Best Sandwiches Restaurants in Lower East Side (10002)
6 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
Katz's Delicatessen
Historic, hand-carved deli sandwiches served in a bustling, old-school room.
Notable Picks
8.9
Since 1888, Katz's has defined the classic New York Jewish deli, stacking hand-carved pastrami and corned beef onto rye in a cacophonous, counter-service room. Locals and visitors come for huge, smoky sandwiches, reliable late-night hours, and an only-in-NYC atmosphere that feels unchanged for decades.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pastrami on rye, Reuben sandwich, Matzo ball soup
What makes it special: Historic, hand-carved deli sandwiches served in a bustling, old-school room.
8.7
Opened in 2020, Double Chicken Please pairs one of the city’s most inventive cocktail programs with a focused menu of fried chicken sandwiches in a sleek, two-room Allen Street space. The front room leans casual, while the back bar turns those sandwiches and comfort dishes into high-concept, drinkable riffs.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cold fried chicken sandwich, Hot honey chicken sandwich, Chicken burger with slaw
What makes it special: World-class cocktails and creative fried chicken sandwiches in a design-forward bar.
#3
Golden Diner
8.7
Golden Diner sits under the Manhattan Bridge serving New York diner classics filtered through chef Sam Yoo’s Asian-inflected pantry. Locals come for creative comfort food, strong brunch plates, and a snug, always-in-demand room that feels part neighborhood hangout and part destination.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken katsu club sandwich, Thai Cobb salad, Buttermilk pancakes
What makes it special: A modern neighborhood diner where classic plates meet Korean, Japanese, and Chinese influences.
8.4
Regina’s Grocery is a family-rooted Italian-American sandwich shop where heroes are named after relatives and layered with high-quality meats, cheeses, and Calabrian chile spreads. The tiny Orchard Street space feels like a hybrid between a nonna’s kitchen and a neighborhood deli, with hefty, personality-filled sandwiches as the main draw.
Must-Try Dishes:
Uncle Jimmy, Uncle John, Grandma Lucy
What makes it special: Italian-American heroes built around real family stories and generously layered fillings.
8.3
Orchard Grocer is an all-vegan deli and grocery that turns out creative sandwiches, bagels, and soft serve from a narrow Lower East Side space. Plant-based takes on lox, fried chicken, and deli salads draw both vegans and omnivores looking for quick, satisfying sandwiches without animal products.
Must-Try Dishes:
The Edith, The Georgina, The Monty
What makes it special: A fully vegan deli and market specializing in inventive plant-based sandwiches.
8.2
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Sports Bar Central
Group Dining Gatherings
Quick Bites Champions
Joey Roses is a basement-level sandwich bar and social club where generously stuffed cold-cut heroes and playful specials stay firmly in the budget category. The space leans divey and fun, with arcade-table seating and a drinks-first energy that still takes its Italian-American sandwich lineup seriously.
Must-Try Dishes:
The Dad, The Babe, The Cootlet
What makes it special: A bar-forward sandwich shop slinging creative, affordable heroes deep into the night.