Where to get Thanksgiving sandwiches with all the trimmings in Houston

Late-night snacking on meat and gravy leftovers is a Turkey Day tradition.

Photo of Megha McSwain
Lola's day-after-Thanksgiving sandwich is available at the diner year-round.

Lola's day-after-Thanksgiving sandwich is available at the diner year-round.

Yelp/Thomas C.

For some, indulging in a late night sandwich made from Thanksgiving leftovers is just as thrilling as the big feast itself. The allure may stem from that episode of Friends, in which Ross Geller battles it out with a coworker for stealing his Thanksgiving leftovers sandwich—the one with the "Moist Maker"—or simply from the fact that it's not a sandwich commonly seen the rest of the year.

Whatever it is, the desire to wrap your hands around a juicy one layered with meat, stuffing, gravy and more on Thanksgiving night or the next day, just as the music from the holiday movie begins to play, is all too real.

Sure, those who are prepping a feast at home can look forward to picking through leftovers to build an epic late night sandwich, but what if you're dining out? Or, horror of horrors, there are no leftovers to pick through? Thankfully, these Houston restaurants are coming to the rescue of any emergency Thanksgiving Day cravings with their takes on holiday handhelds that would make even Ross' mouth water.

Cafe Leonelli: Thanksgiving turkey sandwich ($18)

Cafe Leonelli is offering a Thanksgiving turkey sandwich until Wednesday, Nov. 23.

Cafe Leonelli is offering a Thanksgiving turkey sandwich until Wednesday, Nov. 23.

Bastion Collection

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston's resident Italian concept, Cafe Leonelli by the Bastion Collection, is offering a turkey sandwich for dine-in and to-go beginning Nov. 16 and available until the day before Thanksgiving. Created by chef Alexandra Garcia, the loaded sandwich is built on herbed bread and layered with oven-roasted turkey, braised greens, mashed potatoes with gravy, and a sweet cranberry mustarda sauce.

Find it: 5500 Main St Suite 122, Houston, TX 77004; (713) 714-3015
Hours: Tuesday, 5-10 p.m.; Wednesday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.

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Kenny & Ziggy's: It's The Great Holiday Sandwich, Charlie Brown ($21.95)

Kenny & Ziggy's Charlie Brown sandwich is a holiday tradition, available through the month of December.

Kenny & Ziggy's Charlie Brown sandwich is a holiday tradition, available through the month of December.

Ali Bamberger

A holiday tradition returns to Kenny & Ziggy's as the New York delicatessen is bringing back its "It's The Great Holiday Sandwich, Charlie Brown" beginning Nov. 20 and available through the remainder of the year. Also known as "The Charlie Brown Sandwich," the substantial handheld is made with hot, fresh-roasted turkey, sage and chestnut stuffing, and cranberry sauce on grilled challah bread, presented with hand-cut fries. The sandwich boasts all of the familiar components of Thanksgiving Day leftovers, but it's made with fresh ingredients, as the restaurant offers a hot turkey dinner with stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry sauce on its daily menu.

Find it: 1743 Post Oak Blvd, Houston, TX 77056; (713) 871-8883
Hours: Daily, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

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Lola: Day-after-Thanksgiving sandwich ($10.50)

Lola's day-after-Thanksgiving sandwich is available at the diner year-round.

Lola's day-after-Thanksgiving sandwich is available at the diner year-round.

Yelp/Thomas C.

Lola's Day-after-Thanksgiving sandwich is actually available at the diner year-round, making it worthy of bookmarking for when those post-holiday season cravings hit. The meaty sandwich packs in roasted turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce, and is presented with a side of brown gravy.

Find it: 1102 Yale St, Houston, TX 77008; (713) 426-5652
Hours: Daily, 6 a.m.-9 p.m.

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Phat Eatery: Thanksgiving leftover turkey sandwich ($9)

Phat Eatery's Thanksgiving "leftover' sanwich packs a punch of sweetness with sake cranberry sauce. 

Phat Eatery's Thanksgiving leftover sandwich packs a punch of sweetness with sake cranberry sauce.

Phat Eatery

Katy Asian Town hot spot Phat Eatery is offering a Thanksgiving leftover turkey sandwich for guests to take to-go on Thanksgiving Day and through the holiday weekend until Nov. 27. The sandwich is made with sliced turkey, baby greens, garlic aioli, whipped potatoes, gravy and sake cranberry sauce, and presented on the French loaf made popular at (now shuttered) neighboring restaurant, Yelo.

Find it: 23119 Colonial Pkwy Suite B-2, Katy, TX 77449; (832) 412-2927
Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

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Rainbow Lodge: Thanksgiving late night snack pack ($6)

Rainbow Lodge offers late night snack packs for guests to build their own turkey sandwiches at home.

Rainbow Lodge offers late night snack packs for guests to build their own turkey sandwiches at home.

Rainbow Lodge

This time-honored restaurant located on the banks of the White Oak Bayou is offering a three-course menu for guests dining in on Thanksgiving Day, but it's also continuing the tradition of making Thanksgiving late-night snack packs to-go. The kits are available from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 24, and include just enough roasted turkey, gravy and Southern cornbread dressing for a late-night sandwich. The carry-out treat was born from owner Donette Hansen's family's longtime tradition of making sandwiches out of Thanksgiving Day leftovers, and is one Houstonians can rely on every year.

Find it: 2011 Ella Blvd, Houston, TX 77008; (713) 861-8666
Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday, 5-10 p.m.; Sunday, 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m.

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