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    Lou's Cafe

    4.6 (596 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

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    LOU'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Lou's Cafe

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    Shirley N.

    It's time to update my review. Since my last review years back Lou's has opened several more locations in the Bay Area. This is our go to sando place as it's in our 'hood. Recently I noticed the amount of meat slightly less in my hot pastrami sandwich which I've been ordering for awhile now. Daughter's chicken pesto was the same way. Maybe they're trying to balance the cost of making sandwiches with other expenses. The sando bread is very fresh. Many different choices. If you select a gourmet sandwich the bread is predetermined. Not to say you can't change it. You can also design your own sandwich- meat, cheese, sauces, type of bread, etc. Join the frequent buyer's club and you can earn points for a free sandwich. Its predecessor was a punch card. 10th one free.

    Spicy chicken sandwich
    Christopher A.

    Decided to stop at this place and I was not disappointed! I walked in and sat in a line but it moved very fast! When I finally got to the register, the staff was very friendly and greeted me and recommend some picks. Decided to get the spicy chicken sandwich (forget the name) and it was really good. Loved the soup too! Over all this is a very solid sandwich and soup spot! Would recommend.

    I seen skull on my Sunset Strip stroll in SF. What happened to Harry Styles and John Mayer?
    Juan V.

    Revisited Edition: On a San Francisco Summer but it's Autumn Stroll in 2025 on Taraval street there are plenty of standout places to grab lunch. One place which always been consistent for sandwiches is Lou's Cafe on 25th avenue and Taraval street. Lou's Cafe Sandwiches has for years have one of my favorite tasting sandwiches in the Sunset Strip of San Francisco. Lou's Cafe menu for sandwiches has lots to choices. One of my favorite sandwiches to grab is the Risky Bizness sandwich which has hot pastrami brisket, crab salad, bacon, avocado, pepper jack cheese, and Lou's special sauce. Each bite was savory and tasty and the Lou's sauce had a kick to it with Lou's special sauce. The sandwich wasn't too cheesy and there was plenty of meat and the bread was so fresh .I also got the Turkey Cranberry Sandwich Turkey, Swiss cheese, cranberry and Lou's special sauce. Every bite tasted like Thanksgiving fresh leftovers with savory turkey and not too sweet cranberry and it was delicious. On a cold day you can always have soup of the day or an espresso. After 7 years of my last Yelp review it's still one of the best places to grab a sandwich in San Francisco. Take a San Francisco Sunset to Lou's "Cafe " where the salads and sandwiches are " gourmet" you can see the different types of sandwiches on the wall chalk menu " display" where you can get can get a Turkey Cranberry sandwich and it doesn't have to be Thanksgiving"Day" For Halloween inside you will see a pumpkin"head" they have Dutch crunch and sourdough so choose your own "bread " they also have pesto aioli and the ranch "spread" one of the best sandwiches in San Francisco the city I was born and "bred".

    Michelle S.

    I went with my boyfriend We're going to do an SF trip and stopped by because we heard so many good things about this place. My boyfriend said that this is the best sandwich he has ever had -- and I agree! The Risky Bizness is hands-down--chef's kiss--WORTH IT! It's Filipino owned and the staff is the friendliest ever! Very professional and welcoming! The place is surprisingly quite big with great seating options. Parking is street parking so try finding a spot before they are all taken. We now look forward to coming back to this shop every time we visit the city!

    Crab Louie Salad
    Connie L.

    The crab sandwich is quite heavenly. I got the fix that I needed. Great size for portion, very filling and delicious for content, fresh bread and ingredients. Latte accommodated my milk allergy as well. I will take out the pickle next time for sandwich and try their breakfast options, but so far very good for a non-chain cafe.

    Corned Beef Hash Sammie
    Katie R.

    Came here for a breakfast sandwich but was blown away by how many regular sandwiches were on their menu. Even the breakfast sandwich selection had a few more options than I was expecting. My boyfriend and I ended up getting the Corned Beef Hash Sammie and Original Breakfast Sandwich with both bacon and ham to share. The sandwiches came out piping hot and were a pretty good size. I'm a pretty big eater and was struggling to finish my two halves. We liked both sandwiches, but the original was our decisive favorite. Although I don't usually like ham that much, the ham was perfect on this sandwich. It's slight sweetness with the savory aioli/sauce was the perfect flavor combo. The eggs were a nice texture too, not dry, but not runny or watery at all.

    Janice J.

    One of my favorite sandwich spot! I'm close to one of their spots and my bf is close to this one. * Original Breakfast Sandwich - Choice of Bacon, Ham or both, with Egg, American Cheese, Hash Browns, Lou's Special Sauce, on a Ciabatta for $8.99 I have been getting this for years and it's so good! Personal preference I like it with the Dutch crunch bread but sometimes forget to change the bread selection. I usually order this for pickup since it's walking distance.

    Lou's Cafe sandwich artwork collage
    Joy G.

    Would absolutely recommend Lou's cafe! I make it a point whenever I'm passing through the area to pickup our favorite sandwiches on a soft roll: kicked rb, turkey cranberry, and a crab melt. My go to drink is Vibes. It's the only place I know that sells them. Definitely worth a visit.

    Chinese chicken salad

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    4 years ago

    Lots of options. However, sandwich is below average and messy presentation. Wouldn't try it again.

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    5 years ago

    Nice staff and fresh ingredient sandwiches. The service is quick and the sandwiches are delicious! You won't regret it.

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    3 years ago

    love the buffalo chicken sandwich and the tuna melt u still have options for vegetarians!

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    8 years ago

    Cant find any other place like this :/ Risky Business is my favorite but i still loce all other sandwiches with Dutch crunch bread

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    5 years ago

    I'm addicted to their turkey cranberry and clam chowder! The tastiest sandwich ever and exceptional service! Love this place so much.

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    Page 6 of 15

    Ask the Community - Lou's Cafe

    Do they offer gluten free bread?

    Yes we have the gluten free bread but for $2 extra.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    i high key made a yelp account just to write a review because this was the best breakfast i've ever…read morehad and im passionate about breakfast food. My partner and I are on vacation to San Francisco for the weekend, and this was my first time coming. Arriving to Sweet Maple, there was a line out the door and around the corner. We decided to wait and I'm glad we did, because we got seated within 10 minutes and once we ordered we also got our food within 10 minutes. the food was SO FUCKING GOOD, i got espresso, orange juice, and the gardenia souflegg, it was a new form of eggs i haven't tried and it was amazing, it came with a side of delicious potato's and ciabatta. if you go to San Francisco, go to Sweet Maple! the vibes are great, food even better.

    Photos
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    Millionaire's Bacon
    Marnier | french toast with creamy grand citrus batter (added $3 for the fired banana & candied walnuts)
    Marnier | french toast with creamy grand citrus batter (added $3 for the fired banana & candied walnuts)
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    Magnin Street Cafe & Bistro

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    We had to wait in line at 9am for about 15 minutes, but once we were seated in this cute & casual…read morediner, we had a most delightful breakfast. The coffee was strong but smooth without any trace of bitterness. My omelette came with the best & most crispy hashbrowns I've had in a long time. The veggies in the omelette were plentiful & fresh & the salad was a healthy & tasty accompaniment. My side chicken sausage was ample & tasty with grill marks. Mom loved her toast, salmon & hash browns as well. Yvonne did a great job taking care of our table & she was also hostessing & helping to bus tables! Wow! I'm sad this place is not in my home town because if it was, I'd be a regular!! Peace.

    We ordered the chicken tenders & fries appetizer and the BBQ wings platter, and both were…read moreabsolutely delicious. The service was exceptional from the moment we walked through the doors. It was around 8:30 p.m., and after passing by this spot several times and checking out the menu, we finally decided to give it a try. We're so glad we did! The restaurant itself is beautiful, with warm, inviting decor and wonderful pictures of San Francisco throughout the space. It feels like the perfect romantic setting for a date night or anniversary celebration, and equally great for enjoying fantastic food and drinks with friends and family. They have three tv screens so we were lucky to catch a futbol game during our meal. Highly recommended!

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    Dinning Area
    Dinning Area
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    Dining room
    Four Chairs

    Four Chairs

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    Large group friendly

    Amazing! I'm actually going there for the second time today!…read more My family arrived early, so the wait was only about five minutes before we were seated. I don't remember if there was music, but it was a busy, lively place with multiple conversations happening at once. It was definitely a cozy, home type atmosphere. A few people ordered chicken and waffles, so I had the chance to try it, and it was delicious! The waffles melted in my mouth! That's what I plan to order next time. I order a Korean chicken sandwich. It was very tasty and large. I had leftovers! I was disappointed because I forgot my leftovers on the table . Note to self: NEVER DO THAT AGAIN. The lemonade was very flavorful, and my kids enjoyed it too. I even tried an alcoholic beverage, I can't remember the name, but I swapped it for lemonade because it was THAT good. As I mentioned earlier, I will definitely return to this restaurant and highly recommend it.

    The dining room was beautifully laid out, and while the service felt a little rushed at times, it…read morewas easy to understand why. This place is clearly popular, and they do an impressive job of turning tables without sacrificing friendliness or efficiency. I'm genuinely happy to see them doing so well, though I'm not sure I'm ready to wait an hour for a table again. That said, I'd gladly come back during a less busy time to explore more of the menu. BB

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    Chipotle Benedict, Mascarpone Pancake, & Chicken Apple Scramble
    Chipotle Benedict, Mascarpone Pancake, & Chicken Apple Scramble
    Four Chairs
    K-bomb chicken benny

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    K-bomb chicken benny
    Plow

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    Came for the ricotta pancakes and they did not disappoint! Highly recommend the plow as it has 2…read morelemon ln ricotta pancakes with potatoes eggs and choice of protein (we got bacon)! We also got the custard French toast which was soooo good. It would have been too sweet on its own for me but with the plow it was perfect! This is such a great brunch spot and the reason you will wait even 30 minutes on a Tuesday at 10am. Weekends get wild so plan accordingly. No reservation system! Lots of lovely outdoor and indoor seating! Great ambiance in portero hills. Will be coming back. Worth the wait!!!

    It seems the stars just keep lowering each time I come . ANY time I am in the city, I subject…read morewhoever I'm with to the wait with the promise that it will all be worth it. I fear this time, it was not. We waited 1.5 hours and honored our request to not sit directly in the sun but ended up sitting us VERY closely to the table next week to us. When my bf went to the restroom, it almost felt like I was with the other party. Not a sentence goes unheard. I get you are busy but don't ruin the experience for guests! Give us some space to breathe! Especially outside !!! The food itself was mediocre this time around. I kept bragging about the crispy potatoes but it didn't taste the same as the 7 times I've come before. Not crispy at all. The biscuit was also more of a crumbly coffee cake rather than a flaky biscuit. And not enough butter! The only thing that was still a 10/10 was the lemon ricotta pancakes. I'm sad that I will no longer be coming here but maybe it's time to start going somewhere with reservations!

    Photos
    Indoor ambiance
    Indoor ambiance
    Buttermilk biscuit
    Buttermilk biscuit
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    Lou's Cafe - breakfast_brunch - Updated August 2026

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