Mangialardo & Sons

We make a monthly lunch run to this place. We usually have an order between 10 to 25 subs and they can handle big orders easily. Call ahead service is spot & fast. Amazing subs both delicious food, great quality and low prices. Don’t forget change for the parking meters the parking police like to patrol this block for violators.

Really slim selection. Had the G-man…basically just an Italian cold cut sub. Sandwich was really average. Nothing special at all here. I wouldn’t come back.

These guys make the best NYC style Italian deli sandwich you can get in the area. Everyone in DC knows about this place, making it a local favorite. It’s probably the only sandwich shop I know of that people actually travel across the city to get a sandwich there. Enjoy!

This place has the best Italian sandwich in the city in my opinion. They are a regular 7am-​3pm mon-​Friday business. The sandwich I usually get is the Big G which is always good. I get everything on it with soft bread. This place I family owned I believe and the service is always exceptional. Whenever I crave a sandwich I must go here because everything else is second choice in comparison.

Not much to add, except that along with the roast beef at MGM and the reuben at Deli City, the G-​Man is one of the top 3 sandwiches in DC.

Good spot for lunch if you’re in the neighborhood on a weekday during work hours. Not a destination, since there is no seating at all and limited hours. I happened to be nearby for something else and was excited to finally try this place because I’m not normally in this part of town except for evenings/​weekends. The bread was really fresh and the meats/​cheeses were high quality. Yum!

This is the place to come when you are looking for a great sandwich, and looking to get full!
Mangialardo & Sons offers giant subs, and they really pack all the ingredients in there to the brim. The G-​Man seems to be their most popular sandwich, it is a giant sub stuffed with many meats and cheeses, and whatever else they put in there isn’t important… it just tastes good.
They are always busy but somehow you never have to wait very long. Do not get discouraged by a giant line when you first walk in. If the place is completely packed you most likely won’t have to wait more than 15 minutes (depending on your order).
They are priced well, meaning you never will need to go to Subway again.
Thanks for serving and keeping us all full Mangialardo & Sons!

Cool local shop with good sandwiches.
I got the g-​man and the flavors were excellent but the meat seemed a little skimpy.
5 stars for everything being awesome, except not enough meat so 4 stars…
Still well worth checking out.

I’m not a big cold cut sandwich fan. So when I say that the «G» Man is delicious, you should know I do not say it lightly.
Philly folks are real snobs about their hoagies, but I promise they won’t be disappointed if they give Mangialardo’s a try.
You know it from first sniff.
My coworkers and I decided a bit late in the day but even without faxing or calling in our order, it took very little time for our order (2 «G» Mans and a Tuna & Cheese) to be ready. I was really prepared for a wait but they were moving at 12:30 on a Tuesday.
So go ahead and go, you won’t be sorry.

Demolished in less than 5 minutes. This is hands down one of if not the best sandwich shops in DC. If only they had seating inside, but then I guess no one would ever leave!

I miss hoagies the way people from California miss tacos, the way people from Texas miss BBQ, the way every transplant misses the food they associate with home. If you’ve read enough Unilocal reviews, especially in D.C., you’ve seen these reviewers: «This place makes okay [bagels/​tacos/​lutefisk], but it couldn’t compete if it was in [New York/​California/​the Mariana Trench].» Yes, I’m mocking their misery and their occasionally unrealistic expectations fueled by fond childhood memories – even though sometimes they’re right. D.C. has no good lutefisk at all.
But back to hoagies. I’m happy to say that I don’t have to put any qualifiers on Mangialardo’s. It’s not just «good for D.C.,» it’s good. My G-​man hoagie was just as delicious as my nostalgia-​addled brain remembers the hoagies of home (the Philadelphia suburbs). Sure, you can get a lot of perfectly good, and sometimes excellent, sandwiches in D.C., but an Italian hoagie on a proper roll with hot peppers, oil, and vinegar? That’s harder to find.
The somewhat inconvenient hours, MF 7:30−3, even remind me of my favorite hoagie shop back home. But I would not be deterred by logistics once I heard about these hoagies. It took some preplanning, but I rode my bike to work, so I could ride over here on my lunch break – on a hot and muggy day in August – to get a sandwich. And it was totally worth it. The only problem was after devouring the entire 8 inch hoagie in a shady park, I almost couldn’t pedal back to work. I should have saved half you say? AMATEUR. A hoagie with oil and vinegar does not keep, you just have to toughen up and finish the whole thing in one sitting. And so I did.

G-​man on a hard roll.
Yep, that’s all you really need to know. Well, maybe you’d like to know that this is a strictly «to-​go» operation, and that it’s only open M-​F and closes at 3pm. And that the aforementioned G-​man sandwich comes literally stuffed with all sorts of Italian meats and cheeses, and that you shouldn’t skip on the spicy peppers. And that just $ 8 gets you said G-​man sandwich, which is roughly the size of an infant and enough for two to split. And that the area is a *little* sketchy, but that you have no reason to fear because there will be at least two members of law enforcement also waiting in line for their sandwiches too.
Nah. You don’t need to know any of that. Just come for the G-​man. Hard roll. That’s all.

First of all, the nostalgia of the family owned small business makes me want to support them to the fullest, the fact that they make an absolutely amazing sandwich just makes it so much easier. That being said whether you are local, or a visitor to DC, you really want to see this piece of living history. The owner’s family spans four generations of sandwich/​sub-​making, in DC and they still operate this place. Parking is street parking and seems to be prevalent and easy to find; the old Frager’s location is close by and since it closed the whole side of the block seems to be easier to find. If you’re a tourist or a metro rider, hop on the Orange/​Blue line and go to the Potomac Avenue stop, and walk one block down Penn towards the Capitol building. Some of you who know DC may say woah, not really interested in making that trip, however its actually extremely safe — this place is a favorite for Police, Fire, Rescue, and almost any uniformed officer. I have never been there when a police officer wasn’t present or hanging out waiting for their order. I will tell you that there is absolutely no seating in the restaurant, walk in or call, place your order and be ready to take out.
Now for the information you are all wanting, the sandwiches. I have always been a fan of the G-​Man, on a hard roll with all the fixins except the tomatoes. The person I was with on this visit got a loaded G-​Man and it was hard to imagine that this sandwich got bigger but it definitely is when fully loaded. We could have shared one but instead opted to eat our own and I couldn’t finish mine and she could only finish by eating it open faced. The G-​Man hits the spot when I want a sub, well prepared, large, flavorful and satisfying. In fact that was the only thing I had to eat that day, and I was full till around time for a late evening snack.
An update to some previous reviews on this and other sites, they are no longer cash only, thet accept Visa and Mastercard as well as cash. Lastly, as Unilocalers are always wondering, the cost for this amazing sandwich and some drinks are not expensive, as in a HUGE sandwich, plus, chips and a drink will run under $ 10. Eat like a local, and have an amazing lunch at the same time, Mangialardos is only open Monday through Friday, from 11 – 3 so get it while you can; don’t miss it.

I don’t get the impression that you can pay until you have received your order which makes being in the shop longer than it needs to be, but when I came last Friday:
1.) I was impressed they announced they were open regular hours on Facebook since many federal agencies had the day off and it felt like other businesses adjust for that.
2.) The girl taking my order got it right on the first try, as somewhat complicated as it was: 4 G-​Mans: 1 hard roll with hot peppers, 1 hard roll with mild peppers, 1 soft roll with hot peppers, and 1 soft roll with mild peppers. All had lettuce, onions, tomatoes, and oil and vinegar.
Thankfully, I had backup options for breakfast as there was a sign last Friday that said they would not be doing breakfast (presumably for that day, not forever). I noticed that breakfast prices were about a quarter more than on the website.
A bunch of apparently familiar faces stopped in to place orders, and I would say they were all out of there in less than 5 minutes. I was out in 15 ish because of all the sandwiches I ordered.
I counted 10 people working around 8 am so next time, I will heed the suggestions of Unilocalers and call ahead. Round trip to Capitol Hill and my place for some sandwiches was almost an hour because I couldn’t time the buses well.
I imagine lining up and waiting to be chaotic but since it was a light day, I am glad my first time was last week.
As for the sandwiches, all the combos were good. Depending on my mood, I could easily vacillate between hard or soft rolls, hot or mild peppers. It does help to let the cold cuts, bread, and veggies marinate in the oil and vinegar. Surprisingly, mom and sis thought this was one of the better meals on their recent trip that included more expensive, fancy places.
I’m coming back because I like the speed of service and the amazing G-​Man.

This is my favorite Italian deli (DISCLAIMER: I haven’t tried A. Litteris yet). Mangilardos is third-​generation family owned. This place is old school, and they don’t need to fix what ain’t broke! I know hot subs always seem more premium, but trust me, you want a cold cut. Nobody makes a cold sandwich like an Italian deli. This joint also knows exactly how to portion and stack all of the ingredients. The different kinds of cured meat, the pickled veggies, the cheese — all perfectly layered to get a consistent, delicious bite from the first to last. I definitely recommend the g-​man. The first time I ate it, I realized I didn’t need to try anything else, it was exactly what I wanted. The fontina cheese is a nice a touch and gives it a unique flavor to your standard Italian. The cheese is creamy and more bitter rather than sharp any tangy like an Italian hard cheese. It’s also holds up to the heat, salt and fat of the other ingredients. I feel mozzarella or provolone are too mild to stack up, the fontina on the other hand holds its own. Also, please, please get the soft roll! It keeps the whole sandwich tender and easy to eat. The hard roll starts to squish everything and then ingredients start to spill out. The local bakery they order rolls from makes great sandwich rolls. They hold up to all he ingredients but don’t get in the way.
Keep in mind this place has really limited hours and no seating. You have to order the sandwich in the morning and the. Let it sit and marinate in all of its flavorful oils and vinegars and bust that puppy out for lunch. It’s also a salt bomb, so gave a beverage at the ready.
I wish I still lived nearby this place.

Craving a hearty sub sandwich?
Look no further! D.C.‘s best sub place, hands down. Great find in SE.
Which sub you say?
I come here occasionally for lunch and the G-​man is the sandwich to get here — it’s their signature sub! For sides, check out the cheese and salami dish.
Wallet problems?
Important change: they use to be cash only but now they take credit card!
Take To-​go
Heads up, no seating. You order, grab your sandwich and eat elsewhere. Perhaps enjoy nature.

I hardly ever venture too far into Southeast DC and I’ve only gone past the Eastern Market neighborhood further into Southeast DC a handful of times, but I wanted to see what all the hype about Mangialardo & Sons was about. Since this deli is only open on weekdays (until 3pm), I decided to visit on Presidents’ Day (today, actually!). It was a blisteringly cold day (13 degrees F), but I made the trip out to the Potomac Ave neighborhood anyway. The deli is located just a block or so away from the Potomac Ave metro station, so that’s perfect. And the food was just absolutely divine!
I ordered the famous «G» man sub. This sandwich came with a monstrously large amount of meat and cheese (which is AMAZING), as it included ham, salami, mortadella, pepperoni, provalone, fontina, and hot peppers. Mmm, mmm, mm, so delicious! I got mine on a hard roll (8 inches) with some lettuce, tomato, and mayo added. So, so, so good! I can’t even begin to describe how delicious this was. The portion was perfect and the meat was simply divine. Just two bites of my sandwich and I was in heaven. And for $ 6.50 too! That’s such a great deal, especially since so many other delis in the DC area try to overcharge you.
And the service was excellent! Very efficient, and the server was very nice! We had a brief 2-​minute conversation about the weather (what with the impending storm in DC).
Just a couple tips —
–They are open for only a limited number of hours. It’s really just a weekday lunch (and breakfast) type of place. Weekdays only, until 3pm.
–They don’t offer any half sandwiches. Their standard is an 8″ sandwich.
–There is no seating inside this restaurant. It’s purely a carry-​out deli.
–Get the «G» Man! It’s very famous and I’ve read about it on food blogs too.
–I had heard this place is cash only. I made sure to plan accordingly and have cash on me. However, I saw a sign in the restaurant that said they are now accepting credit cards. I would take cash with you just in case anyway, but for those who forget, there may be a credit card payment option now.
It’s just all around a very friendly, family-​style deli and I would certainly visit again and give the highest recommendation for this place!

I eat here at least twice a month, that’s saying something. This has to be one of the best deli’s in the DC area that always has fresh ingredients and is consistent. I always get the turkey and cheese on a soft roll with everything on it, peppers hot of course, and fall in love each time.
It can be crowded during the lunch hour, but the wait is not longer than 5 mins depending on how many sandwiches you get. If you haven’t tried Mangialardo’s I suggest you go. The ONLY con is that they close at 3 and it’s closed on the weekend.

Yesterday was the first DC snow of the season and after waking up groggy and disoriented (no, I was not going up on a Tuesday) my first thought of the day went straight to Mangialardo. Frantically I begin checking my email to see what the status was on work — the minute ‘working from home’ was approved, I knew exactly what my plan was for the day.
MANGIALARDO & SONS! This coveted sandwich shop has hours that make it difficult to stop by and try the beloved G-Man.The trek through DC snow is all worth it for one of the most perfect Italian hoagies I’ve ever tasted. For around $ 7, you get an authentic Italian hoagie full of delicately slivered meats, crunchy lettuce, tomatoes, hot peppers and pepper relish. I’ve had both the hard and soft rolls and I do lean more towards the hard as it holds the sandwich together nicely. The sandwich feels lovingly made and is perfectly assembled. There is an incredible feel of authenticity as the amicable workers hand you your parchment wrapped sandwich which is the purest form of an Italian. The tangy relish clings perfectly onto the meat and you get a lovely crunch of lettuce with each bite. I hold this sandwich in high esteem as part of the league of extraordinary sandwiches in DC proper.

This family-​owned deli has been around for over 60 years and bears historical and cultural significance to the District. It’s a no-​table counter-​service carryout that doesn’t take credit cards and is only open during typical work hours. A true mom-​and-​pop eatery.
Like everyone else, I got the G-​Man, an Italian sub piled with ham, salami, mortadella, pepperoni, provolone, fontina, and hot peppers. This sandwich is like a D.C. institution. Ingredients are all local. The bread is locally made — hard rolls by Catania Bakery; soft rolls come from H&S Bakery in neighboring Baltimore. You can get the G-​Man on either a soft or hard roll. Soft rolls are becoming more popular while hard rolls are more of an old-​school thing. I got mine on a hard roll and it packed great flavor.
The legend of the sandwich is just as cool as the sandwich itself: In the 1970s, two FBI agents were en route to a Redskins game and stopped at the deli. They demanded that the owner, Antonio Mangialardo, whip up something special. The G-​Man is what they got. Word later spread throughout the Justice Department about the sandwich and soon feds kept coming in requesting the signature sandwich. Even to this day, this place is still a spot for the law enforcement. They even keep a board covered with duty patches from local police and firefighters.
As I mentioned, Mangialardo & Sons is only open Monday through Friday from 7:30 am — 3:00 pm. So if you want the G-​Man, you’ll have to take a long lunch or go on your day off. It’s definitely worth it though.
Cash only!