Best Sandwiches in Shanghai

Shanghai has developed an impressive obsession with sandwiches in recent years, a huge difference from a decade ago. From smoked pastrami towers to Italian panini crafted with reverence, these are the spots serving some of the best sandwiches in Shanghai.

Totino Panino: Italian Panini

A cult-favorite panini shop from Italian maestro Salvatore Giammaria, Totino Panino sets the bar for authentic Italian sandwiches in Shanghai. The secret? Freshly baked ciabatta, delivered daily, stuffed with premium imports like prosciutto, burrata, and porchetta.

Totino Panino, a popular sandwich shop in Jing'an, Shanghai serving Italian-style paninis. Photo @ Nomfluence — Wolf #4

With more than 20 varieties (¥45–125), there’s a panini for every craving — from the simple Caprese to the massive Wolf #4, a meat-lover’s dream.

Sandwiches to get: Wolf #4 for those with huge appetites, Sir Dave (my favorite) with roast beef, fior di latte, pickled jalapeños, lettuce, mayonnaise, and mustard.

Totino Panino
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BizyBoy: Pastrami Sandwich

Hailed on social media for having "the best pastrami sandwich in Shanghai," Bizy Boy delivers sandos and pasta.

By day a sandwich shop, by night a pasta bar, Bizy Boy exploded onto the scene with what many hail as Shanghai’s best pastrami sandwich (¥158). This impressive stack — juicy house-cured pastrami, Comté, cheddar, and kraut on sourdough — justifies the Yuyuan Lu queues. It’s a flavor bomb balanced by tangy sauerkraut and Dijon, though structural collapse is inevitable.

Bizy Boy is a sandwich shop and pasta bar in Shanghai.

Other standouts: the Fried Cod (¥128), with its crackling batter and apple slaw, and the Roasted Chicken Melt (¥88), which is heavy on cheese, heavier on guilt.

BizyBoy
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Sub Standard – Fresh Baked Subs

Helmed by Jason Oakley (The French Laundry, Coquille), Sub Standard is a no-frills sandwich and pizza spot with serious pedigree. Their hole-in-the-wall original in Jing’an is more suited for grab-and-go, while their spacious new Changning location offers seating — just don’t expect tablecloths.

The bread for the sandwiches is made fresh on-site, resulting in light, fluffy rolls. The Italian Sausage Smash (¥58) with charred broccolini and mozzarella and Corned Beef (¥68) with cured brisket, pickled cabbage and Russian dressing are both huge hits.

Sub Standard
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Tonton – For Tuna Melt Lovers

TonTon is a bakery and sandwich shop in Shanghai

Tonton is a Xuhui bakery and sandwichery that lures crowds with their fluffy donuts (¥22+) and fresh pastries. Catering to the lunch crowd, they also do solid sandwiches — gargantuan ones that deliver on satisfaction.

The Fried Chicken (¥108) is a crunchy, cheese-layered beast on brioche, while the Spicy Tuna Melt (¥108), my go-to, oozes with mayo-whipped tuna and melted cheese.

Tonton
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Tock’s – The OG Reuben Sandwich in Shanghai

Tock's, a Montreal deli in Shanghai serving deli-style sandwiches

Before Shanghai’s sandwich boom, there was Tock’s — the Canadian deli that’s been slinging legendary Reubens (¥88/108) since 2014. Customize your meat (lean, medium, or “heart attack”), then let the Russian-dressed, kraut-loaded stack work its magic. Served with skinny fries and pickles, it’s a rite of passage.

Tock’s
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Cages – The Beefzilla

American style barbecue at Cages, Jing'an, Shanghai.

If you’re talking about smoked meat sandwiches, then it would be remiss not to mention the Beefzilla at Cages. On Thursdays, Shanghai’s largest sports bar rolls out their barbecued meats, and with that, a crazy sandwich. The Beefzilla, a mountain that’s give or take 800 grams total of bone-in short rib, smoked beef brisket, two beef patties, cheddar cheese, and secret sauce loaded between Texas toast.

Elevated American bar food at Cages Huangpu, Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.

They also have “normal” sandwiches too — Hot Pastrami (¥98), Italian Sub (¥78), Fried Chicken Sando (¥78), and a Meatball Sub (¥78).

Cages
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Saigon Mama – Banh Mi

With nearly a dozen locations, Vietnamese restaurant Saigon Mama delivers Shanghai’s most reliable bánh mì (from ¥55). Crusty baguettes are stuffed with pork pâté, housemade ham, and pickled veggies — plus variations like roasted chicken or a breakfast version with egg.

RAC

Anfu Lu: No. 14, 322 Anfu Lu, near Wukang Lu 安福路322弄14号，近武康路
Tel: 13636595172
Hours: Mon-Sat 8am-11:30pm (food last order 10pm), Sun 8am-6pm
Shaanxi Nan Lu: 55 Shaanxi Nan Lu, near Huaihai Zhong Lu陕西南路55号, 近淮海中路
Tel: 13636595172
Hours: Tue-Sun 9am-10pm (kitchen closes 9pm)

RAC is an ultra-popular café and wine bar that has racked tons of fame on social media for its crepes, galettes, and coffee. During peak hours, it’s impossible to get a seat without waiting. If it’s a less hectic meal you seek, go during off peak hours.

Breakfast Sandwich at RAC Bar and Cafe in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.

In addition to the crepes and galettes, the Avocado, Egg & Cheese (¥55) breakfast sandwich is an excellent choice. The sum of its parts is what you really want in the morning (or as a hangover buster)—gooey egg, creamy avocado, and melted cheese. Add extra ¥ for crispy bacon.

If you’re searching for something more hardy, try the Soft Shell Crab Sandwich (¥98) with pickled red cabbage, avocado, and wasabi mayo.

Best Sandwiches in Shanghai: Soft Shell Crab Sandwich at RAC. Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.

Highline

Address: 6/F, 282 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Huangpi Nan Lu 淮海中路282号雅诗阁公寓6楼, 近黄陂南路
Tel: 63330176
Hours: 11am-2pm, 5pm-1am

The Philly Cheesesteak (¥158) at Highline is a heart attack on a plate, but in a good way, of course. It is made with slices of M5 ribeye, roasted peppers and onions, American and provolone cheese, and is served on a toasted baguette. It’s a sadistic portion for one, an agreeable serving for two to share. Comes with fries or salad, and a tiny cup of pickles.

Philly Cheesesteak at Highline, restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.

Fairly new is the Shrimp and Crab Roll (¥128), presenting a toasted milk bun overflowing with plump garlic buttered shrimp and crab egg salad.

Crab and shrimp roll at Highline, restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.

Tack on the Highline Club Sandwich (¥98) while you’re at it. Layers of artichoke and sundried tomato spread, grilled chicken, bacon ham, avocado, tomato, and basil pesto between sourdough bread make for an epic meal. Add ¥30 for fries (yes!) and salad (moo~).

Best Sandwiches in Shanghai: The Club Sandwich at Highline. Photo by Rachel Gouk @ Nomfluence.

Polux

Address: No. 5, Xintiandi North Block, 181 Taicang Lu, near Huangpi Nan Lu 太仓路181弄5号新天地北里, 近黄陂南路
Tel: 63339897
Hours: 10am-10pm

A club sandwich is a cafe staple, and Polux, Paul Pairet’s Xintiandi cafe does it to perfect. The Real Double Decker Club Sandwich (¥110) has a precise balance of micro-thin housemade crispy bacon to lettuce to tomato to chicken between toasted bread. It’s juicy, holds well, and tastes like either the best or second-best Club you’ve ever had. It’s served with Hand-Cut French Fries Allumettes, which are also available a la carte for ¥50.

The Cannery

Address: Rm 106, Bldg 1, 1107 Yuyuan Lu, near Jiangsu Lu 愚园路1107号1号楼106室, 近江苏路
Tel: 52760599
Hours: Mon-Fri 5:30pm-1am, Sat-Sun 11:30am-1am

The Charred Reuben on the brunch menu at The Cannery is bomb. Corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing, grilled with butter. If there ever was an appropriate time to use the word “moist”Don’t underestimate it’s size. Brunch is ¥198 for three dishes.

Spread The Bagel

Donghu Lu: 9 Donghu Lu, near Xinle Lu 东湖路9号, 近新乐路
Hours: 5pm-2am
Yuyuan Lu: 32 Yuyuan Lu, near Changde Lu 愚园路32号, 近常德路
Hours: Sun-Thu 8am-7pm, Fri-Sat 8am-9pm
Tel: 13817173245
Order delivery here.

Spread The Bagel is Shanghai’s favorite homegrown bagel brand. Founder Christine Asuncion started STB in 2010, vowing to perfect her recipe and to bring a taste of authentic New York bagels to Shanghai. If you’re eating a bagel right now in Shanghai, chances are it came from STB. They have plenty of bagelwiches on offer, rotating topping combos seasonally.

Stone Brewing

Address: 1107 Yuyuan Lu, near Fenggang Lu 愚园路1107号, 近凤冈路
Tel: 62262510
Hours: Sun-Wed 11:30am-midnight, Thu-Sat 11:30am-2am

Stone Brewing is a fiercely independent craft brewery—this is their first China location. Food on offer is tasty American pubgrub of sandwiches, burgers, steaks, wings, and bar snacks to go with the 20 odd beers they have on tap and by the bottle.

Try the French Dip (¥88) sandwich, made with thinly shaved New York strip loin on an Italian roll with horseradish sauce and crispy onions, and comes with a side of gravy. Dip, bite, and double dip.

Roujiamo

Address: B2, SML mall, 618 Xujiahui Lu, near Ruijin Er Lu 徐家汇路618号日月光中心广场B2, 近瑞金二路
Tel: 18817219170
Hours: 10am-10pm

Definitely have to drop roujiamo 肉夹馍 into this list. A roujiamo is essentially a Chinese pita-pocket. Originally from Shaanxi Province, this street sandwich is found all over China.

Roujiamo, shanxi street food sandwich. Photo by Rachel Gouk.

The bread should be crispy on the outside and multilayered with a slightly doughy center. It should be packed with juicy, shredded meat and sufficiently salted and peppered. Choose fatty pork belly (¥12) or lean meat (¥15), usually served with green peppers.

My previous hole-in-the-wall closed, so now I get them from a pretty good chain called 笑西西 (xiao xi xi), which also serves other Shanxi delicacies like noodles and chuanr.