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The Most Iconic Sandwich In Every State

What's the best thing on sliced bread in your state?

Headshot of Hannah DoolinBy Hannah Doolin
pastrami sandwich on an old fashioned deli counter with a bell
Michael Marquand

You can learn quite a lot about a place based on what its residents put on sliced bread. We researched the signature sandwiches in all 50 states based on longstanding tradition, locally beloved ingredients and sandwich shops that have practically reached celebrity status. See if we got your state's pick right, and peruse other favorites so you know what to order at delis and diners across the country.

1

Alabama: Pulled Chicken with White Sauce

Dish, Food, Cuisine, Ingredient, Fast food, Produce, Baked beans, Sloppy joe, Vegetarian food, Gravy,
Flickr Creative Commons/Dan

Smoked chicken gets dressed up with mayonnaise-based Alabama white sauce in this BBQ staple — don't knock that creamy sauce 'til you try it!

2

Alaska: Salmon Sandwich

salmon sandwich

Whether it's smoked or grilled, Alaskan salmon is the sandwich filler of choice in this state. All you need is some mayo, fresh lettuce and good bread.

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3

Arizona: Sonoran Hot Dog

Dish, Food, Cuisine, Ingredient, Baked goods, Produce, Staple food, Finger food, Dessert, American food,
Flickr Creative Commons/Kate Hopkins

Okay, so this isn't exactly a sandwich, but in this southwestern state it's one of the best things you get on a roll. A hot dog gets wrapped in bacon, then topped with pinto beans, grilled onion, fresh onion, tomatoes, jalapeño sauce, mayo and mustard.

4

Arkansas: Fried Bologna Sandwich

fried bologna sandwich

In Arkansas, bologna is much more than Oscar Meyer deli meat. Usually cut into 1-inch thick slices, it's served hot from the griddle with classic Southern sides like pinto beans, collards and cornbread.

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5

California: French Dip

Slow-Cooker French Dip Beauty Dip
Jonathan Boulton

Two Los Angeles restaurants continue to argue over who first created the French Dip, but luckily the hefty roast beef sandwich, layered with melty provolone and served with a side of jus for dipping, has made its way east.

6

Colorado: Denver Sandwich

Dish, Food, Cuisine, Ingredient, Breakfast sandwich, Egg sandwich, Melt sandwich, Egg salad, Finger food, Sandwich,
Courtesy of The Spice Kit Recipes

Diners across the country have Western or Denver omelettes on their menus, and this sandwich puts the breakfast item — made with scrambled eggs, shaved ham, cheddar, onions and sautéed peppers — between two slices of grilled bread.

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7

Connecticut: Fried Clam Roll

clam roll
ZoomSpectrum

For a fairly small state, Connecticut boasts a large amount of shoreline, making it a prime destination for no-frills seafood shacks, most of which serve up juicy, fried clams, sometime on a pillowy roll, sometimes piled onto a single piece of buttered toast.

8

Delaware: The Bobbie

Capriotti's The Bobbie
Facebook/Capriotti's Sandwich Shop

The Wilmington-founded sub shop chain, Capriotti's, has since moved it's home base to Las Vegas, but its signature sandwich maintains its fame across Delaware. It's virtually Thanksgiving on a roll — stuffed with pulled turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing and mayonnaise.

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9

Florida: Cubano

cubano sandwich
.

The Cuban immigrant communities of Florida are to thank for the spread of this beloved sandwich. Chewy Cuban bread is smeared with yellow mustard, then layered with roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese and sliced dill pickles and pressed on a griddle.

10

Georgia: Pimento Cheese Sandwich

pimento cheese sandwich

Pimento cheese — a blend of mayonnaise, cheese and pimentos (pickled cherry peppers) — is a Southern staple so famous that it's secured a special role in the annual Masters Golf Tournament in August, GA.

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11

Hawaii: Kalua Pork Sandwich

Dish, Food, Cuisine, Junk food, Ingredient, Pulled pork, Fast food, Cemita, Slider, Hamburger,
Flickr Creative Commons/Radly J Phoenix

Hawaiians don't mess around when it comes to cookouts. Whole pigs are traditionally cooked Kalua-style in underground ovens covered with banana leaves for several hours. That process, plus stellar toppings like Asian slaw and kimchee, explains why these sandwiches are so bomb.

12

Idaho: PB & Huckleberry Jam

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Fancy Lunch
grandriver

Idaho has entire festivals centered around huckleberries, serving up pies, pancakes and beyond stuffed with the juicy fruit. When locals put together a classic PB&J, you can bet they're reaching for quality huckleberry jam instead of strawberry jelly.

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13

Illinois: Italian Beef

Italian beef sandwich

The smell of thinly sliced roast beef simmering in savory au jus (or, as the locals say, 'gravy') is enough to make you a believer in Chicago's favorite sandwich. The beef is heaped onto Italian rolls and sometimes the entire thing goes for one last dip in the jus, before getting finished with spicy giardiniera or sautéed peppers.

14

Indiana: Pork Tenderloin Sandwich

Dish, Food, Cuisine, Ingredient, Junk food, Fried food, Fast food, Produce, Sloppy joe, American food,
Flickr Creative Commons/Carol VanHook

If you thought the contents of a sandwich should fit neatly between the bread, this favorite breaks all the rules. A breaded, deep-fried pork loin cutlet is slapped on a bun and eaten with typical burger fixings like ketchup, mustard, lettuce, onions and pickles.

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15

Iowa: Loose Meat Sandwich

Dish, Food, Cuisine, Hamburger, Fast food, Breakfast sandwich, Buffalo burger, Cheeseburger, Ingredient, Breakfast roll,
Flickr Creative Commons/rayb777

Iowa's Maid-Rite restaurant chain made these messy numbers (also known as a tavern sandwich) famous. It's a bun filled with a mixture of unseasoned ground beef and sautéed onions, but don't call it a sloppy joe — there's no tomato sauce to be found here.

16

Kansas: Burnt Ends Sandwich

Dish, Cuisine, Food, Ingredient, Bacon jam, Pulled pork, Rou jia mo, American food, Bacon sandwich, Recipe,
Flickr Creative Commons/Mike Willis

If you visit Kansas City, you can't leave without eating barbecue, and if you only order one thing, it should be this. Burnt ends are the crispy end cuts of smoked brisket, and when those flavorful nuggets get chopped, tossed with BBQ sauce and piled onto a bun or sliced bread, there is literally nothing better.

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17

Kentucky: Hot Brown

Dish, Food, Cuisine, Ingredient, Produce, Staple food, Breakfast, Francesinha, Dessert, Baked goods,
Flickr Creative Commons/Phil Denton

Yes, there really is bread hiding in there somewhere. Louisville's open-faced favorite is made with turkey and bacon, smothered with Mornay sauce (Béchamel, usually made with a combination of Gruyère, Emmental and white cheddar) and broiled until crispy and brown around the edges.

18

Louisiana: Muffuletta

Original Muffuletta at Central Grocery Beauty
Rush Jagoe

Inspired by Sicilian ingredients and invented at the legendary Central Grocery in New Orleans, this sandwich is one of the city's classic dishes. A round, sesame seed Italian loaf is layered generously with mixed cold cuts like mortadella, ham, and salami, provolone cheese, olive oil and olive salad.

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19

Maine: Lobster Roll

lobster roll
Getty Images

Maine stands as the largest lobster-producing region in the world, which makes the lobster roll a shoe-in for the state's sammie of choice. Here, the cold lobster meat is tossed with mayo, tarragon and celery or scallion, and served on a New England-style hot dog roll with flat sides. Even better if the sides are buttered and grilled.

20

Maryland: Crab Cake Sandwich

Dish, Food, Cuisine, Ingredient, Cheeseburger, Fast food, Slider, Hamburger, Patty, Buffalo burger,
Flickr Creative Commons/Krista

You won't find a ton of filler in classic Maryland crab cakes. Lump blue crabmeat and Panko bread crumbs are blended with a mixture of egg, mayonnaise and spices to let the crab flavor shine through. Throw it on a bun with a lemon wedge and maybe some tartar sauce and you're good to go.

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