To paraphrase John 15:13, “No greater love a man has than this, that a man give up his life for a….sandwich.”
In an uproariously funny episode of the television show Friends, Joey, Chandler and Ross go on a ride-along with Phoebe’s policeman boyfriend. Believing a back-firing muffler was actually a gunshot, Joey (sitting in between his two friends) dives, seemingly to protect Ross from harm. Naturally Chandler was upset that Joey would choose to protect Ross instead of him…until he learns that Joey was actually trying to protect his sandwich. In the finest tradition of Dagwood Bumstead, Joey Tribbiani loved sandwiches; they were his favorite food. I don’t know how many Americans would “take a bullet” for their sandwich, but America is most definitely a nation of sandwich lovers.
According to the National Institutes of Health, “on any given day, 47% of adults ate a sandwich. A larger percentage of men (52%) than women (43%) ate sandwiches. Most sandwiches eaten by adults contained meat, poultry, or fish (79%). The most commonly consumed types of sandwich were cold cut sandwiches (27%), burgers (17%), and poultry sandwiches (12%). Among adults, nearly one-half of all sandwiches were eaten at lunch (48%), followed by dinner (31%), breakfast (13%), and snacks (8%). The source of sandwiches varied considerably by type of sandwich. Fast food restaurants provided about one-half of the burgers (59%) and poultry sandwiches (46%) consumed by adults, whereas over three-fourths (76%) of cold cut sandwiches or their ingredients were obtained from a store.”
One of the most wonderful aspects of sandwiches is the tremendous variety they offer. Several sources, including a 2018 posting by Delish have compiled lists of the “most iconic sandwiches in every state.” Delish based its compilation of “signature sandwiches in all 50 states based on longstanding tradition, locally beloved ingredients and sandwich shops that have practically reached celebrity status.” As with so many similar compendiums, the default “sandwich” for New Mexico is our sacrosanct green chile cheeseburger. Surely the Land of Enchantment has a sandwich unique to our state that we can truly call our own. Many of us will argue that a burger is a burger; it is not a sandwich. A hot dog isn’t a sandwich either. Neither is a taco. When we want a burger, sandwich or taco, we don’t head to a sandwich shop. We head for eateries like Los Toasties, a “neighborhood deli serving up seriously delicious sandwiches made with love and a dash of fun.”
Los Toasties made its Duke City debut in March, 2025. It’s located on Girard just north of Candelaria on the spot which previously housed The Cornivore Popcorn Company. If you’re not familiar with the area, you might drive past it once or twice before finding the Lilliputian spot with a bright yellow awning. It’s recessed from Girard and is easy to miss. A sprawling lot belies the smallish nature of the sandwich shop. Step inside and you won’t find any vestiges of the popcorn shop. Practically the second you walk in, you’ll be greeted enthusiastially, not with the usual wait schtick where you’re asked what you want before you have a chance to peruse the menu. Beffiting the restaurant’s size, it’s a small but mighty menu offering sandwiches sure to make your mouth water.
The enthusiastic welcome at Los Toasties extends to owner David, a heavily tatted dude happy to share information about his sandwich shop. We were ecstatic to learn that unlike so many independent sandwich shops in New Mexico, featured fare isn’t all a compendium of Boar’s Head products. As David was simultaneously creating sandwiches for to-go orders, his friend Michael was prepping a number of slabs of corned beef for their magical transformation to pastami. Michael slathered the sumptuous slabs with mustard then coated them with a mixture of black pepper and ground coriander before ferrying trays of the corned beef to the small smokers on the side of the building.
It was a given that my inaugural sandwich at Los Toasties would be the #1, a classic pastrami on rye, with Swiss cheese, hot mustard and pickles. Since discovering pastrami in a Boston suburb, my preference has been for fatty pastrami sliced in thin shards. David laughed that “New Mexico isn’t ready for that,” but expressed confidence that I’d love his sandwich shop’s classic pastrami sandwich. It’s very lean and cut a bit thicker than I like, but I’d never kick a pastrami off my table. Especially not the Los Toasties version. A smoky flavor permeates the pastrami and the hot mustard provides a balancing tang. The black pepper and coriander imbued the pastrami with a slightly hot with a subtle hint of sweetness while the pickles added delightfully sour notes. It’s a wonderful pastrami sandwich, one I hope to enjoy many times.
Another of the meats smoked on the premises is turkey. It’s showcased on the smoked turkey sandwich (smoked turkey on a jalapeño bread with green chile, avocado, Cheddar cheese, lettuce and tomato). In the true spirit of “have it your way” Los Toasties allows substitutions. My Kim, for example, wanted neither the jalapeño bread or the green chile. She also eschewed the lettuce and tomato and asked for the potato bread. So, essentially she what she had was a smoked turkey sandwich with avocado and cheese. Sounds simple enough, but there was so much flavor in the combination of ingredients that she finished the entire sandwich (a rarity for avian apetite). The smoked turkey was rich, smoky and slightly sweet. It left a lasting impression on our taste buds. That little smoker out back really does a great job.
Los Toasties daily menu of sandwiches lists six sandwiches, but options (substitutions, subtractions, additions) for constructing these sandwiches are virtually unlimited. An “Everything Else” menu includes such simple sandwich fare as a grilled cheese, ham and cheese and empanadas (crescent-shaped savory pastries filled with a variety of options and fried). Four salads–fruit salad, potato salad, pasta salad, bean salad–also grace the menu as do a number of snack items. Dessert is currently limited to Cotton Blues Original, Sea Salt Caramel, Strawberry or Blueberry cheesecake. Made in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, the cheesecake reminded us how good pies and cakes in the Deep South were. Drinks menu include Yoo-Hoo, my favorite chocolate drink. In David I found a kindred spirit. His listing of the preferred Yoo-Hoo delivery methods–box, bottle then can–matched my own. Not everyone is a Yoo-Hoophile and wouldn’t understand this.
Los Toasties is the type of sandwich shop Joey Tribbiani would probably push aside a few friends to get to. Come to think of it, I might do the same thing.
Los Toasties
3225 Girard, N.E.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
(505) 503-7682
Website | Facebook Page | Instagram
LATEST VISIT: 30 April 2025
# OF VISITS: 1
RATING: N/R
COST: $$
BEST BET: #1 Classic Pastrami Sandwich, #2 Smoked Turkey Sandwich, Potato Salad, Yoo Hoo Chocolate Drink
REVIEW #1465
Prior to the popcorn endeavor this location was a cool little diner called Panza Llena. I’m a big time sandwich lover and will definitely take a tour of the menu. I like this little spot. It’s just a couple of doors down from La Cumbre Brewing Co. I think I’ll snatch a pastrami, Swiss and rye and have a pint next week. Thanks for the heads up, Gil.
I love the listing of sandwich shops, that are now on my radar to visit. Who doesn’t love a great sandwich.