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    Ideal's Sandwich and Groceries

    4.7 (182 reviews)
    ModerateSandwiches, Grocery
    Closed Closed

    Ideal's Sandwich and Groceries Photos

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    IDEAL'S SANDWICH AND GROCERIES ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Hattie J.

    I've been to Ideals twice now and I think I've waited in line a total of 2.5 hours in line between the two visits. While the wait in line can be a little ridiculous, the sandwiches are pretty darn good. My favorite so far have been the eggplant and ricotta, and Thanksgiving special sandwich. The sandwiches are good portion sizes and pretty affordable. They usually have a rotating sandwich each week, so they really know how to lure you into coming back!! Also, their in-house garlic and onion potato chips are yummy! Will definitely be back! Coming for that chopped cheese next time!

    Cliff C.

    Chefs kiss for a sandwich. Wow. This was great. Yes line was very long and you will wait a while. But worth the wait. We got the full size sandwiches. Next time I'll get half. There are big. Great place to meet a group at and chat in lime. Great staff great prices and great food

    Eggplant on Foccacia
    Rachel S.

    Fried Eggplant Sandwich on Focaccia was amazing! Highly recommend. People start lining up an hour before they open and product is first come first serve until they sell out. The inside has bakery items for sale and I would go back to stock up on fresh bread! There is parking behind the building.

    Holly K.

    DELICIOUS deli sandwiches!!! Get there EARLY, a line will start to form 30 minutes before they're open (it is usually around the block by the time they open). They stay open until they run out of bread (rolls and focaccia bread are homemade, but the focaccia is the most limited). I tried both the "Harlem Chopped Cheese" sandwich and the "Uncle Primo's Chicken Cutlet"- one on focaccia and one on a roll. I thought both sandwiches were fresh (especially the bread), the meat (chicken and beef) was tender and juicy, and flavors were 10/10. The ground beef sandwich was SPICY (be prepared if you're not good with spice); almost too hot for me to eat. I would definitely return here- If I was able to come early and avoid a super long line. Note: only a couple picnic tables outside, no seating inside!

    Uncle Primo's Chicken Cutlet
    Alex M.

    Long line for just about the best sandwich in the triangle. Tried both the Harlem Chopped Cheese and the Chicken Cutlet-- hands down the Chicken Cutlet sandwich slapped. It's got so much loaded inside: tomatoes, broccoli rabe, prosciutto, a thick chicken cutlet, balsamic vinegar and garlic mayo. Do yourself a favor and eat here!

    Delicous
    Kong L.

    If you're wondering if it's worth the wait in line--stay put! It absolutely is. The line moves fairly quickly, and the food is on another level. I don't usually have high expectations for sandwiches, but the bread here is the real star of the show. I ordered the Philly with broccolini and was blown away. The beef was so tender it melted in my mouth, and the broccolini complemented the flavors perfectly. Between the bread and the cheese, every bite was juicy and delicious. At $9 for a half sandwich, it's worth every penny!

    Out front
    Zachary F.

    10/10 cannot recommend Ideal's enough. Our friend recommended we stop by and it was the best decision we could have made. Got a half chopped cheese and half uncle primos chicken cutlet. Both were phenomenal and highly recommend getting one of each. The combination of all the flavors on both sandwiches and the fresh bread was amazing! I honestly don't think you could go wrong with any of the other sandwiches either, they all looked and sounded great as well! *do note that there is limited space inside they use for the line and so the only seating is a few benches outside*

    Cissy H.

    Not only was the size of this sandwich already worth it, it also tasted amazing!! The chicken cutlet was perfectly crispy, and the sauce really tied it all together. I definitely recommend getting the round focaccia bread. This was one of the best sandwiches I've ever had!! The staff is very nice, service is quick despite it being a busy spot, and I love that they sell cute items and pre-cooked food in their little grocery store :) 10/10 delicious!

    Chicken cutlet with broccoli rabe on hoagie bread.
    Athavi J.

    I'm not a usual sandwich person, but this spot is always a winner, even for me. It has limited hours (12-3) and it reliably runs out of sandwiches around 2:30. Be prepared to stand in line, but it's worth it. It all out of a tiny spot that also sells beers, wines, and canned Italian goods. The bread is freshly made daily, and you have a choice of your sandwich on hoagie bread or focaccia. My go-to is the chicken cutlet with rabe on hoagie. The chicken is moist, and the breading has cheese in it. The rabe is a perfect pairing to cut the fat of the cutlet and sauce. If you're not into bitter veggies, I would avoid the rabe. There are so many other gems to choose from.

    Kassim C.

    What I recommend: The chicken cutlet sandwich and the eggplant ricotta (great vegetarian option) Ideal Sandwich is one of the most talked-about sandwich spots in Durham, and for good reason. They bake their bread fresh every day, and once they run out, they're done. They're only open for about three hours, so timing is everything. We got there around 11:30, ideals opened at noon, we waited about ten minutes after open, and were able to try the chicken cutlet sandwich, the cold turkey, and the parm with ricotta. The sandwiches were great, and the chicken cutlet and the parm were the clear standouts. The only real downside is the lines can get long, and there's a chance you'll wait only to leave empty-handed if the bread runs out. When you catch them at the right time, though, it's an awesome spot. I'd give it a solid 4 out of 5 and definitely recommend it.

    Roast Turkey Sandwich
    Arielle H.

    First time trying Ideals and I definitely think I had the right idea to grab lunch from here *cheesy--ik, haha-- but this was one of the best turkey sand I've ever had. It was 'spicy' but not too much. 10/10 recommend, can't wait to try the other items on the menu.

    Ryan T.

    Found this place via yelp. Best sandwich I've had in a long time... my wife got the Italiano and I got the prosciutto and mozzarella. If there is a line, it's worth the wait.

    Calvin D.

    Ideal's has the best damn sandwiches around. Bar none. There is a tremendous sense of pride in their craft you can taste and a level of quality that is rare to find. I am so thankful this establishment exists and that they chose Durham as their home. Also I love their limited hours and the fact that the line is crazy long. Call me crazy, but it's a testament to the unrivaled level of quality food they offer. I wish them the very best and can't wait to come back.

    uncle primos

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    1 month ago

    Just get Uncle Primo's Chicken Cutlet on focaccia bread and be happy. Best sandwich I've ever tasted

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    1 month ago

    Best sandwiches in the RTP area, hands down. When I arrived, there was a line out the door. It's worth the wait!!

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    Ideal's Sandwich and Groceries - sandwiches - Updated May 2026

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