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    Krispy Joe's

    4.6 (69 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 2:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order Krispy Joe's Takeout or Delivery

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    KRISPY JOE'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Krispy Joe's

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    Simple menu.
    ARIeL P.

    I was craving a New York-style pastrami sandwich, and someone recommended this spot in Emeryville. Since they close early in the afternoon, I made it a point to stop by around 10 a.m. to check it out. I was also excited to learn that they make their pastrami in-house and that the restaurant is located near one of my old neighborhoods. The place has a welcoming, local feel with what appeared to be a loyal group of regular customers stopping in for breakfast, coffee, and sandwiches. The owner was friendly and took the time to answer questions. When I asked which pastrami sandwich they recommended, they suggested the OG Pastrami Sandwich. They offer several portion sizes, starting with the Junior at $14, the Classic at $20, and larger Husky and Extra Husky options that go into the $30 range. Wanting the full experience, I upgraded from the Junior to the Classic. Unfortunately, the sandwich was just okay. For the price difference, I expected a noticeably larger sandwich, but the Classic didn't seem particularly big. The cabbage slaw made the look sandwich full. In fact, it left me wondering what the Junior size looks like. The pastrami itself was sliced very thin, similar to what you'd find at a chain sandwich shop like Togo's, rather than the thicker-cut deli-style pastrami I was hoping for. That said, I appreciate what they're doing as a small local business, and that's one of the reasons I made the effort to come out and try it. The atmosphere was comfortable, the owner was welcoming, and the service was excellent from start to finish. Overall, the sandwich didn't quite satisfy my craving for a true New York-style pastrami experience, but the friendly service and neighborhood vibe left a positive impression. If I'm in the area again, I'd consider stopping by for another visit and trying something else on the menu.

    Pirate themed
    Douglas Y.

    Are you kidding me a pastrami breakfast Sammie? My wife said this is the best pastrami she has ever had better than Katz Deli in NYC. The bread was super krispy, the eggs super fluffy and the thick cut pastrami was incredibly moist tender and flavorful. Cash the owner is friendly and outgoing like all business owners should be. You can tell by watching his interactions with the customers that he cares about the community. We also ordered a blackberry coffee which was probably the strongest coffee I have ever tasted. We also got the Rueben and OG for later. If you love pastrami this is a MUST go.

    Inside
    Erica Y.

    Amazinggggg breakfast sandwich that's not too salty and hits the spot. I've never had a pastrami egg cheese sandwich before and it was so good. Also the staff here are so kind and friendly!! The vibe is fun with a pirate theme going on, and very locals spot atmosphere

    OG pastrami
    Isaac C.

    You see the reviews and wonder could this hole in the wall shop really have the best pastrami sandwiches in the bay? The answer is yes! I've had them on my list for a while and was glad I had the chance to stop by. The only thing left to do is try their other sandwiches.

    Entrance
    Aimee S.

    I went for The Mama sandwich and you know first bite why they named it. The care they took warming the meat and assembling this juicy , thick sandwich, was exactly what someone who loves you would put forth in making you something to nourish your soul. I also had the tastiest Chai, which should have also had a photo.... Next time.

    The OG
    Christine B.

    The best pastrami sandwich in the bay! Thick pieces of pastrami and a nice slaw (honestly splitting one sandwich was perfect for me). It took a minute to get our sandwich, but they added a bit more pastrami for me for the wait - which I did not mind at all! There's a few seats inside and outside to enjoy your sandwich.

    Siren's Song (7.50) 16 oz.
    Victor G.

    Krispy Joe's opened recently where Delirama once was, next to Wolfhound bar. Limited hours. Sparse seating inside and out. Offerings: pour overs, mystic brews. Strong brew toddy's, morning rations, crispy toasts, vegan sandwich. As offerings overwhelmed me, a friendly, efficient barista greeted me, helped me place order on tablet based on what preferences I had for a covfefe: light whole milk, light flavorings, hot brew, chai. Ordered, pd, covfefe came out 7ish minutes later. Sips: Siren's Song (7.50) 16 oz. -didn't go with my traditional black brew. Not disappointed with a mixed artisan brew. -strong house brew , faintly mixed with light milk, house made chai. Bold covfefe with mellow traces of chai, milk, house made vanilla syrup. Deliz. 5ish stars. Worthy! Quality: great artisan house made ingredients. Quantity: great value

    Mamas on the left. OG on the right. Both were great but the OG was our favorite.
    Alex R.

    Def ranks as a new favorite shop. Unsuspecting spot that makes absolutely banging sandwiches at an affordable price. The staff are all kind and they have a number of speciality coffee drinks in addition to the pastrami. Sandwiches come in multiple size options too.

    @ifoodiejenn | The OG - hot pastrami sandwich
    Jenn N.

    I've never been a fan of sandwiches, let alone ever eaten pastrami sandwiches (because it never looked appealing to me personally). My Oakland native friend wanted to catch up and suggested getting sandwiches. He sent over Krispy Joe's and mentioned they had a spot in Jack London during Covid and it was bomb. This new spot in Emeryville just opened last month and I saw that the East Bay News featured the chef as the "pastrami king". So I said, why not and I shouldn't knock it until I try it. Parking was relatively easy, street parking at around 10AM. When we got there, the owner was super welcoming to us. We ordered via Kiosk, which had their hot pastrami sandwiches (their physical menu will be updated later). We got the The OG ($18) and Pyro Reuben ($18). I personally prefer The OG because it felt lighter but still extremely flavorful. The Pyro Reuben was super good too but it was pretty heavy (so if you prefer that, then definitely should get the Pyro Reuben). There are some seats inside and outside, where you can munch on, but it's more a quick bite and then head out kind of vibe. Overall, popped my pastrami sandwich cherry here and I am SO glad I did cause this opened a whole new world of sandwiches for me to try now. 10/10 recommend if you're in the area!

    Reuben
    Karen N.

    Ugh. This review is killing me. The proprietors of Krispy Joes formerly operated Delirama so they know their meats. The sandwiches are (chef's kiss) amazing. Get the pastrami. It's killer. At the same time, the base sandwich price is $18 and the sandwich is on the smaller side. Enough for a regular meal but there's no leftovers and if you're hungry you might still be hungry. You're paying for stellar quality and taste. Still seems high. I had an iced chai. The problem with chai is that it's like beer. Everyone has different tastes and every family makes it diffferent. My dad makes an Indonesian inflected chai that has a lot of allspice and ginger in addition to cardamom. The chai at KJ's seemed more cardamom and wasn't super sweet. So it wasn't how I like my chai but it's hard to criticize chai. Overall, I'm torn. $25-ish for a sammich and chai seems like a lot but maybe I'm just out of touch with inflation? Maybe. I wanted to dock them a point for value but I think I'll keep it at 5 stars but if you've read this far you know that I have reservations.

    Front
    Marcos S.

    What an amazing experience. This is one of the best pastrami sandwiches I've had ever and I've eaten a lot of them. We got the regular pastrami with mustard and also the OG. The owner was super nice and told us a little bit about his crazy experience with getting the business up and running, Oakland permits oh my. The sandwiches were on the expensive side at $20 a pop, but totally worth it and I would absolutely recommend. Also, they made very good, hot chocolate and an excellent strong cup of coffee. They made all their ingredients in house. They were so good. Small interior with a few chairs plus some on the outside as well. Please support this business.

    We came on a super busy day, staff did the best that they can... Sandos were delish. Pastrami was very legit. Don't forget to get a $3 pickle, worth it. Grab a large coffee because the small is tiny...I drank it so fast, didn't get a picture.

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    2 months ago

    Amazing Service and the best Pastrami Sandwich I've ever had. Will definitely be coming back soon!!!

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    Cash C.

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    Cash C.

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    Cash C.

    Thank you for your review!!

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    8 hours ago

    The best pastrami I've ever had in my life. I'm so glad this spot is in my neighborhood.

    Business owner information

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    Cash C.

    Thank you! We’re so happy to be in the neighborhood:)

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    22 days ago

    I've been on a pastrami kick and this is one of best ruben sandwich's I have found. Excellent

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    2 months ago

    Food is very good. Not much space to eat if it is cold day. The vet bed of staff are positive. Easy parking on street.

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    Ask the Community - Krispy Joe's

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    I don't really enjoy writing negative reviews of restaurants, especially smaller businesses but…read moretoday's visit to Crave really left a bad taste in my mouth. One of my biggest pet peeves is when restaurants reduce the guality or quantity of their meal to cut costs while charging premium prices. I will say I didn't mind paying a few dollars more for their subs in the past. I went there today for the first time in a couple of years, ordered a regular size basic ruben sandwich (no add-ons) and was ok paying nearly $18 dollars for just the sandwich until they handed it to me. what I got was a small 6" sub. When did their subs shrink?? in this economy we are all struggling. I get it, things cost more but Craves' owner is not doing his patrons a service by charging them premiums while cutting back on the meals. If you're ok paying that much for a shrunken sub, more power to you. I l, however, will not be going back there.

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    I've been here before love this place. It has indoor outdoor seating. Service is friendly. The food…read moreis great and we love the pizza here!

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    first time here and they been popping on my fyp on tiktok, finally had the chance to try it before…read moreheading to a concert! line was by the door was it was moving fast. Reminds me of chipotle, poké, subway etc but healthy version! soooo many options to choose from so I went for the combination (half sandwich and soup or salad) : marinated tofu sando and thai chicken coconut curry on my marinated tofu sando I chose honey wheat bread with everything on it along with the pickles and onions. It was very big and generous for a half sandwich (love it!) but I do wish they can toast or warm up the sandwich because I like my sandwiches warm. thai chicken coconut curry was sooooo delicious I would come back for a big bowl of that! Taste very coconutty and creamy, not too sweet or spicy! I am not a picky/germaphobe customer but my friends and I noticed they dont change gloves for each orders they are in the making touching all of the toppings, meats, and vegetables. I don't mind it but I am sure if other customers have certain food allergens or germaphobe I would be more cautious and do cross contamination . Provide tongs for the workers. can't wait to come back and try other sandwiches on the menu!

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    Star Meats

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    I really wanted to love this place. Very small and quirky, limited menu. I'm not really a "salad is…read morea meal" person, although my two best friends are. They were very happy with their arugula salads. I ordered the mac n cheese which was okay. Even though I grew up in El Cerrito, I sometimes feel like my NorCal green card has expired. I've lost touch with my small batch, organic self. (Although I have never liked arugula) This store is adorable and just the kind of independent neighborhood place that should be frequented and appreciated. Unfortunately I also had to use the bathroom and they don't have one for customers. So they recommended walking a block away to the BevMo. So I guess that added some negative feelings.

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    Krispy Joe's - coffee - Updated July 2026

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