Some of the most noteworthy additions to the city's dining scene over the past year have been sandwich bars, and this list proves why. Here are 10 to try.

Le Bajo Milkbar

Inside a North Melbourne warehouse is Le Bajo, a Japanese bakery-cafe by Jason Gunawan (co-owner of Bali's Potato Head) and chef Kantaro Okada (of West Melbourne's 279 eatery). Sandwiches here are made using fluffy, square-shaped shokupan, which is wrapped around the likes of fried chicken, tuna, egg or spicy octopus – even Japanese fruit sandwiches filled with fresh fruit and cream.

8-14 Howard Street, North Melbourne, lebajo-milkbar.square.site

Nico's

Nico's electric-blue shopfront draws carb-lovers from all over to their Fitzroy and CBD locations. Sandwiches, like the tomato and mozzarella-stuffed Nico's Original, the Cubano and the Meatball Sub are largely Italian-American in theme, but Japanese ingredients pop up in the panko-crumbed King Oyster Sub with fresh herbs and nori, and the Caramilk and soy sauce ice-cream.

100 Kerr Street, Fitzroy, and Healey's Lane, Melbourne, nicos.melbourne

Minh's Vietnamese and Chinese

While there's an expected abundance of great banh mi in Flemington, it's at Minh's in neighbouring Moonee Ponds where you'll find one of Melbourne's best. Served in mottle-crusted tiger rolls instead of the more traditional short white baguette, and with filling options ranging from barbecued chicken or pork to cheese, Minh's banh mi are fresh, fragrant and utterly delicious.

41 Puckle Street, Moonee Ponds

Warkop

Ex-Navi chef Barry Susanto is behind Warkop, a coffee and sandwich bar which takes cues from Jakarta-born Susanto's heritage. Indonesia's most famous salad, gado gado - a mix of tofu, tempeh, bean sprouts, lettuce and peanut sauce – is served in a Turkish roll, and chicken is marinated in Taliwang spice and combined with tomato, cheese and rocket on sourdough bread. There are also kaya rolls for breakfast.

12 Risley Street, Richmond, warkop.com.au

Beatrix

As well as shaggy coconut cakes, feathery sponges and buttery cookies, this tiny, bright corner shop is known for its phenomenal sandwiches. There are generally two on offer each day served in house-baked bread. The vego option might be parmesan and cauliflower fritters with salsa verde, fior di latte and "lovely leaves" (pictured), and for meat, mortadella with provolone, housemade giardiniera and aioli.

688 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne, beatrixbakes.com

Matteo's Deli

While you're at Altona's newest Italian deli, stocking up on tinned fish, pasta and cheese, you'll want to grab a freshly made panini for lunch. Their version of an Italian sub – the Matteo's Original – comes loaded with roasted peppers, olives and your choice of Italian cheese, and the Reuben (here called the SPS) features shaved pastrami, cheese and pickles.

30 Pier Street, Altona, facebook.com/matteosdelicatessen​

King William

'Sandwiched' between King and William streets on Flinders Lane, this tiny, hole-in-the-wall sandwich shop has built its reputation on showstoppers like the Brigadier – a towering combination of roast chicken, crispy skin, stuffing, zucchini slaw and gravy on a floury bap roll – and the aptly named Mamma Mia – pork meatballs with sugo, basil pesto, and the 'dream team of cheeses' – provolone, scamorza and parmagiano.

487 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, kingwilliam.com.au

Bala Sanga

The sandwiches at Bala Sanga, a tiny, tile-lined sandwich and coffee counter run by Balaclava wine bar Pretty Little's Mike Byard and Mike Harrison, are categorised as either 'fresh' or 'hot': under fresh, standouts include the Cuzzy – curried egg with red onion and endive on soft white bread (pictured) – and under hot, there's a triple-cheese toastie with confit leek and pickled onion on rye.

Rear Laneway, 296 Carlisle Street, Balaclava, balasanga.com

Stan's Deli

Inspired by the delis and diners of New York, Stan's slings a range of sandwiches, bagels, English muffins and rolls from its Glenferrie Road shopfront. As well as classic fillings – think poached chicken, or mortadella and provolone – there are more adventurous fillings on special like lamb shoulder with rhubarb jam, Jerusalem artichoke with horseradish mayo, or birria with corn and onion salsa.

248b Glenferrie Road, Malvern, stansdeli.com.au

Saul's Sandwiches

The original Saul's in Carnegie proved such a hit when it opened in October 2020 that owners Leor Haimes and Elliot Koren promptly opened two more in Melbourne's south east. Signatures include the three-meat hoagie and eggplant cutlet with broccoli rabe and buffalo mozzarella, plus daily specials like Philly cheese steak or chicken Caesar toasties.

315 Neerim Road, Carnegie; 2/673 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn; 929 Centre Road, Bentleigh East; sauls.com.au