First time eating here. Reviews were good so thought I'd give it a try. Was getting food to go so I ordered online. I went to pick it up and brought it over to my niece who just had a baby. I ordered 4 sandwiches, 1 salad and 3 chips. They charged me for the chips and forgot to put them in the bag. For the BBLT, I asked for no Mayo due to allergies and they put Mayo. The bacon was soggy along with the sandwich. I ordered a tuna sandwich and the tuna was drenched in mayonnaise. Hardly any tuna and a bunch of lettuce. It was basically a lettuce sandwich. Can't remember the name of the last sandwich but I asked for no Mayo and the oil & vinegar on the side. They put Mayo and the oil & vinegar on the sandwich so the sandwich was super soggy. Will never eat here again. Would rather go to Jersey Mike where I can at least see them make my sandwich and know it will be right. read more

If you like submarine sandwiches then this is your place. I don't recommend the egg salad. Too much mustard and no crunch. Also too much lettuce filler on all their sandwiches. read more

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

OG sandwich spot I recommend the pastrami it's amazing and the macaroni salad is on another level. Small hole in the wall spot

I love this sandwich place. Fast and friendly service, great sandwich options, delicious soft bread and the avocado spread is sooooo good. I also really appreciate that they support the CM community. read more

What a great little"hometown"Deli! They have lots of classic Italian deli meats including the rarely seen ,mortadella! What's mortadella ? Deluxe bologna. Lil Pickle has very deluxe bologna . Really soft fresh bread too ! Loved the garlicky pickles that come with the sandwiches so much, that we splurged a dollar to get a jumbo one also ! If you look at the wall , it's plain to see that this business is always giving back to the community by supporting local youth sport teams of all sorts. That's real heartwarming,as was the the very friendly reception by the counter staff. I purchased their "refill club" cup( 50cent refills!)even though I'm not local ,,,, because I love me some lil'pickle & it's a real good car cup for water ! read more

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

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Update- just wanted to update here. I really wish the sale of this business warranted a slight name change. Lil pickle jr? Something, because the original owners were highly involved with the community and helping out youth sports teams and OCC. New ownership is not, however they still keep up all the awards and notoriety posters from the previous owners. Seems pretty fraudulent... also, new ownership has had health and safety violations since take over. The old owner worked for decades to keep a polished reputations. If you're going to take on a respectable running business, keep its values and standards the same, or better. That goes for the service too. Nothing horrible to mention, but I have came in to order from someone who didn't speak English. That's new... and the abeyance just isn't the same. What was once pretty uplifting seems pretty damper. Perhaps some music would help?... food quality remains the same though which is great. read more

This place is a staple in the Costa Mesa food scene. It's been there for decades and that's due to a very simple reason: Great sandwiches at affordable prices. read more

Let me begin this Rad review for - in all sincerity- one of THE BEST sandwich shops in Orange County! Whether you like Club sandwiches, Grinders, Vegetarian, Egg Salad or Pastrami, this is hands down the best sandwich shop I have visited. I'm an Orange County native and I recommend this place to anyone craving a sandwich. Don't waste your time anywhere else. We had the Genoa Salami, and Club sandwich today and I am SOLD!!!!!! read more

Classic submarine sandwich. Fast and friendly service. My family has been going here for decades.

Came in for a quick lunch. Definitely a fast-pace shop. I got my sandwich within 5 minutes Ordered a regular size 40 niner. It was okay. The food seems cheap but they pack it with finely shredded lettuce. It looked like I only got 1 layer of each of my meats (3 total). The sandwich isn't toasted but that's probably how they're able to pump out sandwiches so quickly. For a quick lunch, it's great. For overall sandwich quality, it doesn't stand out too much to me. read more

I found this place because of a food blogger, and couldn't get over how good it was, I love the quaint charm, I think the secret must be there steamed funds, what an interesting concept for a sandwich, definitely worth a stop! read more

I grew up in Costa Mesa and have been eating subs and sandwiches here ever since they were on 19th St. in the early 70s. My fiancé loves the place. Best sandwich shop in OC read more

Great sandwich and fast too. Service was top notch and super friendly. Be in business for 60 years. Loved my sandwich very delicious. The gentleman working recommended 3 sandwiches and I ordered all his recommendations and they all were delicious. read more

The food here is mediocre and over priced. The service SUCKS there is this woman worker that works the register that's overly aggressive. Over all my first visit to the little pickle will definitely be my last. My best advice to everyone is to drive out a little further to fountain valley and visit "Ike's sandwiches" the service is A1 and the sandwiches are a foodies dream. read more

Discovered this local gem almost two years ago and have been coming back about once a month since. Food The Natural Sub is delicious. Their wheat bread is fresh, soft, and has a little bit of delightful chewiness. The sandwich is well balanced. Not a ton of meat on it, but some places go way overboard on that. Keeps the meal light and fresh. Service Today for the first time I made a mistake on my online order. This caused some confusion when I went to pick it up in the restaurant. The staff was patient and polite, going so far as to remake the sandwich I had intended to order, even though the error was completely on me. read more

Sooooo good and so fresh. Just a solid sandwich spot. Highly recommend. Little hole in the wall and I could not have had a better sandwich in the area!! :) Try them out, you won't regret it lol read more

Favorite neighborhood sandwich shop! Super easy to place an order ahead and pick it up with ease!

Amazing! I went here to order for my whole office as my boss had recommended the place. They took my order which was not small with no complaints and were super quick and friendly! While waiting it is such a nice place and you can tell it has a history really nice seeing all the pictures and articles. Food was sooo good for a great price every single person in the office enjoyed this. Will be definitely visiting again read more

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

Service is always nice, vibe is exactly how a small shop should be and the food is always amazing, pickle on the side is iconic and delicious. Check them out for really good sandwiches read more

By far one of the best sandwich shops anywhere in Orange County. The secret is always the bread and the bread here is soft and and delicious. The servings are very much on the large side and they sell a refillable cup that is like a Bug Gulp size. The macaroni salad is my wifes favorite. The large Natural sandwich can feed two adults. I like that they donate to local school athletic programs. I want to support businesses that support our community and our youth. Hint: tons of extra parking in the back. read more

Got the Natural Sub here and loved it! Something about that thin cut lettuce that makes the sandwich so good. Loved the shredded mozzarella, too! Can't wait to come here and try the other yummy looking sandwiches! read more

Lil' Pickle USA - Natural sub to share! So good! - Sandwiches Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Solid little hole in the wall sandwich shop in Costa Mesa. This place has been around a while, and you can tell. The inside has the old wood panels and booths, along with plaques on the wall that go back to at least the 1980's. I tried the original Lil Pickle Sandwich with the basic Italian cold cuts. The steamed bread is the signature here, and it does make for a good sandwich. The bread, and how it's prepared, will always make or break a sandwich. Friendly staff. They support the local high school and college sports teams, so they get extra props for that. read more

Their bread is amazing and the portions are pretty hefty. One thing on the negative side, they wrap the pickle next to the sandwich so if you don't get to eat it right away, expect some soggy bread. read more

Being a Hoag baby 1963, I've seen all the chain sandwich shops brought to their knees by this business. They not only serve their own specific brand of sandwiches but also support the community by donating to local teams and schools. The staff is friendly and committed to serving quality food. I'll never quit Lil' Pickle read more

As others have said - best to eat your sandwich there, while the bread is still warm. This place has been around forever and the sandwiches are always on the mark. I'm not a fan of the macaroni or potato salads, but to each their own. I get the #4 pretty much every time. Whatever sandwich you choose, make sure to get one with the avocado spread. Cheers read more

Possibly my favorite sandwich shop there is near me ! I have been here multiple times and have always loved coming back. I came here as a kid and now it is just as good ! The staff is the friendliest, and of course the sandwiches are fantastic. The speed at they make a sandwich is truly incredible, and the consistency (which is key) is incredible. I have had multiple sandwiches from here, and would honestly recommend whatever sounds good to you. If I had to choose one favorite, I would have to select the Natural Sub ! read more

Working on catching up on my list of reviews but just had to throw this one down while I could. Staying in Costa Mesa over the weekend and wanting to try something new and 'mom and pop'.. came across the listing for Lil Pickle. Cute name, totally old school digs.. but meh. What a disappointment. We ordered the egg salad and the #4. Cash only and make sure you tip or you may get kind of a look headed your way. They were nice enough minus the fact that I GOT NO AVOCADO SPREAD. The bread is alright. It's fresh but it only appears soft because they steam the bread briefly before making the sandwich. It tasted alright but you get this squishy-stuck-on-your-teeth bread that is not as appealing as fresh baked bread of the non-steamed sort. The sandwich had mayo.. of a greenish nature.. so I'm not sure if that's supposed to be the avocado.. but otherwise.. I saw, tasted, felt, smelled no avocado on my otherwise plain turkey sandwich. I'm not a fan of shredded iceberg but otherwise this sandwich had nothing to wow me. It's not bad .. but I would have much rather gone to subway. I'm not a fan of egg salad but the boy unit said it was definitely good. Nothing special but it was tasty is was he said. Pickles were good but it tasted like the Claussen pickles straight out of a jar and cut down to save money. The food alone and the meh but fast service earns a 2.5. I agree with the other sub 3 star reviews in general. I will be nice and give it 3 stars for being a mom and pop store that supports the community and evidences support from back in the 80s fwd. Would not suggest and I will probably not return. How can you forget avo spread on the sandwich?! It wasn't even that busy. Wasn't worth my time to raise hell but eh. Sorely sorely disappointed. read more

This sandwich spot has been around for a good while. It's a charming hole in the wall that gives you their unique style of sandwiches. The bread, lettuce and sauce is different. So depending on the sandwich, it may not be for you. I love the natural sub. Be aware but once you find your favs you'll always go back. read more

Lil' Pickle USA Est. 1962 with a solid 4 Star average, they've been around a while with good reviews so I thought it would be a safe bet after the bad tacos I had the past couple of days. All Sandwiches come with a Kosher Pickle slice/ half pickle, two thumbs up! Subs come in 4 sizes, I got the Regular ($6.26) #1 Lil' Pickle Sub - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/lil-pickle-usa-costa-mesa?select=9l5wP7rFY29NDY4FAua96A#YbtEYbv6W9_Hc2oHsHVsNg Ham, Salmi, Capicolla, Mozzarella Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, Oil and Italian Dressing all on some Super Soft pillowy roll. A pretty bland sandwich, some Mustard and Pepperocini's would have helped out... guess I could have asked! I also wasn't thrilled with the roll it was just too soft, http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/lil-pickle-usa-costa-mesa?select=9l5wP7rFY29NDY4FAua96A#T8CVkovMWa7y-1lS5e205g they also used too much OIL, it was like a small waterfall coming off the lettuce, not horrible just a bit bland and boring. 2.5-Stars Meatball - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/lil-pickle-usa-costa-mesa?select=9l5wP7rFY29NDY4FAua96A#Qiz-UnXYp0hqwoI4esF93g Meatballs with Tomato Sauce and Mozzarella Cheese and that same soft roll. I LOVE a good Meatball sandwich, unfortunately this one wasn't!. my first bite I'm tasting a lot of Bread and Cheese http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/lil-pickle-usa-costa-mesa?select=9l5wP7rFY29NDY4FAua96A#BEAoKaa_3u2asrgrl_TsAg but not Meatballs and Sauce! so I open to take a look and what do we have? http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/lil-pickle-usa-costa-mesa?select=9l5wP7rFY29NDY4FAua96A#9l5wP7rFY29NDY4FAua96A PIECES of MEATBALL they don't even give you whole balls! and C'MON can you SPARE MORE SAUCE? this was a good 85% Bread and Cheese, they might want to think about renaming this one as calling it a Meatballs Sandwich is false advertising! 1-Star Sorry Yelpers I'm not feeling all the love you're giving this place. read more

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Sandwich was ok. I could have done a better job at home. The famous avocado spread had so little avocado it wasn't even funny. Sorry... there are dozens of better sandwich places out there. I'll pass. read more

Went here today for lunch - ordered a #4 (The Natural), based on the reviews it got on Yelp. Service was great, the sandwich guy was friendly and helpful. Took about 3 to 5 minutes for my order to be completed - that's decent for a sandwich place. First and foremost : the bread. YUM. Wow. I love soft, chewy and fresh tasting bread. Softest sandwich I've had in a long time... so thats good. I like how the cheese is crumbled and sprinkled on the sandwich versus actual slices. I know some people might think it doesn't make a difference - but it does. The avocado spread... tasted more like mayonnaise than avocado, but that's fine I guess. I didn't have any big issues with that. My soda had that weird chlorinated hint to it. I guess its a Socal thing since this isn't the only place I've experienced that. Overall a good sandwich place- especially considering the low price! A junior (6in) will run you about $4.50 and a regular (10in) is about a dollar more. Cash only - but they do have a ATM ($2 surcharge). Plenty of parking, good amount of tables inside and outside. I'll probably return and try out some of the other sandwiches they have. read more

Hubby has been coming here since the 70's, consistently amazing! The original is absolute perfection, best real hoagie in all of SoCal. Pickles are obviously perfectly crisp and tangy. But, the bread...OMG! The bread to meet ratio is absolutely perfect. Service is friendly and it's a testament to why they've been there so long and why we drive from North OC to support this great small business! read more

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

I'm a huge fan of Lil Pickles! They've been at the same spot FOREVERRRR and they should really expand and open up other stores because their subs are absolutely delicious. My favorite is the natural sub on white bread. Their bread and avocado spread are the two things that attract my taste buds. The bread is always so soft and perfect! The staff is always in a good mood and friendly. And since they remodeled recently, they now take credit cards! Or if you choose to use cash and draw out money from their ATM machine, they'll give you a free soda. The subs come out quickly after you order and they'll spice it up for you with peppers for free if you ask. read more

Lil' Pickle USA - Now taking credit cards! - Sandwiches Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I've been coming here since 1988 when Jim and Ted owned it. Amazing men...I believe they used to own like 10 plus locations. The sandwiches taste pretty much the same but I think they should hold back little bit on the oil (olive oil)? My sandwich was too drenched with oil. But I will continue to come here and give them my support. Still one of the best sandwiches out there read more

Lil' Pickle USA - #1 - Sandwiches Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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The sandwiches are fantastic but next time I'll pay for extra meat. The #2 tasted great but was heavy on lettuce and light on the meat. The service is very fast and their pricing is very fair. I'll be back and I'll get the same sandwich but as I said, I'll pay for double meat. read more

Absolutely my fav sandwich spot! Back in the day I came here on the way home from work every Monday night. The natural sub is always great, but my staple now is a vegetarian with bacon. The avocado spread is out of this world! Service is friendly and quick. Cash only, but there's an ATM inside. If you use the ATM they give you a free soda! read more

I don't know how you can make a sandwich that fast and have it be that good. It's incredible. The steamed bread is unreal and every time I go in there I'm out in 15 mins. Such a great place. read more

This place is bomb. Used to come here all the time before becoming vegan. Did you know you can buy their sandwich bread!? We're vegan so we now buy their sub rolls/bread occasionally to make our own sandwiches at home. FYI do have a veggie sandwich that you can make vegan but for us it's all about their amazing bread! read more

The Pic is an iconic sandwich shop for us locals. It is distinctive in its decor and longstanding ownership (though it changed hands a few years back) as well as its sandwiches. The things that set the sandwiches apart are simple: soft, warm bread, shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, straightforward deli meats, and generous application of mayo and/or avocado spread. This adds up to a unique flavor profile that you either really like or you don't. I do. To me it beats the tough bread at Togo's, the trendy, goofy, overpriced and undersized hipster sandwiches at Mendocino Farms and the like, or the generic, faceless sandwiches at Subway. Plus, you support a locally-owned, family run place that has given back to the community for decades. There is also just something cool about the little basket you get your sandwich in if you eat there, or the iconic paper bag when you get it to go. My pro tip: order a sandwich from the left side of the menu (or the tuna or chicken salad), grab a bag of chips from the rack, and enjoy one of the best sandwiches around! read more

When I'm in the area of the OC I always try to make it down to Lil Pickle. This is my favorite sandwich for many reasons, but the main reason is the bread! It gets delivered daily and they steam the bun right before they make your sandwich. It's the best! I've been coming to this place for almost 15 years and very little has changed. These are they types of places I hope stay around forever! My favorite is the #2 regular with extra tomato, add onions. Make sure you eat it right away, that's when it taste the best! The macaroni is good too, give it a try. You should be able to leave satisfied for $10 and under! Also, make sure you get a stamp card. It worth its weight in gold! I think I've had almost 50 free sandwiches over the years!!!! read more