Shambles Kitchen: Sandwich Shop in York, England

Shambles Kitchen is a famous sandwich shop and smokehouse named after The Shambles, one of the most historic streets in York, England. As their sign states, they serve sandwiches and splendid fast food.

The Shambles is a must-visit destination in York. The street is known for its well-preserved medieval timber-framed buildings and cobbled streets, with some structures dating back to the 14th century.

Founded in 2013, the small takeaway-only shop uses high-quality local ingredients, including artisan bread and Yorkshire meats smoked “low and slow” behind the shop.

The simple menu at Shambles Kitchen features sandwiches named after York’s most famous and infamous characters, including highwayman Dick Turpin and Guy Fawkes.

GQ Magazine, The Guardian, and The Daily Star featured Shambles Kitchen for their made-from-scratch food.

Because of their popularity, I made it a priority to visit Shambles Kitchen on my visit to York to try out their sandwiches for myself.

Shambles Kitchen Interior

Friendly staff holding up The Harry Trotter

Until recently, I read that Shambles Kitchen was open for walk-in orders and had a few seats. However, according to their website, they are now a takeaway-only restaurant.

Therefore, during my visit, I ordered from the cashier at the shop’s door. I was not able to enter the shop.

From the door, I could view the menu and see into the kitchen, which occupied most of the shop’s interior.

Staff preparing sandwiches inside, Shambles Kitchen, York, England — Staff preparing sandwiches inside

After placing my order, I received a buzzer. The cashier told me to return to the door to pick up my food when it was ready.

While the shop did not have dedicated seating, the Shambles Market behind it had plenty of open tables.

Shambles Kitchen Menu

The menu at Shambles Kitchen, York, England — The menu at Shambles Kitchen

The menu at Shambles Kitchen featured an assortment of sandwiches, each named after a famous historical character.

On the menu were The Harry Trotter (pulled pork), The Dick Turpin (beef Reuben), The Guy Fawkes (beef barbacoa), and Dame Judy Hench (ham & pulled pork).

Another option was The Trufflepuff with pulled pork, truffle mayo, lettuce, and grated parmesan.

In addition to sandwiches, there were wraps, chicken shawarma, and vegan shawarma.

Harry Trotter

I ordered The Harry Trotter (£8.70) with low and slow-smoked pork collar, zingy slaw, shambles mayo, apple BBQ sauce, and warm artisan focaccia bread.

Even before eating this sandwich, I have to mention the sparkler placed on it. I’m unsure why it was there, but I thought it was a unique touch and made for great photos.

The pork was slow-cooked behind the shop for 8 hours. It was smoky, salty, and rich. While simple, it was perfect. And there was a lot of pork, which I enjoyed.

Shredded cabbage, carrots, and thin red onions were inside the sandwich, adding color, a bright, tangy bite, and a crunchy texture.

Mixed in with the pork was creamy Shambles mayo, which complemented the sweet apple BBQ sauce. The mayo and BBQ sauce covered every inch of the pork but never overpowered its flavors.

The final component of this sandwich was warm artisan focaccia bread, which reminded me of French bread. It was fresh and had a soft and airy texture, which was the perfect pillowy base for all the pork.

Service at Shambles Kitchen

As mentioned, Shambles Kitchen is a takeaway restaurant, so I interacted with the staff only when ordering and picking up my food.

However, I found the staff to be friendly during my visit. The staff even let me snap a few photos inside the kitchen and posed for one holding The Harry Trotter.

Conclusion

I enjoyed everything about my visit to Shambles Kitchen, from the location to the food to the staff.

Its location in The Shambles, the historic and medieval street of York, could not be beaten. The street, while touristy, was beautiful and should not be missed on any trip to York.

That said, the sandwiches here were delicious and made from scratch using high-quality ingredients from Yorkshire.

The Harry Trotter was made with tender, slow-cooked pork and freshly baked focaccia. It tasted like something I would make at home, which I enjoyed.

If you are in York, stop by Shambles Kitchen for an affordable, fresh, and delicious sandwich.