Updated July 18, 2024
As voted on Twitter in July 2024.
Italics – signature sandwich
Personal Barred in DC ranking of best quality sandwich shops:
- Bub and Pop’s
- Stachowski’s
- Bar Boheme
- Italian sandwiches: Salumeria 2703
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PLATINUM TIER
60%+ who’ve eaten say one of Best in DC. 92%+ fans.
- Bub and Pop’s (Dupont)
- Tue-Sat 11a-7p
- Hot and cold Philly-style hoagies
- Bub’s Italian Hoagie is most popular; Pop’s Beef Brisket or The Philly Special are also standouts
- $16-17 for most on 10 inch housemade roll dusted with sesame and polenta
- Much more expensive if you order online/delivery via apps. Recommend to call ahead to order, no indoor seating
- 2013
- 62% say one of best in DC, 96% are fans, ranked 2nd out of 4th when compared to other Platinum Tier, slightly higher than A. Litteri H2H. 66% have eaten
- Stachowski’s Market (Georgetown)
- Mon-Sat 10a-8p; Sun 10a-6p
- More traditional
- Hot Pastrami
- $24 for pastrami, mostly $15-18 for rest
- 2012
- 66% say one of best in DC, 96% are fans, ranked 4th out of 4th when compared to other Platinum Tier. 58% have eaten
- A. Litteri (Union Market aera)
- Sun-Mon 11a-6p, Tue-Sat 9a-6p
- Italian-style
- Italian Classic
- ~$7 (6 inch), $9.25 (9 inch), $12 (12 inch)
- 1926 (~1988 sandwiches)
- 61% say one of best in DC, 96% are fans, ranked 1st out of 4th when compared to other Platinum Tier, slightly below Bub & Pop’s H2H. 61% have eaten
- Mangialardo’s (Capitol Hill / Hill East)
- M-F 8a-3p; closed Sat-Sun
- Italian-style
- G-Man
- ~$13
- 1953 (late 1960s sandwiches)
- 65% say one of best in DC, 92% are fans, ranked 3rd out of 4th when compared to other Platinum Tier. 49% have eaten
GOLD TIER
At least half of people who’ve eaten at one of these places say it’s one of best in DC. 90%+ are fans
- Your Only Friend (Shaw)
- W-Sat 11a-10p, Sun 11a-9p (or sell out) (kitchen hours)
- Eclectic, full bar too, open later
- Chicky Pep. No 2, RPG
- $16
- 2023
- 53% say one of best in DC, 90% are fans. 41% have eaten.
- Salumeria 2703 (Brookland & NoMa)
- Closed Tuesdays, open 11a other days, close at 7p other wkdys, 8p Fri-Sat
- Italian-style
- Sopressata
- $15
- 2016
- 53% say one of best in DC, 92% are fans. Only 16% have eaten
- Neopol Savory Smokery (Union Market)
- M-W 11a-8p, Th-F 11a-9p, Sat 8a-9p, Sun 8a-7p
- Smoked seafood (mostly) sandwiches
- Smoked Salmon BLT
- $13
- 2014
- 51% say one of best in DC, 93% are fans. Only 25% have eaten
- Compliments Only (Dupont)
- 10:30a-6p daily
- Eclectic
- Crunchy Boi
- $15
- 2022
- 50% say one of best in DC, 91% are fans. Whopping 69% have eaten
SILVER TIER
At least 1/3 say one of best in DC
- Vace (Cleveland Park)
- M-Th, Sat 9a-8p, F 9a-9p, Sun 10a-5p
- Classic Italian style
- Italian Cold Cut
- $8-9
- 1976
- 34% say one of best in DC, whopping 93% are fans. 36% have eaten
- Wisemiller’s Deli (Georgetown)
- 8a-10p daily
- Chicken Madness
- $10
- Before 1949 (current owner 1982)
- 39% say one of best in DC, 89% are fans. 27% have eaten
- Sundevich (Shaw, Capitol Hill-ish)
- Shaw – 11a-4p daily, CH – 11a-3p, closed Sun
- International themed sandwiches
- Kingston
- $15-$16
- 2011
- 39% say one of best in DC; 90% are fans. 69% have eaten
- Grazie Grazie (Downtown, The Wharf)
- 11a-8p (The Wharf), 11a-9p (Downtown) daily
- Cheesesteaks and Italian sandwiches
- 8+1 or Minelli
- $15-$16.50
- 2019
- 38% say one of best in DC; 90% are fans. 67% have eaten
- The Best Sandwich Place (Downtown – 2 locations)
- Cornercopia (Navy Yard)
- 9a-5p M-F
- Standard deli
- Stadium is popular
- $10-12ish
- 36% say one of best in DC; 86% are fans; 21% have eaten
- Subb’s by Carl (Woodridge)
- 9a-4:55p, closed Sun
- Italian-style
- Genoa Salami (#1)
- $10
- 1987
- Cash only, can call ahead
- Little controversial – 42% who’ve eaten say one of best in DC, but 25% aren’t fans. Only 10% have eaten
- Wagshal’s (AU Park, Spring Valley)
- Main Deli- M-F 8a-8:30p, Sat 9a-8:30p, Sun 9a-7:30p. other location opens at 9a daily, closes 8p on wkdys and 7p wknds
- Traditional deli
- Smoked brisket (Montreal-style). Also very good is pastrami
- $14.50
- 1925, current location 1938, current owners 1990
- 35% say one of best in DC, 87% are fans, 40% have eaten
- Bar Boheme (Union Market)
- Noon-8p daily
- Traditional/International inspired
- Tachhino
- $16
- 2023
- 34% say one of best in DC, 85% are fans, Only 18% have been
- Bagels, etc. (Dupont)
- M-Sat 6a-4p, Sun 6a-3p
- non-bagel sandwiches rated only
- Turkey avocado
- $11-12
- Cash only
- 36% say one of best in DC, but 22% aren’t fans. 28% have eaten
- Deli City (Langdon)
- M-F 6a-4:30p, closed wknds
- Diner style
- Hot pastrami, corned beef, or reuben
- $9-10ish
- current location 1979
- 35% say one of best in DC, but 30% aren’t fans. Only 5% have eaten
BRONZE TIER
- Market Lunch (Eastern Market)
- MGM Roast Beef (Brentwood)
- So’s Your Mom (Adams Morgan)
- Each Peach Market (Mt. Pleasant)
- Jettie’s (Downtown, Chevy Chase, Foxhall, Cathedral Heights)
- Al Volo Stand (Farmers markets include Dupont, Foggy Bottom, and City Center)
- Harvey’s Market (Union Market)
- Capo Deli (Foggy Bottom, Shaw)
- Nido (Mt. Pleasant)
- District Fishwife (Union Market)
- Loeb’s Deli (Downtown)
- GW Deli (Foggy Bottom)
- Simply Banh Mi (Georgetown)
- Dupont Market (Dupont)
OTHER WORTH KNOWING ABOUT
Mother Ruckers, MLK Deli, Canales Deli in Eastern Market, Porchetta District, Old City Market & Oven, Uncle Chip’s, Italian Gourmet Deli, Fight Club, Duke’ Grocery, Al’s Deli, Taylor Gourmet, Colada Shop, Call Your Mother Deli
Others Nominated with at least 60% fans: City Place Cafe, Sunrise Cafe, Ampersandwich, San’dwich Lorenzeo at San Lorenzo, Delizique, Broad Branch Market, Prego Again, Aurora Market, Beresovsky’s Deli, Atrium Cafe, Carving Room Noma, Breadsoda, Prego Deli, Bozellis’

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