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    Foundation Cafe

    4.2 (253 reviews)
    Closed • 7:00 am - 3:00 pm

    Foundation Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    FOUNDATION CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Menu on the board
    Stephanie C.

    What a cute establishment. They service breakfast items all day and have sandwiches, salads, bowls and burgers with a Filipino flavors. I ordered the chicken adobo bowl. Come visit and support this small business!

    Grilled salmon bowl
    Jon L.

    Your classic downtown weekday salad/sandwich lunch spot with a decidedly Filipino spin. It's popular for lunch and has been on Kearny for a while now. Avoid lunch rush if you have to hurry. Takes a little longer here but there's more care to making your food to order. Besides the standard salads and sandwiches, the rice bowls are really great here. Filling and hearty without weighing you down. From sisig and chicken adobo to the lighter and healthful tasting grilled salmon bowl that's served with kimchi and pickles over a bed of brown rice. Foundation Cafe is a solid lunch spot on Kearny.

    Bistro
    Nathan D.

    Couldn't recommend the place enough! They helped me choose between sisig and bistek for my morning's cravings and finally chose on the bistek! When it comes to actually eating it, reminds me of my Lola's bistek that she would make at home for me, the best. Really friendly people and the ambience of the cafe is really comfy and homey, just how I'd want to feel why eating my comfort food!

    Is the place with the owner serving
    Eduard E.

    The food was amazing. The orange juice fresh squeezed and the people very friendly and upbeat love it here

    Bob, is the owner. Say "hi" and chat if he's not swamped. Such a sweet man!
    Tracy O.

    If you haven't tried the Foundation Cafe, you're missing out. Missing! Out! The food is made with fresh ingredients and the vibe is right. I got the breakfast burrito. I ate it too fast for a photo. And I put the tater tots on the side as I was trying to keep the burrito healthy. Even the tots were crazy delicious! And I'm not one to eat those! The burrito is their best selling item and I know why. Delish! And Melanie manages and she's a riot! Best energy ever! This place is bringing life back to this street!

    Egg over broccolini
    Dominique H.

    This place caught my attention because of the sign outside the door advertising Filipino dishes and my fiancé loves Filipino food so he walked in to look. I followed him in not really wanting to purchase anything from there and the lovely cashier Melanie started chatting us up with no pressure to buy so I began to browse the menu and to my surprise it wasn't just Filipino food and Melanie was offering to make us anything we liked if it was something relative to what they offered, which was a lot. We loved her vibe so much we wanted to support so I got the breakfast burrito, my fiancé got the broccolini egg and we were amazed with how delicious they both were. She even shared with us how to make the broccolini over egg at home so we could make for our kids. She went above and beyond! Thanks Melanie!

    calamansi cooler and sisig burrito

    this cute cafe is such a nice breather from the busy city! the sisig burrito was amazing and i have no clue how they managed to keep the hashbrowns crunchy, it tasted so good! the calamansi cooler was also lovely, it was so refreshing! however, the best part was the service. every worker here is so friendly and you can tell they truly care about their work and customers. i'll be coming back!!

    Interior

    Ambiance: Cozy Service: quick staff: friendly food: delicious! Great place to have breakfast or brunch! I got the sisig rice bowl which was flavorful and filling, and I liked that the vanilla bean latte was not overly sweet.

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    Page 7 of 7

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    Limoncello - The Milanese Sandwich

    Limoncello

    4.7(1.9k reviews)
    1.1 mi•Lower Pacific Heights
    •$$

    We ordered the Rompiballe Pizza and we loved it. Served hot and ready to devour. The meatballs were…read moreso tender and delicious. It's a must order!

    We were on a short vacation to the City and stayed in a favorite hotel two blocks away from…read moreLimoncello. In researching places near where we were staying, we learned about the Italian deli and shop. We were looking forward to stopping by to check out the store and grab lunch. The store itself is very cute and charming, full of so many items - fresh meats and cheeses, imported olive oils, pastas, desserts, wine, and liquor to name a few. There is an area where you can get coffee drinks and there is a deli area for ordering sandwiches, pizzas, specialty dishes, and salads. The variety of options is plentiful. I ordered an iced coffee beverage, which was great. My significant other and I ordered a sandwich to go, which we were splitting for a light lunch back at the hotel. The person helping at the counter was not very friendly or helpful with questions. We asked for our sandwich to be made on the Dutch Crunch bread, as we were looking forward to trying it. Unfortunately, when we got back to the hotel, it turned out that the sandwich was made on a regular ciabatta roll, which was not fresh. Additionally, the sandwich was mostly mixed greens. For the price, I expected more meat. With so many great food options in San Francisco, it is likely we won't stop by on future visits to the City.

    Photos
    Limoncello - Entrance is so cute

    Entrance is so cute

    Limoncello - Siciliano Sandwich and Goodfella Sandwitch

    Siciliano Sandwich and Goodfella Sandwitch

    Limoncello - CANNOLI 3X PACK

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    Deli Board

    Deli Board

    4.3(2.1k reviews)
    1.0 mi•SoMa
    •$$

    10/10 The foundation of a great sandwich is bread. The…read morebread was so good. Soft but with a chew. Stood up to a 30 ish minute ride back on BART. Tons of meat. So much I was worried the ratio would be off. Told a friend that I didn't think it would be good. It would just taste like meat. I was wrong. Coleslaw wasn't too creamy or too sweet. Just right. Only thing I would change is asking for more peppers, they were so good so bright. Waffle Fries were great waffle fries, but the Mick Sauce was beyond great. To me it was like the best tartar sauce I've ever had. Maybe better. I would probably get an extra Mick Sauce and use it on my Sandwich. Friend got the Bradly and gave it top marks. All three meat flavors came through, jalapeños had great flavor that added to the sandwich. It's not cheap, but it's damn good. Be prepared to wait in line. I arrived around 1:50 and ordered around 2:20. I'm sure there are busier times. 100 percent worth the wait. They played CAKE and the employees were fantastic.

    Save yourself an hour and $30 this place is not worth it…read more Even if the sandwich tasted good, no sandwich is worth standing in a post soviet era line for. The pictures in the wall were overinflated and not accurate to the amount of meat each sandwich contains. A barely ample amount in the middle that thins out to plain bread towards the end. Taste was good, tender melt in your mouth meat, but the vibe was not it. They had a security guard standing outside telling you that you can't stand agains the wall on the public sidewalk to wait for your sandwich.

    Photos
    Deli Board - Inside

    Inside

    Deli Board - Chairman's corner (from left to right): thweethead, RLMB (02/2026)

    Chairman's corner (from left to right): thweethead, RLMB (02/2026)

    Deli Board - Mick.b (10/2025)

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    Mick.b (10/2025)

    The Boys’ Deli - Sanfranpsycho Sandwich

    The Boys’ Deli

    4.5(531 reviews)
    1.0 mi•Polk Gulch, Russian Hill
    •$$

    Finally made it to The Boys' Deli after my buddy hyped it up for years. It's an unassuming market…read moreon Polk with a sandwich counter in the back that is absolutely popping off. Three people working a tight space with three toaster ovens, and everything comes toasted by default. Their DNA is from pizza making, and it shows. The menu has around 40 sandwiches, so I asked the guy behind the counter for his two favorites and started there. The Godfather: Genoa and pepper salami, oven gold turkey, provolone, and garlic spread on Dutch crunch. Great texture, warm from the toaster, and the garlic spread ties it together. A San Francisco classic done right. The San Franpsycho: it normally comes with honey turkey, but they had rotisserie chicken on the spit so I swapped it in. Gouda, bacon, pesto, garlic spread, and remoulade. The pesto comes through right away and the chicken tastes like real rotisserie. Fair warning: it is messy. It drips. Do not eat this in the car. I could not find a clean way to eat it and ended up taking half home to finish. In their defense, I went rogue with the chicken order so that might have messed up the flow. If you're a sandwich person in SF, put this on the list. I'll be back soon.

    We were in the area and wanted a quick bite! Our friend suggested The Boys' Deli for one of their…read moresandwiches. We ended up getting 2! Cozy neighborhood deli with friendly and fast service. ***OUR PICKS *** SANFRANPSYCHO ($17.99) Honey turkey, smoked gouda cheese, bacon, pesto, garlic spread and remoulade (spicy Mayo). Yummy with a little kick! If you want to have it even spicier, add the pickled jalapeños too! 5/5 ITALIAN SUB ($17.99) Salami, ham, mortadella, provolone, oil and vinegar. This is what an Italian sub should taste like! 5/5 Now, we had some tapas before grabbing the sandwiches, so we weren't entirely hungry. But these sandwiches were delicious and hit the spot! For not being hungry, the sandwiches were taken down without regret! Loved the crispy Dutch crunch bread that they used. Both sandwiches were very good and I can't say I liked one over the other. We would definitely come back again when the sandwich craving hits!

    Photos
    The Boys’ Deli
    The Boys’ Deli - Sanfranpsycho Sandwich (No Bacon)

    Sanfranpsycho Sandwich (No Bacon)

    The Boys’ Deli - Sandwich with all fixings!

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    Dolores Deluxe - Call Me Serg

    Dolores Deluxe

    4.6(105 reviews)
    2.8 mi•Noe Valley
    •$$

    Got the Lady Gianna based on reviews. Was disappointed- would have been good but it was much too…read moresalty - the ingredients themselves but also the focaccia bread. Went around 3 pm on a weekday and there was no wait.

    Can't go wrong with double Ds…read more Because everyone on social media from BayAreaFoodie to EatMeSF to Gaystronomy puts their sandwich and cookie on their must-eat lists, the wife and I gave into FOMO. Fear of Mission Out. The sandwiches are in high demand. The line on a Saturday that went from the intersection, around the fridge section, to the cashier took about 15 minutes and the sandwich took another 15. Both sandwiches were filling and fresh. We got hot ones with toasted bread. The couch potato with crispy pancetta was good, but American cheesier than expected. The preferable lemon pepper chicken sandwich was bright, flavorful, and tangy, with more dimension. I don't know if it's my favorite sandwich, but certainly top five. I give them five stars, however, because everyone was unpretentious and super nice, the sandwich artist is a machine, they have unique items, and they only charge $1.25 for a can of soda. As for the fresh chocolate chip cookies, my wife liked them. I didn't understand the hype. They were fudgey and doughy, so I guess if you like eating cookie dough you'll love them. We bought enough to have one as an appetizer and one for dessert.

    Photos
    Dolores Deluxe - Market

    Market

    Dolores Deluxe - Deluxe breakfast sando

    Deluxe breakfast sando

    Dolores Deluxe - Ode to Barber (rotisserie chicken breast, homemade toum, lebanese pickles, crispy potatoes, parsley + sumac on acme green onion slab)

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    Ode to Barber (rotisserie chicken breast, homemade toum, lebanese pickles, crispy potatoes, parsley + sumac on acme green onion slab)

    Lucca Delicatessen - Meatball Sandwich

    Lucca Delicatessen

    4.1(935 reviews)
    2.0 mi•Marina/Cow Hollow
    •$$

    Stopped by Luca Delicatessen in San Francisco and this sandwich was SO good I literally forgot to…read moretake a picture before I started eating it I got the toasted caprese sandwich and added peppers , 10/10. Everything tasted super fresh, the bread was perfectly toasted, and adding the peppers gave it that extra kick it needed. Simple sandwich but seriously so good. Service was quick and friendly, and I loved the old-school Italian deli vibe inside. Definitely feels like one of those classic SF spots you stumble across and end up wanting to come back to. Safe to say the half-eaten picture speaks for itself . Definitely recommend!

    Where do I start when it comes to Luca Delicatessen? Let me begin by saying that when I arrived on…read morea Tuesday afternoon, the place was packed with customers. After having my tuna sandwich on wheat, I completely understood why. Everything tasted incredibly fresh. From the tuna to the tomatoes, pickles, and avocado, you could truly taste the quality of every ingredient. I'm getting hungry again just thinking about it! I'd also like to give a special thank you to the owner, Paul, who was incredibly gracious and accommodating during my visit. Great customer service always makes a meal even more enjoyable. If you appreciate fresh ingredients, outstanding flavor, friendly service, and a welcoming atmosphere, I highly recommend stopping by Luca Delicatessen whenever you're in the area. As an added bonus for my fellow wheelchair users , there is accessible seating available, making it easy to enjoy your meal comfortably. Thanks again, Paul and everyone at Luca Delicatessen!

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    Lucca Delicatessen
    Lucca Delicatessen - Cheese ravioli with ingredients from the store

    Cheese ravioli with ingredients from the store

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    Molinari Delicatessen

    Molinari Delicatessen

    4.4(1.6k reviews)
    0.5 mi•North Beach/Telegraph Hill, Russian Hill
    •$$

    Molinari is an iconic Italian delicatessen that absolutely anyone that comes to San Francisco must…read morevisit. There's a very good reason the lines are out the door. For starters, its atmosphere is very iconic. Meats hang from racks, the store is filled with unique Italian ingredients like pastas, pickled vegetables, wines, and candies. The staff are always happy, and seem like they love what they do. In terms of their food and selection, they are unmatched. They have some of the best cured salamis, prosciuttos, and other meats that I've seen. In terms of their sandwiches, what I've seen looks good, but I also haven't tried any myself, as I mainly come for the actual delicatessen.

    Came here with my date to get some good ol' deli sammis, and we were NOT disappointed. We showed up…read moretowards the closing end of the restaurant hours so we were unable to get the focaccia we originally planned on, but we were presented with amazing, fresh, options that all sounded wonderful. We settled on a nice rosemary roll that was large and fragrant, getting the Italian combo with fresh mozzarella, no mayonnaise was in stock so we were offered a basil pesto compound butter that was made in house, and it was phenomenal. Great selection of meats, even got an Italian Coke that tasted divine. The sandwhich portions and the freshness of ingredients will have me coming back for SURE. Solid price, around 30 bucks for a large sandwhich and a couple of drinks and candy's. The candy was delicious as well! You can't go wrong here. Great service as well.

    Photos
    Molinari Delicatessen - The entrance

    The entrance

    Molinari Delicatessen - Sandwich

    Sandwich

    Molinari Delicatessen - Italian Deli

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    Italian Deli

    Foundation Cafe - salad - Updated September 2026

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