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Lou's Cafe

4.4 (2k reviews)
Open • 8:00 am - 7:00 pm
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Business Info

LOU'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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

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Recommended Reviews - Lou's Cafe

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Reviews With Photos

Order ahead to skip the wait
Linda V.

Knew I wanted to get a sandwich from Lou's when I saw they have Dutch crunch bread. Ordered online to avoid wait time when I was in town to have it ready by the time I walked there. Staff was friendly when I walked in, greeted me with a good morning and everything tasted wonderful as expected. Split the pastrami sandwich I got (Ami-cado) with my friend and it was plenty. Ordered a latte for less than $6 so that's a steal in SF. Bag fee is 25 cents

Melissa P.

Friendliest people ever. Always looking forward to the next time I can come back!! Super clean and lovely spot, highly recommend. Best sandwiches in the city... clears Deli Board in my opinion.

Lou-Ben
Jasmine W.

Great place for a quick bite. Tried couple of their sandwiches but my favorite one is the Lou-ben with dutch crunch. Bread is always crispy on the outside. Lou's sauce is always on point, great compliment to the sandwich. Side of chips are also a must! Staff are usually nice and helpful. Sandwiches come out pretty quick. Easy parking in the front.

Ami-Cado (left), Chicken Pesto (middle), LLB Special (right)
Ashlee L.

SO AMAZING WOW. Came here because we were craving sandwiches after running a half marathon, and this hit more than the spot. I got the chicken pesto sandwich without cheese and wow the chicken was tender, the sauce was tasty, and the veggies were fresh. It came with avocado!! Bread was nice and soft too. The pesto did have a spicy kick to it though! Portion size was HUGEE, but we devoured them in like 10 minutes... We were able to order through phone call and pick up & pay on the spot which was very convenient:)

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!

Jessica S.

The risky bizzness is amazing. The crab salad on this sandwich takes it to the next level. Perfect pairing for a beach day

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.

outside

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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 there is no comparison! Ike's is gimmicky and High production. Compared if you must to Lou's is more like family and friendly.... with fresh and Delicious Bread & Deli meats!! Sooo Tasty!!!??

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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Lou's Cafe - coffee - Updated October 2026

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