From heroes and hoagies to grinders and po'boys, America is a nation obsessed with sub sandwiches. You'll find joints across the country serving up giant, submarine-shaped rolls, stuffed to bursting with meats, cheeses, and veggies. Here we've put together a list of the top-rated places in every US state to eat a flavor-packed sub, whether you're after an old-school Italian joint or a new hotspot reviving classic combos. 

Click or scroll our gallery to discover the greatest shops for subs in every US state – did your favorite make the list?

Our selections are based on genuine user reviews, awards and accolades, and the first-hand experience of our team. They're also regularly checked and updated. 

Deli-style subs, stuffed to overflowing with Italian fillings, are the order of the day at this small, family-run joint. They're the order of every day, actually, according to fans who crave the delicious and very affordable sandwiches. Customers praise the super-friendly service and warm atmosphere. Menu highlights include the meatball sub, which comes slathered with rich tomato sauce and cheese, and the pizza sub, finished with pepperoni, pizza sauce, and melty mozzarella. 

It’s the bread that makes the sub sandwiches from this small, independent shop so special. It’s freshly baked each morning, beautifully fluffy and with a just-right crust. The fillings are pretty great too, from perfectly seasoned Buffalo chicken to Philly steak. Customers recommend picking up one of the enormous and glorious cookies for dessert, too.

The Italian sub – either with spiced charcuterie or ham, salami, and cheese – is a favorite for customers at Sidewinder Subs. Although fans say you can’t really go wrong with any options on the extensive menu, which includes meatball, pastrami, crab and avocado, and a vegetarian sub with 'every veggie we have.' The friendly staff members are happy to make customized sub sandwiches to order, too.

Giant subs, sandwiches, and submarines are the reason locals return to this Fayetteville gem again and again. The space, complete with old army photographs lining every wall, is renowned for its tasty options. Try the Jack Wagon, a hefty sub filled with pit ham, boar’s head bacon, chicken, pepperjack cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and horseradish-studded mayo, or go for the Veggie Caprese, a green delight filled with fresh mozzarella, tomato, purple onion, baby spinach, balsamic, and pesto. Each comes served with house chips and a pickle.  

A San Francisco institution, Molinari Delicatessen has been keeping Italian American culinary culture alive since 1896. The beloved joint, complete with its iconic blue-and-white exterior and curb-side seating, is famous for its dried meats, cheeses, house-made pasta selection, and – most importantly – its gourmet sandwiches. Customers travel far and wide to get their hands on the Molinari Special Italian Combo: a decadent sub stuffed with cold cuts, mayonnaise, mustard, salad, pepperoncinis, and cheese.  

Don’t order Sub Shop’s Destroyer sub unless you have a huge appetite, or no plans for dinner. This enormous sandwich – stuffed with roast beef, ham, pastrami, salami, turkey, provolone and Swiss cheeses, and as much salad as you like – is big enough for lunch, dinner, and maybe even lunch the next day. It’s just one of many superlative subs served at this long-running store, with other classics including tuna, vegetarian, and meatball – and they're available in half sizes too.

Grinder specializes in, well, grinders – a type of sub sandwich that originated in New England and is thought to have been named because sailors would “grind” or chomp on them before heading out to sea. They’re also usually served hot and toasty, like the excellent Petey, a customer favorite with house-made meatballs, marinara sauce, and three melted cheeses. Everything is served on classic, fluffy-yet-crispy hoagie bread.

The first Nardelli’s store opened in Waterbury in 1920, starting out as a fruit and veg store and specializing in grinders after the three brothers noticed how popular the torpedo-shaped sandwiches were in New York. Now there are branches across Connecticut, and customers continue to say that Nardelli’s makes the best Italian-style grinders around. The Chicken Cutlet, with marinara sauce, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and diced veggies, is worth obsessing over.

Ioannoni's opened in 2005 but has a long heritage behind it, as owner Michael Ioannoni’s family ran an Italian deli in New Castle for 50 years. The passed-down traditions shine through, and the sub sandwiches the store specializes in are based on family recipes and made even better. Customers reckon they’re the best Italian sub sandwiches around, with the meatball sub – packed with huge meatballs and perfect sauce – and sub with chicken cutlets among favorites.

Mickey’s doesn’t just serve the best subs in Florida. According to pretty much anyone who’s ever bitten into one of their torpedo-style sandwiches, these are the best subs anywhere. Ever. People rave about the Italian sub and the roast beef with horseradish, with all the ingredients being high-quality and fresh. They also love the friendly, fun atmosphere, with bright green décor and a bold mural.

Home to multiple locations across Florida, Gateway Subs serves up some of the best sandwiches in the state. You can expect plenty of big hitters here, including the Looney Tuna (house-made tuna salad, mayonnaise, provolone, lettuce, tomato, and onion) and the Big Beach (pictured): a ham, turkey, and roast beef concoction, with mayonnaise, provolone, and salad. Fans say you can’t beat the team’s all-day breakfast sandwiches, either.  

This statewide chain, which has four locations in Savannah plus shops in cities including Richmond Hill, Pooler, and Augusta, was opened in 1975 by Jersey-born Bill Baer, who was frustrated he couldn’t find a decent Jersey-style sub. Now, it’s a Georgia mainstay and loved for its crave-able subs, with favorite menu items including the Italian Batallion, packed with layers of meat and cheese. Other options include toasted torpedoes and grilled subs with steak.

https://baldinos.us/locations/

A firm favorite since 1977, Storto’s Deli & Sandwich Shoppe has been serving up some of the best sandwiches in Hawaii for generations. The spot is renowned for its giant subs, with popular orders including the Jockos (ham, turkey, and pastrami) and the Perry’s (roast beef, turkey, and pastrami). Add on a side order of potato salad and pickles to really take your meal up a notch. 

The Sandwich Tree is deservedly known as the best sandwich shop, period. It specializes in sub-style sandwiches in sizes from four to 24 inches (presumably the latter would be for sharing, although we won’t judge). Customers praise the perfect, soft bread, which has just the right crackle of crispiness. The shop is also a legend in its local area thanks to its community feel and generous fillings from pastrami to veggie.

Born in Chicago’s Little Italy in 1960 and now on Michigan Avenue, Fontano’s Subs has stayed true to its roots and specializes in Italian-style subs like the Blockbuster, with ham, salami, capocollo, provolone, and Swiss cheese, and Big Al, layered with mortadella, two types of salami, and provolone. The bread is especially good, as is the Italian Beef, served hot with peppers and a gravy 'dip'.

The clue’s in the name: this Indy favorite is all about beer and hoagies. Partnered with craft brewery Chilly Water, it turns out Philly-style cheesesteaks, which are described as the best outside of Pennsylvania. There are some delicious cold hoagies, like the Market St, with layers of turkey, ham, cheese, and coleslaw.

This Irish bar may be tiny, but it has amassed a huge following thanks to its killer subs. Located in the historic Midtown area of Wichita, The Artichoke Sandwichbar serves big sandwiches. Loyal customers love its unpretentious vibe. The most popular sub, The Famous No. 8, comes highly recommended – a soft onion hoagie stuffed with scrumptious turkey, crispy bacon, creamy Swiss, and cream cheese, topped with fresh lettuce, tomato, Italian dressing, and Parmesan.

Expect to get messy when devouring one of the ginormous subs on offer at Gorilla Bobs – they come brimming with flavorful fillings. Top picks include the chicken sandwich, stuffed with seasoned grilled chicken, roasted peppers and onions, mushrooms, banana peppers, spicy giardiniera, and American cheese, and Big Jake’s Pizza Steak: a sub heaving with sirloin steak, peppers, deluxe marinara sauce, and provolone cheese.

In New Orleans, sub sandwiches are po’ boys, and they start with the local take on French baguettes: light as a feather on the inside, the perfect balance of crisp and chewy on the outside. You can find them in pretty much every restaurant and café, and even some bars, though this specialist bakery serves up the best in town. Parkway Bakery’s shrimp po’ boy is wonderful, with beautifully seasoned shellfish – but it’s the roast beef the place is famous for, and deservedly so. It’s packed with tender, melt-in-the-mouth meat.

Known as the best place to find New Orleans–style sandwiches in Maine, Po' Boys & Pickles gets all the details right, from the crackly crust on the soft sub rolls to Cajun and Creole-inspired fillings like fried oysters, blackened fish, and spiced sausage. It doesn’t forget where it is though, incorporating delicious locally sourced seafood into the menu. A side of fried pickles is a must, too.

This cute-as-a-button sub sandwich store and ice cream parlor, with two locations in Maryland, is a real find amid the chains. The Laurel location is especially pretty, housed in a bungalow-style cabin with a picket fence around the outdoor tables. However, it’s the sandwiches that really draw in customers and keep them coming back. Try the Stromboli, with salami, ham, provolone cheese, onion, peppers, and marinara sauce for a taste sensation.

Billy’s Sub Shop is a favorite in Boston’s South End and beyond. Pretty much anyone who bites into one of the generously stuffed sub sandwiches becomes a fan, in fact. The menu includes breakfast sandwiches and a long list of served-all-day subs, stuffed with the likes of meatballs, chicken cutlets, crabmeat salad, and hamburgers. It’s great value too, and the subs are substantial enough to share (although you might not want to).

Togo’s has been slicing, stuffing and filling sub rolls here since 1964, and the sandwiches are famously delicious. The bread rolls are made fresh each morning and provide the perfect starting point for the range of sub sandwiches on the menu. Try the chicken bacon ranch (pictured), heaped with perfectly seasoned chicken, crispy bacon, and even crispier lettuce and drizzled with house-made ranch dressing.

JC’s Subs is a real local favorite thanks to great service and the delicious subs, served on ciabatta or hoagie rolls. People love the Spicy Melt, which has smoked turkey, cheese, roasted red onions, tomatoes, greens, and spicy sauce, and the meatball sub that’s packed with house-made meatballs, marinara sauce, and melted provolone cheese, on a classic hoagie roll.

The fillings tend to outweigh the bread by quite some quantity at Monster Subs, an independent sub sandwich store in coastal Gulfport, which probably explains the 'Monster' part of the name. These are some of the tastiest sub sandwiches you’ll find anywhere, pleasing even the fussiest of sandwich aficionados. The Reuben (pictured) is a bestseller and the type of sandwich that creates lifelong fans.

This cute sandwich shop has been serving subs since the 1960s, and its traditional, super-soft rolls are baked fresh each morning. It’s known for attracting lines that spill out of the door, but the friendly staff members are so quick, and the sandwiches so tasty, that no one really minds. It’s cash-only and has a handful of picnic tables outside. According to some devotees, Sub Shop also makes the best subs ever, hands down.

The Pickle Barrel loves its pickles, yes, but primarily this small regional chain specializes in huge sub sandwiches. Customers adore the meatballs with provolone and the Philly-style cheesesteak. The fillings are gloriously generous, too. There are two locations in Montana, one in Bozeman and the other in Livingston. The Bozeman location offers something a little different, too: you can request any sandwich in a pickle. That’s the filling, inside a pickle. Yep.

https://www.picklebarrelmt.com/locations

Specializing in Vietnamese-style Sandwiches and offering ever-so-popular bubble tea, Banhwich Cafe stands out from the sub sandwich chains in Nebraska, offering more than 20 unique styles of subs, including Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese, and Thai-inspired creations. People love the bright flavors and toppings, and if you have space after one of their tasty banhwiches, you can also enjoy one of their delicious waffles. 

Munch A Sub is special on several levels: it’s an independently owned, old-school sandwich shop amid a sea of chains and fancy restaurants, and it’s the place to get an unforgettable sandwich. These are the best subs anywhere, according to fans, and it feels like a real hidden gem. Everything is delicious, though the French Dip is highly recommended. Customers also praise the friendly staff and warm, inviting atmosphere.

Moe’s Italian Sandwiches was founded by cheese salesman Phil "Moe” Pagano in 1959 and, while it’s now expanded with a few locations throughout New England, the original location remains a local favorite. It’s known for its crowd-pleasing Italian sub rolls, including The Original, stuffed with salami, provolone cheese, and roasted veg. People love the fresh, fluffy bread and delicious additions like the spicy oil.

Sub sandwiches are an institution in New Jersey, and so is this Hawthorne deli. Bogie’s Hoagies specializes in (you guessed it) classic subs served on hoagie rolls. The bread, from a local bakery, is wonderfully fresh and is a key reason that these sandwiches are so delicious. They prepare the roast beef and pulled pork fillings in-house and offer a range of different dressings, too. The hot hoagie with chicken cutlets is especially good.

The Yeller Sub has been turning out excellent torpedoes and subs since 1979. Tucked in the Louisiana Plaza Shopping Center, it’s worth seeking out for torpedo rolls stuffed with ham, Swiss cheese, salad, and delicious dressing, and the best turkey sub around. People praise the super-fresh bread and love the fact that it’s a truly local store.

A favored spot since 1900, Faicco’s Italian Specialties knows a thing or two about sandwiches. It’s always been renowned for its giant lines, and the old-school joint continues to live up to the hype over a century later. Many say you can’t miss the Italian: a super-stacked sandwich filled with prosciutto, ham, capicola, salami, mozzarella, lettuce, tomato, and roasted peppers. The chicken cutlet with mozzarella and broccoli rabe (pictured) is just as crowd-pleasing.  

Born in New York’s SoHo neighborhood, Alidoro specializes in Italian heroes (as in sub-style sandwiches, not soccer players/movie stars/opera singers). That said, one of the best sandwiches on the menu is the Pavarotti, which comes over-stuffed with salami, smoked mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes, artichokes, and roasted peppers. The sandwiches are big enough to share (or to save half for later), although they’re so delicious we wouldn’t judge anyone for munching through a whole one.

Opened in 1993, Smoky Mountain Sub Shop is a local institution in Waynesville and a popular stop for people passing through the town (which itself is beautifully sandwiched between the Great Smoky and Blue Ridge mountain ranges). The super-fresh sub rolls are sourced from a local bakery and stuffed with cured meats and cheeses, cold cuts, egg salad or – one of the favorites – meatballs.

Magic City Hoagies specializes in Pennsylvania-style hoagies and is famous for stuffing the rolls beyond bursting. Locals love it fiercely, and it’s the sort of place that’s always recommended to anyone visiting the town. Favorites include the Florence, on a Parmesan pressed sub roll, or any of the Italian-style subs. And, for anyone looking for a lighter or gluten-free option, there's a lettuce wrap, too.

From Philly-style subs to veggie rolls with mushrooms, onions, and peppers, the sandwiches at Susie’s Sub Shop are always delicious. They’re huge too, which means it’s tough to finish even the best-ever meatball sub. Another favorite is the roast beef, served on perfectly baked rolls. Susie's is also known for pizza and – brilliantly – pizza subs, with all the classic toppings stuffed into a roll.

Best Baguette specializes in Vietnamese-style bánh mì sandwiches, served in crispy, sub-shaped rolls. With three locations – two in Portland and another in Beaverton – their moreish fillings include fragrant pork marinated in a lemongrass and soy dressing, grilled chicken, hot sardines, and shredded veggies. The classic, though, is the Best Baguette Special, with pâté, ham, pork, and head cheese. It’s the bread – fluffy as clouds inside and satisfyingly crisp on the outside – that really makes these sandwiches worth seeking out, though.

The home of the Philly cheesesteak, the birthplace of the hoagie… unsurprisingly, Pennsylvania has some incredible sub sandwich shops. Cheesesteak specialists aside, Peppi’s is considered the best place to go for a sub. Established in 1983 and now with several locations in Pittsburgh, it’s loved for the old-school style of its diners – the Point Breeze spot is housed in a 1940s dining car. It’s loved even more for satisfying subs stuffed with fillings from cold cuts to (of course) cheesesteak.

Dee’s Deli is the sort of cute, charming, down-home spot that has locals yearning for the sandwiches while they’re away and has visitors longing to return. The bungalow-style joint specializes in traditional Italian grinders, served packed with charcuterie meats, cheeses, and crunchy veggies. The vegetarian options, including the beautifully sharp combo of broccoli rabe with provolone cheese, are a cut above, too.

The best subs in South Carolina are actually Vietnamese-style bánh mì sandwiches. Specifically, the bánh mì at Bon Banh Mi, which has a restaurant in Charleston and two outposts in the town of Mount Pleasant. Both are sought out for their beautifully fresh bread, filled with flavor-packed fillings from red curry beef to cauliflower. The stores are cute as a button and cheerily decorated, too.

https://www.bonbanhmi.com/locations-1

Gregg’s Substation is, as the name suggests, a sandwich shop and casino rolled into one. The stripped-back and wonderfully nostalgic spot has a handful of diner-style booths where people can munch on sub sandwiches, stuffed with meatballs, tuna, or pepperoni and provolone, while arcade machines chime in the background. Customers recommend the turkey and cheese sub, and, well, anything else, really.

Ms. B’s Sub Shop isn’t just the best sub sandwich store in Memphis, or even Tennessee. It’s the best anywhere. At least, that’s what some fans of this stripped-back joint reckon. The counter-serve store may be no frills, but the sandwiches are something else, stuffed full with sliced meats, cheese, crispy salad, and delicious house-made dressings. Toasting the inside of the rolls adds extra flavor and crunch, too. There’s a great range of fillings to choose from, and the atmosphere is famed for being warm and friendly.

Locally sourced deli meats and freshly baked bread are used for the very special hoagies and Philly cheesesteaks turned out at the popular Tucci’s Southside Subs, owned by Pennsylvania-born David Tucci. The two shops, both in South Austin, are go-to places for classic Italian subs so good that they put every other sandwich in the shade. They make a great veggie sub, too, although everything on the menu is delicious.

Family-owned since 1966, Jimmy’s Food Store continues to be a beloved spot for Italian foods, from fresh pastas and sauces to olive oils. The joint is also widely known for its hearty sandwiches and subs, piled high with cured meats, cheeses, and fresh ingredients. Locals say you can’t beat the Italian Stallion, a delicious combination of meats and cheeses (think pepperoni, salami, mozzarella, and prosciutto). The Italian beef is also highly rated.  

https://jimmysfoodstore.com/menu/     

Featured on Guy Fieri’s TV show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Moochie’s does serve other food – but it’s the signature sub sandwiches that really draw in the customers and keep them coming back. There are two Salt Lake City locations and another in Midvale serving Philly cheesesteaks and cold hoagies with layers of meat, cheese, salad, and dressing. The joint's ultimate is the meatball sub, especially with jalapeño sauce.

https://moochiesmeatballs.com/menu/

Gill’s Deli has the cutest tagline: 'On a roll since 1964!' If that doesn’t win you over, this quaint spot serves up the best grinders around. They’re made with fresh bread from a local bakery and, according to the deli, it’s the secret-recipe seasoned oil, passed down through generations, that makes these sandwiches so special. Whatever the reason, loyal customers believe these are the best sandwiches bar none and great value, too.

HoneyHole Sandwiches has perfected the art of the sub, serving sandwiches filled with tender meats and fresh sauces made in-house. Customers recommend The Dude, made with melt-in-your-mouth flank steak that's been marinated and grilled to perfection. This local institution caters well for vegetarians, too. Try El Guapo: a chewy demi-baguette filled with Roma tomatoes, red onions, green bell peppers, Italian herbs, smoked Gouda, sharp Cheddar, and a generous dollop of house-made ranch. 

The Olive Tree Café And Catering is a traditional, Philadelphia-style deli that serves authentic Mediterranean fare in the heart of South Charleston. The menu includes a broad selection of deli subs and hot sandwiches, all freshly made to order. Customers love the food, the amazing service, and the well-kept patio space with ample seating and heaters. Among the delicious options is The Real Philly: a classic Amoroso roll filled to the brim with melt-in-your-mouth, thinly sliced roasted ribeye, and all the classic Philly toppings.

This mini-chain started in 1967 and once had more than 20 stores before selling many of them to Subway in the late 1980s. Now, revived with two Milwaukee locations, Suburpia draws customers with its story, sense of nostalgia, and – most importantly – its heavenly subs, which are ridiculously good. Order the Classic Surburpia, stacked with salami, bologna, cheese, salad, and dressing, for a feast to remember. 

https://www.suburpia.com/

The homemade bread is the star of the subs served at Breadboard, although the filings are pretty good too. The Stoker, stuffed with sliced turkey, jalapeño-infused bacon and pepper-jack cheese, is one of the best things on the menu. Thanks to the delicious Italian dressing and that bread, though, every sub is a winner.

Now find your state's best sandwich shop

Last updated by Lottie Woodrow.