East Idaho Eats: Sandwich Tree sticking to tradition

IDAHO FALLS – Not much has changed on the menu of the Sandwich Tree, which has been at its location on 17th Street for more than 30 years.

“What works we don’t want to change. If anything, we’ll maybe move to more gluten-free options. We are just keeping things the same as we can,” owner Angel Chapple said.

Chapple and her husband took over the shop in October 2015 from her mother, Linda Hyster.

“I was raised here practically, I was here (at) 10 years old. I know the business pretty much inside and out, and I have a lot of passion,” Chapple said. “I just didn’t want to see it go anywhere else.”

She said the shop was something they had to keep in the family.

Chapple also happens to be the mastermind behind the Angel Special, the award winning sandwich customers can’t get enough of. The pastrami, bacon, roast beef wonder came about while she was whipping up a sandwich for her husband, Kory.

It’s the No. 1 seller at the Sandwich Tree, and it has won the Idaho Falls Dining Award for best sandwich in Idaho Falls the last three years.

Chapple says the Sandwich Tree offers the freshest ingredients. All of its meats, cheeses, and vegetables are sliced in house. The soft bread is a secret recipe as well as the house ranch, and the savory special sauce that’s loaded onto every sandwich.

The hanging blue menu board inside the shop shows a variety of signature sandwich options. If anything, customers are welcome to customize their own creation.

Jessie Russell, a senior at Skyline High School, comes for the high school lunch special.

“It tastes real. It doesn’t taste manufactured like some places do,” Russell said.

The Sandwich Tree also offers daily soups, lettuce wraps, and salads. Every Thursday customers line up for the rocky road brownie special.

Chapple said they love what they do and are hoping on branching out to open other locations.

“We are excited to still be here and thank our customers,” Chapple said.