14 of Birmingham’s Most Epic Deli Sandwiches
Birmingham's food scene never disappoints, and lately, we're marveling at the options local eateries are serving up between slices of bread! How many of these epic sandwich orders have you tried?
*Originally published November 2021, updated September 2023.
The reach of Birminghamβs food scene is wide, spanning from Southern meat-and-threes to James Beard-nominated cuisine to a growing roster of food trucks. But today, weβre highlighting the mouthwatering combinations that Birmingham restaurants are serving up between two slices of bread. Add these 14 epic sandwich orders to your must-try list!
Pastrami | Smiley Brothers
Neighborhood: Pelham
More info: smileybrothersfoods.com
Hubba, hubba. For pastrami lovers, this is it. Worth the short drive to Pelham, the Smiley Brothers pastrami sandwich is made with Wagyu beef pastrami, Swiss cheese, pickles, deli mustard, and marbled rye bread. The one pictured here is made with double meat, one of the many add-ons available for Smiley Brothers sandwiches. Other decadent add-ons include double cheese, bacon, and pimento cheese.
The Brooklyn | New York Butcher Shoppe
Neighborhood: Cahaba Heights
More info: local.nybutcher.com
New York Butcher Shoppe has locations in Cahaba Heights and Greystone, offering up prime cuts of meat, various wines, and prepared foods. But today, we pay homage to their sandwich menu. As you might imagine, their sandwich lineup is a carnivoreβs dream. Pictured below is The Brooklyn, stacked with layers of prosciutto, capicola, Genoa salami, provolone cheese, and a choice of toppings.
Brisket Panini | Brick & Tin
Neighborhood: Downtown + Mountain Brook
More info: brickandtin.com
At both Brick & Tin locations β downtown and Mountain Brook β you can find this monster of a brisket sandwich layered with caramelized onions, white barbecue sauce, and, of course, plenty of braised beef brisket, all between two toasted slices pain de mie flatbread. Served with a cup of their seasonal soup selections, it doesnβt get much better.
The Fritz | The Garage
Neighborhood: Southside
More info: facebook.com/thegaragebham
Served at The Garage, a bar located in an architectural salvage shop courtyard on the southside of Birmingham, this famously HUGE sandwich has a fanbase all its own, and for obvious reasons. Buckle up. The Fritz comes with roast beef, turkey, ham, pastrami, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and more than its fair share of condiments. Its official menu description is βA sandwich with everything but the kitchen sink or marblesβ β and thatβs about right. So deliciously right. SB TIP: The Garage is cash-only, so come prepared!
Smoked Bologna | Helen
Neighborhood: Downtown
More info: helenbham.com
Another bad boy of a sandwich featuring bologna, this one from Helen is a decidedly elevated take on the fried bologna sandwiches of our childhoods. This one is layered up with shaved smoked bologna Γ la plancha (a cooking method responsible for those beautiful sear marks), American cheese, Dukeβs mayo, mustard, pickle, tomato, and lettuce, all married on a fluffy potato roll.
Mr. Pβs Homemade Italian Sausage | Mr. Pβs Deli
Neighborhood: Hoover
More info: mrpdeli.com
This handsome hoagie, served up at Mr. Pβs Deli, features Pilleteriβs homemade Italian sausage, thinly sliced and layered generously, then topped with mozzarella cheese and Pilleteriβs BBQ sauce, all presented on a white hoagie bun. If you find that youβre a fan of Pilleteriβs Italian sausage, you can order it by the pound. You can even order Italian sausage-stuffed pork chops!
Ginaβs Melt | I Love Tina & Ginaβs
Neighborhood: Downtown
More info: ilovetinasandginas.com
Open in The Pizitz since April 2022, I Love Tina & Ginaβs has already solidified a reputation as one of the best sandwich spots in Birmingham. They can cure just about any sandwich craving, but their salad-based sandwiches β both chicken and tuna β have established quite the following. Pictured here is Ginaβs Melt, piled high with tuna salad, sharp cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, and red onion on rye bread.
The Cuban | GreenHouse
Neighborhood: Homewood
More info: greenhousebham.com
We love a traditional Cuban sandwich, but we also love a creative twist on a classic. This Cuban sandwich from GreenHouse in Homewood features roasted pork and ham, as expected, but it also comes complete with layers of marinated kale, pickled onions, Swiss cheese, and Dijon mustard, all nestled inside a fresh ciabatta roll.
The John Gotti | T-Boneβs Cheesesteaks and Hoagies
Neighborhood: Bluff Park
More info: tbonescheesesteaks.com
T-Boneβs is known for its authentic Philly-style sandwiches, so itβs a prime spot when youβre craving a little protein. Pictured here is the John Gotti hoagie, topped with copious amounts of honey-roasted turkey, cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onions, basil, oregano, olive oil, salt, pepper, and a layer of pickled peppers. (Youβll notice some other familiar names on the T-Boneβs menu: Vito Corleone, Tony Soprano, and Carlo Gambino, to name a fewβ¦)
The Muffuletta | Diplomat Deli
Neighborhood: Vestavia Hills
More info: diplomatdeli.com
Diplomat Deli has an extensive menu of sandwich options, but one quintessential Southern favorite we canβt go without is the Muffuletta. Itβs a classic combination of salami, ham, pastrami, Swiss cheese, provolone cheese, mustard, and olive salad on French bread. At Diplomat, you can order a 1/4 Muffuletta, a 1/2 Muffuletta, or a whole Muffuletta to feed a crowd. (We hear their French onion soup, served only on the weekends, is fabulous too!)
βSaturday Sammiesβ | Son of a Butcher
Neighborhood: Lakeview District
More info: thesonofabutcher.com
Son of a Butcher is a family-owned butcher shop that opened at Pepper Place, offering top-quality meat, seafood, cheese, and pantry items to Birmingham residents all week long. But on Saturdays, they offer up a rotation of βSaturday Sammies.β The one pictured here features Fraβ Mani smoked ham, Sweetgrass Dairy pimento cheese, and McClureβs Bread & Butter Pickles, all on a Bandit baguette. They make a limited number of Saturday Sammies each week and announce the weekβs combination on social media!
The Club | Oteyβs Tavern
Neighborhood: Mountain Brook
More info: oteystavern.com
Bacon lovers, lean in! This exact order just might be your new go-to. The three-layer club sandwich at Oteyβs Tavern is a tried-and-true combination of turkey, ham, bacon, cheddar cheese, mayo, lettuce, and tomato. And if youβre really hungry, ask for an order of Benβs Cheesy Fries on the side β theyβre loaded with melted cheddar, mozzarella, and crumbled bacon, and served with buttermilk ranch for good measure. Drooling yet?
Chicken Bacon | Ampersandwich
Neighborhood: Avondale
More info: eatatampersandwich.com
Ampersandwich serves up a variety of deli sandwiches, both classic and βspecialtyβ β and like Son of a Butcherβs Saturday Sammies, theyβre all served on freshly baked bread from Bandit. One such specialty sandwich is the Chicken Bacon, loaded to the gills with deli-sliced chicken, crispy bacon, Swiss and cheddar cheeses, mayo, mustard, giardineria, onion, lettuce, tomato, pickle, oil, salt, and pepper. Quite the mouthful (pun intended).
Mac Melt | MELT
Neighborhood: Mountain Brook + Hoover
More info: ilovemelt.com
While MELT is known around Birmingham for its delicious sandwiches, many of them topped with creatively prepared proteins, weβd be remiss not to mention at least one meat-free option. When youβre in the market for something seriously cheesy, order their Mac Melt. Itβs two pieces of Texas toast loaded with house-made macaroni and cheese β one of their original offerings!
Hope youβre hungry, BHAM!
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Alissa Harb
Alissa Harb is StyleBlueprint's Managing Editor, based in Nashville. A lifelong Tennessee native, Alissa has over 14 years of experience in digital media and loves writing about food, travel, and entertaining. She is a lover of dogs, true crime, and ordering for the table.