Hot pastrami on rye with fresh-cut potato chips? Clam chowder in a bowl? Yes, right in the heart in Kalihi at Lei Lei's Bistro food truck at the corner of Mokuaea and Hau sts. that will be open for 2 years come March 2026. Owned by husband-and-wife team, Robert and Leah Roberts, both have always had a passion in their hearts in starting a bistro-style sandwich food truck. They left Spokane, WA to move here, with Leah's family and friends calling her "Lei Lei," which is how the name of her food truck came about. People were skeptical of their plan to open a food truck specializing in sandwiches, as they were told HI is a land of plate lunches and not of sandwiches, but they are serving a niche of followers. They serve breakfast in the morning hours that include: breakfast croissant, loco moco, and breakfast plates. Their lunch menu includes: patty melt; French dip; hot pastrami on rye; tuna melt; London broil; cracked pepper turkey, bacon, avocado with provolone; BLT; loco moco, smash burgers. They also do catering and offer sandwich platters. We've had the following as takeout: * Hot pastrami on marble rye. The sandwich also included fresh cole slaw with a house-made Russian dressing, and sautéed onions. Their most popular sandwich, it was delicious and filled with generous amounts of Boars Head pastrami, Swiss cheese, cole slaw, onions, and a creamy Russian based sauce using Leah's secret recipe. It was a hearty and filling sandwich! It came with generous amounts of addictive and freshly fried, crispy house-made potato chips! A free drink was included, and I chose a large cup of refreshing unsweetened iced tea. * Clam chowder in bread bowl. Because it was takeout, the clam chowder was placed in a separate container. The freshly made creamy chowder was very flavorful and loaded with clams, potatoes, bacon, round onions, and topped with green onions. The bread bowl was good, but you can't beat authentic sourdough bread from Boudin Bakery in SFO! No skimping on ingredients, and I loved it! Customer service is excellent and is extremely friendly by the two owners! Both are welcoming and ready to please! They know what the Aloha Spirit is and exude it to the max! Both are faith-driven and openly declare that if it weren't for God, they wouldn't be where they are. Scriptures adorn the food truck, and colorful stickers are used on their takeout containers. The open front passenger area of the truck has free Bibles for those wanting any. They advertise Hope Calvary Ohana on their truck, but when I asked if they were members, they said they were members of Anchor Church in Kaneohe, but they help to advertise Hope Calvary Ohana that is location right in back of the food truck. And diners are free to post personalized messages on colorful fish on their inner fence, as the fish symbolize abundance, evangelism, and discipleship in the Bible. Hours of operation are Mon to Sat 10a to 2p, closed Sun. Located in a busy corner of Kalihi, they have an advantage over other similar lunch take-outs, as they have around 5 free parking spaces on Hau St. The front of the food truck on Mokuaea St. is blocked by a wooden fence at curbside with two outdoor picnic tables if you desire to eat there. Love their food truck with actual colorful photos of their menu items! Lei Lei's Bistro Food Truck brings a nice change to the local plate lunch scene in Kalihi with hearty sandwiches and homemade potato chips and fries and clam chowder. Owner Leah and Robert look forward to sharing with you their Aloha Spirit, as I look forward to trying their other sandwiches as well. Congratulations to their business and wishing them continued success! Support local! read more

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I read Yelp friend Jo Y's impressive review of this lunch wagon so I added them to my Bookmarks. I was close by so thought we'd check it out. I remember seeing French Dip on the menu back then so that's what I ordered for myself with a side order of fries. My husband ordered the Teriyaki Pineapple Burger with a side order of fries. We also ordered the chips and Fresh Clam Chowder to share. My thoughts: - French Dip on a French roll with truffle aioli, London broil roast beef, picante provolone, sautéed onions and mushrooms, and au jus: I enjoyed this! Lots of meat and the bun was soft which is how I like it. When I brought it home and opened the au jus container, I thought they didn't give enough BUT it was...whew! Since I ordered a lot of food, I could only eat half a sandwich...tomorrow's lunch. Yay! - Teri Burger with house made Patty, a pineapple ring with teri sauce, mayo, red onion and romaine lettuce on the side: My husband was skeptical about the pineapple but said it worked and would definitely order this again. - Both the fries and chips were a little too burnt and oily for us so we'd pass on this the next time. - Clam chowder: I was looking forward to this with the bread bowl but they no longer sell it with the bread. They said the bread they could get was too small that there wouldn't be much soup. I ordered the soup anyway. It was thick with lots of clams, bacon and potatoes...very tasty! We ate only half so another leftover for tomorrow...yay again! FYI: - Located on the corner of Mokauea Street and Hau Street - They have about 5 reserved parking stalls in front of the gray bldg on the Hau Street side - Offers Military and First Responder discounts - Charges 3.5% fee for credit card payment - Clam chowder available Thursday thru Saturday or until sold out - Condiments located in the small black refrigerator located on the right of the food truck I want to try their smash burger so I'll be back! read more

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Lei,Lei Bistro is located at the corner of Hau Street and Mokauea Street in Kalihi. It's a food truck. Don't be fooled ,the food truck is obscured by a colorful fence line. They specialize in Sandwiches and a few breakfast items. We picked up a Hot Pastrami, and a Tuna Melt. Both sandwiches came with chips and a drink. The counter person gave us our lemonade drinks and offered us free refills. This was the first time having cole slaw in my pastrami sandwich. Overall the sandwich was tasty. The rye bread and chip were fresh. My wife said that her sandwich was filling. We both had a half sandwich to eat for dinner. Service was friendly. They is some bench seating. Enjoy read more

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Please support this awesome local business, @ Lei's Lei's, this husband & wife team along with their daughter are so kind, so nice, and so positive! I love visiting Lei Lei's Bistro when I happen to be in the area, doing all of my Kalihi side errands. Lei Lei's Bistro is Honolulu's newest stationary food truck, located on the corner of Mokauea & Hau Street, look for the neon dancing man and colorful signs. Street parking or few stalls next to the buisiness, Lei Lei serves up hearty sandwiches made with Boar's Head meats and cheeses and local bread from Hawaii Star Bakery, even homemade suaces and spreads, melty in your mouth hand slice potato chips, french fries, or potatoes. Breakfast is available too! Although there are many varieties of sandwiches/burgers to choose from, I've tried the tuna melt and the Benjamin ( turkey, bacon, avo. sandwich). Both are my favorite, I love and enjoy the tuna melt, love that the tuna melt has the mixed of pickles mixed in the tuna melt, very tasty! My other favorite sandwich is the Benjamin comes with Boarshead turkey and bacon, avo, provolone and roasted garlic aioli sauce. I got them both in chips and fries ( $1.extra), with choice of drink which I usually get iced tea or lemonade, depending on my mood. The cost for this combo is $18., huge and enough for me and the other half. The sandwich is filled with extra meats, which is too much for me, so I save them to make a salad for my lunch the next day. Talk about making 3 meals out of this sandwich, hehe. I really enjoy the sando here! Overall, My favorite food truck for my sandwich fix, please check out this business,. they deserve all the love for being so nice & happy! I promise you will love it just as much as me and everyone else here who visited! Happy Belated One Year Anniversary Lei Lei's, happen to visit during your anniversary week, Oh and "Friday is Good cause Sunday is coming! " read more

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Watching Food Network and food channels on YouTube late at night can be dangerous! I'm not typically a sandwich guy nor a Tuna Melt kinda guy as a heads up. One night I saw two different clips featuring Tuna Melt and I was suddenly craving it. Paul C suggested Lei Lei's Bistro as he heard great things about their Tuna Melt so I knew I had to check them out. Nadine C's review sold me on going at the first opportunity I had. When I arrived, I noticed they have several marked private stalls that you can park in which is great. I was worried about the parking situation but there were adequate private stalls for Lei Lei's Bistro. They also have picnic style tables for you to dine on there. Most people I saw got their orders to go. They immediately told me that their burgers were sold out and their new menu item, Patty Melt, was sold out as well. That's great for them and I need to come back to try their Patty Melt the next time I want to indulge. I ordered their Tuna Melt. It came with chips and a drink. You have choices of soda or lemonade so I opted for lemonade as bottled water wasn't available. The owners are extremely friendly and they are approaching their 1 year anniversary so congratulations to them! It didn't take long for my order to come out. I was hungry so I ate half and took the other half to go. It was delicious and hit the spot. Just what I was craving and looking for. Thank you, Paul C, for the recommendation! Solid spot for sandwiches with free parking! read more

Lei Lei's Bistro - Tuna Melt - Food Trucks Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Heard about this place from a friend and I finally was able to try it. I've eaten at lots of sandwich places on Oahu so wanted to compare what they offer. I ordered the hot pastrami sandwich, and I can say being operated out of a food truck this was the best pastrami sandwich I've eaten on the island. From the perfectly crusted Rye bread, tasty coleslaw, diced pickles and everything had the right portions. The sandwich was a little pricy but well worth it. Definitely will go back to try the other sandwiches or burgers. read more

Lei Lei's Bistro - Hot Pastrami Sandwich - Food Trucks Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

My husband said let's eat sandwich for lunch. He saw this place on yelp and some yelpers went and reviewed it. Thanks to Daniel C, Nadine C, Irene M. and Judy C to name a few. Located on Mokauea and Hao Street in kalihi its not a restaurant of any kind but a food truck with some outside benches along the side. There's a few stalls marked for them. We were lucky that found a stall close to their truck. I had the tuna melt. Lots of tuna mixed with pickles, onions, mayo and of course melted cheese. Was alot of filling on a toasted white bread. It comes with homemade chips. I love it. Nicely salty and crispy. My husband had hot pastrami sandwich. Thinly sliced pastrami ,onions, and cole slaw on toasted rye bread. Came with also your choice of drink. Was filling on both sandwiches could only eat half. You can tell they make it fresh when you order it. Try them if you in the area. read more

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they so not give chips or fries anymore with the sandwiches/burgers as well as drinks! Same pricing!

Definitely off the beaten path but super kind people serving great food. My French dip was delicious!

I've driven by this place plenty of times but was in the mood for a sandwich today so finally decided to stop by and check it out. The folks who run this spot are extremely friendly for starters. Ordered the hot pastrami sandwich and I gotta say, though it's a bit pricey it's probably one of the best sandwiches I've ever eaten. Whatever they put in that spicy Russian slaw, it tastes amazing. Will def be coming back again to try out the other stuff on their menu. Highly recommended! read more

Lei Lei's Bistro - Hot pastrami sandwich - Food Trucks Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Excellent FOOD and SERVICE! The owner even came over to check on us to make sure everything was perfect. We'll be back for sure, Maui loves you!!! read more

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The hot pastrami sandwich with chips is incredible the meat melts in your mouth. The sauce and the slaw with the pickle is perfect with a Arnold Palmer. Served with love from a great central location that makes it hard to pass through kilihi area without stopping by! Easy parking and nice outdoor seating. Great menu, great people, and good dad jokes. Ten stars read more

This spot is in kind of an industrial part of town, but don't let that fool you. Lei Lei's Bistro is a food truck serving up some awesome food. We got the hot pastrami sandwich, patty melt, and French dip. The French dip and patty melt were the standouts, super flavorful and something I'd 100% get again. The hot pastrami was good too, but I do wish it had a bit more pastrami and a little less of the Russian slaw. Still tasty though, and they use Boar's Head meats so everything is really good quality. You get homemade chips or fries with the sandwiches, and both were solid, but the chips were the winner for me, crispy and super flavorful. read more

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Easy spot to get to, has parking in front of the building to the left of the food truck! Service was great and the ambiance is inspirational. Food was great wife got the Benjamin with chips and a side pickle. I got the hot pastrami with the slaw on the side and $1.00 more for French fries! read more

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We tried this place last weekend since we were in the area. Their food truck is located in the warehouse area on Mokauea St. It's mostly street parking, but they do have a few stalls. I highly recommend the French dip, but my wife said the pastrami was excellent as well. Sandwiches come with chips. We'll definitely be back. Give them a try when you're on the area. Alooooooha and happy eating. read more

Lei Lei's Bistro - French Dip sandwich - Food Trucks Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Lunch in Kalihi, Honolulu, Hawaii... Irene and I stumbled upon this small business by accident. We were looking for Surf's Up Soda and thought that maybe Lei Lei's Bistro shares the space with the soda business since their Hours of operation don't overlap. Nope! Lei Lei's Bistro is a Food Truck which is parked on the corner of Mokauea Street and Hau Street. There are a couple of picnic tables with attached benches for convenient outdoor dining! The menu is on the healthy, tasty side. I ordered the Deep fried avocado tacos, which came with crunchy homemade chips! It was delicious and just right! I also got a "half and half" drink: Lemonade ifishes! Refreshing! Service was cheerful, efficient, and friendly! I wouldn't mind returning! The only challenge was the street parking. I think I'll just grab and go next time! Note: I had a permanent marker in my bag and used it to decorate a paper fish that will go on the wall with the other fishies! read more

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We were looking for a sandwich shop and voila...we stumbled upon this food truck that is stationed on Mokauea St. There were for of us. I shared the pastrami sandwich and the other 2 shared the French dip since the sandwiches are big enough to share. Paired with the homemade chips and pickes that we ordered separately, our lunch was tasty and very filling. The owners are nice and friendly. Sandwiches came with a drink - either lemonade, unsweetened tea or a mixture of both. Itʻs nice to try some place new and help out a small business. read more

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Happy accident... Looking for Surf's Up Soda for some refreshing drink we later realized that it rents out the space at the end of Lei Lei's Bistro's day and since we didn't have lunch though that it would be the perfect opportunity to explore what they had to offer. You can't really see their actual storefront on the corner of Mokauea and Hau Street though the signage on their fence will certainly capture your attention. With hours from 6am-2pm and with breakfast served all day don't come as late as we did because it's no surprise that it's all sold out...sigh! Yes we came for lunch and having both hot and cold sandwiches I actually went with their "Veggie Wrap" as it includes all my favorite items from Hummus, Cilantro Lime Slaw, Onion, Lettuce, Feta, Tomatoes and Ranch...yeah!!! At $15.50 it includes chips and drink (iced tea/lemonade/iced tea & lemonade) The owners are so kind and thoughtful as we signed our fish, and chatted for a bit finding out that the wrap was the newest addition to the menu and with a couple of picnic tables to enjoy our bite in the shade was just perfect timing. Parking can be a challenge in this area though they do have a few stall right beside the shop which makes it so convenient as I'm eyeing a few other items that I really want to try. Thank you! read more

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Their smashburger is delicious but their fries, it's probably one of the most delicious fries I've ever had. Their fries a day later reheated in a microwave was still delicious. read more

Lei Lei's Bistro - Smashburger - Food Trucks Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Delicious sandwiches and homemade potato chips! A delightful hidden gem off the beaten path of Kalihi.

If you're looking for a sign from the burger gods, this is it. I don't say this lightly--but the burger I devoured at Lei Lei's Bistro might just be the reason I cancel my gym membership and accept my glorious, bacon-filled fate. Let's start with the basics: juicy smash patties, thick-cut bacon that deserves its own zip code, cheddar melted into pure perfection, and not one but TWO sauces that had me questioning all my previous condiment life choices. I took one bite and immediately blacked out from happiness. Pretty sure I woke up halfway through with ketchup on my face and a new lease on life. The fries? Crispy like they were whispering "we're made fresh just for you" with each bite. The drink? Cold and refreshing like a tropical breeze off the Koolau Mountains. But wait, the customer service? Elite. These folks treat you like you just walked into your cousin's backyard BBQ--if your cousin also happened to be a Michelin-starred grill master with a cooler full of aloha. Fast, friendly, and filled with real island hospitality. If you're in Honolulu and don't swing by Lei Lei's, you're playing yourself. Don't just come hungry--come emotionally prepared. You'll leave full, smiling, and planning your next visit before you even finish your fries. Pro Tip: Get the Double Bacon Deluxe. Trust me. Your taste buds will write you a thank-you note. Mahalo, Lei Lei's. You've ruined all other burgers for me. read more

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Went on a weekday during lunchtime. I was worried about parking but they have several of their own marked stalls on the side of the building. And the stalls are wide! We ordered a deluxe burger and tuna melt. Both come with sides (fries and chips, respectively) and a drink (lemonade, bottled water, or canned soda). The burger was really juicy and flavorful, bun was nice and soft. The melt was probably one of the better ones I've ever had. It has onions and chunks of pickles and topped with tomatoes and cheddar. The fries and chips are thin and crispy. Though a tad on the salty side, it was a nice compliment to the burger and sandwich. The portions are pretty substantial--I ate only half and saved the rest for later. I'd say it was worth the price. The owners are really nice, very personable. Great service and they're quick. It was my first time going there, but definitely won't be my last! read more

Lei Lei's Bistro - Tuna melt and chips - Food Trucks Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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We were running errands in Kalihi and wanted a quick and tasty lunch...thanks Yelp we decided on Lei Lei's Bistro! Their food truck is pretty hidden but was easy to find using gps. The owners were both really nice. Since they mentioned the sandwiches were big, our group ordered 2 sandwiches and shared. We got a French Dip and a Hot Pastrami. They use Boars Head products, so I knew it was going to be good! The French Dip was delicious!!! I would highly recommend. Each sandwich came with chips, which were crispy and not oily. We also ordered pickles, which we found out after were full-sized pickles!! Everything was delicious and I'll be sure to visit again when in the area! read more

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Came here 30 minutes before they actually opened not even knowing what time it opened. They served us early, thankfully. They are such nice people here. Seems like it's small family owned business. My boyfriend works super close by and I'm always driving by wanted to try out their sandwiches! The chef inflatable guy really caught my attention! I got the French dip, comes with home made chips and either lemonade or iced tea. Or you can mix it. I got the iced it. It is unsweetened iced tea. I didn't know that but it was good because it was refreshing and it was a hot morning! The homemade chips were sooo thin and sooo gooood! I kinda was expecting thick chips but i absolutely love that it was so thin and crispy! The French dip was with a bubble waffle bread thing, I have never had it savory before and it's such a game changer! Especially when you dip it in the soup thingy, those bubbles absorb it and omg what an experience!!! It's the cutest food truck they have a prayer box and I thought that was the cutest thing! And each plate has a scripture on it. Which is such a beautiful thing to read before devouring your meal. This place gives off such a welcoming atmosphere! I definitely wanna come back and try other sandwiches! It is in the corner of hau st off of mokauea st. There's some parking stalls on the side of the place, if it's filled then I guess you look for street parking. But there is a bunch of signs that give their number on it so if your coming during a rush hour, I assume usually around lunch, call ahead! So it's an easy pick up and go. read more

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Food truck located at the intersection of Mokauea and Hau Street in Kalihi tucked next to to a building across the Pongos Kitchen. Owners are really nice. The establishment has some tables that you can sit some of which are partly shaded. The food truck is nice and clean and the surrounding "dining" area is also clean. The sandwiches here are reasonably priced out. It comes with the sandwich, home made fried chips and your choice of lemonade or iced tea. We tried out the Andy which was a Roast Beef sandwich. Very tasty and the the horse radish sauce has a nice kick to it, not as strong as a traditional horse radish sauce. Chips are crispy and not too salty. The Benjamin sandwich was also excellent. Lots of meat and flavor as well. You'll be content with amount for food that you get. I think it's a great value. There are a lot of rice plate lunches around in that area so having a sandwich joint within walking distance from our work place is great. Highly recommended if you're looking for something different. Come here you gotta check out this place read more

Many of you reading Yelp reviews believe in patronizing small businesses. Lei Lei's Bistro is a lunch wagon that serves hearty yummy sandwiches and burgers. The sandwiches are a little pricey but it's way better than a Subway sandwich. But what's even better than their sandwiches and burgers are the owners. A beautiful and warm couple who really appreciates your business. I love their hot pastrami w/French Russian slaw sautéed on onion on maple rye bread. The sandwiches are made with Boar Head meats and comes with a drink and chips. Hopefully some of you will give them a try and help them survive the rough small business world. read more

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The people are great. The flavor I would give a 3/5 however for the price I ask for a well balanced sandwich so I give it a 2/5. Both sandwiches are very heavy with mayo and sauce which takes away from the great flavor of the meats and rye. Additionally they are on the salty side. read more

Food is legit. They are definitely doing it right. Just go and taste for yourself. Service is great! The couple is always happy! read more

Amazing food...amazing owners! You've got to check out this hidden gem. Our group had the pastrami, French dip, and clam chowder. All were amazing! You leave feeling like family. read more

Found this place searching on yelp. The bad thing about this area is the parking. There usually is none. But if you're lucky you might find something! I didn't want to chance it so I walked from my work place 7 blocks. You can get the sandwich by itself or with a lemonade or iced tea and chips. The sandwich was huge and messy but delicious! Definitely will be back to try the other sandwiches. My only comment was that a few of my chips weren't fried and were still raw potatoes, but besides that great new sandwich place to check out! read more

Best thing pastrami sandwich that we've had in a long time! Couple who own this truck are down to earth and take a lot of pride in their cooking! GREAT business! read more

Packed with flavor! If you need a good sandwich this is the place to go! They also have homemade chips. Great owners and service. read more

Lei Lei's Bistro - Turkey bacon sandwich with homemade chips - Food Trucks Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Look for the dancing chef air sock on the corner! This couple is a great example of working hard to make a dream come true, and it's apparent that they have a lot of support from their community. Parking is adjacent; nice wide stalls. There are benches for you to eat there, maybe enough room for 4-5 total. We've gone twice within a one-week span, so obviously we like it! To me, the star of the show are the house-made potato chips -- so light and crispy! They offer a very small, simple menu, but they do it very well. Ingredients are fresh and very high quality, with generous portions. I've had the Andy and the Benjam'in - both good but I think I've found my jam with the Benjam'in. ;] read more

Just happened to pass by at lunch and found a parking space! They were so nice and friendly, and let me take my time to look over the menu before ordering. I selected two sandwiches, "Benjam'n" and "Spedick," and found them fresh, flavourful, and filling. Plus, they came with potato chips, dill pickle & ice tea/lemonade (or Arnold Palmer, if you prefer). It was my first visit, but it won't be my last! read more

You got to try their, new on the menu, Smash Burgers w/ Bacon! You'll agree that it got to be the best on the island. The fries that comes with it is so so crispy and their homemade brewed ice tea is so refreshing! It's a well hidden spot on Mokauea Street but well worth navigating through the Dillingham Railway construction mess! read more

I don't know what kind of magic they add to their tuna melt, but it's the best anywhere. Tastes like the fish was grilled first or something. Yum! Parking used to be an issue but now they have plenty. Service with lots of smiles and laughs too...Love it! read more

Delish pastrami and Benjamin, chips are 10/10. Fries get soggy after a bit but that's why you sub chips for fries :), great vibe from the owners! read more

The hot pastrami with chips are 10/10. The owners are awesome. The music is great. If you're looking for a delicious lunch this is the place to get it. read more

I just love the faith based upbeat atmosphere. I've tried here twice and I've had two different sandwiches and let me just tell you it is just drool worthy. I've been dreaming about that pastrami Sandwhich all week ha. Will be making this my regular go to spot! read more

Pastrami sandwich is amazing I would definitely recommend you try it . They will not disappoint!