Before all these newfangled sandwich places came into town, there was Antone’s, which began slinging po’boys in 1962. Grab a taste of nostalgia with classics like the Italian-style chow chow–topped Super Original with ham and salami; a simple tuna salad and pickle sandwich; the New Orleans–inspired muffuletta; or go for updated creations like the Dr. Hotez bánh mì with beef, pickled veggies, fresh jalapeño, and garlic sambal aioli. You can also grab these in the ready-meal section at H-E-B.

This Houston staple deserves all the recognition it gets. Although the Barnaby’s entree menu is large and in charge, diners shouldn’t overlook its various cold and hot sandwiches that satisfy Houstonians’ diverse taste buds. The egg salad sandwich is made to order with chopped egg lightly tossed in mayo, two strips of bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and onion on whole wheat bread. We also love the chicken tinga torta, made with pulled chicken stewed in tomato and Mexican spiced broth.

BB’s is more of a dine-in cafe than a sandwich shop, but the messy po’boys at this homegrown favorite are deserving of a stop unto themselves. The notable Midnight Masterpiece is fully dressed and piled high with roast beef debris (and you can, in fact, get it at midnight, as many locations are open into the wee hours of the night). The Bedtime in the Bayou, a fried Gulf shrimp po’boy, also ushers in those sweet dreams.

Part upscale steakhouse, part butcher shop, this Washington Avenue standby is full of New York charm. So, it’s no surprise they make a mean hero. Pop in for signature sammies like the B&B Italian Special, stacked with shaved ham, salami, capicola, mortadella, provolone, roasted red peppers, and balsamic on a crusty Italian roll; or the Delancey, a sandwich featuring deli-style hot pastrami and mustard on rye.

Pho Binh is a great option for those looking for the quintessential bánh mì—and honestly, the menu in its entirety is great to cure a hangover, too. The restaurant’s five locations across the Houston area offer loads of protein options like pork, chicken, fried egg, tofu, grilled tilapia, and lemongrass beef. Served on an airy and crispy baguette, these bánh mì are amped up by pâté, pickled vegetables, marinated pork, and spicy mayonnaise.

The sandwiches at Kenny & Ziggy’s could put you to sleep. With the large portions at this classic Jewish delicatessen, consider sharing one of the Texas-size triple-deckers—packed with alarmingly good corned beef and pastrami made in-house, coleslaw, melty swiss, and dreamy thousand island dressing on rye (get it griddled if you know what’s good for you) along with house pickles. That way, you can tack on extras from matzo ball soup to kreplach and spinach knish.

The Crunchy Chicken at this local favorite sandwich and salad slinger has a dedicated following, as does the Truffled Egg Salad sando. With Local Foods’ four locations across Houston, it shouldn’t be hard to get your hands on one. The Crunchy Chicken gets its crunch from a nut-and-seed crumble and crushed homemade chips, and an extra “it” factor from shavings of roast chicken, zippy house pickles, and an oh-so-tasty pretzel bun.

While a charcuterie board and other snacks might be delicious to enjoy with a glass of wine or cocktail, some days only a good sandwich satisfies a craving. Montrose Cheese and Wine offers a sandwich of the day to-go for just $12, and for an extra charge, diners can add Torres potato chips, a choice of a $3 pastry, and a Rambler sparking water, making it the perfect lunch box for a busy day. We love Tuesday’s spicy salami sandwich with giardiniera on a baguette.

A neighborhood staple since the late ’90s, Paulie’s combines a mom-and-pop attitude with seriously good Italian food. Despite the love shown to its housemade pastas, the hoagies and panini are not to be overlooked. Go for classic Italians, shrimp BLTs, and crispy panini stuffed with the likes of salami, provolone, and artichoke spread. And for your sweet tooth: decorated shortbread cookies.

Skywalk up to the counter and say howdy to the Darth Vader and Yoda portraits at this cheerfully geeky deli and cafe. Here, you’ll find specialty sammies, from bone-in ham and egg salad on ciabatta to a killer reuben with beer-infused sauerkraut and house Russian.

This mini local chain’s bánh mì are made fresh with locally sourced and homemade ingredients. Food lovers will find themselves with options such as house-pickled vegetables, from-scratch garlic aioli and pork pâté, and quality proteins like pork belly, chopped rib eye, fried pollock, and Vietnamese ham.

Crunched for time? You can snag bánh mì via the drive-through window at Saigon Hustle, making it the perfect place to go for lunch. Choose your protein—honey-glazed lemongrass salmon, tofu, chargrilled barbecue pork, rib eye, and more—to get stuffed inside a crispy baguette along with things like pickled carrots and daikon, fresh cilantro, cucumber, jalapeños, chicken liver pâté, and a Vietnamese buttery mayo.

We love this new-ish joint by 2012 MasterChef winner and local restaurateur Christine Ha of Blind Goat (and formerly of Xin Chào). You can grab these sandos to-go or visit the handy drive-through. On the menu: a decadent triple grilled cheese, a nostalgic tuna crunch, an addictive Szechuan hot chicken sandwich, and much more.

Back in the day, Midtown used to be known as Little Saigon thanks to the Vietnamese community and mom-and-pops in the area. Today, while many restaurants have moved to Asiatown, this decades-old bánh mì shop stands as a reminder of the neighborhood’s past, and a tasty one at that. In addition to its popular phở and bánh xèo (Vietnamese crepe), hit this institution to score tried-and-true bánh mì stacked with lemongrass chicken, pork meatballs, Vietnamese cold cuts, and fried egg.

See that big “I <3 Tortas” sign? Open that door beneath it to enter torta heaven. There are countless varieties of the Mexican sandwich at Las Tortas Perronas, each done justice thanks to buttery, toasty bread with a generous amount of fixins stuffed inside—think steak Milanesa, egg, and Oaxacan cheese, or jamón, chuleta (smoked pork chop), and pineapple. Get the napkins ready.

Winnie’s, too, caters to the various cultures and people that the city is home to. The hip restaurant’s staple sandwiches include a shrimp and smoked turkey po’boy, an eggplant and burrata, and an East Coast Italian, among other options. Plus, Winnie’s offers monthly sandwich specials, such as a rodeo burger when it’s the season or a crispy Nashville hot catfish sandwich with hot tartar sauce and cabbage chow chow on a potato bun. After, wash it down with one of their excellent cocktails. To top it off, the restaurant also offers sandwich trays and large orders for those in need of sammies for an event or office party.