Best Sandwiches in Hamilton: Roast Beef, Veal and Subs

The best sandwiches in Hamilton are built for steelworkers, and they still feel that way. The Ontario city on the western shore of Lake Ontario grew around steel, and its lunch counters, Italian sandwich shops and sub shops are part of its character. Judge any sandwich by the bread.

Look for shops with a line at noon, a short menu and a counter where the meat is sliced to order. Pick three shops with different styles, and add a slice of pizza afterwards to compare.

What are the best sandwiches in Hamilton?

Hamilton sandwiches fall into three families. There is the roast beef counter, with thin slices piled on a soft roll and dipped in jus. There is the Italian sandwich, with breaded veal or chicken, tomato sauce and cheese on crusty bread. And there is the sub shop, with cold cuts and a squeeze of oil and vinegar.

Judge any of them by the bread. It should be fresh and sturdy, able to hold the filling without falling apart. Then look at the meat, the sauce and the balance.

Where is Hamilton lunch at its best?

Hamilton lunch is a social meal, often eaten in a small shop with a handful of stools. Roast beef counters and east end takeout spots serve no-nonsense sandwiches made to order, generously portioned. Ask a local which counter they go to.

What are Hamilton Italian sandwiches?

Hamilton Italian sandwiches draw on the city's Italian community. Look for cafes that make breaded veal and chicken sandwiches and small hot sandwiches on fresh bread. A veal sandwich is breaded and fried, served on a roll with tomato sauce and melted cheese, and sometimes with peppers or hot peppers.

If you are new to the style, order a veal sandwich with sauce and cheese, and a side of peppers. Eat it with napkins close at hand.

Where are the Hamilton sub shops?

Hamilton sub shops are neighbourhood fixtures, selling cold cuts, salami, capicola, provolone and vegetables on long rolls. Hamilton also has Vietnamese subs and old-fashioned sub shops, so ask a local for a current favourite.

A good sub has balance. The meat should be sliced thin, the vegetables should be crisp and the dressing should add tang without drowning the roll. Ask for hot peppers on the side if you like heat, and share a sub with a friend if the roll is long, since a full size sandwich can be a day's lunch.

Is there good Hamilton pizza to try afterward?

Hamilton pizza is worth a stop as well, and a slice is a fine way to end a sandwich tour if you have room. Order a slice rather than a whole pie, and compare shops.

How do you plan a Hamilton sandwich crawl?

Pick three shops that offer different styles. Start with roast beef, move to a veal sandwich and finish with a sub. Order a half sandwich at each, and share. Take notes on the bread, the filling and the sauce.

Go at off-peak times, since lunch crowds can be heavy. Bring cash for small shops, and a bag for leftovers. Hamilton is a walkable city in the centre, but shops are spread out, so a car or a bus pass helps.

How do you compare Hamilton sandwiches fairly?

A sandwich crawl only works if you remember each bread. In the Mosey app, rate every roast beef, veal and sub by the dish, tag the counter Quick Service or Good Portions and keep a list called Sandwich crawl. Order the same sandwich at each shop, note the roll and the sauce in a line, and invite a friend by link to add their pick from the east end.

What should you know about Hamilton's lunch history?

Hamilton grew around steel and heavy industry, and the lunch counters that serve its workers are part of its character. A sandwich shop near a factory gate had to be fast, cheap and filling, and that shaped the menus that survive. Italian, Portuguese and other immigrant families opened bakeries and delis that sold bread, meat and cheese to the workers, and the sandwiches that came from those shops are still the best way to taste the city.

Today the steel mills have shrunk, and the city has added galleries, cafes and restaurants. Even so, the older shops remain popular with students, retirees and families. A visit to one is a small history lesson, and the staff are often glad to talk about how things used to be.

Look for the shops with a line at noon, a short menu and a counter where the meat is sliced to order. Those are the places that carry on the tradition.

What else should you eat around Ontario?

For another city, read the best pizza in Toronto guide. The Ontario food worth a drive page covers farm stands and small towns, and the Ontario regional foods guide explains the province's classics. The Canada guides page lists more cities.

This is one of many Ontario guides, and the Food in Ontario page lists them all by town.

A sandwich is the kind of meal that blurs. Download the Mosey app, rate each one by its bread, its filling and its sauce, and build a Hamilton list that tells you which counter deserves your next lunch.