MD's Most Iconic Sandwich Shop: Where Family 'Meats' Flavor

BALTIMORE, MD — For some, a supreme sandwich shop may be where flavor, authenticity and creativity meat in the middle.

In Maryland, food-focused digital outlet Tasting Table deemed Chaps Pit Beef the most iconic sandwich shop in the state.

"The pit beef is an iconic Baltimore sandwich made with thinly sliced, medium-rare beef roasted over a fire, served on a Kaiser roll with onions, lettuce, tomatoes and horseradish," Tasting Table reported.

Chaps has been in business since 1987, according to the company's online biography. Gus Glava invested in Chaps for his new son-in-law, Bob Creager, and opened the then-pit beef stand in his nightclub's parking lot, the biography stated.

Glava's daughter manages the three-restaurant Maryland eatery, which originally opened as a 12-feet-wide, 15-feet-long shack that later expanded into five buildings, the biography stated.

Chaps stated its core values are honesty, hustle, teamwork, loyalty, passion and pride.

With a knack for names, Chaps serves the Reuben, the Louie, the Rachel, the turkey Rachel, the beef Rachel, the turkey Reuben, the Christine specialty sandwich, the Danny Dog, the Larry burger, Guy's Triple D, the Gus, the Markie, the Jennie special and the Big John.

Platters range from chicken wings to chicken tenders to fish and hamburgers.

Pork ribs, homemade cole slaw, sauerkraut, homemade macaroni and cheese, cheese fries, gravy fries, caeser salads and various desserts are also on the menu.

You ca find Chaps locations at: 720 Mapleton Ave., Baltimore; 1013 Beards Hill Road, Aberdeen; and 6714 G. Richie Hwy., Glen Burnie.

For other mid-Atlantic states, Tasting Table named the following as the most iconic sandwich shop in their state:

• Wilson's General Store, Delaware
• Famous 4th Street Delicatessen, Pennsylvania
• New York Deli, Virginia
• Cam's Ham, West Virginia
• White House Sub Shop, New Jersey

See the full list at Tasting Table.