Break Bread is a sandwich shop that opened up in 2019. Tucked away in an office building in SW Portland, it’s primary role seems to have been to service all the office workers in that part of town where the World Trade Building is. Over time though the word got out that this is a sandwich shop worth a visit, at least the way I see it. I started going a few years ago and I appreciate their take on sandwiches. They have a menu of 20 sandwiches focusing on Chicken, Turkey, Ham, and Pastrami proteins with a few veggie options as well. Four bread options: French, Wheat, Sourdough, Dutch Crunch as well as a GF option. The bread, meats, veggies and spreads are all real quality and they tend to have one ingredient that elevates the sandwich from more traditional to elevated. I’m trying to go more often to work my way through the extensive menu. The owners just sold it to another couple but everything remains the same. They also tend to run a weekly special. Here are three of my favorite recent sandwiches from them.

The Corleone on Dutch Crunch bread. This is the sandwich I got yesterday. Smoked ham, provolone, honey roasted almonds, tomato, lettuce, balsamic &
pesto aioli. Not just a ham and cheese, it’s the almonds and pesto aioli that transform this sandwich and elevate it. Can’t say I’ve had almonds on a sandwich before. They were thin sliced and added a nice textural element to it. All the elements were tasty and I think the pesto aioli really made it sing. I know a lot of people go crazy over the dutch crunch bread trend, especially on the west coast. This is my first time trying it, and though I see the appeal I prefer my bread softer.

Strut Your Stuffing on French Bread. This was a special running last November in the week leading up to Thanksgiving. A lot of places in town were running Thanksgiving inspired sandwiches and I got a number of them and this was my favorite. Stuffing in a sandwich? Brilliant! Turkey, House-Made Cranberry Sauce, Herb Aioli, Jack Cheese, Stuffing. I added mixed greens and whipped cream cheese because that was recommended by another food blogger. This was a banger! One of the best sandwiches I had all year. The stuffing was so delicious, and the herb aioli was perfect. The whipped cream cheese was heavenly as well. I could eat this sandwich all year.

“Someone On the Blazers” was the first sandwich I ordered from them because I’m a huge Blazer fan and of course I had to get this one first. It is delicious and I believe one of their top sellers. Turkey, Ham, Pepperjack, Avocado, Iceberg, Bacon Jam, Dame Sauce. I love turkey and ham together on a sandwich and the element that elevated this sandwich was the bacon jam and “Dame” sauce. I want bacon jam on everything.

Go check out Break Bread if you are a sandwich fan and haven’t been yet. As previously written by me and others, Portland is experiencing a full-blown sandwich renaissance the last five years and people outside of town are starting to notice. The food scene in town is a well known fact around the globe, but recently we have been staking our claim in the pizza, barbecue and sandwich categories. Happy eating.