Sailor Sandwich
Quick Bite
A Sailor Sandwich is a Richmond deli classic made with hot pastrami, grilled knockwurst, melted Swiss cheese, and mustard on rye. It is salty, snappy, melty, and exactly the kind of sandwich that sounds like it was invented for hungry sailors because it was.
History
The Sailor Sandwich is a Richmond original, most closely tied to New York Deli in Carytown. The deli was founded in 1929 and is widely credited as the birthplace of the sandwich.
The usual origin story dates to World War II, when Navy trainees from the University of Richmond’s V-12 program came into the deli looking for a filling meal. The sandwich combined hot pastrami, grilled knockwurst, Swiss cheese, mustard, and rye bread, hearty enough for sailors, and memorable enough to become a Richmond icon.
The combination works because the meats play different roles. Pastrami brings peppery richness, knockwurst brings snap and smoke, Swiss melts over everything, mustard cuts through the fat, and rye gives the sandwich its deli backbone.
Today, the Sailor Sandwich still appears on Richmond-area deli menus and has spread to other Virginia sandwich shops. It is not as nationally famous as a Reuben or cheesesteak, but Richmond gets to claim it as its own.
Fun Facts
- The Sailor Sandwich was born in Richmond.
- It is associated with World War II-era Navy trainees.
- The classic build is pastrami, knockwurst, Swiss, mustard, and rye.
Where to Try
The classic birthplace of the Sailor Sandwich and the essential Richmond stop for the original-style version.
A Richmond restaurant serving its own version of the local classic with pastrami, knackwurst, sauerkraut, Gruyere, rye, and hot mustard.
A Richmond-area deli offering a Sailor with pastrami, knockwurst, and Swiss.
About the Game
This recipe is part of Van Life Challenge, a travel-themed board game from Gray Dog Games where players explore the United States, discover regional foods, and collect memorable experiences along the way.
Each featured food celebrates a real place, a local flavor, and the kind of delicious roadside discovery that makes every trip feel like an adventure.
Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
- Heat the sausage: Heat the knockwurst in a skillet or simmer gently until hot.
- Brown the sausage: Split the knockwurst lengthwise if desired and brown lightly in a skillet.
- Warm the pastrami: Warm the pastrami in a skillet or steamer.
- Add mustard: Spread mustard on the rye bread.
- Build the sandwiches: Layer pastrami, knockwurst, and Swiss cheese on the bread.
- Add sauerkraut if using: Add sauerkraut if using.
- Close: Close the sandwiches.
- Butter: Butter the outside of the bread.
- Grill: Grill in a skillet until the rye is toasted and the cheese melts.
- Serve: Slice and serve hot.
