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Lou's Cafe

4.4 (233 reviews)
InexpensiveSalad, Soup, Sandwiches
Closed • 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

Order Lou's Cafe Takeout or Delivery

Lou's Cafe Photos

Business Info

LOU'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for kids
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Lou's Cafe

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Reviews With Photos

Roma's Club Sandwich
Valerie Z.

Love these sandwiches--appropriately priced at under $14. The people taking the order at the counter have never messed up my sandwich but I do get a little upset at how long it can take to get your food. There are a lot of online orders which seem to be prioritized and sandwiches can take as long as 15 minutes to get if you're ordering at the counter during the lunch rush. I love that there is a comfortable outdoor eating area with comfy chairs and set off from the street.

Carmen G.

A small cafe serving up salads and sandwiches in the heart of downtown San Francisco. Hopped in here to grab some lunch with some teammates and they had a cute patio seating just outside of their storefront. The patio itself was all the vibes, with heaters and clean tables. The cafe was small but had a lot of people waiting around for their food. Food did take a while to come out, understandable though, since it was prime lunch rush during a weekday. I opted for their Asian salad that came with iceberg lettuce, clementines, wonton chips, and almonds. The salad was tasty and fresh, portions were huge! I wanted something light for lunch but felt like I should have ordered a sandwich instead since everyone else's sandwich looked so much better than mine! Overall, a solid spot if you're looking for a light bite during your workday!

Exterior
Sarah C.

I'm not sure you could call Lou's Cafe a hidden gem, given the number of nearby office workers that get lunch here. However, it is tucked back off the street so you might not see it, and is certainly a gem. The shop itself is quite small, with grab and go fridges and a bustling staff behind the long counter. Place your order to the right and wait for it to be prepped. I wouldn't say they're particularly fast, but given the volume they're dealing with they're not slow either. There is standing room inside, or you can enjoy their awesome exterior patio, which includes tables as well as outdoor couches AND heaters (!). I got the tuna melt on dutch crunch bread and it was absolutely perfect, nailing my craving. I think it was $12.50, which seems like a heck of a deal for SF. My lunch group got various other sandwiches and salads and also seemed to be pleased. I'd definitely come back!

Tuna Melt Sandwich
Alex Z.

The definition of a 'hidden gem', Lou's is tucked away in a small alcove that's easy to miss. In the middle of the Financial District, it's the perfect place to grab a lunch - just make sure you come before noon to avoid the rush. Due to the small staff, it can take a bit of time to get your food. The sandwiches themselves are fantastic, with a wide range of options from classics like the Roma Club and Tuna Melt to the more adventurous Hot Link and Loquito sandwiches, you can't go wrong. Make sure to get everything on it, including the Lou's special sauce, which is what elevates the sandwiches above your standard fare by adding a savory/sweet/spicy kick to every bite. With each sandwich being around $13, it's also a great deal for the size you get, especially in SF. If you're looking for the next lunch spot to impress your friends and coworkers, this is it.

Suraj P.

Really delicious sandwich and super fast service. I ordered ahead on DoorDash and it was done well before the estimated time. Make sure to go up and ask someone as they keep the online orders in a different area. I loved how much toppings they put inside, will definitely be going back!

Turkey and avocado on Dutch crunch
Steven W.

I had a turkey and avocado with everything on Dutch crunch. The flavors were great. I liked the little kick of heat from the jalapeno spread, and everything worked well together. But the Dutch crunch bread was more chewy than crunchy. The top of the bread was soft, not crisp. And bread is an important part of a sandwich. (Dutch crunch should have a crunch.) Lou's makes a good sandwich. But not a great sandwich. If I worked in the area, I could see eating here regularly. But while I had a perfectly good lunch, this wasn't a destination sandwich. Service was friendly. There is some seating outside, which looked nice, but I took my sandwich to go.

Arthur L.

Lou's is of my office's favorite sandwich spots near and comes highly recommended. Lou's is on the ground floor of an office building with easy access from the street. The server was super nice and helpful. Most recommended the Risky Bizness sandwich, and with my favorite crust of all time, Dutch Crunch, it was an easy decision to make. The sandwich itself was packed with everything and super delicious. It was so good, that the next time I went, I just automatically choose the same!

Kelly H.

This is a solid sandwich place for sure. We got the veggie sandwich and it was really tasty and satisfying. It was packed with a lot without having to widen your mouth a bunch for a bite LOL

Roma's Club Sandwich
Angel L.

Affordable delicious lunch spot for people who work in downtown sf or want to grab a quick bite! You can also call ahead to order if you're in a hurry. It's nestled in a spot that might be hard to find. There's plenty of outdoor seating. I had the Roma's club sandwich and their house sauces are so delicious! Adds a creamy and spicy kick to the sandwich. Love their Dutch crunch bread too. Will be back everytime I need a lunch spot :-)

Chicken Pesto Sandwich
Andrea T.

I got the chicken pesto sandwich and it was so good that I accidentally ate the whole thing even though I was only going to eat half. I was sooo full afterwards but didn't regret it. They put a sauce in the sandwich that gives it an extra kick. The part I like most about this sandwich is that even though it is large, the bread is not too thick, and it is toasted to perfection. I like this location because the cashier is very friendly and the ambiance is modern. You may need to wait awhile for your food because they have many orders. Seems like they might let you order ahead, but I haven't tried that yet.

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6 months ago

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

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2 months ago

Love getting lunch from here when I can. I order pick up to avoid the lunch rush though. Everyone is so kind and efficient.

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10 months ago

Good food, fast service and reasonably priced. They are busy so call ahead. They are in a kind of strange location but worth hunting down.

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1 year ago

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4 years ago

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9 months ago

Delicious, consistent and reasonable! Great seating area outdoor and your sandwich is ready fast.

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1 year ago

Had the hot pastrami. Prices are fair and portions are good. Food was very enjoyable; would go back

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They Re-open for business On June 7, 2021

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Limoncello

Limoncello

4.7
(1.9k reviews)
1.4 mi
•$$

Wow! In a bit of a rush and was in need of something quick as take-out. Pleasantly surprised by the…read moreMafioso. Amazing quality of freshcut meats and a very hefty sandwich. Ordered and walked out in the span of 10 min. Very italian deli with tiramisus and cannolis. Tons of italian snacks and puff pastries, and a convenient location to pickup anything from beers/wines to premade cannoli shells and gelato. One thing to note is you cannot customize the sandwich, not sure about the pizzas, which smelled delicious. They only make speciality sandwiches on their menu, but surely can't go wrong with any of the choices. They're packed with a sizeable amount of meat as well as greens. The half was enough to fill me up and they were kind enough to wrap them separately.

my friends and I stopped by for sandwiches at limoncello after seeing all the rave about it online…read more there were so many options and we were also excited to see the deli was actually part of a larger italian grocery store and grabbed some italian sodas too! we were a bit disappointed by the sandwiches themselves- for $18, we felt that the proportions were a bit off. it still tasted great and ingredients were high quality, but there was a monstrous amount of meat and lettuce so it was hard to get any of the other flavors. the portions were huge though, which is a plus. overall, the store was very cute, clean, and seemed like it stocked authentic italian ingredients. the service was pretty quick since we just ordered at the counter, and they are all very friendly.

Photos
Entrance is so cute
Entrance is so cute
Siciliano Sandwich and Goodfella Sandwitch
Siciliano Sandwich and Goodfella Sandwitch
CANNOLI 3X PACK

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CANNOLI 3X PACK
Deli Board

Deli Board

4.3
(2k reviews)
1.1 mi
•$$

I wanted to see what the hype was about. What I got was a pretty damn good sandwich, chill staff &…read morenot too long of a wait at all. I got the Carzle and the meats are definitely the star of the show here; the brisket and pastrami were so juicy, smoky and complimented all the veggies great. However, of course, it is incredibly expensive; even sharing a half with a buddy puts you at $15 each after tip/tax. While tasty, it's a little less than expected/underwhelming for that price point. I don't see myself really coming here too often unfortunately, so many other cheaper and just as delicious eats in the city. Seems like this place definitely caters to a certain crowd in the area that are more than happy to make this their daily lunch spot so I don't see that changing any time soon

If you're in line and near the entrance of the pizza shop, you're at about a 35-40 minute wait. Is…read moreit worth it? YES. I don't even like pastrami and the 49er was delicious. But more than just the sandwich- the owner and all of the employees are incredibly kind and clearly care about their community. I read in another review that they saw the owner usher in a homeless man and I saw a similar act of kindness. The regulars also have a great rapport with the owner and they honestly just give GOOD VIBES. The good vibes must have been contagious because we were behind a Romanian father and his two sons who ended up paying for the older woman in front of them. Def worth the visit if you're in the area!

Photos
Inside
Inside
Chairman's corner (from left to right): thweethead, RLMB (02/2026)
Chairman's corner (from left to right): thweethead, RLMB (02/2026)
Mick.b (10/2025)

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Mick.b (10/2025)
Irving Subs

Irving Subs

4.3
(566 reviews)
4.3 mi
•$$

This is probably the only place where the sandwiches don't taste like the store's essence…read more I mean, don't get me wrong, a store's essence from any given deli/liquor store definitely adds unique character to the sandwich and sometimes I want that in a sandwich. But when you want a sandwich that only tastes like its ingredients, Irving Subs is the spot. Their Dutch crunch is famous for being fresh and actually crunchy. Their lettuce is shredded but fresh and crispy. The salt content is just enough to bring out the flavors. And the overall composition of their sandwiches are very well proportioned. You're not getting skimped, but you're also not biting into a mouthful of a packet of deli meat. They definitely know what they are doing. Service is good and ambiance is a small humble shop on the corner of 12th Ave.

Ordered the Nearly Reuben on sliced sourdough, toasted, with house garlicky mayo and brown mustard…read moreon DoorDash. Double pastrami, horseradish, havarti, lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, pickles, and pepperoncini. A lot going on, and it all came together. The horseradish and havarti gave it enough personality to stand apart from a standard pastrami sandwich, and the garlicky mayo tied everything together. The one casualty of DoorDash was sogginess by the time it arrived. That's not a knock on the sandwich, it's just the reality of ordering something like this for delivery. At $14.50 it's a hearty sandwich at a fair price. I'd recommend it, but eat in.

Photos
The   Turkey Bacon  Avocado  Lettuce Tomato    Pure awesome
The Turkey Bacon Avocado Lettuce Tomato Pure awesome
Turkey, avocado, bacon, lettuce, tomato on Gluten free bread. Yummy.
Turkey, avocado, bacon, lettuce, tomato on Gluten free bread. Yummy.
Giant's Sub (left) 
 Fratellino (right)
 with Potato Salad
 Yum :)

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Giant's Sub (left) Fratellino (right) with Potato Salad Yum :)
Dolores Deluxe

Dolores Deluxe

4.7
(86 reviews)
3.0 mi
•$$

Dolores Deluxe evolved from a boutique bottle shop into a celebrated deli featuring a highly…read moreacclaimed, eclectic sandwich program. A very hip setting, well stocked with good beer and expertly curated grocery items. Charming and kind employees with wonderful ambience. Limited outdoor seating available . Scores BIG in all areas. Suitable for the Culinary Cognoscente. WOW! Now dats da real deal..... A better SAMWICH is not known to mankind! Insane in the membrane. Insane. My daughter suggested we drive over the bridge from Marin for lunch. She's been raving about it for months. I was a neophyte. Here's what we devoured: VEGAN SANDO #45 caramelized yellow gypsy peppers + fennel, melted sungold tomatoes, saffron rouille + caper salsa verde on acme green onion slab (TOASTED) $16 ------- LADY GIANA caramelized eggplant, basil, mozzarella, fontina charred tomato arrabbiata + garlic potato chips on acme focaccia garlic bread (SERVED HOT) $16.50 ---------- FYI: I selected in my brain my next visit order: GOBHI BRYANT $16.50 generously spiced cauliflower * potato, oaxacan cheese. tomato-tamarind chutney, minted snow peo yogurt raila. fried cashews + curry leaves on ome green onion slab (SERVED HOT) ----------------------------- Certainly the best sandwich I've ever had in my life, and I've been around a few decades. And for dessert, a shared chocolate chip cookie, which was simply divine. Dolores Deluxe location/hours: 3500 22nd St San Francisco, CA 94114 (415) 875-9136 Hours Every day 7:30am-7pm

I haven't submitted a yelp review in awhile- but this Sandwich at Dolores Deluxe made me…read moreimmediately want to come here and say, 10000/10 Post run meal with a beer on the corner of Dolores...too good

Photos
Market
Market
Deluxe breakfast sando
Deluxe breakfast sando
Ode to Barber (rotisserie chicken breast, homemade toum, lebanese pickles, crispy potatoes, parsley + sumac on acme green onion slab)

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Ode to Barber (rotisserie chicken breast, homemade toum, lebanese pickles, crispy potatoes, parsley + sumac on acme green onion slab)

Lou's Cafe - salad - Updated July 2026

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