Hungry? The hottest 15 sandwiches to try in Adelaide right now

Forget soggy sandwiches. From traditional Italian panini worthy of a line-up, to New York style pastrami and Middle Eastern manouche, here are 15 sandwiches to eat in Adelaide.

Unless you’ve been living under a cloche these past six months, you would know the humble sandwich is enjoying a renaissance. Forget soggy sangas – rather, we’re seeing crusty panini, American-style deli sandwiches and breakfast rolls that go beyond grilled egg and bacon. They’re inspired by different cuisines, showcase South Australian produce and breads (from sourdough to focaccia) and transform an old schoolbag staple to an exciting lunch worthy of a trip.

From traditional Italian panini to a Middle Eastern manouche, here are 15 of our favourite sandwiches across Adelaide right now:

MORTADELLA SANDO – Bottega Bandito

Shop 98, Prospect Rd, Prospect; from $16

It’s all about the fillings-to-bread ratio at this contemporary corner deli that puts a modern spin on the Italian sandwich. Deli meats are sliced fresh and paired with all the condiments to add zing and interest – take the mortadella, for example, layers of which are loaded into a panini with creamy stracciatella, peperonata, baby spinach and – a personal favourite – preserved artichoke ($16). For something a little luxe, try the King George Whiting sando with fennel salad, tartare and green sauce ($34).

Bottega Bandito, Prospect. Picture: Supplied

CLASSIC CHICKEN SANGA – Africola Canteen

Shop 1/89 The Parade, Norwood; $15

Sometimes the classics don’t need too much tampering. The chicken sandwich at Duncan Welgemoed’s Africola Canteen is a bestseller – 200g of free range poached chicken is combined with finely chopped celery and shallots, celery seed, parsley, lemon zest and mayonnaise, seasoned with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. It’s paired with crisp cos lettuce in a soft white roll ($15). HOT TIP: Africola Canteen has teamed up with Australian Pork to release two limited edition sangas for one week only, starting April 17: a mortadella-filled focaccia with sweet fermented radicchio and stracciatella; and a hot piadina with chorizo, jamon, braised chickpeas, fermented red pepper hummus and kale.

Classic chicken sanga, Africola Canteen.

Africola Canteen, Norwood. Picture: Jessica Galletly

NUMBER 7 – Pinco Deli

73 Glen Osmond Rd, Eastwood; $17

Does the word pastrami make anyone else think of Joey Tribbiani from Friends? Just me? Anyway, my educated opinion is that he would approve of Pinco Deli’s bestseller: layers of pastrami are sandwiched with piccalilli (yellow relish), two types of cheese (Swiss and ‘burger’), both dill pickle and pickle onion, and burger sauce ($17). PS How good is Friends.

Number 7 sandwich at Pinco Deli, Eastwood. Picture: Supplied

MEATBALL SUB – Our Boy Roy

114 East Ave, Clarence Park; $19

You will also find hefty shaved deli meat sandwiches here (and we do mean hefty), but for something a little different try their take on the meatball sub. Our Boy Roy only opened in recent months and is already proving a favourite with locals, with sandwiches a major drawcard. The meatball sub ($19) boasts three cricket ball-sized pork and beef meatballs, placed in an open toasted panini with housemade sugo, a drizzle of herb oil and parmesan cheese.

Meatball sub at Our Boy Roy, Clarence Park. Picture: Supplied

Our Boy Roy, Clarence Park.

NUMBER 1 – Lucia’s

Shop 1-2 Central Western Mall Adelaide Central Market, Adelaide; $15

We can only talk about so many sandwiches before we feel compelled to bring up Lucia’s, an Adelaide Central Market favourite that serves up the best traditional Italian panini in town (panini, after all, is Italian for roll). You’ll find the menu up on the blackboard – seven varieties in total, with an additional rotating special. They’re all good, but it’s number 1 that’s been immortalised on a tea towel (you can buy in-store): fresh mozzarella, prosciutto, tomato and basil, in a crusty bread roll ($15).

Lucias Fine Foods Prosciutto Buffalo Mozzarella, fresh tomato and basil. Picture: Dean Martin

VEG MANOUCHE – The Middle Store

118 Winston Ave, Melrose Park; from $15

A different take on a toasted sandwich, the vegetarian manouche ($15) from The Middle Store is an all-time favourite lunch of this writer. Za’atar spiked manouche (think Middle Eastern pizza dough) is filled with roasted pumpkin, capsicum and zucchini, plus fresh baby spinach and a healthy dose of herbed yoghurt before it’s folded and toasted for your enjoyment. The addition of feta is highly recommended – delicious.

Veg manouche with feta from The Middle Store, Melrose Park. Picture: Jessica Galletly

SEASONAL SANDWICH – Brid Piccadilly

176 Piccadilly Rd, Piccadilly; from $14

This petite Adelaide Hills cafe has a strong focus on all things baked – including bread; glorious bread. Their sandwiches change according to what’s locally available – Biodynamic greens from nearby Ngeringa, for example, or chicken from Nomad Farms. Their filled focaccia sandwiches and toasties take such ingredients and make them sing, such as in the below, with marinated eggplant, heirloom tomatoes (both from Ngeringa), crispy fried onion and housemade hummus, in sourdough. Also pictured is a recent toasted sandwich, with green tomatoes, cheese and a lacto-fermented pepper and chilli sauce.

Marinated eggplant sandwich from Brid. Picture: Instagram

Green tomatoes toasted sandwich at Brid. Picture: Instagram

SAVOURY DONUT BREAKFAST SANDWICH – C.R.E.A.M

4/49 Jetty Rd, Brighton; $24

Cheat day? Hung over? Young enough to not care about cholesterol or calories? The savoury donut (doughnut) breakfast sandwich ($24) comes highly recommended from a fellow food lover in the office. Doughnut “bread” (think doughnut texture) is filled with fried egg, hash brown, American cheese, tomato and lettuce, then tomato sauce and whole egg mayo. It’s served with onion rings. If that’s not enough, you can add fried chicken or haloumi … or avocado for good measure.

Savoury Donut Breakfast Sandwich at CREAM. Picture: Instagram/@aussiesangas

Coffee at C.R.E.A.M is also very good. Picture: Morgan Sette

MEAT ROLL – Chicken & Pig

78a Pirie St, Adelaide (takeaway only); 38 Currie St, Adelaide; $13.50

Chicken & Pig has secured a loyal lunch crowd since opening in the CBD some seven years ago. The formula is simple – choose your succulent roasted meat (which includes lamb as well as chicken and pork, but ‘chicken, pig and lamb’ doesn’t have the same ring to it), and the sandwich artists will load a measured amount into a buttered roll (butter optional) with a little iceberg lettuce and your choice of red or green sauce (I like green, but red’s the go if you prefer a little heat). Chicken & Pig just opened a second venue at Currie St, where you can dine-in as well as takeaway.

Chicken & Pig meat roll, Adelaide. Picture: Jessica Galletly

GREEN SANGA (VEGO SANGA) – Just Down The Road

127 Greenhill Rd, Unley; $14

I totally made the name ‘green sanga’ up because on the menu this sandwich is listed by its ingredients, but it’s so gloriously green that’s just how I think of it. JDTR rethought the vegetarian sandwich with their combo of ingredients – how many times do you see grilled asparagus in a sanga? It’s cooked so that it retains bite, and paired with alfalfa, avocado, fresh cucumber and feta (which seasons the whole thing), loaded into thick rye bread ($14). You just feel healthy eating it.

Greens sandwich at Just Down the Road, Unley Rd, Adelaide. Picture: Jessica Galletly

BREAKFAST ROLL – Beckman Street Deli

37c Beckman St, Glandore; from $10

A sandwich aficionado here at The Advertiser has high praise for the brekky (bacon & egg) roll at Beckman Street Deli. Highlights are the perfectly cooked bacon, melty cheese and – wait for it – crispy chips. It’ll set you back a clean tenner.

Breakfast roll at Beckman Street Deli, Glandore. Picture: Instagram

THE ORIGINAL REUBEN – Flying Fig Deli

161 Jeffcott St, North Adelaide; $23.90

Inspired by the Jewish delicatessens found on the gritty streets in New York, Flying Fig’s reuben is as real as it gets in Adelaide. Everything is housemade, and you pay more for it – this one’ll set you back $23.90. Grilled corned beef is layered with cabbage, kohlrabi and caraway sauerkraut, plus Swiss cheese and Russian dressing, on rye.

The Original Reuben at Flying Fig Deli.

CHEESE ‘N’ PICKLE TOASTIE – Pickle in the Middle

134 Unley Rd, Unley; $16.50

An old faithful at this Unley Rd hot spot, the cheese ‘n’ pickle toastie hits all the right notes – cheese comes in the form of smoked mozzarella, and it’s paired with housemade mustard zucchini pickles inside a parmesan crusted focaccia ($16.50). Simplicity at its best.

Pickle in the Middle toastie at Unley.

MUSHROOM, CHILLI, WHIPPED MISO, MAYO – East End Cellars

25 Vardon Ave, Adelaide; from $16

When you want something a little more than a grazing board with your wine. The mushroom toastie takes veg to the next level, with a boost of umami thanks to miso, heat from chilli and mayo to bring it all together ($16). Add fries for an extra $5.

Mushroom toastie at East End Cellars’ The Tasting Room. Picture: supplied

BUILD YOUR OWN – Favourite Fillings

111 Gawler Pl, Adelaide; from around $8

A brilliant, old-school, classic deli style option, where you build your own sandwich. Plenty of options to choose from, and it’s super affordable, ranging from around $8.

Favourite Fillings sandwich. Picture: Instagram/@aussiesangas