What’s not to love about a sandwich? There’s a substantial portion of bread, an even more substantial portion of fillings, it’s not as greasy as a burger, and it will generally leave you feeling like you’ve indulged without the accompanying guilt factor.
Yes, readers, we are big fans of sandwiches – and here’s where we think you should be heading to dig into the top sandwiches in Hong Kong. Is it lunchtime yet?
The best sandwiches in Hong Kong
Bánh Mì Nếm
There are several excellent options out there for our favourite Vietnamese sandwich – the banh mi – but Bánh Mì Nếm tops the charts. The viral takeaway shop was founded earlier this year by Vietnam-born YouTuber Kiki Phung, and we think it offers the most authentic Saigon-style banh mi in town. The traditional bánh mì dặc biệt (HKD78), or cold cut sandwich, is our go-to, packed with 10 types of filling, including Vietnamese BBQ pork, pork floss, pâté, and assorted cold cuts, in a thin, crispy, airy baguette.
Bánh Mì Nếm, G/F, 247–298 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, 9899 1247
KNEAD
We love the DIY element to the sandwiches at KNEAD, a Sheung Wan sandwich stalwart with a newer branch in Wan Chai. An extensive menu of premium ingredients (read: lots of meats, cheeses, vegetable toppings, and condiments) and different types of bread – from baguette and ciabatta to sourdough and Turkish bread – ensures oodles of fun when constructing your perfect bite. KNEAD also has pre-built sandwiches for those in a hurry, like the chicken schnitzel melt (HKD99) and feta and veggie toastie (HKD112).
KNEAD, G/F, 28 Jervois Street, Sheung Wan, 2851 7778
KNEAD, Shop 3, UG/F, 33 St Francis Street, Wan Chai, 6893 6601
Morty’s
Morty’s brings a slice of New York to our city, and boy, are they generous, American-sized slices. Hands down, our favourite sandwich here is the legendary original Reuben (HKD145) – a tower of house-smoked pastrami, Swiss cheese, Thousand Island dressing, and sauerkraut on toasted sourdough. Looking for something a bit different from this American sandwich expert? From the cold Italian hero (HKD148) to the hot French dip (HKD140), Morty’s is heaven for sandwich lovers.
Morty’s, Shop 12–14, LG/F, Jardine House, 1 Connaught Place, Central, 3665 0900
Morty’s, Shop A–C, G/F, 8–10 Wing Fung Street, Wan Chai, 3665 0890
CUÍT
With bakery locations in Central and Sai Kung, queuing is almost a given in order to savour CUÍT’s sensational sourdough sandwiches. The rotating sarnie options are creative and varied, but if you see the egg sando (HKD80) on the menu, go for it; its tangy creaminess owing to the inclusion of pickled mustard seed and cucumber is unbeatable. Other CUÍT sandos that get our heart pumping are the market fish karaage sandwich (HKD150) and humbly named ham and cheese sandwich (HKD95), a scrumptious medley of mortadella, stracciatella, scallion mayo, and ginger-scallion oil on pillowy sourdough focaccia.
CUÍT Épicerie, Shop 16, BaseHall 02, B/F, Jardine House, 1 Connaught Place, Central
CUÍT, G/F, 3A Po Tung Road, Sai Kung, 5191 9719, book here
Mendel’s Delicatessen
Another American-style deli with an on-point vibe, Mendel’s competes with Morty’s and Schragels (see above and below) for serving up the best house-smoked pastrami in Hong Kong. You can go for either a tasty bagel or deli sandwich here. Of the former, we can’t get enough of the house-smoked salmon (HKD108), whilst the roast turkey (HKD98) is a great alternative to a traditional Reuben, laced with plenty of Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and Russian dressing.
Mendel’s Delicatessen, G/F, 66 Catchick Street, Kennedy Town, 9220 4344
Toasted Deli
Toasted Deli does what it says on the tin, offering quality takeaway sandwiches to the eager breakfast- and lunch-goers of Central. In the morning, we recommend filling your belly with the bacon and egg roll (HKD78). When those lunchtime hunger pangs strike, you can go simple with the toasted cheese (HKD68) or splurge with the likes of the turkey club (HKD105) or slow-roasted beef (HKD105) sandwiches. Instead of a side of crisps, the deli’s Nepalese momos (HKD88/10pcs) are a deliciously unique menu item that we rate.
Toasted Deli, G/F, 4 Li Yuen Street East, Central, 5597 8871
Croque
Launched in late 2023, Croque is a newcomer to the sandwich scene, a shop specialising in both traditional and funky variations of France’s signature sandwich, the croque monsieur. The menu of toasted and tasty Frenchified sarnies ranges from the onion grilled cheese (HKD68), to The Classic (HKD78) with ham, Emmental, and mornay béchamel, to the Spicy Rooster (HKD88) with roasted chicken, bacon, Cheddar, and spicy Caesar sauce. Croque has recently refreshed its sandwich recipe, using a thicker bread and toasting the sandwiches till they’re golden brown, resulting in even better flavours and textures.
Croque, G/F, 1 Lyndhurst Tower, 78 Wellington Street, Central, 5607 5586
Bug Buns
A hole-in-the-wall takeaway joint in Wan Chai, Big Buns offers a host of tempting sandwich options. There’s the signature grilled cheese (HKD48) with Cheddar, American, and coriander relish on sourdough, though we recommend upgrading to the rendition with slow-cooked short rib (HKD68). Big Buns also serves up a mean scrambled egg sandwich known as The Chick (HKD38), along with off-piste sangers such as the guac prawn with fried egg sando (HKD78) and ham and cheese pocket (HKD32).
Big Buns, Shop G16, G/F, Emperor Group Centre, 288 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai
Sour Dough
Founded in 2022 by acclaimed Swiss pastry chef Gérard Dubois, Sour Dough is an artisanal bakery and deli selling an assortment of delectable sourdough breads, pastries, and sandwiches, all made with sourdough starters that are more than 30 years old. The globally inspired sandwiches are hearty, filling, and overflowing with meat, cheese, and veg, ranging from the classic Cubano (HKD62), to the Indian-spiced tikka chicken (HKD58), to the plant-based vegan caponata and tofu (HKD58).
Sour Dough, Shop 2 & 3, G/F, Keen Hung Commercial Building, 80 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, 2571 8873
Schragels Delicatessen
Schragels has been going strong for a decade, Hong Kong’s first shop dedicated to the craft of bona fide Big Apple bagels, which are kettle-boiled and stone-baked to perfection. At Schragels’ delicatessen in Sheung Wan, the menu features a wide range of bagel and deli sandwiches. The Reuben (HKD160) here is possibly the heftiest in the city, served on griddled rye with coleslaw and a pickle on the side (there’s a turkey version too for the same price). The chicken salad (HKD95) on a sesame bagel is deli-style comfort-food eating at its finest.
Schragels Delicatessen, G/F, 104 Jervois Street, Sheung Wan, WhatsApp 5285 7092
