Whether you’re of the generation that equates a love for comically large sandwiches with Dagwood Bumstead or Homer Simpson, there’s one thing we can all agree on: Bellingham has tasty sandwich options galore.
Hot or cold; open-faced or rolled up in a wrap; in a hoagie or wedged between thick-cut slices of spongy bread. Sandwiches come in all shapes, sizes, flavors and combinations. Head to any of these Bellingham-area sandwich shops to get your fill(ings).
Old World Deli
Top notch noshing in a fantastic setting, downtown’s Old World Deli brings together an authentic European-style delicatessen with scrumptious sandwiches, fresh salads, wines, specialty food items, and much more.
But we’re here to talk about the sandwiches.
Old World Deli creates many of their meats in-house, including corned beef, roast beef, bacon, smoked duck breast, sausages, and more. Other meats are carefully chosen from high-quality producers. Pair those with hard-to-find fine cheeses and local Breadfarm bread and you simply can’t go wrong.
Old World Deli
1228 North State Street in Bellingham
360-738-2090
Hours:
Monday: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday and Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Thursday through Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The Bagelry
The Bagelry has been dishing out delicious authentic New York bagels in Bellingham for 30 years.
For a fantastic lunch option, top any of the Bagelry’s 13 different bagel varieties with a selection of Boars Head brand meats and cheeses, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. They’ll finish it off with a pickle spear and a bag of chips – or choose one of the Bagelry’s fantastic house-made deli salads.
The Bagelry
1319 Railroad Avenue in Bellingham
360-676-5288
Hours:
Monday through Friday: 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Saturday: 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday: 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Da Vinci’s Classic Subs
More than a decade ago, I wrote restaurant reviews for the Bellingham Herald. My fantastic editor pointed me toward Da Vinci’s Classic Subs – tucked in the back of a convenience store on Electric Avenue – and I’ve fondly remembered that experience ever since.
Da Vinci’s will create your own classic sub or hoagie from a long list of fresh ingredients – on white or wheat French bread, in a variety of sizes. There’s also a premium sub menu with a range of combinations. Love cheese steaks? They’ve got that covered, too.
Da Vinci’s Classic Subs
1480 Electric Avenue in Bellingham
360-671-7200
Hours:
Daily: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Avenue Bread
You’ll spot Bellingham’s popular Avenue Bread Cafes in three locations: downtown, Fairhaven, and on James Street in the Sunnyland neighborhood. And at all three, you’ll find hand-formed artisan bread and mouth-watering sandwich-topping combos galore.
The variety of sandwiches at Avenue Bread can almost overwhelm — a fantastic problem for anyone who likes a variety of sandwich types. Breakfast sandwiches, classic hot and cold versions, wraps, flats, grinders, and more – there’s something for every sandwich lover at Avenue Bread.
Avenue Bread
Downtown Café
1313 Railroad Avenue in Bellingham
360-714-3354
Downtown Café Hours:
Sunday through Thursday: 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Friday & Saturday: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Fairhaven Café
1135 11th Street in Bellingham
Hours:
Daily: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
James Street Café
2301 James Street in Bellingham
Hours:
Daily: 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 pm
Community Food Co-Op
Whether you hit the deli at the downtown Bellingham Community Food Co-op or the one out at Cordata, you’re going to undoubtedly find fresh, vibrant, often organic options for spectacular sandwiches.
Sandwich-filling selections vary slightly between the two delis, but you’ll find something delicious at both, to be sure. If you’re in a hurry, grab a pre-packaged sandwich and if you’re selective about toppings call ahead or fill out a simple form and wait for your deliciousness to arrive on a plate or ready to go.
Add a small bag of Kettle Chips and half a pickle for just a dollar. Lunch is taken care of.
Downtown Co-Op Deli
1220 North Forest Street in Bellingham
360-734-8158
Deli hours:
Daily: 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Cordata Co-Op Deli
315 Westerly Road in Bellingham
360-734-8158
Deli hours:
Daily: 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Café Rumba
Not familiar with Peruvian sandwiches? Get yourself to Café Rumba, but quick, and take in its varied cuisine, a reflection of three Peruvian geographical zones: the coast, the Andean highlands, and the jungle. Your taste buds will thank you.
Opened in 2012 by Lima natives Marco Mellet and Antonio Diaz, Café Rumba brings something completely different to Bellingham with its assortment of “sanguches” served in a Peruvian French roll. The ingredients sound familiar – chicken, turkey, ham, pot roast, bacon, cheese, roasted peppers, and on and on – but the spices and sauces give them a Peruvian oomph you need to experience.
Café Rumba
1140 North State Street in Bellingham
360-746-8280
Hours:
Monday: 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday through Friday: 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday: 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sandwich Odyssey
A modest stand-alone shop planted across the street from Bellingham High School, Sandwich Odyssey has been receiving raves from in-the-know locals for 20 years. It’s all about quality ingredients and care in preparation. Ordering a turkey sandwich? The turkey was roasted on-site that very day. Sandwich Odyssey is lauded for whopping portion sizes, as well.
Try the cold grilled eggplant sandwich or the Italian sub, among a myriad of options and ever-changing daily specials. Want something hot? The chicken stack is one of nearly a dozen delicious options, topped with grilled peppers, onions, and provolone cheese. Any sandwich can also be made into a wrap.
Sandwich Odyssey
2001 Cornwall Avenue in Bellingham
360-738-6919
Hours:
Monday through Friday: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Saturday: 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Lynden Dutch Bakery
Take a short drive north of Bellingham and experience Lynden Dutch Bakery’s quintessential Dutch hospitality – and their delicious baked goods.
Piled high and built with local Lynden products, sandwiches from Lynden Dutch Bakery never disappoint. Dutch sandwiches come in ham, roast beef, turkey pastrami, tuna salad, or salami with all the fixings, lovingly lodged between thick-cut slices of freshly baked bread.
Lynden Dutch Bakery’s submarine sandwiches are served on a wheat or white roll and offer the same variety of meats – plus pepperoni – and top it all with lettuce, tomato, onion, mustard, mayo, and a tangy dressing. You can also choose a monster sub, great for a crowd.
Lynden Dutch Bakery
421 Front Street in Lynden
360-354-3911
Hours:
Tuesday through Thursday: 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Leaf & Ladle
You’ll always find at least one vegan panini option at Leaf & Ladle on the south end of downtown — but there’s a plethora of other yummy sandwiches to select from, whether you’re vegetarian or full-on carnivore.
Creating inventive, fresh, flavorful sandwiches (and so much more: wraps, salads, soups, and now hand pies from Alice’s Pies), Leaf & Ladle opened in 2013. Its menu changes every week, so check out their Facebook page to see what’s currently being served.
Leaf & Ladle
1113 North State Street in Bellingham
360-319-9718
Hours:
Daily: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Greene’s Corner
There’s a lot more to love about Greene’s Corner than just its magnificent sandwiches, but that’s a tremendous starting point. Perched on James Street, near Kulshan Brewing Company, Greene’s Corner makes hot and cold sandwiches to order while showcasing a truly impressive array of microbrews.
Using local breads and bagels, Greene’s Corner sandwiches can be made-to-order or choose from a delectable variety, from pesto turkey or reuben to pulled pork or classic club, and more. The menu also includes a roast tempeh topped with organic salad mix and a variety of veggies.
Greene’s Corner
2208 James Street in Bellingham
360-306-8137
Hours:
Monday through Saturday: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Sunday: 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Clearly, there are too many wonderful Whatcom County sandwich options to outline in just one article. Here are a few more to consider the next time a sandwich craving comes calling:
- Colophon Café
- Nelson’s Market & Marlins’ Café
- Brandywine Kitchen
- Boundary Bay
- Harris Avenue Café
- Jekyll & Hyde