options here, it comes fully loaded with mayo, avocado, tomato, lettuce and beans. But there’s another type of torta on the menu that requires a fork and knife to eat: the torta ahogada, which comes loaded with juicy, flavorful carnitas and smothered in a spicy chile and tomato sauce for a messy meal reminiscent of dipping a grilled cheese sandwich in tomato soup.

Lincoln Park

Urban Cafe & Restaurant
601 Broadway
Denver Health employees frequent this Mediterranean eatery tucked into the space connected to the hospital, but it’s worth driving for, too. While it has some deli standards like a BLT and an Italian, you will be greatly rewarded if you order something less familiar, like the spicy eggplant or, our favorite, the creamy pistachio mortadella with burrata, basil and pistachio cream cheese on focaccia.

Montclair/South Park Hill

Tessa Deli
5724 East Colfax Avenue
Chef Vince Howard moved to Denver and opened Tessa in 2019, bringing a much-needed lunchtime spot to the area. On the hot side, you can order up options like the pesto chicken and the Brisket Dipper with scallion mayo, while a highlight on the cold sandwich menu is the St. Jude with turkey, salami, provolone, tomato, pickles, romaine, Italian vinaigrette and caper mayo. Now you can also order the same sandwiches at Tessa’s second location, which debuted inside Edgewater Public Market in August.

North Park Hill

Spinelli’s Market
4621 East 23rd Avenue
Spinelli’s opened in Park Hill in 1994, but it feels like it’s been around far longer. The friendly neighborhood market is stocked with essentials as well as some gourmet finds – but before you browse, head directly to the deli counter in the back to place your order from a long menu of sandwich options, both hot and cold. There are a few tables in the front where you can eat, but these hefty sandwiches are ideal for taking on a picnic or along for a mid-show snack at Red Rocks – just don’t forget to grab your pickle spear before heading out.

Sunnyside

Odie B’s
2651 West 38th Avenue
When Northside native Cliff Blauvelt, the chef/owner of Odie B’s, opened his neighborhood eatery in August 2022, he described the menu as “sandwich-forward.” Since then, it’s gained a lot of fans both in and outside Sunnyside for a number of reasons, including its morning menu and its double cheeseburger, one of the best in town. But true to Blauvelt’s vision, the sandwich lineup is undeniably the standout, from the lamb birria dip to the falafel flatbread. Now, you can get Odie B’s sandwiches in the evening as well, at its newer outpost in RiNo.

Wash Park

Goudys Deli & Market
1207 East Alameda Avenue
The newest deli on the list, Goudy’s opened in December 2024 and has gained some well-deserved attention for its cheese cave, which houses over 100 varieties of fromage. A smart order, then, from its selection of French sandwiches is the raclette with plenty of melted cheese mingling with Parisian ham and cornichons on a house-made baguette. Other popular options include the Italian and the Club Goudy.

Best Budget Sandwiches

Little Bodega
613 22nd Street
Natasha Butler opened her bright and airy neighborhood market and sandwich shop in 2023 and has kept prices low despite rising costs — which is much-appreicated by neighbors and those working in the area. All the sandwiches are available two sizes, 8-inch or the perfectly-portioned 4-inch, almost all of which are just $10 and arrive on a fully loaded toasted roll.

Mr. Lucky’s Sandwiches
3326 Tejon Street
711 East Sixth Avenue
At the end of 2024, we got a scare when Mr. Lucky’s nearly closed, but by January, both locations were back open, as they remain. Our pick for the Best Lunch Break Sandwich Stop, has been a cornerstone in Cap Hill for 25 years, adding its LoHi outpost in 2019. Like Little Bodega, it offers in 8- and 4-inch sizes, and all of the latter are priced under $10. The most expensive is the Italian Supreme at $9.75, while picks like the TNT (turkey, pepper jack, lettuce, tomato, jalapenos, chipotle mayo and chipotle dressing) and the avocado almond (fresh avocado, toasted almonds, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, Dijon and mayo) are just $6.75.

Max Market
2080 Lawrence Street
A decade ago, Max Market brought a much-needed grocery option to the Ballpark neighborhood. It continues to fill that role today while also offering some very solid sandwiches for a very solid price. Cold sandwiches made with Boar’s Head meats are priced at around $11 each, as is the lineup of hot sandwiches, which includes options such as a turkey Reuben, Albacore tuna melt, and an NYC-style chopped cheese.