Kimchi Reuben at Celebrity Delly
Here’s a funky twist on a Jewish deli classic: This belly-filler ($21) from Will Thompson and Julie Rossler-Thompson’s Falls Church diner packs in a whopping half pound of house-brined corned beef but swaps the usual sauerkraut for tangy kimchi. The whole shebang is stuffed between slices of grilled pumpernickel with melty Swiss, provolone and Russian dressing. Half sandwiches are available for smaller appetites. The extra napkins you’ll surely need are gratis.
The Early Thanksgiving at Earl’s Sandwiches
Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Courthouse sandwich joint founded by owner/operator Stephen Dugan in partnership with John Snedden (of Rocklands Barbeque fame) roasts its own proteins daily and makes just about everything inhouse from scratch. Turn any day into Thanksgiving with this savory-sweet combo ($11) featuring hand-pulled turkey, house-made stuffing, tart cranberry relish and gravy made from the bird’s pan drippings. It’s the real deal.
The Milano at The Italian Store
Rivaling Philly’s finest, this hoagie ($10-$11) has been an Arlington fave ever since the Tramonte family opened their first shop on the edge of Lyon Village in 1980. Rolling up two kinds of Italian ham, provolone, genoa salami, sweet peppers, lettuce, onions and seasoning on a hard or soft Italian roll, it’s seriously habit-forming. Want to be the hero of a game day watch party? Order a sandwich board ($80-$100) piled with mini versions of this and two other Italian sandwiches for a slam dunk.
The Mambo at Queen Mother’s Fried Chicken
America’s love affair with chicken sandwiches deserves a category all its own, but we’d be remiss not to cluck about chef Rock Harper’s culinary love letter to his mom, a 2026 RAMMY Award finalist for “Fast Casual Restaurant of the Year.” Pay a visit to his kiosk in National Landing’s Water Park, where the organic bird is fried in duck fat to crispy perfection and served with your choice of toppings. The Mambo ($15) is topped with D.C.’s favorite sweet-savory-hot sauce, plus slaw and pickles, and served on a toasted brioche bun.
Banh Mi at Nhu Lan Sandwich
This tiny, cash-only Eden Center takeout has been serving up eight renditions of the beloved Vietnamese sandwich on crusty French bread since 1986. The top-selling No. 1, thit nguôi, features housemade pork pate, head cheese and steamed ham, plus the usual rainbow of garnishes—cucumbers, pickled daikon radish, pickled carrots, sliced jalapeno, cilantro sprigs and a slathering of housemayo. Other variations on the theme include meatball, fish or vegetarian. At at a mere $8 apiece, why not order two?
Cuban Sandwich at Colada Shop
Colada Shop founder and Arlington resident Daniella Senior is originally from the Dominican Republic, and her faithful rendition of this Caribbean classic will most definitely transport your taste buds to warmer climes. The savory-sweet handheld ($14.95) packs slow-roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, mustard, house pickles and cilantro aioli between toasty slices of Cuban bread. Find it at the cafe’s tropical-chic locations in Clarendon and National Landing.
The Sun City at Call Your Mother
Who says you can’t have breakfast any old time the craving strikes? Bagel sandwiches are always on offer at this beloved “Jew-ish” deli founded by husband-and-wife restaurateurs Daniela Moreira and Andrew Dana. Try the bestselling Sun City ($10.75) loaded with bodega-style eggs, cheese and hot honey, plus proteins such as bacon or Impossible sausage. Eating light? Get it with egg whites only. Can’t do gluten? Swap the bagel for yucca cheese bread. You can also jazz things up with add-ons like avocado or a crispy potato latke.