The humble sandwich can do no wrong. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner or just a snack, here are twelve of the tastiest sandwiches from around the world. Check out these delicious variations during your travels!
1. Bahn mi, Vietnam
If there’s one positive thing to come out the French colonisation of Vietnam, it’s the touches of French cuisine that have been incorporated into their culture. Bahn mi is Vietnam’s answer to the sandwich, a tasty combination of these two countries. A freshly baked baguette is jam-packed with protein (from cold cuts to lemongrass chicken), pate, pickled vegetables, coriander, mayonnaise and chilli. They are just one of Vietnam’s many cheap food options.
2. Cevapi, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Perfect to grab and go, a cevapi is a street food favourite in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Beef, veal or lamb sausages are grilled before being stuffed into a flat bread with onions, a cheese spread and red pepper sauce.
3. Chip butty, United Kingdom
An absolute classic, you can’t go wrong with a chip butty in the UK. It’s as simple as it sounds – hot chips and buttered white bread. You may like to add a lick of tomato sauce or vinegar if you’re feeling fancy.
4. Bombay sandwich, India
Despite having Bombay origins, the Bombay sandwich is eaten throughout India. Reminiscent of a club sandwich, there are rainbow layers of cucumber, beetroot, tomato, coriander chutney and spiced, boiled potatoes. The bread is buttered then toasted to finish off this flavour bomb.
5. Doner kebab, Turkey
The word ‘doner’ is derived from the Turkish word ‘dondurmek’, meaning rotating, roasted meat. It’s hard to miss these contraptions (and the mouthwatering scent that comes with it) when exploring Turkey. It was invented by Iskender Efendi in the 19th century, creating a self-basting technique as the juices of the meat run down as it cooks. There are variations of doner kebab throughout Europe and the Middle East, however in Turkey, perfectly grilled meat is served on a fluffy Turkish pide with lettuce, onions and tangy sauce.
6. Fruit sandwich, Japan
A Japanese fruit sandwich (or sando) is a must! Carefully sliced fruit and cream are sandwiched between fluffy slices of shokupan – a Japanese milk bread, made with a higher percentage of milk and butter. Head to your nearest convenience store to peruse the many options available, from strawberry to peach to mandarin.
7. Leberkäse, Germany
Picture a slab of meatloaf in a bread roll, slathered in either a sweet or hot mustard, and you have a quintessential German sandwich. If you’re on the hunt for a leberkäse, you’ll find them sold in butcher shops and at street food stalls.
8. Lobster roll, USA
Lobster rolls are supremely popular in the USA, especially in the coastal East Coast states of Maine and Connecticut. Choose how you would like to devour yours – drenched in butter or mayonnaise; on a toasted or fresh bread roll; and with, or without, lettuce.
9. Kaya toast, Singapore
Singapore is well-regarded for its epic gastronomy scene, including the simple, yet very tasty, kaya toast. This is a breakfast staple for locals and travellers alike! Kaya is a vanilla coconut jam with a gooey consistency. Toasted bread is spread with kaya jam and butter, served with a side of soft-boiled egg and soy sauce for dipping for a wonderful sweet and savoury bite.
10. Bocadillo, Spain
We love that you can find different variations of bocadillo (Spanish sandwich) depending on where you are. This means you can indulge in as many as you can without getting tired of them! In Madrid, you’ll find a bocadillo de calamares (filled with piping hot fried squid); in Valencia, you’ll find an esgarraet (a savoury mix of cured cod, grilled capsicum salad and black olives); and in Andalusia, serranito (thin slices of jamon serrano paired with refreshing tomato and capsicum).
11. Croque Monsieur, France
As per usual, France has taken a regular food item and added its own flair to it. A croque monsieur is a ham and cheese sandwich, elevated by adding a creamy bechamel cheese sauce. This sandwich is definitely a fork and knife situation! There is also a croque madame which comes with a gooey fried egg on top.
12. Mozzarella in Carrozza, Italy
Translated to ‘mozzarella in (a) carriage’, these sandwiches provide the perfect vessel for ooey, gooey cheese pulls. This snack hails from the Campania region, a big dairy producer for Italy. A mozzarella sandwich is crumbed and fried, occasionally with a side of marinara sauce or pesto for dipping. Buon appetito!
We hope this list of twelve of the tastiest sandwiches from around the world has piqued your interest. Try one (or several!) when travelling the world on a Globus or Cosmos tour, or an Avalon Waterways river cruise.
