Every kind of sandwich is catered for in this fine city. From the footlong beast, loaded with more meats than is strictly proper, to the more virtuous fried tofu.
And while the Subways and the Prets of this world easily hoover up a big chunk of the lunchtime trade, the independents make better sandwiches, and they're worthy of your custom.
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Here are some of the best spots in town...
Rustica
This Northern Quarter institution has been serving the hungry folk of Manchester for 20 years, and still has daily queues snaking past the roped-off entrance to the Love Boutique adult shop next door. A go-to for anyone who works in the area, and worth the journey if you don’t, everyone from hipsters with four haircuts going on at the same time to tradesfolk turning this once dicey area into des-res paradise will be patiently waiting for a meatball ciabatta or a loaded up breakfast barm.
1 Hilton St, Manchester M4 1LP
Katsouris
Another iconic part of Manchester’s food landscape, this Greek deli has been feeding those wielding influence in the town hall - and those who pay their wages elsewhere - for at least a couple of decades. Spanning Europe with its weighty sandwiches, there's schnitzels, mozzarella melts, kleftico and heaving carvery boxes, all ready to be taken back to your desk or eaten in among the skaters grinding their way around Lincoln Square.
113 Deansgate, Manchester M3 2BQ
Fat Pat’s
There is perhaps not a better sandwich in the city than the ones served from this slightly suspect hatch down a backstreet in Chinatown. The Philly Cheesesteak - which sells out daily, so reserve one online - is truly magnificent, and though it comes at a price (£14 with a drink), you can share it, or eat it all yourself and skip dinner. The hot honey fried chicken is also a thing of great beauty.
88 Portland St, Manchester M1 4GX
Caff
In a bright yellow shipping container in the shadow of the towers of Deansgate, Caff does butties the old school way. So that’s an honest-to-goodness ham salad with salad cream, coronation chicken and breakfast barms that are the stuff of dreams. They also do a decent line in pies and sausage rolls, all sourced from Robinson’s Bakery in Failsworth.
Tony Wilson Place, Manchester M15 4FN
The Bread Club
Slap bang in the middle of Monton Village, The Bread Club doles out hoagies and rye bread sarnies in the New York deli style, so of course there’s a solid reuben, with peppery salt beef, sauerkraut, swiss cheese, mustard and the often left-out thousand island dressing. Their hefty Cubano, with ham, pulled pork and tangy pickles, served in a hoagie and then pressed on the sandwich toaster, is also worth the trip over the Irwell.
253 Monton Rd, Eccles, Manchester M30 9PS
Rack
Just behind the Plaza, Rack takes its obligations as a sandwich maker very seriously. And rightly so. These are superlative sandwiches, ever changing, ever inventive, like the Madras Melt, or the Mexican style brisket, with a pot of dipping broth. Or the contentious Lasandwich - which is exactly what it sounds like. Pasta, meat sauce, bechamel, melting cheese. What’s not to love?
24 Lawrence St, Stockport SK1 1DL
Mira
Set up in a little hut on Sadler’s Yard, by the Co-op building and New Century, this Italian sandwich outfit is something else. Made in the Neapolitan style, these are ‘cuzzetiello’, the hollowed out ends of the loaf which are then crammed with meatballs, marinara sauce, fried aubergines, crisp chicken - all sorts of marvellous stuff. Accompanied by a side of hot rosemary salted fries, this is sandwich Valhalla.
Sadler's Yard, Hanover St, Manchester M60 0AB
Northern Soul
So not a sandwich shop as such, but it would be hard to argue that Northern Soul isn’t in the business of sandwiches, and they’re independent, so they fit the bill as far as we’re concerned. These griddled wonders, pressed hard onto a hotplate, with a perfectly melted signature blend of cheeses, transcend the mere toasty. They also do Philly Cheese, tuna melts, burger melts, the works. Oh, and don’t miss the fried pickles.
44 Tib St, Manchester M4 1LA
Gooey
Again, rather more than a sandwich shop - it’s a bakery, cafe and a favourite of Lizzo too - Gooey is solidly independent and the sandwiches are something else, so it’s going in. They do easily the best reuben in the city, a hefty slab of a sandwich that will have you dozing at your desk. And, of course, there is the egg mayo with a whole soft boiled egg, and the fried tofu that Lizzo raved about too.
103 High St, Manchester M4 1HQ
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