10 Suburban Illinois Sandwich Shops That Outshine Chicago’s Best

While Chicago gets all the foodie fame, the real sandwich wizards are hiding in plain sight throughout suburban Illinois. I’ve spent years hunting down the most mouthwatering handheld creations beyond city limits, and let me tell you, these suburban gems are worth the trek. From old-school Italian delis to modern artisanal shops, these 10 suburban sandwich havens will make you question everything you thought you knew about the perfect lunch.

1. Alpine Food Shop (Elmwood Park)

Holy meatball heaven! This unassuming corner shop has been stuffing Elmwood Park locals with Italian goodness since 1955. Their signature hot meatball sandwich makes me weak in the knees; perfectly seasoned spheres of beef and pork swimming in homemade marinara.

What truly sets Alpine apart is their bread, delivered fresh daily and possessing that mythical crisp-yet-chewy texture sandwich dreams are made of. The family running this joint treats you like a long-lost cousin the moment you walk in.

2. Pronto Sandwich Shop (Hinsdale)

Tucked away in charming Hinsdale, Pronto is my go-to whenever I’m craving a sandwich that doesn’t mess around with unnecessary frills. Their Turkey Avocado creation changed my life; seriously, I’ve tried recreating it at home and failed miserably every time.

The owner, Gino, remembers everyone’s name and order, making you feel like sandwich royalty. The shop itself sports a delightful retro vibe with checkerboard floors and chrome accents that transport you straight back to the 1950s.

3. Kaufman’s Deli (Skokie)

Grandma’s kitchen has nothing on this legendary Jewish deli! Kaufman’s corned beef sandwich is a towering masterpiece that makes Chicago’s famous delis look like amateur hour. The meat is sliced so thin you can practically see through it, yet somehow piled higher than Mount Everest.

Fun fact: this place literally rose from the ashes after a devastating fire in 2011, and the community rallied to bring it back even better than before. Don’t you dare leave without trying their homemade black and white cookies; I’ve been known to buy extras for the road.

4. Frannie’s Italian Beef (Multiple Suburbs)

Move over, Portillo’s! Frannie’s juicy Italian beef sandwiches have ruined me for all others. The first time I bit into their perfectly dipped beef on a pillowy Turano roll, I actually closed my eyes and made an embarrassing noise that my husband still teases me about.

Their secret weapon? A 60-year-old family recipe for giardiniera that strikes the perfect balance between spicy and tangy. With locations popping up across Chicago’s suburbs, Frannie’s is quietly building an empire based on beef-juice-soaked deliciousness.

5. J.P. Graziano Grocery & Sub Shop (West Loop)

I know what you’re thinking; isn’t this technically in Chicago? Trust me, this fourth-generation Italian grocery feels more like a suburban family kitchen than a city hotspot. Their Italian sub is the stuff of legend; a perfect ratio of meats, cheese, and that magical oil and vinegar blend.

The shop still has original shelves stocked with imported Italian goodies that make me feel like I’ve teleported to my nonna’s pantry. Jim Graziano himself might be behind the counter, telling stories about the old neighborhood while slicing your mortadella paper-thin.

6. Loaf Lounge (Logan Square)

Sandwich revolutionaries! That’s what I call the husband-and-wife team behind this bakery-cafe hybrid. Their breakfast sandwich on homemade English muffins has literally spoiled all other breakfast sandwiches for me; the bread alone deserves its own fan club.

The couple met while working at Publican Quality Bread, so they know their dough. Every time I visit, there’s something new and experimental on the menu that makes me question my previous sandwich allegiances. My current obsession? Their roasted carrot sandwich with harissa; sounds weird, tastes miraculous.

7. Same Day Café (Logan Square)

Vegetarians, rejoice! This cozy corner café proves you don’t need meat to create sandwich magic. Their roasted beet sandwich with whipped goat cheese makes me want to hug whoever invented it; and I’m usually a devoted carnivore!

The place gives off serious suburban home kitchen vibes despite its city address, with mismatched furniture and plants everywhere. Owners Sarah and Nate source ingredients from local farms, making each bite taste like summer in Illinois. Bonus: their house-made potato chips have ruined all other chips for me forever.

8. TriBecca’s Sandwich Shop (Jefferson Park)

Sandwich therapy is real, and chef Becca Grothe is its leading practitioner! Her creative combinations in this Jefferson Park storefront have me driving across counties just for lunch. The Cousin Vinny; featuring house-cured porchetta, rapini, and provolone; makes me want to slap the table in delight.

A former fine dining chef, Becca brings techniques usually reserved for white tablecloth restaurants to the humble sandwich. The shop’s bright teal exterior stands out like a beacon of sandwich hope on an otherwise ordinary street. Pro tip: get there early; they often sell out of their most popular creations by 1pm.

9. Redhot Ranch (Skokie)

Not just hot dogs! While this Skokie outpost is famous for their Depression-style dogs, their lesser-known fried shrimp sandwich has me questioning all my life choices. Why did I wait so long to try this crispy, succulent masterpiece served on a soft steamed bun with just the right amount of tartar sauce?

The no-frills interior might remind you of your high school cafeteria, but that’s part of the charm. Everything is made to order, so your sandwich arrives piping hot every time. My personal ritual: ordering extra sauce on the side for french fry dipping purposes.

10. Firenze Italian Street Food (Oak Brook)

Shopping mall food court? Absolutely not what you’d expect for transcendent Italian sandwiches, yet here we are! This Oak Brook gem serves up authentic Florentine-style sandwiches that transported me straight back to my backpacking days in Italy.

Their porchetta sandwich; stuffed with herb-roasted pork, arugula, and house-made aioli on schiacciata bread; has me inventing reasons to visit the mall. The owner, Marco, greets everyone with boisterous Italian enthusiasm while pressing each sandwich on a traditional iron grill. He once told me the secret is in the bread’s olive oil; imported monthly from his cousin’s farm in Tuscany.