A great sandwich isn’t just for lunch breaks or hurried meals between errands. Sinking your teeth into a piled-high pastrami on rye at a neighborhood deli or savoring a slow-roasted brisket creation from a food truck in downtown Arlington is a daily delight. So whether you’re celebrating or simply surviving, claim your sandwich sovereignty with these top-tier Arlington spots.
McAlister’s Deli
$ | (817) 465-3354 | WEBSITE
This Arlington sandwich spot has a solid lineup of deli classics, like the jalapeño turkey crunch with its spicy kick, or the grilled chicken club stacked high with fresh ingredients. But let’s focus on McAlister’s grilled chicken club. The smoky bacon influence layered throughout is savory enough to add depth, yet doesn’t overwhelm the otherwise straightforward sandwich construction. The chicken has a satisfying grilled char.
And a swipe of mayo spreads in some bites and pools in others, making each mouthful a little like a pleasant game of flavor balance.
Jersey Mike’s Subs
$ | (682) 284-1114 | WEBSITE
For some folks, the bread is the most important part of a sandwich. For others, it’s the cheese. For a select few, perhaps it’s the condiments. However, if you’re prioritizing chicken, Jersey Mike’s Subs, a popular chain in Arlington, is the only answer. Instead of dry, bland slices, the chipotle chicken here is served in the form of tender strips that practically melt in your mouth.
As for which sandwich to order, you’re in good hands with the chipotle chicken cheesesteak, loaded with flavorful chipotle sauce and tasty melted cheese.
Potbelly
$ | (817) 466-2985 | WEBSITE
Potbelly serves the best sandwiches in Arlington. Like the Italian, a classic combination of meats and cheeses piled high on fresh bread that delivers flavor with every bite. Or the A Wreck, which has the best of both worlds—layers of roast beef, turkey, ham, and salami stacked with melted Swiss cheese. Make sure to go for the meatball sandwich here too, made with the same savory meatballs used in their other dishes and topped with a generous helping of marinara sauce that adds a nice rich tang.
Sweet Saigon
$$ | (682) 977-9999 | WEBSITE
This Arlington spot is a choose-your-own-adventure kind of tropical drink experience—you could go the traditional route with the original sugarcane juice, do some flavor-mixing with the kumquat sugarcane drink, or have salted coffee with no ice at all. We suggest that your plot line involves ordering the mango ice cream.
It’s got a creamy texture (like smooth banana ice cream but with a fruity twist), and a sweet mango flavor that’ll make you forget about the Texas heat you just spent all day trying to escape.
Subway
$ | (817) 548-9590 | WEBSITE
This 24-hour sandwich counter serves up a fantastic Italian B.M.T. And if you’ve ever considered just grabbing a footlong sub like it’s a quick lunch, well, now’s your chance. Sure, the bread is straight from the oven, but everything else is sliced fresh and assembled with care. The deeply satisfying sandwich somehow skips the soggy mess while keeping all the crisp, savory flavor of the stacked ingredients.
Add a squirt of mustard for tang, plus a generous handful of shredded lettuce and tomatoes.
Cheba Hut “Toasted” Subs
$ | (817) 962-0248 | WEBSITE
In a sea of predictable sandwich shops that involve turkey, ham, roast beef, and Italian combos, Cheba Hut’s Midwest Best stands out from the pack. Here you have a flavor-packed toasted sub with chipotle mayo, cream cheese, and the option to add pretzel nugs. Don’t be a fool—add the nugs.
Dino’s Subs
$ | (817) 274-1140 | WEBSITE
This Arlington-based sandwich shop holds up to its reputation and has a fantastic ‘big D’ sub to prove it. Their fresh-sliced meat on locally baked bread with customizable toppings (that even a mayo skeptic would enjoy) is our go-to. It’s substantial and satisfying, and it’s even possible to take down a whole sub without feeling like you have a boulder sitting in your stomach.
The service is quick and friendly, and the reasonable prices make it a regular stop despite the older appearance and limited seating.
Chicken Salad Chick
$ | (682) 410-0440 | WEBSITE
Chicken Salad Chick is a sandwich shop that started in the South and eventually made its way to Arlington—and we’re glad it did. While the area has enough chicken salad spots to fill a football stadium, theirs is the creamiest and most flavorful. On a hot day after running errands, a scoop of their Fancy Nancy chicken salad with perfectly crisp crackers and a side of potato soup is exactly what you need. Come for a quick solo lunch or a round of strawberry lemonade in a booth with some friends.
Lò Bánh Mì French Bakery
$ | (817) 400-0658 | WEBSITE
If there are two things you can count on, it’s that this Arlington spot will always satisfy a banh mi craving, and that there’ll always be a line. But time has no meaning when it comes to the best French-Vietnamese sandwiches in town. And while it’s hard to go wrong at Lò Bánh Mì, we love the classic grilled pork banh mi with freshly made bread, well-seasoned meat, and more topping generosity than a loaded baked potato.
Ask for extra jalapeños if you like your sandwich with the perfect amount of spice.
Jimmy John’s
$ | (817) 468-8700 | WEBSITE
For sandwiches that go beyond standard deli options, head to this reliable spot in Arlington. Jimmy John’s has some great roast beef to satisfy on a particularly busy day and nothing beats their classic sandwich—a double whammy of both fresh ingredients and comforting flavors, made with quality bread and tender roast beef that could remind you of home cooking. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that they have some of the best service in the city to complement the meal.