I’m a sucker for a sandwich. “Two or more slices of bread or a split roll having a filling in between” (according to Merriam Webster) is deliciously broad and lends itself to endless flavor possibilities. I’m currently working on a cruise ship bouncing between Vancouver and Whittier. And Vancouver just so happens to have a stellar foodie scene including plenty of sandwiches to be had.
I’ve been looking for the best sandwiches the city has to offer, and have found some winners along the way.
Here are 3 must-try Vancouver sandwiches that should be on your foodie bucket list.
1. The Rueben Bagel Sandwich From Siegel’s Bagels
Siegel’s Bagels is THE place to go for bagels in Vancouver. This spot specializes in Montreal-style bagels that are cooked in a wood-fired oven and served fresh. Unlike New York-Style bagels, Montreal-style bagels have a denser, sweeter dough, and the exterior has more of crunch. (I did a deep dive into the difference between New York and Montreal style bagels, which you can check out HERE.)
There are two Siegel’s Bagels locales, and we check out the one in the Public Market on Granville Island. You may be shocked to hear that the line on a Sunday morning was infuriatingly long. But it moved fast, and in under 20 minutes we had our big beautiful bagel sandwiches.
I got the rueben on a multigrain bagel, and it was exquisite. The pastrami was beautifully smoky without being too salty, and the sourkraut added the perfect zing. There could have been a bit more mustard. But given the quality of the meat, that tiny qualm can be forgiven. The bagel tied everything together. I appreciated how the slight sweetness contrasted the savory meat, and it added a nice chew without being overly bready.
Plus, it was only $14.50CAD/$10.58USD.
2. La Grotta Del Formaggio
When Googling “best Vancouver sandwiches”, La Grotta Del Formaggio makes every list. This Italian deli is located in Vancouver’s Little Italy, and they’ve been supplying Vancouverites with cheese, meats, and other authentic Italian fare since 1979. You can build your own sandwich or try one of the 17 paninis on offer. There are an overwhelming number of delicious looking choices. Great for locals. Horrible for tourists like myself who will only be visiting once.
We ended up with the Calabrese Piccante on a full foccacia to share. It was loaded with spicy salami, spicy capicollo, provolone cheese, roasted red peppers, pickled eggplant, hot banana peppers, lettuce, and tomatoes with a touch of balsamic vinegar and olive oil to tie it all together. Despite all the ingredients, this sandwich was incredibly well balanced. Both meats had just a tickle of spice without being too salty and I appreciated the crunch from the banana peppers. The red peppers added a touch of earthiness, and the pickled eggplant added a splash of sour.
I foolishly didn’t capture a photo of the pricing sign. However, after tax and tip my handy dandy credit card has informed me we paid $20.16USD. $10pp of a huge, loaded sandwich? Great value if you ask me!
3. The Mortadella Supreme From Nemesis
Nemesis is a trendy coffee shop that’s light and airy with dozens of plants floating down from the ceiling. They use top tier beans for their brews, and their pastry selection will put even the strongest willpower to the test. I had my eyes on one brunch menu item: the mortadella supreme.
(Find out what a supreme croissant is HERE!)
This breakfast sandwich features a round supreme croissant filled with mortadella, egg, swiss, and a mustard aioli. Unlike a normal croissant, the supreme has tighter layers. This not only gives it a delightful crunch, but it sops up the runny egg yolk and cheese beautifully.
The egg was cooked perfectly and I loved the texture of the croissant. But my one note is that it needed a pop. Perhaps more mustard? Maybe a different type of cheese? This is why the mortadella supreme is last on this Vancouver sandwiches list.
This sucker was $12.50 CAD/$9.11USD, which I think is very reasonable given how trendy and popular Nemsis is.
These 3 Vancouver sandwiches had my taste buds doing dances!
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