H-Town Table of Elements

The upper crust of Houston’s sandwich scene reflects the city’s vast multiculturalism. Click on a sandwich to learn more and find where to try it.

By Megha McSwain

Illustrations by Adam Mazur

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Country of Origin:

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A product of French colonialism in the late 1950s, the banh mi is built on a baguette foundation stacked with creamy pâté, pickled veggies, fresh herbs, and meats like grilled pork or Vietnamese sausage.

Where to find it:

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An illustration of a sandwich with a pork, vegetables, peppers, and lettuce

Bahn Mi

Pillowy, white, dumpling-like foods filled with toppings inside of a bamboo steam basket

Bao

Small sandwiches on a silver platter with a side of sauce

Bun Kebab

A large, roll-like sandwich with a piece of meat and fresh slaw

Cemita

Chopped Cheese

Meat and vegetables piled high in a pita-like bread

Doner Kebab

A collection of small sandwiches with green filling on a silver platter

English Cucumber

An illustration of a sandwich with a sausage and fries

Merguez

An illustration of meat and white sauce on a bun served with a small cup of salsa

Pambazo

An illustration of bread with meat and vegetables and fries

Pan Con Bistec

An illustration of a silver tray with red sauce and small sandwiches

Pav Bhaji

An illustration of a sandwich filled with fried shrimp and white sauce

Po’Boy

An illustration of a sandwich on marbled bread with slices of meat and sauerkraut

Reuben

An illustration of a pita-like wrap filled with meat and vegetables and red onion

Shawarma

An illustration of white bread sandwiches with yellow egg salad inside, where a slide of boiled egg is visible

Tamago Sando

From the March 2025 issue

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H-Town Table of Elements

The upper crust of Houston’s sandwich scene reflects the city’s vast multiculturalism. Click on a sandwich to learn more and find where to try it.

{Sandwich}

Country of Origin:

Where to find it:

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