- 2474 Dufferin St. Toronto, ON M6B 3P8, Canada
- Mon – Sat 10am – 9:00pm, Sun 11:00am – 8:00pm
- 416-787-5205
About Us
From a Small Grocery to Toronto’s Go-To Sandwich Spot
It all started in the 1960s when the Papa family bought a little grocery store in Toronto’s Little Italy.
Why Choose Us
Today, there are 13 family-owned locations across Ontario.
Customers began showing up for the homemade sandwiches more than the groceries, and by 1967, the first California Sandwiches was born.
Our veal sandwich quickly became a Toronto classic.
Fast forward to 2000: one of the first California Sandwiches opened at 2700 Dufferin Street, becoming a community staple. By 2008, we moved into our flagship location at 2474 Dufferin Street, now home to a 12-tray hot table, fresh salad bar, gelato, Italian coffee, wine, spirits, and more.
We’ve expanded into catering. Serving offices, events, and film/TV shoots across the GTA and beyond, up to 150km away. Our chefs can whip up any cuisine, not just Italian, whether it’s for a movie set, a birthday party, a family reunion, or a baptism.
Today, with 13 family-owned locations across Ontario, we continue to keep tradition alive. Making our sauce fresh daily from the finest tomatoes and baking our bread every morning at a local Italian bakery.
our history
The Story Behind the Name “California Sandwiches”
If California Sandwiches started in Toronto’s
Little Italy, how did it end up with a West Coast name?
That’s where things get fun. Over the years, there’s been plenty of debate in the family about how the name really came to be.
Some say the name came from the “California Girls”. Nonna Cristina’s granddaughters who worked in the shop. Others believe she simply liked the sound of it. The truth is, Nonna never told us for sure. She kept that little secret all to herself, and over time, the mystery has become part of our family’s story. Wherever the name came from, we just call it delicious.
Location
Dufferin & Castlefield
2474 Dufferin St. Toronto, ON M6B 3P8, Canada
Telephone: 416-787-5205
Hours: Mon – Sat 10am – 9:00pm, Sun 11:00am – 8:00pm
Contact Us
If you’re looking for more information, or you’d like to let us know about your experience with California Sandwiches, you can contact us right here.
Copyright © 2025 | California Sandwiches | All Rights Reserved