When I lived in Santa Cruz, this was one of my favorite lunch spots. They have a good range of options and unlike a lot of sandwich places, there isn't a taste of sameness across all sandwiches, most likely because they don't use the same signature house sauce across all sandwiches. I think you can make the wrong choice on your 1st/2nd/3rd visit depending on your taste, but I also think you should come back and you'll absolutely find something that 100% tickles your pickle. I've tried most of their hot sandwiches: - Noni's Pesto Chicken: this is one of my favorite sandwiches of all time. It's not very complex but for some reason the combination of flavors just is *chefs kiss*. 5* for this alone, don't fight me - Surf City Philly: can be surprisingly spicy, heavy but SO good. This is my third favorite. - Chicken Cowabunga: not that great, would skip, but I also have a whole website on fried chicken sandwich rankings so I'm picky - Vulcan Mind Melt: sounds so good on paper but it's just heavy. I would skip - Crispy Cod Wrap: I've had a bite or two of this and I thought it was pretty good but not that memorable - Pork Belly Banh Mi: this was good, and I don't usually like pork belly - Chipotle Chicken Club: also kinda heavy but I really enjoyed this! This is my second favorite. - Cubano: not particularly memorable Not a sandwich but Beer Barnacles: ugh I enjoyed this more often than I should have, sorry not sorry. 5* read more

Ordered on line. Food was ready on time. Customer Service was great. BLAT, Cubano and garlic fries were tasty Took food to go, but lots of area to sit outside read more

Visiting the area and stopped here for lunch. I went with the Chicken Cowabunga and my girlfriend got the Philly. Both were great but the Philly was the fan favorite. The garlic fries were solid as well. Definitely a great spot and a place I'd definitely go back to and feel comfortable recommending to anyone. read more

Hubby wanted sandwiches for lunch. The sandwiches all look great except I was craving a salad. Fortunately they have a Cobb salad on the menu, with the option to add avocado for an extra $2. It's a casual restaurant with lots of outdoor seating. The server was very nice. read more

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I consider myself a burger eater expert and man I tell you this place is so good, great customer service Sidney was awesome. The burger really melts in your mouth. I'm a lil sad cause I was a lil hungry and the burger tasted so good I inhaled it instantly. 10 out of 10 my birthday this Sunday I'm thinking about taking the family on a 2 hour drive just to come here lol read more

A surf-themed shop with cool interior design and tasty sandwiches/burger! We were looking for burgers and were glad to find Surf City. Service was excellent and had helpful recs. The Philly cheesesteak is their most popular and it is excellent and cheesy. The ghost pepper Jack is subtle but provides the right amount of kick. The burger was also surprisingly good, and they cook the patty to order. The Vulcan Mindmelt was okay, basically a bacon cheeseburger with onion rings but in a sandwich form. A little underwhelming. The homemade chips were a nice touch. The subgarden salad was a little too sour with the dressing. You can add chips or salad for $0.99. Fries were good and came with the burger. About $16 per item. All in all a good find and would come again! read more

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I got the cod wrap. The fish was really good and there was a decent amount of it. The other flavors of the cheese, onions and sauce really melded together well. Bonus was the homemade chips. Nice and thick but not at all greasy. Would definitely come back. read more

Surf City Sandwich - Cod wrap - Sandwiches Near Me - Soquel, California

Having had their sandwiches a few times as takeout (and sitting out a bit), I decided to try to eat it fresh. Had the BLT. Very solid. Bacon was crispy, bread was on point. Housemade chips were crunchy. I've had their Cubano before as well and it was good. Nothing mind blowing but solid sandwiches and a place I would add to a list of rotating staples. read more

A favorite! Delicious sandwiches. Can't be in a rush here because it takes time but worth the wait. We love the pork belly bahn mi. Today tried the burger - juicy! We also got the cubano, yum! Quality food. Service is always friendly and helpful. Indoor and outdoor seating. Indoor decor is fun and surf themed. Outside is dog-friendly. Woof! read more

Surf City Sandwich - Burger and fries - Sandwiches Near Me - Soquel, California

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Food: 3/5 order the pork belly bhan mi, a bit salty pickle carrot and dican was a bit too overpower and cut too large. Meat was ok but way too much sauce. Service: 5/5 quick and speedy. Ambiance: 4/5 great decoration and surf theme. Love it. read more

Surf City Sandwich - Pork belly bhan mi - Sandwiches Near Me - Soquel, California

Fantastic food. Great service with a smile. Food came out hot and delicious. I had the Chipotle chicken club and my husband had the BBQ special. He said it was one of the best he had ever had. Whatever this business is doing I wish everyone would do it. Impressive!! read more

Read about Surf City in a Visit Santa Cruz article about sandwiches in the Santa Cruz area. Glad I read about it, because even having driven past it many times, I never noticed it in the busy intersection. The sandwiches here are unique. There were a couple that sounded pretty traditional that you'd likely seem elsewhere, but the majority felt one of a kind. They have a variety of both hot and cold sandwiches with a lot of the hot sandwiches seeming to focus on BBQ and spice for the main flavor profiles. They did have some other more mild sounding sandwiches as well. Since I'm not huge into spicy or fried foods (a few of the sandwiches came with onion rings) a lot of the sandwiches had a few too many things I'd want to substitute, so I played it safer and went with the pork belly banh mi. The banh mi was really good! I did have to take some of the jalapenos off to be able to eat it without breathing fire, but overall it was a good sandwich. It was loaded up with pork, so much so that the meat was overflowing - exactly what you want. The sauce on the pork was super flavorful and had a nice sweetness to help balance out the heat. Sandwiches came with housemade chips. Chips were super thick and crispy, could've used a bit more flavor, but was really happy with the texture of them. We took our sandwiches to go but they did have a good amount of seating for the space both inside and out. read more

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Lovely service and best sandwich I've ever had!! Highly recommend the Philly cheese steak!!

Great sandwiches. We really loved the food. The woman behind the counter was very friendly and helped me make a decision about which sandwich to get. The place is casual and nice. We have reason to go back soon and we likely will. read more

Love this place! Awesome sandwiches! This time we ordered: Vulcan Mind Melt (5 Stars) Love the combination of stuff. Plenty of bacon, beef and cheese, all inside a perfectly toasty roll. The bread at this place is awesome! Italiano (5 Stars) Everything works together, love the pesto, pickles, pepperoncini, marinated tomatoes, with plenty of mortadella and capicola. Then some dressing of Evo and balsamic vinegar, to make the whole thing come together. The only issue I wish they had a Louisiana hot sauce, they only have Mexican style hot sauces, which don't have enough vinegar to help cut the richness of sando. Until next time... Next time try: Green Chili Philly Pork Belly Bánh Mì (again) Barnacles read more

After going to the beach my son and I just wanted a sandwich. We saw the Surf City Sandwich sign and went in. There is a casual order at the counter vibe. The cashier and I had a misunderstanding while I ordered about the tuna , which was most likely due to my being starving. They fixed our order right away. My son enjoyed the kids menu and I had an amazing cod wrap. Outdoor and indoor tables are available. Try it!! read more

Surf City Sandwich - Surf City Sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Soquel, California

I've been here once and my Ruben was amazing really good nice and hot 10/10 I will be returning to this spot

Ordered the shrimp wrap and it was amazing! So much flavor and if you like some spice I recommend adding the pickled jalapeños! Ordered online and order was ready quickly. Employees were friendly and helpful. Sorry for the half eaten wrap it was too good to wait. read more

Surf City Sandwich - Shrimp wrap - Sandwiches Near Me - Soquel, California

$$$ Would love to eat here everyday but it's not in most people's budget not that it's their fault They ought to make their money but yes the food and environment are both A+ read more

Saw this place while running an errand in the area and decided to try it out. Ordered Togo and got the Cuban sandwich! And I must say this is on my top 3 of Cuban sandwiches that I've had! They have this spicy sauce that just makes it so delicious! I'm assuming all sandwiches come with their potato chips that are homemade. Those are okay, it can use a little salt or a dip of some sort, but the sandwich was definitely A1! Little small spot, they have drinks like yerba mate and stuff. They have some seating inside as well as outside. Great friendly service as well! read more

Surf City Sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Soquel, California

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The sandwiches are delicious . The chips are homemade and they are nice salty crunch to the sandwiches or wraps. It does run a bit on the pricer side but I think that's reflected on the quality of the food. I would definitely be visiting again. read more

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They have great sandwiches and wraps. One of my wife's favorite wraps is their Thai chicken wrap with peanut sauce. It wasn't on the menu board the day we went, but the owner stepped up and made one for us. Excellent customer service. Highly recommend this place read more

Great sandwich, potato chips were stale .Good service.Friendly staff.Indoor Nx outdoor seaying avsilable. read more

Surf City Sandwich - Classic Pastrami . - Sandwiches Near Me - Soquel, California

Nothing beats a great sandwich while at work and this was the spot for it! From the friendly staff to the clean dining area to the incredible sandwich I had, a classic BLT. Perfect amount of bacon and other ingredients. Then the chips on the side were tasty! Definitely coming back here for another good lunch! read more

Surf City Sandwich - BLT n chips - Sandwiches Near Me - Soquel, California

This place used to be good but has obviously gone downhill. Not sure what happened. Is the original owner around anymore? Doesn't seem like it. The chicken cowabunga sandwich used to be the bomb but the bread sucks now and the chicken breast seemed like a warmed up frozen product. The fries were weak- half of them undercooked. With the high prices on sandwiches and the degradation of the product the value is no longer there. Won't be going back. read more

Ordered 4 sandwiches. All were very tasty. Easy to make substitutions. Employees pleasant and accommodating. Parking can be bad but worth it! read more

Best BLT Sandwich I've tasted in Santa Cruz County. Great customer service. A MUST TRY!

First time trying this spot yesterday. Perfect vibe for a hot summer day. The sandwiches are great. We got the pork belly and the cod wrap. Both amazing. read more

Surf City Sandwich - Cod Wrap - Sandwiches Near Me - Soquel, California

Surf City Sandwich was the greatest and most pleasant surprise on my recent trip to the Santa Cruz area. They are a busy sandwich shop and it was readily apparent once I got my sandwich why. They have a wide assortment of options to choose from that should meet any taste. Speaking of taste, my classic hot pastrami did not disappoint. It was very tasty indeed. The house made chips were also amazing. Only thing to do better is hook it up with a little more meat on the sandwich. read more

Surf City Sandwich - Classic Hot Pastrami - Sandwiches Near Me - Soquel, California

Great sandwiches. We tried 4 different sandwiches and loved them all. Very fresh ingredients and sauces. The fresh potatoes chips were tasty. read more

Surf city sandwiches oh my gosh, if you want a great sandwich, you need to go there and sitting outside on the patio is very relaxing, but their food is awesome. You can get the sandwiches made to the way you like them and everything is fresh. read more

Food is great place is great but there prices are out of this world expensive. A sandwich plus barnacles plus a drink came I n it just under $50. read more

Wow....great Philly sandwich with Ghost Pepper cheese that wasn't too spicy but super flavorful. Tried the Barnacles (tots with habanero cheese sauce) and they didn't disappoint either - stayed crunchy even to the bottom of the basket Service was good, music was 70's rock and the surfing video was entertaining. All in all great experience for u and we'll definitely be back next time we're in town read more

By far my most favorite sandwich place in Santa Cruz and I've been a customer since their first week of opening. The Italian is a favorite, but regardless of what sandwich I'm getting I always make sure to order their Beer Barnacle's - tater tots loaded with spicy cheese sauce topped with bacon. Can't forget their homemade potato chips, absolutely fried perfect with just the right about of seasoning! Also a great spot to sit on the corner and people watch + dog friendly patio (on leash). Enough said read more

Surf City Sandwich - Beer Barnacles - Sandwiches Near Me - Soquel, California

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This was hands down one of the BEST Banh Mi's I've ever had, the service was quick & easy as well with some indoor & outdoor seating! 10/10 would HIGHLY recommend, can't wait till the next time I get to consume this glorious sandwich! read more

Surf City Sandwich - Pork Belly Banh Mi - Sandwiches Near Me - Soquel, California

Work ended up being a much longer day of driving around Santa Cruz/Watsonville than I expected so I didn't pack a lunch. That hunger headache was kicking in strong so I navigated to the highest reviewed sandwich shop in the area. The front counter lady was very helpful in telling me all about their most popular sandwiches and what she suggested. One of my favorite things to do a new spots is take the suggestion from someone who works there so I order the Chipotle Chicken sandwich and man was I glad I did! Very filling and good size sandwich with a perfect amount of that chipotle seasoning. It also came with some housemade potato chips that were a great crispy crunch in between chomps of my sandwich. I had two more work visits that day but Surf City Sandwich saved my clients from a cranky inspector. Yum! read more

Surf City Sandwich - Cool clean place! - Sandwiches Near Me - Soquel, California

Very good sandwich and friendly place. Wife had a Nonis pesto chicken with marinated tomatoes and with provolone. read more

Surf City Sandwich - Brisket Pastrami "Classic Hot Pastrami " - Sandwiches Near Me - Soquel, California

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Some of the best sandwiches in town! Not great, but pretty good, and if you're a sandwich buff you should try them out. Sadly they're one of the places whose service took a nosedive after the pandemic. Service is SLOW now! A simple one or two sandwich lunch order can take half an hour, even when they're not too busy. Bring a book or a friend! I love their chips, and the tater tots are even better. Great beer selection too! Sure, they're slow as heck, but it's a great place to chill out and have a beer while you wait. They have a nice outdoor patio, too. Normally I think of sandwich shops as being a quick in and out stop. Like I said, it's a great place to relax if you have plenty of time, but if you're hungry now or on a quick lunch break, it's not the right place to go. read more

Santa Cruz Burger! Enough said. Really, the burger was perfect, medium rare as requested, topped with the requisite tomato, lettuce, pickle, etc. Since I brought it home to eat, a little dab of thousand island was all it needed to be sublime. Fries also were great-twice fried or coated but excellent and plentiful. Having a Santa Cruz Mountain Amber draft topped off the experience. Service great, friendly, wonderful. Can't say enough about it. read more

If you order online or on phone, get in the main line otherwise you'll be waiting 15min with no acknowledgment to be told to get in the main line to pay for your order. Would've been faster if I just ordered when I got there. I'm sure the food tastes fine but I'm bothered that my phone order took me 30 min from arrival to get back into my car with the food. read more