The Los Angeles food scene sprawls across enclaves that offer spectacular Japanese and Chinese cuisine along with tantalizing Mexican, spicy Korean, flavorful Ethiopian, and so much more. Amid all these options, one of LA's most enduring and entertaining culinary traditions is the delicatessen, where you can order craveable sandwiches built from Italian cured meats and cheeses.
Tucked into mini-malls and stashed away on side streets, LA’s Italian deli scene dates to the roaring ‘20s but has also spawned exciting upstarts with stellar sandwiches worth seeking out. Here, you’ll find classic Italian hoagies piled high with mortadella and prosciutto as well as clever crossovers like a “Cubano-Italiano,” as La Cucina Italiana rounds up the best, newest, oldest and most classic must-visit delis for Italian sandwiches in Los Angeles.
Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery
The discussion around the best Italian deli sandwiches usually begins and ends with Bay Cities. Santa Monica residents and tourists alike have come here since 1925 in search of Italian sandwiches such as “The Godmother,” Italian bread filled with prosciutto, capicola, mortadella, Genoa salami, ham and provolone.
Uncle Paulie’s
One of the newer Italian deli spots in Los Angeles, Uncle Paulie’s has two locations and a dedicated following. An early hit on Paulie’s menu is the Gloria, consisting of spicy soppressata, provolone, arugula, olive oil and a balsamic glaze. If you’re adventurous, you can pay an extra buck and get your sandwich super-hot and spicy.
Uncle Paulie's
Roma Market
Open since 1959, Roma Market is known for one very special item, The Sandwich. Owner Rosario Mazzeo, who is now in his 80s, slings this simple yet taste-bud-bursting treat every day from his small Italian deli in Pasadena. So, what’s The Sandwich? It’s mortadella, capicola, salami, provolone, and olive oil on a soft Italian roll. There are no substitutions and there are no changes. The best part, it only costs $5.50.
Pizzana
While many Angelenos are familiar with Pizzana chef Daniele Uditi’s pizza, they may not realize that this master chef makes some of the best sandwiches in the entire city. Most weeks, Uditi surprises his legions of LA fans with new sandwich specials like The Padrino, with mortadella, spicy soppressata, pepperoncini and provolone, or the Grandma Joan, which is a knockout of a meatball sub with San Marzano tomato sauce, fior di latte, and basil on warmed ciabatta bread.
Giamela’s
Since 1964, Giamela’s has been providing the east side of LA with unreal Italian sandwiches. Now run by the original owner’s son, the tradition continues with a mix of Italian delights. Highlights include the pepper steak subs, the meatball, or Mr. G’s, with soppressata, salami and capicola.
Giamela's
Ggiata
The newest kid on the Italian deli block, Ggiata started as a ghost kitchen concept and is about to open its first official sandwich shop. The upstart sandwich makers have developed a following in LA with their perfectly crisped Italian bread and inventive hoagies like The Masterpiece, with eggplant, prosciutto and Stracciatella, as well as The Spicy P, with chicken cutlets, spicy vodka sauce and fresh mozzarella.
Ggiata's
Claro’s Italian Market
Another classic on the LA scene, Claro’s Italian Market in the San Gabriel Valley has been serving up family-named sandwiches since 1948. Whether you order the Spicy Mike, the Auntie Shell, the Angry Joe, or the Uncle George, you’re guaranteed fresh cuts of deli meats, soft Italian bread, and the perfect olive oil to bring it all together.
e stretto
This New York transplant is already making the shortlist for great Italian deli sandwiches in Los Angeles. As e stretto's website says, there are indeed “tite” sandwiches, such as the Ill Papa, with mortadella, capicola, chorizo and manchego, and the Cubano Italiano, with FLACO carnitas, jack cheese, mortadella and giardiniera.