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What to eat in California? Top 4 Californian Sandwiches

Last update: Fri Mar 21 2025
Top 4 Californian Sandwiches
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Sandwich

CALIFORNIA, United States of America
4.1
French Dip Sandwich
French Dip Sandwich infographic
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French dip is a Californian sandwich that, despite its name, doesn't have much to do with France, except for the fact that it is served au jus, a French expression meaning with juice/broth. The sandwich consists of thinly sliced roast beef (alternatively, roast pork, leg of lamb, turkey, or ham), black pepper, mustard, and horseradish on a long white French roll (or a baguette) that has been dipped into pan juices or gravy.


Sometimes, Swiss, American, Monterey Jack, or blue cheese is added to further enhance its flavors. The usual accompaniments include coleslaw, potato, and macaroni salad, hard-boiled eggs, sweet or sour pickles, black olives, and yellow chile peppers. 

MOST ICONIC French Dip Sandwich

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02

Sandwich

LOS ANGELES, United States of America and  one more country
4.0
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Avocado toast is a dish consisting of a piece of toasted bread topped with a combination of mashed avocados, salt, pepper, and (sometimes) citrus juice. There are many varieties of this dish, so it can be enriched with ingredients such as salmon, tomatoes, onions, eggs, garlic, cheese, olive oil, or red pepper flakes.


Although the dish is quite simple and straightforward, the location of its origin is not – some claim that it is an Australian invention, while others proclaim that Los Angeles is the place where it was born. Regardless of its origin, avocado toast started its modern-day revival on Instagram, and it has been trending across the globe ever since.

MOST ICONIC Avocado Toast

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03

Sandwich

CALIFORNIA, United States of America
4.0
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Monte Cristo is an American sandwich consisting of two sliced of white bread filled with a slice of cheese, and ham, turkey, or chicken meat. The combination is dipped in beaten eggs and fried in butter, resulting in a delicious, calorie-packed concoction that is crispy on the exterior while tender and custardy on the interior.


It is believed that the first Monte Cristo was served in the 1950s in southern California, but some people claim that the sandwich is just a variation on the classic French Croque Monsieur.

MOST ICONIC Monte Cristo Sandwich

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04

Sandwich

CALIFORNIA, United States of America
3.8
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Patty melt is an American sandwich consisting of Swiss cheese and an onion-topped hamburger patty between slices of grilled rye bread. The flavorful sandwich was invented in California in the late 1940s by Tiny Naylor, the owner of Biff's and Tiny Naylor restaurants.


It is believed that the dish served as an inspiration for the famous tuna melt, using tuna as a substitute for the hamburger patty. Most often, patty melt is served with French fries, lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, and a Thousand Island dressing on the side. 

TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.

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Californian Sandwiches