Gayle and I arrived a full hour before our Berkeley Rep Matinee production of The Lunchbox. Breakfast was well into our rear view mirror and we needed something to tide us by through the play. As we came upon this Ike's, we agreed that sharing a sandwich and then eating it in the Donor's lounge would do the trick. Our turkey, cheese, and red pesto sandwich on Dutch Crunch was just what we needed, both in terms of taste and quantity. It not only got us through the play, but into the evening as we drove back home to Nevada. read more

Sometimes I will eat an Ike's sandwich if that's what is offered at a meeting or event, but I don't like supporting dishonest businesses, and that's what Ike's is. I stopped buying Ike's sandwiches when I realized their customer service was horrendous and their behavior incredibly unprofessional. A few years ago, I won a social media contest that Ike's promoted on Facebook. The prize was a Joc Pedersen jersey and 25 sandwiches. When I contacted them to claim the prize, they played dumb and claimed it was an Instagram contest, refusing to recognize me as a winner. They simply ignored me when I showed them the evidence that the promotion was on Facebook. I have contacted Ike's countless times over the last few years. They occasionally reply with a simple, "I'm sorry about that; I'll add some points to your account" or something like that, but most of the time, they just ignore me. In October, I staffed a leadership retreat for teenagers, and Ike's catered one of the meals. They delivered tons of sandwiches, chips, cookies, brownies, rice krispies treats, and lollipops. I noticed multiple bags of chips that were months past their expiration date. (See photos.) This is the kind of operation they run. I have read that the Downtown Berkeley Ike's finally decided that customers can use the bathroom. For years, there was still a sign saying it was for employees only. Is this an indication that they want to right the ship? I doubt it, but if Ike's wants to make a genuine effort to do better and honor the prize they advertised, I will give them another chance. read more

Ike's Love & Sandwiches - Bags of expired chips - photo taken in October, chips expired in July/August - Sandwiches Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is one of the regular Ikes sandwich shops that they have as usual three dozen meat and vegetarian options and at this location if you come any day after 3 PM until close, they saw you any large sub for $8.98. That's like six dollars or more savings It's not as quick as a subway, but the quality is better overall read more

Ike's Love & Sandwiches - Sandwiches Near Me - Berkeley, California

I was the only one in the restaurant and submitted my order on the kiosk. However they made me wait at least 25 minutes because they were working on a catering order. They could have easily taken care of me - the only customer in the actual restaurant before continuing with the catering order. Horrible catering management. They didn't even let me know before placing my order that it would be a long wait even though it should have never been a long wait. read more

Pickup a to go order - Dutch crunch veggie sandwich and the bread was purple but super flavorful. It was extremely filling and I was full for the whole day and night afterwards. Super flavorful and I wanted more even though I was full. Kind of addictive and try to avoid to keep blood sugar in check. read more

While in town for a work trip, my husband and I decided to go to Ikes for lunch since it was across the street from our hotel. When we entered the shop, we were greeted by the cashier. After looking through the extensive menu, my husband I put in our orders to go. When we got back to the hotel, my husbands sandwich had a sauce that he had asked for on the side. this ruined the sandwich and he was not able to eat it. As for my sandwich, it had a very heavy pour of condiments but still eatable. The portions are definitely generous. The shop itself is spacious and clean. Unfortunately, there are no public bathrooms. So if you plan to eat here, be sure to bring some hand sanitizer as you will not be able to wash your hands. read more

Ike's Love & Sandwiches - Sandwiches Near Me - Berkeley, California

Tried the ménage a trois (honey mustard chicken) and the madison bumgarner (habanero rib eye steak) at a club event. Both were good. Love the dutch crunch. All the sandwiches had such funny names. read more

I ate a Tuna sandwich with avocado, and it was a fantastic sandwich. Every bite was fresh. I gave it a 9 out of 10. I had some chips and a drink with my order, and the Ambiance was good. When i was looking around, i saw some old-school lunch boxes, which brought back memories of when i was a kid. The staff was friendly and had excellent communication. TWO THUMBS UP!! read more

Ike's Love & Sandwiches - Golden Bear Sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Berkeley, California

Amazing place for vegan and vegetarian folks. They have so many options and customizations, including substitutions along with taste. Super close to Bart station which makes it easy for take outs. read more

Ike's is always the right answer. Simply the best sandwich shop around. Consistent, delicious, and definitely something for everyone. One of you can order a five pound sandwich so stuffed full of roast beef it's too much for one person, the other can get a vegan meatball sub so delicious it's hard to believe it's not beef or pork. Super tasty, you'll be a regular. read more

The service was absolutely fantastic. My sandwich was packed with chicken, avocado, pesto, mushroom, and so much more. Berkeley students get half off. We took the sandwiches to go and I got to save half for dinner! read more

Ike's Love & Sandwiches - Off menu! - Sandwiches Near Me - Berkeley, California

I was very pleasantly surprised with this place. The bread was really soft and tasty. The toppings were fresh but the vegan turkey was a little tough. Our order was out quick and the employees were pleasant. Overall, I would still return. read more

Ike's Love & Sandwiches - Vegan Turkey Sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Berkeley, California

I've come here a few times over the last month. Excellent service, friendly. These people are working hard and the work they do is under appreciated, take a moment to say thank you. Kat is excellent at her job, friendly service. The other young woman making sandwiches was always friendly.. Fatima is amazing. They must get AC in this location to help on warm/hot days. The staff deserves it. read more

Came here right off Bart and were hoping to use the restroom which was only for employees which was already a little disappointing. The sandwiches were good as usual but we didn't get a lollipop in our bag. Small detail but I always look forward to it. Ike's is always a craveable place and I will continue to come back despite the downfalls, but there are other locations with friendlier service for sure read more

They do not allow paying customers to use the restroom. This is something owner should change.

Restaurant was very dirty. Water on the floor by the soda fountain almost slipped. Very rude lady behind the counter. Insisting that restrooms are only for employees in a very argumentative manner. A customer who spends nearly $50 is unable to use the restroom in the back to wash their hands before they eat. No solution to this other than no. No hand sanitizer or hand wipes to offer as a solution. The lady even wanted to cancel the $50 sale as a solution because no was the only answer she had for a request to wash ones hands before touching food and eating. read more

Think of a Subway but better quality + variety. I came here for an early lunch with some friends and was blown away at the menu options. I wasn't too hungry, so I opted for a side of onion rings. They were alright, nothing super special. The sandwiches looked massive, and all my friends commented on the quality of the bread. Seems like a good deal, will have to stop by again sometime! read more

Ike's Love & Sandwiches - onion rings - Sandwiches Near Me - Berkeley, California

A great stop for a quick, unique sandwich. Eddie had great customer service and was happy to answer any questions. Will definitely be back!

JAVIER was amazing. Great service and he seemed like genuinely enjoyed helping me out. Great all around.

I love Ike's & their Sandwiches. I've been to this location quite a few times (pre-COVID as well) and the experience is overall positive! I do occasionally run into a slightly disgruntled employee, slow preparation times, or ingredient shortages, but the one constant is taste. These sandwiches (Elvis Keith is my go-to, basic I know) always come out tasting great. I'm a fan of the caramel lollipop as well, it really is the perfect treat post-sandwich. So today's shortage of tomatoes was a bit of a bummer, but not a big deal. I think a little consistency on customer service and order prep times could go a long way here, but I'm still a big fan. I'll be back soon enough! read more

Ike's Love & Sandwiches - 1. Elvis Kieth - Sandwiches Near Me - Berkeley, California

Ordered from this place for the first time as I was craving a sandwich and went for a favorite (order #1). I'm not really picky about food and when I'm really hungry I'll eat anything that is somewhat good however I got through less than half this sandwich and I just could not continue eating it. Nothing tasted fresh and the protein just tasted weird. Cool place and people but the quality of food was just not there. read more

The sandwich was just ok to me. The bread was really thick especially in ratio to the lunch meat and toppings. So, mostly what I tasted was the bread. The bread was not stale but that is kind of the texture it gave to me. It was definitely huge and I could only eat half of it. They did make the sandwich quickly. There was street parking but it was tight. read more

Ike's Love & Sandwiches - Sandwiches Near Me - Berkeley, California

Kinda sucks to order food in an empty restaurant and they won't let you use their restroom even though the Berkeley Municipal Codes require. Won't be back. read more

Ike's Love & Sandwiches - Empty restaurant bad service - Sandwiches Near Me - Berkeley, California

Amazing sandwiches! Wait is not too long. I recommend sticking to the favorite sandwiches marked on the menu. I got the Madison Bumgarner and I would say everything was portioned well. Tasted good too! read more

Ike's Love & Sandwiches - Madison Bumgarner - Sandwiches Near Me - Berkeley, California

Food was very good! i ordered a chicken sandwich. Unfortunately, i know being close to bart attracts homeless people but when i entered there was a guy stealing from the fountain sodas and while i was waiting for my order there was a guy drinking a four loko inside the establishment - he also started talking very loud to me which made me feel intimidated and nobody did anything ....! i will say maybe add security or request it from the city but yeah, i will say place your order to go and don't get fountain sodas ! read more

Danny and Brad were absolutely professional and very caring for their customer . Small things with independent business go a long way and I would recommend this shop for the food as well as the courtesy for customers and to to keep them satisfied is more valuable then anything . Great sandwiches and great services and very respectful. I definitely recommend this place to anyone close to downtown Berkeley . read more

I ordered a Jaymee Sirewich. It arrived about 50min after the order was placed and it was still warm. Not bad for a Doordash order on a Friday night. The sandwich on the other hand was bad. What's crazy is the thing looks great on you plate. If you take a look inside the bun however you'll find its nothing but window dressing. All the meat is pushed up to the front and you actually end up with ~2 flimsy/soggy Burger King-ish chicken strips smothered in a mild hot sauce. The bread is a mouthful. It's not fluffy or light (or good) it's a dense cake-like mass that will choke you out if your not careful. Seriously, this sandwich is probably 60% bread by weight. It's insane when you actually eat it. Also, for the Dutch style of crisp, it is really soffy and bland. Just a big letdown. TL;DR: Not worth it. Literally any other sub would be better. read more

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Ike's is on Yelp and it's fun. They have so many Halal sandwiches. I don't know what that's about, but I had the meatball sandwich. It was good and too much food. I had a soda in Berkeley. read more

Ike's Love & Sandwiches - Sandwiches Near Me - Berkeley, California

I went into Ike's today for lunch on my break and it was waaayyy too smokey inside the store and my eyes immediately started to water. I asked one of the employees if there was something wrong and they said the oven has issues and it's been an ongoing issue. It is unsafe for customers AND the employees especially to be breathing that in all day. I will not be coming back. read more

Very friendly staff, excellent sandwich. I had the pastrami sandwich. Holy smokes it was delicious. So flavorful.

I was about to order, girlfriend needed to use the restroom. Only employees not paying customers can use the restroom. Was literally forced to go somewhere else so we could use a restroom. Why have a storefront if you can't take customers? read more

I got the reading rainbow sandwich on dutch crunch and was disappointed. The dutch crunch bread was really flaky and very crumbly and falling apart. The filling of the sandwich was meh. I didn't like the red pesto sauce that came in the sandwich. It was overpowering and made it difficult to be able to taste the other ingredients. Overall, I would rate the food a 2/5. I am giving this place an extra star because the inside of the establishment was very clean and the employee who assisted me was very kind and helpful. read more

Ike's Love & Sandwiches - Sandwiches Near Me - Berkeley, California

I think this is my favorite location so far because it's so close to me and it's actually clean. Downtown Berkeley is kind of hit and miss when it comes to cleanliness, but I was presently surprised that it was as clean as it was in general. I did take my food to go because the one table they had, hadn't been wiped down. But, I digress. The sandwich was good. They had the allergy list, and I got free chips because I checked in. I love the fact that they have gluten free bread and that I don't have to pay extra. I love the fact that the gluten free bread is good. Bottom line is that I love Ikes Sandwiches because they have good sandwiches and I'm actually filled up after eating. And even though I took a BART ride to my car, so that I could eat in a cleaner space, my sandwich lasted and didn't get soggy. Big win! read more

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They frequently give you the wrong order. Not just a forgotten ingredient, but a totally different sandwich. I get mistakes happen, but it wouldn't be so frustrating if I actually got a refund when it happens. I've used their website contact form before and just got ignored. Make sure you ask for a receipt so you can at least attempt to get a refund, and open the sandwich to check it before you leave. read more

I went to this sandwich shop with my friends, and the staff were super friendly and kind. The cashier felt bad that someone cut us in line so he paid for me and my friend's meal. The sandwiches were also delicious and very filling read more

Bombass sandos. Saucy, filling, and cheap ish. My go-tos include hot mama and menage a trois on their famous dutch crunch. No in door nor out door seating. Eat sando comes with a caramel apple lolly. read more

Ike's Love & Sandwiches - Hot mama - Sandwiches Near Me - Berkeley, California

Ike Shehadeh, owner and namesake of the continuously growing sandwich empire that is Ike's Love & Sandwiches, you've done it again! With his hearty sandwiches that when split are large enough to feed three people for lunch, thanks to another location, smartly located in the heart of downtown Berkeley where city dwellers and college students and professionals can enjoy these amazingly unique sandwiches that are perfect for its home in this city. I always love Ike's for their aforementioned sandwiches which are filled with a ton of fresh ingredients and served warm unless thanks to a slight toast of their bread with every order, unless otherwise ordered. The reason I also love this particular location is that it's literally mere steps away from the Downtown Berkeley Bart station with a new promenade with multiple bistro tables right out in front of the restaurant on Shattuck Avenue to boot, it makes for interesting outdoor eating for hanging out with your friends or people watching while one noshes on your sandwiches. The reason I came to this location was that being a member of their email A-List they sent me a coupon for three dollars off of a sandwich order, so with my coupon in hand I was in my car this time and driving up University Avenue looking for parking, which in all honesty wasn't too hard to find thanks for arriving at about 2 p.m. on a weekday afternoon. A quick walk down Shattuck Avenue and I was already there and thankfully there weren't too many people in line, and as a plus they had a lot of staff behind the counter ready to fulfill orders. So after quickly looking over their menu at this location, I was about to order my tried and true of their Dirty Rueben, but then out of the corner of my eye, a saw that they had two sandwiches that were Berkeley exclusives one featuring Fried Chicken and another different kinds of lunch meat. So I went with one order of their Telegraph which was filled with pastrami, ham, their Golden Bear Sauce, and cheddar. Plus I chose French bread for my option of bread, and all of the freebies that come with every sandwich including lettuce, tomato, red onions, pickles, banana peppers and jalapenos. Like I said, it was a hearty sandwich! I loved the softness of the French bread and it also had a bit of a spicy kick, which I loved, and I later tempered by enjoying the caramel apple lollipop they add in with every order for free! I love this location, not only was the staff courteous and hard-working, as I only had to wait for less than five minutes, which for the crowds that Ike's tends to receive was truly remarkable. I was out of there skipping the streets of Berkeley, enjoying a stuffed wet sandwich sandwich of my dreams. For only nine dollars I was stuffed! Now I can't to go to other locations to get my Ike's fix on, perhaps this will be a new thing that their loyal fans can do, as they have so many locations in the Bay Area that there is no way one can visit them all. Perhaps one day one year I may just do that. Sandwich goals are the best kind of goals to have and at Ike's you will always have a great meal worth remembering. read more

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Sign says open until 9pm, I just went and the doors are locked it's only 6:43. There's even a worker inside behind the counter.

I mean, $10 for a sandwich is pricey. But it is definitely worth the value that they are giving you. Behind the gimmicky names and jokes behind every sandwich offered here is an array of tasty, unique sandwiches loaded with a variety of sandwich stuffings. I always tend to go for anything with golden bear sauce because it really does just make it better. Things you want to avoid at Ike's might be when they try to up-sell you some stuff. Don't go for the fries or the onion rings or any sides--mine have always come out soggy and not too crisp. Don't go for the drinks (I'm talking about the bottled novelty beverages). They're just novelties and not really worth being priced a third of your sandwich when their fountain beverage duplicates are cheaper. More things I recommend? The chips. Get the chips to go with your sandwich; I don't know a better combination than crunchy chips and a nice loaded sandwich for contrasts and flavors. Ike's isn't an every day meal--it'd rob you dry. It's an occasional sandwich here and there that will not disappoint. read more

Ike's beckoned while I was waiting for a light-bake pizza at Sliver, which is next door. While Ike's is famous, I was put off at first by the heavy stream of customers walking through their door. I soon realized, however, that the Ike's ordering system is amazingly fast. I stepped right up to the cashier. After explaining that I was a first-time customer, I was shown some of Ike's love by the cashier. She identified a number of sandwiches as favorites; I chose the #240, which is a steak sandwich with cheeses and a plethora of dirty, secret sauces. Needless to say, I selected the Dutch crunch bread. Standing near the front of the house, I was amazed by the speed at which sandwiches were getting assembled. Mine was ready in about five minutes. I got my sandwich to go and ate it at home. It definitely was a tasty sandwich! I enjoyed the whole experience and will not hesitate to visit Ike's again. read more