Burgers had their time in the sun, but right now sandwiches are the hottest lunch ticket in town.
It's a trend that's been simmering away since COVID times, when top restaurants across major cities turned to casual pop-ups in place of their usual dine-in menu. This chef-ification of nostalgic comfort eats, combined with never-ending TikToks showcasing the kind of international sangas we'd been missing (hello, Italian focaccias) fueled a cult-like demand for really good sandwiches. Here in Perth, new players like Peggy's, Deli's Continental, Bagel O's and Two Slices only added to the hype—with massive queues and storewide sell-outs happening on the reg.
To celebrate the golden age of sandwiches in Perth, we made it our mission to find the very best in the west, and boy oh boy, are we blessed with some bangers. Fluffy Italian focaccias piled high with sliced meats, saucy meatball subs, chewy bagels loaded to the max—here’s a taste of the very best sandwiches in Perth, handpicked by Urban List.
Two Slices
Scarborough
Image credit: Two Slices | Instagram
Slaying on the Scarborough scene, Two Slices has people queuing for their fresh focaccias seven days a week, and after your first bite you’ll see why. The rotating range of sellout sandwiches are piled sky high with quality deli meats, fresh herbs, cheese, salads and spreads.
Plus, they've recently launched a whole new hot sandwich menu too that goes perfectly with the winter chills. Good luck choosing between sloppy jaloppies like the Truffle and Cheese—their take on a smashed pattie cheeseburger—and the Chopped Cheese—a gooey mess of a sanga featuring ground beef, capsicum, onion and American cheddar. Wash it down with a viral espresso cream latte for a true toe curling lunch.
Strollio's Luncheonette
Tuart Hill
Image credit: Strollio's Luncheonette | Claire Logan
Strollio's is the little neighbourhood cafe and lunch bar that's opened on Lawley Street in Tuart Hill. Headed up by baker Nathan Alexander (ex-Bagel O's, North Street, Little Loaf and Big Loaf) and designer Hannah Budge, the offering is equal parts new-age coffee bar and old-school deli. Think cute branding and batch brew, retro bus-seat booths and abstract art paired with sandwich classics, homemade doughnuts and nostalgic treats that bring back memories of spending all your parents' spare change on lollies at the corner deli.
On the sandwich front, they're doing simple classics, like creamy egg and lettuce, roast beef and pickle and even Japanese-style strawberry and cream sandos. No matter what you pick (or what's left in the cabinet), you can expect fluffy, fresh bread and well-seasoned interiors layered to perfection.
Mortadeli
Nedlands
Image credit: Mortadeli | Instagram
Serious sandwich connoisseurs have been flocking to this Italian deli since it opened in earlier this year. The menu, scribbled on a chalk board beind the counter, features some seriously tasty Italian combos. The Porchetta roll is filled with thinly sliced roast pork. lightly seasoned ricotta, roasted peppers, rocket and truffle oil, the Diavolo packs a punch with spicy nduja, calabrese salami and fermented chilli subsided with stracciatella. But it’s hard to go past Mortadeli’s namesake—thinly sliced mortadella, stracciatella, pistachio cream, semi dried tomatoes and fresh rocket. That’s amore.
Deli's Continental
Inglewood
Image credit: Deli Continental | Instagram
After a wildly successful pop-up, Deli's Continental found a permanent home in Inglewood in 2022 and has been slinging perfectly crafted rolls ever since. They specialise in really, really good continental rolls, thanks largely to their unique, pizza-like house baked bread. Since having their own space to play, though, they've expanded their menu to include other filling faves like poached chicken, cheese steak and the saucy meatball.
Peggy's
Fremantle
Image credit: Peggy's | Instagram
Brought to us by ex-fine dining chef Harry Peasnell, Peggy’s is the cool little sandwich bar in Freo that we can't get enough of. The menu features riffs on nostalgic classics—think: egg salad, BLTs and sausage and egg muffins—alongside rotating specials and other comforting sarnies. Whatever you decide, you know it'll be fresh—everything is made to order and features the freshest produce on locally sourced or house baked bread.
Bagel O’s
Mount Lawley
Image credit: Bagel O's | Elle Borgward
Next time you’re in Mount Lawley and got a hankering for some carbs, keep your eyes peeled for the cobalt-blue signage to find Bagel O’s. Here you’ll find perfectly chewy bagels stuffed with quality, unique fillings, like the PARM (Panko chicken cutlets, Mozzarella, Tomato sugo, Salsa Verde) and the P.E.C (House-smoked pastrami, plain cream cheese, soft egg, American cheese). You can also pick up a coffee, cookies, chips, freshly glazed doughnuts and some sweet merch.
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Re Store
Leederville, Northbridge
There’s no great shortage of conti rolls in Perth, but it’s in the OG Italian grocer where you’ll find one of the very best in the west. Brave the swarms of hungry locals that snake through the store, grab a ticket and wait patiently for your turn to construct your own take on the famous Italian sandwich. The Urban List favourite? A classic mixed meat roll (mortadella, coppa and salami) and a crusty white bread roll, melanzane, artichoke, olives plus a whole lot of salad for your health. Bellisimo.
Newin Banh Mi
Crawley
Image Credit: Newin Banh Mi | Instagram
Ex-LiDo chef Liem Nguyen is the brains behind Crawley’s hottest new banh mi joint. There's only a handful of banh mis to choose from—a cripsy pork belly, traditional cold cuts, coca cola chicken, vegetarian and a rotating special like the pork and prawn meatball they had on when we last visited—and they're all pretty reasonably priced at just $10-$12 a pop. All are best washed down with one of their Vietnamese iced coffees or sugarcane juices.
Mister Focaccia
Leederville
If herby focaccias stuffed full of Italian goodness is on your sandwich agenda, Mister Focaccia is a no brainer. We're big fans of the authentic South Italian eats here, which are all based on recipes passed down over generations. The bread's baked fresh in house, sandwiches are all made to order and the ingredients are top quality, so you really can't go wrong.
Satchmo
North Perth
Image credit: Satcho | Instagram
Over in North Perth, Satchmo serves up a little taste of New York in the 1960s. The oh-so- cool diner feels like it could be straight out of a Seinfeld episode, with jazz records spinning and friendly staff that know their regulars by their first name. The soul food at Satchmo can brighten up even the most dreariest of days. Whether it’s a chicken roll, meatball hoagie or their famed rueben, you’re in for a treat.
North Street Store
Cottesloe
Image credit: North Street Store | Instagram
The cinnamon scrolls and conti rolls at North Street Store are truly something special, but their weekend special sangers are more than deserving of the spotlight, too. One week, crispy, golden beer-batted blue-eyed cod is accompanied with house-made tartare and salad in a Big Loaf milk bun. The next, it’s slow braised beef cheek with walnut pesto, fior de latte and fresh basil. Head on in between 8am-3pm and get in before they’re gone for another week (leaving juuust enough room for a cinny scroll, of course).
Little Loaf Bakery And Lunch Bar
South Fremantle
Image credit: Little Loaf | Instagram
While we're talking North Street Store, we'd be remiss to ignore the equally delish sangas coming outta their South Freo counterpart, Little Loaf. Here you'll find more of their famous contis and chicken baguettes through to special banh mis, meatball subs, steak sarnis and other between-bread delights. Drop by the beachside bakery window to see what's going or sit down and smash one at the cafe next door.
Oh So Deli
Woodlands
Image credit: Oh So Deli | Instagram
Oh So Deli? More like oh-so DELICIOUS. Woodlands Shopping Centre’s made-to-order sandwich shop and cafe has been serving the good people of the City of Stirling since 2021, and has gained a cult following thanks to two of their signature sangas: the best-seller Chicken Kastu and perfect hot Pastrami. Grab a standout sandwich and a cup of Joe and head across the road for a picnic at the picturesque Jackadder Lake.
Best Wishes
Fremantle
Image credit: Best Wishes | Instagram
Home to one of the very best brekky bagels in Freo, possibly the world, Best Wishes serves up a range of sangas, wraps and reubens alongside their famed bagels, with potent espressos coming out hot and fast from the coffee machine. Their aforementioned breakfast bagel will kick start your day or end your hangover, or both. Add hot sauce and pickles, always.
Community Coffee Co
Subiaco, Perth CBD, South Perth and Duncraig
Image credit: Community Coffee Co | Instagram
Over the years Community Coffee Co has really cranked up its sandwich game, and it's now one of our all-time faves for consistently good sandos in Perth. The Asian-style egg sando is out of this world good, and only made better with the addition of a hashbrown and fermented chilli sauce. Then again, the fried chicken number on fluffy white bread is basically heaven in bread form.
La Mortazza
North Perth
Image credit: La Mortazza | Instagram
For Italian focaccias and paninis loaded to the brim with the finest sliced meats, cheese and antipasto, La Mortazza has your back. When in doubt, go for the Abruzzese, with mortadella, stracciatella and crumbled pistachio—it's an absolute classic.
Angelo Street Market
South Perth
Image credit: Angelo Street Market | Jayne MacDonald (@pixi__lane) via Instagram
Another Italian deli doing great things between bread, Angelo Street Market will feed your deepest sandwich desires. They've earned quite the reputation for their classic conti rolls, but a quick glimpse at the deli cabinet or made-to-order menu reveals a whole host of tempting options, from roast beef and gravy to chicken schnitzel and salad.
Mr Sandwich
Perth CBD
Image credit: Mr Sandwich | Instagram
Mr Sandwich needs no further introduction than their tagline: bomb sangas. With two CBD outposts on Hay Street and St George’s Terrace, these guys keep conference rooms across town fuelled with their epic sandwich platters. While in-store, they attract the hungry office lunch crowds day in, day out, so come prepared to fight over your sarnie of choice. Our go-to? Probably the classic roast chicken, with crispy bacon, garlic aioli and fresh crunchy lettuce.
Mary Street Bakery
Perth, Highgate, Claremont, West Leederville and City Beach
Image credit: Mary St Bakery | Danica Zuks
Known for their loaves, doughnuts and baked treats, Mary Street Bakery is also a sambo hotspot worth taking note of. Each day they line their cabinets with a freshly made supply, and quite often if you’re a little late for lunch, they’ll all be gone. The exact fillings may slightly change week-to-week but there’ll pretty much always be a veggie, meat, continental and chicken option on the go. Our pick though, definitely the chicken. Think moist pieces of chicken, with just the right amount of top-tier mayo, cheese and greens, all wrapped up in two slices of Mary Street bread—giving you a perfect bite each and every time.
Ethos Deli & Dining Room
East Fremantle
Image credit: Ethos Deli + Dining | Instagram
A sophisticated New York style deli and diner, infused with Eastern European flavours, Ethos Deli & Dining Room has to be one of East Freo’s all-time greats. Plus, they also take a zero-waste approach, so it earns a sustainability tick from us. You’ll find a killer charcuterie offering—think Tuscan lamb salami, truffle mortadella, and wagyu bresola—so it really should come as no surprise that when they throw these quality ingredients between two fat slices of bread, it’s going to be good. It’s their hot pastrami sandwich that's secured a permanent spot in our heart, though—complete with mustard and courgette pickles, this guy will keep you happy any day of the week.
Panini Cnr
Balcatta
Panini Cnr in Balcatta is known for serving up some of the best continental rolls around town. But we’ve got a whole other listing just for those beauties—because let’s face it, otherwise they’d dominate this list—so what we’re bringing attention to today is their cheeky little chicken number. Trust us, if you love a chicken schnitty, you’ll love this. Freshly baked bread stacked with slices of Italian chicken cutlet, crisp iceberg lettuce, and tomato, all topped with a good dose of mayonnaise—it’s so simple and oh so good.
Forklore
West Perth
Image credit: Forklore | Elle Borgward
We debated leaving this little West Perth cafe out of our list of sandwich spots because it's really just the one sandwich. But considering Forklore's one sandwich remains one of the finest bready boys we've ever had in Perth, it feels wrong to leave it off. We're of course talking about their famous katsu sando, featuring freshly fried katsu chicken, crunchy slaw and zesty pickles in support, all topped off with generous heapings of Japanese mayo and katsu sauce between the fluffiest lightly toasted bread ever.
Still hungry? Check out:
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Main image credit: Peggy's | Emma Bryant
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