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National Sandwich Day: A Journey Through Time and Taste

By Stephanie Kirby

Writer, Entrepreneur and Inspirational quote curator

Published November 2, 2023 | 6 min read

While your sights are likely turned to the holidays, there is one National Holiday you don’t want to overlook—National Sandwich Day on November 3!

Use it as an excuse not to cook, and save money by finding free sandwich deals!

America loves the sandwich and chain restaurants.

National Sandwich Day takes place on November 3

National Sandwich Day celebrates the flavorful, mouthwatering, scrumptious—yet simple—meal.

Whether you’re a fan of classic sandwiches like PB&Js or bologna and cheese, or you have a more sophisticated palate, I bet there is a favorite sandwich that comes to mind!

Who invented the Sandwich?

I’d love to tell you I’ve done extensive research and traced the origination of the sandwich back to one creative and hungry individual, but I wasn’t able to.

Honestly, people have been eating bread for as long as we know.

The chance that someone put food between two slices of bread and ate it without any documentation is basically guaranteed.

But there are a few notable pieces of the history of sandwiches:

Hillel the Elder made sandwiches from matzoh bread, lamb, and bitter herbs for the Jewish Passover Seder in the first century B.C.
The word “sandwich” is first traced back to a 1762 diary entry. Englishman Edward Gibbon recorded seeing someone eat “a bit of cold meat or a Sandwich.”
Rumor has it that John Montagu, the fourth Earl of Sandwich, enjoyed eating meat between two pieces of bread. This allowed him to keep one hand free while he gambled.
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches date back to 1901.
The po’boy became popular in Louisiana during the Great Depression.
Sandwich chains grew in popularity late in the 20th century.

What is the description of a sandwich?

Ever debated someone over what constitutes a “sandwich?”

Is a taco or burrito a sandwich?

Back in 2006, a Massachusetts court ruled that a burrito is not a sandwich.

The ruling stated that a sandwich is made of two pieces of bread.

But what about a club sandwich that has three or more slices?

Or what about an open-faced sandwich smothered in gravy?

It’s not such an easy answer in the end!

What’s the best sandwich?

This is another hotly debated question!

There are so many different types, and everyone has their own preferences.

My husband and father-in-law got into a debate over where to find the best chicken sandwich.

Of course, it didn’t stop there because there is also the debate over spicy chicken sandwiches or regular ones.

They compared everything from Wendy’s spicy and Chick-fil-A’s classic to Popeyes and Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken.

But they both agreed it needed to be a chicken sandwich combo!

What is America’s favorite sandwich?

USA Today created the following list:

Grilled Cheese
Grilled Chicken
Turkey
Roast Beef
Ham
BLT
Club
Bacon
Peanut Butter and Jelly
Pulled Pork
Tuna
Egg Salad
Meatball
Reuben
Cuban

National Sandwich Day Deals in America for Hungry Customers

You didn’t think I would talk about this holiday for this long without letting you in on some good deals, did you?

Who doesn’t love getting a great deal on their favorite sandwich or meal as a fun Friday lunch or dinner?

Here are some of the best deals I found for customers to take advantage of on November 3, 2023, for National Sandwich Day.

Best Sandwich Day Deals for 2023

Disclaimer: Verify all of these deals with your locations to make sure they apply. I don’t want to be held responsible if you show up hungry and they don’t have the free sandwich or deal you’re after!

McAlister’s Deli

McAlister’s Rewards members are getting a coupon for BOGO free sandwiches.

This is perfect for taking a coworker to lunch and looking like the hero when you offer to pay.

McAlister’s Deli has plenty of popular lunch items on the menu, including a Reuben, Italian, French Dip, Grilled Chicken Club, and so much more!

Jersey Mike’s

If you like to eat at Jersey Mike’s, you can take advantage of free delivery when using the chain’s app.

What better way to celebrate National Sandwich Day than having a sandwich come right to you?

Subway

Subway is taking a different approach this year.

Get your favorite footlong subs with your choice of meats and vegetables!

Their Subway MVP Program will match your loyalty points from other qualifying programs (earn a free sandwich faster).

Remember, they also have breakfast sandwiches, but it is a folded piece of flatbread… does that count?

Jimmy John’s

You can save yourself $1 when placing a mobile order on National Sandwich Day.

It may not be a free sandwich, but every little bit helps, right?

Mr. Pickle’s Sandwich Shop

If you’re in the Mr. Pickle’s Sandwich Shop rewards program, you can earn quadruple reward points on National Sandwich Day.

Hello, free meal!

Panera Bread

If you’re a fan of Panera Bread, check their website or app to see if they announce any scrumptious deals or freebies.

Firehouse Subs

If you are near a Firehouse Subs location, there is a really neat opportunity to put others first while celebrating National Sandwich Day.

Firehouse Subs brought back their King’s Hawaiian Pork & Slaw Sandwich for a limited time, and the chain is donating a portion of all sales of the sandwich to a Hawaii disaster relief fund to help people impacted by the wildfires.