Love Food, a popular website with nearly 3 million Facebook followers, known as “the definitive website for food, recipes, and reviews,” has put together a list of the best sandwich from every state.. Their selections are based on user reviews, accolades, and firsthand experiences from their team.
For Maryland, the pit beef sandwich from Chaps Pit Beef claimed the top spot. With locations in Baltimore, Aberdeen, and Glen Burnie, Chaps is famous for its “Baltimore-style BBQ.” Though it closed its Frederick County location in 2023, Chaps still delivers its signature pit beef sandwiches nationwide through Goldbelly.
Chaps’ menu features various sandwich options, including the award-winning Famous Pit Beef Sandwich, the Richwich (stacked with corned beef, turkey, and sausage), and the Raven (a blend of beef, turkey, and corned beef).
According to Chaps Pit Beef, the story began in May 1987 when Gus Glava, owner of a Southwest-themed nightclub on Pulaski Highway, gifted his newlywed daughter and son-in-law, Bob Creager, $12,000 to start a business. With that, Chaps Pit Beef was born. Originally, Gus served pit beef at his bar, Gus’s Manor Inn in Dundalk, Maryland. Recognizing Bob’s love for cooking, Gus encouraged him to set up a pit beef stand in the club’s parking lot. The name “Chaps Pit Beef,” inspired by the club, stuck even as the club itself changed names over time.
Love Food writes, “A pit beef sandwich is a Baltimore must-eat, and Chaps is the best place to feast on one. Gloriously messy, the round roll is crammed with tender beef slices that are cooked to order. You can then finish your beef sandwich with a selection of toppings, like lettuce and tomato or sauerkraut, and add a sauce – options include gravy, ranch dressing, and hot barbecue.”
