Potbelly Sandwich Shop Cubano (Big) Review

Today, we review the Cubano Sandwich in the “Big” size by Potbelly Sandwich Shop. This item was originally a limited offering, but in December 2024, Potbelly decided to make it a permanent menu item.

Potbelly Sandwich Shops was founded by Sandwich Works in 1977 in Chicago. Today, the company still has its headquarters in Chicago, and as of March 2024, there were 427 stores located in the U.S. market. Potbelly Sandwich Shops focuses on hot submarine sandwiches, soups, shakes, smoothies, and some dessert items. The name was derived from the fact that, at one time, a potbelly stove was used to heat the sandwiches. While the potbelly stove is not used today, you may still see one on display in some of the shops.

This review was suggested by Charlie Minato, founder and editor of halfwheel.com. When he suggested it, I was immediately intrigued by reviewing a Cuban sandwich or, in this case, Potbelly’s take on the Cuban sandwich. I knew from looking at the ingredients that this wasn’t authentic. Despite that, trying the Cubano Sandwich piqued my interest. The objective is to evaluate the sandwich’s quality rather than its authenticity, which can also be a topic of discussion.

The Construction

The Potbelly Cubano was ordered using the default options. Although Potbelly offers a variety of bread and extra condiment options, I did not incorporate any into this assessment. The size ordered was “Big,” which is close to a foot long.

Pulled Pork (Default)
Smoked Ham (Default)
Swiss cheese (Default)
Sliced Pickle (Default)
Brown Deli Mustard (Default)
White Bread (Default)
Size: Large
Length: 11 1/2″
Weight: 1 1/4 lbs
Sandwiches Eaten: 2
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
Price: $14.29

The sandwich is constructed with the meats (pork and ham) on the top and bottom of the sandwich. The cheese, pickle, and mustard are in the middle of the meats.

The Experience

For this assessment, we used a slightly modified method compared to what we use for most sandwiches. The Cubano had fewer condiments than many of the other sandwiches, so I transferred that point to the meat and cheese.

Meat and Cheese 5 points
Bread: 2 points
Condiments: 1 point
Intangibles: 2 points

It is worth noting that the sandwiches used for review were bought at the store and brought home for consumption. An insulated bag was used to maintain the temperature of the sandwiches.

Meat and Cheese

This section takes into account the pulled pork, smoked ham, and Swiss cheese. The pulled pork was fantastic. It was tender and had the right amount of smokiness. Perhaps the best part is the delicious trim of the pork on the sandwich.

The ham also holds its own. It doesn’t seem overly processed and, again, delivers the right amount of smokiness. The melted Swiss cheese adds a slight sweetness that perfectly counters the smokiness from the meats.

Score: 3.75 out of 5 points

Bread

The bread used was lightly toasted. I particularly liked how the light toasting enhanced the crust of this sandwich, particularly on the top of the loaf. The inside of the bread was hollowed out. While that allows for more meat to be housed in the sandwich, the bread is still on the light side and doesn’t hold the meat and condiments very well.

The bottom of the bread also has a nice amount of toasting. The bread is what I term “dusted.” This is usually a flour and/or cornmeal combination that prevents the bread from sticking to the pan. It enhances the overall bread experience.

Score: 1.25 out of 2 points

Condiments

The Potbelly Cubano had several large, thin pickle slices and brown mustard. Although a Cuban sandwich traditionally uses yellow mustard, brown mustard is a good option. The brown mustard had a nice “zip” and a good mix of tanginess and spice. The pickle slices seemed a little bland.

Score: 0.50 out of 1 points

Intangibles

The sandwich lives up to the name of its size – big. This one-and-a-quarter-pound sandwich is quite filling. You might be satisfied with the “Original,” a smaller option measuring seven to eight inches, but I chose the larger size for both sandwiches used for this assessment.

The Potbelly Cubano scores nicely in terms of proportions. Probably the most crucial intangible is that the sandwich ingredients taste superb together. In this case, the overall experience exceeds the sum of the parts.

On the negative side, the sandwich is somewhat messy. In addition, as the sandwich cooled to room temperature, I found it less enjoyable.

Score: 1.25 out of 2 points

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

“It’s not a Cuban sandwich!” is likely to be a common reaction to this evaluation, and I fully agree with that sentiment. Several key factors contribute to this assertion. For instance, the dish does not adhere to the traditional format of a panini, nor does it incorporate yellow mustard, which is a hallmark of an authentic Cuban sandwich. These differences are significant and justify the feedback. As I said in the introduction, the Potbelly Cubano is Potbelly’s take on the Cuban sandwich. That said, this sandwich is delicious, even surpassing my expectations. The flavors blend wonderfully, creating a delightful experience with each bite. It was also more than filling. I expect to buy more in the future.