The Sandwich Counter at Opa's: Made-to-Order Smokehouse Meats

It's twelve-fifteen on a Friday and the sandwich counter at Opa's is in full motion. The slicer is going. An Opa's Country Blend sausage hoagie just went up with BBQ sauce, the aroma carrying down the line. A regular is working through the build-your-own card — sourdough honey wheat, turkey, provolone, brown mustard, extra pickles. Behind him, a couple from out of town is deciding between the sliced-sausage hoagie and a Reuben, and the staff member is being patient about it, because she's been here long enough to know the visitor's first sandwich at this counter is often the reason they come back to Fredericksburg.

The sandwich counter is a different operation from the deli case, even though the two share a building and a staff. The case is where you buy meat to take home. The counter is where it gets built into something to eat right now — or packed in a box to take with you. Different products, different timing, different reasons for stopping in. Both worth knowing.

This is the guide to the sandwich side of the operation — the signature sandwiches, the full build-your-own, and how to order whether you're walking in for lunch alone or coordinating a meal for a group.

The Difference Is the Smokehouse Meat

Most sandwich shops buy their meat — sourced from a distributor, sliced on site, built into the sandwich you ordered. There's nothing wrong with that; it's how most deli counters work. But it does mean the meat is, by design, anonymous.

Opa's is on the other side of that line for the sandwiches that matter most. The Opa's ham and the sliced sausages — Country Blend, Jalapeño, Bratwurst, Jalapeño Cheddar — are made on site. Order the Opa's Ham & Cheese and the ham was smoked here. Order the sliced-sausage hoagie and the sausage came off the same line that supplies the grocery cooler and the deli case. That's the difference, and it's why those sandwiches taste like nothing else in town.

The counter also runs the deli standards — a Reuben, pastrami, and roast beef on marble rye, a B.L.T., BBQ beef or pork — for the traditional sandwich crowd. But the sandwiches with the smokehouse behind them are the ones worth crossing town for.

The Signature Sandwiches

Opa's Sliced Sausage. The one to order first. Hoagie bread and your choice of Opa's sliced sausage — Country Blend with BBQ sauce; Jalapeño with Swiss and German mustard; or Bratwurst with sauerkraut and German mustard. The same sausage that built the brand, sliced and stacked on a hoagie. Nothing else on the block is doing this.

Opa's Ham & Cheese. Opa's smoked ham, Swiss, and German mustard on sourdough honey wheat. The ham was smoked on site — that's the whole point.

Opa's Turkey & Cheese. Turkey, Swiss, and German mustard on sourdough honey wheat. The lighter signature for the midday crowd.

BBQ Beef or Pork. Beef or pork on hoagie bread with Opa's homemade BBQ sauce — the smokehouse's own sauce, made in house.

Opa's Sausage Wrap. One of Opa's sausage links wrapped in a flour tortilla or tucked into a hot dog bun. The handheld, no-plate way to eat the link — and a favorite for kids.

The Deli Classics

Reuben. Corned beef, Swiss, sauerkraut, and German mustard on marble rye — the German take on the classic, with brown mustard instead of the usual dressing. Order it toasted.

Pastrami. Pastrami, Swiss, and German mustard on marble rye. Straightforward, done right.

Roast Beef. Roast beef, Swiss, and German mustard on marble rye. The no-frills deli standard.

B.L.T. Bacon, lettuce, and tomato, built to order — a counter staple, and an easy add to any build.

Build Your Own

Beyond the named sandwiches, the counter runs a full build-your-own. Five quick steps on the order card:

Bread. Marble rye, hoagie, sourdough honey wheat, sesame hoagie bun, or plain white round bun.

Condiments. Mayo, BBQ sauce, yellow mustard, or Düsseldorf brown mustard.

Cheese. Swiss, pepper jack, yellow cheddar, or provolone.

Meat. Deluxe options — ham, turkey, corned beef, pastrami, roast beef, BBQ beef, BBQ pork, B.L.T., or double meat — or sliced sausage in Country Blend, Jalapeño, Bratwurst, or Jalapeño Cheddar.

Toppings. Lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, onions, pickles, jalapeños, sauerkraut, banana peppers, or bacon.

And it's made the way you want it — toasted, cold, or microwaved. If you want the smokehouse running through your build, pick one of the sliced sausages or the Opa's ham for the meat. That's the move.

Salad Sandwiches & Sides

The counter also makes the premium salads as sandwiches or by the cup — chicken salad, pimento cheese, and tuna salad come on the bread of your choice or in an 8-ounce serving. German potato salad and pasta salad round out the sides by the cup, and there's a rotating cookie selection by the register.

Box Lunches & Group Orders

For groups — meetings, events, a winery-day crowd — the counter caters by advance order. The box lunch pairs a sandwich with chips, a cookie, a pickle, and a drink — a complete grab-and-go meal, and the easy call when individual portions matter. Sandwich platters bring an assortment for sharing, and the deli also caters meat and cheese trays and charcuterie boards for the same kind of crowd. Group orders have run up to 150 people — call ahead and the team will coordinate quantities, timing, and any dietary needs.

Order groups by phone: 830-997-3358. The bigger or busier the day, the more lead time helps — a week or more is reasonable for large parties or holiday weekends. Group orders are pickup only, like everything else from the counter.

How to Order

Three ways to order. Walk in, fill out the order card — the same one that lets you mark it Toasted, Cold, or Microwaved — and pay at the register. Order ahead through Toast at order.toasttab.com/online/opassmokedmeats for pickup without the wait. Or call 830-997-3358 for groups and large orders. However you order, sandwiches are pickup only — nothing from the counter ships.

When to Come

The counter follows the rest of the deli: Monday through Friday 8 AM to 5:30 PM, Saturday 8 AM to 4 PM, closed Sunday. A few notes from the people who work it:

11:30 is the sweet spot. Ahead of the rush, after the breakfast crowd, the kitchen fully stocked. Calm counter, minimal wait, and time to talk through a custom build.

Noon to one is busiest. Especially weekends in peak season. Expect a line — or skip it by ordering ahead on Toast.

Mid-afternoon is quiet. After 1:30 the rush eases, the staff has more bandwidth for custom orders, and the sides are still well-stocked.

Saturdays book up for groups. Coordinating a Saturday platter or box-lunch order? Place it by Wednesday at the latest, earlier in busy seasons.

What to Do Next

If you're in Fredericksburg and you want a real lunch, this is where to come. The signature sandwich is built on meat that was smoked a few steps from where you're eating it, by people who've made it the same way for three generations. That's not the typical deli sandwich. It's a Fredericksburg one — and it's the kind of lunch that explains why most first-time visitors leave wondering when they'll be back.

Walk in, call ahead, or order on Toast. The counter's open and the slicer's running.

Small Batch. Craft Made. Texas-German tradition — since 1947.

Visit the Opa's Deli & Market sandwich counter at 410 S Washington St in Fredericksburg. Open Monday–Friday 8 AM–5:30 PM, Saturday 8 AM–4 PM. Call 830-997-3358.

Skip the lunch line — order ahead for pickup.

Live somewhere where Opa's is on the grocery shelf? Find your store using our store locator.

Frequently Asked Questions

What sandwiches does Opa's Deli serve?

The Opa's sandwich counter serves signature sandwiches — Opa's Ham & Cheese, Opa's Turkey & Cheese, and the Opa's Sliced Sausage hoagie (Country Blend, Jalapeño, or Bratwurst) — alongside deli standards like the Reuben (corned beef, Swiss, sauerkraut, German mustard on marble rye), pastrami, roast beef, B.L.T., and BBQ beef or pork. There's also a full build-your-own and the Opa's Sausage Wrap, plus salad sandwiches in chicken salad, pimento cheese, and tuna salad.

Can I build my own sandwich at Opa's?

Yes. The build-your-own runs five steps: choose your bread (marble rye, hoagie, sourdough honey wheat, sesame hoagie bun, or plain white round bun), your condiments (mayo, BBQ sauce, yellow mustard, or Düsseldorf brown mustard), one cheese (Swiss, pepper jack, yellow cheddar, or provolone), one meat (a deluxe option or a sliced Opa's sausage), and your toppings — lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, onions, pickles, jalapeños, sauerkraut, banana peppers, or bacon. It can be made toasted, cold, or microwaved.

What's the Reuben at Opa's?

The Opa's Reuben is the German take on the classic: corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and German mustard on marble rye — best ordered toasted.

Can I order Opa's sandwiches online for pickup?

Yes. The deli takes online orders for pickup. Choose a pickup time, place the order, and it's ready when you arrive. Sandwiches do not ship — for deli pickup only.

Does Opa's offer box lunches and platters for groups?

Yes. The counter caters box lunches (a sandwich with chips, a cookie, a pickle, and a drink), sandwich platters, and meat and cheese trays and charcuterie boards by advance order. Group orders have run up to 150 people. Call 830-997-3358 to coordinate quantities, timing, and dietary needs. Group orders are pickup only.

This post is part of The Fredericksburg Guides — Opa’s local guide to visiting Fredericksburg, Texas.