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    Lou's Cafe

    4.3 (236 reviews)
    InexpensiveSalad, Soup, Sandwiches
    Closed Closed

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    Business Info

    LOU'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Lou's Cafe

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    Ami-Cado Sandwich
    Hanna H.

    Such a delicious spot! Deli vibes + decent prices (for SF). I recommend enjoying at a park! Ami-cado: great sandwich, perfect meat to topping ratio, really delicious pastrami Roma's Club: a great flavor profile + came with avocado and bacon without a bunch of extra charges which is rare in the city! Can't wait to come back and try more specialties!

    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!

    RB Mushroom sandwich and Enchilada soup of the day.
    Rachel W.

    1st time visit to Lou's Cafe. Picked it for a quick lunch of a sandwich and soup. Picked the RB Mushroom and the Soup of the Day was Enchilada. The soup was excellent and came with two slices of a cheese bread which was also very good. Total came to about $24 before tipping, which feels fair for SF prices. The location is nice too as it has light foot traffic and good indoor seating. The service was great and the team members who helped me out were very kind and helpful with my questions. Their turnaround time in getting orders out is quick and easy!

    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

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    4 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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    1 year 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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    11 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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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Lou's Cafe

    I believe this location is temporarily (possibly permanently?) closed? Can anyone confirm?

    They Re-open for business On June 7, 2021

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    Irving Subs - Giants sub ... Love it

    Irving Subs

    4.3(572 reviews)
    4.3 miInner Sunset
    $$

    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.

    I went here on a Thursday around 5:54pm for a quick and early dinner to go and there was no wait!…read more I ordered the TABLT and a Potato Salad. I loved how the Potato Salad had thick cubes of potato in it, since that gave it a nice bite without it being too mushy. The TABLT sandwich was also really good too! The sandwich was thick and has lots of meat in it. For the sandwiches, they also let you choose what bread you want it on and I chose Dutch Crunch which went well with it. The sandwich was very filling too, so I ended up only eating half of it. I'd recommend this place! I like how stuffed they make their sandwiches, but I've only tried one sandwich from them so far so I'll need to try more later.

    Photos
    Irving Subs - The   Turkey Bacon  Avocado  Lettuce Tomato    Pure awesome

    The Turkey Bacon Avocado Lettuce Tomato Pure awesome

    Irving Subs - Turkey, avocado, bacon, lettuce, tomato on Gluten free bread. Yummy.

    Turkey, avocado, bacon, lettuce, tomato on Gluten free bread. Yummy.

    Irving Subs - Giant's Sub (left) 
 Fratellino (right)
 with Potato Salad
 Yum :)

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

    The Boys’ Deli - Sanfranpsycho Sandwich

    The Boys’ Deli

    4.5(530 reviews)
    1.3 miRussian Hill
    $$

    Finally made it to The Boys' Deli after my buddy hyped it up for years. It's an unassuming market…read moreon Polk with a sandwich counter in the back that is absolutely popping off. Three people working a tight space with three toaster ovens, and everything comes toasted by default. Their DNA is from pizza making, and it shows. The menu has around 40 sandwiches, so I asked the guy behind the counter for his two favorites and started there. The Godfather: Genoa and pepper salami, oven gold turkey, provolone, and garlic spread on Dutch crunch. Great texture, warm from the toaster, and the garlic spread ties it together. A San Francisco classic done right. The San Franpsycho: it normally comes with honey turkey, but they had rotisserie chicken on the spit so I swapped it in. Gouda, bacon, pesto, garlic spread, and remoulade. The pesto comes through right away and the chicken tastes like real rotisserie. Fair warning: it is messy. It drips. Do not eat this in the car. I could not find a clean way to eat it and ended up taking half home to finish. In their defense, I went rogue with the chicken order so that might have messed up the flow. If you're a sandwich person in SF, put this on the list. I'll be back soon.

    We were in the area and wanted a quick bite! Our friend suggested The Boys' Deli for one of their…read moresandwiches. We ended up getting 2! Cozy neighborhood deli with friendly and fast service. ***OUR PICKS *** SANFRANPSYCHO ($17.99) Honey turkey, smoked gouda cheese, bacon, pesto, garlic spread and remoulade (spicy Mayo). Yummy with a little kick! If you want to have it even spicier, add the pickled jalapeños too! 5/5 ITALIAN SUB ($17.99) Salami, ham, mortadella, provolone, oil and vinegar. This is what an Italian sub should taste like! 5/5 Now, we had some tapas before grabbing the sandwiches, so we weren't entirely hungry. But these sandwiches were delicious and hit the spot! For not being hungry, the sandwiches were taken down without regret! Loved the crispy Dutch crunch bread that they used. Both sandwiches were very good and I can't say I liked one over the other. We would definitely come back again when the sandwich craving hits!

    Photos
    The Boys’ Deli
    The Boys’ Deli - Sanfranpsycho Sandwich (No Bacon)

    Sanfranpsycho Sandwich (No Bacon)

    The Boys’ Deli - Sandwich with all fixings!

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    Sandwich with all fixings!

    Dolores Deluxe - Call Me Serg

    Dolores Deluxe

    4.6(102 reviews)
    3.0 miNoe Valley
    $$

    Can't go wrong with double Ds…read more Because everyone on social media from BayAreaFoodie to EatMeSF to Gaystronomy puts their sandwich and cookie on their must-eat lists, the wife and I gave into FOMO. Fear of Mission Out. The sandwiches are in high demand. The line on a Saturday that went from the intersection, around the fridge section, to the cashier took about 15 minutes and the sandwich took another 15. Both sandwiches were filling and fresh. We got hot ones with toasted bread. The couch potato with crispy pancetta was good, but American cheesier than expected. The preferable lemon pepper chicken sandwich was bright, flavorful, and tangy, with more dimension. I don't know if it's my favorite sandwich, but certainly top five. I give them five stars, however, because everyone was unpretentious and super nice, the sandwich artist is a machine, they have unique items, and they only charge $1.25 for a can of soda. As for the fresh chocolate chip cookies, my wife liked them. I didn't understand the hype. They were fudgey and doughy, so I guess if you like eating cookie dough you'll love them. We bought enough to have one as an appetizer and one for dessert.

    Busy place! We had the Lebanese caprese, Lady Giana and Call Me Serge. We called ahead for a to go…read moreorder. We called about 20 min in advance and it took them 20 min to make the sandwiches. They are unable to change the time that they start assembling the sandwiches, they said, so they do all the sandwiches in order of the orders. That means really just call when you're 15-20 min from picking up your order ----- Food: - Caprese sandwich: Our friend who had it was very disappointed and she loves caprese sandwiches. Do not recommend. - Call Me Serge *** our favorite*** The call me serge was our favorite (Calabrian chili orange jam is a delight). - Lady Giana: also delicious!

    Photos
    Dolores Deluxe - Market

    Market

    Dolores Deluxe - Deluxe breakfast sando

    Deluxe breakfast sando

    Dolores Deluxe - 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)

    Lucca Delicatessen - Meatball Sandwich

    Lucca Delicatessen

    4.1(933 reviews)
    2.2 miMarina/Cow Hollow
    $$

    Stopped by Luca Delicatessen in San Francisco and this sandwich was SO good I literally forgot to…read moretake a picture before I started eating it I got the toasted caprese sandwich and added peppers , 10/10. Everything tasted super fresh, the bread was perfectly toasted, and adding the peppers gave it that extra kick it needed. Simple sandwich but seriously so good. Service was quick and friendly, and I loved the old-school Italian deli vibe inside. Definitely feels like one of those classic SF spots you stumble across and end up wanting to come back to. Safe to say the half-eaten picture speaks for itself . Definitely recommend!

    Where do I start when it comes to Luca Delicatessen? Let me begin by saying that when I arrived on…read morea Tuesday afternoon, the place was packed with customers. After having my tuna sandwich on wheat, I completely understood why. Everything tasted incredibly fresh. From the tuna to the tomatoes, pickles, and avocado, you could truly taste the quality of every ingredient. I'm getting hungry again just thinking about it! I'd also like to give a special thank you to the owner, Paul, who was incredibly gracious and accommodating during my visit. Great customer service always makes a meal even more enjoyable. If you appreciate fresh ingredients, outstanding flavor, friendly service, and a welcoming atmosphere, I highly recommend stopping by Luca Delicatessen whenever you're in the area. As an added bonus for my fellow wheelchair users , there is accessible seating available, making it easy to enjoy your meal comfortably. Thanks again, Paul and everyone at Luca Delicatessen!

    Photos
    Lucca Delicatessen
    Lucca Delicatessen - Cheese ravioli with ingredients from the store

    Cheese ravioli with ingredients from the store

    Lucca Delicatessen - Pasta ala Norma

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    Pasta ala Norma

    Molinari Delicatessen

    Molinari Delicatessen

    4.4(1.6k reviews)
    0.6 miNorth Beach/Telegraph Hill, Russian Hill
    $$

    Molinari is an iconic Italian delicatessen that absolutely anyone that comes to San Francisco must…read morevisit. There's a very good reason the lines are out the door. For starters, its atmosphere is very iconic. Meats hang from racks, the store is filled with unique Italian ingredients like pastas, pickled vegetables, wines, and candies. The staff are always happy, and seem like they love what they do. In terms of their food and selection, they are unmatched. They have some of the best cured salamis, prosciuttos, and other meats that I've seen. In terms of their sandwiches, what I've seen looks good, but I also haven't tried any myself, as I mainly come for the actual delicatessen.

    Came here with my date to get some good ol' deli sammis, and we were NOT disappointed. We showed up…read moretowards the closing end of the restaurant hours so we were unable to get the focaccia we originally planned on, but we were presented with amazing, fresh, options that all sounded wonderful. We settled on a nice rosemary roll that was large and fragrant, getting the Italian combo with fresh mozzarella, no mayonnaise was in stock so we were offered a basil pesto compound butter that was made in house, and it was phenomenal. Great selection of meats, even got an Italian Coke that tasted divine. The sandwhich portions and the freshness of ingredients will have me coming back for SURE. Solid price, around 30 bucks for a large sandwhich and a couple of drinks and candy's. The candy was delicious as well! You can't go wrong here. Great service as well.

    Photos
    Molinari Delicatessen - The entrance

    The entrance

    Molinari Delicatessen - Sandwich

    Sandwich

    Molinari Delicatessen - Italian Deli

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    Italian Deli

    Lou's Cafe - salad - Updated September 2026

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