This Family-Run Deli In Sydney's North Does One Of The City's Best Reubens (2024)

There are few things more comforting in life than a perfectly layered sandwich.In Sydney/Eora, we go mad for a proper sanga, ranging from hefty two-handers to bougie Italian deli creations served on fluffy focaccia.

Hungry for some layers of goodness served up between bread? Here'swhere you'll find the best sandwiches in Sydney right now.

Mrs Palmer Sandwich

81 Stanley Street, Darlinghurst

Image credit: Mrs Palmer Sandwich | Instagram

Mrs Palmer Sandwich dishes up just six sandwiches extremely well. The guys behind Wings and Tins have turned their deft hands to slicing bread and stacking toppings dangerously high with mouth-watering ingredients.

There are weekly specials like hefty Italian meatball sandwiches or al pastor creations withgrilled Mexican chicken, roasted pineapple, onions, avocado, rocket and fresh lime, plus the regular lineup with chicken and salad, rare roast beef and pulled brisket numbers. Oh, and there’s a secret margarita bar out back if you get thirsty!

Self Raised

45 Jubilee Avenue, Carlton and Shop 4, Sarsfield Crescent, Bexley North

Image credit: Self Raised | Instagram

From the team behind NYC-inspired pizza joint My Mother's Cousin, Self Raisedpumpsout delicious bread (sourdough, baguettes, ciabattas, and take-home focaccias) and pastries like enormous pistachio croissants.

They also do pretty mean sandwiches like a mortadella focaccia topped with wild rocket, bocconcini, roasted peppers, green olivesand Parmigiana Reggiano. Or a classic hoagie, a schnitzel sandwich, and a top-tier smoked beef sandwich.

Salumerie

40 Llankelly Place, Potts Point

If in doubt, go the crowd favourite mortadella sandwich: thin shavings of the rich, fat-studdedsalumi with pistachio pesto, oozing stracciatella, rocket and crumbled pistachios.

Kosta's

180 George Street, Circular Quay, 412 West Botany Street, Rockdale and 38 Dunning Avenue, Rosebery

Image credit: Kosta's Deli | Instagram

Kosta'sstarted inRockdale as a punchy sandwich joint nestled inside an auto repair shop. Their sandwiches gotso muchlove out there, they'veexpanded to several Sydney locations, including a central shop in the CBD'sSydney Placeprecinct.

Hero sandwiches are the Super Deli panini with turkey ham, basturma, marinated peppers, spinach, graviera, fennel butter, lettuce and salsa verde, and the classic poached chicken sandwich with avocado, slaw, chives and mayo on Tuscan-style schiacciata. There's also an enormous schnitty sandwich served on an olive oil bun, and a TikTok-viral fish burger with cheese, tartare sauce and lettuce worth trying.

Frank's Deli

279 Bronte Road, Waverley

Image credit: Frank's Deli | Instagram

Frank's Deliblends classic NYC deli vibes with the owner's Polish heritage, offering everything from bone broth to in-house pickled everything—so these Sydney sandwiches are really a sliceabove.

Options includethe famous Reuben sandwich withLP's Quality Meats brisket pastrami, Frank's sauce, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and pickles on rye sourdough, plus afennel and ricotta meatball sub, the stacked three-meat (spicy salami, mortadella and ham) deli combo, anda fancy tuna melt. There's also a dedicated selection of breakfast sandwiches.

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Lenny Briskets

3/274-290 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst

Lenny Briskets is a food truck turned NYC-inspired sandwich shop and diner serving some of Sydney's best Reubens, alongside other top-notch New York-style sandwiches. Sandwiches come in single (150gm) or double (300gm), and the hero Reuben features layers and layers of Lenny's own classic corned brisket, sauerkraut, swiss cheese, and Russian dressing.

These guys aren't messing around with smoked meats and the BBQ brisket New Amsterdamsandwich is also a cult favourite. If you're starving, go for the Double El Grande: half a kiloof smoked pastrami on rye.

South Dowling Sandwiches

377 South Dowling Street, Darlinghurst, Shop 42C, 110 Bourke Road
Alexandria and110 Kent Street, Millers Point

Image credit: South Dowling Sandwiches | Instagram

South Dowling Sandwicheshas been serving up lunchtime staples for over 20 years now, and their sandwiches are absolutely massive. The family-run business is kind of known for the caramelised carrots that grace a few of their creations, and if you're not feeling a sandwich you can opt for the fillings in salad form instead.

The Hugo is a mighty chicken schnitty, herbed mayo, and salad concoction, while The Brad Pitt has just about everything you can fit between two slices of bread. It’s little wonder the queue here normally winds down the street.

Small’s Deli

1/166 Victoria Street, Potts Point

Image credit: Small's Deli | Instagram

While there's more than just sandwiches happening atSmall's Delithese days, there is a sandwich here with a cult following.Named after the American soul singer, the Al Greenis a vegan delight that covers every shade of green imaginable.

One side of the towering panini sandwich begins with a generous lather of kale puree, while the other side is covered in a Green Goddess sauce. Nextcomes the alfalfa sprouts, the sliced Granny Smith apples, plenty of avocado, pepita pesto, and a fresh, crispy bed of iceberg lettuce. The Bon Jambon is also a mainstay, with double-smoked ham, triple cream brie, dijon mustard and cultured butter on a baguette. Regular specials are worth checking out, too.

Tothy Brothers Deli

4/180 South Creek Road, Wheeler Heights

Image credit: Tothy Brothers Deli | Instagram

If you're around the Northern Beaches with a serious sandwich hankering, we highly recommend astop at Tothy Brothers Deli. Owned by two local brothers, they're best known for their 12-hour smoked pastrami, which they salt brine in 18 different spices and a secret rub.

You'll find the pastrami on a sandwich with the simple combo of rye, pickles and mustard, and on their Reuben, with rye, Swiss, sauerkraut and house-made Russian dressing. Other sandwiches tour around the US, including a Rangers Valley rib eye Philly cheesesteak, a Nashville hot chicken sando, a mammoth tuna melt, and a double-smoked bacon and egg roll.

Humble Bakery

16 Loftus Street, Sydney CBD and 50 Holt Street, Surry Hills

Now with two locations in Sydney,Humble Bakeryserves up some of Sydney's bestbread and pastries (their pink finger buns are icons).

The sandwich board rotates, so we can't promise what to expect other than some kind of toastie (potentially filled with cheese and mushroom, or pastrami and sauerkraut), a couple of special sandwich stacks (like porchetta, eggplant, or meatball), and a classic deli-style filled focaccia.

Good Ways Deli

1/20 Cooper Street, Redfern and 81 Buckland Street, Alexandria

Try the deli sandwich with kangaroo mortadella (a pick for its sustainability chops) plus salami cotto, LP's smoked ham, provolone, pickles, lettuce and sandwich sauce, or the banging salad sandwich chock-full of healthy and delicious things. Best of all, the ciabatta bread used for the sandwiches is freshly made in-house every day.

Dom Panino

122 Marion Street,Leichhardt

Image credit: Dom Panino | Instagram

Dom Paninodubsitself “Sydney’s first Paninoteca”, and started life as a popular food truck. With 14 sandwiches on offer, Dom Panino usestop-quality Italian-style salumi and cheese andincorporatesrecipes from the owner'snonna.

There’s The Big Sal with Italian sausage, cime di rapa, house-pickled peperoncini, onions and provolone dolce,Nonna’s Nostalgia with a five-hour slow-cooked pork and veal bolognese and smoked for di latte, and the Joey Vodka with chicken schnitzel, vodka sugo, spicy salami, buffalo mozzarella and basil. If you're an early riser, there's a selection of brekkie sandwiches, andthey do a Sicilian-style brioche filled with rich pistachio gelato for a sweet treat.

Sandoitchi

Shop 3/113-115 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst and Chatswood Chase, Shop LGK-0003/345 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood

Image credit: Sandoitchi | Instagram

Sandoitchi's Japanese-style sandwiches on thick-cut white bread are simply out of this world. They're known for golden pork katsu sandos as well as a ridiculously good fried chicken sandwich with sriracha mayo. The sandwiches might besmall and dainty, but they pack ahuge punch when it comes to flavour.

If you’re looking to drop a sizeable chunk of change on your lunch, this place is also the home of the Kobe Wagyu katsu sando,the most expensive sandwich in Sydneyat $59.

Continental Deli

210 Australia Street, Newtown

Image credit: Continental Deli | Instagram

There’s a chance you head in toContinental Delifor the house-tinned co*cktails orbistro menu filled with pasta and beautiful cuts of meat. But take it from us, the sandwiches are incredible.

Like any good deli, think flavour-filled and straightforward sandwiches like the country ham, cheese pickle, butter, mayo and mustard, or the Euro-style stunner The Wurst with liverwurst, presswurst and teewurst plus pickles, Pepe Saya butter, mayo, dijon and mustard on a Humble Bakery ciabatta.

If you’re hankering for something warm, do not skip the much-lovedFrench dipsandwich with Riverine sirloin, asiago cheese, and onion on a baguette, with a side of beef jus for dipping.

Cut Lunch Deli

220 Clovelly Road, Randwick

Splashed in sunshine yellow, Cut Lunch Deli is asandwich spot that delivers a neat list of delectable staples and fun twists. There are five sandwiches and three toasties on the menu; our eyes are on theSchnitz with sweet zucchini pickle mayo, sesame panko crumb, pickled red onion andlettuce.

Plant-based pals should check out the Sun Kissed sandwich withNashi pear, halloumi, olive, almond, cucumber, pickled onion and mint yoghurt dressing.

Loaf Sandwiches

89 Cronulla Street, Cronulla

Image credit: Loaf Sandwiches | Instagram

Nestled inside the Cronulla mall,Loaf Sandwichesis a local favourite for coffee, brekkie, and (the clue’s in the name) their world-beating sandwiches. First opened in 2015 by local owners, the Loaf team goes big on local produce, sourcing many of their ingredients at local markets.

The sandwich options change seasonally, but regularly rotating through are the Beaf-eater with slow-cooked beef and cheddar, Tuna Fish with dill and Loaf’s “secret spice”, and the vegan Grass is Greener with falafel, avocado and herbed hommus. There’s also a whole separate jaffle menu.

Ken's Continental

3/40 Bayswater Road, Rushcutters Bay

Image credit: Ken's Continental | Instagram

Ken's Continentalis a European-inspired deli and cafe with a loyal following of sandwich-loving fans. There's an emphasis on seasonality and sustainability, as well as tasty deli cuts likebresaola, pancetta andsopressa, and sandwiches are served on baguettes from Loulou Boulangerie in Milsons Point.

The offering changes regularly, but might look like an eggplant parm sandwich with fresh herbs, apastrami and capocollo sandwich withchedder, rocket and tangy balsamic cippolini, or a classic mortadella, ricotta, salsa verde and pistachio combo.

Zafferano

354 South Dowling Street, Paddington

Image credit: Zafferano | Supplied

Paddington’s Sicilian trattoria

As well as their fresh focaccia offering, the venue also has a host of panini options, including Sicilian chickpea panelle, porchetta with truffle aioli, and salami with olive pate and buffalo mozzarella.

The Bearded Baristaa

Shop 3/3 Barwon Park Road, St Peters

Image credit: The Bearded Baristaa | Instagram

Across the road from Sydney Park, The Bearded Baristaa is apopular coffee pit stop for local pup parents. Beyond providing caffeine sustenance pre and post-dog walks, this sunny cafe has also earned a rep for serving one of Sydney's best sandwiches.

They do cafestaples with a seriously delicious Middle Eastern twist, including a set of six tasty toasties that you can enjoy takeaway in the park or in the leafy back courtyard. The crowd favourites here arethe 16-hour pulled beef toastie and thetowering and spicy basturma Reuben, made withbeef basturma, sauerkraut, house-made pickles, cheese, and chipotle aioli.

Fabbrica

161 King Street, Sydney CBD and 733 Darling Street, Rozelle

Image credit: Fabbrica | Instagram

Led by the Ragazzi team, Fabbricais a CBD pasta shop and restaurant and Rozelle bakery. They makepasta, create must-try sweets, and bake bread for a range of stunning sandwiches.

Sandwiches at Fabbrica are rotating specialsserved on house-made bread, but regulars include on with pepperoni, LP’s mortadella, ham, pickles and provolone, or a veggie option with caponata, pesto, whipped ricotta and rocket.

Harvey's Hot Sandwiches

4.05, 12 Darcy Street, Parramatta

Image credit: Harvey's Hot Sandwiches | Instagram

You'll find this retrosandwich barin theParramatta Square dining precinct, makingsubs served simple (with mustard and Swiss cheese) or sloppy (with Russian dressing, coleslaw, and Swiss cheese).

There's a classic meatball sub with pork and veal meatballs, garlic butter, marinara sauce, and mozzarella cheeseand, in true Americana style, a Philly cheesesteak with shaved scotch fillet steak, grilled onions, provolone cheese, and a hot pepper spread.Our favourite sandwich here has to bethe muffuletta made with mortadella, ham, salami, Harvey's olive spread, provolone and Swiss cheese.

Charc

61-65 Regent St, Chippendale

And now one for all the big-time meat lovers out there. Charc slings fresh hand-cut and home-aged meats in their famous massive sandwiches. Their Reuben sandwiches vie for best in the city, with house-made pastrami and all the usual suspects, and the Wagyu toasties like the Clubhouse Steak, with house-smoked Wagyu, Swiss, pickles and American mustard will blow your mind.

Norma’s Deli

74/78 The Corso, Manly

Image credit: Norma's Deli | Instagram

Norma’s Deli is one of Manly’s most beloved sandwich joints, and it's part sourdough bakery, part grocer, part diner and part coffee shop. Their monstrous focaccia-based sangas are packed with everything from mortadella with buffalo mozzarella, to roast beef with house-made pickles and horseradish mayo. They’ve also got ciabatta ops, including chicken schnitzel with jalapeno mayo, and sourdough sandos like the Club Medwith prosciutto, grilled chicken, halloumi and house tzatziki.

This Way Canteen

Bridge and Phillip Street, Sydney CBD

Image credit: This Way Canteen | Instagram

This Way Canteenis aself-proclaimed “good-time sandwich bunker” set inside the beautiful sandstone forecourt of the Museum of Sydney, a stone’s throw from Circular Quay.

This canteen-style spot lays on top-tier sandwichesserved on focaccia freshly baked at Italian bread specialists and sibling venueGrana down the street. In addition to their daily selection of roast pork, chick schnitzel and veggie fillings, This Way Canteen mixes it up with a host of weekly specials.

Joe's Sandwich Bar

292 Kent Street, Sydney CBD

Itcan be hard to find a good vegan option in the sandwich department that doesn’t feel like an afterthought.Joe's Sandwich Barfills that gap beautifully by offering up fully vegan sandos that will have even the most ardent carnivores salivating.

The signature is the smoked tempeh Reuben with apple slaw, cashew cream, and mushroom pickles but the eggplant parmiis also a well-executed staple. Toppings are spilling over sourdough slices of the white stuff from Iggy’s Bread in Bronte.

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Main image credit: South Dowling Sandwiches | Instagram

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