National French Dip Day takes place every year on November 12, celebrating the French dip sandwich, an American comfort food that continues to win hearts more than a century after its creation.
A French dip, also called a beef dip, is a hot sandwich made with thin slices of roast beef (or sometimes pork, ham, turkey, or lamb) layered on a French roll or baguette. It’s typically served with a cup of au jus—a flavorful beef broth made from the meat’s cooking juices—for dipping.
The sandwich originated in Los Angeles in the early 1900s, and two restaurants—Cole’s and Philippe The Original—still dispute who made it first. Philippe Mathieu, founder of Philippe’s, reportedly dropped a roll into roasting juices by accident in 1918, while Cole’s maintains that its chef created a softer-bread version in 1908 for a customer with sore gums.
Cole’s French Dip established the observance in 2018 to mark the restaurant’s 110th anniversary, which dates back to November 12, 1908.
Even though the sandwich remains widely known and loved across the U.S., National French Dip Day stays a modest observance online. The hashtag #NationalFrenchDipDay has about 1K posts on Instagram, while #FrenchDip appears roughly 40K times on Facebook and over 80K times on Instagram, showing that people celebrate the sandwich itself far more often than the official day.
When Is National French Dip Day Celebrated
National French Dip Day takes place on November 12 each year. The date remains the same annually, making it easy to mark your calendar and plan your meal.
| Year | Weekday and Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Wednesday, November 12 |
| 2026 | Thursday, November 12 |
| 2027 | Friday, November 12 |
| 2028 | Sunday, November 12 |
| 2029 | Monday, November 12 |
| 2030 | Tuesday, November 12 |
How to Celebrate National French Dip Day
Celebrating National French Dip Day is all about enjoying good food in a simple, satisfying way. Whether you love cooking at home or prefer to eat out, there are many easy ways to honor this flavorful American sandwich.
- Order a French dip at a local deli or diner and enjoy it as intended—served warm, juicy, and dipped into rich au jus
- Prepare your own at home. Slice roast beef thinly, place it on a crusty French roll, and serve it with homemade or store-bought au jus. Add cheese or caramelized onions for extra flavor.
- Share your creation online. Post a photo with #NationalFrenchDipDay and connect with the growing community of sandwich fans.
- Visit Los Angeles landmarks. Stop by Cole’s or Philippe The Original—both restaurants claim to have invented the French dip sandwich.
Related Sandwich Days
If you enjoy celebrating food days, these other sandwich-themed observances are worth adding to your calendar:
- National Sandwich Day – November 3
- National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day – April 12
- National Hoagie Day – May 5
- National Cuban Sandwich Day – August 23
- National Monte Cristo Day – September 17
- National Reuben Sandwich Day – March 14
