3 Illinois Sandwich Shops Named To 100 Best In The USA List

Full disclosure:

I love sandwiches. All sorts, all types, nearly any ingredients. If I were forced to pick one food item to have at every meal for the rest of my days, I'm going to go with sandwiches without much debate. Even more so than pizza. And, let's not include pizza-sandwiches--which are usually gross.

Growing up, sandwiches were really not a thing around my childhood home because my mom hated sandwiches. She said sandwiches were for people who don't know how to cook, or have given up on cooking anything decent. Having sandwiches at dinner meant that someone had failed in the kitchen, and this was what they were forced to eat.

She was so, so wrong.

August Is National Sandwich Month, So You Know What To Do...Try To Work In 31 Sandwiches This Month

There is no shortage of places to grab a great sandwich in Illinois, and that's without ever going into a chain restaurant.

Business review site Yelp.com recently released their first-ever Top 100 Sandwich Shops rankings, which were gathered from reviews from Yelp's many amateur food reviewers:

Besides being affordable, portable, always-crowd-pleasing, and increasingly photogenic, sandwiches are also going gourmet. Yelpers love all the new house-made aiolis, chutneys, pâtés, and sauces these chefs are adding to their creations. Diners also give high praise to unique, delicious toppings like pickled vegetables and olive tapenade, as well as the artisanal breads like fresh ciabatta, garlic bread, or pretzel buns.

Normally, I Would Tell You Which Sandwich Shops Located In Illinois' Neighboring States Were On The List, But Only Sandwich Joints In Illinois, Indiana, And Missouri Made Yelp's 2025 Rankings

If you're a sandwich lover who'll be visiting Missouri any time soon, you'll want to hit  these three spots:

Blues City Deli in St. Louis (ranked #8 in the country):

New Orleans po’boys and muffulettas meet Italian-style sammies and smoked pastramis at this “talk-of-the-town” Benton Park deli. Lunchtime lines around the corner prove its popularity, but Yelpers insist they move quickly. The music ambiance, “funky wall decor giving credence to the blues, and sandwich combinations to match” were inspired by owner Vince Valenza’s travels to blues-heavy New Orleans and Chicago.

Bay Boy Specialty Sandwiches, Kansas City, Missouri (#50):

Specialty is the sandwiches all on Fresh baked Dutch Crunch bread, fresh vegetables, quality meats and cheeses, and signature and flavorful sauces.

Vivola Express, St. Louis, Missouri (#99)

If you're going to Indiana, here's where to go for great sandwiches:

Fitzgerald’s Lunch House, Indianapolis, Indiana (#53)

Closer To Home, These 3 Illinois Sandwich Shops Also Landed In The Top 100

According to the Yelp.com rankings of the best sandwich shops in the nation, these three Illinois joints are well worth checking out.

 Omarcitos Latin Cafe in Chicago (#36): 

This Logan Square spot specializing in Latin American street food, such as its citrus garlic marinated pulled pork and Cuban-style shredded beef, was featured on the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives."

11 Degrees North in Chicago (#62):

Arepas (Traditional Venezuelan Gluten Free sandwiches ) Biscuits and bagels sandwiches Breakfast All day! Smoothies & smoothie bowls Coffee, teas, Kombucha on draft.

 Finuccio and Sons Italian Deli and Catering in Schaumburg (#76):

Fresh Made Daily - Italian Deli, Sandwiches, Catering, Sauces, Meatballs, and an Italian Imported Grocery Market. Cafe, Imported Beers, and Gaming In-store.