For the first few weeks of lockdown, one of the benefits of working from home was being able to knock up our own lunches. Many, many weeks in and that joy has seriously palled. So here who's delivering more interesting sandwiches around London for you to order.
Weekly sandwich at 40 Maltby Street
Where: 40 Maltby St, London SE1 3PA
Running Wednesday to Sunday the sandwich menu at 40 Maltby Street changes every week. To give you an idea of what to expect, recent jaw-dropping specials have included a mushroom fritter sandwich with pickles and tarragon and a mallard, bacon, marmalade and raw celeriac sandwich.
Follow them on Instagram: @40maltbystreet.
How to order: Collection-only
Photo: @marthadelacey
Salt beef bagel - Beigel Bake
Where: 155 Brick Lane, London E1 6SB
A London classic if ever there was one, the salt beef bagel from beigel bake on Brick Lane comes with an almost obscene amount of pickles stuffed in it and a slathering of extremely strong mustard.
Follow them on Instagram: @beigel_bake.
How to order: Order online (6 miles radius)
Photo by @cassybhairo
Tortilla sandwich - Big Jo Bakery
Where: 318-326 Hornsey Rd, Finsbury Park, London N7 7HE
Double carbs are the only way to eat your way happy through Lockdown which is where this gorgeous sarnie comes in. Featuring Spanish tortilla with aioli and chilli sauce - happiness comes as an unbilled extra.
Follow them on Instagram: @bigjobakery.
How to order: Collection-only
Photo: @Martamargaret
Lobster cheese toastie - Bob's Lobster
Where: Borough Market, 8 Southwark St, London SE1 1TL
You'll need to be close to Borough Market to avail of this seafood special which Bob's Lobster are selling from their van there on Monday to Saturday. They're also serving up their signature lobster and crayfish rolls too.
Follow them on Instagram: @bobs_lobster.
How to order: Collection or on Uber Eats
The Porky Pig at Bread & Truffle
Where: 376 Helmsley Pl, Hackney, London E8 3SB
Launched during the lockdown this East London sandwich firm has a pretty simple premise - take Italian street food and bring it to the London masses. It's all about stuffed foccacia sarnies - a Hot Dinners reader described it as 'one of the best sandwiches I've ever had'. The Porky Pig, for example, features cacio e pepe spread, Tuscan grilled sausage, guanciale, truffled Pecorino and chicory. Sold.
Follow them on Instagram: @breadandtruffle.
How to order: Delivery via UberEats
Squid bun at Bright
Where: 1 Westgate St, Hackney, London E8 3RL
The fried calamari bun from Bright in London Fields is one of those dishes to cheer up even the dullest of grey lockdown days. Served in a squishy bun with a perfect lick of homemade aioli.
Follow them on Instagram: @bright_restaurant.
How to order: It's pick up only from the restaurant at the weekends.
Steak sando at Chunky Buddha
Where: 91 Brick Ln, Spitalfields, London E1 6QR
Chef Lee Chau Le used to work at Zuma but now has a loyal following for his stall at the Truman Brewery serving up what he describes as Asian comfort pub food. He also sells amazing looking baos and fried rice, but this steak sandwich is the one to go for. I mean, just LOOK at it.
Follow them on Instagram: @chunkybuddhagroupp.
How to order: Collection Wed-Sun at Truman Brewery or on Deliveroo
The Roman at Dom’s Subs
Where: 262 Hackney Rd, London E2 7SJ
A superb veggie option from the superlative sandwich slingers. This features tenderstem broccoli dressed with confit garlic and smoked paprika, roast aubergines and marinated artichokes, Sharp provolone, romesco sauce, rocket and chopped smoked almonds
Follow them on Instagram: @impeccablesandwiches.
How to order: Order online
The Fairfax - Eggslut
Where: Notting Hill/Fitzrovia
If soft eggs, cheese and a warm bun is what it takes to get you revved up of a morning, then Eggslut’s the Fairfax is what you need. The brioche bun is stuffed with free-range soft scrambled eggs, chives, caramelized onions, lots of melty cheddar cheese and sriracha mayo for added kick.
Follow them on Instagram @eggslutuk
How to order: Via Deliveroo
Smorrebrod selection - Ekte
Where: 2-8 Bloomberg Arcade, London EC4N 8AR
City folk inspired by all that Nordic noir they’ve been binge-watching on Netflix can now get these open sandwiches delivered to their home. Choose from meat options like Aged Beef from Glenarm estate, celeriac and horseradish remoulade, crispy onion & Watercress or vegan choices like Grilled Celeriac & Wild Garlic - and there's even a curried herring option.
Follow them on Instagram @ektelondon.
How to order: Collection or delivery. Order details on their website
The reuben at Friends of Ours
Where: 61 Pitfield St, Hoxton, London N1 6BU
There's a strong sandwich offering at this Hoxton spot (the bavette steak and turkey club both look great too) but the one we particularly fancy is the smoked NY pastrami made with housemade kimchi, sriracha & Swiss cheese.
Follow them on Instagram: @thefriendsofours.
How to order: Order online
Lobster roll at Hideaway
Where: 100 Mount St, Mayfair, London W1K 2TG
Ollie Dabbous' Mayfair cafe is doing a roaring trade in collection and delivery to those living and working in central London. But the one you really want is this lobster sub which could also be part of your working lunch repertoire if you subscribe to their delivery service.
Follow them on Instagram: @hideaway_london.
How to order: Order online
Egg and bacon - Joy at Portobello
Where: Portobello Dock, 344 Ladbroke Grove, London W10 5BU
This daytime hot sandwich special features any combination of egg, bacon and sausage. The meat comes from HG Walter, the bread from E5 Bakery and the chutney and rocket from The Good Shed.
Follow them on Instagram: @joy_at_portobello.
How to order: Collection only - until 3pm every day, or until the ingredients have sold out.
Smoky Aubergine Banh Mi - Keu Deli
Where: Shoreditch and Soho
All the banh mi offerings at Keu are pretty strong, but for a veggie take, their Smoky Aubergine Banh Mi edges ahead - stuffed with grilled aubergine, mushrooms, scallion oil and organic tofu it’s got everything a plant-forward sandwich lover could ask for.
Follow them on Instagram @keudelilondon.
How to order: Via Deliveroo for Soho or Shoreditch.
Jamon Iberico sandwich - Llerena
Where: 167 Upper Street, London N1 1US
As it looks like being increasingly unlikely that we’re going to be heading to Spain anytime soon, this Islington bocadillo helps ease the pain. Llerena import their Jamon Iberico themselves, so you're in for some excellent quality jamon - and chorizo or lomo versions are available too. Pour yourself an ice-cold Estrella from the fridge, and make like you’re in Madrid.
Follow them on Instagram @llerena.ibericotapasbar
How to order: Via Deliveroo.
Sweetcorn Fritter, spinach & avo muffin at Parlour
Where: 5 Regent Street, Kensal Green, London NW10 5LG
Vegans are well looked after at Jesse Dunford Wood's gastropub which is serving these babies up every day of the week.
Follow them on Instagram: @parlouruk.
How to order: Collection only
La Baguette - Le Relais de Venise
Where: 120 Marylebone Ln, Marylebone, London W1U 2QG
Who would have thought that a simple steak sandwich would get folk so exercised? But the arrival of a new item on the famously basic Relais de Venise menu certainly did that. This is their Parisian baguette, spread with their famous piquant sauce and topped with rare steak and lots and lots of frites - and it's only available for delivery or takeaway. There’s probably not a single lockdown hangover in London that this wouldn’t cure.
Follow them on Instagram @lerelaisdeveniseofficial.
How to order: Via their website
Doritos Fried Chicken sandwich - Snackbar
Where: 20 Dalston Ln, Dalston, London E8 3AZ
East Londoners working from home over multiple lockdowns have been fortified in their efforts by the folks at Dalston’s Snackbar. Their WFH lunch menu runs Wednesday to Friday and this new chicken sandwich has recently graced it. You want it badly, right?
Follow them on Instagram @snackbarlondon
How to order: Order online
The MLT by The Vegan Sandwich Club
Where: Walthamstow
The vegan sarnies at this newish North London delivery company are flat-out amazing and their MLT is a superb example. It features smoky-maple 'bacon' marinated mushrooms with a spicy mayo, tomato slices and lettuce on sourdough. Cruelty-free but flavour loaded.
Follow them on Instagram: @plant__theseed.
How to order: Delivered by bike Wed + Thurs lunchtime in Walthamstow. Order online.
More food and drink delivered...
And for even more delivery ideas (including shops, coffee, booze, bakeries and more), check out our Staying in section.
Food delivery in London, by area...
North: Islington, Highbury, Stoke Newington | King's Cross, Camden & Clerkenwell
South: Borough, London Bridge, Bermondsey | Clapham, Brixton | Peckham, Camberwell, Dulwich
East: Hackney | Shoreditch and Spitalfields | Walthamstow and Leyton
West: Chelsea, Kensington & Belgravia | White City and Notting Hill
Central: Central London restaurant deliveries
Subscribe to hear the latest from Hot Dinners
