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    Lou's Cafe

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

    Order Lou's Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    Lou's Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    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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    MIXT

    MIXT

    3.8
    (23 reviews)
    1.1 mi

    I'm actually giving this spot a 3.5 but rounding up to 4 because the Agua Fresca was excellent as…read morewell as portion sizes and packaging were on point for delivery. So while I can't speak to in person service or decor the delivery is on point. My peachy salad was just ok. The chicken was cold and not crunchy, and the cornbread crumbles were not crunchy at all, like kind of in between stale and crunchy... weird combo. Peaches and pickled onions were awesome though. The dressings that it came with which were a bbq sauce and some type of special ranch also were a weird combo, glad it was on the side vs in the salad itself otherwise I'm not sure I would have eaten it. Crispy cauliflower was good but definitely not crispy at all! Probably got softer on delivery but definitely not something that should be advertised as crispy when it's not... The saving item was my carrot ginger agua fresca- this was amazing! Loved it, that gets a 5/5. Food is 3/5.

    Mixt opened up a branch in the Inner Sunset and my hubby wanted to try them. We had the Napa…read moreSandwich featuring grilled chicken, sliced apples, cheddar cheese, walnut pesto, arugula and aioli. So delicious with lots of texture--tangy, crunchy and fresh from the apples. We also tried their Falaf 2.0 (salad) which is refreshing with some sweetness (grapes) and creaminess (avocado) combined with a zesty lemon tahini sauce. Really enjoyed the different flavors of agua fresca here. Spacious and clean interior with a cool SF landscape mural. Service was also friendly. Located on 9th Ave and Lincoln Way.

    Photos
    MIXT
    FALAF 2.0 SALAD (vegan)
    FALAF 2.0 SALAD (vegan)
    BACHELOR SALAD

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    BACHELOR SALAD
    MIXT

    MIXT

    3.5
    (287 reviews)
    3.2 mi
    $$

    I came in specifically for the seasonal items and let me tell you... mission fully accomplished…read more My two picks were the Sonoma Salad and the Bangkok Bowl, and WOW -- both delivered in totally different (but equally amazing) ways. If you're craving something refreshing, light, and fruity, the Sonoma is a must. The pears take it to the next level and give it that perfect sweet, crisp bite that makes every forkful feel extra refreshing. It's the kind of bowl you order when you want to feel bright and satisfied. Now if you're in the mood for something warm, crunchy, and nutty, the Bangkok Bowl is your girl. The texture, the richness, the cozy vibes -- chef's kiss. It's hearty without being heavy and hits all the comfort-food notes. And can we talk about portions?! These bowls are NO joke. I swear I made a huge dent in mine, looked down thinking I was almost done... only to realize I basically still had a whole second meal left. Instant take-home win. On top of all that, the staff is super friendly, the space is clean, bright, and welcoming, and the whole experience just feels good from start to finish. I came for the seasonal menu but I'll definitely be back for everything else too. If you're debating what to order: Sonoma for fresh + fruity, Bangkok for warm + crunchy -- you truly can't go wrong!

    Salad bar? Excuse me, no. Salad LOUNGE. This is upper class salad that had a good childhood and…read morewent to a private school. I say this not in jest, but envy. This is the salad we wish we could have everyday. The main part of the restaurant is your standard table and booth situation, but off to the side is a darker, cozier arrangement of plush chairs and couches. The tables are a bit low and awkward to eat at, but the ambiance is immaculate. You can even get beer and wine here to complete the vibe. I will always love a MIXT salad. The ingredients are fresh, well-prepared, and fairly portioned. You can eat well and healthily and it's not unreasonably priced. I still mourn the loss of the green Goddess dressing... But I'll keep coming back regardless. It's that good.

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    Interior
    Interior
    Bangkok Bowl
    Bangkok Bowl
    ORCHARD

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    ORCHARD
    Healthyish Republic

    Healthyish Republic

    4.5
    (199 reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$
    Healthy dining
    LGBTQ friendly

    Delicious and super fresh salad. Yummy hummus…read more Great and friendly staff. Definitely Healthyish and Delicious

    I really wanted to like this place, but unfortunately, it was a disappointment. I ordered takeout,…read moreand when I arrived, my food was ready on time. The restaurant itself made a great first impression. It was clean, organized, and even had a nice little area set up for social media photos. Unfortunately, the food didn't live up to the presentation. I ordered the Mediterranean Bowl with Greek chicken. The chicken was dry, and it was obvious the seasoning had been sprinkled on after it was cooked instead of being cooked into the meat. I also ordered the Brussels sprouts and fried cauliflower. The Brussels sprouts looked perfectly crispy, which is exactly how they should have been, but they were soft and soggy instead. To make matters worse, the sauce was packed inside the same container, so the steam made them even soggier while also heating the small plastic sauce container inside. The fried cauliflower was equally disappointing. It looked crispy because of its golden brown color, but there wasn't a bit of crunch. Instead, it was oddly firm, almost al dente, making it feel more undercooked than fried. I also tried the garlic chicken soup, expecting something similar to Avgolemono. Instead, it was a thin, watered down broth with the same dry chicken pieces from the Mediterranean Bowl tossed in. The pita bread served with it was honestly the worst part of the meal and the only thing I threw away. Nothing was completely inedible, but for more than $60 worth of takeout, I expected food that matched the clean, inviting atmosphere of the restaurant. Sadly, this experience fell well short of that, and it's not a place I'll be returning to.

    Photos
    Keto & Gluten Free Zoodle
    Keto & Gluten Free Zoodle
    Healthyish Keto Bowls
    Healthyish Keto Bowls
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    RT Rotisserie

    RT Rotisserie

    4.2
    (892 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    5 but with a caveat (hoping mgmt sees this).... Their salads and food are the absolute BEST. We…read moreplacen an order most weeks for the office. The one catch --- the rotisserie chicken can be really greasy and/or they are even adding more oil directly into the salads (this happens even when you're ordering w/ salad dressing on the side).

    Order their Rotisserie chicken! It's a waste to order anything else because that's their specialty…read moreand it's just so good. I came with a group of 7, and they were able to seat us pretty quickly. We ordered: A whole rotisserie chicken, the RTR Rice Bowl, the Chicken soup, the fried chicken sandwich, the seared broccoli, the rotisserie fat rice, and the shredded cabbage & almond. Best Dishes: The Rotisserie chicken and the Shredded cabbage & almond. The rotisserie chicken skin is really crispy and delicious, we were all fighting over who gets to eat the skin. The chicken is so juicy, it's really the best rotisserie chicken I've had. We understand why this place is so well regarded. The shredded cabbage is definitely the best side and we should've gotten another order, as we quickly finished ours and were basically licking the bowl clean. Worst: The rotisserie fat rice and the chicken soup. The rice was basically untouched and none of us wanted to eat it. It's ok, just falls short compared to the other sides. The soup was also ok, it's just a huge bowl and it felt like a waste stuffing ourselves with that when there were other better dishes. The rice bowl was pretty good, and is really good value. It's yummy and a good meal for 12.50. It's a very casual place, you order at the cashier and find a table and seat yourself there. Great for a quick lunch.

    Photos
    Inside View of Restaurant
    Inside View of Restaurant
    RTR Salad $10.50 + Chicken $4.25; iced tea $4.00
    RTR Salad $10.50 + Chicken $4.25; iced tea $4.00
    Roasted Cauliflower $9.50

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    Roasted Cauliflower $9.50

    Lou's Cafe - coffee - Updated July 2026

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