In the sea of sandwich shops and deli's in the Ballston area, Mike's stands out as one of the better ones. It is a go-to location for many of the office workers in the area tired of chain food and Mike's offers a wide variety to choose from. The location additionally offers a fair amount of outdoor tables and even if they are full you can take your lunch and sit in Wellburn Square on pleasant days. Fresh-roasted, hand-carved meat options are a good bet for lunch (Turkey, Roast Beef, and Cuban Pork). Bread choices are many (to include wraps) and you can customize your sandwich with a multitude of toppings. Lines can get long during the lunch rush but orders come out quickly and I don't think I've ever waited more than 15 minutes for my meal. Breakfast is also offered with standard offerings of egg sandwiches, bagels, and nicely loaded omelettes. Be aware of the sometimes pricey up-charges for substitutions and sides, as you may get improperly charged for additions vs substitutions if you don't carefully communicate with the cashier. My only complaint is that I am a huge fan of a traditional "club sandwich" which requires 3 pieces of toast. However, though Mike's has all of the ingredients, I have been told twice that they "can't" make a sandwich with three slices of bread. Really? With all of the other up-charges I'm sure you can figure out the cost of a single piece of bread and charge me appropriately. Until they figure this out, I will have to continue to go around the corner to Laura Cooks to fulfill my Club Sandwich cravings. As long as Mike's continues to put out consistent food and serves with quick, friendly service it will continue to be one of my "go to" places for a quick lunch break. read more

How I heard of this place: We moved in. We smelled bacon and eggs. We decided to try it. Type of cuisine: Deli style fare with breakfast burritos, sandwiches, and a mini-mart of potato chips, snacks and a range of beverages to boot! Ambiance: Simple, clean, casual, gas station mini mart with open spaces, windows along two sides between yellow-painted walls, recessed lighting, black, wrought iron patio charis and tables (indoors and out), and a small barquette for additional seating. What I ordered: On this lazy Saturday morning, Chris selected the Western Omelette ($4.85) with ham, cheese, peppers, mushroom, and onions. We decided I would order Mike's Burrito ($4.85) with bacon, egg, salsa, sour cream, onion, green peppers, tomato, and hot sauce. What I loved: Between the two, we decided that the small breakfast burrito won by way of taste. Why I loved it: No fuss. No muss. No frills. Cheap. Cost: Low ($4.50 - $5 per breakfast selection) read more

I love this place and I love Mike. Go here for two things: Bibimbap and/or Turkey Melt. Turkey Melt - They carve the meat off the bird right in front of you. Not your typical deli, I know (in a good way). I like to get it on a toasted croissant (fatty) but I have no regrets. They put turkey on the grill with some melted Swiss and American cheese. Then the plop that right in your sandwich while adding in mayo, lettuce, sprouts, avocado, bacon, and whatever else you want to add. It is perfection but maybe have some coffee if you don't want that 2pm crash. Bibimbap - Mike is Korean so he has someone (maybe his daughter?) running the separate bibimbap stand. I am Korean and even though it is not my mom's homemade bibimbap, it stays pretty true to what authentic Korean bibimbap should be. Definitely will leave you full as well. Please be advised that if you go during peak lunch hours there will usually be a line outside the door (moves quickly though). read more

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The location is great, but the food was sub-par. At least what I ordered, which was a bacon burger with onions. The sandwich was prepared straight away, with very little wait time. However the meats were bland with very little flavor. For $15 it was not worth it. There are many other items on the menu however. read more

If I could rate higher than 5 stars, I would. I've been a long time customer at Mike's. It's the safest bet in Ballston: The food will be great and the service (both behind the bar and behind the sushi spot) will be friendly and quick. Places double the price next door are much lower quality. read more

Ordered Spicy Miso Ramen and Bfast Burritos for pick up. Staff was super friendly and spicy ramen was on point. The place looked really clean and you could tell they give extra attention to packaging for pick up/delivery orders. Will definitely reorder from them soon! read more

The soma burger is the best grilled chicken sandwich I've ever had in my life. Please try it! It's cooked fresh with a variety of ingredients. If I could eat at Mikes every single day I would!! read more

This is my go-to sandwich joint in Arlington. Maybe I should branch out and expand my horizons, but they have so many great options why should I risk being disappointed at another cafe? I am particularly fond of the Turkey Melt. All the ingredients are fresh including the meats which are carved right in front of you. I regularly substitute mayo for hummus and add alfalfa sprouts, carrots and cucumbers for a "healthy" sandwich. Of course, the bacon and cheese might counterbalance my efforts, but the sandwich is soooo good! They also have catering options and they offer salads and soups. However, Mike's is best know for its sandwiches. This cafe is a best of Ballston and probably best of Arlington. read more

The unique part of this place was a walk up window to get a super quick Bulgolgi bibimbap bowl. It was just under $10 with tax, a pretty large portion, and came with a good variety of vegetables (zucchini and lettuce salad), meat, pineapple, fried egg, and sweet potato noodles. The meat wasn't the most flavorful and parts were a bit tough to chew, but overall I liked the variety in the bowl. The staff was also very friendly and welcoming and kept the lid off to remind me to try their different sauces. Overall, I would recommend it if you're craving a quick asian-style lunch and it's a good deal. read more

Mike's Cafe - Bulgolgi lunch special - Delis Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Mike's Cafe is a staple for our office during lunch and is easily the best sandwich restaurant in Ballston. The carve the meat fresh for each sandwich and then put it right on the griddle (if that's what you want) to make your melt. The Turkey Melt is amazing and is my favorite sandwich possibly ever even though it is huge and makes me want to take a siesta after eating it. I also highly recommend the Tuna Melt which probably isn't much healthier for you but it is a great variation from the norm. The prices are very decent for the area and they do not accept AMEX, only Visa and Mastercard. I have had breakfast here and have not been impressed. The eggs taste too much like yesterday's lunch as they are made on the same griddle as all the sandwiches and their bagel selection isn't great. They do have an enormous selection of beverages, chips, and cookies too! Go to Mike's if you haven't been but make sure to go either before or after the lunch hour as the line can be out the door! read more

Mike's Cafe - Hand cut meat - Delis Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Tried this place on a whim after the snow storm. I've seen the solid reviews and everything looks so good. We were the first ones there on Tuesday morning, mainly because the snow storm kept people crammed indoors. I got a bagel sandwich with scrambled eggs, bacon and cheese. The boyfriend got breakfast burrito with sausage. Both were delicious!! The home fries are super tasty as well. Big potatoes instead of little hash browns like some other places. The lady behind the counter was super friendly and didn't take long at all for the food. I want to try coming for lunch as I have heard / seen people really enjoy their lunch options. Definitely a solid breakfast place. Wide menu and you can cater to what you like exactly. read more

Mike's Cafe - Sausage breakfast burrito - Delis Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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I am working at my client's office in Ballston and don't know the area. I tried Mike's Cafe today for a lunch sandwich based on Yelp reviews. I'm a fan now! I had the tuna melt on ciabatta. I was impressed with the large selection of breads and fixings (sprouts, peppers, olives). The ciabatta roll was very fresh. Line moved quickly. I was in and out in under 10 minutes at the height of lunch rush. I shall return! My only complaint was that for the tuna melt nobody asked me my choice of cheese. They slapped on a slice of something yellow (American or cheddar) which would not have been my first choice. I know now for next time! read more

Mike's Cafe has the best breakfast sandwiches! The employees are so sweet and genuine. I would definitely recommend to anyone in the Arlington area looking for a quick breakfast or lunch spot. read more

I feel like I wasted my money eating here. I came because I saw they had bibimbap on the Yelp reviews. They do NOT have bibimbap. Sadly I went to the cashier and ordered bibimbap and instead I got a "B.B. bowl" with a bunch of stuff I didn't want and not the things I do want! So be warned they are NOT the same. Bibimbap typically has a fried egg but they charge extra for that in their "B.B. bowls." So I didn't get that or any of the other great veggies that typically come with bibimbap. Aside from the meat it was mainly just rice and noodles with a tiny speck of lettuce on the side and a small amount of sliced avocado that didn't go with anything. I barely ate half of my B.B. bowl. I wish the lady had said something when I said I wanted bibimbap instead of just ringing me up for something that sounded similar. Overall this place is just confusing. They have "B.B. bowls" and other Korean style food or sushi options which you go one place to order, and they also have sandwiches which you order somewhere else in the tiny place. So it's crowded and confusing and in the end if you want the Korean style etc. food it's not that great, and if you want a sandwich I suggest you keep walking just around the corner to Which Wich, WHICH has an infinitely better selection and the ordering experience will be a lot more pleasant. read more

I've been to the bibimbap bowl side thing they have multiple times for lunch since this location is right by my university. The first time I went I got the chicken teriyaki bowl, and everything tasted perfect. The chicken, rice, noodles, and veggies were all perfect. Another time I went they were out of meat, so I ordered the veggie patty bowl instead. I didn't think the veggie patty would taste very good, but it exceeded my expectations by having such great flavor. The avocado they put on the side didn't taste ripe, but I think I just came at a late hour when all the good stuff was gone. The noodles that come with each bowl taste amazinggg. Always a good meal for a good price (~$10)! read more

Mike's Cafe - chicken teriyaki & beef - Delis Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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I came to Mike's Cafe in pursuit of a cup of coffee with a friend. In my usual fashion, I looked up the menu beforehand to get a feel for the cafe. Obviously you'll see breakfast fare (served until 10:30, I believe) and your typical sandwiches but I was pleasantly surprised to find Korean bibimbap on the menu! I can't speak for the food just yet but the coffee service was decent. The coffee bar had a full bottle of Coffee Mate creamer and a carton of h&h, as opposed to standard carafes. Another thing that impressed me was the cleanliness of the cafe. After the steady stream of regular breakfast customers trickled down, one of the workers would wipe down all the surfaces that customers come into contact with. I'll definitely be coming back soon to try breakfast and lunch. Tip: if you work in Ballston and leave from the Ballston-MU station, skip the Dunkin and Starbucks cup o' joe and check out Mike's sometime. read more

I loved the spinach cheese and bagel breakfast sandwich I got. It was too bomb. Fresh and good yummy

Highly recommended for a quick, casual breakfast. I started coming to Mike's Cafe for their breakfast a few years ago - it had good food and was within walking distance. Now that I live in another part of Arlington, I still find myself driving over every once in a while for their sausage breakfast burrito (my favorite!). Service is efficient, especially during weekdays. Also, the owner, who is usually at the register, is super friendly. Definitely worth a try! read more

Mike's Cafe - Sausage breakfast burrito - Delis Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Great breakfast and lunch spot! Can't believe I didn't come here earlier, I live a block away. Got the bb bowl with bulgogi, it was delicious and flavorful. I loved the japchae! Can't wait to come back and try the other bowls. read more

Mike's Cafe - Delis Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Bro tell me why these mfs looked me dead in the face yesterday morning and said "$9.73" when I ordered a single...bacon egg & cheese sandwich on a bagel, bruv these Mandem straight daylight robbery. I was finna walk out because You could order 14 things with that at Dunkin across the street but shawty behind me was dumb cute so i said it's whatever smh Sandwich was mid but come on now, let me take out a bank loan next time I am tryna have breakfast! Eggs on that hoe had a stovetop taste to them ya get me, you could taste the aluminum alloy off the grill! Turkey bacon was oscar meyer, you know this aint no Ritz Carlton. Yeah, would I come back? Probably with a coupon or 6, maybe after pay day even! But other than that it's a pass. read more

Something strange happened when I paid Mike's a visit recently. I stopped in with the express objective of ordering bibimbap; instead what I got was a bulgogi beef bowl with a $1 fried egg. To be fair, the menu on the wall lists several bulgogi options - beef, chicken, veggie, and tofu to name a few - that are very clearly marked "bulgogi". I must've been using "bibimbap" and "bulgogi" interchangeably, and ended up with a bulgogi bowl by mistake. That said, I enjoyed my beef bulgogi. The steamed rice is wonderfully sticky and the beef is sweet and flavorful. The cellophane noodles were also a nice touch. They do go heavy on the sesame oil though, which was a bit overwhelming even for me (and I'm a fan of the stuff). Overall, it was a decent lunch and certainly very filling, just not the bibimbap I had been craving. Paying $1 to add a fried egg should have been my clue that I hadn't made the right order. Long story short: I will probably give Mike's another shot and hopefully get the right order. read more

I've been to Mike's Cafe within 2 Days 6-24/-25-19 after passing by it over a thousand times!! my first stop in I was heading to work and super hungry so I me being me goggled and yelped on the way still going through the Metro made it up the steps walked and went inside. I was nicely constructed, signs to where everything was, was a nice touch so you could just get through everything without any confusion and go smoothly no matter what you ordered. Lemme say they have hella breakfast options and toppings and it doesn't stop there I'll get to it later. I ordered a buttered Croissant with sausage egg cheese and cream cheese the great thing is you can watch them make your Food!!. The way they make the egg is like how you'd form a Taco Bell crunch wrap pocket!! So neat then after wrapping the sausage in the egg they put it on the croissant, cream cheese put it together and cut it in half, I put grape jelly because that's how I came up grandma made every breakfast sandwich with butter and jelly I think it was to balance the salt in everything. Anyways I went to breakfast heaven when I took my first bite always forgot I was standing at the crosswalk needing to be at work lol. The soft melt buttery croissant with the sausage cheese egg blend you could taste EVERY single item ,flavors and toppings put on the sandwich okaaaaay. It was like I got it from grandma's house made with love and perfection, since then it's becoming my breakfast Spot for work. So the second day I order the same thing during this time it's just Me I order after a few seconds a line is built just out the door a little bit. Every construction worker that walked through ordered a steak and cheese!! I'm just like well damn at first it wasn't a line but OK then!! I'm watching them make it needless to say I know what I'll be returning for!!! No matter what You Order you will be Satisfied, the People are very Pleasant , the portions are Good and the Toppings are limitless. You definitely won't regret coming to Mike's Cafe at all read more

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Hands down, my favorite sandwich shop. Staff is friendly, and the food great quality and totally fresh! Great for breakfast but really, I was a regular at mikes for lunch. I always tell my friends to stop by for a sandwich instead of heading over to any chains. read more

It is unfortunate to leave this but Mike's has gone really, really downhill (and based on other recent reviews, I'm not alone in my thoughts). First, the staff. The folks who cut the meat, help the customer are downright nasty. They are always arguing with each other in full view of the customers, downright rude and unhelpful to customers. The cashier is super friendly, but the folks who cut the meat and make the sandwiches make going to Mike's really unenjoyable. Quality has also gone downhill. They used to fresh cut all the meat, but now only the turkey is off the breast. Ham, which used to be fresh, is normal pre-sliced deli meat, as is everything else. Portions have gotten consistently as prices have gone consistently up. So the value prop sucks, especially with the less fresh meat. Today a sandwich with cheese and chips (no drink) was $10.09. I go to Mike's less and less (used to be weekly), and soon to be never, unless Mike can get a grip on his business. That's too bad, I used to enjoy it. read more

In general, I have nothing against Mike's Deli. I also, don't often leave reviews. However, I got the Bulgogi Bibimbap bowl (combo bowl) and while it was neither amazing nor gross, I did find a piece of broken glass in my food. Unfortunately, I found this shard of glass toward the end of the meal--it was literally in my mouth on the last mouthful of food. I knew it was a foreign object, and was fearing what it was as I pulled it out of mouth. I honestly thought it was going to be a fingernail...but it was in fact glass. Less gross than the feared fingernail, but definitely more dangerous. So, while I would have otherwise not commented/reviewed at all...I feel obligated to say there is obviously something negligent occurring in that kitchen. Any food prepared in the presence of broken glass...should be discarded. I don't know if I ate glass, or if I just happened to catch the one and only shard in my food. Either way, I'm done with Mike's Deli. Eat at your own risk. read more

They have the best sushi in the area!!! But I really don't understand why they close so early... this deli's hours really makes me frustrated! I usually don't live work until after they are closed. read more

I live in the apartment building above Mikes so I eat here pretty often and this place is fantastic! I can only speak on the breakfast food but it is delicious. I usually visit on Saturday morning and the staff here is always so friendly. The breakfast sandwiches and omelettes never disappoint. read more

Had no idea what to expect , but this place is FANTASTIC. You've got a wide variety of options, from made to order sandwiches, a coffee bar , grab and go snacks, baked goods, soups, salads, sushi and ramen! It's got anything you might want- and not only that but *seriously* friendly service. Absolutely joyful vibes in there , I am really impressed ! read more

Dropped in for a quick breakfast and thought they did a great job! The breakfast burrito was awesome! It was a great place to grab something quick and have good quality. Definitely will keep this place in mind for future visits to ballston area. read more

In one sentence: "The price is right and it does the job". This place is nothing to rave about, really. But I was at a conference, I needed a warm breakfast, they served me one, and I paid little for it. I got a toasted bagel with eggs, sausage, and cheese, a double espresso, and a coconut water from the fridge. The total was 11 bucks. The bagel was good although they put american cheese; if I knew I would have not added cheese. I saw too late that croissant was an option for the bread instead of the bagel; I'll try that next time. The espresso was from an automatic machine, but used Lavazza beans. For a 2 dollars espresso it was much better than a Starbucks one, but again nothing fancy. I would give it more 3.5 than 4 stars, but today I had a warm breakfast so I feel generous. read more

The fact that this place has an average review of nearly four stars shows you how low standards are around here. I wonder if Yelp has gone buggy, because it is mathematically impossible for Mike's to have more than two stars. Yes, friends, there is a Yelp Rating Formula that can be applied to Mike's which proves the ineptitude of many Yelp reviewers. The formula is as such: Automatically subtract 1 star for any deli in Arlington, Virginia Subtract another star for any deli in Ballston, Arlington, Virginia Rate the deli, tally the stars . So right here, even if this place was perfect (which it's not), it could at most only receive a three-star rating. It's not perfect, so I subtract another star which starts us off with the two stars. I subtract another star because I've never had anything other than a mediocre sandwich here. Why would I go here? Even Potbelly's is better. I offered a homeless man a sandwich from Mike's; he declined it, stating he would rather starve than eat trash. His analysis made sense so we're at 1 star. Then it hits me: Options around here are terrible. The homeless don't know anything. This much my Yelping brethren and I can agree upon. When is the last time that homeless man went to a Subway? Why did that man choose to be a homeless in Ballston? His opinion is largely discredited. If I ever end up being homeless, it won't be here, I'll walk south until I hit a beach or until a car hits me, but I won't be living on these streets. So we end up with two stars. Eat the turkey and nothing else, even if the local tramps advise against it. read more

Fridays used to be synonomous with bibimbap, as my favorite food truck Seoul Food would come to Ballston for lunch and my Friday would be that much better. Alas, Seoul Food shut down its truck a few months ago to focus on their store in Wheaton, and the collective weeping of its loyal fans could be heard throughout Northern Virginia. Luckily, good ole' Mike realized this lack of bibimbap in Ballston needed to be remedied, and he opened up a (cash-only) window right next door to the cafe. Mike, also known as the friendliest man in the world, I thank you. We already know they make a mean breakfast sandwich and now I can add a tasty, filling bibimbap to that list. Is it the most authentic? No. Mine was the most "Korean" with beef bulgogi, but other options included honey ham, pastrami, turkey breast, among others. Those options frightened me a bit. The bulgogi was perfectly tender and flavorfull, and much better than I have had in a while. The bowl came with: rice topped with sesame seeds, mushrooms, bean sprouts, shredded carrots, scallions, a half of a hard-boiled egg, lettuce (?), and pineapple (??). Pineapple was a little weird, but I will admit, also quite tasty. As for sauces, you have a choice between vinaigrette (???), soy sauce, and gochujang. Obviously I settled for the latter. Overall, it was a very good meal. There were a few things I would change, mainly having a runny egg instead of a hard-boiled one, but it far exceeded my expectations. Plus, for exactly $10 I got a large bowl of bibimbap, a little side of (very delicioud) kimchi, a package of korean seaweed snacks, a bottle of water, and a free orange that they were giving away! The bibimbap was so filling, I had my seaweed and orange for an afternoon snack. A must try! read more

Unsanitary food preparation!!! The cook was handling raw meat and then immediately handling bagels, bread, produce, and other things that don't get cooked or had already been prepared. We brought this to the attention of the owner, who gave us a cheery smile and a "no problem! have a good day!" As we were walking out the door, the cook asked the owner what happened, and his reply was "oh, they didn't want their bagel." WHAT?? read more

I just stopped by here today during their "Soft Opening" weekend and it was such a pleasant surprise!!! First thing I noticed were the the prices...they were DEFINITELY cheap. Then, I thought, Oh, well let's hope that just because it's cheap, it doesn't take away from the quality! I ordered a turkey sandwich on foccacia bread with onions, lettuce, tomato and provolone. The turkey is HAND-carved and SUPER fresh! Even more amazing is their honey mustard sauce. Oh no, this is not an average yellow honey mustard sauce you can get from say Mickey D's or anything. This is the REAL stuff. It's got a bit more of a bitter, authentic mustard flavor and it's a honey color. YUM!!! My friend got the gyro...this was so yummy and the best part was the fresh, fresh ingredients. It was not greasy like most gyros at other places are. The sizes of these sandwiches were lovely...the turkey sandwich was SO packed with turkey, I could only finish half!!! Both for $5.75 each was a steal. In addition to the sandwiches, we tried their chicken noodle soup. A bowl is only $2.75 and their soup was not overly-salty like many other places, but instead very clean. On top of everything, they carry gold's peak iced tea, mini toblerone chocolate bars, and a lovely array of chips/juices/ginger crackers, etc. I will definitely be back to try all of these!! OHOHOH but the BEST part is the service. I actually MET mike and he's THE friendliest guy. He told us that his theory of delis (he owns others in the DC/NOVA area is this: Quality, CHEAP, BIG for the sandwiches and other items... for instance, the carrot cake and the cheesecake. WOW. the slices were HUGE and they were SOOOOOOOO GOOD and for HOW MUCH?!!! $3.75. It would be $8.00 at Cheesecake factory for a much smaller size and it tastes JUSt as scrumptious if not better at this place. We got an espresso and a cappuccino as well and both were made very well and again, the prices!! Below $3.00! i'm going back tomorrow for breakfast...hopefully, I can wake up by then! They stop serving at 10:30am! Again, it's a bargain here, but WITH the quality! I cannot stop RAVING about this place---everyone MUSt try it! The place is beautifully clean, simple (for instance, the menu) and they really are a gem. Monday is their "GRAND OPENING" and they are having some great deals: "Buy any kind of Breakfast sandwich & get a FREE 12 oz. coffee or a 16 oz. Soda" AND "buy any kind of LUNch sandwich and get a FREE 16 oz soda WITH A bag of baked lays or same price chip!!" Go try it out----it's a greatttt shop!!!!! P.S. I know I sound like I work here, I really don' t! In fact, today was my first day stopping by and I'm SO happy/worried that it opened downstairs to where I live! (now you all know where I live....lol) HAPPY SANDWICH-ING!!!! =) Closed on Sundays! watch out for that! read more

The absolute best sandwiches I've ever had. There's nothing fancy here. Pick your bread from a list of at least 10 different kinds, then pick your meat. For ham, turkey, roast beef, and pork loin, they have slabs of fresh meat that they carve from, this isn't lunch meat that's been processed. Then pick your cheese and toppings. The roast beef is awesome, I just had it earlier today and I'm getting hungry thinking about it! The pork and turkey are really good too. I'm sure the ham is but I haven't had it yet. The prices here are reasonable for the high quality, a sandwich and bag of chips runs around $7.50. The one single problem with Mike's is the hours. They close at 4. This does not matter if you work in Ballston, but if you live here like me you want Mike's for dinner. read more

Had the roast beef on ciabatta. The meat is amazing. It's hand carved, in front of you - we are talking real, delicious meat. Then they add fresh ingredients and make a delightful sandwich out of it. Got to meet Mike, he was running the cashier. He shook my hand and was excited to find out it was my first time there. While eating, he brought fresh, soft, chewy cookies to my table for all five of us. A class act. Restaurant was clean, staff was friendly, food was great, location is convenient. One happy customer right here. I should add, one of my coworkers got the Turkey Melt and it looked fantastic. read more

Full disclosure, I haven't been here in a long time because I moved back to New England. That being said, I always told myself that once I got around to writing yelp reviews, this would be one of my first. I lived in ballston right above mike's for 2 years. I probably had a turkey sandwich from here 2-3x a week. Literally addicting. Always got it with avocado and once in a while would add bacon, even better.... The sandwiches were huge and so I would usually get a half. To this day, the best sandwich place I think I've ever been. Staff was always incredibly friendly. I would occasionally get breakfast which was also tasty. Not having mike's cafe was honestly one of the worst parts about moving away from DC. read more

My wife and I drive to this deli from courthouse. It's easily the best around. The meats are hand-carved on site and the turkey is cooked daily! The roast beef is also very fresh and doesn't have the preservative taste as some other places off the orange line metro (a few in Rosslyn come to mind). The honey mustard dressing is simply amazing with a sweet honey taste (actual honey) and some spice from what tastes like horseradish. It is the best honey mustard I've tasted in DC. That said, recently they have been switching between the really awesome honey mustard one (darker orange) and a lighter colored one which matches other honey mustards in town. Hopefully Mike will stick with the dark one. I would subtract one star because they charge 50 cents extra for cheese and the avocado is occasionally not perfect (but you can ask for a more fresh one). That said, I added that star back because they occasionally give my wife something for free (Mike and her are Chinese which helps). You can also park in the apartment building's guest parking spaces (there are 3 of them) while you are getting your sandwich! This is simply the best deli I've had in town and that says a lot in a town with a sandwich shop on every block. read more

Coming from New York, one of the biggest letdowns of moving to DC has been the dearth of quality delis. Hopefully more business owners look to what Mike's Cafe has done as a model, because everything about this place is fantastic. The food is fresh and delicious, the service is quick, the employees are friendly, and the prices are reasonable. As everyone has noted the meats are freshly carved to order and the breads are delicious. What also got me is how fresh the vegetables are. It's a great place and I highly recommend it. (Also, get the Turkey Melt!) read more

This is my go-to lunch spot in Ballston. You can't go wrong with the multitude of bread options and fresh-cut meats right before your very eyes. The secret of this place is their daily special. You get a sandwich, chips, and drink usually for $7 or less. Lunch anywhere else in Ballston is $10+! The chicken salad is incredible. Tuna salad is delicious. Steak and cheese is one of the best in the area. I walk past a dozen other lunch options just to go to Mike's because it is always so good... and Mike is just a great guy too! read more