Sandwiches are convenient, flavour-packed, comforting and is the ultimate grab-and-go food, it’s no surprise that every country has its own version! I have rounded up 14 sandwiches so popular, delicious and renowned they have found fame and followers all over the world in countless restaurants and eateries. 

Arepa 

A very versatile sandwich, Colombian arepas can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner. They are essentially corn cakes prepared with a classic filling of avocados, plantain, fresh white cheese, chorizo and beef or shredded chicken. 

Bánh mì

A sandwich that is loved the world over, the Bánh mì s a Vietnamese street snack made with a combination of French and Vietnamese ingredients as filling. Most bánh mì’s are made of a baguette that is stuffed with cilantro, garlic, pickled cucumber, daikon and carrots and Vietnamese barbecue pork or ham. This is then topped with French condiments like pâté,  jalapeño and mayonnaise. 

Bauru 

When in Brazil expect street food vendors to be selling baurus, a sandwich enveloped with juicy decadent roast beef, melted mozzarella, tomato and pickled cucumber in a French bun with the crust removed. Bauru has different combination of fillings from pulled pork to sliced chicken pieces. It is also sometimes compared to the American BLT (bacon, lettuce and tomato). 

Cemita 

Mexicans enjoy this pueblan style sandwich called cemita, made using a delicious egg-based, brioche-like bread topped with sesame seeds. The sandwich is stuffed with a variety of fried meats, fine strands of shredded oaxaca cheese, avocado, queso, chipotles or pickled jalapenos and pápalo herb which has a peppery flavour.

Chip Butty 

A treasured British Isles delicacy, chip butty is made of a a soft, white slice of bread slathered with salted butter and filled with hot, crunchy fries or chips straight from the fryer. It is a burst of flavours and textures owing to the chilli sauce, ketchup and crunchy fries used as filling in the sandwich. 

Croque Monsieur

Croque Monsieur or crunchy mister is a parisian snack made from brioche buns filled with ham, coated slightly with a seasoned layer of cheese and topped with a gooey, runny fried egg. These sandwiches are perfectly paired with a glass of wine or a mug of beer. 

Cuban Sandwich 

The Cuban sandwich or the cubano was first enjoyed by Cuban workers in Key West and Tampa city in Florida. Stuffed with salami, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard sauce on Cuban bread, the cubano is a signature sandwich of the city of Tampa. 

Choripan

A chorizo and crusty bread sandwich is the all time favourite sandwich of the people of Argentina. A traditional combination of beef and pork is ground together and griddled until crispy, piled onto some crusty bread and slathered with a vibrant chimichurri sauce and fresh salsa. 

Jambon beurre

The French-made jambon beurre also known as Le Parisien is a humble baguette spread with salted French butter and filled with spiced Parisian ham. In the 19th century, market workers would take two slices of country bread, smear it with salted butter and place a local, wet-cured specialty charcuterie between it for a protein-rich snack to help keep them going through lunch which later was called ‘jambon beurre’.

Katsu-sando 

Katsu sando, a pork cutlet sandwich is a Japanese version of a schnitzel sandwich. Two slices of cotton-like shokupan (Japanese milk bread) is slathered with zingy tonkatsu sauce and topped with a lightly breaded and fried, thick cutlet of meat typically pork or wagyu beef.

Panini 

A crunchy on the outside and gooey on the inside sandwich, the panini or panino got its start in Italy and means ‘bread roll’. This hearty sandwich features two slices of ciabatta bread and is  loaded with delectable fillings of chicken, ham, cheese, vegetables and a range of seasonings and sauces. 

Pastrami-on-Rye

One of Jewish kosher delicatessens, pastrami-on-rye is a must try on a visit to New York City. Every New York kosher deli serves this sandwich made with rye bread filled with thinly-sliced, marbled cured beef and topped with a slather of mustard. 

Vada Pav 

Indian’s favourite street food popular especially in Mumbai, vada pav is a spicy veggie burger with a potato fritter sandwiched between two slices of pav bread. For an extra kick of flavour the vada or fritter is topped with chilli and coriander chutney.

Vegemite Sandwich

An Australian favourite, known to make a frequent appearance in the lunchbox of students or on the breakfast table, the Vegemite sandwich uses a condiment or a spread made from leftover brewers’ yeast extract. It is often stuffed with various vegetables and spice additives and is toasted.