Craving a handheld? Here are 6 must-try sandwich shops in the Daytona Beach area

A universal staple for breakfast, lunch or dinner, when it comes to go-to dishes, a good sandwich always does the trick. Whether smoky, savory, meat-filled or meatless, the versatile bite will simply never go out of style.

While venturing across Volusia County, from New Smyrna Beach to Ormond Beach and everywhere in between, I’ve come across a plethora of sandwich shops serving layered-to-perfection handhelds that are worth stopping in for. Whether opting for a classic BLT or meat and cheese-stacked selection, here are six great sandwich shops in the Daytona Beach area to satisfy all your sandwich cravings.

Restaurant inspections: Rodent activity found in Daytona Beach restaurant

Paco Submarine

515 N. Dixie Freeway, New Smyrna Beach; pacosubmarine.com

This newly opened New Smyrna Beach gem served me undoubtedly some of the best sandwiches I’ve had to date. Owned by Chef Brian Cieslak and his wife, Sommer Walker, the accomplished pair prides themselves on their fine-dining quality menu, but laid back, family-friendly atmosphere.

Located on the beach town’s North Dixie Freeway, Paco Submarine, much like a good handheld, is a simple concept at first glance, but thoughtfully layered — interwoven with complex, years-perfected recipes, locally sourced ingredients and elevated culinary techniques.

With a menu ranging from the Smoked Lamb Wrap, made from curried brined and smoked lamb shoulder, cucumber yogurt and cilantro-mint salad, and The Belafonte, a savory, juicy combination of house smoked bacon, avocado, tomato, “shreddy letty” and homemade herbed mayo, to The Clayton, a personal favorite and rich, tangy layering of buttered rye, griddled pastrami, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and creamy mustard, the pair was certainly right about one thing: you may have some trouble deciding on just one.

The eatery also offers a side of fries with each freshly-made order — regular or Ocean City style with Old Bay seasoning — and you’ll want to take them up on the offer, trust me.

Paco Submarine grinds, cures and smokes its own meats, from the pastrami, bacon and lamb to the smoked chicken wings and accompanying smoked pineapple barbecue, not to mention the eatery also sources as much as possible locally, with plans to increase these efforts overtime. Whether stopping in on your way to the beach or celebrating something special with family and friends, Paco Submarine is a new must-try New Smyrna Beach addition that’s here to stay.

Salty Pint

2136 S. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach Shores; 386-238-9736, Saltypint.com

Just when I thought I couldn’t possibly become any more eager to get my hands on some of the area's most mouth-watering handhelds, the Salty Pint came along. Serving up “the ultimate pub experience,” this Daytona Beach Shores eatery has been known since 2021 for not only its craft beer and wine selections, but for its tempting menu of specialty sandwiches.

The quaint restaurant embodies everything I love about a good beach town eatery, from its laid-back, casual atmosphere, to its beachy décor and friendly service for a quick bite. The local eatery offers an extensive menu of layered, savory selections from The Stoner — turkey, ham, smoked gouda, pickles, mayo and crushed Doritos on a sub roll — to The Lighthouse — salami, pepperoni, ham, mozzarella, sun-dried tomato pesto, lettuce, tomato, onion and Italian on toasted honey wheat — and many more. Although you'll want to make your way through the entire menu, here are a couple promising bites to start out with.

Ordering The Legend first, this layered masterpiece featured a combination of roast beef, turkey, bacon, smoked gouda and a smothering of Cajun sauce on three slices of pumpernickel. The tasty bite is a flavorful, savory concoction of tender, smoky meats and crispy bacon slices that pair perfectly with the spiced, Cajun kick and mild, creamy gouda smothering.

Next up was the A-Frame, a sweeter selection of oven roasted turkey, double cream French brie, stoneground mustard and homemade apple chutney on a toasted croissant. Essentially a charcutier board in a handheld, the savory and sweet combo of meat, cheese and jam will do it for me every time. The velvety brie’s rich, slightly tangy taste was a match made in heaven with the chutney’s natural sweetness.

Though the two options couldn’t have been any more different, at $12.75 each, they both served their purpose in their own delicious way, making the Salty Pint a new quick-stop staple for a consistently great sandwich.

Rosie’s Italian Bakery and Café

232 Bay St., Daytona Beach; 386-236-8995, Facebook.com/rosiesitalianbakerycafe

Possibly the most highly recommended Daytona Beach eatery on my list, Rosie’s Italian Bakery and Café delivered the full sandwich shop experience from quality and taste to service and everything in between.

The New York-style Italian bakery and deli is decked out in charming décor, from the Italian flags and floral wall hangings to its vintage-style artwork, and full market, serving imported Italian deli meats, cheeses, fresh pasta and more. Whether grabbing a delicious hot or cold deli handheld — like the Chicken Salad Sandwich, Eggplant Parmigiano Baked Sub or Brooklyn Beef Sub — opting for a hand-tossed salad or creating your own custom sub, Rosie’s menu has something for everyone — but be sure to come hungry.

The eatery slow roasts its own corned beef, roast beef and roast pork, its meatballs are all handmade, and the bread is fresh-baked. Each of the eatery’s sandwiches and subs come in an 8-inch option or 15-inch option, if you’re feeling brave, and, naturally, I was up for the challenge. I decided on The Rosie Signature Ultimate Italian Sub, a savory layering of prosciutto, soppressata — a dry pork salami— Genoa salami, mortadella, capocollo — a traditional Italian pork cold cut — ham, fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers, lettuce, tomato, banana peppers, black olives, onions and a vinaigrette drizzling.

Seemingly larger than 15 inches, the mouth-watering option was delivered to me perfectly cut into fours, and, boy, it did not disappoint. The sandwich was made with a golden-brown, toasted Italian loaf, providing a subtle, satisfying crunch, followed by the soft, mild cheese, savory meats and tangy, yet sweet olive and pepper toppings. The decadent sandwich dish danced with flavor and filled me up for the rest of the afternoon.

Harts Deli

2039 Anastasia Drive, South Daytona; 386-241-7728, hartsdeli.com

Yet another one of the most prominent names flooding my recommendations, Harts Deli seemed to be the spot for all things meats, cheeses and delicious handhelds. Known for its slice-to-order Boar's Head meat and cheese, the husband-and-wife-run South Daytona sandwich spot is nestled right next to Mary Jane’s Ice Cream Parlor and has remained a consistently satisfying local favorite since its opening just over three years ago.

Decked out in warm, earthy décor and vibrant hues of orange and blue, the local gem is home to over 30 sandwich, wrap and hoagie selections, ranging from the Thunder Bird — smoked turkey or pork, bacon, cheddar, red onion, pickles, and BBQ pressed on white bread with garlic and butter — and the Aloha — BourbanRidge ham, pineapple, bacon, Swiss cheese, teriyaki and dijonnaise on toasted wheat — to the Layla — FireSmith chicken, homemade bacon jam, honey mustard, pineapple, jalapenos and pepper jack cheese on wheat. With this many options at my fingertips, it would be a crime to settle on just one savory selection, so, of course, I picked out two of the afternoon’s best sellers.

Starting with the Rock’in Rachel, the layered, pressed Rye delight was piled high with pastrami, coleslaw, Swiss cheese and Russian dressing — a slightly spicy dressing mixture that includes mayonnaise, ketchup and horseradish. It was everything one looks for in a good sandwich — stacked and juicy, packed with flavor and a wonderful mess with every bite. A perfect medley of savory, smoky and spiced notes, the mouth-watering handheld was priced at a reasonable $11.50.

A hard act to follow, I then landed on the deli’s Disco Dave, a pressed hoagie selection layered with pork, ham, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, jalapenos and creamy horsey sauce. The crave-able, zesty serving was a hit, to say the least, with a subtle kick and slightly tangy notes penetrating every bite. The jalapeno’s fiery flavor paired with the creamy pepper jack, horsey sauce drizzling and tender, salted meats is sure to leave you satisfied. As messy and delicious as its counterpart, it's safe to say not only were the handhelds a hit, but Hart’s Deli is one of my new lunch-spot, sandwich staples.

Manzano’s

120A N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand; 386-624-6990, Facebook.com

With the local community boasting “the best subs in DeLand,” Manzano’s Gourmet Deli was a must-try sandwich shop that didn’t disappoint.

The Italian deli serves a plethora of made-to-order, hot or cold sandwiches and paninis with Boar's Head meats and delicious New York-style bread. The always-packed eatery also offers a range of homemade pasta and potato salad dishes for a savory side — that is if you can find room.

Known for its notoriously massive handhelds, the local shop offers half 7-inch – 8-inch sandwiches or whole 15-inch – 17-inch sandwiches, as bread sizes vary. The menu offers a vast array of stuffed-to-the-brim selections from the Coney Island — corned beef, pastrami, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and homemade Thousand Island dressing, to the Up In Smoke — smoked turkey, smoked gouda, lettuce, tomato and Cajun mayo.

With a line quite literally out the door, the deli’s larger-than-life sandwiches seemed more than promising, and, boy, did they deliver. Starting off with The Goodfella, the fresh selection was layered with ham, prosciutto, salami, provolone, shredded lettuce and parmesan peppercorn dressing, a great choice for those craving a tangy, slightly sweetened sandwich.

I followed up with the Italian Stallion, what seemed to be a cult-favorite and popular choice among others in line, layered with pepperoni, ham, salami, lettuce, tomato, prosciutto, provolone, black olives, onion, mayonnaise, oil and vinegar. The meat-heavy selection was exceptionally fresh with a depth of savory flavors working their way through every juicy bite. Whether stopping in on your lunch break or grabbing a bite to go, Manzano’s is sure to deliver on size, quality and flavor.

Fat Paulie’s Wicked Awesome Eatery

366 W. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach; 386-256-7810, Facebook.com/fatpaulieswickedawesomeeatery

If you’re looking for a wicked awesome bite, this Ormond Beach sandwich shop has got you covered. This casual, family-owned lunch spot serves a wide array of cheesy, fried and slow-cooked sandwich staples.

Each grilled, pressed and toasted handheld is freshly made from scratch and served with chips or fries and a side of homemade pickles. The eatery rotates a new list of daily specials throughout the week, with previous offerings including the grass-fed, organic beef smash burger and honey mustard and bacon fried chicken wrap.

The shop’s wicked good sandwich menu includes roast beef, meatball, chicken and steak selections, including the French Dip — house-roasted beef with horseradish mayo and Swiss cheese on a pressed ciabatta sub with an au jus dipping side (a thin, gravy-like sauce from cooked meat drippings), as well as the steak and cheese sandwich — shaved steak grilled with mushrooms, red peppers, caramelized onions and melted cheddar on a ciabatta sub, and the Gouda Chicken — a fried chicken cutlet sandwich with garlic mayonnaise, thick and crispy bacon, roasted peppers and smoked, creamy gouda on pressed ciabatta.

Another tempting selection and personal favorite is The James. This pressed, layered handheld features a hefty portion of thick, grilled chicken smothered in a zesty garlic mayonnaise, and topped with roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts and melted provolone on ciabatta. Served hot off the press, the freshly made cheesy delight was juicy and rich, with a pronounced garlic kick that paired perfectly with the well-seasoned chicken serving.

Priced at $11.50 for a generously-sized handheld, this Granada Boulevard sandwich shop will have you already planning your next visit with every indulgent bite.

Helena Perray is the restaurant and dining writer for The Daytona Beach News-Journal. A New Jersey native and passionate storyteller, she can be contacted at hperray@gannett.com. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook. Support local journalism by subscribing

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Best sandwiches in Daytona Beach, NSB, Ormond Beach, DeLand and more