The ‘Ted Danson Sandwich’ Is a Twist on a Classic Deli Staple

On the beloved, long-running show Curb Your Enthusiasm, star Larry David takes food seriously. In one episode, the conflict centers on Leo’s Deli, which is Larry’s lunch spot. Leo’s honors him by adding a “Larry David” sandwich to the menu. Ted Danson—former Cheers actor, frequent Curb guest star and Larry’s frenemy—also has a sandwich on the menu. The only problem? Ted’s sandwich sounds much, much better than Larry’s.

The episode’s plot centers on Larry’s attempt to swap eponymous sandwiches, but you don’t have to be a Curb Your Enthusiasm fan to know that the Ted Danson sandwich sounds delicious.

What is the ‘Ted Danson’?

“My sandwich is turkey, coleslaw, Russian dressing, it’s a classic,” Ted says. It’s a bit like a Reuben, but with lighter, sweeter turkey rather than corned beef, and fresh, zippy coleslaw rather than sauerkraut. In fact, the Ted Danson sounds a lot like the Rachel, a deli sandwich made with turkey, Swiss, coleslaw and Thousand Island dressing.

What separates a decent sandwich from a great sandwich? In my humble opinion, there are three criteria for greatness: contrast, texture and taste. The Ted Danson sandwich ticks all three boxes.

Contrast? You bet: The pickled coleslaw brightens up the sweet, mild turkey. Texture? Triple check! This sandwich is made on crispy toasted rye with crunchy cabbage and tender turkey. And last, flavor. That’s a no-brainer. Like our favorite variations on the Reuben, the Ted Danson layers savory, sweet, acidic and rich flavors, not to mention the zesty seasonings in the Russian dressing, so every single bite is a bit different—and very interesting.

What’s on the ‘Larry David’?

The Larry David sandwich is made with whitefish, smoked sable, capers, red onion and cream cheese. In short, we can’t really blame Larry for wanting to swap his sandwich with Ted’s! Next time you’re hungry for lunch, give the ‘Ted Danson’ a try.