To me...the best Sandwiches around are from Randy's Sandwiches on 10th Street near DLI...and Compagno's Market on Prescott & Taylor...and Togo's on Fremont...but each of these is best for differing reasons and I honestly can't pick one as "The Best". Anyway, this place has been around forever...and somehow has escaped me ever visiting there for a sandwich. When a coworker claimed they were as good as my favorotes...I was immediately skeptical. While I'm not convinced this place is better...I must say I'm very impressed! You see, Randy's, Compagno's and Togo's while all Sanwich shops each have different things going for them. Randy's has amazing prices, Compagno's have huge sandwiches, Togo's are consistent and open late...and Mal's...WOW their bread is amazing! But first...there were a few things about my sandwich (I got the Bomber) I didn't like. However, do not read this as their product is bad...just that being my first visit...I'm not familiar enough with their variations to ask for specifically what I like and avoid what I don't. Case in point, I didn't like the mustard on my sandwich. It's not that it was bad...it's I just didn't like the taste. Purely preferences here. Also...a few of the deli meats had a slight odor...and again, understand I'm not saying anything was wrong or unsafe to eat...but, when Deli meats are all in a cold case together...with other deli foods...they can pick up other odors from other foods...creating a less than pleasant smell. In their defense, I tend to have a sensitive nose and smell things most don't. The meat smells affected the flavor ZERO! I'm just reporting my observational experience! So even with these seemingly negative points I've made...I am planning on returning to Mal's again! My guess is I will change the mustard if they offer something else...and that alone will make a huge difference. Now back to their sandwich bread...it may very well be the best bread I've ever had. The bread simply tasted great...easy to bite through, soft but didn't fall apart...and didn't get soggy! If they sell their sandwich bread alone...I will definitely start buying it! I will be back...and I imagine...I will now have a 4th sandwich shop to add to my list of best Sandwiches in the Monterey bay area. read more

The sandwiches and pie was really good! They have a good selection of items in order to make a last minute meal or pick up a few needed items. We were staying in the neighborhood and the market was really convenient. read more

Best sandwich place west of the Prunedale market. The Bomber is the bomb! Great people working there too!

Bomber Sub is to die for! Service is fast and excellent. The ambiance is nice. Very homey and welcoming.

I drive by it every day. Finally stopped in and man, was I impressed!! Wasn't sure what to order so they recommended The Bomber....it was fantastic! Definitely would recommend it to all my coworkers! Going back soon! read more

This place has been here since I was a kid and we've always gone there for the bomber sandwich, it's the bomb! It's got all the meats, garlic, onions, the best bacon and delicious bread. I have moved away from Monterey several times and every time I visit I have to get a bomber sandwich and The Grotto clam chowder! read more

Used to love coming here as a kid and in high school. I came into the store for the first time this year and no worker greeted me after saying hello to them; although the guy behind the counter was literally staring at me like a madman the entire time that I was trying to purchase something (Not sure what his issue was with me). I asked for a sandwich and she told me to wait for the sandwich maker; who came back in the store 5 minutes later, didn't acknowledge stme, and walked back outside. So I just got my drinks and left. Honestly the food looked so outdated and unsanitary, and the workers seemed that they'd be anywhere else in the world but working there; I was really sad to see how this business is running now. I used to love this place, but now I would suggest not getting your hopes up about it :/ Update: yes it is still bad. I hate being a d-bag on Yelp but this isn't an exaggeration. The previous review I had still holds up. To anyone who wants to try this place I would say: go into the store and look at the "fresh food" at the counter and let me know what the food looks like to you. Workers barely wear masks or gloves (when they are handling your food). Just unsanitary and outdated, on top of that the workers are just rude now and seem to not give a single f*** about someone who isn't a regular customer; for someone who grew up going to this market I can truly say this deli is a case of "only the good die young, but they certainly stay dead". (And p.a. to any worker reading this, you shouldn't need to be having a nice day to treat customers kindly; if keeping up with Covid times is too much for y'all, then please stop serving unsanitary/unsafe food) and if a the food really is "fresh" and safe I would love to hear where they get their food? read more

Local Deli/grocery store. Delicious sandwiches, great customer service. Great breakfast sandwiches & fresh produce. Must try.. read more

We heard about this market so we wanted to check it out. It looks more like a dudes hangout than a market deli, with a bunch of workers just watching baseball. The sign outside says Best sandwiches in Town, so it was worth a try. I split a large chicken sandwich with my wife and added avocado cuz we're cheesy like that. It was a warm sandwich so I figured it would take a couple minutes...15 minutes later, and 5 customers helped before me, I got my sandwich. Sometimes I would be pissed for waiting so long, but we weren't really in a hurry, or that hungry, so we just hung out outside on their "patio". Ya, a sidewalk with tables! To our surprise that sammich was huge, fresh, and tasty. Well worth the wait. We split it and still barely finished it. The guys were great. The other customers were great. And the quality of our sandwich made our day. Definitely worth going back for to try some others read more

I was Appalled by the lack of caring for human life. People working there had no mask. People shopping there had no mask. People making food were no gloves. Are used to love to go to Miles market. read more

I remember when I was little it was a special treat when my dad would take me to Mal's to grab a sandwich. I had not been there in YEARS before this past Saturday. I could only hope that the sandwiches would be as good as I remembered. Let me tell you, they were just as good, if not better than I recalled. I knew these sandwiches were huge so I ordered one to share with my friend. We got The Club with everything, and added avocado. It came with, turkey, ham, jack cheese, tomato, lettuce, pickles, peppers, onion, bacon, and four yes FOUR sauces! (mayo, mustard, garlic spread, and jalapeño spread.) I cannot even put into words how good this sandwich is. You should just go there and try it, asap. Make sure you get all four of the sauces, they are what make this sandwich incredible. read more

Mal's Market - Top View: The Club - Grocery Near Me - Seaside, California

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Amazing! Had the tuna salad sandwich on their dutch crunch bread with all the fixings (except garlic spread, not a fan of garlic). The jalapeno spread is the bomb. Sandwich was HUGE. read more

The people that work here are awesome. It's nice to see the good guys in the neighborhood doing so well, and keeping it real for Seaside/Monterey. The Bomber is excellent and a big hit in Seaside I can't say enough good things about it. If you're ever in the Seaside area you should definitely drive up Noche Buena and pay these guys a visit. Thank you everyone Mal's Market for all of the good experiences over the years! Also if you're easily offended, leave it at the door. Go in there and get a bomber and enjoy! read more

Came ordered, girl completely forgot to tell the sandwich maker. So the people ahead got 3 and still had to wait for mine. Then he made it wrong, because again she forgot so he had to make another one. Really frustrating and had to wait again. read more

Always amazing! You can't beat the sandwiches the salads are good and the conollis are to die for.

One of the best sandwiches in town hands down The Bomber! Filled with ham and turkey, bacon, pickles, and swiss. Basically the best thing on the menu. Highly recommend. read more

Mal's Market - Grocery Near Me - Seaside, California

I wanted to write this before Christmas but I just got busy. I stopped in Mal's the week before Christmas and it was the one stop shop. Dennis, the owner made me some really delicious sandwiches and their salads were freshly made. The coleslaw is his mom's recipe and really delicious. It's definitely a must try. They even had boxes of Sees candy for sale for last minute stocking stuffers. The gal behind the counter, I'm sorry I forget her name, was super sweet and even helped me out to my car with all my purchases. I will definitely be back. Thanks for the great food and excellent service! read more

I had a sandwich the size of my forearm and it was amazing. The bomber. It was already good, but the bread and that garlic mayo stuff made it over-the-top. Two meals worth of food. Pretty good service and got some yummy handmade, local soap, too. I like that it's an old-school mini market...feels like a different era in there. Their ribs and salads in the case looked good; hope to try them one day. :) read more

I've lived on the peninsula my whole life, and it took me 27 years to go to Mal's. WHY? Why did I wait?? It was so good! My boyfriend got the famous "Bomber" with roast beef, ham, turkey, jalapeno spread, lettuce, tomato and loved it! There could even be more on it that I'm forgetting. Point is, it was large and he loved it. I went for a breakfast sandwich, and even at 2pm the nice man behind the counter fried some eggs for me. I ordered half a breakfast sandwich with bacon, eggs, and swiss and that's what I got. 3 fried eggs and a cage of bacon, oozing with hot swiss. Holy. Moly. It was one of the simplest and most satisfying breakfast sandwiches I've ever had. It reminded me of one that Grandma would make. Thanks Mal's. read more

"How the great have fallen" is a phrased used to describe how an awesome place has lost its edge. For Mal's we'll just say "how the pretty good have shown their true colors" Sure, it's summer, you can get away with skimping on ingredients for all these tourists who don't know any better, but when a customer who has been going to you for over ten years calls you out on not making your bomber properly, you better start groveling quick to make up for being so stingy. But no. You act smug. You belittle the customer. You do all the things a place that DOESNT CARE does to prove just how little then know about business. You were in decline in my eyes already, now you're non existent. There are tons of places better than you, and they will have more business now. Word to the wise TREAT CUSTOMERS WITH RESPECT! read more

If you never heard about the bomber, you definitely need to go to this place an order it and ask to add avocado if you like it one of the top sandwich places in Seaside super fiiire read more

So yummy per usual. Sometimes especially during uncertain times you want comfort reliable food. Mal's market bomber sandwich is the best of the best. It was perfect and timely, adhering to all safety precautions and just was everything and more. Thank you Mal's for upholding your impeccable standard and signature tastiness plus also love the voodoo chips. read more

Great local family business! Nice market with a good selection of products. The sandwiches from the deli are delicious...two words THE BOMBER...that's all you need to know going in! read more

Mal's Market - Grocery Near Me - Seaside, California

A friend referred me to here. The sandwich was amazing!! I highly recommend this great neighborhood deli. read more

Mal's Market - Grocery Near Me - Seaside, California

We are new to the neighborhood but have loved this friendly market. They have a little bit of everything!

I was born in Monterey and raised in Seaside this Mark brings back a lot of memories for me I use to live not to far from Mal's Market I love there sweet potato pies and bomber sandwiches the best I moved a way from Seaside 11 years ago now I live in Las Vegas,Nevada but Seaside,California will always be my hometown read more

Best. Breakfast sandwich. Ever. Hands down amazing quick grab. Haven't really tried any other sandwiches but I've heard really good things.

I live right next to Mals market and will frequent the store daily for one of his amazing sandwiches or shop in his well stocked store..... sometimes I will go several times a day and EVERY TIME i go everyone is wearing a MASK and being extra cautious and sanitizing, washing hands and counters. read more

This is the best place for a smamitch in the Seaside/Del Rey Oaks area. You have to get "The Bomber". It's like a sandwich like no other, every meat is represented and you pretty much need to share this monster of a sandwich. Yeah, the place looks old school...almost like you are in someone's house feel. read more

No, not the best sandwich in town...(oh contrare to the sign the posted) Veggie Sandwich: old onions, didn't have anything other than American, Swiss or Jack (hello Provolone? Mozzarella?), bread tasted old. No choice of white/wheat Didn't ask if I wanted large or regular, and automatically gave me a large. The man had an attitude, lady was okay $13 for a veggie and 1/2 combo. Seriously???? I guess we all make mistakes... read more

Someone recommended this place to me as the best sandwich place in Seaside. I don't know about that, it was ok but best is kind of pushing it. I got a Club Sandwich which was pretty standard. I guess they only have one kind of bread because I wasn't given any option. On the plus side the sandwich was huge, I could only finish half, and was only about $10 for that and a drink. The inside of the market is kind of weird, kind of reminds me of a Kwik-E-Mart. The one thing I didn't like was that there was no where to eat, no tables nothing, strictly to go food only. Would I go back? Maybe... but only if Compano's is too far away. read more

The service is horrible. Customer service should be #1, but they're more interested in their own lives. The place could use a tune up, BADLY. They had moldy grapes on the counter for sale next to the register. Everything was left out with plastic over it, and in the glass show container was cooked bacon right next to raw foods. Overall I The place made me sick. I tried to give them the benefit of the doubt, so I ordered a breakfast sandwich, but I couldn't eat it because the place grosses me out so much. I only live about two blocks away but I still will never go back ever again. read more

Yuuuuum! Giant sandwiches for a decent price. I've been here several times and it's become a favorite.

TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE! I walked in at 3:20 pm on a Saturday and said hello to everyone no one said anything even though they looked in my eyes, I see the older Caucasian man making a sandwich for someone ahead of me and he takes his sweet time, and then As I still stand there waiting to be greeted he walks over to help her at the register and has a good convo with her. Then he finally asks what I want and I said "one breakfast" and before I could finish my sentence he whispers something low and I ask "what was that?" And he says they stopped serving hot food already. Which doesn't make sense bcs last time I visited he told us they stop serving hot food at 4:00pm. So I walked out frustrated and empty handed. With those cryptic messages he writes on the board every day, I don't like his service at all. read more

Hmm, mixed feelings about this place. The do have a good selection of sandwiches, they they are FAR from "the best". I don't know if the employees hate their job or what, but customer service is not their #1 priority and it shows. Maybe I came on an off day so I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt. read more

I took the wife and the kid to Monterey for an extended weekend for my daughter's Spring Break. We visited a few of my favorite college places, including Mal's Market for a sandwich picnic on the beach. In college we used to have "Bomber Runs", where you had to complete a whole Bomber, a medium size bag of chips, and a large soda in one sitting. I am happy to say that 12 years later, I can still complete a Bomber Run. And the Bomber is still one of the best sandwiches you can get, anywhere. My wife is more of a "Turkey and Swiss" kind of gal, and she was more than happy sharing her sandwich with our daughter. The guys in the place have not changed a bit: slightly surly, rough on the outside, but you know that they are softies when it counts. They have a great shop and I am happy to see that they are still doing well in the community. No trip to Monterey is complete without getting a Bomber. read more

Mal's does make a great Bomber sandwich. The Katherine M. review is 100% inaccurate regarding Dennis. He greets customers as they come in and often by name. Truly I have never seen someone so dedicated to his community. I have seen him counsel teens, give them jobs and now he sells Girl Scout cookies for the local troop that needs the most help. His son is challenged but Dennis has him by his side often and it's great to see his son's smiling face when I come in. I don't know Dennis personally, but he treats me like an old neighbor. It's a great place to pick up a slice of homemade cake or Costco cheesecake. I have bought whole German chocolate and lemon for parties and they are always a hit. The frosting especially taste homemade and the cake is moist. When you go in you will see for yourself that Dennis has a big heart and great sandwiches and yum cakes. read more

This place is unsanitary! They don't use gloves to make the sandwiches. Much less know how to use masks, they use chin guards!

Well it might not seem fair that I'm still giving Mal's only one star, it's because I've truly never gone back. I went in there to buy a sandwich and have never had such an uncalled for rude experience w/a business. Over some mustard that I requested, I seemed to think that I was at some high class establishment. Well they showed me and absolutely convinced me that they were correct. If it weren't for low class, they would have no class at all. read more

This place rocks! It's everything you can dream of if you are a foodie. Small mom & pop shop with a family running the whole gig serving up sandwiches east coast style. A big locals spot because it has the best sandwiches in the central coast. Very affordable, filling as hell, and no wait in line. GO TO MALS- BE A LOCAL read more