Manifest Sandwich

Hainan Chicken Sandwich | Vuji Cafe | Houston: At one point in my life I was heavily pushing the idea of a store dedicated to providing a variety of chicken salads. Someone eventually stole the idea and made millions, but here’s a take on chicken salad that hadn’t occurred to me and uses a favorite non-sandwich dish, Hainanese Chicken. We’ve been looking for an excuse to go eat in Houston, this may be it.

Gyro | Tylixto | Athens: I realized I haven’t had a Gyro in at least a couple of years (shame!). The best ones come from the point of origin, Greece, where the souvlaki on the spit is typically pork or chicken, or a blend of the two - not the beef and lamb mixture we’re used to in the US. I don’t think Greece is in the cards for me this year, but maybe it is for you?

Rajas Con Queso Torta | La Torta Gorda  | San Francisco: This delicious looking torta is made with smoky strips of roasted poblano pepper and Oaxaca cheese - a salty Mexican ball of string cheese that gets nice and gooey when melted. Hopefully this meatless torta also means I won’t have to be rolled home after ignoring my body and eating the whole thing.

Surf & Turf Poor Boy | Parkway Bakery & Tavern | New Orleans: Somehow in my handful of trips to New Orleans I’ve never made it to Parkway. A sore spot each time I head out from Louis Armstrong Airport, away from the Po’ Boys. NOLA is home to some of the best roast beef and fried shrimp around, and Parkway’s is at the top of a distinguished list for both. 

Steak Sando | Shima | Tokyo: Traveling across the world for a sandwich is a little decadent, so might as well go for a decadent sandwich when you arrive. This one puts wagyu beef, tomato relish, and house mustard sauce between thick, toasted slices of Japanese milk bread.

Tri-Tip Barbecue Sandwich | Cold Spring Tavern | Santa Barbara: Weekends at the Cold Spring Tavern are special, and worth the trek up an old stagecoach road for one of the greatest sandwich experiences you can imagine. Santa Maria-style tri-tip, with barbecue sauce, horseradish sauce, or salsa on a french roll.

Venezia | I' Bacaro de' Bischeri | Venice: This sandwich is named after the city and comes loaded with one of the most traditional Venetian dishes: a creamy salt cod mixture known as baccalá mantecato. Topped with prosciutto, caramelized onions, and an even creamier soft cheese, it's making me hungry.

Muffuletta | Central Grocery | New Orleans: Two sandwiches from New Orleans in one list? Yes -- the muffuletta is that good and I’m not going all the way to NOLA for a po' boy without getting one of these too (and probably one more to take home and freeze).

#19 | Langer's | Los Angeles: LA may be (finally, hopefully) coming through the recent fires, but it's going to need support for years. I hope to visit a few times in 2025, giving me multiple opportunities to check out this LA institution: hot pastrami, cole slaw, swiss, and russian dressing on rye.

Al Pastor Grilled Cheese | El Sazon | Oakland: This one is only a few miles from my front door, but it's important to have some easy wins on this list. Plus, look at this thing.