Is this Beijing’s best sarnie? It’s certainly the biggest. Shuangjing bar Grinders specialises in huge, jaw-dislocating American-style subs. The meatball (60RMB) is a classic, made with plenty of cheese and sauce. Add a good choice of US and Belgian beers and lunch here is a must.
The classic steak sandwich isn’t really ‘classic’ here – instead, thin slices of warm roast beef are layered with cheese on buttered soft ciabatta (78RMB). It’s got a dip of demi-glace and a foamy bowl of a wasabi variant on classic horseradish. Sandwiched between a small salad and crinkle-crisp fries, this is a grand deal.
You won’t go hungry after polishing off this New York classic with corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and Thousand Island dressing, all packed between slices of local rye (72RMB). Crisp fries make an excellent partner at Union Grill and its slaw will push you into a food coma if you finish.
France’s answer to a grilled ham and cheese is done best in Beijing by Maison Boulud. It’s golden, bubbly and oozing with creamy béchamel layered between ham and Emmenthal, topped with a fried egg that gilds the lily and makes this a three-star knife and fork job. Available with French fries or salad during lunch or weekend brunch for 118RMB.
Metropolitan bar or swanky sandwich specialist? ‘Gourmet’ choices abound at Hercules. Instead, grab a local version of Philly steak and cheese (42RMB) for a satisfying bite and try out the amazing fries, smothered in salt and garlic. Delivery is an option, but we recommend going on Tuesdays, when it’s two for one on all sarnies (4-11pm).
The national dish of Peru celebrates the country’s massive Chinese population by combining Peruvians’ love of potatoes with a beef stir-fry. This combo is ‘deconstructed’ with a toasted bun filled with stir-fried beef tenderloin, peppers, onions, cumin and cheese (78RMB). It’s billed as an appetiser although it’s fine as a light lunch.
If it’s southern Dixie ’cue that has you smitten, search no further. Home Plate’s monster smoker transforms pork for hours until it just gives up. It’s finely chopped, then topped with spicy barbecue sauce and coleslaw, all presented on a sesame-seed bun (35RMB). Add bacon, a fried egg or cheese for an additional 5RMB and be sure to ask for extra napkins.
Pork belly marinated in white wine with garlic and paprika, with holey Swiss, lots of mayo and mustard makes this an unusual grilled hottie (36RMB). Sitting in the outdoor garden on a brisk day makes the last days of bearable weather even more special. If pork isn’t your thing, there are loads more sarnies to choose from.
Find a list of hotties available at this shopping oasis in the centre of Sanlitun’s Village North. The clever Peking duck wrap (48RMB) is an East-meets-West version of Beijing’s famous bird. With a sweet sauce, cucumbers and warm slivers of meat wrapped inside a flour tortilla, it’s a quick fix that screams local.
A pile of fried chickpea fritters are stuffed into a soft pitta then topped with chopped tomato salad and yoghurt sauce (25RMB). This great vegetarian option fills you happily without breaking the bank.
You can have a choice of Max Levy’s whey-poached fried chicken in a boneless thigh version with slaw or opt for chopped tender brisket for 60RMB. Neither will leave you poor for a taste of New Orleans’s sandwich contribution to the world, and this version has just the right type of baguette – it’s softer but cracks nicely when you bite. For the picky, it’s conveniently cut into quarters, complete with frilly cocktail picks.
Possibly the ultimate grilled cheese, this unorthodox version is smothered by four different fromages and a layer of caramelised onions. The crisp bread crunches with each bite and is lightened by a green salad partner (42RMB).
At Panino Teca, there’s a long list of paninis stuffed with light fillings before being grilled on an Italian sandwich press. You’ll find your own favourite, but the ‘re sole’ (35RMB) with artichoke cream, Parma prosciutto, rocket, basil and mozzarella goes down well.
How could we forget our beloved local porky treat? The Shanxi favourite comes in many versions, though we are still beholden to the meat-only option (9RMB) at this folksy provincial favourite.
A black-pepper speckled pork chop parcelled in a crisp baguette is yours for 35RMB at this no-nonsense Serbian sandwich joint. The secret’s in the accompanying marinated sweet pepper (or a chilli pepper if you absolutely must) whose vinegar notes cut through a modicum of fat. You won’t be the first to order second helpings.