
The steak sandwich offers plenty of potential for signature takes, with both global influences like chimichurri and modern cuts of meat leading the way. Satisfying, substantial and flavorful are three qualities that keep this sandwich in regular rotation. Zesty Feta Döner: Zesty feta spread, pepperoncini, romaine, cabbage, tomato, onion, green pepper, cucumber, tzatzikiĭöner Durum: Thinly sliced crispy beef and lamb döner kebab, tomato, lettuce, spiced onion, yogurt sauce wrapped in a Turkish tortilla Shawarma, al pastor and döner kebab bring a flavor system worth exploiting in handheld form. Turkey’s döner kebab offers just a bit more modern mystique than the Greek gyro, but delivers a similar experience, with juicy, tender beef or lamb cooked on a vertical spit, then sliced thinly.

Middle Eastern flavors and forms are red hot right now, catapulted into stardom thanks to their bold and crave-worthy flavor combinations. Here are 12 sandwiches that hold great potential-either for reinvention or adaptation. Classic sandwiches play here, too, as long as each component is mindfully considered and the flavors are both tantalizing and inventive. Although global sandwiches are part of this story, they’re not the only entry point. The Vietnamese banh mi has taken off, and consumers’ willingness to try something that adventurous points to their enthusiasm for flavor innovation within this familiar category. The challenge is finding sandwiches with the most potential and the biggest crave factor.

Sandwiches have always offered a blank canvas for innovation, where chefs play with each layer, unlocking signature builds with stunning creativity. Flavor building is at the crux of menu development, and today’s focus is on bold, complex combinations.
