Zoe Kahn's 3 favorite Seattle sandwiches
On a quest to find the best sandwich in Seattle, here's her top three so far.
Welcome to It’s A Shanda, one Northeastern Jew’s quest to find a decent bagel in Seattle (and beyond). Along with free bagel reviews every Sunday, we also offer bonus posts (like this one) each week. If you’re already subscribed, I hope you’ll consider upgrading to a paid subscription! Thank you for reading.
This week, I’m handing the keys over to Zoe Kahn, a.k.a. Zoe in Seattle. If you’re a subscriber to
’s newsletter, you might have already read her list of local favorites.I’ve been following her Seattle updates on TikTok and Instagram for a while and it occurred to me that we share a very similar focus. We’re both from the East Coast. We’re both looking for specific food items that scratch that nostalgic itch. And we both speak to audiences with very strong opinions on those topics. I figured if anyone would appreciate her insight on the best sandwiches in Seattle, it would be my readers. Check out her top picks below and make sure you give her a follow on TikTok or Instagram. And if you’ve got a Seattle sandwich hot take of your own, share it in the comments!
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Hey there, I’m Zoe! You might recognize my face from TikTok where I frequently post sandwich reviews. Like Sean, I’m an East Coaster turned Seattlite with inevitably strong opinions about certain foods. For Sean, it’s the bagel, and for me, it’s the sandwich (although I too have a deep love for a great bagel - as most Jewish people do).
I’ve been on a quest to find the best sandwich in Seattle for two years now. The sandwich above is what started it all - from a NY deli and the centerfold of my youth, Rockies in Millwood, NY. We’d go here multiple times a week and my order was almost always the same: Chicken cutlet, honey mustard, lettuce, and provolone on a roll. You don’t see delis like Rockies on the West Coast - and that’s OK (it nudges me to return home every so often). But I’ve come to learn that Seattle has some special sandwiches in their own right…you just have to know where to look and what to order. And thus, my quest was born.
Here are my top 3 sandwiches in Seattle (as it stands, currently).
No. 3 - Valhalla Sandwiches, Thanksgetting (cold sandwich)
Located in Greenwood, Valhalla is a well-loved lunch spot known for delicious sandwiches. I’m forever in their debt for introducing me to the Thanksgetting, which is essentially a Thanksgiving leftovers sandwich dream. If you’re a fan of Thanksgiving food, you must try this sandwich. It’s a perfect combo of sweet and savory. Here’s what’s on it: Turkey, stuffing, turkey gravy, bacon, cranberry sauce, and rosemary aioli on a telera roll. Check out my review vid here.
No. 2 - Other Coast Cafe, Rajun Cajun (hot sandwich)
In the heart of Ballard, Other Coast is an unsuspecting little sandwich shop that you’ve probably walked by without realizing. I’m here to tell you that it’s absolutely worth a visit. Almost every person who ordered before me and after me was here for one thing: the Rajun Cajun. It’s their best seller and one of my all-time favorite hot sandwiches. Here’s what’s on it: Cajun turkey, pepper jack cheese, tomato, onion, and spicy salsa mayo. Check out my review vid here.
No. 1 - Salumi, Eggplant Parm (hot sandwich)
It would be justified to give me grief for loving a veggie-focused sandwich at a spot that’s famous for its meat…I know, I know, the irony. And to put it at No. 1! The audacity! But if you make the trip to Pioneer Square and visit Salumi for this sandwich, you’ll understand why it’s captured my heart. It just has the perfect combo of textures and flavors - not to mention it comes with a swimming pool of delicious, hot marinara sauce for dipping. Check out my review vid here.
Fun fact, Anthony Bourdain went to the OG Salumi in an episode of No Reservations.
For other sandwich thoughts and recs, follow my quest on TikTok…or perhaps I’ll return to share my top 3 sandwiches outside Seattle.
Thanks for actually reading this far. If you enjoy bagel reviews and want to read more of them, make sure you’re subscribed to It’s A Shanda. Know someone in the Greater Seattle Area (or beyond) who would appreciate way-too-detailed reviews of local bagels? Please forward the link their way.
This is the collab of my dreams! Fun fact: the coffee shop/deli I worked at in college stole the recipe for the Rajun Cajun (they even called it the same thing) and one night my coworker tripped while carrying the tub of cajun sauce and threw it onto my back. I lived in a sorority, so my room reeked of Rajun Cajun until my designated laundry day. Haven't been able to eat one since! 😂