The G-Man at Capitol Hill’s Mangialardo’s

Updated January 13, 2023

The Italian sandwich (slash sub/hoagie/grinder/hero), depending where you hail) is one of the great American food inventions.  Although DC does not have an extensive Italian-American community (though there were certainly pockets in the early 20th century on Capitol Hill or nearby), you can still get great sandwiches in DC, as detailed below (I’ve included a few suburban sandwich essential spots as well). For more Barred in DC sandwiches go here.  This taste test story from 2017 in Post by Holley Simmons (now flower shop owner) is great too. Rankings are based on a series of Twitter polls (the top 3 were essentially tied)

Name of Italian Sandwich (their most popular version) in Italics. Price does not include tax. In almost all situations, toppings can be subtracted

The Italian Sandwich DC Area Trinity Plus One

• Mangialardo’s (Capitol Hill (near Potomac Ave. Metro))
  • M-F 8a-3p; closed Sat-Sun
  • Pickup (call/walk-in/website)
  • Delivery (Grubhub)
  • G-Man (or Big “G” if really hungry, with double all the meat)
  • Meat/Cheese: Ham, Salami, Mortadella, Pepperoni, Fontina Cheese, Provolone Cheese on choice of hard or soft roll.
  • Optional Toppings: Oregano, Lettuce, Tomato, Mayonnaise, Onion,  Oil,  Vinegar, Hot/Sweet Peppers and/or Deli Mustard
  • $11.95 ($14.95 for Big G)
  • 78.6% say one of best in DC (out the 54% who’ve eaten)
• The Italian Store (Arlington, Virginia in Westover and Lyon Village)
  • M-Sat 10a-8p, Sun 11a-6p
  • Pickup (website/walk-in)
  • The Milano
  • Meat/Cheese: two Italian hams, provolone cheese, and Genoa salami on choice of choice of hard or soft Italian roll.
  • Toppings: sweet and/or hot peppers, lettuce, onions, oregano, and special dressing.
  • $9.99 (small), $10.99 (large)
  • 79% say one of best in DC area (out of 72% who’ve eaten)
  • also known for pizza
• A. Litteri (Union Market Area/NoMa) M-11a-6p, Tue-Sat 9a-6p, Sun 11a-6p
  • Pickup (online/walk-in)
  • Italian Classic
  • Meat/cheese: Capicola, Genoa salami, Mortadella, Prosciuttini, Provolone,
  • Toppings: Lettuce, Tomato. Onion, Hot Peppers & Italian Seasoning (No substitutions though build your own allowed for more $)
  • $8.25 (9″ hard roll) $6 (6″ soft roll), $11 (12″ soft roll), $8.25 (8″ wheat roll)
  • 74.5% say one of best in DC (out of 65% who’ve eaten)
• Bub and Pop’s (Dupont)
  • Tue-Sat 11a-4p. Closed Sun/Mon
  • Pickup (online/call/walk-in)
  • Delivery (UberEats, GrubHub, DoorDash). Can do scheduled orders in advance 1 day if you call
  • Bub’s Italian Hoagie
  • Meat/Cheese: Genoa‎ Salami, Sweet Capicola, Hot Capicola, Pepperoni, Aged Provolone on roll. Can be baked on request.
  • Toppings: Iceberg Lettuce, Roma Tomato, Raw Onion, Hoagie Relish (hot peppers, sweet peppers,  pickle & onion), Mayo, Bub’s Vinaigrette, and Pecorino Romano.
  • $12 (half), $24 (whole) ($16/$32 if you order 3rd party)
  • Lots of other popular sandwich options
  • Probably highest quality one in DC area
  • 68% say one of best in DC (out of 53% who’ve eaten). Only 1.7% say they don’t like

Gold Tier

• Stachowski Market (Georgetown)
  • Mon-Sat 10a-8p, Sun 11a-6p
  • Pickup (call /walk-in)
  • 4 Meat Grinder
  • Meat/Cheese: salami, coppa, mortadella, soppressata with provolone
  • Toppings: lettuce, tomatoes, onions, hot peppers, and house vinaigrette.
  • $17.60
  • Lots of other popular sandwich options
  • 61% say one of best in DC (out of 36% who’ve eaten)
• Filippo’s Italian Specialties (Wheaton, Maryland)
  • M-Sat 9a-5p, Sun 9a-2p
  • Pickup (Online, call)
  • Delivery (DoorDash)
  • Italian Cold Cut or Panino (get the latter)
  • Meat/Cheese: Italian Cold Cut (capicola, genoa salami, provolone); Panino (Prosciutto di parma, mortadella, genoa salami, provolone)
  • Toppings: Lettuce, Tomato, Onions, Oil and Vinegar, Hot Pepper, and Italian Herbs
  • $7.70 (regular), $10.70 (large)
  • 57% say one of best in DC area (out of 13% who’ve eaten
• Santucci’s Italian Delicatessan  (Silver Spring, Maryland)
  • M-Sat 10a-8
  • Pickup (call)
  • Italian Cold Cut Submarine
  • Meat/Cheese: Italian meats and provolone cheese on 10″ (12″ available, as is 10″ hard roll or whole wheat rolls)
  • Toppings:  creamy Italian herb dressing, homemade oil and vinegar and hot peppers, lettuce, tomato and onions. Mayo and mustard available
  • $11.50 (regular 10 inch) $13.60 (12 inch)
  • 57% say one of best in DC area (out of 26% who’ve eaten)
• Compliments Only (Dupont)
  • 10:30a-6p daily
  • Pickup (online/Toast/walk-in)
  • The Teamster or Hot Pants
  • Meat/Cheese: Ham, Capicola, Genoa, Provolone (The Teamster). Pepperoni, Capicola, Genoa, Provolone
  • Toppings: Hot & sweet peppers, onions, shredduce, oil & vin. Hot Pants has cholula mayo and arugula
  • $15-15.50
  • Lots of other popular sandwich options
  • 54% say one of best in DC (out of 41% who’ve eaten)
• Grazie Grazie (The Wharf, Downtown)
  • 11a-9p (The Wharf), 11a-8p (Downtown)
  • Pickup (online/Chownow for The Wharf, walk-in)
  • Delivery (Caviar, DoorDash)
  • 8+1 or Minelli
  • Meat/Cheese: 8+1 (Genoa salami, hot capicola, prosciutto, sharp Provolone), Minnelli (hot capicola, peppered ham, prosciutto, pecorino romano)
  • Toppings: 8+1 (lettuce, tomato, onion, EVOO + red wine vinegar, house seasoning), Minelli (spicy aioli, oven dried tomatoes, red onion, fresh basil, arugula, EVOO + red wine vinegar, house seasoning)
  • $13.50
  • 53% say one of best in DC (out of 44% who’ve eaten)
• Vace (Cleveland Park, Bethesda)
  • M-F 9a-9p, Sat 9a-8p, Sun 10a-5p
  • Pickup (call ; walk-in)
  • Italian Cold Cut
  • Meat/Cheese: Genoa Salami, Ham, Mortadella And Mozzarella Cheese (optional provolone instead) on Hard roll or soft focaccia bread
  • Toppings: Lettuce, Tomatoes, Onions, Hot Peppers, Italian Dressing, Balsamic Vinaigrette, Mayonnaise, Yellow Mustard
  • $7.15
  • Also known for pizza
  • Lots of other popular sandwich options
  • 53% say one of best in DC (out of 31% who’ve eaten)

Silver Tier

• Capo Delicatessan (Shaw, Foggy Bottom, also Tysons)
  • M-Th 11a-8p, F-Sat 11a-3a, 11a-9p Sun (Shaw), 11a-8p (Foggy Bottom)
  • Pickup (online/Toast/walk-in)
  • Delivery (DoorDash/Grubhub/UberEats)
  • Capo Special or Italian Combo
  • Meat/Cheese: Soprressata, Mortadella, Provolone (Capo). Genoa salami, capicola, provolone (Italian)
  • Toppings: lettuce, tomato, onion, provolone, house-made Italian Dressing.
  • $11.25 (small), $14.50 (large)
  • Cocktails also available
  • 40% say one of best in DC (out of 60% who’ve eaten). Only 4.5% don’t like
• Subbs by Carl (Woodridge in NE)
  • M-Sat 9a-4;55p, closed Sun
  • Pickup (call (202) 529-6225 or walk-in)
  • Genoa Salami (#1)
  • $7.70
  • 51% say one of best in DC (out 9% who’ve eaten)
• Salumeria 2703 (Brookland, NoMa)
  • Closed Tuesday. Open at 11a other days. Close at 7p Mon, Wed-Th, 8p Fri-Sat, 6p Sun
  • Pickup (online/Chownow, walk-in)
  • Delivery (UberEats)
  • Italiano Sandwich
  • $13
  • Lots of other popular sandwich options
  • 51% say one of best in DC (out 13% who’ve eaten)
• Dupont Market
  • 9a-8p M-Sat, 9:30a-7p Sun
  • Pickup (call/walk-in)
  • Delivery (DoorDash, Caviar)
  • #5 Hot Italian
  • $11
  • 41% say one of best in DC (out of 19% who’ve eaten

Bronze Tier

• Ghostburger (Shaw)
  • 11a-10p
  • Sit-down/bar
  • Pickup (Online/Toast/walk-in)
  • Delivery (DoorDash)
  • A Real Italian Hoagie
  • Meat/Cheese: Salumi, Provolone
  • Toppings: Lettuce, onion, peppers, oil & vinegar, oregano
  • $19
  • 30% say one of best in DC (out of 16% who’ve eaten). But 20% don’t like
• Mother Rucker’s Subs (Carver/Langston near H St NE)
  • M-Sat 10:30a-6p, closed Sun.
  • Pickup (call)
  • Delivery (DoorDash, GrubHub, UberEats)
  • Mother-load (get it Mother’s Way)
  • $8.75 (regular), $11 (12″)
  • 26% say one of best in DC (out of 13% who’ve eaten)
• Each Peach Market (Mt. Pleasant)
  • 10:30-5:30p daily
  • Pickup (order online)
  • The Dude
  • $10.25
  • 22% say one of best in DC (out of 12% who’ve eaten)
• Italian Gourmet Deli (Downtown)
  • M-F 7a-8p, Sat 8a-4p, closed Sun
  • Pickup (Chownow, walk-in)
  • Delivery (Chownow, possibly in-house)
  • True Italian Sub or Spicy Italian
  • $11.50 -$11.95
  • 20% say one of best in DC (out of 16% who’ve eaten)
• Taylor Gourmet (Dupont, Franklin Sq, Penn Ave, plus suburban locations)
  • Dupont and Franklin Square (M-F 11a-7p, closed Sat-Sun), Penn Ave (M-F 11a-3p, closed Sat-Sun)
  • Pickup (Online/Chownow or Walk-In)
  • Delivery (In-House App, Caviar, DoorDash, UberEats
  • 9th Street Italian or Federal Italian
  • Meat/Cheese: 9th St Italian (Genoa salami, hot capicola, prosciutto, sharp Provolone); Federal Italian (Genoa salami, hot capicola, cured ham, pepperoni, fresh Mozzarella). Both on “original, farmhouse wheat, soft roll, or gluten free wrap”
  • Toppings: 9th St (Lettuce, tomato, onion, ultimate vinaigrette); Federal Italian (house made tomato vinaigrette, roma tomato, red onion, fresh basil, olive oil)
  • $9.90 (regular), $15.40 (large)
  • Lots of other popular sandwich options
  • 13% say one of best in DC (out of 67% who’ve eaten)

Not enough eaten but fans: Nido, Broad Branch Market

Other notable in suburbs:

Twinbrook Deli (Rockville), Cornucopia (Bethesda, MD), Gemelli’s Italian Market (Gaithersburg), New York Italian Deli (Brandywine, MD), Pasta Plus (Laurel, MD), Seminary Beer Wine & Deli (Silver Spring, MD) The Italian Place (Old Town Alexandria, VA), Market 2 Market Del Ray (Alexandria, VA)