Meet the Sandwich Slingers: Mythical ‘Wich

Brad Leighninger’s foray into the sandwich scene all began with a specific type: a barbecue sandwich. His career as a world champion pitmaster has taken him as far away as South America and Australia, and he has pretty much built a local restaurant empire as the owner of both Gettin’ Basted locations, Downing Street Pour House and Side Chick.

But after wrapping up a long day of filming for Food Network’s BBQ Brawl (catch him on season 6) or simply running around the Ozarks checking in on his businesses, he always finds himself refueling with an old faithful: a sandwich.

Mythical ‘Wich in downtown Branson is one of his latest concepts, and it’s a testament to his adoration of sandwiches. “The flavors are pretty much inspired by my travels, smashed up with Ozarks barbecue,” he says. “So we’re smoking meats, but then we’re putting a twist on it.”

That twist often shows up in the form of a fusion, like in the Seoul Roll. You get to choose your own adventure with this one and go with shaved ribeye or chicken, but either way, it’s covered in a sweet and spicy Korean marinade that’s grilled with jalapeños and onion. It’s the Provel cheese and sandwich roll that add just the right amount of Missouri flair to it all, while the sweet and tangy quick-pickled Asian-style slaw and house-made yum-yum sauce further lean into the global influence. “In a way, it’s Ozarks fusion cuisine, which makes it unique,” he says. “I don’t think there are a whole lot of people out there doing that.”

The majority of the sandwiches show off toppings that are as imaginative as their names. Take the Holy Hand Grenade, for example. This toasted marble rye sandwich features house-made pastrami hash covered in a hearty helping of cheese. And as if it wasn’t already delicious enough, a humble fried egg completes it and makes it worthy of breakfast or lunch.

In fact, Mythical ‘Wich serves a total of six breakfast sandwiches that are available all day.

And what better place to serve these quirky sandwiches than in Missouri’s quirkiest town? Next time you’re in Branson seeing a show or heading out for a day at Silver Dollar City, Mythical ‘Wich is where you should fuel up.