Sandwich Restaurants in Illinois

When Guy Fieri rolls into Illinois on his quest for America’s most flavorful bites, the Land of Lincoln delivers with sandwich creations that pack serious punch. Across 8 featured restaurants—with 6 still serving hungry crowds today—the state has earned an impressive average rating of 4.4 stars from devoted fans. From 2008 to 2025, Triple D has chronicled Illinois’ sandwich scene, with Chicago emerging as the undisputed heavyweight champion, claiming 7 of those coveted features.

The Windy City and its suburbs showcase remarkable diversity between two slices of bread. Sfera Sicilian Street Food leads the pack with a stellar 4.8-star rating, bringing authentic Sicilian flavors to Chicago’s streets. Meanwhile, Rex Italian Foods in Norridge proves you don’t need a Chicago zip code to earn Guy’s enthusiastic approval, boasting 4.6 stars. And no Illinois sandwich tour is complete without Manny’s Cafeteria and Delicatessen, a Chicago institution stacking mile-high creations that have earned 4.5 stars and generations of loyal customers. These spots prove Illinois knows how to build a sandwich worth the trip.