Portabello Sandwiches

A mushroom sandwich? Sure, when it’s the meaty portabello mushroom.

* Kate Mantilini: A soft garlic bun is filled with a giant grilled portabello, fragrant grilled lemons and roasted tomatoes. Accompanying this earthy, sumptuous sandwich is a side of crisp shoestring potatoes. (Portabello mushroom sandwich, $14.) Kate Mantilini, 9101 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, (310) 278-3699.

* Red: This hearty, gooey sandwich is filled with portabellos and sweet peppers grilled with a layer of mozzarella between them. It comes on grilled homemade whole wheat bread with an herbed mayo, with your choice of skinny French fries, red slaw or mashed potatoes. (Portabello mushroom sandwich, $8.95.) Red, 7450 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 937-0331.

* Cafe Pierre: Inside the warm, lightly grilled six-grain bun you’ll find a grilled portabello, goat cheese mixed with chives, roasted sweet peppers and a small handful of mixed baby greens. It comes with thin, crisp French fries. (Grilled portabello mushroom sandwich, $8.95.) Cafe Pierre, 317 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Manhattan Beach, (310) 545-5252.

* Mustard Seed Cafe: Here the portabello is just one of several grilled vegetables: zucchini, butternut squash, sweet peppers and onions. All of these veggies along with fresh arugula and goat cheese are served on a crusty baguette spread with a homemade herb mayonnaise. You have a choice of a red cabbage slaw or a classic potato salad with your sandwich. (Mustard Seed grilled vegetarian, $7.50.) Mustard Seed Cafe, 1948 N. Hillhurst Ave., Los Feliz, (323) 660-0670.

* Cafe Del Rey: A sandwich of sesame-crusted tuna is filled out with a whole grilled portabello, red onions and sweet peppers on a grilled bun smeared with wasabi aoili. It’s served with a rich twice-baked potato and baby greens sprinkled with toasted macadamia nuts and dressed with a light balsamic vinaigrette. (Grilled crusted ahi tuna sandwich, $13.) Cafe Del Rey, 4451 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, (310) 823-6395.

* Angeli Cafe: This warm portabello panino will brighten your day. Soft, chewy homemade Italian bread is stuffed with a big grilled portabello, sweet peppers thin slices of provolone cheese just beginning to melt. (Panino portabello, $8.25.) Angeli Cafe, 7274 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 936-9086.