We Found New York's Best Sandwich

From Staten Island to East Harlem, here's where we went

As I’m handed a slice of smoked salmon at Barney Greengrass, the gentleman behind the counter nods with eyes wide. “This is the spot,” he tells me. I let the fatty Nova Scotia salmon melt in my mouth, and shake my head. “It’s out of control,” he says. As they layer it on a bagel with cream cheese, capers, red onion and tomato, I feel confident that this is the best sandwich in New York City.

Spoiler: It isn’t. But in the end, it wasn’t up to me.

This was the first sandwich I tried on Food Duels, mine and Julian Mu’s new show that has us battling across cities to find the best foods in their category. But our choices aren’t gospel: Each food can be challenged, where its value will be decided by our Instagram community in real time, and our absolute favorite foods will be judged, by an expert guest in the city we’re in.

There is a lot more to the game, but, it’s easier if you just watch it.

Each week, we’ll be discussing the show and answering food questions here on Substack. This after show is behind the paywall for those who want to support the show, but below you’ll find all of the sandwiches we ate in episode 1 listed in order. Be warned: Spoilers for Food Duels episode 1 below.

Every Sandwich We Ate

• 📍 Margon, 136 W 46th St, New York, NY 10036 (Google Maps link)

  • Julian’s first pick is one he featured on his channel.

  • He ordered the Cubano: ham, pernil, pickle, cheese, and salami.

• 📍 Barney Greengrass, 541 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024 (Google Maps link)

  • Rob’s first pick is at a spot he’s never been to. Classic.

  • He ordered a traditional lox sandwich: Nova scotia salmon, cream cheese, red onion, capers, tomato on a toasted sesame seed bagel.

• 📍 Mama’s TOO! Pizzeria West Village, 325 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014 (Google Maps link)

  • Julian ordered the chicken parm with vodka sauce and pesto. Ended up being Rob’s favorite sandwich of the day.

• 📍 Ollin 2, 2108 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10029 (Google Maps link)

  • Rob ordered the cemita with carne enchilada, plus a jamaica. If you do go here, don’t skip the mole poblano, it’s insane.

  • This was the runner-up sandwich.

• 📍 Parisi Bakery, 198 Mott St, New York, NY 10012 (Google Maps link)

  • Julian ordered The Dennis with roasted peppers, which ended up winning the whole show. Although nowadays Julian prefers “The Big Italian” from Parisi.

• 📍 Taku Sando, 29 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222 (Google Maps link)

  • After Rob pivoted away from Radio Bakery, he picked up a tonkatsu sandwich from Taku Sando. Skip the wagyu one.

• 📍 Jubilee Marketplace FiDi, 99 John St, New York, NY 10038 (Google Maps link)

  • Julian stopped in to one of our favorite places for the Korean chopped cheese, with galbi-marinated ground beef.

• 📍 Carmenta’s, 50 Starr St, Brooklyn, NY 11221 (Google Maps link)

  • The Jose Special is a traditional meatball parm, but embellished with salsa verde and fried eggplant.

  • This was Rob’s #1 pick during the episode. Possibly the best sandwich in New York, despite what our judge chose.

• 📍 Ba Xuyen, 4222 8th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11232 (Google Maps link)

  • Our first repeat on M&M, featured in episode 1 of Feasting on $50.

  • Julian got the roast pork banh mi.

• 📍 Katz’s Delicatessan, 205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002 (Google Maps link)

  • Rob tried to beat the Parisi sandwich with this, but to no avail.

  • Pastrami, sauerkraut, Russian dressing, swiss cheese on rye.

• 📍 Lowerline, 794 Washington Ave Apartment 8, Brooklyn, NY 11238 (Google Maps link)

  • A crazy pull from Julian. He got the roast beef po’ boy with debris gravy.

• 📍 Anthony’s Paninoteca, 3994 Amboy Rd, Staten Island, NY 10308 (Google Maps link)

  • Rob considers this Staten Island’s best sandwich shop.

  • After much deliberation, Rob went with the AGV: Chicken cutlet, prosciutto, giardiniera, hot capicola, fresh mozzarella.

• 📍 George’s Deli, 36-19 28th Ave, Astoria, NY 11103 (Google Maps link)

  • Julian got a chopped cheese, but he meant to get a birria torta at George’s Mexican Grill

Thanks so much for watching episode 1 of Food Duels. Paid subscribers can access the video and audio version of “The Martinez & Mu Show” below!