La Salumeria: Old School Sandwich Counter on Yonge Street

La Salumeria has been handing Toronto good sandwiches since 1984, well before anyone thought to call them a craze. This old school sandwich shop has built its following on classic sandwiches, good ingredients and a warm welcome. Over 40 years in, it’s still one of the best sandwiches in the city.

Honouring the Family Tradition

Carlo Celebre took over La Salumeria in 2006 from the Italian couple who ran it before him. Sandwiches are personal for him. He grew up eating them, carried them to school, and credits his mother with teaching him how to make them. Two sandwiches on the menu carry that story: the Ida, named after his mother, a simple build of capicola, provolone, tomato and olive oil, and the Ernesto special, named after his father.

The house special remains the most popular order, and for a long time it was one of the few sandwiches made ahead for walk-ins. It comes on ciabatta with prosciutto, spicy salami, fresh buffalo mozzarella, fig jam, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, hot peppers and tomato. You can pick the bread you prefer, from ciabatta to baguette and even kaiser, and the fillings rely on authentic Italian ingredients.

Making the Most of a Small Space

You can also walk in without ordering a sandwich at all. The shop doubles as a small Italian grocery, with meats and cheeses sold by the portion, artisan olive oils, olives, antipasto, sauces and even caviar, all jam-packed into a small space and organized remarkably well. A fridge at the back holds the usual sodas, along with the classic Italian ones, of course. There are no seats, so everything is meant to be taken with you on the go.

Hospitality the Way It Used to Be

Even for takeaway, nobody feels rushed at La Salumeria, and the owner often takes the time to chat. Over the years the shop has built a reputation with a loyal customer base, and he is still the one serving them all this time later, which has made for close relationships. He knows most of the people who walk in and looks after the team behind the counter with the same care. He takes catering orders too, for pickup, and has even made personalized sandwiches for every member of a customer’s team one holiday season, each with its own name and hand-picked ingredients.

Social media arrived late at La Salumeria. For years the shop relied on its regulars, and customers were already posting about the sandwiches on their own before an Instagram page existed. The owner’s social media team now runs the account, and he is happy to see what people share. He still marvels that so many of them rave about sandwiches he grew up eating at his mother’s table.

Written by Marie-Ève Godin
Photography by Alison Slattery

Updated on October 05, 2026

Make a suggestion