The Pool Sandwich Guide

You’re probably spending a lot of time by the water this summer, whether at your friend’s pool or one of the natural springs just outside of Austin. There are two things you should never forget to pack: sunscreen and a snack. We can’t help you with the first one, but we can tell you where to eat. A good pool sandwich should be cold, portable, and ideally made with ingredients that can hang out in a tote bag for an hour or two without getting soggy. So we compiled a guide to help you prepare for your next pool day. Just remember to bring napkins.

THE SPOTS

Choo Sando

All of the sandwiches at Choo Sando are sold pre-packaged, chilled, and ready to eat. They’ll also survive a few days in the fridge, meaning you can easily pick them up the night before or on your way out in the morning. We like the classic pork katsu with cabbage slaw, but you should also grab a few fruit sandwiches with housemade whipped cream. Hand them out and prepare to make some new friends.

Austin Rotisserie

Austin Rôtisserie is a casual counter-service restaurant at the Fareground food hall Downtown that specializes in chicken slow-cooked on horizontal spits just a few feet behind the register. You should get a whole or half bird for a normal dinner, but we recommend the poulet roti for a poolside snack. It’s a fresh-baked baguette filled with tender, shredded chicken and topped with goat cheese and vinaigrette. It keeps well, and the thick, toasty bread is hefty enough to maintain its structural integrity all afternoon.

Fresh Bowl

All of the bánh mì at Fresh Bowl are served on housemade baguettes that stay puffy and crunchy even after sitting in a backpack. We like the house special—it’s made with a tiny mountain of cold cuts and roasted meets, plus a generous spread of pâté and mayo. If you order it to go, the pickled vegetables and cilantro come on the side so that the whole thing stays crunchy until you’re ready to dig in.

Home Slice Pizza

Most people think of New York-style pizza when they hear the name Home Slice, but this spot—with locations in North Loop and on South Congress —also happens to be home to the best damn Italian sub in the city. It’s packed full of ham, dry salami, capicola, genoa salami, and provolone cheese, and it’s huge. Order a full sandwich and share the rest with your friends who forgot to bring a snack, or just get a half-order to teach your friends a valuable lesson about personal responsibility.

Tucci's Southside Subs

Tucci’s looks and feels like it was airlifted from a busy street corner in New England and dropped into a South Austin strip mall between a tax office and a Gatti’s Pizza. It’s one of our favorite spots for deli staples, like a classic Italian or turkey sub. Both come loaded with meat, but the turkey is topped with garlic mayo and hot sweet peppers that turn an otherwise ordinary sandwich into something you’ll be thinking about long after your fingers have un-raisined themselves.

Rebel Cheese

Rebel Cheese is essentially a vegan charcuterie shop and café making tasty, meatless versions of BLTs, Reubens, and french dips. You probably won’t confuse any of them for their namesake originals, but they’re satisfying alternatives. Try the Frenchie, a plant-based version of the classic jambon beurre, but with the addition of housemade strawberry jam that makes it even more refreshing on a warm afternoon.

Rosen's Bagels Republic Square

Rosen’s in North Austin offers a lot of morning options, whether you want a classic New York-style BEC or its Texas “Not A Taco” counterpart—basically a breakfast taco served in a bagel. What makes them particularly pool-friendly is how well they hold up. These sandwiches are made for grab-and-go situations, with thick and hearty bagels that can stand up to any schmear or stuffing they’re pitted against.