We used to take my daughter when she was little to the UCSD location so we have always had fond memories of Croutons. We were in the La Jolla area and were trying to figure out someplace to grab a bite to eat and I remembered there was another location near by. So glad we stopped by. Our lunch was just as tasty as we remembered from their other location. The salads were fresh and loaded with toppings (and they have one of the best ranch dressings). My daughters sandwich was packed with goodness and perfectly grilled as well. Of course one cannot eat at Croutons without grabbing a few of their tasty cookies/brownie bites too. Just good wholesome food. Our order was out quickly and the staff was so nice. They closed at 3 and we were there around 2:15 and were going to get our food to go so we didn't hold them up from closing but they insisted we had plenty of time (and we did). The inside is simple yet clean and nice and there is plenty of seating. They are open Monday-Friday so if you work or are just in the area make sure you stop by. You will be glad you did! read more

Croutons Restaurant - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

No cash, card only. After trying the coffee shop next door, decided to come in for an early lunch. I expected the menu to have more items and less salads, but it was still no problem finding something. Ordered the Pesto Chicken sandwich. Solid sandwich, no frills goodness. Nice amount of pesto. No complaints about the service. This sandwich is $2 off on Fridays! read more

Croutons Restaurant - Pesto chicken sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Came here on a busy Thursday during lunch. Parking was quiet easy. I've only ever ate at the Irvine location of Croutons since I work in Irvine. I checked out this location and while they have the same menu, it didn't feel the same. I ordered the caesar salad and chicken and wild rice soup. Caesar salad was cool - good flavor, however I should have asked for the dressing on the side. The chicken and wild rice soup lacked flavor, all I could really taste was the cream. Not what I'm use to from Croutons. The Irvine location makes it SO good. The restaurant itself is pretty small. There is extra seating outside. Store hours are Monday - Friday only and each store varies closing times. read more

I am so glad I discovered Croutons. I was just craving grilled chicken salad and came to the perfect place. I asked the staff member I am craving grilled chicken salad and they had so many options. From bbq salad to mandarin chicken salad to even soups and sandwiches such as chicken pesto panini. There is a lot to choose from and you can't go wrong with any of them. Today I choose Cobb salad with blue cheese. You can choose dressing on the side or toss them. I had it tossed and they were coated perfectly just the right amount. Not too much not too little. I love how I can see the crumbs of all the blue cheese. For me the crumbs are the best part as I am not a fan of seeing liquid blue cheese dressing on my salad so I was very happy with my purchase and enjoyed my lunch. There are also outside seating table and it was shaded. Perfect to bring your fur baby. The ambiance was beautiful acoustic and soft rock while I dinned in. The resturant was clean and cozy and I love the energy and the vibe. Yes my codd salad did come with croutons just like the name of the restaurant. The croutons looks freshly made not store bought and looked hand sliced. See the pictures I took myself and be the judge. Highly recommend visiting Croutons restaurant and on my next visit I am excited to try their soup and sandwiches. Just a side note this restaurant does not accept cash CC only. Plenty of parking outside without a hassle. read more

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Love the food however when i call to place a pickup order i can't bc someone answers and then hangs up immediately. So annoying.

I love this place and have ordered from here frequently over the last 10 years. I like all of their salads, the Southwest chicken panini, the albacore flatbread, and the tomato soup. The staff are super friendly, remembering my name and preferences. The food comes out quickly, tables are clean, and I feel good after I eat it. Great all around! read more

This place used to be good for a quick lunch but I'm not sure what happened? Food is mid of course but the service is supposed to be speedy spot to grab a bite during your break. Unfortunately it's not that and $10-$15 for lunch sometimes even $20 is wild work read more

I Ordered to-go and it was made very quickly. The salad was delicious. I ate it all in my car. read more

Croutons Restaurant - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

The service and the saladas are amazing! I'd recommend this place to anyone! I used to work across the street and my co worker recommended this place to me since it's super close to work read more

Croutons Restaurant - Medium sized Chicken Caesar Salad, best I've ever had - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Near my work so I thought I would try it. Not a big food selection, but I was happy enough with it. I placed my order online for pickup so I wouldn't have to wait in line. It was ready and hot by the time I got there, so their timing is accurate. It's a small place, but has a decent amount of seats. I got their lunch special with half a sammich and soup. I got the Chicken Pesto sammich and Farmhouse Vegetable soup. Between the two, the soup was my favorite. It was packed with flavor and they don't skimp on any of the ingredients. I could've eaten an entire pint of that and I wished I had gotten more. The sammich was good too, but it didn't blow me away. It definitely could've used more pesto all around or a stronger pesto flavor. Not sure if they make the pesto themselves, but possibly tweaking the recipe would help. Price is pretty good for what you get. I would love to come back and try their other soups once the temperature cools back down in a bit. read more

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I loved croutons at UCSD as a student so I was super curious about this location. I came with another fellow alumni and ordered a sandwich/salad combo. We are actually pretty impressed by the portion!! The santa fe salad was really yummy, I couldn't decide whether I wanted the chipotle ranch or the vinegarette and the worker was kind enough to offer me both on the side! I would get this salad again. The spicy chicken pesto sandwich however was a bit dry and it felt like very minimal ingredients, I'd probs try a different sandwich next time! read more

TL;DR: They need to add sun-dried tomato to their web site ordering (no phone app), either under the chicken pesto sandwich or as a side. Getting the wrong order with no explanation more than once is frustrating and does NOT make me want to come back. Also, this is a card-only vendor, so no cash, which I find ridiculous. You can't even tip in cash. I like the chicken pesto sandwich here, but I like it with sun-dried tomato added. I've ordered it like this in person with no problem. The lines are very long between noon and 1:00 at Sorrento Valley location, tho, so after getting caught in that line a few times, I wanted to order ahead. They don't have an app for the phone (at least not Apple phones), so I resorted to ordering online at their website. Sun-dried tomato did not have a check box under the chicken pesto options, but they have a space for "special instructions" so I wrote in to please add it. I got back to the office and there was no sun-dried tomato. I figured it was because the kitchen is busy, the instruction may have been small on the ticket, and maybe the kitchen missed it. I ordered again today the same way - putting "Please add sun-dried tomato" in the special instructions, and again got a sandwich without tomato. I looked at the ticket attached to my bag when I picked up, and my request is very plainly typed in large all caps all the way across the bottom, so I don't think they missed it, but there was still no tomato. I drove back over there to find out what the problem was, and they told me that because there's no check box for it, the web site doesn't charge me for it (I had no idea it costs extra), so they didn't add it. This was a very frustrating way to find out that this costs extra and there's simply no way to order it like that on the site. You'd think the employee would've given me a side of tomato for the trouble, but nope, not even that. They charged my card a whole 81 cents for the side (they likely lost money on that), and I will have to reconsider if I order from there again. Maybe only on days when I'm having a late lunch so I can order in person and not wait that long. Definitely not going back during the lunch rush. read more

The staff here is awesome! Always friendly and efficient! The combos are great and worth the price, if you don't have a big appetite you can eat it twice. Might not be worth it to you if you eat it all at once - but different for everyone! Order ahead if you're in a hurry during your lunch break. read more

Good variety and quality of salads, soups and sandwiches. Only downside is there are only two locations (Orange County and San Diego). Only accepts credit cards for payment, no cash. read more

They gave my order to somebody else without checking. When we got there we showed them the online order confirmation, they called the supervisor and told them we had already picked up (when in fact we did not) and that we went back to get more food (even though we never received our food). I asked to see the cameras but they said no because the manager was not at the store and wouldn't want to come to the store. They did end up making us our food but kept saying they would only do it this one time even though this was not our fault. read more

I love sandwiches, soups, and salads.. There are seemingly endless possibilities! This place has a ton of options of all three items, plus you can mix and match! I ordered a combo with a (warm) Turkey Artichoke Sandwich and a Pear and Blue Cheese Salad. HOLY SMOKES, guys.. it was incredible. The sandwich came on a soft pita bread with the perfect portion of meat and fresh toppings so that every bite was delicious. The salad was so fresh and had generous portions of pear and blue cheese. After tip, this was about $12, and I would've gladly paid more after knowing how delicious this was. I came during a lunch hour rush, but that didn't have any impact on the quality of their food - it was delicately plated and assembled with care. Staff were busy handling phone orders and walk-in customers, but I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly my food was ready! If you are one of those people who think that a sandwich or salad can't be filling , think again! When you eat quality ingredients, your body will thank you! I don't live or work near here, and I'm genuinely sad about that. This place is incredible, and I will definitely be back. read more

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I love thee soups and sandwiches here! There choose 2 combo deal is great! The chicken and wild rice soup is my absolute favorite! Unfortunately, I work further south so I can never come since the hours are limited. If I have the day off I really try to stop by to get soup! read more

5/5 chicken and wild rice soup: rich, creamy, hot, and filled with so much flavor! This is the best soup I have ever had, and the best croutons that I have ever had. This has set the standard for how good I expect soup to be now. 4.5/5 ambiance: Interior is clean and has plenty of seating. There are tables outside for eating outside. 5/5 parking: there is plenty of parking in the lot. read more

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The turkey artichoke flatbread was absolutely delicious but my favorite is their chicken and wild rice soup. This is definitely a cute little cafe that you have to try out. Yummy! read more

I was in a hurry the order was fast, my first time and they were able to talk through popular items and taste. I never try new things but the chicken pesto panini was jumping out at me on Panini Friday and it's the best warm sandwich I've ever tasted! read more

food is good, HOWEVER, i waited a long time for my To-Go order and when i went up to the counter, they had gotten my name wrong and my order had already been ready, that was disappointing since i was on my lunch break, workers could have asked if i needed help since they saw me sitting down for a while read more

Good spot for lunch. The soup I had was very filling, best part of the meal. You can also order ahead of time, it get very busy during lunch #protip read more

Croutons Restaurant - Soup: Southwestern corn chowder Sandwich: veggie sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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TLDR; Healthy options with sandwiches and salads. My go to is the chicken pesto panini. Sometimes it's a little dry so ask for extra pesto mayo on the side! Beware of the lettuce wraps, they're very small and not worth the price. I use to always eat at the Croutons at UCSD for lunch. Coming back here was so nostalgic but I think I just had too high of an expectation. Chicken pesto panini: I used to order this on focaccia bread with extra pesto mayo on the side. Either each location is different or they stopped using the bread, but they only had sourdough and ciabatta as an option. I personally don't like sourdough because it's too tough so I opted for ciabatta. It's not always dry but every now and then you'll get a bite of the panini and it's only better because of the extra pesto mayo. Buffalo chicken lettuce wrap: disappointing. All they gave was two pieces and they're just barely bigger than the palm of your hand. Price was about the same as my chicken pesto panini. Maybe because the meal was a made a combo that they gave a little less but still. Not worth it at all. Crouton bites: So cheap for just one brownie bite. If you like edges of a brownie then this is perfect. Overall, I probably wouldn't come often..this was more to satisfy my nostalgia. But it's also pretty hard to eat here unless you work in the area since they're not open on weekends and close really early on weekdays. read more

Croutons Restaurant - Buffalo chicken wrap - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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I love when I have the opportunity to go here. I live in Chula Vista so I make the drive this way once or twice a month. The service is excellent and the food even better. I wish there was a location in my area but it's worth the drive. The Southwest is my favorite. read more

Feeling like this is going to be one of my go-to spots. ;) Food was great and I loved that for my first time having Croutons. Cost-wise, you're going to spend $10 - $15 for a single person lunch (which I feel is the cost of a standard weekday lunch/meal). Here are the details: My team and I are always trying to figure out what to eat for lunch. We have our go-to places but that can get boring sometimes. One of the gals told us she was going here to pick up lunch so naturally we all jumped in on her offer to pick-up for us. Parking ~ My coworker went to pick up for all of us and relayed back that the parking lot is somewhat small but after a few minutes she was able to get parking. Food ~ What I ordered: Californian sandwich (1/2 size) + Wild Rice w/ Chicken soup combo So delicious! The sandwich is panini style and even the half size is very filling. The inside of the sandwich includes: Oven roasted turkey breast, fresh avocado, applewood bacon, tomato, swiss cheese, mayonnaise. The Wild Rice w/ Chicken soup was so good. Warm, thick (not watery at all!) and creamy and it came with delicious croutons to add on top. I am definitely looking forward to trying more of their paninis as well as their salads. Thank you, Croutons! read more

Croutons Restaurant - Californian panini + Wild Rice w/ chicken soup combo. Please excuse the bites already taken, lol. - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Used to eat at the one at the UCSD campus when I worked there. Now whenever we're in the area, we always order from here. Our faves are the berry salad, chicken pesto sandwich and chicken and wild rice soup. Can't forget the brownies. But really, anything you get here is good and healthy! read more

I've been going to croutons consistently at least once or twice a week for the last two years. When everything was closed by two lunch spots were croutons and subway. My choice is the chicken wild Rice soup and a half a sandwich generally the California Pretty good as far as sandwich places go my only complaint is over the last 3 to 4 months they've had problems getting their orders out on time so before I would write a review at least wanted to have some kind of consistent inconsistency on how long it takes them to put an order out First issue at least at this location is if you order a soup that is the soup of the day they normally will not have it ready you'll have to let him know when you get there. Also if you order a sandwich that's due at 12:20 give an extra 5 to 10 minutes as they probably won't be ready on time this is a recent issue otherwise I recommend the place read more

THE BEST salads in San Diego!! Croutons is so underrated and deserves more attention. I'm the biggest fan of their Mandarin Chicken Salad and it has the best mix of lettuce, mandarin oranges, wonton strips and nicely shredded chicken. The price for their salads are also great compared to other restaurants that serve salads with a range from $8-$10 with other combos (sandwich/soup, soup/salad, sandwich/salad) that are an even better deal. 100% recommend if you're looking for cheap salads, sandwiches and soups! read more

Croutons Restaurant - mandarin chinese chicken salad - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

I love this place for fast casual sandwiches and salads! Their ingredients are always super fresh and the portion size for the price is great. I would recommend ordering ahead since they do get very busy around lunch time read more

Whenever I am in the area, I stop by and grab my two favorites: the chicken and wild rice soup (next level GOOD) and their balsamic chicken salad. Even if I am not hungry, I'll get these items for later. They do not take cash, cards only, but that is okay - the food is worth it!! YUMMM! read more

Food and selection is ok. However they only accept credit card. I refuse to eat at any restaurant that doesn't take cash. They lost at least this customer due to this policy. read more

I was so sad when the Croutons in La Jolla closed. I used to go in for their Mandarin Chicken Salad before my little shopping sprees at Marshalls, Ulta, World Market, and DSW. It was so convenient. Fortunately, the Croutons in Sorrento Valley is still open, it's just not as convenient. There are no shopping places around this Croutons. In fact, it's in a center with lots of little eating places and a very tight, busy parking lot anytime between 11:30-1:00. It actually can get pretty crazy, therefore I have to strategically plan my visits either on my way somewhere or on my way home. And in an ideal world, I would get there at 11:00 but that doesn't hardly ever work out. Anyways, I don't get to eat my Mandarin Chicken Salad as much as I would like to. By the way, they also have delicious soups and sandwiches. Wish they would open up a Croutons in Carmel Mountain.... read more

Croutons Restaurant - Small Mandarin Chicken Salad is still one of my all time faves! - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

I had neither a salad, nor croutons at this place but really enjoyed it anyways. It's definitely a safe bet for a quick, healthy lunch that's not going to break the bank. I went with the buffalo Flatini which sounds like the name of an Italian soccer star, but is actually a pretty delicious and healthy-ish alternative to the panini. The buffalo sauce on it had a nice zing, and the sandwich as a whole was way bigger than I expected for under the price tag of 9 bucks. This little fast casual sees a pretty heavy lunch rush, but they did a really good job of getting us fed and out the door in a reasonable amount of time. If you're in the area, you'd be hard pressed to find an all around more efficient option at this price point. read more

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I was never a fan of tomato basil soup person til I gave it a try here. The soup isn't chunky or too thin. Super flavorful paired with their croutons, bombb!! My go to is the mandarin chicken salad, taste fresh. I've tried a few of their paninis and they're pretty good too. If you're in the area this a good spot for lunch. Try their brownie bites it's the perfect portion for a sweet treat! read more

Croutons Restaurant - Tomato basil and southwest panini. - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

I stopped in for lunch after a local doctor appointment and ordered the the Californian Panini which came with sliced oven roasted turkey breast, fresh avocado, applewood bacon, tomato, Swiss cheese, and mayo but I axed it. I also asked for a cup of the soup of the day, the avocado soup, and since it was Friday, the meal came with a mini brownie. It's a Friday thing. The soup was very good. It had a mild poblano flavor and a very good amount of chunks of fresh avocados, bits of red and green peppers, and a heavy hand at some herbs and spices which complemented the soup well. The soup had a modest creaminess and most of its softness coming from the creamy avocado pieces. The panini was good. I did think it need more turkey and bacon, but what it came with tasted pretty good. The two sliced of bacon had a crisp texture and good flavor. The tomato slices had a sweet and acidic flavor, the avocado slices were creamy, and the Swiss cheese melted and had that good nutty flavor. The bread was very good and grilled nicely on the panini grill. A good sandwich that need a little more meats! By the way, that free Friday brownie was pretty good. read more

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Croutons makes me super nostalgic towards my days at UCSD. When I went to UCSD, I would venture off-campus and eat at the Croutons in the Ralph's shopping plaza. It was and still is my favorite panini place! I always order the same thing because that combo completely satisfies my tastebuds and my belly. I always get the combo deal with the chicken pesto panini (with extra pesto mayo on the side for dipping) and the buffalo chicken salad with ranch (see my pictures). This is plenty of food for lunch! I sometimes order the brownie bites if I want to be extra bad. Their soups are all made from scratch and are equally as delicious as the other food items. The parking at this location is kind of hard during prime lunchtime but I've managed to find parking every time. Too bad they closed the other location! I highly recommend you try this place yourself! read more

Croutons Restaurant - Best combo- chicken pesto panini and buffalo chicken salad with ranch - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

I LOVE CROUTONS!!!!!!!!!! Unfortunately, lunch time around this area is horrible. Anything from about 1130-130pm is a disaster. This is known as the Sorrento Lunch Hour...when all the workers in the area go to lunch. There is additional parking further down...good luck! You will find a spot, just get lucky or keep circling. Yes, they are known for their seasoned croutons, they give you a little baggie with every soup you order. Paninis, flatbreads, salad and soups pretty much sums it up. They are consistent throughout all the locations I have been to, and their food is fresh, hot and the service is friendly. You order at the counter, get a table number and they bring you all your utensils, napkins and food right out to you. Even though it is a order at the counter place, the food quality is fantastic. They use high quality meats from Boar's Head and their paninis come with those awesome grill marks. My favorite is the marghertia chicken and their tomato basil soup. You know it's the best soup when it's available daily! Do the you pick 2 option, the "half" panini is way large. Enjoy! read more

Croutons Restaurant - Chicken Margherita and chicken wild rice soup - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

There's a lot of healthy selections and the ingredients are fresh most of the time. You can't go wrong going here for Lunch. read more

Love this spot for a quick lunch. They have great panini, salad, and soup options. I love the mix and match ability to get a little of each. I always get a cob salad and tomato soup mix. The soup is really creamy, and consistently good. Often I'll cap it off with a brownie bite. Parking here can be a bear during lunch, but don't forget there is a back lot, if you continue through the parking lot. I've never had to wait for a spot if I park back there. Pro tip 1: Croutons allows online and phone ordering. It may save you some time during peak hours. Pro tip 2: try their cornbread croutons on your salad vs their regular. They are fantastic! read more

Happy they re-opened. I was bummed when they weren't even open for take out when the pandemic started, but glad to see they're back up and running. I ordered take out and got the Granny Smith chicken salad flatini with a chicken wild rice soup. I originally wanted their tomato basil soup but they were out. To be fair, I did go there at their last hour before closing so I'm assuming everyone else was fulfilling their Crouton's quarantine tomato basil soup craving like I had intended. Service was quick and friendly. This place is located in a business area in Sorrento Valley off the 805 freeway. read more