The Cheese Shop in La Jolla isn't a trendy find -- it's a long, delicious love affair. My husband and I have been slipping through this tiny doorway since our UCSD days in 1989, and somehow it never gets old. We still find ourselves here a few times a month, which is either devotion or fandom... possibly both. And if you know Phil, Dave -- even their dad, John-- then you are among a limited few. Yes, everything on the menu is excellent, but let's be real: the center-cut pork loin on sourdough with honey Dijon is the reason you came. They slow-cook the pork in-house, and you can taste every bit of that care -- tender, savory, just a little sweet, piled onto sourdough that knows exactly what it's doing. It's not just a sandwich; it's a San Diego rite of passage. Do yourself a favor and take it to go, wander down to La Jolla Shores, and eat it while staring at the Pacific like you're in your own personal travel commercial. And don't you dare leave without cookies. The chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies are quietly legendary -- crisp at the edges, chewy in the center, somehow nostalgic and brand-new at the same time. You think you'll just have "one," and then suddenly you're walking back in to buy more. Funny how that happens. If you've lived here awhile, this place feels like home. If you're visiting, this is the sandwich you'll be thinking about on the plane ride home. read more

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Cheese Shop and Sandwiches in La Jolla Shores is super popular with locals and tourists mainly for their sandwiches and oatmeal cookies. This shop on Avenida De La Playa, which is the Main Street closed off from cars, so people can walk freely, but parking is a challenge. The cheese shop can't be missed, with the green ivy covered store front. It's standing round only, no seating inside but limited outside seating. You order from the counter and they bring your order to you if you decide to sit outside. I selected the popular sandwich: Turkey, Jack Cheese and Avocado on sourdough bread with every veggie: lettuce, tomato, red onion was all it had. Just baked from the oven were the famous oatmeal cookies in caramel and chocolate, looked so yummy I didn't order any but the guy behind the counter complementary gifted a pair to me, so nice, friendly and cool!! Inside the shop didn't appear clean, I would describe the ambiance as divey. Sat outside and shortly my order was presented nicely wrapped sandwich and warm cookies. Took pics and took a bite and my consensus is that I was not a fan of this sandwich because I really prefer smoked turkey and not plain turkey. The sandwich looked subpar, the layering of ingredients weren't assembled as aesthetically layered as it can be and tasted just ok. My pup usually doesn't like smoked turkey or unfresh meats but she liked this plain roast turkey, which means it's more likely fresh and pass her approval. She also ate the contents of the sandwich sans the bread and onions of course. The oatmeal cookies were a real treat and lived up to the hype, kind of gooey, yummy and good for you...hence oats is fiber! As a cheese aficionado, this shop is not really a cheese shop with no abundant cheese selections. The shop should just be named sandwich shop, since sandwiches and candies seem to be their cash cows. If you're looking for a cheese shop, this isn't the place, but it might the place for a sandwich. Recommend read more

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First time at this place after seeing a review on YouTube. I was excited to give it a try. The turkey sandwich and a chocolate chip cookie was my order. The cookie was excellent, I could have eaten a dozen. The turkey sandwich was another story. The vegetables on the sandwich were fresh and chilled perfectly. A turkey sandwich, in my estimation, is about the turkey. What was on the offering was nicely roasted and flavorful. There was a very small portion, looked nothing like pictures and would not fall into "stuffed" category advertised. I will try the same order again, everyone can have a bad. read more

This place was recommended by my surf instructor as quick food but oldest sandwich shop in the area. You order at the counter first and they announce your name for pick up. They have a bunch of tables out on their patio. I got a turkey sandwich after a couple hours of surfing. The sandwich tastes super fresh! For a coffee and sandwich I paid around $20. Definitely will be back! read more

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We booked a tour a few doors down with La Jolla Kayak and we needed to eat something before our 12:30 tour. It was my husband and two teen sons. We happened to see this while walking around looking for something to eat, and we do not regret it! Everything was so fresh and heart. We had the Turkey and avocado on sourdough, split pea barley soup, evergreen, a 3 cheese grilled cheese and two iced teas. The man taking our order was so sweet and kind. He gave us great recommendations and a sample of the pickle lemonade which was delicious. He later came up to make sure we and other customers were satisfied. I really appreciated the great customer service, delicious food and fabulous beachy ambiance. We will be coming back! read more

I've been hearing about this spot for awhile now and finally got the chance to check it out. Super friendly staff and cute little vibe inside. I enjoyed the patio seating and the area itself is cute to walk around. I tried the Reuben and it was pretty good. I think this spot might have been overhyped to me for so long that I was a little underwhelmed with the actual sandwich. But!! I would definitely come back and try some more sandwiches. The oatmeal cookie was absolutely fantastic and I would gladly eat that many more times read more

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After Kayaking we were hungry and didn't want anything heavy. We always love a good sandwich and lucky The Cheese Shop was close by. It's small and busy but for good reason. Service was quick and efficient. You put in your order and pay then find a spot close by to wait for your order. We got the turkey, jack cheese and avocado which is their most popular sandwich. We also got a few of their side salads. We chose potato, macaroni and the Greek pasta salads. The macaroni salad and potato salad were a favorite. The Greek was good but found it a little salty. We would definitely grab food here again. Delicious sandwiches, fresh fixings and soft fresh bread! Yum read more

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Their roast pork sandwich is incredibly delicious. They make a really good Reuben, too. And Dave's soups are the best: the clam chowder is my favorite, followed by the vegan creamy tomato. Old school shop with hard-to-find candies and two kinds of awesome cookies. Fresh squeezed lemonade and fresh brewed iced tea: think Arnold Palmers. Busy during the summer, stop in to order and enjoy the weather outside on the patio while you wait. read more

Omg I loved this shop!!! It's such a hole in the wall right by the beach. Super convenient location with excellent sandwiches. They also have a variety of candies in the store which was fun to look at. Parking: There's street parking but the actual street it is on is blocked off for cars. Would recommend walking here rather than driving Seating: no indoor seating, but a good amount of outside seating on the street read more

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I haven't been here in probably 15 years. I used to come often over 20 years ago. The super cool thing is walking in and feeling like I'm going back in time. The place hasn't changed. I don't even think the people that have worked there have changed. We ordered the recommended turkey sandwiches, side of chips, homemade lemonade, and some European chocolate to go. Everyone working there was so happy and it was actually fun to just be inside ordering. The best part, oh yeah, still tastes delicious. I'll be back! read more

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Great food with great prices! Definitely a cool place to grab a sandwich from. I even grabbed some breakfast one morning. They opened early. read more

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While staying at the La Jolla Shores Hotel we found this place on our walks. There was quite a line and we just had to see why. We got the Torpedo(Italian with Mortadella) and the New York special( pastrami & corned beef). Those sandwiches just melted in your mouth. I would say I could eat a different sandwich every day and then start from the beginning. There is outside seating but clearly most were just grab and go. Staff is very nice. They also sell a lot of snacks and candy that is old school and brings back great memories. I can't wait for our next beach trip and try another round of sandwiches. read more

Cheese Shop - New York special - Sandwiches Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Really delicious sandwich. The New York special was a perfect amount of mustard and pepper. They turkey had lots of avocado. Very cute vibe inside. Lots of chips and drinks to choose from. The service was friendly and talkative. read more

Cheese Shop - Turkey Turkey, Jack Cheese and Avocado Sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - La Jolla, California

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In one word, EXCELLENT!!! I used to go all the time when I worked at UCSD and I forgot how good the Cheese Shop sandwiches were. It is a laid back environment and you feel relaxed as soon as you walk in but the staff behind the counter is so nice and welcoming from the moment you step foot in the shop. They offer more than just sandwiches, chips, a wide variety of coffees, soda's, and I think it even said beer. There are lots of fun soda fountain type bottles in the fridge to choose from too. I got my usual, turkey on sourdough with lettuce, tomato, onion and mustard and it was as tasty as I remembered. Thick stacks of turkey and toppings. Price is reasonable for the size of the sandwich. I also recommend the oatmeal cookies (chocolate chip are good too but the oatmeal was to die for). So gooey and caramelly, crispy edges, YUM! Parking can be a bit crazy since so close to the beach but stopping by the Cheese Shop is a must! read more

Cheese Shop - Sandwiches Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Such a cute little hole in the wall sandwhich shop. The inside is super cute! We ordered their Turkey, Jack Cheese, and Avocado Sandwich, and it was a nice and filling sandwhich. The vegetables were laid out perfectly, and it wasn't messy at all. One of the workers told us he's been working there since he was little, and his parents owned the shop! Orders came out quickly and he askes us if we liked it and gave us a green spicy sauce that gave a little tang to the sandwich. He also let us try the flourless oatmeal cookie, and it was sweet and yummy, but it was sticky, which makes sense. Definitely would come back! read more

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I LOVE the cheese shop! The sandwiches are so delicious and the man who owns it is so nice and welcoming. It's such a cute shop with a nice outside area to eat and super close to the beach for your beach sandwiches! I always get my lunch here before heading to the beach. read more

Not as good as the Rubys Sandwich saloon in Costa Mesa/Newport but we tried our best to find a place similar to it in La Jolla. Parking is really difficult to find for this area. The sandwiches are a bit pricier than I would have liked. We ordered the classic Turkey, Jack Cheese, with Avocado - one with wheat and one with sourdough. They size is good and they're really filling, but it just didn't hit the spot just the same for my boyfriend. I personally thought the sandwiches were really good because they give a generous amount of avocado! I also ordered my sandwich without onions and cheese. I also attached some menu photos since there doesn't seem to be enough. read more

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Sandwiches always taste 10x better by the beach for some reason. This local spot is nestled right in the heart of downtown La Jolla- Really cute inside with sort of a retro vibe + lots of candy options and solid sandwiches. Nice patio seating area too. Staff was super friendly and my sandwich was ready quickly despite going around lunchtime. I ordered the Turkey & jack cheese with bacon on sourdough and enjoyed it. Nothing particular fancy, but just a tasty, well made turkey sandwich. Can't forget the pickle on the side too :) Perfect spot to pickup a sandwich before heading to the beach. Parking can be tough in this area but I was able to find a spot around the corner. read more

Cheese Shop - Outside - Sandwiches Near Me - La Jolla, California

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I absolutely love the flourless oatmeal cookies!! They are chewy, sticky and sweet - and perfect to enjoy at the beach. The line may be long, but it goes pretty quickly and the cookies (and sandwiches) are worth the wait. read more

It's a cute little shop with outside seating and only a couple minutes away walking distance from the beach. You really can't go wrong with any sandwich you get from here, there's something for everyone! The whole crew is super friendly and will gladly answer any question you have. I'm going down the menu trying every sandwich but so far the NY special is my go to, nothing like a warm toasty sandwich on the colder days. (They also season their tomatoes which is always a great indicator of a good sandwich) read more

Cheese Shop - New York Special - Sandwiches Near Me - La Jolla, California

I've said it once and I'll say it again. BEST SANDWICH IN SAN DIEGO! I mean wow do they know what they're doing. Staff are always so friendly, they have an incredible selection of snacks etc (as any good deli should), with an old school vibe that guarantees you're about to eat good. Every ingredient in their sandwiches is perfect, always top notch veggies cheese etc and their bread is AMAZING! Cannot recommend enough. read more

Cheese Shop - Sandwiches Near Me - La Jolla, California

I would give this place all the stars in space if I could. I was having a bad day and I came in and ordered a sandwich right before closing . I'm gluten intolerant and they had options for me that were even celiac safe if I needed it. The owner made me try a cookie that was also gluten free that was so incredibly delicious that I'm 100% hooked. Everyone who worked there was incredibly kind and generous. I sat outside which is great because the ocean is maybe a quarter of a mile away. I kid you not I took a bite out of this sandwich and started crying it was so delicious and nostalgic. In a world full of negativity and frustration, this small place gave me a little hope in humanity through its service, history, and food. I will be coming to this place after school an incredible amount from this moment on. :) read more

Great place to stop by for a quick lunch, Dave made us feel welcome and gave great recommendations. read more

Cheese Shop - Sandwiches Near Me - La Jolla, California

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The lox bagel was a bit disappointing, im not sure if it was because it was busy but was hoping to like this place.

Got the turkey, jack, and avocado on wheat and added sprouts. Perfect meat to toppings ratio, and everything was super fresh. High quality, refreshing sandwich to take to or for after the beach. read more

We got the turkey cheese and avocado. And we were expecting better! Not much meat on the sandwich and the bread was eh read more

The cheese shop is a gem. The food is excellent and priced very well. You can't go wrong with anything in the menu. Great eats when you are down in LaJolla at the shores. read more

Enjoyed this shop located on the main strip in La Jolla shores. Only outdoor seating, ordering takes place indoors at a register and names are called when food is ready. There are a plethora of sandwiches to choose from and multiple different bread types. I tried the grilled 3 cheese which was awesome, and friends tried the Rachel and Turkey/Avocado both of which were filling and tasty (albeit the bread starts to fall apart as it isn't toasted on the turkey/avo). Reasonable prices for the area and nice service, would return! read more

Cheese Shop - Grilled 3 cheese sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - La Jolla, California

Fantastic as always. Even when they're busy, the employees are upbeat, friendly and helpful. Sandwiches always taste great and fresh. My family and I look forward to going there every time we're at the shores. read more

Amazing people, excellent food, found this gem online by accident, LOL haven't been there. David and staff provided us with very late night catering delivered to our hotel before we arrived! Total blind trust. We were not disappointed, we should have told David to just feed us , he made suggestions , guided us two of which were his potatoe salad and oat cookies , the oat cookies are amazing, the potato salad was like Mom made both disappeared in minutes. The sandwiches were perfect. Presentation, was nice we received a call from his staff about 6 hours before delivery as we were boarding our flight, now that's service. read more

A great spot to get a quick, cheap lunch in La Jolla. The shop is packed full of just about every single candy you could think of, some drink coolers and a deli. Posters of the history of candy, and some other eclectic things - pretty neat. The staff was very friendly and got my my sandwich quickly. I ordered their breakfast sandwich on an everything bagel, and it comes with a pickle on the side. Very good bagel, no frills sandwich - a solid choice. And it was only like $6! read more

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Service is amazing, lots of fun drinks and the oatmeal cookies are to die for. To die for. We buy at least 10 every time. Bought 12 this time!! I hear the sandwiches are delicious and I saw the cooler was fun of fun drinks!!! read more

Sandwich: meh. - barely any mustard - no cheese! Assumed it would be included it the sandwich but I think you need to be SPECIFIC about wanting cheese, which doesn't make sense in my brain because the place is called Cheese Shop - sourdough bread was kinda crumbly. If you're doing sliced sourdough, I recommend the Sacramento sourdough company for sourcing the bread. Service: fine! - sandwich came fast - people were nice and chill Price: acceptable ‍ until I ate the sandwich, and then I was like....... dang I wish this sandwich was a level up from what I'm eating considering it was like $12 read more

Cheese Shop - Turkey - Sandwiches Near Me - La Jolla, California

Quick service with super friendly staff. Delicious sauce and oatmeal cookie is a must get, crispy chewy yet melts in your mouth. read more

Cheese Shop - Turkey & Jack Cheese - Sandwiches Near Me - La Jolla, California

The sandwich was unfortunately average. Ambiance is good but I waited 18 minutes between the time I placed my order until the time my name was called AND I was hungry. I looked at the young men working the sandwich building line. -must have been family hires bc they were moving slower than molasses. read more

Our first time here! It was myself, my 3 kids and 2 of their friends. Everyone loved what they had. It was made to order and made with fresh ingredients. The also have a few daily made soups too. Today was Clam chowder, split pea, and a black bean soup. I am vegan so I tried the 2 vegan friendly soups. I am not a huge fan of peas in general, but they're split pea soup was divine. It was well balanced more on the Chowdhry type side. It was thick and the vegetables were hardy. It was delicious. The black bean soup was super flavorful with a smokiness's that wasn't quite spicy but not fake smoky either. I will definitely try their soup every time we come back! The bread was fresh, soft and delicious! Their bagels were perfect too. Our friend ordered the breakfast bagel sandwich and said everything about it was good. Thank you for a great meal! We will be back!! read more

Cheese Shop - Sandwiches Near Me - La Jolla, California

Today I was in La Jolla for a meeting and I had to stop by one of my go to places. The cheese shop in La Jolla has been a staple in my life since I was a little guy. The little shop has looked and felt the same since the 90s. Jeesh im feeling old. My go to order is a turkey and bacon sandwich on sourdough. I also order a bag of salt and vinegar chips, an Arnold Palmer, and two cookies. The famous oatmeal cookie and a chocolate chip cookie. We'll start with the sandwich. I'm a very basic person when it comes to a sandwich. I've always been a picky eater, so I get a turkey and bacon sandwich on sourdough with provolone cheese. I add lettuce, salt, and pepper. Now when I say this sandwich is my favorite I'm serious. The taste is consistent and has never changed. I swear they are using tender love when making these. The turkey is so juicy and the sourdough bread is so so so good. An Arnold Palmer is the drink of choice for myself and it always hits the spot. Especially when it's a little warm in San Diego. The cookies at the cheese shop are their speciality. The oatmeal cookie is goey and crunchy at the same time. It is unlike any oatmeal cookie I've ever had. Then the chocolate chip cookie. It's thin style and isn't too sweet which is why I like it so much. Overall this is a place that everyone needs to stop when they visit the La Jolla Shores. It's perfect for eating there or at the beach or even in a car ride. The service is always on point and the owner is there every time I visit. I truly believe this is why this establishment has succeeded and will continue to succeed for years to come. If they stick to their old ways this will always be a stop for me. I give them a 9.5/10 today and the .5 deduction is coming from the Arnold Palmer. I think the lemonade was a little stale, so it tasted funky. read more

Cheese Shop - Turkey & Jack Cheese Sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - La Jolla, California

My husband and I absolutely LOVE this place. We come to San Diego often and always make a trip to La Jolla Shores for the beautiful scenery and The Cheese Shop. Their sandwiches are the best I've ever had and they are not stingy with the ingredients. Their potato salad and pasta macaroni salad is also a must get! They have a super cute patio area to enjoy the amazing weather and offer just about any soda you can think of. To my surprise they actually had a Jaritos Tamarind soda! The owner is ALWAYS super friendly and often works the counter. He really makes you feel special by coming out and talking to people. If you're in the San Diego area, this is a must stop. read more

Love the breakfast sandwich here and the oatmeal cookies (flourless)! Dave is so kind and fun to chat with. Definitely recommend stopping by. There's plenty of outdoor seating and the service is really quick. Great place to stop by after diving, walking on the beach, etc. Parking in this area can be a little hairy in the summertime so just be aware. read more

Cheese Shop - Famous World Famous Flourless Oatmeal Cookie - Sandwiches Near Me - La Jolla, California

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My love, how you never let me down. Old fashioned Candy always adds a cherry on top. I eat this with a ice cold Yerba mate.