La Sureña

La Sureña at Rika Arepa Express

rikaarepaexpress.com

A

The Rika Arepa Express food truck hasn't displaced Viva Las Arepas as our go-to spot for these scrumptious masa cake sandwiches, but damn, this thing is delicious. The toasty griddled corn concoction is a little sweet and savory—maybe just a bit on the dry side—and absolutely stuffed with juicy, marinated and grilled chicken meat (dark and white), succulent slabs of a spicy smoked sausage, and mounds of creamy, rich avocado. It's one of the most satisfying bites you can imagine, hearty and bold and impossibly cheap ($7). It's a fantastic meal all by itself. Grab yourself one whenever you get the chance.

Detroit Coney Classic

Detroit Coney Classic at Haute Doggery

hautedoggerylv.com

C-

After showing early promise, Haute Doggery has us a little worried. Its selection of gourmet dogs still makes it a solid stop if you're wandering the Linq, but this wiener—a grilled beef frank traditionally topped with chili, cheddar, onions and mustard—leaves a lot to be desired. The dog itself is fine, but the bun is cold and dry and there aren't enough toppings. Plus, what's there doesn't bring a lot of flavor, and that's simply unacceptable for a joint that wants to be known for a fun, over-the-top take on a hot dog stand.

Sandwich Sundays Presents: The Colby Burger

The Colby Burger

homemade

B

It's called this because it's full of Colby cheese, right? Wrong. It was made by brother Colby, one of the originators of Sandwich Sundays. It's his take on a Juicy Lucy, a massive beef patty magically stuffed with cheese before being cooked into a gooey, greasy, delicious mess. He filled these babies with sharp cheddar, creating a lava flow of cheese when you cut or bite into them. We grilled 'em and plopped 'em on soft rolls with griddled ham, homemade spicy brown mustard, and yes, another layer of cheese … Colby Jack! There's no doubt that this is the cheesiest burger ever consumed.

Philly Joe

Philly Joe at Hank's Philly Steaks

hanksphillysteaks.com

B

The owner's of Hank's hail from South Philadelphia, and they claim to be the only true Philly steak shop in all of Las Vegas. We are not concerned with such proclamations. All we care about is if this cheese steak is delicious, and it is. The Philly Joe blends tangy Cheez Whiz with an American cheese sauce created at Hank's, and drops a lot of it all over these tender, satisfying slices of hand-trimmed ribeye steak. This is not a chopped steak sandwich, with thin ribbons of meat, which seems to be the most frequently munched style of cheese steak sandwich around town. This is a little bigger and bolder, topped off by a truly wonderful soft roll holding it all together. Is it the best? Not sure. But it's good enough to go back for more.

TNB Cafe Signature Hamburger

TNB Cafe Signature Hamburger at Truffles N Bacon Cafe

trufflesnbacon.com

A+

I don't want to like this burger, which seems ridiculous and gimmicky and gluttonous. I damn sure don't want to love it, but I do. It's undeniably delicious, and despite the indulgence of its toppings, it works. It really works.  The first thing you'll notice: Despite the fact that this beef patty is absolutely drenched with melted cheese, there still appears to be a need for a "slice" of crispified mac and cheese onboard this luscious cruise ship. That mac is fantastic; You'll want a side order of the stuff. All this meltiness, all this velvety cheesy texture is almost too much to handle, almost too rich to be awesome. But not quite. Because there's bacon jam on top, a thin but powerful layer of swine as condiment, and it's sweet, spicy, salty and salacious. There's a little sriracha ketchup inside this soft brioche bun, too. But it's undetectable. The flavor that's not overpowered by cheese, more cheese and bacon amazingness—the flavor that you need most—is cow. The burger patty itself is cooked exceptionally, juicy and just right. Truffles N Bacon Cafe is a tiny little hideaway in a weird little antique mall, but it'd be worth braving any environment to get your mouth on this masterpiece.

Fried Catfish

Fried Catfish Sandwich at Brooklyn Bowl

vegas.brooklynbowl.com

B

Call it a fancy po' boy. Brooklyn Bowl's fried catfish sandwich drops huge, flaky filets of crunchified fish on a fluffy soft French roll—super soft—plus lettuce, tomato, onion and a light, sweet, slightly tangy corn tartar sauce. It's a mighty mouthful and supremely satisfying, with perfect proportions of meat and vegetables and stimulating textural contrasts. The only drawback is perhaps the fish coating could be flavored with some spice, to add some eat to the overall mix. But we're not complaining.