6 Local Sub Shops That Hit The Spot
Powered by Canon & Draw Brewing Company
When the craving hits for a great sub, you can’t just go anywhere. You need a solid sub shop that’s going to serve hearty sandwiches using high-quality ingredients and crafted with perfect portions. This is your go-to list.
— by Sam Kanipe, Founder and CEO
Chiocca’s
This basement sandwich shop and bar has been a part of Richmond since 1952! They serve hot and cold sandwiches for around $11 with their only appliance being a tiny toaster. It’s no-frills but definitely a must experience! We recommend the Italian with salami, ham, provolone, sweet peppers, lettuce, tomato, and onion with Italian dressing, and the Lucca made with salami, prosciutto, provolone, sweet peppers, and Italian dressing.
Location: 425 N Belmont Ave (The Fan)
Hours: Found here
Coppola’s Deli
For over 30 years, this corner deli has been serving up hearty hot and cold subs. It’s also an Italian deli, so you can simultaneously pick up deli meats, sides, cannolis, cheese, beer, and wine. We recommend the Industrial — their classic Italian with mortadella, genoa salami, capocollo ham, provolone cheese, hot and sweet peppers, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, and oil and vinegar — or their vegetarian Cheese Columbo with Swiss, provolone, and NY cheddar, laid over onions and hot and sweet peppers, and thrown on the grill. After the cheese browns and forms a crust, it’s placed on a baked roll with lettuce, tomatoes, oil, and vinegar with the option to add eggplant or artichoke hearts. YUM!
Location: 2900 W Cary St (Carytown)
Hours: Found here
Pop’s Market on Grace
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Pop’s Market on Grace. While not technically a sub shop, they make some of the best sandwiches around, and they are HUGE. Pop’s has a solid Italian with soppressata, pepperoni, turkey, prosciutto, provolone and parmesan cheeses with lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo, pepperoncinis, and vinegar on a baguette. Their Cuban and Reuben are also fantastic.
Location: 415 E Grace St (Downtown)
Hours: Found here
Bernie’s Sub & Pizza Shop
Another longtime favorite, for over 40 years Bernie’s has been serving up subs (and pizza) in the Tuckahoe Shopping Center. Their menu is pretty standard with a handful of subs including an Italian, ham and cheese, turkey, and roast beef and cheese, along with just a few others. Swing by for a sub, chips, and a fountain drink — they use ice pellets, which are the best, IMO. Bernie’s is cash only, so be prepared.
Location: 415 Ridge Rd (West End)
Hours: Found here
Sandano’s
This one is a hike if you live in the city, but trust us, we wouldn’t put it on the list if it wasn’t worth it. Arguably the best spot to grab a Philly cheesesteak in all of Richmond, Sandano’s also serves a variety of Italian subs and regular subs, and they are all excellent. To top it off, they serve beach fries — fresh-cut fries perfectly seasoned with salt and pepper. They are crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle. Seriously, it’s worth the trip (and the traffic).
Location: 11389-B Nuckols Rd (Glen Allen)
Hours: Found here
Fat Kid Sandwiches
While they might be the new kids on the block, they’ve already earned plenty of street cred. Fat Kid Sandwiches serves overindulgent subs including a chicken parm with mozzarella sticks, a triple-decker club, and a spicy BBQ Bahn Mi made with pork or tofu. You can find them operating out of Hatch Cafe and Hatch Food Local.
Location: 2601 Maury St (Manchester)
Hours: Found here
Got more cravings?
Check out these other mouthwatering food guides.
