This place is one of the top 5 best sandwich shops in San Diego hands down. They also serve salads, soups, and some awesome sides. I heard they're going to start serving beer and wine soon as well! *Best 1st-timer options*: The Keeper (if you like it spicy) or the L.G.B.T. My favorite hot sandwiches are the Cali Cubano, B3, and The Keeper, while my favorite cold sandwiches are the Avocado Highway, L.G.B.T. (lettuce, gouda, bacon, tomato), and Caprese. My favorite salads are the Grapevine and Duck Cranberry. For sides I recommend the potato salad and tomato basil bisque. The aioli they use is to die for -- can't hurt to get a side of it with any sandwich! The restaurant is situated on the corner of Park Blvd. and Polk Ave. (more generally, it's on the strip of Park Blvd. between University Ave. and El Cajon Blvd.). There is usually a good amount of parking on Park Blvd. and Polk Ave., which is nice. The space has a simple-yet-tasteful modern design and interior, is always clean, with friendly and helpful staff. Great for lunch hour or a weekend date. Update: Came back today with my friend and we ordered the B3 and the Turkey & Cheddar Mousse sandwiches, plus sides of potato salad and cucumber salad, and a double chocolate cookie with pistachio and sea salt. Everything was really good, but the Turkey & Cheddar Mousse sandwich was the star of the show. The cookie was great too. We both agreed the potato salad could use some salt, but besides that it was a solid meal all around. read more

See all

Big Front Door has quickly become a new favorite for sandwiches, and visiting two days in a row made that very clear. On the first visit, Zack provided exceptional care and attention while helping navigate food allergies. Zack took the time to carefully check ingredients, double-check preparations, and personally come back out to verify everything to ensure safety. That level of care made the experience feel genuinely welcoming and stress-free. The chicken sandwich was fresh, satisfying, and thoughtfully balanced. Juicy chicken, ripe tomatoes, creamy avocado, and a bright splash of oil and vinegar came together beautifully on Big Front Door's roll, which had a great texture and held everything together well. The flavors were clean and vibrant. A little extra salt would have pushed it over the top for a salt-lover, but that came down to personal preference rather than any shortcoming. A dining companion ordered the avocado sandwich and could not stop raving about it, praising both the flavor and the freshness. The outdoor seating area deserves special mention. The shaded space was perfect as I do have sun allergies, especially for anyone who prefers relief from direct sun. The care taken in food preparation added an extra layer of comfort and trust. The second visit somehow raised the bar even higher. Micah went above and beyond to accommodate physical ability needs with patience, attentiveness, and genuine kindness. That effort did not go unnoticed and made the experience feel deeply respectful and inclusive. The roasted chicken sandwich ordered on the second visit was phenomenal. The roasted chicken was tender, savory, and full of depth, elevating the sandwich even further. Adding a bit of extra salt brought all the ingredients into perfect harmony, making every bite more satisfying than the last. This sandwich has officially earned a spot as a new favorite sandwich. Big Front Door was amazing not just for delicious, thoughtfully prepared food, but for the people who work there. Zack and Micah created an environment where care, kindness, and respect were clearly prioritized. No moment felt rushed, dismissive, or uncomfortable. At no point did anyone make the experience feel like a burden or inconvenience. A sincere thank-you also goes to the team members who prepared the food. Even without knowing names, the care taken to keep guests safer while serving delicious nourishment was evident and deeply appreciated. Big Front Door comes highly recommended for the flavorful sandwiches, the shaded outdoor space, the welcoming atmosphere, outstanding customer service, and the genuine kindness shown at every action. read more

Needed a quick pick me up before an appointment down the block, so I stopped in at BDF for what I expected would be a good cup of coffee. One size (16oz) of regular coffee with a little milk , plus 2 Splendas. Came back from the clean well appointed bathroom ( thank you) in a few minutes only to find a lukewarm cup waiting for me to add the 2 Splendas. Asked for a microwave reheat, but was told they didn't have one, which surprised me. Barista quickly offered to remake my order. Thought that was very kind of her So, she makes a fresh cup, adds milk and hands it to me. Shocker! It was lukewarm again! Rather than make a fuss, I just accepted the situation, sat down at a nice table, and drank it because I needed the caffeine boost for a reset. This is a classy coffee shop with excellent in house food. A customer should expect the coffee to be hot. That's not unreasonable in my opinion. The barista, though pleasant and anxious to please, couldn't provide hot coffee in spite of all the high end equipment. Please fix this shortcoming, and go buy a microwave! read more

The Fog salad-when you know you should eat healthier, but you still have a sweet tooth. Humboldt Fog cheese, a blue veined, soft rich cheese. Then you have the candied pecans, the beautifully sweet grapes, a few other items, and a sun-dried tomato vinaigrette. The vinaigrette is very similar in look and texture to a sweeter Russian style dressing. Together, it's a delicious compilation of ingredients that will keep you going throughout the day. Service here is always attentive-I'm frequently asked if I want to edit my order. Don't forget to get one of the delicious cookies. This day I purchased a chocolate salted cookie, and it had a noticeable salt profile. Really kind of a nice compliment for the sweet salad. Kid and group friendly atmosphere. Bsre tables and chairs scattered about the interior space that opens to the outdoor seating area. Some free street parking and metered parking as well. read more

See all

Solid roast beef sandwich with fresh ingredients. The only thing I was hoping for was some kind of secret sauce or dressing that would make things super delicious. However generous portions of roast beef and fresh veggies make this a tasty sandwich. Also enjoyed the combo of outdoor and indoor seating. Great for SD weather read more

They have the best eggplant sandwich I ever tasted. It is very expensive but worth it because it's so good. It is a very simple place with wooden tables. You can get your own drinks and they'll call you when your sandwich is ready.​ read more

Big Front Door is a great stop for sandwiches. Large variety and unique options. It is a half indoor and outdoor space which is really nice. They are very dog friendly with dog treats and water. The team is always very friendly and recently helped me choose between two sandwich options. Great for to go orders as well! read more

See all

Solid sandwich place but I wouldn't go out of my way to come back. We came on a Saturday around noon and it was decently busy but we didn't have to wait to order. You order at the counter and they bring your food out. We got the special which was a chicken salad sandwich. As others have mentioned, the food takes surprisingly long to come out. Especially for ours which was a cold sandwich it took almost 20 minutes. The sandwich you could tell was high quality. The chicken came in nice big chunks and were not dry. They had full grapes which I liked for the texture and the sweetness but the sandwich didn't taste overly sweet. I did feel like the size was kind of small for the $13 price tag though. A good amount of space indoors and outdoors. We were able to sit with our pup outside. All street parking. Service was friendly. read more

Big Front Door - Inside of the chicken salad sandwich special - Delis Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

I can't believe I've never left a review before. Love BFD especially because they have sandwiches a bit different than most of the other popular sandwich places. I got the B3 with Brie, blackened chicken and Brussels sprouts. Took maybe10 minutes for the food to come out after ordering. I would recommend eating there with the B3 so you can enjoy it warm and fresh. Super delicious. Stayed there to enjoy a nice afternoon on the patio and people watch. read more

Big Front Door - Club - Delis Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

I ordered the roast vegetable and short ribs soup and it was very flavorful. The short ribs fell apart and the carrots/ potatoes were cooked to perfection They have it in a cup, bowl & quart. The service good. They have two people working. One is a cashier who cleans the dining area and the other one is a barista. I ordered a cappuccino and it was very bold. They offer milk alternatives. If you have a sweet tooth, they have oatmeal, cookies, chocolate chip, and a healthy bar with pecans which looks like a cookie but I believe they add protein. Ask for your fur babies they also offer healthy treats for dogs at two dollars made with pumpkin cinnamon, rice, flour, peanut butter and egg. I ordered the Sonoran chicken sandwich which and it was very flavorful. It has roast chicken breast, roasted poblano pepper, pepper jack cheese, corn salsa, avocado, lettuce, chipotle aïoli on a ciabatta bread. The bread was lightly toasted and very soft. The veggies were fresh and the cheese was fully melted. The chicken was juicy because it absorbed the salsa. The corn salsa seemed to be corn and red peppers together. The chipotle gave it such a good flavor all throughout. The ambience was quiet on a Thursday afternoon. Lots of locals seem to come here while walking past. If you are considering getting a sweet treat on your way out, I definitely recommend the chocolate cookie because it was crispy on the outside but soft on the inside and it was so fluffy and airy and the inside. I am definitely coming back. read more

See all

The shop is cool looking with inside and outdoor patio seating. There are many different sandwich options, both hot and cold. The sandwich choices are very creative. We tried the Loins of Fire (made with roast pork loin, peppers, jalopenos, lettuce, etc.) and it is a SPICY sandwich. If the word "Fire" in the name of the sandwich wasn't warning enough, let me tell you that your lips will be tingling when you eat this one. All of the ingredients were super fresh. My only criticism is that there is, perhaps, too much going on with all the ingredients to fully appreciate this or that flavor. But it's a solid sandwich, no doubt. The T'Day is like a Thanksgiving sandwich but made with chicken. Again, there is plenty of flavor but probably too many ingredients. The inside of the sandwich got mushy fast. Do not leave without getting the potato salad. It has big chunks of hard boiled egg, onions, and bell peppers and it is simply fantastic. This is one of the best potato salads I have ever tasted. I will happily return to try additional sandwiches here. There are a lot of really good options on the menu that sound great. read more

See all

This place is fire!! It has a cute funky vibe with good music and service. Food was DELISH I got a caprese and my mans got the keeper. Both were really great!! We also got the Thai cucumber salad and the sesame noodles for sides, both delish again. The prickly pear hibiscus lemonade was a tiny bit sweet for our taste but otherwise yummy. Cant wait to come back here and try more!! read more

Big Front Door - The Keeper - Delis Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

I had the classic beef but with brie instead of provolone. It was loaded with meat and the bread was really fresh. Most places are a bit stingy on brie but the slices of cheese here were thicc. Half a sandwich was more than enough for two people. The menu was pretty unique, not just plain or regular sandwich combinations. I would try a hot sandwich or breakfast sandwich next time. Parking was very challenging on a Sunday morning. read more

Call in your order before arriving. It takes 15 minutes to make a breakfast sandwich and 20+ for a normal sandwich. Food is amazing. Service is amazing. Just very very slow service read more

Haven't been here in a while so we decided to grab some sandwiches to go since we live so nearby. The young lady behind the counter was very sweet and helpful. I ordered the dip and my husband ordered the club. When I unwrapped my sandwich I thought it was a mistake. The size was not what I expected - it was very small. The meat was somewhat dry like it had been sitting out for a while. The au jus was tasty though and helped since the meat was a bit dry. My husband's sadwhich was huge. He said it was really good too. I would try them again but I would try a different sandwich. read more

Big Front Door - Dip - Delis Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

...Walking into the side door took my perspective a different route when I head it was called "big front door" but I still felt like I walked through a big ass door . The server was kind and has nice hair! The space was very clean and I like the seat set up. I liked the music they played and all the option of sandwiches they had. Made it fun deciding what to eat and I went with the keeper! It was delicious sandwich and I loved how juicy it was! I would highly recommend coming here for good deli sandwiches and good vibes! read more

Big Front Door has a big name in San Diego as a staple sandwich shop and is affectionately known as B.F.D. in the community. The Park Blvd shop is known for its glass exterior and stellar sandwich lineup from cold to hot sandwiches. However, I fear the sandwich kitchen's reputation is larger than deserving-at least from the sandwich I tried. I had a pleasant experience at the shop with no line and little wait time. The sandwich shop had a very casual atmosphere with light music playing in the background. The cashier was kind and my meal came out quickly. My disappointment came when I took a bite of the Deep V, the reputable veggie sandwich on the menu. Of the dish's ingredients, the flavor is completely stolen by the oil and vinegar. I fear maybe too much of these two were thoughtlessly used to overshadow the flavor of the veggies. I think this sandwich does not compare to other shops in San Diego that offer much better vegan sandwiches. I'm hopeful that other options offered are better. I'd give the sandwich a 4/10. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the churro muffin. The muffins were enclosed in a glass case with a cute sign saying "You have to have one!" I did and it was delicious. Covered from top to bottom in cinnamon sugar, the muffin was soft on the inside with crispy edges. I'd give it an 8/10. If someone told me they were heading to B.F.D., I would implore them to grab this dessert. Overall, B.F.D. is a cute sandwich shop with great options. While I was disappointed in my choice of a sandwich, I hope the others are better. I may have to try them on my way back for another churro muffin. read more

See all

The girl behind the counter is amazing and really saved my life with the pbj for my picky kids. My sandwich was delicious. The dinning room is very clean and the bathroom smells nice and fresh. I love the open air vibe if we lived closer I know I'd come here weekly. read more

Big Front Door - Sandwich - Delis Near Me - San Diego, California

Big Front Door (BFD) in University Heights has been a favorite local deli for a few of my friends. I finally visited recently after driving past the shop for the umpteenth time. There were free diagonal parking spaces available in front of most of the businesses on Park Blvd, however you needed to reverse into them which is not the norm. The corner suite was mostly empty upon my arrival. I did like the open air setup of the indoor dining area that fed directly to an adjacent outdoor patio. Three menus were written on sheets from large paper rolls that hung on the wall to the right of the service counter. Breakfast items and salads were on the right, hot sandwiches were in the middle, and cold sandwiches were on the left. The sandwich prices ranged between $10 and $13 which weren't too bad, however I didn't think they were quite 12 inches in length. Of the 14 cold varieties, my pick was the Wasabi Beef. The ingredients were roast beef, sesame seed, scallion, red bell pepper, pea sprout, wasabi aioli, and soy ginger sauce on a torpedo style roll. The meat quality was decent, but what made this product were the aioli and sauce. Each brightened the sandwich with a sharp, pungent flavor. The white bread was fresh and soft which is always a good benchmark. My lunchtime BFD experience was worthy of four stars. read more

See all

It's always a great day to visit Big Front Door. I love that I can bring my dog and enjoy my sandwich on the patio. Plenty of seating so it's a great place to meet up with a friend. The cali cubano is my go to sandwich. I'm pretty sure I tried other ones before and they were also good. I just know once I had that one it became the default. It's delish. Another favorite is how easy it is to order online when I'm wanting something quick and on the go. I can just order directly on their website and I'm out of there in a few minutes when I go to pick it up. read more

Just an update on 513-2025 so happy to see that they took the Staples out of the napkins. I should have been asked what kind of cheese was going into my egg sandwich. Today, they put in a very strong orange cheese. Not that tasty as it's a little greasy. I'll be back. read more

See all

Well made sandwiches. Attention t detail Very fresh and appetizing. Service was excellent I highly recommend read more

The food here is delicious! I picked the keeper and i adored it, I'm craving it as I'm writing this review! The chicken was so delicious along with the house bbq and , house aioli it had in it. It just gave it depth of flavors. The Sonoran chicken one was also good but I prefer the keeper (: the service was decent the person who took our order was generous and offered us water. The place itself is half indoor half outdoor, I'm not a huge fan of open space restaurants but I feel that in a summer day it's a really good hang out spot(: The parking situation is quite a hassle, there's not much parking (at least we saw) maybe there is plenty of parking elsewhere? We'll see when we come back because this place is even worth a walk lol read more

See all

Nicest staff in the business. Owners couldn't be better people. They know what they are doing when it comes to constructing a successful business. Knowledgeable and welcoming staff with an amazing diverse menu featuring thoughtful and creative sandwiches. This place doesn't miss. Never had a bad sandwich there and I make sure to bring and recommend to all my friends who live here or come and visit. They even have home made dog treats inspired by a local dog who used to love stopping in on their walks around the neighborhood read more

Big Front Door - Excited about the food being prepared - Delis Near Me - San Diego, California

We stopped in at The Big Front Door and while the wait for our sandwiches felt surprisingly long (especially since there was only one other couple there), the food itself made up for it. The sandwiches were packed with generous portions of meat and fresh ingredients...definitely hearty and satisfying. If you're in the area, it's worth checking out for a solid sandwich. Just be prepared that the pace might be a little slower than expected. read more

Big Front Door - Exterior - Delis Near Me - San Diego, California

Called in my order in advance and was told 10-15 mins. Showed up 5 min later and paid. I waited 30 min until I asked where it was - turns out it was ready but no one told me after sitting there for 25 min. read more

Really great sandwiches!! I'm sad I haven't tried it earlier. We've been a couple times now and everything was really good. Friendly and fast service. The first time my hubby had the LGBT and I had the loins of fire. They really load up the meat and toppings! The meat was very tender and flavorful. The bread was chewy, but not too chewy. We also shared the potato salad, which was covered with black pepper, which I loved. Our next visit I had the tuna melt and my hubby had the LGBT again. The tuna melt had big chunks of celery, lots of tomato and melted cheddar. It was so good! I'm so glad we found this place and can't wait to try more of their delicious sandwiches! read more

See all

The food was great and definitely fresh! Service was quick and easy, appreciate the cashier for her patience. My only complaint was the amount of flies in the area but the restaurant does have a big outdoor seating area with a huge door so it's understandable. Parking was also difficult to find They don't do combo meals, chips/sides are charged in separate along with drinks! read more

I tried to venture out and try a new sandwich for my second visit and got burned lmao. The B3 was super disappointing and actually ranks as one of my least favorite sandwiches I've ever had in my entire life. Unless you ADORE steamed brussel sprouts, avoid this sandwich at all costs. I like brussel sprouts. So when I read the description of a blackened chicken sandwich with brussel sprouts, Brie, and sauces, I was down to try it, expecting thinly sliced, crispy/roasted brussel sprouts. I wasn't expecting WHOLE STEAMED brussel sprouts taking up 70% of the sandwich. The blackened chicken and any of the other flavors in this sandwich were hidden away from the sheer force of brussel sprouts in this sandwich. The balance is so, so wrong. Unfortunately, I couldn't finish the sandwich. I think they need to go back to the drawing board on this one. But maybe I'm wrong, because there are many positive reviews of this sandwich on yelp. I'm still leaving a positive overall review because I enjoyed the LGBT so much last time. Now I'm kind of scared to try anything else on their menu, but I'm sure they're good. I'll be safe and stick to the LGBT... read more

See all

Summary: Deli sandwich spot with a wide selection of flavor profiles to choose from. Cold sandwiches to hot sandwiches to breakfast sandwiches. As you may hope from a sandwich spot, they do sandwiches really well, from the bread to the contents. I had the hoisin-ginger pulled pork sandwich. The flavors were well-balanced and the bread had a great bite to it. We ordered our meals for carry-out, so can't speak too much on the ambiance of the venue itself, but the experience of ordering the food was simple and easy. Would definitely recommend if you're looking for a solid sandwich to enjoy! read more

Big Front Door - hoisin-ginger pulled pork sammie - Delis Near Me - San Diego, California

Me and Dad were over in North Park so that he could get his eagle talons taken care of at the podiatrist. Afterwards we hit up the Big Front Door which was nearby. I got the roast pork loin sandwich and Dad got a tuna melt. Ordering was easy and the staff was really nice. My sandwich was delicious! Tons of fresh ingredients and a slight hint of spice. It was a little bit like a Cuban sandwich. Dad enjoyed his tuna melt which is high praise since he always seems to find things to complain about. For example, I brought him some left over chicken tikka masala last night and he said, "there's too much chicken in this." read more

Big Front Door - Delis Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Overall: delicious, filling, and fairly priced sandwiches, fun menu, kind and fast service, with a chill indoor/outdoor ambiance Honestly, this was probably one of the best fast casual sandwiches I've ever had. If I lived locally, I'd totally be a regular for the Cali Cubano and honestly there was a ton on their menu I was stoked to try. Everything was fresh, balanced, and tasty! read more

Big Front Door - Cali Cubano - Delis Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Craving a delicious and freshly made sandwich? And you want to support local? Come here!!! My favorite sandwich spot. It can get a little breezy with their outdoor seating so come with a jacket just in case! Grab a soda and a bag of chips and you're set! Service 10/10 Taste 12/10 Ambiance 10/10 read more

Big Front Door - Cali Cubano and Sonoran Chicken - Delis Near Me - San Diego, California

The food is good and portion sizes are big, but there is usually a wait. The wait is because they make your food to order. Worth the wait though. read more

This place has recently been recommended to me and I can't believe I haven't heard of it sooner! I love a good sandwich and Big Front Door has good ass sandwiches that are a huge portion for a reasonable price! They also offer salads, breakfast options that sounded delicious and a variety of beers and beverages We came in with an hour to closing so the place was pretty quiet but there is plenty of seating inside as well as an outside porch Will definitely recommend this place moving forward! read more

See all

Loved my sandwich from BFD. When I arrived in a weekday for a quick dinner, there was no line. The worker at the front was super friendly and talked to me about menu items she had recently had that she enjoyed. I opted for an avo highway with added turkey and my total came out to roughly $16. Although I didn't stay long, there was ample indoor seating should you need it. The sandwich is LOADED and honestly filling after only eating half of the sandwich. It was also made fresh to order and took a bit of time to be made which I appreciated. Cannot recommend BFD enough if you're in the area! read more

See all

Overall- 5/5 Ambiance 5/5 - Casual cafe with plenty of seating (both indoor and outdoor) and lots of natural light. You have to find street parking nearby, but we went on a Sunday and it was really easy to do that. We really enjoyed the rock music they were playing at the moment. Service 5/5 - Very nice team working there. The service was fast, and when we asked them for recommendations they took the time to share what was popular. Very friendly - keep it up BFD! :) Food 4/5 Potato Hot Box - Solid dish. I would've enjoyed some more if the potatoes were crispier and the portion a bit bigger. Cali Cubano - Hubby ordered this, was REALLY delicious. My mouth is watering just thinking about it... read more

Absolutely a top sandwich spot for me! Not only are the sandwiches delicious, the staff is amazing. I love their spacious dining and that ours pet friendly. read more

Big Front Door - Delis Near Me - San Diego, California

Chicken Parm was super soggy from the sauce and the chicken was a bit tough. The flavor was decent. 2/10 Sonoran chicken was good but the cold corn felt weird in the warm sandwich. 8/10. B.G.P. was a classic solid sandwich. Had great texture and nice crunch. Solid flavors but he would prefer different bread. 8/10 read more

Big Front Door - Chicken Parm - Delis Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

I thought the sandwiches were delicious here. I got the smokey the Meatloaf and it was delicious. Seasoned perfectly. Good size and value. I got a side of the asparagus bisque soup and wow was this flavorful and delicious. Perfectly creamy and the stalks of asparagus was the perfect crunch to the creaminess. The egg plant ball was good as well and I don't generally care for eggplant but it was delicious. Chicken parmesan sandwich my friend said was good. Service was great. read more

See all