15 of the World's Best Sandwiches Take You Abroad on Your Lunch Break

By Mackenzie Schieck

Chef John

One of the major draws of world travel is getting a taste of various cuisines. But even if you don't have any trips planned, you can still send your taste buds abroad — over the lunch break! Specifically, via the sandwich: a universally made food item, but one that can look and taste vastly different from place to place. Check out some of our favorite top-rated sandwich recipes from around the world. Best of all, they're simple to make at home, using ingredients you can easily find at the grocery store. So now you can thrill to the flavors of the world, one lunch at a time.

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Classic Cuban Midnight (Medianoche) Sandwich

lutzflcat

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"This is one of the more famous sandwiches straight out of the island of Cuba," says Pretty Pink Bullets. Load thinly-sliced ham, pork, Swiss cheese, and dill pickle slices into sweet rolls and heat in a sandwich press for crispy, melty perfection.

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Best Hamburger Ever

Allrecipes

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It really doesn't get more American than a big, juicy burger, and recipe-reviewer Rico confirms that "this really is the best tasting hamburger ever!"

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Traditional Gyros

Kim's Cooking Now

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These famous Greek sandwiches are traditionally made with a combination of meats slowly roasted on a vertical spit. This tasty skillet-made version combines seasoned ground lamb and ground beef with all the classic fixings, including tzatziki sauce, the essential garlicky Greek yogurt sauce.

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Meatball Sandwich

Cooking Monster Bryan

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This Italian-style sandwich serves up savory meatballs seasoned with garlic, parsley, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan cheese inside a baguette for a hearty sandwich that recipe-reviewer Michelle says is "easy, excellent, and kid-approved."

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Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich with Garlic Mayo

Cooking Monster Bryan

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Recipe-reviewer cmastheryr got some tips from his "Philly Phriend" before making this sandwich: "I made six sandwiches. Two with provolone, two with mozzarella, and (Philly) two with cheeze whiz. Provolone and mozzarella were equal in outstanding taste. The cheeze whiz was good but not up to the others."

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Croque Madame

Ba

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The classic "Mrs. Crunch!" This decadent French ham and melty cheese sandwich is topped with a fried egg. It reminded recipe-reviewer DarkFyre of a recent trip: "I had this when I went to Versailles and the recipe turned out almost exactly the same way."

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Lobster Rolls

Katie Foley Linn

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This classic New England sandwich is "best served on a regular ol' hot dog bun, which I prefer grilled," says naples34102. The only thing that'll keep you from making these every night is the price of lobster!

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Chicken Pesto Paninis

JessMcKale90

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Crispy focaccia bread toasted with pesto melty goodness inside — it's tough to go wrong with this Italian favorite. For even quicker preparation, Denise recommends "a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store."

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Mexican Tortas

Rosalinda Martinez

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This Mexican sandwich has the works — thin-cut round steak, pinto beans, pickled jalapenos, sliced avocados and tomatoes, shredded lettuce, chopped cilantro, and crumbled queso fresco. Serve all the good stuff on bolillos rolls, the Mexican-style sandwich bread.

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Ignacio's Super Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

Christina

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Back in the early 1900s, peanut butter was considered a delicacy, and this American classic was reserved for the rich. These days, the average American will eat 1,500 PB&Js before they turn 18! This triple-decker with a toasted bread center will get you there that much faster.

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Ta'ameya (Egyptian Falafel)

Christina

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"Falafel, or ta'ameya as we call it in Egypt, is an all-time favorite street food. In most parts of the Middle East, falafel is made with ground chickpeas. However, in Egypt, we make it with dried fava beans. They are best served with pita bread, tomato, onions, and tahini sauce," Gamila Salem says.

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Roasted Pork Banh Mi (Vietnamese Sandwich)

Chef John

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Chef John explains the brilliance of this Vietnamese sandwich: "Not only do we get amazing contrasts in flavor and texture, but also the temperature difference between the crisp, warm, meat-filled roll and the cool, crunchy vegetables makes this so much fun to eat. This isn't just one of the best sandwiches I've ever had, it's one of the best things, period."

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Montreal Smoked Meat Flat Wrap

Patty Cakes

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In Montreal, smoked beef brisket is piled sky high onto rye bread and served with tangy mustard — the famous Montreal smoked meat sandwich. This particular version is Montreal by way of Mexico, actually. The recipe replaces rye bread with flour tortillas and adds shredded Mexican cheeses for gooey goodness. "This wrap tastes just like the one made at a Canadian restaurant, named after one of the biggest names in hockey," says Katie. "I used a Cheddar jalapeno wrap and it was very good."

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Shrimp Po' Boys

Alicia Rodriguez

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Louisiana's signature sandwich, the po' boys can come stuffed with anything from fried catfish to ham and cheese. Fried Shrimp Po' Boys, however, might be the most popular of all.

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Shooter Sandwich

pelicangal

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"This English sandwich is definitely different, but really hearty and yummy. It is great to eat on camping trips or to send with your hubby while he is hunting. This recipe is very basic in measurements and can be adjusted as desired for the most part. The doneness of the meat can be adjusted as well." —WOODANGELA

Check out our collection of Sandwich Recipes.

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