Readers Share Memories of Their Greatest Sandwiches Ever

Zoe Williams recalls a crab stick and taramasalata baguette from the mid-1990s in Barons Court, west London. Delis displayed fillings in silver dishes, with unpredictable pricing that once led to a £3.50 hit after choosing premium crab. Crab sticks, pink and more delicious than real crab, made her life feel like a fairytale.

Leah Harper craves Boca cafe's vegetarian Christmas focaccia in Glasgow. It packs mushroom and chestnut roast, apricot-glazed carrots and parsnips, cranberry and walnut agrodolce, sprout slaw, and optional brie, which she added. Indulgent and Christmassy, it avoids festive falafel.

Alexi Duggins ate a hot smoked mackerel sandwich from a Brighton seafront smokehouse. Fresh fish, woodsmoke-aromatic and juice-dripping, was consumed on the shoreline with his wife. A gull later stole one from her hand. He thought about it for 10 years before returning.

Katharine Viner praises the T9 from City Edge in Sydney's Surry Hills: toasted Turkish bread with grilled halloumi, sun-dried tomatoes, avocado, artichoke and leaves. Owner Tommy remembers her order after over a decade. No replacement matches it.

Rick Williams enjoyed grilled green peppers with Spanish tortilla in a crispy roll at Bodegas la Mancha near Granada's Albaicín. The lunchtime spot was always packed; he paired it with beer for siesta prep.

Nick Morgan picked up a fish finger sandwich on a white bloomer with Emmenthal, rocket, chilli jam and mayo from a Trafalgar Street bar in Brighton after a house party. The unlikely mix became a favorite they tried recreating for years.

Adrian Horton calls the tuna melt at Agi's Counter in Brooklyn's Crown Heights the best after trying many varieties. Hearty and dill-forward with a secret melt-in-mouth ingredient, it justifies $20 despite his usual disdain.

Jessica Reed shared a Mad Max sandwich on a Montana hike: turkey, hot soppressata, sharp white cheddar, fresh basil, pepperoncini, piquillo peppers, red onion and mayo amid wildflowers and butterflies.

Estelle Tang savored a Senegalese-style egg and cheese baguette in Saint-Louis. The chef fried whisked raw eggs into a fritter, added Laughing Cow cheese and savoury powder, likely Knorr chicken. She still thinks of it 15 years later.

Tim Jonze messaged his wife about a cheddar and piccalilli toasted focaccia with leek fritters from 40 Maltby Street near London's Tower Bridge in 2021. Eaten on a park bench, it brought nirvana.

Anita Chaudhuri dreamt of a brioche bun with fresh white crab meat in caper mayo from Inveraray, Scotland, last year. Tortilla chips added crunch and spice.

Louis Staples made a homemade rump steak sandwich in 2024 with fried onions, rocket, sun-ripened tomato and mustard-garlic-lemon mayo on fluffy white bread.

Jason Okundaye rates Italo deli in London's Bonnington Square for merguez sausages, sumac red onions, tomato, cucumber and parsley fried egg with garlicky toum.

Abi Millar improvised grated carrots, avocado, hummus and inky mushrooms with sriracha on baguettes in a Yorkshire moors camper van, eyed by sheep.

Yvonne C Lam received a traditional Vietnamese bánh mì thịt post-birth in hospital, crumbs falling as her newborn slept.

Christophe Gowans cured a 1993 Barcelona stag weekend hangover with 8 a.m. bocadillos of jamón or similar in a lively lock-up, paired with cava.

Martha Gowans chose tuna mayo on fresh focaccia from Old Cottage Coffee Shop in Charlton Park, southeast London.