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    Lou's Cafe

    4.4 (2k reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

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    LOU'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Casual
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Lou's Cafe

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    Helen L.

    No lines on a foggy morning. Score. 4 people working, then 5 at exactly 9 am. They are ready for the crowd. I'm overwhelmed with choices on the board. Good thing I narrowed it down to roast beef and eggs. Four choices. Didnt want too spicy or too plain so settled on RB with bacon and mushroom roast beef with jalapeños spread on Dutch crunch roll $14 and ultimate Sammie with hash brown on sourdough $10. $25 for two hugh hot sammuws. Two of these weighs 5 pounds. Delish before watching Toy Story 5. Staff was friendly and they seem to like each other.

    LLB Special Sandwich
    Smith T.

    Yo! If you are looking for a top-tier sandwich in SF, you have to stop by Lou's on Geary. I've heard the hype for a while and finally went in to try their Special Sandwich. The sandwich was fire. What really sets it apart is that "Lou's Special Sauce" it adds a kick that you just don't get at your average deli. The bread was perfectly toasted (not too hard, not too soft) and they definitely don't skimp on the meat. The staff was super efficient and friendly. Even though there was a bit of a line (which is expected for a place this good), they moved through the orders quickly. The cafe has a great, classic SF neighborhood vibe.

    Becky V.

    Chicken pesto sandwich seems popular and I chose it for the first thing to try here. It came out warm on my Dutch crunch bread choice. Has avocado, melty cheese and chicken. Already cut in half for eating some now and keeping some for later (or sharing with someone else to spread the joy!) Kind friendly service. Casual small spot, no chairs or tables to eat inside. Lots of drink selection in fridge

    Shelley P.

    The line was so far out the door the day we went that people couldn't figure out where the end was! It was a rare hot day in SF and I think everyone had the same idea to grab a sandwich and picnic in the park. I'd wait an hour again for Lou's! We got the ami-cado and LLB special and both were stuffed full of fillings and flavor (packaged nicely in classic Dutch crunch). And they have voodoo chips!! (Also, so much respect and gratitude for the staff - there was absolutely no AC in there so it was boiling, and they were all working like mad to get the orders out!)

    Ami-Cado
    Jean T.

    I came here for lunch on a Saturday because I was in the area and I had to stop because there was a line and I wanted to check out what it was for when all of the other businesses surrounding it were a bit dead. There was a bit of a wait to order and a bit of a wait to get the sandwich but it did not disappoint! I ended up going with the AMI-CADO on Dutch crunch and it was amazing! I'm usually not a huge fan of sandwiches unless it's on dutch crunch and the jalapeno spread makes it 10x better. There wasn't any seating available at the store front but we were able to walk over to a nearby park that had tables to sit and enjoy the sandwiches. I'd definitely return if I'm in the area!

    Evan K.

    Had the pleasure of trying Lou's Cafe on a work trip and we originally didn't have this spot on our radar, so glad we stumbled across it last minute. We came during a week day during peak lunch hours and it was so packed. We waited about 30 minutes for our sandwich which is no biggie. I would assume it's less packed on the weekend due to less walking traffic from work. Ordered the LLB Special and my gosh that Lou's Special Sauce paired with that Dutch Crunch is amazing. The portions here are big too so you will be left full. I would definitely recommend this spot, there also isn't too much seating inside or outside.

    Na'ilah G.

    The BEST sandwiches in sf. They have dutch crunch and that's kind of rare to find so that's why I go here, but aside from that their sandwiches are bomb. My friends and I all love coming here.

    outside
    Helena L.

    tldr local sandwich spot serving up some of sf best sandos at an affordable price! ordered the popular chicken pesto sandwich over the phone - ready in 20 mins on the weekend. sandwich was super fresh with avocado, thinly sliced chicken, american cheese and all the regular fixings on a crunchy but soft roll. very tasty! it was a bit salt for my liking but had a great filling to bread ratio and stayed warm on my 45 minute bus ride home. the sando i could split with one other person as a light snack since it was pretty sizable. service was friendly and i was in and out of there in 5 minutes. total came out to about $13.6 after tax so very great! overall i would highly recommend lou's for a tasty affordable meal! food 4.75/5 service 4/5 ambiance n/a with take out value 5/5

    Top: Hot Pastrami Sandwich Bottom: Roma's Club
    Maya R.

    I've been coming to Lou's for about 9 years now, and it's my go-to whenever I'm craving a sandwich. The bread is always toasted to perfection, and the sandwich has the perfect amount of sauce. There's usually a line on weekends, so I recommend calling ahead! I usually get the Roma's Club, and my boyfriend gets the Hot Pastrami. The Hot Pastrami is consistently good; however, he wishes there was a bit more meat. As for the Roma's Club, it hits every time too. There's a slight kick, which really separates this sando from any other turkey avo sando. Today, I decided to try the Crab Melt, and it will definitely be added to my rotation. It was a tad spicier than Roma's--but in a good way. I love imitation crab, and this had the perfect flavors combined with it.

    Chicken Pesto
    Josh S.

    They are among the top in SF. I have been several times in the past but stopped by this weekend for a chicken pesto sub and was very happy with the choice. Probably the only reason keeping this from a 5 star for me is that I prefer sandwiches that are super generous with the sauces. I like it dripping but that's a personal preference. I can't remember off the top of my head the other sandwiches I have had, but I've never been disappointed. One pro tip if you are planning on going, the wait time can be hit or miss so I recommend to call in advance. I have been before with minimal line and also been another time and had to wait over an hour for a sandwich. It's all based on how good the weather is and weekend hours etc. Great spot overall and you won't be disappointed.

    Italian Special Sandwich

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    Sooooooo much yum. Fabulous sandwiches! Great portions and prices. They have become a favorite.

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    Lou's Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Lou's Cafe

    What's in the special sauce?

    It is like aioli…garlic + mayo & some seasoning/herb

    How does Lou's Cafe compare with Ike's?

    I think Lou's is better - Ike's is really messy and feels heavier/more unhealthy to me. Lou's also has a really nice kick to it because of that great jalapeno sauce!

    Has anyone tried their buffalo chicken sandwich? Thoughts?

    Yes, highly recommend

    Does the special sauce contain dairy?

    Yes

    View All 7 Questions

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    Saint Frank Coffee

    4.3
    (1k reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$

    All around pleasant experience in terms of both the service and coffee. I had the flight and…read morethought it was overall good. They explained that the flight includes an espresso shot, espresso shot with milk, hot coffee, and iced coffee. I hadn't had a straight espresso shot before, so this wasn't for me personally just because it was so overpowering. I enjoyed the other three though. Like the majority of SF, parking is difficult to locate. I was dropped off nearby the location. There is indoor and outdoor seating; I was able to grab an empty spot late in the morning on a weekend, but I don't think seating is always readily available. It's not a huge space.

    Maybe I had very high hopes, nevertheless I wasn't slblown away by the coffee, the almond macadamia…read moremilk or the small bites offerings. At 11 am on a Sunday they were out of their best- black sesame Kouign Amann and the Raspberry Almond Croissant, which I took care of by paying a visit to Juniper bakery (sister business) later in the day. The Mocha with the house made nut milk fell flat. It needed something. I am not a fan of syrupy coffees and appreciate the more purist approach but this one just didn't do anything for me. The chai latte which I would never order was actually the best chai latte I have ever had, it was smooth like silk. Maybe I just had the wrong coffee order. Besides that, got the hot chocolate and the coffee tasting. I was surprised there was no explanation provided with the coffee- I figured it's all Honduran but an overview of some sort would have helped. I enjoyed all the coffees in there except the latte. Will visit again, earlier in the day so they are not out of their best sellers and try a different order.

    Photos
    View from back of the shop.
    View from back of the shop.
    Yuzu macadamia cookie and orange cream latte
    Yuzu macadamia cookie and orange cream latte
    Black Sesame Kouign-Amann

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    Black Bird Bookstore and Cafe

    Black Bird Bookstore and Cafe

    4.5
    (256 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    Ahhh, I don't even know where to begin, I love this place! It has everything I could want in one…read morespot: books, coffee and matcha, pastries, plants, cute little trinkets, and even a kids' corner for my boys. Not only does it have all of that, but the drinks aren't just pretty to look at, they're actually so good. I also love how community-oriented the space feels. It has such a warm, welcoming vibe that makes you want to stay awhile. I even signed up for their rewards program because I already know I'll be back. I didn't get a chance to explore the back of the store during my last visit, so that's at the top of my list next time. Such a fun place to spend a slow morning or afternoon!

    Community-oriented cafe in the Outer Sunset district!…read more Blackbird is located across the street from Hook Fish, meaning that parking is packed and hard to find, so use public transit! I have gone to Blackbird a handful of times and have enjoyed the experience each time. Blackbird is primarily a bookstore, but they do have an outdoor window where you can order drinks ranging from matcha (Rocky's Matcha, if you're curious about which brand they use), lattes, and tea. They also carry a good amount of pastries (even mid-day, they have a lot of goodies), which I really appreciated. When you order your drink, you have to enter inside the bookstore to wait for your drink to be called, but you can take the time to stroll around and look at their book selection and trinkets. Heads up: the seating here is limited but very lovely. Inside, there are a couple of community tables, but their outdoor area is absolutely magical, with lush greenery and benches for you to enjoy your drinks. This time around, I got one of their seasonal drinks, a honey lavender vanilla latte, and I paired it with an Earl Grey olive oil loaf. The portion of the pastry was generous and moist, while the icing was not too sweet. Overall, a great pick for a cafe if you're in the area.

    Photos
    Iced peach matcha (@joeynht)
    Iced peach matcha (@joeynht)
    Ham and cheese croissant (@joeynht)
    Ham and cheese croissant (@joeynht)
    Rose Pastry

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    Sweet Glory

    Sweet Glory

    4.7
    (310 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    Amazingly good cafe with beautiful desserts! It's got lots of seating, with nice decorations and…read morealso an outdoor patio for enjoying outside. We had some capucinos and 2 slices of cakes plus a toast topped with some flavorful cream-like sweets (sorry, didn't order and don't remember the name) The pandan crepe and corn Basque cheesecake were delicious! The corn kernels in the cheesecake was def a must try experience! You just order at the counter and get a number and go find an empty table. self service water and utensils. Truly a worthwhile experince for a snack.

    Brief Summary: - New favorite place to eat mille crepe cake…read more- Not so sweet, easy to eat - Beautiful and peaceful interior - Near the MUNI N line I was looking for a new cake place to try, so when I searched for one in San Francisco, this one appeared in the first page. It was near the districts I like to go, and because I haven't been there in a while, I thought it was a good opportunity to visit here. This cake shop is very close to one of the MUNI line stops if you take the N line. The store had a sign propped up with the list of the mille crepe cakes and some of the chiffon. The basque cheesecake selection were not one there, so I assume that these are new items. The interior of this shop is so cute. It's as if I walked in a quaint early spring environment. The initial plan was to buy the cakes to take home, but I was now interested to stay to have a drink before buying the cake. There were seats in the further end of the building, so we sat there, relaxed while drinking coffee. I ordered 3 different cakes of different flavors - earl grey mille crepe cake - pandan chiffon cake - tiramisu basque cheese cake If someone asked me which one I liked the most, I would take time deciding because I loved all of them. All of them were not so sweet and also easier to eat; even the basque cheesecake. I showed the basque cheesecake photo to my colleague, and they were surprised: 'it's almost like having 2 cakes in 1!' was the memorable response to it. I also loved the mille crepe cake. This one left a fun and colorful impression of crepe cakes. I got the earl grey and I loved how it was almost like drinking an earl grey tea at the same time. I tasted the bergamot oil from the tea. I also liked how the crepe cake was overall moist and juicy (I wonder if it's because I chose a tea themed crepe cake?) I love the chiffon cake, and this also topped with the bias of me loving pandan. I was also surprised that the cream area was not just cream but packed with coconut meat. It gave a nice chewy flavor in between the cushion soft cake layer. The cake top decoration is so subtle yet gorgeous, it's a great cake to serve on celebrations too.

    Photos
    Japanese Sesame Basque Burnt Cheesecake
    Japanese Sesame Basque Burnt Cheesecake
    Pandan basque cheesecake ; Lychee rose cooler
    Pandan basque cheesecake ; Lychee rose cooler
    Pandan cheesecake, passion fruit crepe cake, hojicha, matcha latte

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    Pandan cheesecake, passion fruit crepe cake, hojicha, matcha latte

    Lou's Cafe - coffee - Updated July 2026

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