This place is a hidden gem within walking distance of Golden Gate Park, which made it perfect to get food to have a picnic with. You may be surprised to find it looks like a liquor store, it's a sort of bodega mini market actually. They have a lot of good quality convenience food and drinks to go with their deli sandwiches. The sandwiches we bought at the deli counter, the chicken shawarma and California, were absolutely delicious. They'll make it however you want, and the bread and ingredients are fresh and very tasty. All the sandwich fillings were in perfect proportion, these guys are experts. The great reviews are right, don't miss this place. read more

I was on my way to the presidio and needed to charge my EV at a nearby recharge Shell Station on 19th Ave. Yelp steered me to Handy Deli, 2 long blocks away from this EV recharge station. I ordered the chicken shawarma wrap. The gal helping me and making my lunch misunderstood and made me a shawarma plate. As I watched her grill my shawarma, I noticed that she wasn't wrapping the grilled meat and veggies in a pita. I corrected her while she was plating in a 'to go' container and apologized that I had asked for wrap. She graciously pivoted and made the 'plate' into a wrap. No problem. And although I made her pivot on the making of my order, she wrote a nice note on the outside of the parchment paper, 'Thank You '. It was a flavorful shawarma wrap and I would stop here again if I were in the area. My only complaint would be to turn down the loud ethnic music, which contributed to the miscommunication. I'm sure I'm not the first customer to not hear what the sandwich maker is saying. If your customers can't hear what is being said, turn the music down! You'll probably make less mistakes and make more money. read more

Service was friendly but took a really long time. I probably waited upwards of 20 minutes for a cold sandwich and there weren't even any other customers in front of me. The real downer though was that my sandwich wasn't good. I ordered a roast beef sandwich with veggies, but the roast beef was so incredibly dry that it took so much effort to chew and swallow each bite. I ended up pulling out half the meat to toss (and I really hate wasting food -- this simply felt inedible). read more

Don't let the appearance fool you! Excellent deli sandwiches at super good prices! Good quality beer and hard liquor selection. And to top it off you can get the daily racing form there! Doesnt get more old school than that read more

This place is super healthy can't wait to be back here soon and also I haven't been coming here for a long time but it is still here all the places I been to they all closed down and that is sad I missed so many good places.. read more

Ordered via doordash. The chicken shawarma wrap was delicious. My resquests for no onion and hot sauce were nicely accomdated by staff. Thank you handy deli! read more

Handy Deli - Chicken shawarma with no onions + hot sauce - Delis Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I took the sandwich to-go. The sandwich shop was inside a liquor shop. I think the sandwich was sizable. I was definitely full. However, the godfather sandwich is insanely salty. I think it was the olive paste that they spread on it. It wasn't spread smoothly, so parts of the sandwich were too salty and others were fine. read more

Handy Deli - Godfather - Delis Near Me - San Francisco, California

Tasty sandwiches. Service was ok. Parking (and driving) in this neighborhood can be frustrating.

Came across Handy Deli on Yelp while looking for sandwiches near Golden Gate Park, and I'm so happy I did! I feel like delis that double as liquor stores can be hit or miss, and this was a huge hit! The variety of sandwiches was plentiful, as was the drink and beer selection. They had everything ranging from breakfast sandwiches, to traditional classics, and Italian sandwiches. On top of that they had chicken shawarma, salads, and a sign that even showed some Mexican food options. While we only went with sandwiches this time, we're definitely going back to try those panuchos. Service was friendly and sandwiches came out fresh as they were made to order. Excited to come back and try more of the menu! read more

What a gem and nice find on a cloudy day in the city. The owner is super helpful and will ask you your preferences as he is making the sandwich. There are so many options to choose from. It looks like a bodega but they have a small corner where they grill and toast the sandwich. There are two tables outside but we got it to go. The bread was delicious and the stuffing was generous. Definitely would stop again. read more

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Great service! Great sandwiches! Ordered 2 sandwiches from this place and loved it! I ordered the Chicken Parmigiana & a Chicken Shawarma, both Sandwiches turned delicious! Loved the taste! I'll be back for sure! Highly recommend! See you next time ! read more

Handy Deli - Delis Near Me - San Francisco, California

There's just something about liquor store delis that I just have an absolute affinity towards. And Handy's deli is definitely is one of the better delis I've been to in a very long time. The yelp photos is what made me come here. I don't always search out chicken shawarma but after seeing the pictures, I knew I had to give it a try and it was as good as the pictures. I asked for it spicy, and the chicken was juicy, right about of sauces, and very affordable at $10. It's big enough for two meals, especially if you don't have a giant appetite. I also got the frisco sandwich with Turkey on ciabatta. I thought this sandwich was just ok flavor wise. While it was still tasty, I just felt it was missing something spicy or a little heat. Again, the price of this sandwich though, I'd try it again but with chicken. The menu is massive with a ton of unique sandwich offerings. This is a perfect spot to stop and get sandwich for a park day this summer plus it's very affordable. Calling in the order is probably the right play here. Located right off 19th Ave on Irving St. the parking can be brutal, but there's a lot across the street or try getting a spot on the other side of 19th and walk over. read more

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Great sandwiches, I always order them for meetings and other large events they're always on time and have a wide variety of sandwiches and salads to choose from! read more

It's a liquor store!!! They have a corner where it looks like they can make sandwiches, but we'll never know - we got there at 5:00pm... "Sorry the kitchen's closed..." Why do they call a liquor store a "deli"???? And why does their listing say they're open till 2:00??? read more

Best sandwiches in the Sunset! My favorite is the Godfather, but one time I told them to make me something that they like - it was the best chicken sandwich ever. It's also a nice clean store and the staff is helpful, gives out great recommendations when you don't know what to order and the nicest people. Thanks read more

Got 4 sandos for takeout last weekend while watching football playoff game. Frisco club with roast chicken and Reuben with corned beef came on Italian rolls. 2 ltalian (Bugsy and Bravo) were pannini on foccacia type bread. All 4 were tasty and everyone was very satisfied. Only drawback was the pannini were on top of dressed salad. Next time I'd ask for salad separate from the hot pannini which wilted the lettuce and for dressing on the side cause it was more dressing than we like. I would go back for sure. read more

Good sandwich. Friendly people. Store has everything. Good place to grab everything you need. read more

Handy Deli - New Cubano Sandwich - Delis Near Me - San Francisco, California

you can not go wrong with this place. turkey lulu hits every single time, and great soda selection read more

Handy Deli - Turkey Lulu Sandwich - Delis Near Me - San Francisco, California

YUM! I've always passed by but never stopped inside to grab a bite to eat so I was really impressed with my first-time visit! I ordered a "custom" sandwich since I wanted just pastrami. I added all the veggies (lettuce, tomato, onion, pepperoncinis, jalapeños), Swiss cheese with some Dijon mustard on Dutch crunch and it was just perfect! Super juicy meat, good amount added in and paired well with the melted cheese. Good size too, for me at least since sometimes sandwiches can be overwhelmingly huge and fill you up too quick. I grabbed a drink and bag of chips then headed out to Golden Gate park for a nice socially distanced sunny day! If you're in the area, heading to Golden Gate Park for some relaxation and want a bit to eat, definitely stop on by and try out their sandwiches! read more

Handy Deli - Pastrami Dutch Crunch - Delis Near Me - San Francisco, California

Sandwiches very mediocre. Not very welcoming employee. I'd stay away and just go down on Irving where there's tons of food options and KIND employees. read more

Good Sandwich. I had the Reuben with pastrami. Was quite yummy. I'd recommend this hole in the wall place. read more

Delicious sandwiches for an extremely fair price. Gotta love these Bodega-style sandwich spots. They don't mess around here and don't try to impress you - they just make good f***ing sandwiches. Some snobby places here in SF could take note. I will be back for more, guaranteed. read more

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My favorite place to get sandwiches! Handy Deli is a gem. I recommend this place for everyone.

Just to clarify, the store is open late but not the deli. No late night subs. I am disappoint.

Compre un sándwiches Nova y estaba delicioso si me encantó el sabor y los empleados muy amables

I used to work here back in 2017 and I met my best friend there as I used to make her sandwiches. Yesterday, we went back to irving St to relieve these beautiful memories. The sandwiches were as good as ever. I ordered my favorite turkey lulu and my friend got a sunrise. Johnson made these sandwiches with love and Mario was very welcoming as customer service in this place is #1. I highly recommend you try the sandwiches there. It brought my friend all the way from San Jose read more

Handy Deli - Turkey Lulu Sandwich and SUNRISE WRAP - Delis Near Me - San Francisco, California

Woah, this place blew me away. I picked up some food from here for my last meal in SF, and I think I may have found my new favorite sandwich in the city. The Bistro sandwich on dutch crunch bread was everything a good hot sandwich should be, and came loaded with house roasted beef and sauteed onions, mushrooms and red peppers. I'm not sure if dutch crunch is a popular choice for this type of sandwich, but the texture worked perfectly for me, sopping up all of the delicious juices and flavors. It was one deeply satisfying sandwich. I also ordered a chicken shawarma plate, and was pleasantly surprised by the flavors. I wasn't expecting such authentic and tasty shawarma from a deli, but it was seriously legit. Also, the lady who took my phone order couldn't have been more pleasant. It's safe to say that I was pretty impressed with this place. My wife grew up in the city and already has all of her favorite spots locked down, so it's not easy to venture out and try something new. I took a shot on this place for one last indulgent meal before leaving and it did not disappoint. Thank you for the kind service and not letting my cheat meal go to waste. read more

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I love the owner here. Their black mild is super cheap and he let me light it inside the store before stepping out because they don't carry matches. read more

Handy Deli - Delis Near Me - San Francisco, California

I read an article on the internet about the 4 best delis in SF. Handy Deli was on that list. As much as I tried to be objective, I would honestly say there are better sandwich places in the City. BUT, if you happen to be on Irving St near 19th, then certainly give it a try. We ordered the Frisco Club with Swiss cheese on a cibatta and shared the two halves. It was plentiful but lacked that WOW factor. The deli had a good selection of liquor, so at least you can supplement your sandwich. read more

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the quality of sandwiches was really good and the liquor store itself has a very inviting vibe. Workers are super friendly and service was good! read more

I love that there are several sandwich options in this neighborhood. I was intrigued by the italian sandwiches from Handy Deli and decided to try it out a couple of weeks ago. I got the Bella Vista, which has a mountain of prosciutto, fresh mozz, and grilled eggplant, with a walnut pesto spread and finished on a panini press. Every italian sandwich comes with a side salad, which is great! All in all, it was delicious, but it was just a tiiiiiiny bit too salty. Next time, will have to try a different sandwich. I'm particularly interested in the bistro sandwich. The deli is quite small and gets a bit crowded around lunch time. I suggest calling ahead so you don't have to wait inside for your order read more

Best Reuben I've had. Make em quick. Never been inside. Only ordered through Uber Eats.

Stopped by for a quick and filling dinner and chose their Chicken Shawarma Plate, the takeout box (made from compostable material!) barely contained all the goodness. Deliciously juicy seasoned chicken pieces were piled on top of rice pilaf, the plate included finely diced cucumber and tomato salad, creamy hummus, and house made pickles. Also a great place to pick up a few grocery staples, wine, beer, spirits, ice cream, and other snacks that you'd find at convenience stores. I've tried several of their deli sandwiches which were all excellent and fairly priced. The service was great too, the cashier and food preparer were friendly and gracious to each customer who stopped in. Someone who came in to pickup their order was in the store for all of 30 seconds so next time I'll try calling in my order to expedite the process. read more

Handy Deli - Chicken Shawarma Plate - Delis Near Me - San Francisco, California

I was really excited to try this place, I love delis / sandwiches in general, but I ended up receiving the absolute worst Reuben I've ever had in my life, no exaggeration. The corned beef was not only sparse, but also tough, chewy and fatty (and not in the good way), barely any kraut or dressing. Sandwich was $12.99, ordered for delivery, over $20. I have some regrets. read more

Handy Deli - Half of a corned beef Reuben. Absolutely awful. - Delis Near Me - San Francisco, California

This place is amazing. Just ate had the El Dorado breakfast wrap and it's one of the better tasting wraps I've had in a long time. Also a very large selection of tequila, whiskey and wine. I'll be coming back here ASAP. read more

Yeah. I'm a fan. Never stopped in but walked by a bunch. It's an Arabic owned spot. Clean inside and has a variety of food. From American to Arabic. There's a deli inside that has fresh bread, rolls and can make a mean sandwich ! Come on the weekend and get lucky by ordering kebabs or kufta with rice n salad. Fresh food and also has an awesome drink selection. read more

Handy Deli - Chicken kebab n kufta. - Delis Near Me - San Francisco, California

Little hidden gem inside a liquor store! What I tried: Reuben w/pastrami sandwich - great Chicken parmesan sandwich - kinda dry Overall thoughts: *I've heard good things about this place and finally got to try it for myself today and say the same. *I got the Reuben sandwich and it was delicious. They use acme bread and had good ratio of sauce, meat and bread. I also tried a bite of the chicken parmesan but it was nothing too special. It sort of tasted like a homemade sandwich with rotisserie-like chicken and on the dry side. *Average prices and decent portions. *Aside from sandwiches, there is a huge selection of alcohol, non-alcoholic drinks, snacks and candy. *The staff is really friendly. It seems like they have usuals and treat them like family. I'd definitely come back to try some other things on menu! read more

Handy Deli - Reuben w/ pastrami sandwich - Delis Near Me - San Francisco, California

I just gotta say. I come during the day for the sandwiches, which, in my humble sandwich eating body are the best sammiches on Irving. This Shwarma plate is the bees knees. It's fresh, flavorful, homemade, and warms my soul. Your prices and portions are preposterous and we appreciate you. Oh ya...they have a magical beer selection. read more

Handy Deli - Good food.... Chicken Shawarma Plate - Delis Near Me - San Francisco, California

Flavorful sandwiches, and friendly service. Your sandwich is prepared with tender loving care. Expect to wait a few minutes. Watch him cook your roast beef. read more

I enjoyed my chicken shawerma wrap. It helps that i was starving. Chunks of chicken with tahini (hummus sauce) with cucumbers and onions. It is so awesome to have different ethnic wraps. Very juicy. They asked me if i wanted spicy and garlic, what? Those are my favorite two things! Yes, to spicy and garlic. This wrap was huge and i didnt push myself to finish it. I saw some people ordered salmon with pilaf and they ate at the tables outside the sidewalk. I was happy to see the owner's young girl running around. Fsmily run! Theu have all kinds of beer and wune to go witheir food. read more