One Texas deli builds a sandwich called The Rebecca on three slices of egg bread.
Pastrami, smoked turkey, cream cheese, and Russian dressing all share that tower.
I can’t stop thinking about how someone dreamed that up.
That sandwich is only one of the oddballs worth chasing. Another shop stacks soppressata-style ambition into a sandwich it simply calls Serious.
A deli up north grills a double-decker Reuben with three different meats. Somebody even named a vegetarian stack after a basketball star.
I love that so many of these creations come with names and backstories.
A good sandwich shop treats bread like a canvas.
Some bake their own rolls. Others brush them with garlic butter or pile on house-made chips.
So which one would you drive across Texas for first? The list below might make that choice harder, not easier.
Meat & Bread
A shop named Meat & Bread isn’t hiding its priorities. You know exactly what you’re getting before you open the door.
The house signatures are porchetta and meatball sandwiches. Both come on toasted bread built to hold tender meat and bold sauces.
Porchetta is an Italian roast pork, and it makes a rich, savory filling. The meatball sandwich is the messier choice, so grab extra napkins.
Want something different? The Italian Panino is another menu highlight worth a look.
A grilled cheese sits on the menu too, which feels like a safe pick for picky eaters.
Vegetarians aren’t stuck with a side salad here. The shop offers a full vegetarian menu, so mixed groups can order without drama.
Service runs at the counter and moves fast. That makes it a smart downtown Austin lunch stop when your break is short.
Seating is small, but there’s room indoors and outdoors. Dogs are welcome inside and out, which is a nice bonus for pet owners.
Weekend hours start earlier, at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Parking nearby can be tricky, so plan a few extra minutes.
Address: 360 Nueces St Ste 20, Austin, TX 78701
Kenny & Ziggy’s New York Delicatessen
Three layers of pastrami in one sandwich sounds like a dare. In Houston, it’s the Triple Pastrami, and it’s a signature at this old-school deli.
Pastrami and corned beef are the stars here. The sandwiches come huge, in true New York deli fashion.
You may want a plan before you order. Splitting a sandwich could leave room for dessert, and the dessert case deserves attention.
The Triple Threat Chocolate Cheesecake and New York Carrot Cake both appear on the menu. There’s also a famous house torte if you want something grand.
Thirsty for something old-fashioned? Try an egg cream or a chocolate phosphate, two classic soda fountain drinks.
Neither one has egg in it, which surprises a lot of first-timers.
The menu goes well beyond sandwiches. Look for the Brooklyn Style Patty Melt, Lox N Latkes, and a Schnitzel & Waffle Tower.
Doors open daily at 8 a.m. and close at 9 p.m. Weekend afternoons get busy, so a weekday evening may be calmer.
Address: 1743 Post Oak Blvd, Houston, TX 77056
Schmaltz’s Sandwich Shoppe
Garlic butter on a sandwich bun is a move more shops should copy. Waco’s Schmaltz’s Sandwich Shoppe has made it part of its signature.
The Schmaltz is the namesake sandwich, and it is loaded. Ham, salami, and lunch meat meet mozzarella, cheddar, and parmesan.
Then come lettuce, tomatoes, onions, black olives, and mustard. All of it rides on a fresh-baked artisan bun brushed with that garlic butter.
The toasting matters too. The shop is known for toasted sandwiches on house bread, so the outside gets a nice crunch.
Families will feel at home here. High chairs and a kids’ menu are available, and there’s a full vegetarian menu as well.
This Townwest shop on Valley Mills Drive is one of two Waco locations. A downtown spot handles weekday lunch crowds too.
The Townwest shop stays open until 8 p.m. on weekdays and closes at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Sundays are off, so don’t plan a post-church sandwich run.
Address: 1412 N Valley Mills Dr #136, Waco, TX 76710
Carshon’s Delicatessen
Most sandwiches use two slices of bread. The Rebecca uses three, and that’s just the start of its charm.
This Fort Worth sandwich layers pastrami, cream cheese, and smoked turkey with Russian dressing. It all stacks on egg bread, with fresh red onion and a pickle spear alongside.
Cream cheese with pastrami might sound odd at first. Give it a chance, because the creamy and salty combo is the whole point.
Carshon’s is a longtime kosher-style deli with New York-style sandwiches. Portions of meat run generous, so come with an empty stomach.
Save room for pie, because homemade pies are a big part of the deli’s reputation. The menu also lists Cappuccino Ice Cream Pie, Lemon Bars, and Strawberry Delight.
Not in a sandwich mood? Frito Chili Pie and lox with cream cheese both show up on the menu.
This is a lunch place, not a dinner spot. It closes at 3 p.m. and stays closed on Sundays, so plan an early visit.
Address: 3133 Cleburne Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76110
Weinberger’s Deli
One meat is fine for a Reuben, but Weinberger’s uses three. Gayle’s Super Reuben is a double-decker that means business.
Hot corned beef, pastrami, and turkey pastrami fill it up. Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and brown mustard finish the job on grilled marble rye.
Not a Reuben fan? The menu is packed with other named creations, so you won’t be bored.
The Dirty Dozen piles on meat, cheese, and veggies, and it comes with chips and a pickle. The Bourdain and the Jay Bird have fans of their own, and the Bourdain is vegetarian.
You’ll also find a MediaNoche, a Ciabatta Bomb, a cheesesteak, and a sandwich called the Texan. Gyros, dagwoods, soups, and chili round things out.
Feeling creative? Design-your-own sandwiches are an option at the counter.
The deli sits along historic Main Street in Grapevine. That makes it an easy lunch stop during a stroll through downtown.
Address: 601 S Main St, Grapevine, TX 76051
Zito’s Deli
When a sandwich is literally called the Serious Sandwich, you have to take it seriously. At Zito’s in San Antonio, it’s the name people know.
Can’t commit to the full thing? The menu also lists a Half Serious Sandwich, which is a very honest name.
The sandwiches here pair warm meat with cold lettuce and tomato on crispy bread. That hot and cold contrast is a big part of the appeal.
Zito’s offers a wide range of sandwiches beyond the headliner. Italian subs and gyros both share the spotlight.
Potato salad is a menu highlight if you want a side. It’s a classic match for a big deli sandwich.
This is an easygoing, counter-service lunch place with seating inside. High chairs are available, and groups fit in without much fuss.
Parking is usually easy, with a free lot and street spaces. Hours run until 4 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, with Sundays closed.
Address: 1554 Babcock Rd, San Antonio, TX 78229
Jimmy’s Food Store
Some of the best sandwiches in Dallas come from the back of a grocery store. Jimmy’s Food Store is an Italian specialty market with a sandwich counter tucked behind the shelves.
The Italian beef and the muffuletta are the big names here. Both are made to order with fresh deli items.
Muffulettas pack meat, cheese, and olive salad onto round bread. Even the small one is loaded enough to share with a friend.
Yes, it gets a little messy. That’s part of the fun with olive salad, so grab napkins.
While you wait, wander the aisles. The store stocks imported cheeses, pasta, sausages, and prepared foods.
You might leave with dinner plans too. Homemade pasta and good espresso make it tempting to shop after lunch.
Jimmy’s has been around for a long time, and it shows in the old-school Italian feel. It’s open Monday through Saturday until 7 p.m. and closed Sundays.
Address: 4901 Bryan St, Dallas, TX 75206
Brown Bag Deli
Sub sizes here range from mini to family-size. That means you can feed one hungry kid or a whole crew with a single order.
Brown Bag Deli in El Paso makes both hot and cold subs. The bread is fresh-baked, and the meats and toppings come in generous helpings.
Pastrami lovers should pay attention. The hot pastrami subs are a big draw at this quick-stop shop.
Other menu highlights include a ham, pastrami, and roast beef combo with cheese. There’s also a Pizza Sub for anyone who can’t pick between pizza and a sandwich.
The cold cut selection is wide, so classic sandwiches are always on the table. Specialty sandwiches sit right beside them for the adventurous.
Hours are a big plus. The shop opens at 7 a.m.
Monday through Saturday and stays open until 9 p.m. daily.
That makes it handy for an early lunch pickup or a late dinner. Catering is available too, if you’re feeding a party.
Address: 4319 Fred Wilson Ave, El Paso, TX 79904
The Sandwich Spot
Funny sandwich names are half the fun at The Sandwich Spot. This regional chain is known for original creations with cheeky titles.
Reading the menu feels a bit like scrolling through jokes. Then you remember you’re hungry and have to actually pick one.
The Lubbock shop sits on 4th Street, an easy stop for a West Texas lunch break. Service moves fast, which helps when time is tight.
Can’t settle on a signature? Build-your-own sandwiches are on the menu.
You choose the pieces and make it exactly how you like.
Salads are available too. They work well if someone in your group wants something lighter.
Ordering options are flexible. You can dine in, grab takeout, use curbside pickup, or get delivery.
Parking is usually plentiful, with a free lot on site. That’s one less thing to stress about on a busy day.
Hours run until 8 p.m. on weekdays and 6 p.m. on Saturday. Sunday hours are short, closing at 3 p.m., so plan ahead.
Address: 5707 4th St, Lubbock, TX 79416
Quattros
Chicago food in the Texas Panhandle sounds like a mix-up. At Quattros in Amarillo, it’s the whole plan.
The Italian beef sandwich is the headliner. It’s a Chicago classic of thin-sliced beef on a roll, and it’s hard to find done this way in the area.
Prefer cheese with your beef? The Philly cheesesteak has a strong following of its own.
Then there’s Quattro’s Chicago Style Hot Dog. Chicago dogs are known for loads of toppings and absolutely no ketchup.
A gyro also shows up among the menu highlights. That gives you another hearty option if you want to switch it up.
Here’s a handy perk: there’s a drive-through. You can grab an Italian beef without leaving your car.
Quattros opens at 8 a.m., so breakfast is on the table too. It closes at 4 p.m.
Monday through Saturday and stays closed Sunday.
Mornings early in the week tend to be quieter. Saturday afternoon is the busiest stretch.
Address: 810 N Buchanan St, Amarillo, TX 79107
The Wicked Wich
A sandwich called The Beast sets high expectations. The Wicked Wich in San Antonio seems happy to meet them.
The Beast and the Hero Sandwich are two of the shop’s signatures. Both are made with fresh ingredients and plenty of veggies.
Plant-based eaters get real choices here. The shop offers a vegan vegetarian menu, though it is primarily a meat-heavy sandwich shop.
Craving something classic? The Cheesy Bacon Ranch delivers exactly what the name promises.
This is a local, counter-service shop with a relaxed, casual feel. It’s a good fit for a solo lunch or a quick bite with a friend.
Catering and delivery are both available. That’s handy if your office needs a sandwich spread.
The shop is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays are closed, so save your craving for the week.
Address: 825 Fredericksburg Rd, San Antonio, TX 78212
Seegars Deli
House-baked bread and house-made chips on the same plate? Seegars Deli in Dallas clearly cares about the details.
The hot pastrami is a standout at this neighborhood deli. Egg salad and bold pimento cheese sandwiches also earn plenty of attention.
Then there’s a surprise hit. A tomato sandwich comes on a sesame hoagie bun with cream cheese.
That sounds simple, and it is. Still, simple food is hard to pull off well, and this one makes a strong case.
Those signature chips are made in-house too. They’re worth ordering alongside whatever sandwich you choose.
Seegars works for more than lunch. It serves breakfast and brunch, plus dinner, and the coffee gets high marks.
Families have options here, with a kids’ menu, high chairs, and changing tables. Vegan and vegetarian menus are also available.
Late cravings are covered on weekends, with hours until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
It’s a fitting final stop on any Texas sandwich hunt.
Address: 1910 S Harwood St, Dallas, TX 75215
