The first bite is a revelation. The schiacciata bread cracks beneath your teeth, its olive oil-kissed surface giving way to layers of salty prosciutto, creamy stracchino, and a whisper of black truffle. It’s simple but deeply satisfying, the kind of sandwich that makes you close your eyes for a second. It feels like something you should be eating on a sun-drenched piazza in Florence—but here it is, in Los Angeles.

This isn’t an isolated moment. Over the past few years, a wave of new Italian sandwich shops has taken over the city, reshaping LA’s casual dining scene. From the highly anticipated arrival of Florence’s famed All’Antico Vinaio to the homegrown efforts of Mamie, Sì Roma, Lorenzo, and Pane Bianco, the city has embraced the art of the Italian panino with an intensity usually reserved for tacos and burgers.