T: 604 568 3398
www.hubbubsandwiches.com

Brief Description: A fun, casual spot that focuses on making delicious, filling sandwiches. All you do is choose the protein – they do the rest.

Sandwiches have always been a crowd favourite but it seems as though we Vancouverites are becoming very spoilt for sandwich choices. We have grilled cheese sandwiches from the new Mom’s Grilled Cheese Truck, pulled pork sandwiches from Re-up, warm chicken sandwiches from La Brasserie Street, Vietnamese subs from Vietsub, as well as warm meat sandwiches from the ever-popular Meat and Bread. That’s a lotta sandwiches! Well, just to make your choice even that much more difficult I am going to tell you about yet another sandwich option, Hubbub Sandwiches.

Hubbub is located downtown, right near the Art Gallery, and it fills the void in an area that doesn’t seem to have much on offer in the way of casual sit-down fare. That is probably why it is always busy. That, and the sandwiches are worth returning for. The owners have stuck with an idea that I feel works remarkably well – select one item to specialize in and do it well. They have done just that by concentrating their efforts on sandwiches.

There are five sandwiches on the menu to choose from but the crux of the sandwich remains the same for all of them, it is just the protein that changes. The sandwich starts with a 9.5 inch toasted baguette that is then filled with a base of pickled jalapenos, creamy garlic sauce, romaine lettuce, cilantro, and crunchy caramelized onions. Note: don’t mess with this formula. It works. Then you select your protein; slow roasted pork, turkey sausage, coconut milk soaked chicken breast, marinated tiger prawns, or veggies.

And there you have it. You can beef up your order by adding a side, which include corn, quinoa salad, potato chips, or slaw, but the sandwiches are extremely filling so do keep that in mind. If you are looking for something a little lighter you can make the sandwich selections into a salad. In addition to a few select pops, they are also licensed so if you fancy a beer with your sandwich then this is your place.

The service is very relaxed and unpretentious – it kinda feels like a bunch of friendly, yet focused, skateboarders are running the shop. The space is clean with a modern minimalistic look and there is an open-style kitchen where you can watch your sandwich being constructed – keep an eye on how they make the onions. Prices are a little high for sandwiches (about $8.50, excluding taxes) but that does seem to be on par with what other local sandwich shops are charging.

Final Thoughts: These sandwiches are goooood so I’d definitely stop in for a quick bite if I was in the area. I particularly like the chicken breast sandwich but the prawns are great too. And make sure you order one of their freshly baked chocolate chip cookies…