Wow. Just wow. I don’t say this lightly, but Soko Butcher might be serving some of the BEST sandwiches I’ve ever had, and I’ve been thinking about them ever since. It’s a little butcher shop and sandwich counter tucked into Takoma Park, MD, and the whole thing runs on meat they cut and source themselves from local, sustainable farms.
Deke and I rolled in hungry and basically ordered half the board, and every single thing was ridiculously yum. The Cowboy cold cut was a straight 10/10, the Butcher steak sandwich lived up to the hype, and even the one I almost skipped (their mushroom cheesesteak) turned out to be a total showstopper. If you’re anywhere near Takoma Park and you love a good handheld, consider this your sign to go. Here’s everything we got.
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What Makes Soko Butcher a Standout Sandwich Spot
Here’s what sets Soko apart: it’s a real butcher shop first, sandwich spot second. They work with local, sustainable farms and prioritize animals raised ethically and humanely, and they break the meat down and dry-age it in house, so the steak in your sandwich is the same quality stuff they’re selling at the counter.
That sourcing is the whole point. Soko got started back in 2022 by a classically trained chef (Brad Feickert, who cooked at Volt), and they’ve built a real name for their cheesesteaks. The Washington Post even named their Philly one of the area’s best sandwiches in 2025. Takoma Park quietly punches way above its size for handhelds. If you’re doing a breakfast run instead, MotorKat down the road is my go-to for a Takoma Park breakfast sandwich.
What to Order at Soko Butcher
We went in hungry and did not hold back. Here’s what I’d tell you to get.
The Cowboy
If you love a proper cold cut, order the Cowboy. It’s stacked with turkey, salami, capocollo, provolone, tomato, and garlic mayo, all nestled into a fresh Italian roll, and it’s the kind of sandwich that reminds you what a deli sub is supposed to taste like. The meats are quality (again, they’re a butcher), the garlic mayo pulls it all together, and the roll actually holds up instead of turning to mush. I gave this one a straight 10/10, no notes.
The Butcher
The Butcher is one of their most popular for a reason, and it did not disappoint. It’s a 7oz bavette steak with arugula, tomato, horseradish aioli, and ramp chimichurri on a soft ciabatta roll. The flavors just melded together in the most amazing way, that punchy horseradish aioli and the herby chimichurri playing off the beefy steak. If you only try one hot sandwich here, this masterpiece is the one I’d point you to.
Mushroom Cheesesteak
Real talk, I almost skipped this one and I’m so glad I didn’t. The Mushroom Cheesesteak was PHENOMENAL, bursting with flavor and packed with perfectly cooked mushrooms. It’s also the move if you want something meat-free, since it’s their main vegetarian pick. I already can’t wait to have it again.
Beef Tallow Fries
Do not skip the Beef Tallow Fries. These crispy, seasoned sticks were the ideal sidekick to our sandwiches, and frying them in tallow gives them this savory, almost beefy depth you just don’t get from a regular fry. Get an order to split, trust me.
A few things I didn’t get to but would grab next time: the Philly (that Washington Post darling), the Takoma (an all-Italian cold cut monster), a Nashville fried chicken sandwich, and their wings. The board runs deep, so you’ve got options.
What Makes Soko Butcher’s Meat So Good?
Since Soko’s a working butcher shop, the meat’s the star and they don’t cut corners. Their beef comes largely from farms up in Monkton, MD, and it’s dry-aged for around 21 days before it ever hits a sandwich, which is where a lot of that deep, savory flavor comes from. Beyond the sandwiches, the counter sells fresh cuts of beef, pork, and chicken to take home, plus a rotating spread of pickled goodies and house-made sauces. So you can grab dinner and stock up your fridge in one stop, which I love.
The Vibe and Experience
Set your expectations right: Soko’s a butcher shop, so there’s no seating inside. There are two little tables outside and some picnic tables across the street, so on a nice day you can post up, but this is really a grab-and-go or takeout situation. It’s quick, friendly counter service, and you can order ahead online or through DoorDash and Uber Eats if you’d rather just swing by and grab it. Takoma Park’s genuinely one of my favorite low-key food towns, and I even mapped out a whole day of eating there if you want to make an afternoon of it.
Good to Know
- Location: 📍 7306 Carroll Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912
- Hours: Monday to Friday 11am to 7pm, Saturday 9am to 7pm. They open at 9am on Sundays too, but the closing time’s been listed a little differently across sources lately, so I’d check their site or give them a quick call before a Sunday run.
- Prices: most sandwiches land around $18 to $19, with the tallow fries about $6. Fair for the quality and the portion you’re getting.
- Weekend breakfast: they serve breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays when they open at 9am, think egg and cheese, breakfast burritos, and bagels.
- Ordering: walk in, or order ahead on sokobutcher.com, DoorDash, or Uber Eats. They also cater.
- Parking: no lot, but there’s street parking. Weekdays are easy, on weekends expect to circle the block a bit.
- Seating: no indoor seating, just two outdoor tables plus picnic tables across the street.
- Take-home: the butcher counter sells fresh beef, pork, and chicken, plus pickled goods and sauces.
- Dietary: the Mushroom Cheesesteak is the main vegetarian pick, and a gluten-free bread swap should be available (worth confirming when you order).
- Good news for anyone across the river: a second Soko location is opening in Crystal City, VA.
Is Soko Butcher Worth Visiting?
YES!!! Soko Butcher is easily one of my top sandwich stops in the whole DMV, and I already can’t wait to go back for more. If you’re a cold-cut person, get the Cowboy. If you want something hot and hearty, the Butcher or that mushroom cheesesteak won’t do you wrong. It’s a must for anyone in or around Takoma Park, and honestly worth a little drive to get to. If you want a proper sit-down meal in the same neighborhood after, Koma Cafe is a newer Italian spot right there.
Okay Nomsters, now I’m hungry all over again. Have you guys been to Soko Butcher yet? What’s your go-to handheld, and where’s your favorite sandwich spot around town? Drop it in the comments, I’m always hunting for the next great sub. Save this one and send it to your most sandwich-obsessed friend!