Best Quick Bites Champions Sandwiches Restaurants in Chinatown
6 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Eastside Italian Deli
Family-run since 1929 in LA's original Little Italy, still slinging enormous Italian sandwiches with housemade Maestro sausage from a recipe born inside the market itself.
Notable Picks
8.3
A 1929 holdover from LA's original Little Italy that still builds oversized Italian sandwiches around housemade Maestro sausage—a recipe that started inside the market and never left. The draw is old-line deli craft at counter-service speed and price, landing it squarely in the pre-game Dodger Stadium rotation for anyone who wants a real sandwich without a real wait. Expect a no-frills storefront, street parking that thins out fast at lunch, and portions that make splitting reasonable.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pastrami Sandwich, Spicy Italian Cold Cuts Sub, Italian Meatball Hot Sandwich
What Makes it Special: Family-run since 1929 in LA's original Little Italy, still slinging enormous Italian sandwiches with housemade Maestro sausage from a recipe born inside the market itself.
8.2
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Family Friendly Favorites
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Comfort Food Classics
The 1908 original that put French dip on the map—beef hand-carved to order, rolls dunked in natural jus at the counter, sawdust still on the floor. The communal-table, cafeteria-line format rewards decisive ordering and a willingness to elbow in during peak hours. Go for the double-dipped beef and expect the experience to feel like a working lunch counter that happens to be a monument.
Must-Try Dishes:
Beef French Dip Double-Dipped, Lamb French Dip, Pickled Eggs
What Makes it Special: Credited as the birthplace of the French dip sandwich since 1908, with meat hand-carved and rolls dipped in natural roasting juices
8
A Homeboy Industries social enterprise cafe in Chinatown where every plate—chilaquiles, carnitas tacos, chile relleno grilled cheese—funds job training for formerly incarcerated women, with ingredients pulled from their own organic garden. The room runs quiet and calm, built for conversation over a cheap, filling meal that lands with more care than the price suggests. It works best as a weekday lunch stop where the food carries real weight and the mission gives the whole experience a different kind of purpose.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chilaquiles, Pork Carnitas Taco, Chile Relleno Grilled Cheese
What Makes it Special: A Homeboy Industries social enterprise where every meal funds job training for formerly incarcerated women, with ingredients grown in their own organic garden.
Worthy Picks
7.9
A counter-service deli built on Bub & Grandma's bread and NPR-themed sandwiches—the roast beef comes with pickled beets and French onion dip, the Italian sub leans meaty and East Coast-inspired. The Chinatown arcade location served the same thoughtful builds as the Frogtown original, with Dole Whip rotating through flavors like lime and Tajin. Note: This location is currently listed as closed.
Must-Try Dishes:
Roast Beef Sandwich, Dole Whip, Pasta Salad
What Makes it Special: Creative deli sandwiches with nostalgic touches like Dole Whip and house-pickled vegetables in a Chinatown storefront
7.8
A classic Chinatown bánh mì counter with crackly baguettes and old-school fillings. It’s no-frills, but the liver pâté, pickled veg, and grilled meats hit with the kind of balance that keeps locals coming back.
Must-Try Dishes:
Banh Mi Dac Biet, Grilled Pork Banh Mi, Vietnamese Iced Coffee
What Makes it Special: One of the area’s most consistently crisp, traditional bánh mìs.
#6
Katsu Sando
7.8
Tiny sandwich counter turning Japanese konbini staples into hefty, crunchy sandos. Simple choices—katsu, egg, and chicken—hit hard with buttery shokupan and creamy slaws.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pork Katsu Sando, Egg Salad Sando, Chicken Katsu Curry Sando
What Makes it Special: Konbini-style sandos done with chef-level care.