The Brief

When I saw that SoCal had nabbed five of Yelp’s top 100 sandwich spots in the U.S., I figured some well-known names would be among them, like Attari, Wax Paper, Roma Market, My Dung, or El Huarache Azteca.

But then I looked more closely. Nope, none of them were on it. Instead, there were five places I hadn’t really heard of.

• Windsor Brown’s, Anaheim
• Don Daisy’s, Glendale
• Wild Carvery, Burbank
• Wood’s Deli, Huntington Park
• Ake’Larry, Anaheim

I knew of Windsor Brown’s, but as more of a beer place. That was it. I was intrigued. Was I missing out on some hidden gems? I figured I should try them out.

So that’s exactly what I did: I sampled all five sandwich spots in 24 hours. It's pretty safe to say that I was a little stir crazy by the end of it, but what I found was worth it.

Don Daisy’s, Glendale

Don Daisy's signature sandwich in Glendale certainly looks pretty — but what did it taste like?

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Gab Chabrán

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LAist

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Don Daisy’s is a small deli off Brand Boulevard in downtown Glendale, with just a couple of tables and chairs and an order-at-the-counter set up.

I asked for the signature Italian sandwich: prosciutto, salami, capicola, Havarti, cucumbers and pickles, crushed kettle chips and something called Billion Island sauce, which I presumed was a more souped-up take of Thousand Island sauce.

(Having both cucumbers and pickles seemed a little strange, given they’re the same thing, just one’s fermented and the other not, but I guess in the world of Don Daisy’s anything goes.)

When it arrived, the sandwich was beautiful and Instagrammable, with its rainbow of meats, various veggies and cheese. But the sourdough bread was dry, with no sour flavor, and while the meat did strike me as quality, it felt overshadowed by everything else. The crunchy texture of the chips inside the sandwich did give it a nice texture though.

But ultimately, it failed my main test. For me, a good sandwich should keep its shape throughout. And that was definitely not the case here. After just a few bites, it started to fall apart.

Overall, it left me wanting.

Gab’s score: 3.5 out of 5
Yelp score: 4.9 stars, 190 reviews
Yelp ranking: #88 in sandwiches across the U.S.

Wild Carvery, downtown Burbank

Would the chicken club at Wild Carvery in Burbank deliver on expectations?

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Gab Chabrán

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LAist

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Wild Carvery is located on a main drag of San Fernando Boulevard in downtown Burbank, with lots of shops and restaurants surrounding it. Maybe because of its proximity to Universal and Warner Brothers, it had a bit of a tourist feel, down to the Top 40 country hits they were playing ad nauseam.

I got the Grilled Chicken Club, which came with a ciabatta bun and what looked like a marinated chicken breast. But the construction was rather bizarre. Melted cheese at the bottom, followed by sprouts, chicken, bacon, tomato and lettuce. It felt like I was in an upside-down sandwich world.

The chicken lacked flavor and tasted like something you could make at home. And the biggest “hmm, that’s odd” moment was that despite being a Grilled Chicken Club, there was no third piece of bread — the very definition of a club sandwich.

With the country music in the background, the whole thing felt like something you could eat at a golf course in Texas or Arizona, or at an airport. It was very middle-of-the-road. It may have been #30 on the list, but I don't recommend it.

Gab’s score: 2 out of 5
Yelp score: 4.8 stars, 423 reviews
Yelp ranking: #30 in sandwiches across the country

Wood’s Deli, Huntington Park

The Italian Stallion from Wood's Deli in Huntington Park.

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Gab Chabrán

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LAist

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Wood’s Deli is located in a small shopping plaza in Huntington Park, shared with a liquor store, insurance business and barber shop.

 I first tried the Italian Stallion on a French roll, with Genoa salami, capicola, mortadella, pepperoni, Swiss cheese, arugula, spicy pickled onions and a roasted bell pepper sauce similar to a lighter take on a romesco. It was served warm, which I found interesting given Italian sandwiches are typically served cold.  But it was tasty, and I enjoyed it through multiple bites. (It did keep its structure intact.)

 I also tried the Turkey Pretzel, which came with a pretzel bun, sliced smoked turkey breast, bacon, melted Swiss cheese, avocado, arugula and a chipotle sauce on the side.

I enjoyed this sandwich. It was small but packed high with turkey, which, given I’m a turkey sandwich fan, was perfect for me. It was the best sandwich I'd had thus far, but it still didn’t compare to the L.A. standouts. It was more of a traditional American sandwich, lacking imagination or creativity. But it was well-made with fresh ingredients.

Gab’s score: 3.5 out of 5
Yelp score: 4.9 stars, 206 reviews
Yelp ranking: #5 in sandwiches across the country 

Ake’Larry, Anaheim

The chicken tonkatsu sandwich at Ake'Larry, located in an industrial park

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Gab Chabrán

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LAist

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Ake’Larry is located in an industrial section of Anaheim across the street from Republic Services, a waste management company.

It’s the type of place that you would completely miss if you were driving by. But once you enter, you’re transported to a quaint, cozy cafe space with soft lighting that makes you forget where exactly you are.

I decided to go with the chicken tonkatsu sandwich, a Japanese fried chicken cutlet. (It was my fourth sandwich by now, and I was getting a little tired of cold cuts.)

It was surprisingly good. The nicely fried cutlet was flavorful, with just the right amount of seasoning, and not at all greasy. It had a delicious curry taste to it, with slices of large pickled radish, and a light layer of mayo. The bread was great, similar to focaccia bread, but with a tighter crumb so it could hold the sandwich's contents.

I was very surprised by the Ake’Larry. It felt like a genuine diamond in the rough that you’d only discover if someone told you about it. I'm definitely going to go back with my wife to try some of the other dishes and learn more about the people behind it.

Gab’s score: 4.5 out of 5.
Yelp score: 4.9 stars, 148 reviews
Yelp ranking: #87 in sandwiches across the country.

Windsor Brown’s, Anaheim

The tangy Reuben at Windsor Brown’s with draped Swiss and a punchy apple-and-bacon kraut, all riding shotgun on a quality slice of toasted rye.

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Gab Chabrán

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LAist

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Located in a shopping district in downtown Anaheim, Windsor Brown has a relaxed, communal atmosphere. They were playing good music in a genre that I could only describe as “dad indie rock.” You wouldn’t guess by its appearance that you’re less than 10 minutes from Disneyland, but that’s Anaheim for you.

I got the Reuben and the Jets sandwich, a pastrami Reuben. It included pastrami, apple and bacon sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, a Calabrian chili spread and Russian dressing on a toasted marble rye loaf.

My favorite parts were everything but the pastrami. It was thin and leathery. Pastrami on the West Coast is such a hard thing to get right, especially if you're familiar with the thick slices of the East Coast variety.

Everything else was high quality. The apple and bacon sauerkraut was fresh tasting, and you could tell they made it there, which was nice. Also the marble rye tasted slightly sour, nutty and earthy.

I also liked the name, Ruben and the Jets, which is the title of a Frank Zappa album I love.

While I wasn’t a fan of the pastrami, I understand why Windsor Brown made the list. It’s a calm, welcoming atmosphere that feels like the perfect spot to meet up with friends, enjoy a beer and have some quality sandwiches. I’ll go back, but next time I think I’ll check out the cold sandwich selection.

Gab’s score: 4 out of 5.
Yelp score: 4.9 stars, 196 reviews
Yelp ranking:  #89 in sandwiches across the country.

So, there you have it.

Since I do this for a living, I pride myself on having a pretty good idea of what’s out there, but it turns out there are still a few places on this list that surprised me.

Yes, Yelp taught me something, which is something I never thought I’d say in 2025. But here we are.