Stacked Cookbook Review

Stacked: The Art of the Perfect Sandwich

In this week’s cookbook review, we take a look at Stacked Cookbook by Owen Han, the internet’s “Sandwich King” whose creative mastery has captivated millions across TikTok and beyond.

Owen, known for his high-energy videos and meticulous builds, brings his digital charisma to the printed page with Stacked Cookbook, a celebration of the sandwich as both craft and canvas. Stacked transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, offering a fresh perspective on what can happen between two slices of bread, or inside a bao, wrap, or taco.

Drawing on his Italian and Chinese heritage, Owen merges global flavor traditions with contemporary technique, crafting recipes that are familiar yet thrillingly new. The result is a body of work that challenges what we think we know about handheld food, one stack at a time.

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A Journey Through the Stacked Table

Stacked Cookbook unfolds like a guided tour through Owen’s creative mind. “Anything that can be stacked and held in your hand counts as a sandwich,” he declares, and this spirit shapes the book’s wide-ranging structure.

The opening chapters celebrate morning indulgence: the Hawaiian Breakfast Sandwich layered with egg, bacon, and sweet rolls introduces the tone, casual yet elevated. From there, the Turkey Crunch Sandwich with Frico Crisps reinvents the classic deli standard, pairing crisp cheese with tender turkey and tangy sauce.

The Peking Duck Wrap and Bao with Hoisin Pork Burnt Ends bring Owens multicultural influences into harmony, while the OG Steak Sando with Caramelized Onions and Aioli channels timeless comfort through meticulous precision. Finally, the Salted Brownie Ice Cream Bar redefines dessert with wit and flair, closing the book on a note of playful indulgence.

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Cooking with Playfulness and Intention

Each recipe begins with a short reflection, part personal story and part kitchen note. These headnotes bridge Owen’s online persona and his deeper culinary curiosity, guiding readers through the why behind each choice.

Owen writes with the confidence of a seasoned creator but the warmth of a fellow home cook. His directions are clear without being rigid, precise yet flexible, designed to encourage intuition as much as execution. Timing, texture, and temperature are treated as vital ingredients, not afterthoughts, and his focus on sensory cues (“listen for the crisp,” “feel the give of the bread”) brings a rare immediacy to the page.

Cooking from Stacked feels like collaborating with Owen himself. His guidance flows naturally, balancing technique with enthusiasm. A novice might find a few recipes demanding, crisp elements require speed and coordination, but every challenge is paired with an achievable payoff.

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Final Thoughts

Stacked Cookbook is a lively, inventive reimagining of one of food’s simplest pleasures. Owen transforms the sandwich from a lunchbox staple into a form of culinary storytelling, playful, multicultural, and deeply satisfying. His voice, equal parts precision and enthusiasm, guides readers toward a new way of thinking about how we build and balance flavor.

Even with its occasionally too-styled photography, the book succeeds where it matters most: in inspiring curiosity. It reminds us that creativity can exist in everyday cooking, that joy can be handheld, and that a sandwich, done right, can carry more meaning than it seems.