Earl’s Sandwiches

So I work over in the office tower at the Ballston Common Mall. They are redoing the entire mall and the food court was the first to go (RIP Chick fil a!!!) So my and many many of my coworkers began venturing out of our lunch comfort zone. I had seen this place a couple of times, and decided to try it one day. I had the turkey reuben, which was fantastic. At first I saw sandwich bread and thought… oh…not my favorite. Then I took a bite and realized… oh, this is GREAT bread! Buttered and grilled in the most perfect way.
Then I convinced my team to try it, and now it’s been a regular spot. BUT… fate steered me away from their tasty sandwiches. I had dental surgery and can basically only eat soup for a while. It’s nearly July, so there aren’t too many soup places out there… so I went and they had tomato soup. It is the best damn tomato soup I think I’ve ever had. It’s AMAZING!
(Also, if you guys are reading this, is there gluten in there? I want my friend to try it so he can enjoy the glorious soup, but he has celiac and it will ruin his week)
So until I’m able to chew, I will enjoy the glorious amazing tomato soup and not feel sad when everyone else is stuffing their face holes with delicious Earl’s sandwiches.
(also it makes me laugh that it’s next to a Subway. I mean… why? Why go to Subway? Makes no sense)

I highly recommend the French toast sandwich w turkey. This small sandwich shop will not disappointed you. They are one of the best sandwich shops in the area.

Not sure why its closed on a Sunday even though Unilocal and the sign on the door says open 7 days a week. I was pretty excited to try this place again since I really enjoyed the Pork n Fries Sandwich I had a couple months back when I was working close by. Hopefully this doesn’t happen often.

Around less than 12 days ago, I stopped by Earl’s Sandwiches (near the Ballston metro in Arlington Virginia) to grab a bite to eat and got the Clarendon breakfast sandwich which comes with scrambled eggs, steak, grilled onions, peppers, provolone, and cheddar cheese The person taking my order was professional and served my order to me pretty fast.

So, average sandwiches with above average prices. Honestly, not any better than Jimmy Johns minus the massive cost. Not nearly worth the four star rating.

Big sandwiches and it was kind of too greasy for me, less healthy is the part that I am not giving it more stars as I think there are healthier ways of making sandwiches while making them taste good without adding much oil. Overall, their sandwiches are average. I don’t think I’ll go back.

I stopped in here on a Tues afternoon to grab a quick bite. This place is located right across from the Ballston Metro. I got the steak and Brie sandwich. It was OK, not too bad, but nothing spectacular. After reading many reviews it seems people swear by the the «pork-​and-​fries» sub. The steak was a little over-​cooked in my opinion. The bread was VERY impressive. This is one of those shops that uses premium ingredients as well as time to make their sandwiches. They are a HUGE step above subway, but still have not hit that «Gourmet Specialty Sub» spot YET… in my opinion. The brie cheese was def a great combo for the sub however. I do not think i am giving enough credit for the freshness and taste of the Brie cheese that they use here… I’m a cheese guy and it hit the spot. I think I need to re-​visit and try the pork and fries sub before giving my full critique on the food.
Interior: The inside was a clean very well kept restaurant. I was happy with the prompt service as well. (Took about 5 minutes after ordering to get my food).
Take: I will visit again when I am not in such a hurry and try something more popular here. Will def write a review update.
Best thing about this place is it’s proximity to the metro. If you travel to Ballston a lot, you can get a sandwich in about 10 minutes flat. Great location… food…needs another look before a decision.

These sandwiches are HUGE. If you’re not going to offer combo deals, then this is exactly how things should be. I thoroughly enjoyed my Cubano Club and hope to return soon so I can try their fries. :)

I’m glad I finally got around to trying Earl’s. The options are seemingly endless and I usually get either the eggplant sandwich or a grilled chicken sandwich with fries. Both are delicious and filling, though I’m partial to the eggplant, even though it’s messier. I just love eggplant, and theirs is lightly breaded but still tasty. I do love their fries. They are always hot and crispy. If I’m looking for a light meal, I definitely stay away, because I know I can’t not order the fries.
Earl’s is popular, and can be a bit of a madhouse at lunch time. I usually go before the crowds.
I’m looking forward to trying them out for breakfast one day, and trying their soups, which I hear are good, as well.

Simply delectable!
Best sandwich on the block. Love the freshly shaved meats, & the sandwiches are loaded with it. My favorite is the turkey.

Not sure what the big fuss is over this place. locals swear by it. it was good but not great .have tried it twice w same outcome. just average .the girl behind the counter was rude the last time though.

You can tell right off the bat you’re dealing with quality food, and quality people. None of the best damn sandwiches I’ve ever had, and I’ve had quite a few!
The Fish n’ Chips is as expected, but it’s great. The chili is awesome, and will clear your sinuses. I’m usually there once a month.
Parking is «meh», but that has nothing to do with the food and service.

So I travel and have to find a sandwich place when I come into town. I found this place close to the customer last week and had eaten here about 6 times.
So far I have not had a bad sandwich.
Roast beef with cheddar
Turkey Reuben
The Louie
Cranberry Turkey
Great bread, good meats. I would eat here everyday.

I just had one of their roast beef sandwiches! Omg it was amazing. Staff was friendly. But going back to the sand which for the same price as subway you get a fresh made sandwich that has amazing flavors. I might be a new weekly customer

After reading about the Earl sandwich I had to come try it. Shop was rather small, good thing it wasn’t crowded. We ordered the Earl sandwich which is slice pork with red pepper and mayo. I thought it was really good. My wife thought it was OK but she would have liked more red pepper. I ordered the roast beef sandwich to go and it was good too. The roast beef sandwich comes with BBQ sauce but I had them leave that off as since the sandwich was to go I was afraid the BBQ sauce would get the bun soggy. The place has turkey, chicken, pork and roast beef. Only ham seemed to be missing. I just wish this place was closer but it is near to my dentist office so I know I shall return.

Great hand made sandwiches, nice staff, fair prices.

Sitting here eating the pork and fries, cause I read so much about it. I couldn’t agree more. The sweetness of the pickles balances out well with the peppers and chipotle mayo. The pork is very tender. And has great flavor. Bread is buttery and crispy and sooo good. Glad I came across this sandwich shop. It’s a block away from my hotel.

No hay mejor lugar para sandwiches en el área de DC. Llevo tres visitas y he probado el sandwich de brie y manzana (Major Grey), el de camarón y su burrito de desayuno. Todo ha estado bueno pero los sandwiches son lo mejor.

So glad I found this amazing local favorite! Reminds me of some of the fare @ one of the better N.Y. Delis– loaded w/​meat, etc. w/​the roll there just to have something to «hold onto.». So many variations on its namesake. The hardest part is deciding which one to try
Also some of the best andouille gumbo I’ve ever tasted outside of that «City» famous for its great gumbos
Treat yourself to an awesome lunch in busy Clarendon!

I don’t know who Earl is, but I have always felt a strange kinship to this man. It’s a kinship between two people who understand that french fries also belong inside of sandwiches. A kinship that knows a thanksgiving dinner should always be available in sandwich form. I started going to the one in the Clarendon Area, but now I go to the one near me in Ballston. The sandwiches are always unique and flavorful, with a variety of side options to accompany your delicious sandwich. I love there soups as well. Try the turkey and sausage gumbo.
They always have a special listed and some of them are pretty good. (Crispy Salmon Sandwich, ya’ll!)
I also appreciate the breakfast items that they have on weekends. Definitely try the Arlington, because you haven’t lived until you’ve eaten a sandwich composed of french toast with bacon and turkey w/​your choice of jelly or syrup.
I often see the owner guy in there, but I don’t think his actual name is Earl, which is kind of a betrayal in my book. Either way, it lifts my spirit to know that somewhere, out there, Earl is among us, stuffing fries in a sandwich like god intended.

First visit they were closing/​closed (why so early??!), second visit their power was down and only accepted cash which was a no go, so my third time I finally got in like a normal customer placing a normal order. I got the fish and fries sandwich. The place was empty after work (around 6:30pm– when is their rush hour anyways?) so the guy got my sandwich made in a couple of minutes. Nine dollars later, I was on my way. But WHY are sandwiches freaking $ 9 in Arlington? What do they do, fly?! Remember the good old days when sandwiches were 5 or 6 dollars? Nowadays boneheads are willing to spend 10 bucks on a piece of bread and cheese and brag about it. Oh wait, that bonehead is me. But seriously, we don’t have a bloody choice. Ok so getting back to my sandwich, I turned on a YouTube video of my favorite YouTuber fullyrawkristina (Raw vegan girl) and sat down to chow on my fish and chips sandwich. Yes the irony was tasty too. I ate all the pickles first coz seriously why the hell would you put those nasty pickles in a pure fish and chips sandwich? Americans are crazy. Anyways after inhaling the sandwich, I realized how small that thing actually was. For 9 freaking dollars of my hard earned money. It was tasty and all but these European portions and all left me felt unsatisfied. I settled for telling myself that «smaller portions are good for me and I’m on my way to a healthier, new me.» …
…
B**tch fuck that, gimme a bigger sandwich!!!

Prob one of if not THE best sandwich place in the NOVA area. It’s up there with the Italian store, but a different thing. Quality meats, bread that is fresh, buttery when you want it to be buttery, crunchy crispy crusts, soft inside, chewy when you want it to be chewy. Their set menu items are pretty perfect and expertly selected, the right toppings and bread with the right kind of meat. Earl’s fries are also my favorite kind of fries. Some people might disagree as I have noticed that BGR’s fries are often highly ranked and I sort of hate BGR’s fries.
The Ballston location is fun in nice weather, love the open front.

I was walking with a friend and we spotted this place, and I was hungry, so decided to give it a try. I got the roast beef & cheddar, a signature sandwich, and it was good, though the roast beef could have been seasoned since it was obviously bland. Loved the horseradish, as it gave the sandwich a nice kick.
Overall, the sandwich was good. Bread was nice and crispy, and it hit the spot.

Deeelicious sandwiches! And french fries INSIDE the sandwich?! Heaven on earth! We stumbled upon this place after a long day of errands. I tried one of their specials of the month (April), it was turkey breast, some kind of gravy, and french fries in a sandwich. I really enjoyed it! The gravy makes the bread a bit soggy but it was still good nonetheless. My bf had the Pork and Fries sandwich and I liked it way better than mine! I would definitely come back for that! I also liked the open garage style window that lets the breeze in and gives the place an open-​concept. If you’re ever in the Ballston area, give this place a try!

I give the «Early Thaksgiving Sandwich’ a try,
It was turkey and stuffing, piled high.
A white-​bread sandwich with an open face,
But unfortunately it fell short on the taste.
It was large, and decent, but it wasn’t great.
I feel like you can do better for a bit over $ 8.
BUT it might still be worth stopping by,
There’s a big menu, there’s plenty more to try.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t blown away by Earl’s Sandwiches. On a friends recommendation I got the pork and fries, but sans mayo, because I don’t like mayo. Without the condiment, the sandwich was pretty bland. I wish that the meat its self had more flavor. That said, the sandwich was still A-​OK.
Protip: add Old Bay to it.

Hidden in a tiny storefront off Fairfax Drive in a landscape of chain restaurants, Earl’s is a welcome respite from bland conformity. The place is small but with ample seating, the menu options are plentiful with nothing exotic but a few classic crowd-​pleasers, and the staff seemed quite friendly. My roast beef and cheddar on grilled sourdough was tasty and filling although it could have used some more daring toppings or sauce options to spice things up, and the fries are nice crispy shoestrings.
I wouldn’t make a special trip, but if you’re in the neighborhood for lunch and feel like escaping the Subway/​Cosi loop, check this place out.

My boyfriend and I visited Earl’s Sandwiches in Ballston on Saturday and had an enjoyable lunch. I ordered the Roast Beef & Cheddar sandwich (which came with a delicious horseradish sauce) and my bf ordered the grilled chicken wrap with mango chutney sauce. We thought the food was delicious and the service was friendly and efficient (it’s fast food and you pay at the counter, get your food when they call your name, and choose where to sit). The store was clean and the sandwiches really do taste homemade — I would definitely recommend it, especially if you’re looking for a quick bite to eat in the Ballston area.

I can’t come here three times in one week and not review the place, right?
The first time I came here, I ordered the Pork & Fries because I saw it mentioned in one of the reviews (that I didn’t take the time to really read because I was starving) and it sounded like a no-​brainer. I can’t turn down a sandwich that has pork in it, and I definitely cannot turn down a sandwich that has fries stuffed into it. It’s a condition. It might be genetic.
Roasted pork loin, chipotle mayo, roasted red peppers, pickles, onions — truly a winning combination for Earl’s! This flavor-​packed sandwich will leave you thinking about it for days.
I wanted to try something else the next time I went, so I got the Roasted Earl: roasted pork loin, roasted red peppers, and garlic mayo. I regretted not repeating my previous order; while the Roasted Earl’s simplicity makes it an appealing option, it simply doesn’t deliver. Perhaps if the garlic mayo were featured a little more prominently, I would have felt differently. The pork was roasted nicely, but overall the sandwich just lacked flavor.
The following visit saw a lighter option with the Russian Cobb salad, which consists of romaine lettuce with bacon, blue cheese, tomatoes, croutons, a horseradish Russian dressing, and fried pickles.
The bacon is crispy and plentiful, the dressing is just horseradish-​y enough that I could tolerate it (I really took a gamble here since I don’t like horseradish), and the fried pickles… oh my, those fried pickles. First, they’re chips — not spears — which is preferable because the pickle-​to-​breading ratio is more even. Second, the breading! Ohhh the breading. This is a solid salad (hehe, «solid salad») but the second time I had it, it was just a little too creamy.
Overall, Earl’s is a five-​star sandwich joint in my book. With some solid menu items, beer, good service, happy hour (yes, they have happy hour), and a convenient location to boot, I’d say it’s a must-​try. Seriously — don’t just take my word for it. Go to Earl’s, get the Pork & Fries with a side of fried pickles (not on the menu so ask them nicely), and wash it all down with a beer to experience it all yourself.
Oh, and bring your appetite.

Liked but did not love my Cuban sandwich. This one had proscuitto on it. I prefer a traditional Cuban.
Cute little place with just a few seats and a sliding glass garage door which lets in a lot of light when closed and fresh air when open.
Completely inconvenient location for me or else I would visit again and try some other sandwiches.