The best jambon beurre sandwiches in nyc

French ham, butter, baguette

Jambon beurre at Le Swan in Toronto

In a city saturated with sourdough boules, the culinary tides are changing. The crusty baguette baguette is on the rise in recent years and The French Consulate in NYC even hosted a contest for the city's best baguette. The jambon beurre, a seemingly simple sandwich of ham, butter, and occasionally cheese, embodies both the ordinary and the indulgent. This two- or three-ingredient masterpiece, best enjoyed at room temperature transcends its humble components. If the person at the register asks if you want it toasted—never agree to this. 

Here is a rundown of some of the city’s best ham and butter sandwiches.

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L’amis Pierre

A classic French bakery from the former owner of the iconic Ladurée and backed by Eric Ripert. Simply ham, butter, and gruyere, the sandwich is proof that something so simple can be so delicious. This is the standard-bearer, perfect before heading into MOMA.

Mel the Bakery

Technically no longer in nyc, the former Dime Square bakery has set up shop upstate in Hudson where it’s even better than it was before. This non-sourdough traditionally yeasted baguette is perfection. A french woman came back after eating hers to promptly buy another. If thats’ not a compliment, I don’t know what is!

Pavé

Perhaps New York’s only bakery specializing in baguettes, so you can expect consistency at this shop on W. 46th street where you can taste the flouriness of the bread. The baguettes, slightly softer than those found elsewhere, make for easier eating, especially when transformed into the various sandwich varieties on offer. (In addition to ham and butter, there’s country Pâté, smoked salmon, and apples and brie.) Don’t forget to add Comté to the classic though.

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I also want to note that Jonghun Won, chef and co-owner, started the pastry program Jungsik and is behind the popular Tabatiere bakery in north New Jersey.

Le Petit Parisien

This ultra traditional French bakery (eclairs!) has a few different baguette sandwiches, named after French luminaries like Brigitte Bardot and Jules Verne. The jambon beurre is solid, but even better is having it with Camembert instead of comte, or getting saucisson sec sandwich instead. Multiple locations.

A&C Super

Black forest ham with mustard and cornichons on sourdough baguette makes for a solid American-leaning iteration at this underrated Williamsburg bakery.

La Bicyclette

This French bakery, which started in Williamsburg, was crowned the winner of the best baguette contest. It is for my American tastes, a tad too crusty when eaten in sandwich form, but delicious nonetheless. The ham is thinly sliced and flavored with spices, thyme, a bit of rosemary. Pickles for balance, and plenty of beurre de Baratte.

Laurel Bakery

The cultured butter is house made and whipped to perfection and with the addition of cracked black pepper, the Oxalis team’s jambon beurre tastes epically like cacio e pepe. Also available to go at the sister restaurant Cafe Mado.

Jambon beurre from Laurel Bakery / Cafe Mado

…and the rest