Unearth The Voyage
Ohio might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think about amazing sandwiches, but locals know better. From Cleveland’s legendary corned beef piles to Cincinnati’s century-old Reubens, the Buckeye State is packed with sandwich shops that have earned serious street cred. Whether you’re craving a classic deli stack or something with Peruvian flair, these local favorites prove that Ohio’s sandwich scene deserves way more attention than it gets.
1. Katzinger’s Delicatessen (Columbus + Dublin)
Walking into Katzinger’s feels like stepping into a New York deli without leaving Columbus. The menu is massive, the staff knows their stuff, and the sandwiches arrive at your table looking like they need their own zip code. Portions here are not for the faint of heart.
With two locations in Columbus and Dublin, you’ve got options for getting your deli fix. Both spots keep the same energy and quality that’s made Katzinger’s a local legend for decades. The vibe is loud, busy, and unapologetically authentic.
Order one of their classic piled-high deli sandwiches and prepare to commit. This is the full deli experience: pickles, attitude, and enough meat to make you question your lunch plans for the rest of the week. Regulars swear by it, and first-timers leave converts.
2. Wario’s Beef & Pork (Columbus)
Columbus locals don’t mess around when it comes to Wario’s. This spot has built a cult following thanks to sandwiches that are big, bold, and completely unapologetic about their meat-forward identity. Their website stays updated with multiple locations, which tells you they’re serious about staying connected with their fans.
The signature here is beef, and they know how to do it right. Expect generous portions, flavor that doesn’t quit, and a sandwich that requires both hands and maybe a napkin strategy. It’s the kind of place where you show up hungry and leave satisfied.
Order their signature beef-focused sandwich and brace yourself. This isn’t a light lunch situation. Wario’s delivers exactly what it promises, and the locals keep coming back because it never disappoints. Bring your appetite and your patience.
3. Sí Señor Peruvian Sandwiches (Columbus)
Peruvian sandwiches might not be on your radar yet, but Sí Señor is here to change that. This Columbus sanguchería brings slow-roasted meats, bold sauces, and flavor combinations that feel worlds away from your average deli. Their official site stays current, which is always a green flag when you’re hunting for great food.
The menu is built around craveable combos that lean heavily on tradition and technique. Meats are roasted low and slow, sauces are layered with intention, and every bite feels like it was designed to make you rethink what a sandwich can be.
Order one of their roasted-meat sandwiches and add a side you’ve never had at a chain. This is not grab-and-go food. It’s the kind of meal that makes you slow down, pay attention, and maybe plan your next visit before you’ve finished your first.
4. Slyman’s Restaurant (Cleveland)
Slyman’s is the kind of Cleveland institution that needs no introduction, but here’s one anyway. This place is famous for corned beef sandwiches so tall they look like they’re defying gravity. The legacy is no-nonsense, the portions are ridiculous, and the hours are clearly posted online including the fact that they’re closed weekends.
Locals have been making pilgrimages here for decades, and the reputation hasn’t budged. It’s old-school in the best way: no frills, no fuss, just a sandwich that makes you understand why people drive across town for lunch.
Order the corned beef sandwich because that’s literally the point of coming. Don’t overthink it. Don’t try to customize it into something it’s not. Just order it, eat it, and join the ranks of people who get why Slyman’s is a Cleveland treasure.
5. Larder Delicatessen & Bakery (Cleveland)
A James Beard-nominated deli in Cleveland’s Hingetown and Ohio City area is exactly the kind of place you want to know about. Larder combines Jewish Eastern European deli traditions with a bakery that takes its bread seriously. Their official site proudly lists those nominations, and one bite tells you they’ve earned them.
The menu leans into pastrami-style classics and baked goods that deserve their own spotlight. This isn’t just a sandwich stop. It’s a full deli and bakery experience where everything from the meat to the bread is done with care and intention.
Order pastrami-style deli goodness and don’t skip the bakery part. Grab something baked, even if you think you’re too full. Larder is the kind of place where leaving without trying both sides of the menu feels like a missed opportunity you’ll regret later.
6. Herb’n Twine (Cleveland)
Carryout only, bread baked daily, and a rotating lineup that keeps locals coming back to see what’s new. Herb’n Twine operates with a simplicity that’s anything but simple. Their official site spells out the vibe clearly: show up early, order what they’re making, and trust the process.
The bread is the star here, baked fresh every day and used as the foundation for sandwiches that change based on what’s available and what the kitchen feels like creating. It’s the kind of operation that rewards regulars and keeps things interesting for everyone else.
Order whatever sandwich they’re most proud of that day, and add anything featuring their fresh bread. This isn’t a place for routine orders. It’s a place for trying something new, trusting the kitchen, and appreciating the craft that goes into every loaf and every sandwich.
7. Diamond Deli (Akron)
Downtown Akron has Diamond Deli, and if you’re a regular, you probably have a regular order. That’s the kind of place this is: dependable, familiar, and loved by people who know exactly what they want when they walk in. The official site includes online ordering and location details, and the Downtown Akron Partnership backs it up with current hours.
This is a classic deli build kind of shop. No wild experiments, no trendy twists, just solid sandwiches made the way they’re supposed to be made. It’s the kind of consistency that builds loyalty and keeps people coming back week after week.
Order a classic deli build and settle into the rhythm of a place that knows its identity. Diamond Deli isn’t trying to reinvent the sandwich. It’s just doing the fundamentals really, really well, and that’s more than enough to earn its spot on this list.
8. Tony & Pete’s (Dayton)
Tony & Pete’s has a motto that says it all: Eat Real Sandwiches. This Dayton spot is sandwich-first, with a side of beer, wine, and curated grocery goods that make it feel like more than just a lunch stop. Their official site is active and clear about what they do best, and locals trust them for old-school cold cut classics.
The vibe here is part deli, part specialty shop, and fully committed to quality. Cold cuts are piled high, ingredients are chosen carefully, and the whole operation feels like it’s run by people who actually care about what they’re serving.
Order an old-school Italian-style cold cut sandwich and take a look around while you’re there. Tony & Pete’s is the kind of place where you go in for lunch and leave with a bottle of wine and some fancy mustard you didn’t know you needed.
9. All The Best Delicatessen (Dayton)
Dayton’s premiere deli since 2023 might be new, but it’s already making waves. All The Best Delicatessen has an active official web presence and current hours listed in local Dayton publications, which means they’re doing something right. Newer doesn’t mean unproven when the quality speaks for itself.
The menu goes traditional: stacked deli meats, sharp cheese, and all the crunchy sides you want on your plate. It’s a straightforward approach that works because the ingredients are fresh and the execution is tight. Sometimes the best move is to stick with what works and just do it really well.
Order a traditional build with stacked deli meats, sharp cheese, and something crunchy on the side. All The Best is earning its name one sandwich at a time, and the locals who’ve found it early are already spreading the word to everyone they know.
10. The Original Sub Shop & Deli (Toledo)
Toledo has its institutions, and The Original Sub Shop & Deli is one of them. With an active official site and a long-running identity as a local tradition, this place has been feeding Toledo for years. MapQuest even notes its history in the city, which tells you this isn’t some flash-in-the-pan operation.
The menu is built around classic subs, the kind that have been perfected over decades of making the same thing over and over until it’s just right. There’s comfort in that kind of consistency, and locals know they can count on it.
Order one of their classic subs, and if soup’s available, consider it. The Original Sub Shop isn’t trying to be trendy or reinvent anything. It’s just doing what it’s always done, and doing it well enough that people keep coming back generation after generation.
11. Tony Packo’s (Toledo)
Tony Packo’s is famous, but it’s also local-famous, which is a different kind of credential. Ohioans will argue about this place lovingly, passionately, and with the kind of loyalty that only comes from growing up with something. Their official site lists the original Toledo location and hours, and yes, people still make the trip.
The signature here isn’t technically a sandwich, but it absolutely belongs in the sandwich-shop conversation in Toledo. We’re talking about a chili dog with enough history and flavor to earn its spot on this list without apology.
Order a chili dog and join the conversation. Tony Packo’s is the kind of place where the food is good, the history is deep, and the debates about whether it counts as a sandwich are part of the charm. Just go, eat, and decide for yourself.
12. Morsel & Nosh (Cincinnati)
Morsel & Nosh is a neighborhood deli and specialty grocery rolled into one, and the sandwiches are made to order with an emphasis on great cheese. Their official site posts updated hours, which is always a relief when you’re trying to avoid the heartbreak of showing up to a permanently closed door.
The cheese part matters here. This isn’t just a throwaway line. The shop takes its cheese seriously, and that attention shows up in every sandwich they build. Pair that with fresh ingredients and a grocery selection that’s worth browsing, and you’ve got a solid stop.
Order a deli sandwich built around great cheese because they mean it. Morsel & Nosh knows its strengths and leans into them hard. If you’re a cheese person, this is your place. If you’re not, you might become one after a visit.
13. Young Buck Deli (Cincinnati)
Young Buck Deli operates on a sellout-style schedule, which is posted clearly on their official site. They’re also closed Tuesdays, so plan accordingly. This Over-the-Rhine sandwich shop is designed for repeat visits, with daily and weekly specials that keep the menu fresh and give regulars a reason to keep coming back.
The approach here is all about what’s available, what’s in season, and what the kitchen feels inspired to make. That means your sandwich today might not be there tomorrow, and that’s the whole point. It keeps things interesting and rewards people who show up often.
Order a daily or weekly special if it’s on the board. Young Buck isn’t the place for your go-to order. It’s the place for trying something new, trusting the kitchen, and becoming the kind of regular who knows to check the specials before they sell out.
14. Izzy’s (Cincinnati + Northern Kentucky)
Izzy’s has been around for more than a century, which means they’ve had plenty of time to perfect the Reuben. And they have. This Cincinnati classic is known for two things: the Reuben and the potato pancake situation. Their official locations page lists multiple stops across Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, so you can pick your spot.
The Reuben here is legendary, and the potato pancake is non-negotiable. Together, they’re the full Izzy’s experience, and skipping either one feels like missing the point. This is old-school comfort food done right, with decades of loyal customers to back it up.
Order the Reuben and potato pancake, and commit to the full experience. Izzy’s has earned its reputation one sandwich at a time, and after more than a hundred years, they’re still doing it better than just about anyone else in the state.
15. Carl’s Deli (Cincinnati)
Carl’s Deli has been serving Cincinnati for decades, and they’re still actively operating with two locations and posted hours right on their official site. That kind of longevity doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because the food is good, the service is reliable, and people know they can count on it.
The focus here is on premium cold cuts and house-made deli salads. It’s straightforward, classic deli fare done with care and consistency. Carl’s isn’t flashy, but it doesn’t need to be. The quality speaks for itself, and the locals who’ve been coming here for years will tell you exactly that.
Order a premium cold-cut sandwich and grab a house-made deli salad while you’re at it. Carl’s Deli is the kind of place that does the basics so well, you don’t need anything fancy. Just good ingredients, solid execution, and a legacy that’s still going strong.
