A Few Sandwich Shops to Try in Sanlitun

Sandwiches just might be the ultimate meal option. They’re great to grab in a rush or just need something handheld and portable to munch on. Sanlitun has its fair share of places serving sandwiches, so we put together a list of a few of our favorites. 

Note that most of the spots on here are sandwich shops proper, in that they only specialize in sandwiches. There are a few proper restaurants for sure, but their sandwich game was too strong to ignore, so we’ve included them here. 

Bocata

One of the OGs of Sanlitun and not far from the embassy area, Bocata has been serving Spanish style sandwiches for 18 years from a refreshing space. 

Favorites of ours include the Italian Mortadella with Basil Cream Cheese and Butter (RMB 34/small, RMB 48/large), which seems plain but is definitely a sandwich that’s the sum of its parts; and on the more decadent side of things, the Argentine Premium Roast Beef with Fontina Cheese, Mushrooms, Dried Tomato, and Aioli Sauce (RMB 59/small; RMB 99/large).

They also have a few American style sandwiches with homemade pastrami (RMB 54/small; RMB 88/large for each), as well as a pork hot dog loaded to the brim with cheddar, bacon, crispy onions, ketchup, and chipotle aioli (RMB 78). There’s a lot to choose from at Bocata, so probably best to venture there when you’re not ravenous so you can take a bit of time to peruse.

Bocata by Carmen
1/F, East Gate Bldg, 12 Dongzhimenwai Daijie (opposite the Qatari Embassy)
东直门外大街12号东门小楼1层（卡塔尔大使馆对面）
Hours: Mon-Thurs & Sun, 11am-11pm; Fri-Sat, 11am-midnight
Contact: 010 6417 5291

PaninoTeca

This Italian style sandwich shop, which shares space with and is owned by the people behind Assaggi and DaGiuliano, is also a longstanding member of the Sanlitun embassy area dining circuit.

The sandwich menu here may be small, split between panini and ciabatta (the former on small rolls, the latter a bit more rectangular) but all the sandwiches available are well worth a try. We personally like to keep it classic, usually going for the Re Sole (RMB 68), which comes with parma ham, mozzarella, basil, tomato, and, for a little zing, some artichoke pate. Another go to is the Crudo (RMB 68): parma ham with mozzarella and tomato, simple as it gets.

PaninoTeca
1 Sanlitun North Street, Chaoyang District
朝阳区三里屯街道三里屯北小街1号
Hours: Mon-Sun, 8.30am-9pm
Contact: 010 8454 1797

Apollo & Eastend

Apollo and Eastend are technically two separate venues, but seeing as they’re owned by the same folks and both serve sandwiches, we’ve decided to include them both in the same space.

Apollo opened on the southwest corner of Pacific Century Place in 2022 with the goal of being a place for lovers of vinyl records and good food to congregate. And the food here is great, with sandwiches ranging from the Toasted Ham & Cheese (RMB 88), to the exceptional Boston Lobster & Crab Roll (RMB 268), which comes with an umami rich seaweed butter for dipping.

Over to Eastend, the deli concept opened by the team behind Apollo in 2023. Sandwiches here are divided by bread type or style: baguette, panini, and ciabatta. Our favorite is the Meatball Marinara (RMB 108), which comes on a lovingly toasted ciabatta roll and piled high with whole meatballs.

Apollo
Southwest corner, 1/F Pacific Century Place, 2 Gongti Bei Lu
朝阳区工人体育场北路甲2号三里屯盈科中心1层西南侧
Hours: Daily, 8am-11pm
Contact: 010 8599 9116

Eastend Grocery 
1/F, Pacific Century Place (outside West Gate, north of Apollo), A2 Gongti Beilu 
朝阳区工人体育场北路甲2号盈科中心1层
Hours: Daily, 8am-9.30pm
Contact: 010 8599 9116

Carbon 

Moreso situated in the Xingfucun area than in Sanlitun – which lies just above Gongti – we’ve included Carbon on the list because they stand out. Why? Southern style fried chicken sandwiches. 

Taking inspiration from the likes of US chains Chick-fil-a and Bojangles, Carbon serves both a classic Original Chicken Sandwich (RMB 55) that’s simply a piece of fried chicken with pickles between homemade potato buns, and Southern Chicken Biscuit (RMB 35), which is just chicken, sauce of choice, and biscuit – which although small is by far our preferred order, with a side of their Cajun Waffle Fries (RMB 35). 

For those wanting a little extra on their fried chicken sandwich, Carbon has for your consideration the Deluxe Chicken Sandwich (RMB 65), which takes the classic and adds cole slaw, cheese, and Carbon’s signature sauce into the mix. 

Carbon 汽水
A6 Xingfuyicun Xili, Chaoyang District
朝阳区幸福一村西里甲6号
Hours: Mon-Thurs & Sun, 6pm-1am; Fri-Sat, 6pm-2am
Contact: 198 0029 3010

Cappucitto Rosso

This is the newest kid on the Sanlitun block, and they crank out some incredible focaccia sandwiches that have been going viral on Dianping for some time now.

Actually a cooperation between the shop owners and three established Beijing brands, Cappucitto Rosso, or 小红帽 xiaohongmao in Chinese, shares space with FuSan Coffee near Tuanjiehu Station Exit A, their other branch in Dongsi, and Black & Blue Burgers in 798.

In keeping with the Little Red Riding Hood theme, all sandwiches are named after characters from the fairy tale, like Nonna (RMB 68), which features mortadella ham, pistachio cream, stracciatella cheese, and pickled onion; and the eponymous Little Red (RMB 68), the most complex and eye catching of the bunch, sandwiching roast beef between basil pesto, arugula, stracciatella, balsamic vinegar, and pickled red South African chili peppers. 

FuSan Coffee & Cappucitto Rosso 福叄咖啡&小红帽三明治
1/F Commercial Area, 1-1 Gongti Beilu
朝阳区工人体育场北路1-1号底商
Hours: Daily, 10.30am-8.30pm
Contact: 159 0108 8582

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Images: Uni You, the Beijingers, courtesy of the venues