From sea to shining sea, the U.S. is a country of sandwich lovers. Take a peek at the map below for a guide to some of the sandwiches known as beloved hometown favorites. Whether those picks are niche or known across the States, it’s safe to say we are citizens of one nation, under bread.
1. Alaska > Reindeer sausage sandwich
Fresh reindeer sausage with caramelized onions, peppers, spinach, sharp cheddar, and Dijonnaise sauce on a hamburger bun
2. Arizona > Indian (Navajo) taco
Distinct for its base of the Navajo frybread sopaipilla
3. Arkansas > Fried bologna sandwich
“The sandwich of the South,” made on grilled white bread with bologna and cheddar cheese
4. California (L.A.) > French dip
Shaved roast beef on French bread, served au jus
5. Colorado > Denver sandwich
Western omelet (ham, onions, and green peppers) between two slices of toast
6. Connecticut > Lobster roll
Connecticut’s version is served hot with butter on a hot dog bun
7. Florida (Miami) > Cubano
Ham, roast pork, cheese, and pickles on grilled Cuban bread
8. Illinois (Chicago) > Italian beef
Italian bread topped with roast beef soaked in drippings, sautéed peppers, and giardiniera
9. Illinois > The Horseshoe
Open-faced sandwich of Texas toast topped with burger patties and French fries, and smothered in cheese sauce
10. Indiana > The pork tenderloin
Breaded and deep-fried pork tenderloin with mustard, onions, lettuce, pickles, and mayonnaise on a bun
11. Iowa > Loose meat (a.k.a. the Maid-Rite)
Similar to a Sloppy Joe, but without the sauce. Served on a bun, it consists of ground beef and onions cooked in a special skillet that drains off the grease
12. Kentucky > Hot Brown
An open-faced sandwich of turkey and bacon smothered in Mornay sauce and baked until browned
13. Louisiana (New Orleans) > Muffaletta
The muffaletta gets its name from the Sicilian-style bread it’s served on. Inside, the sandwich traditionally consists of marinated olive salad, mortadella, salami, mozzarella, ham, and provolone
14. Louisiana (New Orleans) > Po’ boy
Fried seafood (usually shrimp, oysters, catfish, or softshell crab) with hot sauce, pickles, lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise on French bread
15. Maine > Lobster roll
Chilled lobster meat tossed with mayo and served on a toasted hot dog bun
16. Maine (Portland) > Italian
Boiled ham, sliced American cheese, green peppers, onions, olives, oil, salt, and pepper on a submarine roll
17. Maryland (Baltimore) > Lake trout sandwich
Fried whiting (“lake trout”) on white bread with a vinegar-based hot sauce
18. Minnesota (Minneapolis) > Jucy Lucy
A hamburger with cheese stuffed inside the patty prior to grilling
19. Mississippi > Elvis sandwich
White bread with peanut butter, bacon, and sliced bananas skillet-fried in butter
20. Missouri (St. Louis) > The St. Paul
Egg foo yong patty with pickles, white onions, lettuce, tomato, and mayo between slices of white bread
21. Montana (Helena) > The nuke
Ham, turkey, roast beef, cheddar, Swiss, and provolone stuffed into a hollowed-out cylindrical half-loaf of bread
22. Nebraska (Lincoln) > The runza
Yeast-dough pocket filled with ground beef, onions, sauerkraut, and seasonings
23. New Jersey > Sloppy Joe
A cold sandwich made on rye bread with turkey, roast beef, pastrami, and corned beef or sliced beef tongue, topped with Swiss, coleslaw, and Russian dressing
24. New Jersey > Submarine sandwich
French bread split lengthwise and stuffed with various cold-cut meats, cheeses, and vegetables, usually seasoned with Italian herbs, salt and pepper, and oil and vinegar
25. New York (Buffalo) > Beef on weck
Roast beef and horseradish on a salty kummelweck roll (kaiser roll baked with pretzel salt and caraway seeds)
26. NYC > Corned beef or pastrami on rye
Spice-cured meat between two slices of rye bread, with mustard or Russian dressing
27. North Carolina > Pulled pork BBQ sandwich with vinegar sauce
Pulled pork on a soft bun, with a vinegar-based sauce
28. Pennsylvania (Philadelphia) > Cheese steak
A split Italian-style roll filled with thinly sliced beef and provolone or cheese sauce
29. Ohio (Cleveland) > The Polish boy
Grilled kielbasa on a hot dog bun, covered with French fries, coleslaw, and hot sauce or barbecue sauce
30. South Dakota (Aberdeen) > Pheasant sandwich
Cooked pheasant meat, hard-boiled eggs, grated carrots, chopped celery, pickle relish, and mayonnaise on sliced bread
31. Virginia (Williamsburg) > Ham biscuit
Cured and smoked Virginia ham on a buttered buttermilk biscuit
32. Washington, D.C. > Half-smoke
Half-beef, half-pork coarse-ground hot sausage with mustard, onions, ketchup, and relish on a hot dog bun
