One of my favorite sandwich places in the world. Little Pickle subs are served on steamed sub rolls that are just perfection. And their pickles, I don't know what kind of witchcraft or magic they use, but they're just phenomenal. The Natural Sub is my go to, which comes on a wheat roll with avocado spread lettuce, tomato cheese, and turkey. Yum. Just the absolute best. This is not a fancy place at all, just a sandwich shop which has been around since the 1960s. Just good old-fashioned plain deliciousness. read more

Lil' Pickle USA - Sandwiches Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I gave this place two chances over the past two years. The first time I dined in. The second time, I chose takeout because the atmosphere felt so tense and unwelcoming that it was like walking on eggshells. Customers should not feel like they're intruding simply by placing an order. Both times, I received the same cold, dismissive service from the same employee -- a short woman with short black hair working the counter. The attitude was consistently unfriendly, bordering on hostile. The sandwiches are fine, but they're not good enough to compensate for feeling unwelcome. I'd rather go to Jimmy John's and at least be treated with basic courtesy. To top it off, I was charged for two sides that were never included in my bag. That's careless and unacceptable. After two identical experiences, I won't be returning. read more

This is the definition of an old-school deli, replete with all the charm of a local sandwich shop that's been operating quite productively for some time now. The sandwiches are great. I had their house specialty, which is kind of their take on a traditional Italian with the ham, salami, capicola, and cheese that comprise it. The bread was super soft and with a good taste to it. The diced onions were a good addition to it. It wasn't anything fancy or innovative--just a solid sandwich for when you're hungry enough to want to do something about it. The staff was friendly and helpful in answering questions about the system. They were also very fast--not Jimmy John's fast--but they got us out sandwiches in under two minutes I'd say. That's all you should really require to reassure you they're not just slapping ingredients together haphazardly; they're actually building you a good sub carefully but efficiently. The space is great with plenty of seats to scarf down a meal during a lunch or dinner break. It isn't perfect as the walkway is a bit narrow, but they make it work. The pics of youth sports teams they have sponsored is a nice touch. As is the whole aesthetic of the place--just a durable sandwich shop that's seen some things in its many decades of serving the community. I thought it was a great environment to relax in. Overall, I'd say this is one of the better sandwich joints I've been to in the area and will try to get back there again. read more

Lil' Pickle USA - Her weapons were her crystal eyes Lil' Pickle USA from #LilPickleUSA - Sandwiches Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Lil' Pickle USA had been on my list for quite a while, and I'm so glad I finally got to check it out! For any deli sandwich lover, this charming spot is a must! Great service, super classic deli vibes. My tummy is growling in reminisce and I'm so excited to go back! read more

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Drove a ways out of my way to grab a sandwich here. It's an old school deli, with cool old sport team photos of the walls and small hallways and cafeteria like benches. I got the #7 famous sub, the sandwich was really mushy and didn't have a lot of meat on it. Bread was soggy. The service also wasn't very friendly, they seemed like they were in a hurry. The staff were sort of rude. The potato salad was good and so was the pickle on the side. There's ample parking and the line seemed to move quickly. Overall, not the best sandwich I've ever had and it was a pricier one too. read more

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Legit the best Italian sub and pasta salad in OC. The avocado mayo is my absolute favorite, the shredded cheese is such a yummy twist, and the bread is so so soft!!We loved coming here when we lived in Costa Mesa and now that we're not in the area it's our go to stop for lunch after the beach! It's definitely a small mom and pop place so the trick is to order ahead online to avoid lines on the weekends. read more

Lil' Pickle USA - Italian Sub - Sandwiches Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Number 1 Lil' Pickle Sub. Classic sandwich. Bread is nice and fluffy. Seems to be a popular local mom and pop shop. Service was quick. Seating is limited. You eat and go. The sandwich has a good bite. read more

Lil' Pickle USA - Number 1 Lil' Pickle Sub. - Sandwiches Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Had this place on my list to check out. I love me a good sandwich!!! I ordered the Big Bertha (double meat) it looks more like a little Bert lol. If this is double meat, what's the regular look like bread was soggy too. read more

Lil' Pickle USA - Double Meat Big Bertha, think they forgot the extra meat but charged me for double - Sandwiches Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Love lil pickle. Great spot for a quick sandwich. Not too many good sandwich shops around here like this.

This is my first time here. Awesome little authentic sandwich spot. Got the Lil Pickle(#1) and it was delicious. The meat was heated up and the bread fresh. Lettuce and tomato gave the sub a fresh crisp. Loved the pickle and could tell it was made in house. Young man behind the counter gave great recommendations and was super fast at getting out the food. Will come back here again! read more

Lil' Pickle USA - Lil' Pickle Sub - Sandwiches Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Service was not good. I heard good things and came and was sadly disappointed by this entire place. Staff was rude also. I won't come back.

I have passed by this spot so many times. I stopped in today to give it a try. I have a party this week and my nephew wanted sandwiches. I gave it a try and was sold. The food is good. Customer service was good. Thank you Rudy for helping out with the selection.i will definitely come back. read more

One of the best sandwich and sandwich shop's I've ever been to. Inside the sandwich shop there's golf memorability everywhere. The service was friendly and I got my sandwich fast. I ordered the original Lil' pickle sandwich and it was delicious. They make their own bread in house and the taste is amazing. read more

Lil' Pickle USA - Menu - Sandwiches Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I wouldn't come back. The lady was RUDE and the bread was hard to eat. Not even a good sandwich.

Staff is friendly and food came out fast, but my Italian sandwich wasn't great. Was wet (in a bad way) and the ingredients looked and tasted cheap. Not sure if I'll return here unfortunately read more

This place is a classic for me. I've been going here for well over 2 decades now. If you went to OCC then this was one of the spots you hit up. No frills just a great sandwich. I usually order either the "Famous Sub" or the "Italian Sub" I loved the sliced and diced cheese here. They are also known for their avocado mayo spread. also filled with chopped lettuce and tomatoes. In a hero roll. I also add in onions and bacon. Very old school feel inside, that was made for locals. Friendly service. Sandwiches are made very quickly. The macaroni salad is good as well. And you are able to order a Orange Bang here to wash it all down. It's a place I'll continue to come back again and again to. Recommendation: Famous Sub, Italian Sub, Macaroni Salad, Orange Bang read more

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I love the Lil' Pickle. Been coming for years but its been a bit. I made a mistake and ordered the chicken salad sandwich. The roll was good as usual, but the chicken salad had no flavor or seasonings. I'm not sure what happened but it was bad. Now all the other sandwiches I've had there are great so chalk this up to a bad day at the deli. Mac salad was good. Please give them a try but not the chicken salad. read more

Lil' Pickle USA - Sandwiches Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Our favorite sandwich spot ever! The bread, the spread.... it's just all an absolute perfect combination. It's an old school shop. We don't live in the area but whenever we are close by this is where we are going!!! read more

For a great sandwich spot in Costa Mesa, look no further than Lil' Pickle USA. This local gem has been serving up delicious sandwiches for years. Their menu is packed with a variety of fresh, flavorful options. Every sandwich is made to order with generous portions of premium meats, crisp veggies, and fresh bread that perfectly ties everything together. If I'm in the mood for a fresh sandwich, this's my favorite go to place rather than a chain restaurant. If you're a sandwich lover Lil' Pickle is a must visit. read more

Delicious! Tuna sandwich was perfect! Pickles on point. Pasta salad and potato salad sides were both 10/10! Yum- can't wait to come back

Lil' Pickle Sub is still my Favorite! I've lived on the west coast and east coast and I compare all the Italian subs to the OG Lil' Pickle Sub that I remember from the 1970's. My mom used to pick up sandwiches for dinner and we all loved their subs and signature pickles. Now returning 50 years later- I was so excited that it was still in business and still serving the best Italian Sub sandwich!! The flavor profile was exactly how I had been remembering it and I think it's specifically the fresh roll. It wouldn't be the same without it! The ratio of the bread, meats, shredded cheese and fresh shredded lettuce is 5/5 in my book! The ambiance is still the same and I appreciate their show of community pride with their display of local sports memorabilia. Service: I called and ordered my sandwich to go. The young server behind the counter who answered the phone, made my sandwich and took my money was friendly. I definitely felt good giving this small deli my business because they still provide a great consistent Italian Sub the way I like it and they support local sports teams in their community. What's not to like? read more

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Best sandwich shop in Costa Mesa. Kind, easy, and quick service. Amazing ambiance with some nice history of the area. Highly recommend.

I've been going here since middle school and will still continue going here whenever I can. I ordered three 14-inch subs: a meatball sub, the #1, and the #7. Each one delivered. The standout for me was the bread: it was fresh, nicely crusted, with just the right chew. If you're looking for a great sub joint this is the place! read more

Lil' Pickle USA - Left to right: meat ball, #1, #7 - Sandwiches Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I woukd not recommend this place to a friend. The small short black haired female behind the counter either didnt speak English or just didnt give a dam about how the carried herself. She just seemed like she was mad at the world. I ordered the hot pastrami and I believe they microwaved it. some of the pastrami was warm and some was like cool not room temp. The bread appeared to be microwaved also. We were in a group of 7 and we are all over 50 yrs old and frequently eat out together. We are not demanding and are very low key. I've probably only given 2 or 3 bad reviews of restaurants in maybe 10 years. So it really gotta be noticeable before I give a bad review. read more

Simple and quick sandwiches! Service could have been a bit more welcoming, but they made our sandwiches very quick. Definitely try the blt! read more

Lil' Pickle USA - Lil' Pickle Sub - Sandwiches Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

First time trying this place. Ordered the French dip and pastrami. French dip came out barely lukewarm with a cold middle but should be hot, barely any meat, no flavor and the bread was squishy and microwaved, it was a worse version of a microwaved sandwich from Costco. Pastrami had no flavor and the bread was the same. They just sprinkle cold shredded mozzarella cheese on it and wasn't even close to being melted. Didn't want to eat either sandwich, so I brought it back and explained the situation, staff was rude, treated me like a scammer when I gave back 85% of the food and refused to give me my money back, what a waste of $30. Should have went to Ike's Love sandwiches with good food and real customer service read more

Lil' Pickle is a fantastic little sandwich shop that has been around Costa Mesa for decades. A favorite of both Costa Mesa High School and OCC students, it supports the teams and they're proud of 'em; they've got pictures of the teams they support on all the walls. My personal favorite sub is the must-try "Lil' Pickle." It's loaded with ham, salami, capicola, and cheese, dressed with oil and Italian dressing. And they'll happily add mustard and mayo, making the sandwich perfect! They've got a wide selection of sandwiches, and I've pretty much tried ALL of them over the years. My alternate to the Lil' Pickle is their pastrami. It's great! I haven't ever asked where they get their bread, but it seems like it's been the same since I first ate there. It's fantastic! Some of the BEST sub rolls out there! They've got chips, macaroni, and potato salads as well. Great side selection in a bunch of different sizes! While there's usually a line, service is quick, and there's plenty of parking in front and behind the shop. They have seating inside and out front, but it's kinda limited during lunch rush. Whether you're a first-timer or a regular, Lil' Pickle is a spot you'll want to keep coming back to. Highly recommend!!! read more

Lil' Pickle USA - Lil Pickle sub - Sandwiches Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I LOOOOOVEEEEE this place. I have been coming here for over 10 years. Truly one of my favorite places to grab a delicious sandwich. I've been in this area a lot lately due to work stuff and every time I am near I know what I am getting for lunch. The customer service is always top tier! read more

I ordered the BLT and got the best BLT of my life. Tried for the first time today and will definitely be back. Ok I came back a second time and got the BLT again and still so delicious. I recommend trying this! read more

Great, old school sandwich shop. The style of the establishment was reflective of the sixty years it has been in business. That is a good thing.and gave me vibes of some of the great sandwich places I've visited on thr east coast. The service is excellent as js the food. We tried the Regular Turkey and the Natural, both of which got thumbs up from my family and I. The price was also very reasonable for a large sandwich. If it is a great sandwich you are looking for, you can't go wrong with Lil' Pickle! read more

Lil' Pickle USA - Sandwiches Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Cute little sandwich spot. And food was delicious I got the Italian sub and it was great

Cute place with solid sandwiches at a reasonable price! Though they ran out of pickles when I went, the irony haha! read more

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Apparently everyone who grew up in Irvine knew about this place... recommended by two of my OC native coworkers, I was skeptical at first because of its appearance... made the mistake of judging a book by its covers... Ordered the lil pickle sub. It was goooooooddd. Just the right amount of veggies, salami was not salty at all, and the bread was just soft enough. Been back here a couple of times already since, absolutely love it. Don't usually like sandwiches, but I guess this place changed my perception. Highly recommend! read more

Lil' Pickle USA - Lil' Pickle Sub - Sandwiches Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I don't think this place needs anymore praise. However, this place has the most delicious sandwiches. The bread is just the best. I am a sandwich freak and absolutely love the sandwiches here. Where I come from in the Northeast, we would call them "grinders". If you love grinders, this is your spot. read more

What a great little deli. The food was fresh, and ever so yummy. The service was on point. Plenty of seating inside and out, although it gets a little cramped near the register. We'll definitely be back when in the area. read more

Lil' Pickle USA - Pastrami with mustard and pickle - Sandwiches Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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This place has delicious sandwiches for a local sandwich shop. The employees are quick and efficient here. This place is very small but they are friendly here. It was perfect to take sandwiches to picnic read more

Lil' Pickle USA - Sandwiches Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

So good!!! It's a small mom and pop shop who also donates a ton to the community, but their sandwiches are also delicious. I kept hearing about the avocado spread and surely can say it was delicious, just wish they gave me more of it. Everything is also super reasonably priced, bread is soft, and the food comes out super quick! The restaurant is a bit small but def enough tables to eat inside :) read more

THE BEST SANDWICH SHOP! This place is a hidden gem that you have to try if you haven't yet. I absolutely love the Pastrami sandwich! It's full of flavor, perfect amount of salty/spice. Love the toppings and the price is affordable compared to other shops. Also love the turkey sandwich and potato/Mac salad. Add an Orange Bang as your beverage as well for a sweet treat! Customer service is great there and workers are friendly and accommodating. My regular go to spot and I couldn't be happier! read more

Lil' Pickle USA - Turkey sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I've been going to the Lil Pickle off and on for over 25 years, so this pains me to write this. This was always my go-to spot when I was racing Speedway at the fairgrounds. After dropping off my daughter nearby this evening, I was hungry and decided to drop into the Lil Pickle for a pastrami sandwich rather than hitting some of the big name fast food spots on Harbor Blvd. Upon ordering, the kid behind the counter waived off my order, telling me, "Dude, What do you expect? It's after 7:00!" Since I live in Long Beach, and don't get down to Costa Mesa that often anymore, I didn't realize they sell out so fast. But what I REALLY didn't expect, was for the counter help to be such a douche about it. I told him that I expected to be able to order something off their menu, but forget it now. There are LOTS of places to eat around there. Sure, the pastrami is amazing, but if this is how they treat their customers, I'll go somewhere else next time. read more

Exactly what I want in a mom and pop sandwich shop. The sandwiches are delicious and priced correctly. Everything is fresh. Soft things are soft, crunchy things are crunchy, everything is how it should be. There is a familiarity between the customers and workers, a lot of regulars. The owner comes from around the counter to chat with people from time to time. It's a nice reminder of how business was done before franchises. The decor is golf memorabilia and photos of teams and clubs that lil pickle has supported throughout the years. I highly recommend this amazing sandwich shop. read more

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