Raleigh takes sandwiches seriously. Across the city, you’ll find hand-breaded chicken cutlets, house-smoked pastrami, towering Italian subs, bakery-built melts and plenty of creative combinations that go far beyond a basic deli lunch. Whether you’re craving something classic, crispy, meaty or gloriously messy, these eight sandwich spots are worth seeking out.
Pranzo by Bongiorno & Son
One of Raleigh’s newest Italian arrivals comes with a familiar name. Pranzo by Bongiorno & Son opened at The Exchange in August 2026 from chef Michael Bongiorno, whose former Bongiorno & Son deli earned a loyal following for its generously stacked Italian sandwiches. Lunch at Pranzo brings panini made with imported Italian ingredients alongside salads and pastas. Look for favorites inspired by the original deli, including Italian cold cuts, prosciutto and hot soppressata. Stay long enough and the restaurant shifts into aperitivo mode with Italian small plates, wine and spritzes.
Eastcut Sandwich Bar
Eastcut Sandwich Bar brings a little Northeast sandwich-shop attitude to Raleigh Iron Works, drawing inspiration from its founders’ New Jersey and Bronx roots. Chicken cutlets are the specialty here, trimmed, pounded, breaded and fried in-house. Try the Cornelia St., layered with fresh mozzarella, arugula, tomato, pesto, garlic aioli and balsamic, or turn up the heat with the Caesar A Diavolo and its Calabrian chile Caesar dressing. The Boardwalk Italian and cheesesteaks cover the deli classics, while breakfast brings Taylor ham, egg and cheese for Jersey transplants missing home.
Alimentari at Left Bank
Part Italian deli, part butcher shop and part very good excuse to visit Transfer Co. Food Hall, Alimentari at Left Bank puts locally sourced meat front and center. The Porchetta Sandwich pairs roasted pork loin and belly with salsa verde, Calabrian chile aioli, crispy pork skin and provolone on house-made ciabatta. There’s also a brisket cheesesteak and a particularly decadent mortadella melt dipped in prosciutto broth. For sampling, order a few tigelle, small Italian sandwiches filled with options like meatballs, deviled prosciutto or tomato jam and fresh mozzarella.
Southern Craft Sandwiches
Meat still matters at Southern Craft Sandwiches, which evolved from Southern Craft Butchers in Lafayette Village. House-roasted meats and signature spreads give the menu its edge, whether you’re ordering an Italian, roast beef or a hefty club. The Butcher’s Club has built a particularly loyal following, while the BLT stacks thick applewood-smoked bacon with tomato and roasted garlic aioli on a hoagie roll. The Pastrami Reuben and steak-and-cheese options also earn plenty of attention. If the weather cooperates, grab a table outside and settle in with a two-handed lunch.
Oakwood Deli
Decision paralysis is understandable at Oakwood Deli. The downtown neighborhood deli has everything from Reubens and Cubans to Phillies, chopped cheese and breakfast sandwiches, but the signatures are where things get especially fun. The West/Nasty piles breaded chicken breast, capicola, bacon, jalapeño and pepper jack onto ciabatta with house sabi sauce. Traditionalists can go for the Italian, stacked with prosciutto, ham, Genoa salami, pepperoni and provolone, while the Chopped Cheese brings ground beef, American cheese, grilled onions, pickles and chipotle mayo together on a hero.
Union Special Bread
At Union Special Bread, the bread is not merely holding lunch together. The Gateway Plaza bakery makes naturally leavened loaves and pastries in-house, giving even familiar sandwiches an upgrade. The BLT is a local favorite, pairing bacon and tomato with chow chow aioli on toasted sourdough. The Turkey Melt adds Gruyère, bacon, apple-cabbage slaw and roasted tomato aioli, while the Grown-Up Grilled Cheese combines fontina, sharp cheddar, kale pesto and pepper jelly. Earlier in the day, the Union Egg Sandwich layers scrambled eggs, fontina, a hash brown and romesco on brioche.
Union Station Deli & Catering
No train ticket is required for lunch at Union Station Deli & Catering. Located inside Raleigh Union Station, the deli takes its cues from New York and New Jersey, with piled-high sandwiches, panini and breakfast bagels. The star is the house-smoked pastrami, made daily and available until it sells out, alongside house-braised corned beef. Other menu highlights include the chicken cutlet, turkey Reuben and not-so-ordinary grilled cheese. Finish with a black-and-white cookie for the full New York deli experience before admiring the station’s airy former-warehouse space.
Steve’s Place
Steve’s Place keeps things refreshingly old-school. This North Raleigh counter-service spot is known first for hot dogs, especially classic red Bright Leaf dogs and Nathan’s all-beef franks, but the sandwich menu deserves attention too. Go Southern with the fried bologna sandwich, grab a straightforward BLT, or keep things simple with sliced deli meat and cheese. There are deviled eggs, fries and other unfussy sides to complete the meal. Nothing here is trying to reinvent lunch, and that no-frills approach is exactly why longtime customers keep coming back.
