Sandwiches: The Original Fast Food and a Thai 7-Eleven Favorite!

[CharlieH]

 

 

When it comes to a quick, satisfying meal, sandwiches may well be the original "fast food." For expats in Thailand, they often represent more than just convenience—they’re a comforting "taste of home," a break from spicy dishes, or a go-to option when you’re craving something familiar.

But here’s the twist: Thailand has made the humble sandwich its own, with one particular item standing out—a superstar in the world of convenience food: the ham and cheese toasted sandwich from 7-Eleven.

The Famous 7-Eleven Toasted Sandwich

Mention 7-Eleven to any traveler or expat in Thailand, and it won’t be long before someone raves about the ham and cheese toasted sandwich. At from just 27 baht, this hot, gooey, and cheesy creation has achieved near-legendary status. It’s been featured in countless travel blogs and vlogs for its unbeatable combo of taste, convenience, and affordability.

Perfect for breakfast, a late-night snack, or a quick meal on the go, these toasted sandwiches have captured the hearts (and stomachs) of locals and expats alike. With the friendly staff always ready to toast it to perfection, it’s no wonder these sandwiches have become a Thai 7-Eleven icon.

A Taste of Home or a Break from Thai Food?

For expats, sandwiches can hold a special place. Sometimes they’re a nostalgic throwback to school lunches or quick dinners back home. Other times, they’re a simple, non-spicy escape from the rich and complex flavors of Thai cuisine.

While bread may not traditionally feature in Thai meals, it’s become a staple in many expat diets. And with Thailand’s wide range of local and imported fillings—from deli meats to fresh veggies—it’s easy to recreate your favorites.

Sandwich Styles: Beyond 7-Eleven

While the 7-Eleven ham and cheese may be the talk of the town, there’s no shortage of options to suit every craving:

• Club Sandwich: A layered classic with chicken, bacon, lettuce, and tomato.
• Panini: Toasted, Italian-style sandwiches filled with everything from mozzarella and pesto to ham and brie.
• Fusion Sandwiches: A growing trend, where Western-style sandwiches meet Thai flavors, like green curry chicken or som tam-inspired fillings.

What’s Your Favorite Filling?

Do you stick to simple classics, or do you get creative with what’s available in Thailand? Have you discovered any unique sandwich spots or hidden gems?

And of course, we have to ask: Are you a fan of the 7-Eleven ham and cheese toasted sandwich? Does it deserve the hype? Or do you have another go-to option that hits the spot every time?

 

What's your favorite sandwich fillings and where you’ve found the best ones in Thailand.

 

 

Share your favorite sandwich, whether bought or made yourself - you might inspire someone to try a new creation!

 

 

My favorite 

 

[bradiston]

Danish Carbonara

[ChipButty]

There is another one they make it's not your typical toastie, but is a toasted sandwich on thick bread and you put it in the microwave, the one the misses gets me is pork with a fried egg, If I go this morning and they have in stock I'll take a photo, 

[bobonzo]

Never 

[scottiejohn]

2 hours ago, ChipButty said:

There is another one they make it's not your typical toastie, but is a toasted sandwich on thick bread and you put it in the microwave, the one the misses gets me is pork with a fried egg, If I go this morning and they have in stock I'll take a photo, 

How do you "toast" a sandwich in a microwave unless it is a combi M/W with a grill?

[ChipButty]

39 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

How do you "toast" a sandwich in a microwave unless it is a combi M/W with a grill?

Its already toasted you just warm it up in the microwave 

[KhunLA]

When O&A, 7-11 is a GODsend, or BUDDHAsend, as many times, staying rural, there aren't too many food options.  Plus there's usually a vendor or two just outside their doors for some variety, if nothing peeks your interest, besides a beverage & snacks.

 

Why PTT Parks are our go to when charging the car while O&A.  After 3+ hrs on the road, hard to beat the selection at PTT Parks, food court, food vendors, coffee shop and 7-11.  They even have healthy options to choose from.

 

By the time we're all done relieving ourselves & munching, the cars done.  

[proton]

Not this again, this nasty processed 'food' has been done to death on tik tok and YT for a few years now. I got one out of curiosity a few weeks ago- disgusting

[Jack Batty]

Terrible stuff. Every year or so, for whatever reason, my senses leave me and I try one of these “sandwiches” again, and once again, I am moved by deep regret. I don’t know how they keep selling these gastric monstrosities. Alcohol, I guess. 

[novacova]

When famished and only when there are no other options it’s the hockey puck microwave cheeseburger 

[proton]

11 minutes ago, Jack Batty said:

Terrible stuff. Every year or so, for whatever reason, my senses leave me and I try one of these “sandwiches” again, and once again, I am moved by deep regret. I don’t know how they keep selling these gastric monstrosities. Alcohol, I guess. 

 

You would have to be pissed to get one down, I threw half of it away. The 7/11 spinach and cheese bake is far better

[actonion]

What is that Yellow stuff, supposed to be Cheese, but its not ... some Restaurants sell a dish 'Cordon Bleu" that has  it wrapped  in Chicken or Pork,........no taste

[Ralf001]

Shredded Pork with Salad Cream Toasty from the 7 are lush.

[Wrwest]

Want a "Deli" sandwich in Chiang Mai? zRecommend giving "Bonnie's Deli" a shot. 1269 just after crossing Canal Road heading up Doe Suthep on the right (row of shops).

[scorecard]

44 minutes ago, proton said:

Not this again, this nasty processed 'food' has been done to death on tik tok and YT for a few years now. I got one out of curiosity a few weeks ago- disgusting

 

Just your opinion.

 

I love 7/11 toasted ham and cheese for the taste and because I often had just 20 minutes break at lunch time between uni lectures and student appointments for extra explanations. Worked well, luckily a big 7/11 right t the uni gates and just 2 minutes from my classroom. 

[proton]

Just now, scorecard said:

 

Just your opinion.

 

I love 7/11 toasted ham and cheese for the taste and because I often had just 20 minutes break at lunch time between uni lectures and student appointments for extra explanations. Worked well, luckily a big 7/11 right t the uni gates and just 2 minutes from my classroom. 

 

It's ultra processed junk food

[scorecard]

Just now, proton said:

 

It's junk food

 

Just your opinion.

[Ralf001]

6 minutes ago, proton said:

 

It's ultra processed junk food

 

and it is damn tasty.

[Olmate]

Tinnies Pies Jomtiem do.great sanga,. Roast Aust beef brisket 150/200gm,salad to.your licking,   325. bht. I gofor beef, sliced onionand beetroot! 🎉

[KhunLA]

19 minutes ago, proton said:

 

It's ultra processed junk food

They sell salads, and chicken breast, along with many other things.  If you eat in restaurants, I'm sure many of the prepared fresh or frozen meals are as healthy as any restaurant would put out.  When you're O&A, you're not cooking your own meals.

 

Even is living daily, without a kitchen or cooking for yourself, 7-11 munching wouldn't be the worst option.  Just choose wisely.

 

Toasties and 'burgers', especially with the 'cheese product' might not be the best choice, but they have many more options.  Along with nuts & seeds for snacking vs crisps, etc.

 

Water of course, and some with fresh coffee vs sugary drinks or 3 & 1 coffee.

[NoshowJones]

6 hours ago, ChipButty said:

There is another one they make it's not your typical toastie, but is a toasted sandwich on thick bread and you put it in the microwave, the one the misses gets me is pork with a fried egg, If I go this morning and they have in stock I'll take a photo, 

Yes, I am looking for a sandwich without cheese or salad in 7-11, very hard to find.

[GammaGlobulin]

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

They sell salads, and chicken breast, along with many other things.  If you eat in restaurants, I'm sure many of the prepared fresh or frozen meals are as healthy as any restaurant would put out.  When you're O&A, you're not cooking your own meals.

 

Even is living daily, without a kitchen or cooking for yourself, 7-11 munching wouldn't be the worst option.  Just choose wisely.

 

Toasties and 'burgers', especially with the 'cheese product' might not be the best choice, but they have many more options.  Along with nuts & seeds for snacking vs crisps, etc.

 

Water of course, and some with fresh coffee vs sugary drinks or 3 & 1 coffee.

 

At my 7-Eleven back home they once had giant rolls of Lebanon bologna, rolls of all kinds of cheeses, roast beef, and they would make you sandwiches while you watched from in front of their glass case/counter.  They had a giant wheel slicer that could shave anything paper-thin.  sandwiches were made with real bread or real rolls, locally baked.

 

Those sandwiches were worth paying for.

 

Now, there is NOTHING at 7 worth paying for, except maybe the beer. 

 

Basically, just a purveyor or ultra-processed food, full of chemicals and preservatives.

Same in Taiwan.
Same everywhere in Asia.

 

They ruined the original 7-Eleven quality and experience...which was coming out of Texas, before Texas sold 7-Eleven to President, etc....

 

So then, 7-Eleven is really NOT 7-Eleven.

It is an Asian copy of 7-Eleven.

Japan is just as bad.

 

The sandwiches now are full of GARBAGE sauce, and little else....

They turn the meat inside the sandwich so that it appears huge.

But, behind the facade, there is just chicken skin and nothing else.

 

Buyers today have seen nothing better, and so they are OK with this product and this service.

They don't realize the way it is supposed to be.

Their expectations have been gradually dumbed down to the point where they will buy almost anyhing, probably even an old shoe, between two slices of Wonder Bread garbage.

 

I cannot stomach it so I do not buy it.

But, be my guest...

 

 

 

[saintdomingo]

The cupcakes are OK even if they have gone up to 12 baht (cheeky gits) the last time I got one. But it's 20 baht for a pack of 2.

[GammaGlobulin]

14 minutes ago, saintdomingo said:

The cupcakes are OK even if they have gone up to 12 baht (cheeky gits) the last time I got one. But it's 20 baht for a pack of 2.

 

That's the point.

7-Eleven has now become a purveyor of nothing but junk food.

 

Sugar

Salt

Cheap oil

Preservatives

Chemicals.

 

But....

NOT food.

 

This is their business model.

They are making money while the health of consumers is not even considered.

 

I do not care because I do not care about the health of anyone who would buy that stuff.

 

 

[Liverpool Lou]

53 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

there is NOTHING at 7 worth paying for, except maybe the beer. 

 

Basically, just a purveyor or ultra-processed food, full of chemicals and preservatives.

"...ultra-processed food, full of chemicals and preservatives..."

and the beer isn't?!

[Liverpool Lou]

49 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

behind the facade, there is just chicken skin and nothing else

Just "chicken skin"?  That's just nonsense.  I doubt that you've ever found chicken skin in a prepared chicken product in 7-Eleven.

[GammaGlobulin]

4 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Just "chicken skin"?  That's just nonsense.  I doubt that you've ever found chicken skin in a prepared chicken product in 7-Eleven.

 

I have.

There is chicken breast.

On top of the breast meat, there is the skin.

and, deep fried before being cut and added to the sandwich.

 

The piece of meat is oriented so that the largest face faces so that it is seen as a large piece of meat.

But, behind that, there is very little other than sauce, lettuce, etc.

 

That's the way it is.

 

I do not buy these things.

 

 

 

[saintdomingo]

3 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

That's the point.

7-Eleven has now become a purveyor of nothing but junk food.

 

Sugar

Salt

Cheap oil

Preservatives

Chemicals.

 

But....

NOT food.

 

This is their business model.

They are making money while the health of consumers is not even considered.

 

I do not care because I do not care about the health of anyone who would buy that stuff.

 

 

I eat healthier than most people I know but sometimes a bit of what you like is helpful. I broadly agree with your summary of 7eleven but they do stock some things that  do not fit your description. They are aware of and are slowly catering to changing tastes.

[Liverpool Lou]

1 minute ago, GammaGlobulin said:

4 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Just "chicken skin"?  That's just nonsense.  I doubt that you've ever found chicken skin in a prepared chicken product in 7-Eleven.

 

I have.

There is chicken breast.

On top of the breast meat, there is the skin.

So not "just chicken skin", then?!   

[GammaGlobulin]

1 minute ago, Liverpool Lou said:

So not "just chicken skin", then?!   

 

Oh.

You are quibbling about my word order?

I see...no problem.

 

Yes, correct, there is chicken breast meat.  Also, there is chicken skin.  Sauce.  Some kind of batter for deep frying.

 

The point is that they always orient the meat in the sandwich so that it appears deceptively large.

Then, after you open up the sandwich by lifting the bread away, there is really very little meat, and not as much as you had thought just by the appearance of the thing.

 

This is all that I meant.

And, this is my experience after many decades of 7-Eleven evaluating in Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, etc...

And in the USA, in the early 1970s, and late 60s.

 

After 7 was bought out by Asian companies, such as Taiwan's President conglomerate, the 7-Eleven is just a brand, and does not sell good food, same as it once did in the USA.