Here’s where to find the cheesiest, sauciest, best chicken parm in L.A.

Consistently hailed as one of the most legit New York-style Italian spots in town, Vito’s is the exact type of no-frills establishment that you’d expect to be slinging incredible chicken parm subs. Of course, the hefty portion of expertly breaded chicken cutlet is where it all starts, but when you add the melty mozzarella, parmesan cheese and thick-but-not-too-thick marinara sauce—then stuff it all inside Vito’s signature Italian roll—the whole thing explodes with flavor. The way the crunch of the bread and the crunch of the chicken fold into each other may in fact be proof of a higher power. It’s a top-tier L.A. sandwich. $11.95.

Perhaps you’ve never gone for the sandwiches at Cosa Buona. That’s fair. It’s a grand slam menu and Zach Pollack’s pizzas tend to be the star of the show—of course you could stick with those pizzas for the rest of your life, but you’d be missing out on a true, weekday-only show-stopper. You’d be missing out on a slightly spicy crunch to the breading. You’d be missing out on tangy red sauce, fresh arugula and a round brioche bun. But most importantly, you’d be missing out on a thin layer of prosciutto that you never realized could take the classic sandwich to a whole new level. You don’t want to miss out, do you? $14.

There isn’t a lot to say about Bay Cities that hasn’t already been said in the countless lists that their sandwiches have appeared on. Though the Godmother is generally the sandwich that takes home the acclaim, it would be a dangerous mistake to sleep on the other things this Santa Monica deli has going for it: namely, one chicken parm sandwich. The chicken parm they’re serving à la carte is already delicious—it’s pounded thin, not too heavily fried and comes drenched in sauce and actual Italian parmesan cheese—so guess how much the addition of their signature bread helps the whole situation? A lot. The answer is a lot. $8.70 small, $10.30 large.

If you’re an Eastsider, it’s probable that you don’t make it over to Bay Cities nearly as often as you’d like. But if that drive scares you, don’t worry—all is not lost. Think of Mario’s as a Glendale answer to Bay Cities: You can grab tons of imported Italian goodies from their market section (one of the best places to find Calabrian chilies in L.A.), but the real reason people are here is the sandwich selection. Their signature Italian roll is a perfect host for any of their fillings, cold or hot, but the generously portioned chicken parm—topped with mozzarella and parmesan cheese and drowned in a family-recipe red sauce—might be the best of all. $9.95.

Lupetti has managed to wiggle its way into a tricky spot: The pizzeria serves a chicken parm sandwich that’s neither old-school nor ultra-modern, but it completely stuck the landing. The chicken itself is the star of the show here, a portion so big that it sticks out of the sides of the locally-made ciabatta so dramatically that it resembles the wings of an airplane, and you’d better believe we’re ready for liftoff. The sauce, cheese and basil are contained inside the bread as not to drip all over your fingers, and you can’t help but have fun as you chew off the sides of the chicken to even out the sandwich before you attack the rest. $16.50.

Unlike all of the other coma-inducing sandwiches at Eastside Deli, you might actually be able to take down the chicken parm without needing a nap. That doesn’t mean it packs any less of a punch. The way the sauce soaks into the bread and the way cheese stretches out from your mouth as you take a bite will remind you why chicken parm makes for such a phenomenal sandwich. It’s homey and comforting, like a warm hug, and Eastside is serving a great one. $9.90.