15 Georgia Sandwiches Locals Still Remember But Hardly Find Anymore

Georgia’s sandwich history tells a delicious story of regional flavors and cherished traditions. From Augusta’s legendary golf tournament treats to coastal seafood specialties, these handheld delights once defined local food culture across the Peach State.

While some have disappeared from menus, they live on in the memories of Georgians who still crave these nostalgic bites.

15. Masters Pimento Cheese Sandwich

Augusta whispers tradition through a sandwich more famous than some tournament champions. Creamy pimento cheese, tangy and rich, spreads thick across soft white bread, its aroma mingling with spring air and blooming azaleas.

The recipe remains locked away tighter than Fort Knox, fueling myths as much as cravings. Locals swear the bite alone justifies ticket prices, while many guests return talking more about sandwiches than birdies or bogeys.

14. Masters Egg Salad Sandwich

While its pimento cheese cousin gets all the glory, this humble egg salad masterpiece deserves its own green jacket.

Perfectly chopped eggs with just the right mayo-to-mustard ratio create sandwich perfection.

Augusta locals mark their calendars for tournament week just for a chance to grab this nostalgic treat. How something so simple became so legendary remains one of golf’s greatest mysteries!

13. Vidalia Sweet Onion Tea Sandwiches

Spring in Georgia once meant dainty crustless bread embracing paper-thin slices of sweet Vidalia onions. These elegant bites were the stars of garden parties and ladies’ luncheons across the state.

Just a whisper of mayo and a sprinkle of salt transformed raw onions into something magical. Could anything be more quintessentially Southern than turning the humble onion into high society fare?

12. Georgia Tomato Sandwich

Summer heat brings the ultimate Georgia simple pleasure – thick slices of juicy homegrown tomatoes on white bread slathered with Duke’s mayo. Nothing fancy, just pure Southern bliss!

Old-timers remember eating these over the kitchen sink as tomato juice dripped down their arms. Where else but Georgia would people argue passionately about which tomato variety makes the perfect sandwich?

11. Fried Green Tomato BLT

Georgians were biting into fried green tomato BLTs long before Hollywood turned them into movie magic. Cornmeal-dusted slices hit the skillet, sizzling into tangy crunch that lifts smoky bacon and fresh lettuce to new heights.

Finding one today takes sleuthing, but memories linger of Aunt Betty picking green tomatoes before the frost, transforming garden stragglers into sandwiches that tasted like Southern sunshine captured between bread.

10. Country Ham & Red-Eye Gravy Biscuit

Grandpa’s favorite breakfast came between two halves of a fluffy buttermilk biscuit. Salty country ham meets coffee-infused red-eye gravy in this morning masterpiece!

Farm families once powered through dawn chores fueled by this hearty handheld. Though fancy brunch spots attempt revivals, nothing matches the original from Granny’s cast iron skillet, where the ham sizzled while coffee drippings created that magical gravy.

9. Fried Bologna Sandwich

Working-class hero of Georgia lunch counters, this humble sandwich features thick-cut bologna fried until the edges curl up like a smile. Those crispy edges held magical powers!

Kids would beg for the sandwich with the “happy meat.” Gas stations across rural Georgia once served these beauties on white bread with yellow mustard and maybe a slice of American cheese if you were feeling fancy.

8. Ham Salad Sandwich

Church socials and funeral gatherings weren’t complete without platters of these pink-hued comfort sandwiches. Finely ground ham mixed with mayo, pickle relish, and a dash of mystery spices created this spreadable delight.

Grandmothers would save leftover Easter ham just for this purpose. When’s the last time you saw someone cranking the handle of a metal food grinder to transform ham into this nostalgic spread?

7. Banana-And-Mayo Sandwich

Before you wrinkle your nose, hear me out! This unusual pairing once graced many Georgia lunch boxes. Sweet banana slices nestled in creamy mayonnaise between soft white bread created an oddly satisfying treat.

Depression-era ingenuity made this affordable lunch option popular. Whenever I mention this sandwich to my Northern friends, they look at me like I’ve suggested putting ketchup on ice cream!

6. Peanut Butter & Mayo Sandwich

Georgia school lunchrooms once served a curious cousin to PB&J known as the PB&M, where creamy peanut butter met tangy mayonnaise. The flavors worked better than expected, echoing a savory peanut sauce with a distinctly Southern accent.

Depression-era mothers leaned on this humble pairing to stretch protein and calories when budgets ran thin. Ask anyone over sixty about it, and you’ll see eyes spark with nostalgia – or maybe shudder at the memory.

5. Fried Whiting Fish Sandwich

Savannah’s quick bite to soul food fame came wrapped in wax paper, perfumed with hot oil and cayenne. Cornmeal-crusted whiting nestled into soft bread, a drizzle of hot sauce sharp enough to wake you but gentle enough to keep cravings alive. Black-owned kitchens along the coast turned this humble creation into coastal tradition.

A few old-school spots still whisper its magic, though hunting down authentic versions requires local knowledge and adventurous spirit.

4. Oyster Po’Boy

Coastal Georgia’s sandwich glory shows up stacked with fried oysters, cornmeal dust clinging to each briny jewel.

Crusty French bread soaks in the scent of the sea while crisp shells crackle against tender, salty centers, creating pure seafood bliss. Old-timers recall paying pocket change at beachside shacks, a memory now faded. Upscale menus may reimagine it, but the authentic po’boy – lettuce, tomato, remoulade – grows rarer as oyster prices climb.

3. Fried Catfish Sandwich

Friday fish fries once meant crispy cornmeal-crusted catfish sandwiches throughout Georgia’s river towns. Hot sauce or homemade tartar sauce? That debate divided families!

Caught fresh from local waters, these sandwiches celebrated Georgia’s abundant catfish population. Small diners near lakes and rivers built reputations on their secret cornmeal mixtures, creating loyal customers who’d drive miles for their catfish fix.

2. Hot Brown Sandwich

Hapeville’s Dwarf House (birthplace of Chick-fil-A) created Georgia’s spin on this Kentucky classic. Their open-faced beauty featured turkey smothered in gravy with bacon and melted cheese.

While Louisville claims the original, Georgia’s version became legendary in its own right. When Truett Cathy wasn’t perfecting chicken sandwiches, his diner served this indulgent knife-and-fork affair that could cure any ailment known to mankind.

1. Chopped Pork BBQ Sandwich With Slaw

Georgia barbecue once meant chopped pork shoulder steaming on a bun, smoke drifting from small-town pits while tangy slaw dripped down wax paper wrappers. Each bite blended vinegar bite, slow-smoked depth, and soft bread into a flavor that felt like home. Old joints kept bellies full for generations with that humble recipe.

Trendier spots now showcase brisket and polished cuts, yet nothing surpasses the pork-and-slaw masterpiece that defined Georgia’s smoky soul.