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The Top 10 Sandwiches in Ottawa We Tried That Are Absolute Bangers!
There’s something special about sandwiches. They’re easy to make, totally customizable, absolutely filling, and satisfyingly delicious.
While it’s easy to make, it doesn’t guarantee that the result will be a surefire hit. It’s not like you can just put meat and lettuce in the middle of bread and call it a day. You must add ingredients that will complement each flavour.
I’ve tasted my fair share of sandwiches, some not so good and some mind-blowingly delicious! Now, I’m sharing my favourite sandwich shops in Ottawa, where every bite is a treat to the senses!
Di Rienzo Deli
Media credit: myfoodfilledlife
Address: 111 Beech St
Contact: (613) 729-4037, [email protected]
Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 8:30 am – 7 pm
- Saturday: 10 am – 7 pm
- Sunday: 10 am – 5 pm
This neighbourhood gem serves mean sandwiches that are guaranteed hits! These sammies are made fresh daily and feel very homemade, with soft bread and huge portions of ingredients that burst with flavours!
With a long list of sandwiches, made with all kinds of meats, you’ll surely find one that will tempt your palate. The turkey sandwiches are slam dunks for a reason, especially our personal favourite, the number 13, with gardeniera, tomato, lettuce, and mayo.
If you prefer to pick your fillings, you totally can! The Build-Your-Own Sandwich comes with up to three meat options and all the toppings you want! Oh, and don’t forget to try their famous homemade cannoli!
Pro Tip:
Bring cash because they don’t accept card payments.
Gooney’s Sandwichworks
Media credit: gooneysottawa
Address: Sir Wilfrid Laurier Building – 294 Albert St, Suite 102
Contact: (613) 233-2460, [email protected]
Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 8 am – 8 pm
- Saturday: 8 am – 5 pm
- Sunday: Closed
Nothing says authentic Latin American flavours like a sandwich from Gooney’s! The ingredients are perfectly combined to create rich flavours that aren’t overpowering to the palate, just the kind of meal you need when you’re feeling famished.
Even meat lovers will enjoy the Vegetarian Sandwich, served with mushrooms, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, eggplant, Swiss cheese, Provolone cheese, cheddar cheese, and coriander mayo. All the ingredients together make one hell of a sandwich!
But the spotlight goes to their arepas, a gluten-free dish that originated in Venezuela. It’s made with soft bread with a slightly crispy exterior, which comes in a wide variety of fillings! A must-try is the Pollo Picante, which has spicy chicken and coriander sauce!
Pro Tip:
Expect a queue sometimes, but it’s honestly worth waiting for. If you want to avoid lining up, consider skipping peak breakfast and lunch hours.
Subito
Media credit: subito.sandwich
Address: 389 Gladstone Ave
Contact: (613) 699-5008, [email protected]
Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 9:30 am – 6 pm
- Saturday: 10 am – 5 pm
- Sunday: 11 am – 4 pm
Don’t be fooled by the humble exterior of Subito’s sandwich shop. This unassuming place serves hot and cold subs packed with flavours and loaded with ingredients—and there are A LOT of options!
The first bite of the bread is crispy but remains soft on the inside. Every bite is a mouthful because the sandwich is filled to the brim with perfectly layered ingredients, so you’re tasting every flavour with every chomp.
The Spicy Combo Sandwich brings a bit of a kick, but is elevated when paired with mozzarella cheese and spicy mayonnaise in ciabatta bread. If you aren’t into spicy meals, the Pesto Chicken Sandwich has the right nuttiness and aromatic herbs.
Pro Tip:
Don’t miss out on the happy hour specials for discounted items! You can get a pre-made sandwich for half off!
Paninaro
Media credit: eatpaninaro
Address: 642 Somerset St W
Contact: 613-699-5957, [email protected]
Hours:
- Sunday – Monday: Closed
- Tuesday – Friday: 11 am – 7 pm
- Saturday: 11 am – 4 pm
It’s easy to miss Paninaro on Somerset Street West, as it doesn’t look like your typical sandwich shop. But looks can be deceiving, because once you enter the yellow door, you’ll be greeted by a laid-back yet totally hip vibe.
It’s not the same for their sandwiches, because they look tasty that once you see them, you’ll want to gobble ‘em up! That rings especially true for the Moda Mortadella, a delicious combo of mortadella and stracciatella with pistachio cream and crumbs!
Visit on a sunny day for patio dining, which is ideal for long catch-ups with your buddies because the sammies are huge! There’s not a whole lot of options, though, but it’s no biggie since there’s variety.
Pro Tip:
Make sure you grab a cannoli for dessert! The crunchy shell filled with ricotta cream is the perfect end to your meal!
Sanguiccio Deli Cafe
Media credit: sanguiccio
Address: 183 Preston St
Contact: (613) 569-0456, [email protected]
Hours:
- Sunday – Monday: Closed
- Tuesday – Friday: 11 am – 6 pm
- Saturday: 12 pm – 4:30 pm
The homemade Italian sandwiches at Sanguiccio Deli Cafe, where entering feels like you’re coming home to nonna, are certified bangers for kids and adults! Everything is made fresh and Italian-style, served with the finest flavours.
Children will enjoy the Kid’s Sanguiccio, which is made with a toasted bun, melted provolone, tomatoes, and lettuce. Meanwhile, the adults will have a blast eating the Italian Cold Cuts, a sandwich made with up to two cold cuts!
The sandwiches, all served with a veggie spread, pair really well with a cold bottle of pop. Go for an Italian soda to really experience Italian dining!
Pro Tip:
We suggest phoning your order in advance if you’re in a hurry because all sandwiches are made to order, so expect a bit of a wait.
Torta Boyz
Media credit: tortaboyz.ot
Address: 60A Lebreton St N
Contact: [email protected]
Hours:
- Tuesday – Thursday: 5 pm – 10 pm
- Friday – 12 pm – 2:30 pm & 5 pm – 11 pm
- Saturday: 5 pm – 11 pm
- Sunday: 12 pm – 5 pm
Pricing: $$$
Reservation Website
For bold flavours that make you want to go for seconds (or thirds), Torta Boyz should be on your list. This sweet spot is the coolest kid on the block, where mouthwatering sandwiches have deeply layered taste profiles!
Their famous tortas are sandwiches stacked with a variety of ingredients. A must-try is the Carne Asada, made with a juicy AAA top sirloin, cheese, and pickled slaw, slathered with chimichurri and chipotle mayo.
A torta isn’t complete without Asada Fries, a plate of deep-fried potatoes smothered with guacamole, pico de gallo, cotija cheese, and salsa morita for a little bit of spice! Of course, Mexican food is best paired with a pint of cold beer to complement the flavours!
Pro Tip:
Before booking a table on the patio, check the weather app to see if it’s going to rain, because if it does, there’s no guarantee you’ll still get seated inside.
Sherwood Market & Deli
Media credit: sherwood.deli
Address: 111 Sherwood Dr
Contact: (613) 729-6011, [email protected]
Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 7 am – 10 pm
- Saturday: 8 am – 10 pm
- Sunday: 9 am – 9 pm
When you need a good deli sandwich in Ottawa, Sherwood Market & Deli has got the good stuff! Here, you get your classic sarnies, made with fresh ingredients, all wrapped in delicious toast!
The perk of purchasing a sandwich in a deli is that you can build it to your taste! It already comes with lettuce, cheese, and sauces, and you get to pick your preferred bread (we prefer rye for a touch of tanginess).
If you’re on the go, the BBQ Chicken Bacon Avocado Sandwich is a popular choice for good reason. The barbecue flavour adds a slight kick due to the smoky flavour, while introducing the unique taste and texture of the avocado.
Toss in a potato salad to balance out the rich, savoury flavours of the sandwich. They make a good one here!
Pro Tip:
Try the Sherwood sauce to elevate the sandwich.
The Sandwich Shop
Media credit: thesandwichstopottawa
Address: 2285 St. Laurent Blvd, Building C #10
Contact: (613) 680-6844, [email protected]
Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 11 am – 3 pm
- Saturday – Sunday: Closed
Pricing: $
Website
The Sandwich Shop is a small shop, serving deli sandwiches made from scratch. They’re not readily noticeable, since their location isn’t the most accessible when you’re out and about.
But they’re worth the trip. Here, you get a sandwich filled to the brim with a variety of ingredients, offering generous portions and lots of options to suit every palate. The smash burgers are flavourful and juicy, and a good option for comfort food.
A tasty introduction to this deli is through The Big Mouth, a simple sandwich with turkey, black forest ham, tomato, cheddar, lettuce, and mayo—it’s simple but delicious!
For a more adventurous option, we recommend Manny’s Sandwich, stacked with three kinds of meats (capocollo, mortadella, and Genoa salami) and various ingredients, like eggplant, provolone cheese, hot peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, and chipotle mayo.
Pro Tip:
If you’re swinging by, bring cash! And if you cannot go to their location, you can order via Uber Eats, Skip the Dishes, or DoorDash!
BanhMiYes
Media credit: banhmiyes.ottawa
Address: 1129 Wellington St. W
Contact: (613) 728-7688, [email protected]
Hours: Monday – Sunday: 11 am – 8 pm
Pricing: $$
Website
Menu
BanhMiYes serves sandwiches that are deliciously fresh and unique, with lots of flavours and textures. It’s made from scratch with fresh ingredients, exactly what a traditional Vietnamese banh mi should be like!
A bestseller in this house is the Banh Mi Classic, served with three different types of hams and topped with house-made sauce and various vegetables—we recommend adding a hot chilli for a spicy punch.
Plant-based customers will not feel left out. The Yummy Tofu Banh Mi is made with deep-fried tofu, and the Vegan Chicken is composed of mushroom and soybean “chicken.”
Pro Tip:
Wash down your sandwich with a satisfying Vietnamese iced coffee for a strong yet sweet drink.
La Bottega Nicastro
Media credit: botteganicastro
Address: 64 George St
Contact: [email protected]
Hours:
- Monday – Thursday: 9 am – 6 pm
- Friday: 9 am – 8 pm
- Thursday: 9 am – 6 pm
- Sunday: 10 am – 5 pm
Pricing: $$$
Website
Conveniently located in ByWard Market, La Bottega is an Italian grocer that serves deli sandwiches. It’s a can-not-miss place for ready-to-go meals, where the food is prepared fresh and made with quality ingredients!
They serve paninis that are so good, you’ll be planning your next visit before you even finish your plate! If you’re looking for a sandwich to dream about later, the Fully Loaded Italian Classic is a clear winner, made with capicolo, mortadella, and salami!
The Napoli is also a must-try, which is a panini with classic pizza ingredients, such as prosciutto, mozzarella, arugula, and tomato, drizzled with olive oil in soft Italian bread. It tastes just like you’re in Naples!
Pro Tip:
Avoid visiting during rush hours because the place can get crowded, and the aisles are a tight fit for two people.
