Alby's, a sandwich shop tucked away on Portland Place in Edinburgh's Leith district, has been named the Daily Record's Restaurant of the Week. The eatery, founded in 2019, has built a devoted local following thanks to its large hot sandwiches and a regularly changing menu.
In-house ingredients and menu highlights
Every component of Alby's sandwiches, from the mayonnaise to the accompanying crisps, is made in-house using local and seasonal ingredients. While it serves as a popular lunch spot, the shop also offers weekend dinner bookings.
Current menu items include Buffalo Fried Chicken with fried chicken thigh, buffalo sauce, blue cheese dressing, pickled celery, dill, and shredded cos lettuce, as well as Charred Broccoli and Anchovy with charred tenderstem broccoli, burrata cream, anchoïade, salsa verde, matchstick crisps, and rocket.
Vegetarian options and sides
Vegetarians can enjoy a sandwich with fried green beans, sichuan pepper, chiu chow mayo, sesame slaw, ginger scallion sauce, and pickled mustard greens. A toastie with figs, brie de meaux, hot honey, and mozzarella is also available.
Alongside its award-winning focaccia sandwiches, Alby's serves small plates and local drinks. Sides include fries with oregano, roasted cauliflower with herby tahini, and a fennel, apple, and walnut salad.
Second location and customer reviews
For those who prefer not to travel into Leith, Alby's Southside takeaway shop and bakery, which opened in 2023, offers the same big hot sandwiches. The eatery also caters for weddings and parties of up to 25 guests.
One customer wrote in a Google review: "Some of the best grilled sandwiches in town. Albys is a perfect Sunday brunch or lunch guilty pleasure." Another said: "We went here last week for the first time and can't believe we waited so long to try it. Everything was exceptional. We ordered the vegan mushroom focaccia and the spanakopita toastie. Both were absolutely exquisite. You can tell that a lot of thought goes into each sandwich ingredient as they both worked so well and it felt like such a treat."
A three-star review, however, noted: "Lovely atmosphere and friendly service. The sandwiches were nice enough but definitely not worth £13."
