Henry Laporte, also known as 'Salt Hank' online, is an acclaimed chef and restaurateur, and the executive chef/owner of Salt Hank's. He is also the author of the bestselling cookbook 'Salt Hank,' which achieved...
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Last updated: 5/11/2026, 8:00:27 AM
Key Information
Salt Hank's is a highly popular sandwich shop located in the West Village of New York City, renowned for its viral French Dip sandwich. The restaurant often draws long lines due to its fame, particularly on social media platforms like TikTok. It operates with a focus on high-quality, well-crafted sandwiches, served in a small dining area.
Customer Perception
Customer feedback is largely positive, praising the French Dip sandwich as 'amazing,' 'delicious,' and 'one of a kind in flavor,' highlighting the tender prime rib, caramelized onions, and crispy baguette. The shoestring fries are also well-regarded. However, a common point of contention is the high price, with many customers finding the sandwiches 'crazy expensive' or 'very pricey.' Some reviews also mention the sandwich can be 'super salty' or that it didn't fully live up to the hype for them. Long lines are a frequent mention, though some note they move relatively quickly.
Additional Details
The French Dip sandwich at Salt Hank's has achieved viral status, largely due to its popularity on TikTok. The restaurant is located at 280 Bleecker St, New York City, and operates from Wednesday to Sunday, opening at 11:30 AM and serving until items are sold out for the day.
To avoid the longest queues, it is recommended to visit after the 2 PM lunch rush. Some customers also suggest arriving early, around 11 AM, to secure a spot before lines build up.
I’ve had a lot of French Dips in my time, but what Executive Chef Hank is doing at Salt Hanks (opened in 2025) is in a league of its own. It’s easy to look at the $34 price tag and be a skeptic, but this isn't just a sandwich—it’s a work of art.
The foundation is a magnificent horseradish-garlic aioli seasoned bread with a crisp, perfect exterior that holds up to the dip. The meat itself is decadent, incredibly moist, and tender. I’m usually not a fan of horseradish, but here, it’s applied with such precision that it transforms the flavor profile rather than overpowering it. When you combine those elements with the perfect cheese and what I can honestly say is the best au jus I have ever tasted, you get a perfectly balanced experience.
The shoestring fries were also a standout—crispy and outstanding.
Logistics for out-of-towners: We drove in from NJ on a Saturday morning around 10:45 AM and surprisingly found easy parking on Bleecker Street. We arrived at the restaurant about 45 minutes before their 11:30 opening; there were already about 30 people in line, but the wait was manageable (about 40-45 minutes total until we were seated and eating).
Don’t let the critics deter you regarding the price. You’re paying for the craft, and at Salt Hanks, the craft is flawless.
Now that the hype has died down a bit, I finally checked out Salt Hank’s last weekend. Got there around 1 p.m. and was pleasantly surprised that it was only about a five-minute wait for a seat.
After ordering, I waited about 20 minutes before checking with a server, only to find out my order had been forgotten. Thankfully it came out shortly after. The sandwich itself was a monster and I have to say, quite exceptional. Crunchy bread, great quality beef, and an excellent jus with just a hint of Dijon. The matchstick fries, on the other hand, I could’ve done without. They were decent enough, but the sandwich already had plenty of crunch, and they really aren’t made for dipping, so they felt a bit unnecessary. All in all, it’s a great sandwich. The only other downside is the price. A combo runs close to $50, which feels a bit steep for what it is. Still, it’s definitely worth trying, and honestly one sandwich is probably enough to split between two people if you’re looking to make it a bit more economical.
4
Salt Hank’s
280 Bleecker St.
New York, NY 10014
French Dip Combo:
French Dip
Shoestring Fries
Can of Brooklyn Peach Tea
Located in the west village directly off the five corner intersection is a restaurant that sells primarily french dip sandwiches.
These specialty sandwiches are so popular that there will always be a wait to place an order.
Here is the meal I explored from this limited menu.
French Dip Combo:
This combo includes the french dip, shoestring fries, and can of Brooklyn tea.
On a constructive note, I wasn’t too fond of the appearance, especially with the shoestring fries just sloppily thrown onto the plate.
As soon as I took my first bite, the appearance didn’t matter because this signature sandwich was phenomenal.
The thinly sliced prime rib was packed tight and was topped with melted provolone cheese on a toasted sourdough baguette smothered in garlic aioli. And no french dip is ever complete without a cup of au jus.
The shoestring fries were very skinny and crispy. They had a texture identical to potato chips. Have a spoonful or handful; the choice is yours.
All of this goodness was washed down with a refreshing ice cold can of Brooklyn Peach Tea.
If you wish to take home any memorabilia, feel free to purchase souvenirs from the gift shop, in particular a Salt Hank’s cookbook featuring the recipe for the signature sandwich.
The restaurant is only open four days per week, so please plan accordingly.
Although I may have disliked the presentation, I truly loved this specialty signature sandwich.
#westvillage #salthanks #bleeckerstreet #frenchdip #frenchdipsandwich #frenchdipcombo #shoestringfries #brooklynpeach #peachtea
5
Got there at 11 to try and make sure we got a spot. By 1130 there was pretty long line but we were able to get seated still and get our sandwiches pretty quickly.
Amazing sandwich, between the bread, the aioli, the 7 hour caramelized onions, the au jus, this hit on every single level. The fries were a bit hard to hold is my only complaint when trying to eat a bunch of them but the flavor was great. Super crispy and paired perfect with the sandwich.
They also had some hot/ sweet peppers that gave the sandwich some nice acidity and worked perfectly.
Would definitely come back!
5
This is the best sandwich I've ever had in my life. The perfect balance of flavors and crispness all in the same package. It is absolutely worth every penny. I can't wait to go back and have another one of those sandwiches.
