Cousins Subs: Wisconsin’s Best-Kept Secret Deserves National Recognition
Think you’ve tried every great submarine sandwich? You might want to reconsider that claim if you haven’t experienced Cousins Subs. This Wisconsin-born chain has nearly 100 locations as of December 2024, founded in 1972 by cousins Bill Specht and Jim Sheppard, yet remains virtually unknown outside the Midwest. What sets Cousins apart isn’t just their family legacy but their unwavering commitment to made-to-order quality.
The chain has close to 100 restaurants across Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana, with Indianapolis becoming the hottest expansion area where three new locations opened in 2024 alone. Their approach to growth feels refreshingly organic rather than aggressive, focusing on perfecting each sandwich rather than racing to saturate every market. The result is a cult-like following among customers who swear by their generous portions and fresh ingredients that make even the most basic turkey sub feel like a gourmet experience.
Mendocino Farms: California’s Farm-to-Table Sandwich Revolution
The Los Angeles-based fast-casual sandwich chain ended 2024 with 75 locations, adding 11 restaurants last year, but don’t let those modest numbers fool you into thinking this is just another local chain. Mendocino Farms has cracked the code on upscale casual dining without the pretentious attitude that usually comes with it.
With sales split pretty evenly between sandwiches and salads, Mendocino Farms differentiates itself from a premium standpoint as “the white tablecloth meal between two slices of bread” with clean ingredients, no preservatives, additives, dyes or anything like that. Their menu features innovative creations like the Peruvian Steak with spicy aji amarillo-marinated steak with Oaxacan cheese and herb aioli. For 2025, the chain expects to open 15 new restaurants and hopes to reach 150 units within five years, with expansion spreading to the East.
Portillo’s: Chicago’s Italian Beef Empire Goes National
The name might sound like a pizza joint, but Portillo’s has mastered something far more complex than sauce and cheese. The Chicago-based chain specializes in Italian beef sandwiches and burgers in addition to Chicago-style hot dogs, and has expanded into new markets including Arizona and Florida. However, calling it just a sandwich shop undersells what Portillo’s brings to the table.
Portillo’s famously favors eccentric novelty decor, particularly Chicago-related memorabilia from the 20th century, so no two of its restaurants are identical. It’s a favorite among chefs, citing high-quality ingredients as one of the reasons why the chain deserves top mention. What makes their expansion so promising is that they’re not just copying and pasting locations – they’re bringing authentic Chicago culture to every new market they enter.
Mr. Pickle’s: California’s Dutch Crunch Phenomenon
Sometimes the best discoveries happen by accident, and Mr. Pickle’s proves that point better than most regional chains. While the perk of a free dessert is an excellent cherry on top of an already solid lunch option, locals and tourists alike are fans of the sandwich shop, with one fan sharing they stumbled upon Mr. Pickles during a California road trip and called it “easily the best takeout sandwich I’ve ever had”.
From the Mrs. Pickle (turkey, bacon, Monterey Jack, avocado, and the restaurant’s trademark sauce, The Works) to CJ’s Pastrami, their best sandwiches are served on Dutch Crunch rolls – a French roll cooked with rice flour that gives it a sweet, textured exterior for a satisfying crunch. Since Area 15 Ventures bought the chain in 2023, expansion plans have switched to turbocharged mode with agreements to open 20 new units in Arizona, 10 stores in Oregon, 30 stores in Texas, and 10 stores in Idaho, all announced in 2024 alone.
Cheba Hut: The Cannabis-Themed Chain That’s More Than a Gimmick
Before you roll your eyes at another novelty restaurant concept, hear this out: Cheba Hut might have started as a cannabis-themed sandwich shop, but they’ve built something genuinely special beyond the marketing hook. They sell sandwiches like the “Sensi Kush” (essentially a souped-up BLT) and the “Thai Stick” with grilled chicken breast and teriyaki, all served on hand-rolled, hand-scored bread sourced from a bakery that’s over 50 years old.
The franchisee group WAHI Brands Inc. will develop ten Cheba Hut locations in Virginia through a recent agreement, with the first expected to open in Richmond or Hampton Roads in 2025, and WAHI CEO Isaac Montoya wants to own up to 35 Cheba Hut shops across Virginia, New Mexico, Texas, and Montana. Another quality that makes Cheba Hut stand out is its beverage selection, with most locations having bars that serve local beers, signature cocktails, and spirits.
Capriotti’s: The Thanksgiving Sandwich That Changed Everything
For the first few years of Capriotti’s existence, you could only experience this wonder if you made the trek to Delaware, but the chain started expanding and hasn’t really slowed down since, with over 175 locations across the U.S. as of 2024. The secret weapon that put them on the map? A sandwich that tastes like Thanksgiving dinner wrapped in bread.
The sandwich chain is best known for the award-winning “The Bobbie,” Capriotti’s take on a Thanksgiving sandwich made with slow-roasted turkey topped with cranberry sauce, handmade stuffing, and mayo. The chain plans to add another 750 locations by 2032, including new restaurants in South Florida, California, and Hawaii. Capriotti’s claims that its top 25 percent of franchises average around $1.1 million in annual sales, proving that comfort food done right translates to serious business success.
Capo Italian Deli: The Small Chain Making Big Waves
With five locations spread across three states, Capo Italian Deli is a small but well distributed regional chain that seems primed for future growth, offering a mix of cold and hot subs alongside classic Italian dishes such as eggplant parmigiana. What they lack in size, they make up for in authentic Italian flavors that transport you straight to a New York neighborhood deli.
Since its founding in 2016, Capo Italian Deli has grown steadily with its fifth location opening in Virginia during March 2024, and like many other regional chains, is seeking fast expansion by offering franchising opportunities. The company is keen to open delis in partnership with franchisees in just about any part of the United States, suggesting that the Capo Italian Deli empire might be about to get a whole lot bigger. Their success comes from understanding that authentic Italian flavors don’t need to be complicated to be extraordinary.
Bruxie: Where Waffles Meet Sandwiches in Perfect Harmony
Sometimes the most brilliant ideas sound completely ridiculous until you try them, and Bruxie’s waffle sandwiches fall squarely into that category. Founded in 2010, Bruxie has since grown to 11 active restaurants with two more opening soon, with the majority of locations in California and two outposts in Georgia.
It is the waffle sandwiches that Bruxie hangs its reputation on, usually stuffed with one of two different fried chicken fillings – regular or Nashville hot – along with sauce and sometimes slaw. Upon opening their second Georgian location in spring 2024, CEO Scott Grinstead noted that Bruxie offers “a refreshing and innovative restaurant experience” with “distinctive waffle sandwiches and hand-crafted chicken tenders”. The concept works because they’ve perfected the art of making something unexpected feel completely natural.
Victory Sandwich Bar: Atlanta’s Late-Night Sandwich Solution
Victory Sandwich Bar has two locations, one in Decatur and the other in Atlanta, both open until midnight, and while it was their famous strong Whiskey Coke Slushie that garnered media attention when they opened in 2011, the sandwiches aren’t to be sniffed at either. The midnight closing time isn’t just a marketing gimmick – it’s a genuine service to anyone who’s ever craved a quality sandwich after traditional dinner hours.
Take the ever popular Tea Bird, for example, which places chicken and ghost pepper jack alongside sweet tea mayo. Their approach to late-night dining elevates what could have been just another bar food menu into something worth seeking out regardless of the time. The combination of quality ingredients with extended hours fills a gap that most cities didn’t even realize they had.
Earl of Sandwich: Disney’s Hidden Gem Goes Beyond Theme Parks
Most people first encounter Earl of Sandwich at Disney World, but dismissing it as theme park food would be a massive mistake. The chain has an assortment of unique hot sandwiches, including fan favorites like the Holiday Turkey made with turkey, cornbread stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce and mayonnaise, and a popular Cuban sandwich made with pork carnitas, ham, Swiss, pickles, and a mustard sauce.
Earl of Sandwich is a go-to chain for many, with one customer sharing that “Earl of Sandwich is my favorite place for sandwiches. Nothing else comes close, in my opinion”. The genius of Earl of Sandwich lies in their understanding that quality doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does have to be consistent. They’ve managed to create sandwiches that feel both familiar and special, which explains why people actively seek them out even outside of Disney properties.
The regional sandwich scene proves that the best flavors often come from unexpected places. These ten chains represent more than just local favorites – they’re culinary innovators who’ve perfected their craft in smaller markets before the rest of the nation catches on. Whether you’re craving authentic Italian flavors, innovative waffle sandwiches, or simply the best Thanksgiving dinner between two slices of bread, these regional gems offer experiences that the national chains simply can’t replicate. The question isn’t whether these chains will expand nationally, but rather how quickly they’ll arrive in your neighborhood.
