Best Instagram Worthy Sandwiches Restaurants in Chicago
8 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Roux Diner
Southern technique applied to sandwich formats (biscuit + tartine) with real polish.
Notable Picks
#1
Roux Diner
8.6
A New Orleans-inspired all-day spot where the sandwich lane shines through breakfast-and-beyond builds—biscuit stacks, tartines, and a classic patty melt done with real kitchen care. The room leans polished-casual, and the menu rewards people who want something more thoughtful than a standard deli counter without turning into a long, formal meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Biscuit Sandwich, Fried Green Tomato Tartine, Patty Melt
What Makes it Special: Southern technique applied to sandwich formats (biscuit + tartine) with real polish.
#2
All Too Well
8.4
All Too Well functions as a chef-driven neighborhood sandwich shop and market, with a tight menu of composed sandwiches built on schiacciata and ciabatta. Portions are generous and ingredient-driven, so locals treat it as a special lunch move before or after walks to the zoo or lake.
Must-Try Dishes:
Ck1 (Shaved Ribeye Sandwich), Bombay Chulet, "...I Make You Lamb" Sandwich
What Makes it Special: A daytime sandwich counter where chef-y combinations like the CK1 and Bombay Chulet make lunch feel like an event.
#3
Tacotlan
8.4
A modern taqueria built around bold, griddled tacos and birria-forward specialties, with a menu that rewards ordering in their signature lanes instead of spreading wide. The best results come from one birria format plus one classic meat taco, then let the salsas do the finishing work.
Must-Try Dishes:
Quesabirria tacos with consomé, Carne asada tacos, Birria ramen
What Makes it Special: A birria-and-taco specialist with big-flavor signatures and multiple formats.
#4
Sando Street
8.3
Sando Street in Wicker Park specializes in Japanese style sandos on fluffy shokupan along with katsu bowls and fruit cream sandwiches. It is where people go when they want crispy pork or chicken cutlets and photogenic sandos that still eat like serious comfort food.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tonkatsu Sando, KFC Sando, OG Tamago Sando
What Makes it Special: Japanese and Korean inspired sandos on shokupan with house sauces.
8.2
A neighborhood coffee destination that doubles as a smart sandwich-and-baked-goods stop when you want quality without a full sit-down meal. The best experience is pairing a savory pastry or quiche-style bite with a drink and keeping it simple. It’s a strong solo-work or quick catch-up spot with steady execution and a calm daytime rhythm.
Must-Try Dishes:
Quiche slice, Savory hand pie, Breakfast sandwich (seasonal)
What Makes it Special: A coffee-first cafe where savory bites stay reliably well-made.
8.2
Vibes:
Business Lunch Power Players
Trendy Table Hotspots
Quick Bites Champions
Instagram Worthy Wonders
A smoked-meat deli built around a breakfast menu that treats bagels like a real lane, not an afterthought—kettle-boiled options with schmears and stacked sandwiches that hold up for an office-day start. It’s best when you commit to one bagel build (salmon or bacon-egg-cheese) and skip the buffet mindset so it stays crisp, hot, and focused.
Must-Try Dishes:
Classic Smoked Salmon Bagel (Stack It), Royale with Cheese (bacon, egg, cheddar on a plain bagel), Everything bagel with smoked salmon schmear
What Makes it Special: A deli that actually runs a full bagels-and-schmears lane all morning.
#7
Hermosa
8.1
A small, chef-driven room where the burger is a supporting player on a more creative, sandwich-forward menu. Treat it like a curated order—pick one main (burger or fried chicken sandwich), add fries, and let the flavors stay cohesive.
Must-Try Dishes:
Single Bacon Cheeseburger, Cambodian Fried Chicken Sandwich, Fries
What Makes it Special: A compact spot blending burger/sandwich comfort with chef-y execution.
Worthy Picks
7.5
A Washington Hall stall focused on lobster-roll-style sandwiches, with a spicy ‘Angry’ build for people who want heat and giardiniera-style bite. It’s a craving play—pricey for size, but a legit downtown option when you want lobster in sandwich form without leaving the Loop.
Must-Try Dishes:
Angry Lobster Sandwich, Happy Lobster roll, Lobster grilled cheese
What Makes it Special: A Loop lobster-roll counter offering both classic and spicy ‘Angry’ builds.