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4.6(1447 Reviews)

California Sandwiches

The first California Sandwiches is the Claremont location, still hidden in Toronto's little Italy region. In the late 1960's it was a grocery store that was purchased by the Papa/Bertucci family. They quickly discovered they had something special, as customers were coming for lunch instead of the groceries. They decided to capitalize on this opportunity as their hot Italian sandwiches were selling out daily. Thus the first California Sandwiches was born. From its inception in "La Rinacente" (the stores first name), the veal sandwich has become one of Toronto's favorite meals. Today, very little has changed. There are now 8 locations all family owned and operated. Traditional methods of food preperation are still in practise. Each store has its own butcher and the meat is cut on site. Only the finest in Italian tomatos are ground for the sauce that is made fresh daily. The kaiser buns are baked every morning and are delivered by an Italian bakery. Cheeses and produce are bought and prepared for use as needed. Quality food and attention to detail have kept this business strong and valued. California Sandwiches is Toronto's favorite hot Italian sandwich. You can taste the difference!

4.5

2934 Reviews

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By Bruno Donato on Feb 17, 2026 Verified by Business

What can I say, California Sandwiches never disappoints. Been going there for over 20 yrs.. and quality and taste has never let me down. I had a veal sandwich and aa always had multiple layers of veal, like two to three pieces. Sauce was like at home, you can taste its homemade. I asked for it hot (thats with hot peppers 🌶) and the pepper was spread evenly all over the veal and bunny. Not like some places they put a cut square of hot pepper, and you have to play suprise you found it on the last bite.

This place never disappoints me.
This will become your favorite after your first order here.

By S M on Feb 12, 2026 Verified by Business

Love California Sandwiches.
Never been to this location but now that I've found it, will return when in the area. Called ahead and order ready when I arrived. Pic shows half of the sandwich with sweet peppers, mushroom and as a hot, not "sweet" sandwich. Both are great typically.

By Raiyan Khair on Jan 11, 2026 Verified by Business

Pretty solid sandwiches. Got the veal and the portions are quite large. Really good bang for your buck. Cash only!

By Dennisonung on Nov 30, 2025 Verified by Business

Giant sandwiches that are amazing for the price point,

the counter service was a little confusing at first as it’s a small corner with 2 entrances and lots of online delivery people were crowding it, but after all that, It’s one of the most delicious sandwiches i’ve had in awhile

Prices were surprising low for how huge the sandwiches are, could genuinely feed 2 people if you’d like.

Overall, for a sandwich shop in a little corner of a neighbourhood, i’d say it’s one of the goto places if your ever near here

By taijulp on Nov 25, 2025 Verified by Business

I am extremely disappointed with this service. The experience was completely unprofessional and far below expectations. The product/service I received was not as described, the quality was poor, and the customer support was unhelpful. I wasted my time and money for nothing. I do not recommend this service to anyone. Please improve your quality and communication.

By Shar Shar Bing on Oct 24, 2025 Verified by Business

I'm writing from Vancouver Island (Sidney). My mother just flew out✈️🛫 some sandwiches to me last 🌙🧡... they represent a generational place my family of cops👮‍♂️ would go in the 70s🕺 and brought me and I was hooked so anytime I have company coming out to visit they have to bring sandwiches. So hopefully that will tell you how good these sandwiches hit. Thank you California Sandwiches🥪 for still being around thank you for being a topic of sandwich conversations for over 50 years🔥🎇🎆

By Lachlan Cheng on Oct 11, 2025 Verified by Business

Original and still the best. Whole staff from the front of our to the kitchen are just neighbor gems.

Love this spot

By Fern A on Sep 28, 2025 Verified by Business

Always a great place to grab a quick tasty big Italian veal sandwich when in the area. Been coming here since the early 70s 😋

By Webster Young on Aug 20, 2025 Verified by Business

Huge portions compared to other chains. Its a challenge to finish a whole sandwich solo. Simply delicious. When I was working downtown we would offer 30 at a time.

By beltar682017 on Aug 09, 2025 Verified by Business

took my wife for the first time and she loved it. i had not been in sometime so i had to get the large steak and onions YUM YUM. too bad it is ao far from uxbridge

By Linda Cozzupoli on Jul 25, 2025 Verified by Business

Thank you for reminding me what a family based restaurant is. Great friendly place. The sandwiches r exactly like they used to be when they first opened. Huge tasty and extremely messy. 😅

By Fern A on Jul 07, 2025 Verified by Business

Always a great place to grab a quick tasty big Italian veal sandwich when in the area.

By Calvin Duong (The Goods) on Jun 23, 2025 Verified by Business

If you’re a fan of old-school Italian comfort food, California Sandwiches is a must-visit — and the original spot at Claremont Street near Manning is where it all began. This Toronto institution started in 1967, when the Papa/Bertucci family began serving up veal cutlet sandwiches out of their grocery store. Fast-forward a few decades, and their signature sandwiches have earned cult status — with good reason.

I dropped into the original location (yes, the one), and immediately understood why they’ve expanded across Ontario. From the outside, it’s nothing fancy. But inside, it’s all about the food — specifically, the veal sandwich, which was outstanding.

The sandwich is massive — freshly breaded veal cutlet, fried to a crisp and tucked into a soft-yet-sturdy bun, smothered in tangy tomato sauce. You can choose your heat level (I went with medium), and trust me, it hits just right. I also added a side of their house-marinated olives, which added the perfect briny counterpoint.

Here’s a tip if you’re not rocking a giant appetite: ask for the sauce on the side. This is a game-changer. It keeps the sandwich from getting soggy — especially if, like me, you only eat half at lunch and save the rest for later. Dipping as you go lets you enjoy every bite at its freshest, and the leftover half is still crisp when you come back to it.

Of course, if you’re going for the full, drippy, saucy experience as intended — no shame in that either. The original version is designed to be messy, hearty, and unforgettable.

Prices are a bit on the higher side (especially if you start adding toppings), but the portions are generous enough to justify it — most people could split a full sandwich into two meals. Just note: the original location is cash only, so come prepared.

Bottom line: California Sandwiches is a Toronto classic for a reason. Whether you go traditional or tweak it with a few smart tricks (like sauce on the side), the veal sandwich is a knockout — crunchy, savory, and deeply satisfying.

By Alex Thompson on Jun 06, 2025 Verified by Business

There are only a few places in Toronto that consistently deliver, and this is one of them. The best dang veal sandwich period.

By Luis D Lopez on May 21, 2025 Verified by Business

Just came by for a veal sandwich after so long and let me tell ya, the sandwiches got bigger lol. Taste of the veal sandwich is amazing. I recommend getting the sauce on the side so you can dip your sandwich. I’d definitely come back again. This specific location in my opinion is one of the better ones.

By Sathira Katugaha on Dec 08, 2024 Verified by Business

The sandwich just wasn’t that great. It works for a fast food sandwich and is reasonably priced. The sandwich size is pretty big. I got the chicken sandwich and I just found that the sandwich itself was a little soggy and lacked flavour. It had very plain tomato sauce and the chicken itself wasn’t seasoned at all. Definitely wasn’t a bad eat but I didn’t find myself enjoying eating it

By 213antl on Nov 18, 2024 Verified by Business

Great traditional veal sandwiches! Fabulous amount of extras/toppings you can add. They cater to your need: veal, chicken, steak, eggplant, steak and sausage!

By Sandi Cole on Aug 30, 2024 Verified by Business

Smashing IT!

The #1 spot for a PROPER chicken cutlet sandwich!

Love this sandwich to the moon and back.

The chicken is always tender, and all the extra additions, such as the sweet peppers, are cooked to perfection.

Great tomato sauce as well. With the right amount of seasoning.

So many places refuse to cook with salt, why I have no idea. You need to cook and add salt to bring out the true flavors of the dish, and California sandwiches get that!

Amazing customer service as well! 🥳

By jameslE4529YH on Sep 14, 2023 Verified by Business

Veal used to be thick and delicious! Chicken was 3x as thick as now! What happened? All you get now is breading, bun and sauce! AWFUL! Very thin veal, chicken and steak! Can’t even taste the meat. There isn’t much there to taste! Been eating these sandwiches since 1969! Change happened in 2005! And the veal, chicken and steak has gotten thinner and thinner over the years! And the price has gotten higher and higher! I used to have one every week! Now every 3 to 4 months! But after today, I’m done! After 54 years, you will not see me again! AWFUL SANDWICH! All breading bread and sauce! Where’s the meat!

By peterh072 on Feb 19, 2023 Verified by Business

Coming here for 30+ years. Great Sandwiches. Good value for money. The family that
runs it, are interesting and a little eccentric

By E9558ISfredc on Jun 04, 2022 Verified by Business

Not just good, but consistently great for the 40 years that my friends and I have been eating there.
Their pride shows in every sandwich they prepare.

By Willy1000 on Jan 28, 2012 Verified by Business

California is the best to go for homemade italian sanwhiches in Toronto !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

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Frequently asked Questions

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Q. Where is California Sandwiches located?

California Sandwiches is located at 244 Claremont St in Toronto , ON and serves great food and drinks in Toronto

Q. How do I contact California Sandwiches?

You can contact California Sandwiches by calling 4166033317 or visiting their website at http://www.californiasandwiches.com