Over the past few years, we, the food reporters at the Bay Area News Group, and you, the readers, have been sharing recommendations for terrific sandwiches in Santa Clara, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Alameda counties. Altogether, the sandwiches listed number in the dozens and include the Bay Area’s OG deli combos, those always-popular sandwiches on house-baked sourdough and creative vegetarian and seafood offerings.
It’s time for the spring 2026 list. Here are 12 discoveries of ours — from new sandwich shops to long-running places we have just now found. Check out our recommendations and then tell us about your new favorite sandwiches. Fill out the form at the bottom of the story, and we’ll present the readers’ recommendations in a few weeks.
GUSTO MIO FOCACCERIA, Walnut Creek: La Riccia
Co-owner Antonio Merolla shows a Porchetta Italian sandwich, left, and a Pistacchio Italian sandwich on focaccia bread at Gusto Mio in Walnut Creek on April 10, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
A relatively recent newcomer to town, Gusto Mio is a sleek, little shop for Italian street food that’s centered on excellent focaccia. It was founded by Neapolitan natives Antonio Merolla and Angelo Sannino, the latter of whom helped start the Doppio Zero chain of local restaurants known for Southern Italian pasta and pizza.
“We focus on freshly baked focaccia made daily, carefully sourced Italian meats and cheeses and simple recipes that highlight flavor and authenticity,” Merolla says. “For us, a great sandwich starts with exceptional bread, balanced ingredients and the feeling of sharing real Italian food made with passion and family values.”
A Porchetta Italian sandwich on focaccia bread is served at Gusto Mio in Walnut Creek. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Aside from focaccia pizza, salads and a few mains, there are more than two dozen sandwiches with names like the Pistachio (mortadella, stracciatella cheese, cream-of-pistachio spread) and the Toscana (24-month prosciutto, burrata, truffle honey, arugula). A winning bite is La Riccia, made with crispy porchetta, eggplant, mozzarella and porcini-mushroom spread ($18). It’s hearty yet light-feeling, thanks to that airy and oven-crisp focaccia – enjoy it on an outdoor table, perhaps, with a wine spritz or pistachio tiramisu.
Details: Open 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays at 1441 Locust St., Walnut Creek; gustomiofocacceria.com
SPREAD, San Jose: Angry Tuna
The Angry Tuna is terrific on its own, but Spread deli founder Jordan Trigg suggests gilding the lily by adding candied bacon, as shown above. (Photo courtesy of Spread)
Sandwich devotees who have followed Spread since 2013 — from one end of Campbell Avenue to the other, to downtown San Jose and then to Japantown — will be thrilled to know the shop is open again.
The Duchess (pastrami, turkey breast, sharp cheddar, tomato, sprouts and both black garlic and chipotle aioli) remains the bestseller, as it’s been since Day One.
But we’re highlighting an unusual option that’s both spicy warm and temperature warm. The Angry Tuna ($12.99) is a far cry from a bland diner-style tuna sandwich. The piquant Spread recipe blends skipjack tuna with a mixture of smoked paprika, soy sauce, sriracha, Dijon and tartar sauce, then heaps it on sliced wheat bread with sharp cheddar. After it’s heated up, smashed avocado and tomato slices are added to temper the spice.
Flavorful and filling, just half a sandwich satisfied us for lunch. Maybe it’s the skipjack, which is known to be more richly flavored than albacore (and lower in mercury, too).
Details: Open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily at 170 Jackson St., San Jose; spreaddeli.com
LITTLE SKY KITCHEN, Menlo Park: Brie, Carrot and Egg sandwich
A brie, egg, carrot and mustard sandwich on house-baked sesame seed ficelle from Little Sky Kitchen in Menlo Park is a refreshing yet hearty vegetarian sandwich. (Kate Bradshaw/Bay Area News Group)
A shady outdoor patio, friendly service and the scent of fresh-baked bread set the scene at this Menlo Park restaurant, whose hard-working sister bakery across the street is responsible for the pleasing aroma. For vegetarians looking for a break from the standard all-veggie, no protein combo, Little Sky Kitchen serves up a simple yet satisfying vegetarian meal with its Brie, egg, carrot and mustard sandwich ($18). It’s built between hearty chunks of freshly baked sesame-seed-coated ficelle bread, and served alongside a verdant side salad tossed in a citrus aioli.
The carrots, eggs and bread are cooked fresh daily, and the sauces are made in-house, says James McMillon, operations manager. “Everything is as fresh as possible,” he says.
Enjoy tearing your teeth into this sandwich while sitting at one of the restaurant’s cushioned wicker chairs surrounded by lush greenery. The little oasis feels like an outdoor living room – especially if you’ve planned ahead and picked up some reading material from the neighboring bookstore, Kepler’s, to pair with your meal.
Details: Open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. daily, with the kitchen closing at 3 p.m., at 1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park; littleskybakery.com
CHINESE BAKERY & DELI, San Leandro: Fish Filet Bun
A fish sandwich and a chicken sandwich are shown in April 2026 at Chinese Bakery & Deli in San Leandro. (John Metcalfe/Bay Area News Group)
When is a fish sandwich not a regular fish sandwich? How about when it has rabid fans who get salty when people appear to step out of the long line for ordering it? (Frantic customer on a recent visit: “I was just trying to read the menu – I’m blind!”)
Chinese Bakery & Deli looks pretty much like it sounds — a no-frills operation in a strip mall — and happens to make excellent fried sandwiches (or “buns”) and sweet treats like pineapple buns and egg tarts. It blew up recently thanks to social-media influencers raving about its dirt-cheap fish sandos ($3.50, cash or credit), which people tend to order in multiples. It’s for the family back home … right?
People line up outside Chinese Bakery & Deli in San Leandro for its viral $3.50 fish sandwiches and other tasty treats in April 2026. (John Metcalfe/Bay Area News Group)
This is a viral find that lives up to the hype. Fresh-made Asian sweet buns cushion swai fillets fried golden-crisp and topped with a healthy amount of mayo. The comparisons to McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish are inevitable – President Trump would inhale these like Skittles – but it’s simpler and better. The fried-chicken sandwich is equally good ($3.50), like an old-school Wendy’s. One quibble is they’re all crying out for hot sauce – can a local hero leave behind a shared bottle of Crystal?
Details: Open 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays at 981A Manor Blvd., San Leandro; chinesebakeryca.com, 510-708-8498
MOMMY’S BANH MI, San Jose: The Medallion Banh Mi
The Medallion Banh Mi, with pork lemongrass patties and cilantro aioli, is among the most popular orders at Mommy’s Banh Mi in downtown San Jose. (Bay Area News Group)
The South Bay foodie world has room for more than one great sauce, right? We have the famous La Vic’s Orange Sauce for burritos, tacos and other Mexican fare, and now a delectable Green Sauce (perhaps soon to be famous?) for your Vietnamese sandwiches.
This cilantro aioli was created at Mommy’s Banh Mi by owner Curtis Lai and his mother, the inspiration for this shop. It’s saucy salvation for those of us who have been spending too much time rearranging the cilantro sprigs on our banh mi to ensure that we get some in every bite. Drizzle this, and you’re good to go!
At this downtown San Jose shop, the well-crafted and tasty bestsellers ($12.95 each) are the Lemongrass Chicken Banh Mi and the Medallions Banh Mi, filled with seasoned and grilled pork patties. The rolls, baked in-house starting at 6 every morning, offer just the right crunch. And a not-too-sugary Vietnamese iced coffee ($5.95) completes the meal.
Details: Open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays at 86 N. Market St., San Jose; mommysbanhmi.com
BONNE SANTE BROADWAY, Burlingame: Wild Alaskan
At Bonne Sante in Burlingame, giant, gorgeous and affordable sandwiches are the norm. For example, the Wild Alaskan sandwich is filled with avocado, grilled salmon, mayonnaise, mustard, lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion and the deli’s signature sun-dried tomato tapenade. (Kate Bradshaw/Bay Area News Group)
Simply put, this Burlingame deli knows how to make a sandwich. Specialty sandwiches at Bonne Sante all come with mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion and, perhaps most importantly, their sun-dried tomato tapenade. These toppings added texture and oomph to each bite of the Wild Alaskan ($15), for instance, which features grilled salmon and avocado as its key ingredients alongside the customary toppings, all nestled inside the pillowy wrapping of a fresh, extra-large sourdough roll, still crispy on the outside and melt-in-your-mouth moist on the inside.
You could take your sandwich to go – and heck, if you time it right, space out the feast over a couple of meals – but consider sticking around for the nostalgia factor. At Bonne Sante, it’s all no-fuss hometown love, with Giants and Niners merch adorning the walls and a whole shelf bearing placards from local Little League teams they’ve supported over the years.
Details: Open 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. daily, plus 5-8 p.m. Fridays at 1431 Broadway, Burlingame; bonnesantebroadway.com
SLOW HAND BBQ, Martinez: Smoked Corned-Beef Reuben
The smoked corned-beef Reuben sandwich is served at Slow Hand BBQ in Martinez on April 14, 2026. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
This delicious-smelling meat palace got its start at local farmers markets before expanding to two brick-and-mortars. (The Pleasant Hill location is temporarily closed for dine-in service due to a fire, but it’s open for catering.) Co-owners Dan Frengs and Maureen Bullotta pride themselves on not using gas or electric-heating elements; here, it’s all wood smoke from California white oak, baby.
The menu has rib plates, brisket, jerk wings, hot links and more, but for decadence, it’s hard to beat the smoked corned-beef Reuben ($17.95). “I got the idea to test-smoke a whole corned-beef brisket [in 2013] as I was looking ahead to our first St. Patrick’s Day as a business,” Frengs says. “As I’m not a fan of boiled meat, texture or taste, I thought it might work well to smoke it.”
Racks of St. Louis Ribs are removed from the smoker at Slow Hand BBQ in Martinez on April 14, 2026. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
The Reuben slaps this atypical corned beef on marble rye with homemade red sauerkraut, melted Swiss cheese and mayo/mustard sauce. All the flavors mix so well that barbecue perfection is loaded in every smoky, juicy bite. The corned beef is almost too intense, sliced in big and tender chunks – but there’s foil on the counter if you’d like to save some for home.
Details: Open 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sundays-Mondays and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays at 601 Main St., Martinez; slowhandbbq.com
THE DON’S DELI, Sunnyvale, Mountain View: Tri-Tip Black and Blue
The roasted-in-house tri-tip sandwiches are popular at The Don’s Deli locations in Mountain View and Sunnyvale. Above is the Original; we’re also fans of the Black and Blue, with blue cheese crumbles. (Photo courtesy of The Don’s Deli)
The Don’s has such an appealing lineup that you could eat here for the better part of a month and not repeat a sandwich. The popular Chicken Chipotle combines hot chicken with pepper jack, avocado and chipotle mayo. The NOLA adds olive tapenade to an Italian combo. The cleverly named Don’s Delhi dresses falafel and veggies with curry mayo and sun-dried tomato spread.
But we’re here for Don’s Tri-Tip, roasted in-house. Options include the Original, with cheddar and barbecue teriyaki sauce; the French Dip; the Southwest style; and our favorite, the Black and Blue ($13.99), with blue cheese crumbles atop tender slices of beef.
Customization is encouraged, with your choice of Dutch crunch, sourdough, soft French or wheat roll, all freshly baked. The sauce selection is amazing — barbecue mustard, spicy ranch, cilantro lime ranch, herbed olive oil and more, in addition to all of those listed above. If you want to experiment, consider getting any extra sauce on the side so you don’t end up with a sandwich too slippery to handle.
Also, you can substitute falafel or vegan chicken tenders for the meat on any sandwich.
Details: Sunnyvale is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily at 620 E. Evelyn Ave. The Mountain View location, 2105 Old Middlefield Road, has the same hours but is closed Sunday.
LITTLE LATE BIRD, San Mateo: Bulgogi sandwich
At Little Late Bird, a boba shop and cafe in San Mateo, try the hot bulgogi marinated beef sandwich with jalapeño, spicy mayo, jack cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion. (Kate Bradshaw/Bay Area News Group)
Practically hidden in an office park in San Mateo near Foster City, Little Late Bird is a cozy boba and sandwich shop serving creative, delicious Asian fusion fare and more for breakfast and lunch. Of particular note is their bulgogi hot sandwich ($14), featuring bulgogi-marinated beef, spicy mayonnaise, jalapeño, jack cheese, lettuce, onion and tomato. The sandwich, while not as big as some of the others, packs a flavor punch with the beef, mayo and jalapeño adding a pleasant, mellow heat to each bite.
The waterfront cafe appears to be a great spot for locals to get laptop work done as well as a hub to pick up a boba or coffee and continue strolling through the lagoons of San Mateo’s winding bayfront paths on a sunny afternoon.
Details: Open 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. weekends at 777 Mariners Island Blvd., Suite 170, San Mateo; littlelatebird.square.site
MILL’S HOAGIE & DELI SHOP, Oakland: Steak Hoagie
A steak hoagie with cheese from Mill’s Hoagie & Deli Shop in Oakland in April 2026. (John Metcalfe/Bay Area News Group)
It’s not the most glorious location – next to a gas station, with a sign informing customers they’re being video-recorded – but this dispensary for Philadelphia-style sandwiches is on any East Bay foodie’s bucket list.
It was started decades ago with a co-owner originally from Philly, who worshiped at the altar of salami, crusty bread, oil and vinegar. Italian cold-cut hoagies are still on the menu, but the thing most people order is the steak hoagie ($13, cash only). It can be made into a $17.50 combo with a canned soda and steak fries, which probably were frozen, but nevertheless are near-perfection for aficionados of these blocky spuds (add the seasoned salt).
The steak hoagie is a variant on a traditional cheesesteak, starting with a light-and-crusty loaf brimming with steak. The meat is not thinly sliced but roughly chopped, producing a meatier bite. Gooey American cheese and mayo are the glue that holds it together, and there’s also lettuce, tomato and pickles. Many people suggest adding extra cheese and jalapenos, and there’s also a chicken version – any way you order it, it’s hella tasty.
Details: Open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays at 5930 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland; 510-635-5238, yelp.com/biz/mills-hoagie-and-deli-shop-oakland
HONEY BAKED HAM COMPANY, Pleasanton, Concord, San Jose, Colma: The Ham Classic
Still craving Honey Baked Ham after Easter? The Ham Classic fills that void between holiday buffets. (Photo courtesy of Honey Baked Ham)
The folks rushing the buffet table every time the Honey Baked Ham makes an appearance may not realize that you don’t have to buy a 10-pound ham every time you’re craving that honey-glazed goodness. The HBH stores all make sandwiches — and the meat is carved from the same type of spiral-sliced, bone-in ham or turkey breast sold during the company’s big holiday sales weeks.
For the Ham Classic ($11.49 at the San Jose location), slices of that irresistible ham are layered on a soft roll with Swiss cheese, tomato slices, lettuce, mayonnaise and, of course, Hickory Honey Mustard. There’s more mustard on the side, along with a pack of the sweet glaze.
Other sandwich offerings include the Smoked Turkey or Roasted Turkey Classic, the warm Honeybaked (with pickles and crispy onions), the Tavern Club (with ham, turkey, bacon and cheddar) and Ham Salad (on multigrain bread or in takeout containers).
Details: All Bay Area locations are open 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays; honeybaked.com/home
REDWOOD CITY BARBECUE, Redwood City: Gaucho brisket sandwich
The Gaucho sandwich at Redwood City Barbecue is filled with brisket, chimichurri, grilled onions and melted provolone cheese and served with a side. (Kate Bradshaw/Bay Area News Group)
This barbecue joint tucked along Woodside Road draws on barbecue traditions “from California to the Carolinas,” according to its website. It’s hard to go wrong with the array of barbecue sandwich offerings, each of which comes with a side, too, but the Gaucho brisket sandwich ($18), a special that can be ordered from the counter, is a particularly satisfying pick.
Brisket is topped with melted Provolone cheese, then grilled onions and then slathered with a savory chimichurri sauce packed between the halves of a ciabatta roll. The rich, decadent sandwich paired with a side of crispy, sweet coleslaw offered just the right amount of contrasting tastes and textures between bites.
Details: Open 7 a.m.-9 p.m. or until sold out daily at 640 Woodside Road, Redwood City; redwoodcitybbq.com