Security ran long and you’ve got 15 minutes? Hit Potbelly.
This Potbelly sits in Terminal 2 at DCA, post-security, and basically serves as the airport’s default hot sandwich line when time goes sideways. A toasted Wreck or Turkey on regular bread runs in the $9–$12 range, and most reviewers say the quality matches what you’d get at a city Potbelly. Order, slide down the line, pay, and you’re usually out in under 10 minutes unless it’s peak lunch around 12:00–13:30.
Lines here look scary around midday, sometimes 15–20 people deep, but multiple travelers note the crew runs a tight assembly line so it moves fast. One Google review from “H. Patel” even says they’ve never had this spot make them miss boarding. Timing it right after security in Terminal 2, before you wander to your gate, is what frequent flyers say keeps you ahead of the rush.
Menu is straight Potbelly: toasted subs, soups, and basic sides like chips and cookies, with combos landing near the $15 mark once you add a drink. Regulars steer toward standards like the Wreck or simple Turkey and Swiss to keep things accurate when the line’s slammed. If you’re walking onto a 90‑minute American or Delta hop, asking for your sandwich “extra toasted” helps it stay warm until you’re at 10,000 feet.
Common gripes: airport markups over non‑airport Potbelly locations, occasional missing toppings when the line is slammed, and lukewarm soup if you order later in the afternoon after about 15:00. Seating right at the shop can be a scrum, with only a handful of open tables visible in photos and reviews, so many people just carry their bagged sandwich toward their actual gate and eat there.
Tip: If you see a long queue at 12:15 in Terminal 2, jump in anyway, but pull up your boarding time; if you’ve got less than 20 minutes to departure, ask staff how tight it is before you commit.