National Sandwich Day 2015: Best Sandwich Picks

Best Sandwich Picks for Santa Rosa and Sonoma County Wine Country

The Adam Richman Sandwich, with fried mozzarella, dirty sauce, fried chicken, ham and your ticket to cardiac arrest. Photo: Heather Irwin
The Adam Richman Sandwich, with fried mozzarella, dirty sauce, fried chicken, ham and your ticket to cardiac arrest. Photo: Heather Irwin

The Gut Bomber
If you’re going to eat a sandwich that will stay with you for, oh, a week or two, let me make a recommendation: The Adam Richman at Ike’s Place in Santa Rosa (1780 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa).

To celebrate National Sandwich Day 2015, here’s a pick that will make you feel a little dirty.  As in Dirty Sauce, Ike’s garlicy-mayo spread is just part of the secret mojo that goes into a list of 200-plus sandwich combinations that have made the Bay Area sub shop legendary.

The Adam Richman is a gut-bomber of  fried (halal) chicken, honey, avocado, ham, dirty sauce and a Dutch crunch roll that’s an ode to former Man vs. Food calorie martyr. Add a couple fried mozzarella sticks just to make sure you’ve celebrated properly.

Though I’ve only ever eaten one, I’ll go out on a limb and say: Best. Sandwich. Ever.

Not up for that kind of culinary investment? Ike’s also includes a number of meaty and meat-free choices (including several nods to locals including the Charles Schulz, Luther Burbank and SRJC Bear Cub).

Lee's Noodle House Banh Mi is a favorite Vietnamese-style sandwich
Lee’s Noodle House Banh Mi is a favorite Vietnamese-style sandwich


My Personal Favorite (besides a straight up turkey and Swiss): Banh mi.
This Vietnamese-French hybrid is typically a baguette filled with pate, pickled vegetables, barbecued pork, jalapenos and cilantro. Pair with a tasty Vietnamese coffee and you’re good to go.
– Lee’s Noodle House: 1010 Hopper Ave. Santa Rosa, (707) 523-2358
– Simply Vietnam Express: 3381 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa, (707) 544-4585

Cuban Sandwich at Rumba Cuban Kitchen in Windsor, CA. Photo: Heather Irwin.
Cuban Sandwich at Rumba Cuban Kitchen in Windsor, CA. Photo: Heather Irwin.

The Latin Sandwich Crew

The Cubano
A grilled Cuban sandwich with roasted pork, ham, Swiss, pickles and mustard on real Cuban bread. Ai papi. Rumba Cuban Kitchen, 8750 Old Redwood Hwy, Windsor, (707) 687-5632.

The Torta at Homemade Tortilla in Santa Rosa
The Torta at Homemade Tortilla in Santa Rosa

The Torta
This taco-truck staple is worth seeking out. Filled with meat, cheese, and other goodies the two best I’ve found..
– Homemade Tortilla: The Pambazo is a four-napkin feast with chile-sauced soaked and fried bread filled with chorizo and potatoes (papas con chorizo, $6.95). Don’t miss a side of curtido, a fermented Salvadoran slaw similar to sauerkraut (2770 Stony Point Ave., Santa Rosa, (707) 521-9977)
– Nuevo Sazon: Torta Ahogada, a roll dipped in tomato sauce, stacked up with carnitas, onions and refried beans. Insane. At the West End Farmer’s Market on Sundays (check the Facebook page to make sure they’re at the market).

So what’s your favorite local sandwich?

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