October 1, 2023

Prior to being a restaurateur, Matt Primbs was a high school teacher. Then, in 1995, he opted for a career change. He bought a restaurant in McMinnville, launching his new life as owner and operator of Sandwich Express. It was a good decision, as the place is so popular that you can pretty much count on long lines at the drive-thru during the lunch hour. Chances are good that all those people ahead of you in line are returning customers who know a good lunch when they taste one.

If you’ve never eaten at Sandwich Express, you need to get in there ASAP — your tastebuds will thank you! Plan on spending some time with the menu, as there are a lot of options. With the addition of breakfast to the menu a few years ago, Sandwich Express now offers nearly thirty different sandwiches on a variety of breads that are all baked in-house. There are plentiful choices from both a cold deli lineup and a hot sandwich menu.

Most people will agree that the key to a great sandwich is the bread, and at Sandwich Express that is a point of pride. “We make all of our bread from scratch every night,” Matt says. “No mixes or artificial dough conditioners. We started off with just white and wheat but have added sourdough, dark rye, and cheddar jalapeno through the years.” The cheddar jalapeno is their most recent addition, but it’s gaining popularity quickly.

“It’s a lot of work to make the bread, but it is well worth it,” says Matt. Sandwich Express also offers gluten-free bread, which is the only kind not made on-site. The sandwiches aren’t the only things worthy of acclaim here though. One of customers’ favorite discoveries at Sandwich Express is that the fries rank among the best in the area, and you get the choice between beer-battered fries, tater tots and Cajun tater tots. “Our [beer-battered] fry is a steak-cut fry which has become very popular,” Matt says. “You can’t get steak-cut fries at other drive-thrus in town because they take longer to fry. The quality is worth the extra minute-and-a-half wait.”

You’re not going to want to forget the other sides either — salads are a huge part of Sandwich Express. “I truly believe there are none other in town that are better for all that you get on them at an affordable price,” Matt says proudly. We offer ten different salads and we don’t skimp on portion size.” Their chili and rotating selection of daily soups are also a draw when the weather turns cold.
You know a place is good when you see a long line, but as popular as the drive-thru can be at the McMinnville store, it’s worth venturing inside to enjoy your meal. Here, there is interior dining available that features a popular attraction for kids. Circling the perimeter of the restaurant just below the ceiling, and occasionally vanishing into tunnels, is an electric model train. It makes for a nice distraction while waiting for your order, and young and old alike enjoy watching it. According to Matt, when running all day it travels over ten miles!

Matt and his team have earned a reputation over the years for being team players and good citizens when others are in need. They’re often participating in fundraisers for youth clubs, graduation night and various nonprofits, and when people fall into harm’s way, Matt looks for a way to help, both locally and beyond. “We have done several very large fundraisers for big disasters like Hurricane Katrina and Haiti, and for local volunteer firefighters,” he says. “These bring in thousands of dollars for people in need.”

Matt and his wife Amber can usually be found running the McMinnville location. For them, this business is a passion project and they absolutely love their work serving the local communities in Yamhill County. “Even after 25 years, I still look forward to going to work,” Matt says. “I love my crew, and they are like my second family.”

Sandwich Express is located in McMinnville at 711 NE Highway 99W, 503-472-3500. For more information, or to see their menus and inquire about catering, visit their website at sandwichexpressor.com.

By David Bates, Contributing Writer