The humble sandwich has had a major glow-up in Toronto. These aren’t the sad desk lunches of years past; Torontonians have seen a rise in gourmet sandwiches and an increasing number of shops dedicated to this popular hand-held food. From pork katsu served out of a shipping container to a sandwich with flavours inspired by the streets of Mumbai, the rise of sandwich shops in Toronto is the best thing since… sliced pastrami.
And Bánh Mì
And Bánh Mi opened earlier this year with the goal of building a trendy and modern bánh mi shop with extra care paid to ingredients and making everything in-house. Opened by three longtime friends who want to push back on the expectation that Asian food should be cheap, And Bánh Mi makes it all: the bread, butter, pâté and all the proteins. While it’s easier to source bread from a bakery, the Gen-Z shop owners perfected the signature light, crusty bread with an airy interior. Proof that they know what’s up is their inclusion of a house-made vegan pâté for a plant-based sandwich, and the creation of their ribeye bánh mi: a mix of traditional Vietnamese comfort food with Western influence.
Bear Steak Sandwiches
What started as a backyard pop-up in 2021 by two longtime friends, Ricardo Barrientos and Aki Erenberg, has grown into two Bear Steak Sandwiches locations in downtown Toronto. The duo committed to doing one thing really well and that’s making a stellar steak sandwich. To tenderize the steak, it’s cooked sous vide for approximately four hours, generously salted and charbroiled to sear, sliced to order and served medium rare. There are four variations of sandwiches on the menu all with eight ounces of medium-rare flank steak. The Original Steak Sandwich features steak and chimichurri on a Portuguese bun, but those looking for extra flair can opt for an Alla Vodka version with pesto and vodka sauce with stracciatella cheese, or the classic Steak and Cheese featuring provolone cheese, caramelized onions and horseradish mayo. [Various locations]
