Discovering Prague’s Most Deliciously Diverse Sandwich

Maybe the Czech Republic isn’t a major sandwich player because Czechs prefer their sandwiches open face, as in chlebíčky those handheld vehicles for potato salad and ham that are the hors d’oeuvre of choice at office parties and social events.

On the more colorful side of the local sandwich scale, I’ve recently discovered the sabich. In Prague, falafel is probably the most well-known Middle Eastern sandwich offering. But after spotting an online video of its pita counterpart being made at a Vršovice café, I knew I had to try it.

A stuffed pita pocket sold from street carts in Israel, the sabich, according to Nofech Pâtisserie owner Avi Ben Perez has its roots in Iraq where it is considered a breakfast staple by the Jewish community who eat it during the Sabbath (some sources suggest that the dish takes its name from sabah the Arabic word for morning).

Eating one is a messy, squishy, flavor jolt of an experience but at just 89 CZK it’s also one of Prague’s most healthy and filling vegan lunches, made even better with a side of fresh-squeezed pomegranate juice.

As for the place’s sandwich pedigree, it does have a connection to one of the world-famous sandwich cities mentioned in the lede. Co-owner Jeffrey Zamoff, who hails from Philly, will make you that city’s beloved egg-and-cheese with a Nofech twist: order it with shakshuka, tahini dressing, or a dash of harrisa or schug, a herby green hot sauce, for a fiery start to your day.

Nofech Pâtisserie

Kodaňská
Open Mon-Thurs 6:30am-7:00pm; Friday 6:30am-5:00pm
nofech.cz