Open since 1959 in Canoga Park, Cavaretta’s is old-school, delicious, and reliable. Go for the Italian combo with mortadella, cotto salami, cappicola, provalone, pepperoncini, and a bit of hard salami to take things up to 11. The cannoli cannot be missed.

Eagle Rock Italian Bakery & Deli opened in 1949, and diners can still find the shop’s massive counter dedicated to dessert and pastry. The classic Italian market also turns out some of the best sandwiches including a fantastic Italian combo made on crusty bread.

Jeff’s Table serves up sandwiches, salads, and soups inside Flask liquor store in Highland Park, and the “kold kim cheezy” is the boldest one. With thin slices of smoked pork shoulder ham accompany housemade kimchi, melted cheese, salted plum mustard, aioli, and chili oil on butter-griddled roll, it’s highly shareable. So is the bag of Irvin’s Salted Egg Potato Chips.

Chef Casey Felton’s Hollywood restaurant is having a moment. Felton’s regular steady stream of customers have grown steadily thanks to the shop’s unique menu and a 2022 James Beard nomination. Her crusty, modern Vietnamese sandwiches are the star, like the $10 pork belly version, complete with pickled carrots and chicken liver pate. Be sure to add a side or two, like the sticky caramel wings or the gigantic bowl of fries.

Breadblok’s sandwiches are for those choosing (or needing) the gluten-free life. The baked goods are outstanding with pastry along with a prosciutto and gruyere sandwich on a baguette with garlic aioli.

Banh Mi My Tho gets supremely busy at lunchtime, so plan accordingly. There’s plenty of delicious bánh mì options to choose from with prices that seem impossibly low at $4.75 and under.

This family-owned shop on the edge of El Sereno prepares incredible breakfast burritos, soups, salads, and sandwiches. Opt for the chicken pesto between ciabatta and grab a craft beer on the way out.

Katsu Sando opened in 2021 with long lines and a rabid fanbase who learned to love these Japanese convenience store sandwiches from Daniel Son at Smorgasburg. But since opening a permanent location in Chinatown, Son has unleashed his most creative sandwich, a honey walnut shrimp sando held in with housemade milk bread with just the right balance of plump, crisp shrimp built into a makeshift patty, then topped with crunchy honey-glazed walnuts.

An easy choice for the most popular pastrami sandwich at this historic deli in Westlake, just west of Downtown. This near-perfect Jewish deli sandwich features house-baked rye bread, Russian dressing, cheese, coleslaw, and freshly sliced slivers of the most achingly perfect smoked pastrami on earth.

Never Caged sports a bold option that’s completely plant-based, the mac and chick sandwich. A pile of mac and cheese is placed over a hot “chicken” patty. It packs heat, and is filling.

Mizlala delivers on a simple premise: quality Israeli food priced under $20 a head — with a fast-casual model, speedy service, and sizable portions. Anyone looking for an entry dish to the genre would do well to opt for the substantial stand-up chicken shawarma, with its pillowy pita and available spicy dips for spreading throughout.

Santa Monica’s sunny landscape already has one iconic Italian sandwich spot: Can it handle another? In the case of Heroic Deli and Italian restaurant, the answer so far has been a resounding yes. There are lots of sandwiches to try on the menu, but the most eye-catching of all is the OMG, a stacked cold cut sub on crusty bread served with smoked mozzarella and just a touch of truffle.

Head to Inglewood for a taste of the Big Easy here in the City of Angels. Order any of the po’ boys at Sami Othman’s neighborhood spot, including ones stuffed to maximum capacity with shrimp, oysters, and catfish, and whisk taste buds away to Bourbon Street.

Chef Philip Pretty’s sandwiches are a sight to see. Not only are they gorgeous, but full of hand-selected farmers market ingredients. Try Heritage’s tiger prawn shrimp sandwich with lemon aioli, bell pepper, gem lettuce, jalapeño, avocado, and celery on a brioche bun.

Well before the pandemic, San Pedro’s Busy Bee had lines out the door. Many LA locals grew up on this food, especially the gloriously messy and incredible meatball sandwich. If indecisive, order a half-and-half option.