2 MD Sandwich Shops Among 100 Best In America, New Ranking Says

If you didn’t already know, August is National Sandwich Month. If you want to observe it by chowing down on some of the best handhelds in America, two sandwich shops in Maryland get strong customer reviews.

The places in Maryland that made Yelp’s review-based list of the Top 100 Sandwich Shops and their ranking nationally are:

• No. 35 Ekiben (Baltimore - 1622 Eastern Ave.)
• No. 44 Full On Craft Eats & Drinks (Annapolis - 2478-A Solomons Island Road)

In its inaugural Top 100 Sandwich Shops list, Yelp said affordable sandwiches are having a moment and are increasingly going gourmet. Yelp reviewers “love all the new house-made aiolis, chutneys, pâtés, and sauces these chefs are adding to their creations,” the site said. “Diners also give high praise to unique, delicious toppings like pickled vegetables and olive tapenade, as well as the artisanal breads like fresh ciabatta, garlic bread, or pretzel buns.”

Ekiben

Ekiben has three locations in Charm City: Fells Point, Hampden and South Baltimore. Yelp honored the Fells Point location.

"Ekiben was born in 2014, when college friends Ephrem Abebe, Steve Chu, and Nikhil Yesupriya (who left the restaurant industry for a saner career in 2019) decided to start selling their unique spin on Asian + Ethiopian cuisine out of a hotdog cart at the Fells Point Farmers Market," the eatery's website said.

Chu was a semifinalist for the 2023 Best Mid-Atlantic Chef award from the James Beard Foundation. Ekiben was also named to Yelp's list of the nation's 100 best restaurants in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

The menu features bowls and buns of Taiwanese curry fried chicken, braised pork and spicy tofu.

Ekiben is also hosting a night market in Baltimore on Aug. 23 with food vendors, musicians and artists.

Full On Craft Eats & Drinks

Full On has locations in Annapolis and Rockville, but the eatery in the state capital takes the cake on this list.

Full On is committed to delivering 100% craft sandwiches and drinks.

"By definition, the term 'Full On' means 'to hold nothing back' and we are serious when it comes to making craft sandwiches. We are also passionate about craft beer and wine," the restaurant said on its website. "We feel that nothing in life is worth doing halfway. High quality food and drinks in a comfortable and relaxing environment is what we do."

Fresh ingredients are a priority for Full On.

"Everything that goes into our food is made in our own kitchen," the eatery said. "You won’t find preservatives, stabilizers or chemicals here. We braise, season, marinate, rub and roast our own meats. Each of our sandwiches are hand-sliced or carved to order and served hot. All sauces, dressings, sides and desserts are created here also. We believe that scratch cooking using high quality ingredients is what will set us apart, and we hope you will enjoy."

The sandwich menu features everything from roast beef and crab cakes to portobello caprese and ratatouille. Soup options include French onion and tomato basil bisque. There's also an extensive list of beers and wines.

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