Pre-sliced meat sitting in a plastic tub all morning is fine in a pinch, but it is not what anyone in Florida should settle for when a real deli counter is close by. The seven shops on this list, stretching from Jacksonville down to Naples, run the slicer as orders come in and stack the meat high enough that plenty of customers wrap up half for later.
You will find Philly-style hoagie joints, a Tampa shop that has been making Cubans since 1948, an Orlando corner deli with a full Italian market, and a Boca Raton favorite that opened in 1985. Save this list for your next road trip or lunch break, and send it to the friend who always asks where to get a proper sub.
1. Laspada’s Original Hoagies – 17th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Lunch on SE 17th Street tends to come with a wait at the counter, and the reason is simple. Every hoagie at this Laspada’s gets its meat sliced for that specific order, right there behind the glass.
The shop specializes in hoagies, deli sandwiches, and salads, with a few desserts on the side. The signature move here is what regulars call a meat blanket, a generous layer of cold cuts that goes on top after the toppings, so the sandwich is loaded from both directions.
The Italian is the one to start with, especially dressed with the sweet peppers. If you want to go bigger, the Monster lives up to its name with an absurd amount of meat on sturdy, fresh bread.
Sizes come in small 8-inch and large 12-inch versions, and the menu includes picks like the Papa Laspada, an Italian with turkey, and a large roast beef. Grab a soda from the big cooler selection and a bag of Voodoo chips to round things out.
Hours run Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 8 PM and Sunday from 11 AM to 8 PM. Afternoons are the busiest stretch, so Sunday morning or an early evening is your best shot at a short line.
It is counter service only, with no reservations, and there is a free parking lot. Catering and delivery are also options if you are feeding an office crowd.
2. Slicers Hoagies, Naples, FL
The name tells you the whole business plan. Slicers Hoagies has been serving Naples since 2017, and freshly sliced meat on freshly baked bread is the backbone of every sub on the menu.
What sets this Livingston Road shop apart from the old-school spots on this list is a streak of creativity. The toppings go beyond the standard lettuce and tomato lineup, and the combinations lean playful without losing the classic deli base.
Menu highlights include a meatball hoagie and a pastrami, and the portions are not shy. Expect meat that spills over the edges of the roll.
This is also one of the easiest stops on the list for mixed groups. There is a full vegan menu, a kids’ menu, high chairs, free Wi-Fi, and outdoor seating, and dogs are welcome both inside and out.
I like that Slicers gives back, too. Police officers and firefighters get special discounts as a thank-you for their service.
The shop is open every day from 10 AM to 8 PM. Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturday afternoons draw the biggest crowds, but the staff builds sandwiches quickly, so a line moves along faster than it looks.
Parking is free and on-site, and delivery and catering are both available.
3. Laspada’s Original Hoagies – Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, FL
Beach days in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea call for a sandwich big enough to split, and the Commercial Boulevard Laspada’s has that covered. A large here can easily stretch into two meals.
Yes, this is the second Laspada’s on the list. It earns its own spot because the build process is the whole show, and this fast-paced counter runs it at full speed.
Meat is sliced and piled onto a hoagie roll, then you pick your vegetables. Salt, pepper, oil, vinegar, and oregano come next, along with sweet or hot peppers.
Toppings are unlimited, extra meat is on the table, and the sandwich gets a final cap of cold cuts before it is wrapped. The Italian is the standout, and the large roast beef and large ham and turkey are solid picks too.
Not in a hoagie mood? The chef salad and chicken salad are on the menu, and Dirty Zapp’s chips make a good side.
Ordering online ahead of time is the smart play, especially on weekday afternoons when the rush peaks. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 8 PM and Sunday from 11 AM to 8 PM, with Sunday morning usually the calmest window.
There is some seating, though plenty of people take their hoagies to go.
4. Stasio’s Italian Deli & Market, Orlando, FL
Anyone who grew up near a New York corner deli will recognize the setup the second they walk into Stasio’s on East Robinson Street. There is a real deli counter, a market stocked with Italian imports, and sandwiches made to order all day.
Breakfast is a big part of the appeal here. The Taylor Pork Roll breakfast sandwich is a nod to the Northeast, and the egg sandwiches have a loyal following around Orlando.
Later in the day, the Classic Italian Sandwich shows off the cold cuts, with good bread and a balanced amount of meat and fillings. Hot sub fans can go for the meatball sub or the meatball parmigiana sub, and the Cubano gets plenty of attention too.
Save a few minutes to shop. The market carries deli meats, cheeses, pastas, Italian ingredients, and hard-to-find imported items, plus desserts like cannoli, rainbow cookies, and cheesecake.
A cappuccino and a wide soda selection round out the drink options.
Stasio’s opens early, running Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 7 PM and Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM. It is closed on Sunday, and Saturday is the busiest day of the week.
Free parking is available on-site, and the staff is quick to help if you are hunting for a specific import.
5. Brocato’s Sandwich Shop, Tampa, FL
Back in 1948, Brocato’s started turning out sandwiches in Tampa, and the family-owned shop on East Columbus Drive is still at it more than seven decades later.
The Cuban is the headliner, which makes sense in a city that takes its Cuban sandwiches seriously. The menu even lists the Brocato’s 1948 Special, and there is a finger-cut version that works well for parties.
For this list, though, the Italian sub deserves the spotlight. It is made fresh to order with Boar’s Head meat and fresh milk mozzarella, and a full-size one is packed tightly enough to cover lunch and dinner.
Brocato’s is just as famous for its deviled crab, including a big deviled crab and a homemade version. The stuffed potatoes are huge, and plantains and roast pork show up on the menu as well.
Hours are a little unusual, so plan ahead. The shop opens at 8 AM Monday through Saturday, closes at 5:30 PM Monday through Wednesday and Friday, at 5 PM on Thursday, and at 4 PM on Saturday, and stays closed on Sunday.
There is usually a wait, especially on afternoons, but service moves quickly. Trays of Cuban sandwiches are available for catering if you are feeding a crowd.
6. Blue Boy Sandwich Shop, Jacksonville, FL
Some Jacksonville families have been ordering from Blue Boy for close to 40 years. That kind of loyalty says a lot about a sandwich shop, and this historic storefront on Norwood Avenue keeps earning it.
The bread is the first thing to know about. Blue Boy bakes it fresh, and it is the foundation for a large menu of sandwiches made to order.
Portions are huge. Cold cut fans should look at the turkey and cheese round and the pastrami sandwich, while the Cuban has a strong reputation as one of the best in town.
The menu reaches well past deli classics. You will also find a meatloaf sandwich, a turkey burger, a Monster Burger, a chef salad, and a breakfast platter for early risers.
I would save this one for a weekday morning. Blue Boy opens at 10 AM on Monday and Tuesday and at 9:30 AM Wednesday through Saturday, closing at 4 PM each day and staying closed on Sunday.
Saturday afternoon is the busiest time, while Monday and Wednesday mornings tend to be quiet. The room is casual, clean, and relaxed, with high chairs and a kids’ menu for families.
Free parking is easy to find, and online ordering is available for pickup.
7. V & S Italian Deli, Boca Raton, FL
Strip mall storefronts do not usually hint at a 1985 origin story, but V and S Italian Deli has been a busy stop on North Federal Highway since then. It sits near the Intracoastal in Boca Raton and draws a steady crowd of transplants from the Northeast.
The subs are the main event. They are fat, stacked with Boar’s Head meat on fresh bread, and finished with homemade sauces, including the one used on the V and S special.
Add cheese to any sub, and ask about the hot stuffed cherry peppers for a little kick. The chicken parmigiana has its own loyal fan base.
This deli also works as a place to pick up dinner. Prepared foods include homemade pastas, strombolis, the Chicken Cutlet Florentine Plate, and the Chicken Fontina Plate.
Sides like tri-color pasta salad and macaroni salad fill the case, and the house-made cannoli is the right way to finish.
Hours are Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 9 PM, Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM, and Sunday from 10 AM to 3 PM. Expect a wait, especially Wednesday through Friday afternoons.
There is outdoor seating where dogs are welcome, but no restroom on-site, so plan accordingly. Free parking makes the stop easy, and those late weekday hours mean a great sub is never far off on the drive home.
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