15+ Mexican Sandwiches You’ve Probably Never Heard Of (But Need to Try ASAP)
Curious about the best sandwiches from Mexico?
Did you know Mexican food has a UNESCO World Heritage designation?! Yup — It was named an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010.
Did you also know there’s more to this world-famous cuisine than just tacos and burritos…
…so you can forget your boring turkey and cheese wraps because Mexico’s sandwich game is a whole different universe of flavor, texture, and creativity.
Buckle up as we explore 15+ sandwiches that will have you Googling the nearest Mexican restaurant by the end of this article.
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1. Torta (AKA Lonche)
Torta means “cake” in much of the Spanish-speaking world, but in Mexislang (Mexican slang), the word torta means “sandwich” 🥪
However, the classic Mexican sandwich does go by two names, depending on where you’re traveling in Mexico.
- In southern and eastern parts of the country, it’s called a torta.
- In the north, it’s called a lonche (pronounced lawn-chay).
No matter what you call it, this versatile masterpiece starts with a bolillo or telera, two types of Mexican breads that are soft on the inside and slightly crispy outside.
Tortas can be filled with just about anything your heart desires: carnitas (fried pork), carne asada (steak), refried beans, avocado, tomato, lettuce, crema (sour cream), rajitas (pickled jalapeños), and more.
Whether you’re a meat lover or a vegetarian, there’s an authentic Mexican torta for you. There are also cold tortas and hot tortas.
This sandwich has become a go-to meal in Mexico for a reason — the torta is simple, yet endlessly satisfying, and you can customize it to your exact liking.
🥖 Type of Bread Used: Bolillo or Telera
👩🍳 Try This Mexican Torta Recipe
2. Guajolota (Torta de Tamal)
Meet the ultimate Mexican breakfast sandwich: The guajolota (pronounced wah-hoe-low-tah, and meaning “female turkey” 🦃).
Known affectionately as a carb bomb, this hefty creation involves a tamal — yes, one entire tamale — stuffed inside a bolillo roll.
The result? A meal so hearty it could fuel a marathon.
A popular grab-and-go Mexico City street food breakfast, guajolotas are often paired with a cup of atole, a warm, thick beverage made from masa (corn dough).
Tortas de tamales are Mexican comfort food at its finest, and a must-try if you’re seeking a meal that will fill you up all day.
🥖 Type of Bread Used: Bolillo
👩🍳 Try This Mexican Guajolota Recipe
3. Torta de la Barda
A regional delight from the city of Tampico in Tamaulipas state, the torta de la barda (AKA torta barda or torta de barda ) is a multilayered wonder that’s equal parts indulgent and ingenious.
Inside, there’s carne deshebrada (shredded meat), jamón (ham), queso de puerco (head cheese), chorizo frito (fried chorizo sausage), cheese, and avocado.
While this ingredient list might only appeal to adventurous eaters, I personally LOVE this sandwich — but what makes it truly unique is the salsa you top it with.
The only torta from Mexico of its kind, this sandwich uses chicharrón en salsa verde (fried pork skin in spicy green salsa) for the heat element.
Legend has it that this sandwich was invented to feed railroad workers, but it’s now a favorite for anyone who loves bold flavors and hearty meals.
🥖 Type of Bread Used: Bolillo or Telera
👩🍳 Try This Mexican Torta de la Barda Recipe
4. Torta Cubana
When you can’t decide what to eat, the giant torta cubana (meaning “Cuban sandwich” 🇨🇺) has you covered.
One of the most popular Mexican tortas, this sandwich is a glorious mess of ingredients like ham, breaded chicken or pork, sausage, cheese, egg, and sometimes even pineapple.
It’s the kind of sandwich that feels like a celebration in every bite.
Perfect for sharing (or not), this over-the-top creation is beloved across Mexico for its generous portions and endless variety.
🥖 Type of Bread Used: Bolillo or Telera
👩🍳 Try This Mexican Torta Cubana Recipe
5. Torta Ahogada
If you like it spicy, the torta ahogada from Guadalajara is calling your name.
This sandwich features crusty birote bread filled with pork carnitas (or a number of other fillings), which gets drenched in a fiery red tomato salsa.
The word ahogada means “drowned,” as the spicy salsa poured on top literally drowns your sandwich.
The bread soaks up the sauce without falling apart, creating a deliciously messy eating experience.
Be prepared with plenty of napkins, a fork and knife, and the Mexican drink of your choice.
🥖 Type of Bread Used: Birote salado
👩🍳 Try This Mexican Torta Ahogada Recipe
6. Torta de Milanesa
Crispy, golden, and oh-so-satisfying, the torta de milanesa is a Mexican staple — especially if you want a crispy element on your sandwich.
It starts with a breaded steak, pork or chicken cutlet, fried to perfection, and tucked into a bolillo roll.
Add lettuce, tomato, avocado, and mayo for a perfect balance of crunch and creaminess.
It’s a classic you’ll find everywhere from street vendors to fancy restaurants.
🥖 Type of Bread Used: Bolillo or Telera
👩🍳 Try This Mexican Torta Milanesa Recipe
7. Pambazo
Popular in Mexico City, the pambazo isn’t just a sandwich — it’s a visual spectacle!
The pambazo bread is dipped in red guajillo chili sauce and grilled, giving it a vibrant red hue and a slightly smoky flavor.
Inside, you’ll find a savory mix of potatoes, chorizo (pork sausage), refried beans, lettuce, sour cream, and cheese.
It’s as delicious as it is eye-catching, perfect for anyone who wants a hearty sandwich with bit of spice.
🥖 Type of Bread Used: Pambazo
👩🍳 Try This Mexican Pambazo Recipe
8. Cemita Poblana
Hailing from Puebla state, the cemita is a sesame seed-covered roll stuffed with milanesa (breaded meat), quesillo (queso Oaxaca cheese), avocado, and chipotle peppers.
You can also add a local herb called pápalo, which in my opinion tastes like a mix between basil and cilantro (coriander). It’s perfect if you love herbaceous flavors.
This massive sandwich is great for sharing, and known for its balance of crunchy, creamy, and spicy flavors.
It’s a filling meal that showcases the Mexican regional cuisine from Puebla, which is known as “comida poblana.”
🥖 Type of Bread Used: Cemita roll
👩🍳 Try This Mexican Cemita Recipe
9. Pelona Poblana
A lesser-known sandwich from Puebla City, the capital of Puebla, Mexico, the pelona (which means “baldy” 🧑🦲) is all about textures.
The name actually comes from the lack of sesame seeds on this Mexican bread.
While you will find sesame seeds on a cemita roll, which is the most popular bread from Puebla state, they aren’t on the “bald” pelona bread.
Akin to Native American frybread, the pelona roll is fried to be crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and filled with shredded beef, lettuce, sour cream, and salsa.
The contrast between the crunchy bread and the tender filling makes it a must-try for foodies who love varied textures and mouthfeel.
🥖 Type of Bread Used: Pelona
👩🍳 Try This Mexican Pelona Recipe
10. Molletes: Open-Face Mexican Sandwich
Not technically a sandwich because it’s not closed shut, the mollete (pronounced moy-yet-tay) is the famous Mexican sandwich served open-faced.
A bolillo roll is sliced open, toasted, and topped with refried beans, melted cheese, and pico de gallo. You can also add things like fried egg and ham slices.
Think of it as the Mexican version of Italian bruschetta, but heartier and way more comforting.
🥖 Type of Bread Used: Bolillo
👩🍳 Try This Mexican Mollete Recipe
11. Guacamaya de León
Straight out of Guanajuato state, the guacamaya (meaning “parrot” 🦜) packs a crunchy, spicy punch.
This bolillo roll is filled with chicharrones (crispy pork rinds), spicy pico de gallo salsa, fresh-squeezed lime juice, and sliced avocado.
It’s a simple yet explosively flavorful creation that’ll leave you craving another bite, and perfect for those who love a bit of tang and heat.
Should you find yourself in Guanajuato City or anywhere in Guanajuato state, make sure you try one of these, as you (likely) won’t find them anywhere else in Mexico.
🥖 Type of Bread Used: Bolillo
👩🍳 Try This Mexican Guacamaya Recipe
12. Chanclas Poblanas
A specialty from Puebla state, chanclas (meaning “sandals” 🩴) are soft rolls drenched in a tomato sauce that’s more tangy than spicy.
As chanclas (sandals) come in pairs, so does this sandwich — so you essentially get two small sandwiches instead of one large one.
Similar to tortas ahogadas (#5 on this list), these are covered in salsa, so if you’ve got a love for saucy dishes like Mexican mole, this one’s for you.
Inside of the Chanclas Poblanas sandwich, you’ll find shredded meat, lettuce, avocado, onion, and cream.
With all this, and the salsa on top, you’ll be using a fork and knife to eat your chanclas because they’re messy — but absolutely worth it!
🥖 Type of Bread Used: Chancla
👩🍳 Try This Mexican Chanclas Recipe
13. Empalme: Mexican Tortilla Sandwich
A true Mexican sandwich, because it uses tortillas as the bread, the empalme (meaning “spliced”) is popular in northern Mexico.
To make it, two corn tortillas are layered with refried beans, cheese, and sometimes meat or egg, and then grilled to perfection.
It’s a simple but satisfying snack or light meal, perfect for when you’re craving something hearty but not too heavy.
🥖 Type of Bread Used: Tortillas
👩🍳 Try This Mexican Empalme Recipe
14. Pepito: Mexican Steak Sandwich
The pepito is Mexico’s take on a classic steak sandwich — and it’s nothing short of extraordinary.
Typically made with thinly sliced, grilled beef stuffed into a crusty bolillo roll, avocado, tomato, and pickled jalapeños, this sandwich is simplicity done right.
It’s the perfect option for meat lovers and a staple in many Mexican steakhouses (though the pepito sandwich did originate in Spain).
🥖 Type of Bread Used: Bolillo
👩🍳 Try This Mexican Pepito Recipe
15. Sincronizadas
The Mexican sincronizada blurs the line between quesadilla and sandwich, but we’re not complaining.
Ham and cheese are sandwiched between two tortillas (usually flour tortillas, but some people use corn tortillas) and grilled until crispy.
It’s quick, easy, and endlessly satisfying, making it a favorite for weeknight dinners or midday snacks.
🥖 Type of Bread Used: Tortillas
👩🍳 Try This Mexican Sincronizada Recipe
Final Thoughts on the Best Mexican Sandwiches
There you have it, foodies — the Top 15 Mexican sandwiches to expand your culinary horizons (and your waistband).
While this list of traditional Mexican foods showcases A LOT of options, here are a few other sandwiches from Mexican you should know about:
1. Torta de Cochinita: A staple of Yucatan food, cochinita pibil (slow cooked shredded pork marinated in citrus and spices) is the most popular dish from Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.
2. Torta al Pastor: You’ve probably heard of tacos al pastor (the most famous Mexican tacos), but you can also get al pastor meat in a torta.
3. Torta de Chilaquiles: Popular in Mexico City, this sandwich includes chilaquiles, one of the most popular Mexican breakfast foods.
4. Tortas Perronas: Giant tortas popular in regions like Guadalajara that include marinated grilled meats like carne asada, melted cheese, avocado, spicy salsa, and pickled jalapeños, all packed into a soft birote bread.
5. Torta Orizabeña: Made in the city of Orizaba, Veracruz, these tall sandwiches come with potato chips on them.
6. Torta de Jamón: Among the simplest torta Mexican sandwiches, this ham sandwich has melted cheese, various veggie toppings, and of course, ham slices.
7. Marinas: Popular as a party food and Mexican Christmas food, this small sandwich with various fillings is served on hojaldra bead rolls.
You now know about 22 delicious Mexican sandwiches, so only one question remains: Which one will you be making or trying first?!