Some roast beef sandwiches are worth driving hours to try. From Boston’s famous three-way to Chicago’s gravy-dipped Italian beef, certain restaurants have built loyal followings around a simple combination of meat, bread, and sauce.
The differences are what make these sandwiches special. Buffalo has beef on weck with horseradish and a salted caraway roll.
Philadelphia serves roast beef piled high with gravy, while Los Angeles has a decades-old debate over who invented the French dip.
These 13 restaurants show how different one sandwich can be across America. Some have been serving customers for generations, and others have become neighborhood favorites with their own signature orders.
Here’s what makes each one worth a stop.
1. Nick’s Famous Roast Beef, Beverly, Massachusetts
North Shore locals have one word for the perfect roast beef order, and that word is three-way. Nick’s Famous Roast Beef has been building that sandwich in Beverly since 1975.
The formula is simple. Thinly sliced roast beef gets stacked on a roll with American cheese, a swipe of mayonnaise, and tangy barbecue sauce.
Fancy decor is not part of the deal here. The shop keeps things no-frills, with a counter, a menu board, and staff who move quickly during the lunch rush.
Regulars tend to skip the small size. A large sandwich is the standard order, and it usually comes with fries or onion rings on the side.
First-timers sometimes worry that barbecue sauce and mayo will clash. They rarely leave with that opinion.
Plan a visit outside peak lunch hours if you want a quieter table. Bring a friend, too, because splitting a side of onion rings makes the large sandwich feel a bit more reasonable.
2. Johnnie’s Beef, Elmwood Park, Illinois
Cash only, window service, and a line that moves faster than a Chicago bus. Johnnie’s Beef has run this way since Johnnie Aretos opened it in 1961.
His son-in-law, Frank Stompanato, now keeps the stand going at 7500 W North Ave. Many fans call it the Mecca of Italian Beef, and the crowds back up that nickname.
Each sandwich uses slow-roasted beef held in gravy and tucked into a 6-inch Gonnella roll. Say juiced for a full dip, hot for coarse house giardiniera, or sweet for roasted peppers.
Hungry guests often order the combo, which adds a char-grilled Italian sausage. The fries arrive with extra piled on top.
Seating is limited to a small indoor counter and some patio tables. Most people eat fast and leave happy.
Save room for the homemade lemon Italian ice. It sometimes contains real lemon pieces, and regulars treat it as the official last step of the meal.
3. Roll-N-Roaster, Brooklyn, New York
Cheese lovers, take note. Roll-N-Roaster has been asking customers how much cheese they want since 1964, and the honest answer is usually more.
The Sheepshead Bay favorite sits at the corner of Emmons and Nostrand Avenue. Its bright yellow decor looks like a time capsule from the drive-in era.
The main event is slow-roasted beef, sliced thin and piled on a fresh roll with natural pan gravy. Guests can even pick rare, medium, or well.
Adding the signature melted cheese turns the sandwich into a knife-and-fork situation. Nobody seems to mind.
The menu goes far beyond beef. You will find 12-inch personal pizzas, burgers, fish sandwiches, corn fritters, clam chowder, and fries-n-cheez.
Here is a money-saving tip. Online orders have been known to come with free cheese on sandwiches, so check before you call.
Delivery and pickup are both available for anyone who prefers eating at home in comfortable pants.
4. Charlie the Butcher’s Kitchen, Williamsville, New York
Ask ten Buffalo residents to name their signature sandwich and most will skip right past wings. Beef on weck holds that honor, and Charlie the Butcher’s Kitchen treats it seriously.
The star is a kummelweck roll. Its top is coated with coarse salt and caraway seeds, which gives the bread a bold, salty bite.
Freshly carved roast beef fills the roll. A side of horseradish brings the heat, so use it with care unless you enjoy clearing your sinuses.
The restaurant grew out of butcher shop roots. That background explains the focus on carving meat properly and keeping preparation simple.
Location is a bonus here. The Williamsville spot sits near Buffalo Niagara International Airport, making it easy to grab a local classic before or after a flight.
Travelers often stop in with suitcases in tow. If you only have one meal in Western New York, this is a solid way to spend it.
5. Kelly’s Roast Beef, Revere, Massachusetts
A canceled wedding in the 1950s accidentally created one of New England’s most famous sandwiches. Leftover roast beef was sliced thin, put on rolls, and sold to beachgoers, and it sold out fast.
That lucky moment happened at Kelly’s Roast Beef. Frank V.
McCarthy and Raymond Carey founded it on Revere Beach in 1951 and named it after their friend Thomas Kelly.
The beef is slow-roasted in-house and served medium rare on grilled sesame seed rolls. The classic three-way adds barbecue sauce, mayonnaise, and American cheese.
Onion fans can try the Onion Three Way. It stacks grilled onions, mayo, and onion rings on an onion roll.
Seafood shares the spotlight too. The lobster roll is a big seller, and the Surf and Turf pairs it with roast beef.
One detail matters for planning. Most Kelly’s locations have drive-thrus, but the original Revere Beach spot does not, so park on the street and eat by the ocean.
6. Old Original Nick’s Roast Beef, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Two magic words unlock the full experience in South Philadelphia: extra wet. Regulars at Old Original Nick’s Roast Beef say it without even looking at the menu.
The shop has been carving beef by hand since 1938. Its signature sandwich features slow-roasted beef on a Kaiser roll, covered in homemade gravy.
Want more flavor? Order the combo, which adds sharp provolone cheese to the stack.
Asking for extra wet means even more gravy. The roll soaks it up, and the sandwich gets gloriously messy.
Fries deserve their own mention. The gravy-covered version is a local favorite, and many tables order one to share.
The setting is an old-school neighborhood bar with a distinctive neon sign outside. It looks like a place where everybody has a usual seat.
Newcomers should not feel shy. Order the combo extra wet, add gravy fries, and you will fit right in with folks who have been coming here for decades.
7. Brennan & Carr, Brooklyn, New York
Some sandwiches come with gravy on the side. At Brennan & Carr, the broth is basically the main character.
This old-school Brooklyn institution serves tender roast beef on a soft roll. Customers can choose to have the whole sandwich dipped right into the cooking juices.
Regulars who want maximum moisture ask for extra broth. That request is so common it feels like part of the house rules.
Fair warning, the roll will not stay dry for long. Grab a stack of napkins before you sit down, and maybe a fork as backup.
The atmosphere has stayed refreshingly traditional over the years. Parents who ate here as kids now bring their own children, and the menu has not drifted toward trends.
That loyalty says a lot. Neighborhood spots survive in Brooklyn only when they get the basics right every single day.
First visit tip: order the roast beef dipped, then decide on round two once you see how quickly it disappears.
8. Schwabl’s, West Seneca, New York
History buffs and hungry travelers both find something to love at Schwabl’s. The business traces its roots back to the 1800s, which makes it older than most buildings in town.
Its current West Seneca location has served customers since 1942. Many families have been coming for three generations or more.
The menu centers on traditional beef on weck. Roast beef is carved by hand and placed on a kummelweck roll topped with coarse salt and caraway seeds.
That roll is the signature of Western New York. It adds a salty punch that plain bread simply cannot match.
Add a little horseradish if you like a sharp kick. Locals often do.
The dining room has a cozy tavern style, with a classic look that has stayed much the same for years. Staff tend to move at a calm, friendly pace.
Plan to linger here. Schwabl’s is less about rushing through lunch and more about enjoying a recipe that has outlasted plenty of food fads.
9. Philippe The Original, Los Angeles, California
Back in 1908, Los Angeles had dirt streets, early streetcars, and one sandwich shop about to make history. Philippe The Original is widely credited with popularizing the French dip.
The idea is easy to love. Roast beef goes on a freshly baked French roll that gets dipped in the natural gravy from the meat.
Cheese is optional for extra richness. The real conversation starter, though, is the mustard sitting on the tables.
That mustard is famously hot. Smart diners start with a thin layer and build up slowly.
Ordering works cafeteria-style. You line up at the counter, tell the carver what you want, and carry your tray to a seat in the old-fashioned dining room.
The setup has barely changed in decades, which is part of the fun. Families, office workers, and sports fans heading to nearby games all share the same long tables.
A visit here feels like eating a chapter of city history, with gravy included.
10. Al’s #1 Italian Beef, Chicago, Illinois
Chicago runs on a few non-negotiables, and the Italian beef is high on that list. Al’s #1 Italian Beef has been part of that tradition since 1938.
The sandwich starts with thinly sliced, seasoned beef on French bread. After that, the choices are up to you.
Wetness is the big decision. Options range from fairly dry to completely dipped in gravy.
Spicy giardiniera is the topping most locals reach for. It brings crunch and heat in one scoop.
Extra-hungry visitors can go for the beef-and-sausage combo. It is a hefty meal, so plan your afternoon around a nap.
The Wells Street location is popular with out-of-town guests. It is easy to reach and gives a quick, reliable introduction to the city’s defining sandwich.
Here is a pro move many regulars use. Stand at the counter, lean forward, and eat over the paper wrapper.
A dipped beef has a way of escaping, and your shirt will thank you later.
11. Tommy DiNic’s, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Roast pork gets most of the headlines here, but the beef deserves a spot in the conversation. Tommy DiNic’s has a family story that starts in 1918.
That year, Gaetano Nicolosi opened a butcher shop in South Philly. The sandwich business came later and has been inside Reading Terminal Market since 1980.
Tommy and his son Joey now run the fourth-generation operation. In 2013, the Travel Channel named their roast pork the Best Sandwich in America.
The roast beef holds its own, though. Thin slices in au jus go on a long Italian seeded roll.
Customize it with sharp provolone, roasted peppers, broccoli rabe, or spinach. Ask for a side of horseradish if you want a little bite.
Lines can get long, especially with tourists. Counter seats fill quickly, but the market has a main seating area nearby.
Both cash and cards are accepted. Arrive early to beat the crowd and explore the other vendors after lunch.
12. Sam LaGrassa’s, Boston, Massachusetts
Downtown Boston office workers plan their week around one question: is today a LaGrassa’s day? This family-owned deli has earned that kind of loyalty.
Sam LaGrassa’s takes a classic deli approach. Sandwiches arrive generously filled, with meats and breads prepared carefully.
Roast beef is a big part of the lineup. Pastrami, however, is the specialty that built much of the shop’s reputation.
Can’t decide? Bring a coworker, order one of each, and split them down the middle.
The space has the busy rhythm of a true city lunch counter. Orders fly, names get called, and people grab their bags and head back to work.
Timing matters. The shop keeps limited weekday hours, so weekend visitors are out of luck.
Arriving a little before the noon crowd is a smart plan. Your wait will be shorter and you will have more time to enjoy a sandwich that probably needs both hands.
Leftovers are common, which makes for a very happy afternoon snack.
13. DiNic’s Pork & Beef, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Early birds get the beef at this Navy Yard counter. DiNic’s Pork & Beef opens early on weekday mornings and closes by late afternoon, Monday through Friday.
The address is 1511 Kitty Hawk Ave. Workers from nearby offices make up much of the crowd.
Oven-roasted pork and beef are the specialties. The beef gets praise for being juicy, and it comes on a sturdy roll built to handle it.
Not in a beef mood? The menu also includes roast pork, cheesesteaks, hoagies, breakfast sandwiches, and homemade meatballs.
Service is simple counter style. You order, wait a few minutes, and you are back on your way.
Some reviewers mention the shop is cash only. ATMs are on-site, so a forgotten wallet stash is an easy fix.
This stop makes a fitting finale for the list. It proves that a great roast beef sandwich does not need a famous market or a long history to earn loyal fans, just good meat and steady hands.
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