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    Meat & Essentials

    4.7 (137 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    MEAT & ESSENTIALS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Meat & Essentials

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    Sausage roll
    Eric L.

    Came in late on a Sunday and was able to get the last of the meat pies and sausage rolls. Both items had thin flaky crusts and were stuffed with tender meat. I will definitely be back to try their other items.

    Sausage roll
    Les L.

    Meat & Essentials is a boutique butcher shop, grocery store, and cafe in San Marino. You must get their sausage roll, which is amazing. It is juicy flavorful house-made sausage surrounded by a flaky pastry. I also adore that they sell Martin's potato buns for burgers/hot dogs, because those are elite buns and really hard to find locally. They carry a lot of artisanal pantry items like this if you are a gourmand. I've purchased things out of their meat case before, like Eagle Wings (fancy deboned chicken wings). These are specialty items so they are pricey but great for occasion meals or needs. I would definitely consider coming here to buy ready-made frozen stock or other cool things I would not make myself. Props to the team for doing things the way they want to, churning out good products, and succeeding.

    Brekkie banger
    Doreen T.

    We arrived around 11am, not realizing the lunch menu doesn't start until noon. Since we live nearby, we went home to wait and by the time we returned, we were absolutely starving! Here's what we ordered: Roast Beef Sandwich - Roast beef isn't usually my thing, but my husband loved it, especially with the toasted sourdough. French Brekkie - Our favorite! A warm, buttery croissant filled with ham and cheese. Simple but incredibly delicious. Brekkie Banger - Egg and sausage on a soft potato bun, comfort food done right. Pumpkin Baguette - Pumpkin purée with cream cheese on a toasted baguette. such a unique combination. Our eyes were definitely bigger than our stomachs, but we didn't mind having leftovers. I also had a matcha latte sweetened with honey, which was perfectly balanced and comforting. Meat and Essentials is more than just a café, it's also a charming little grocery shop stocked with unique items you won't find at regular stores. Can't wait to come back on the weekend to try their Australian meat pies and sausage rolls!

    Amanda L.

    This is my go-to weekend brunch treat! I'm a big fan of the meat pies - whatever flavors they have on the weekends, I'll grab one and it never fails to impress. The meat is especially high quality and I love the flaky textures! Just a delightfully decadent little pie to have with a cup of tea. I've also purchase their container of Lu Rou Fan in the past and cooked it with some noodles and it was incredible. I'm so grateful to live near this beloved and unique neighborhood staple. The people are always wonderful here and you can tell everyone that comes by is a regular - this place is well loved!

    Wasima K.

    Even though I live in the area, I had never heard of this place. I was looking for a place to meet some family members that were in town and I really just focused on the coffee. They got good reviews for the coffee. And the coffee was excellent. They carry Torres chips which are my absolute favorite. There are beautifully stocked butcher cases with high quality items and fresh made food in the open kitchen. They have a wonderful selection of sandwiches, Aussie meat pies and sausage rolls. The food was absolutely delicious. I loved the sandwich with Olympic Provisions meet and I liked the lamb sandwich with eggplant and tomato chutney, which is to die for. The bread was wonderful as well. They may have other things on the menu but I didn't really look in detail. The ambience was wonderful as was the very warm and personalized service. I definitely plan on being a regular.

    Diana L.

    This place has been on my list for a while and I'm so glad that we finally made our way over to visiting it! Located right on Huntington, with plenty of street side parking out front. It was our first time visiting the shop and the servers were very friendly in introducing us to the must try item. Just a heads up that they do take a minute to prep the food, but it's def worth the wait! It's a combo of a butcher shop and a deli, with some seating inside and outside. We were so bummed out when we saw that the Breekies were out, instead we got the Lamb Panini and a Tom Yum Pork Pie, and they did not disappoint! The panini has the right amount of juice and gaminess that a lamb lover would appreciate, coupled with goat cheese(?) and spinach, sooooooooo good!! The pork pie reminded me of the English meat pies, much bigger in size and definitely meaty and flavorful but not tangy like the English pies that I've had. We also got a flat white and that was very tasty as well, the foam was velvety and smooth and the espresso is fragrant and bright. Will definitely come back again to try the pastries, steaks, and all the fun stuff in the fridge.

    Menu. Special changes weekly
    Damon T.

    TLDR: OMG best sandwhich I've had in my life. The lamb sandwhich is crazyyyyyy. Nice mom and pop spot. Love the homey vibe. Super nice owners. Came on Sunday for brunch. Little mom and pop shop on Huntington Drive with plenty of street parking. They have outdoor and indoor seating. They butcher some high quality fresh meats as well as make some amazing sandwhiches. It is like a one stop shop for the perfect picnic! Bring your picnic basket, order some sandwhiches, pick up some snacks, buy some wines, condiments, and sauces. They have everything you may need for a picnic or barbecue at home! Need to come back to try some of their butchered meats. Sandwhich Review Roast Lamb: 100000000/10 holy smokes. First off, their bread is amazing. Super fresh crunchy warm sourdough. Great flavor. The roast lamb inside is super juicy, slightly gamey in all the best ways, paired with arugula, feta cheese, balsamic glaze for a little sweetness, and housemade eggplant tomato chutney. These guys are whipping up some magic back there. Super unique as I rarely ever see roast lamb served as deli slices in a sandwhich. Holy smokes. I dream of sandwhiches like this. My mouth is watering as I recall my experience biting through the warm crispy bread and the explosion of juices in my mouth. The contrast of the arugula, feta, sweet glaze, and chutney. Hits every single note on my palate. This is textbook flavor bomb. Must try. Weekly Special: Mortadella Highlight is the sourdough ciabatta. Warm crunchy and perfectly chewy to give you layers of texture as you bite in. I fell in love with bread after visiting Meat and Essentials. I used to be an only Dutch Crunch bread on my sandwhiches guy but maybe it's just cuz other places weren't doin bread right. Pan fried mortadella, lemon vinaigrette arugula Swiss, and pickled fennel. Perfect salty sour sweet bitter. I should wrap this review up cuz I just finished lunch and I'm getting hungry again. THIS PLACE DOES SANDWHICHES. I'm never going anywhere else for sandwhiches ever again. On top of this, the owners are so nice. Every person who walked in the door was treated like family. Sparking conversations and having little catch ups. How do you scale this up. You can't. This is truly a hidden gem and I hope they never change. Come swing by say hi and grab a sandwhich straight from heaven. Half of me wants to gatekeep, but they deserve to go viral. Thank you thank you thank you. This sandwhich is one of my highlights of 2025.

    Claire S.

    Came here looking for a new soy sauce from Taiwan that only Meat & Essentials is carrying it in the SGV. They have a very eclectic collection of pantry items and well stocked freezer/refrigerator. The staff are all very helpful and friendly. I've ordered hard to find lamb ribs from the shop last time and it's very good quality lamb. They also have fresh coffee, sandwiches and some pastries. Nice shop to have in the neighborhood and SGV!

    Jason B.

    Two of my friends and I were in town, attending a historical walking tour of San Gabriel Cemetery. We decided to grab a bite to eat, but, didn't know where. I hopped onto Yelp, and looked up what was good under Restaurants. Meat & Essentials was the second name that came up, and what I decided on. We were still a few doors down when we saw one of the workers outside, exchanging pleasantries and a bit of a conversation with a couple of locals sitting outside. As we approached the door, she ended her conversation, and invited us in, even holding the door open for us! The place is small, with some coolers on one side with cold beverages, and packaged meats, and some stuff to put in dumplings(I think that's what I saw), bags of charcoal for sale on the floor standing upright cleverly form a path for patrons to follow, past some of their wares. They had some music playing, but not too loud. The food menu is somewhat limited, due to them not being a restaurant(they're a Butcher Shop that serves food and drink), which was explained to us later by one of the guys. Seating is also limited, but, there are tables and chairs outside. All their food is made-to-order, from the very meats they have on hand. One of my friends ordered the roast lamb sandwich, as did I. My other friend ordered the Special (Butter Beef Brisket). They shared a bottle of wine(they give you a glass, and pour you some of the wine you ordered, and keep the bottle behind the counter, but will fill your glass upon request). If you don't feel like ordering tea, coffee, espresso, or wine, there's a water dispenser with cups towards the back-left corner of the shop, close to the tables. Our orders reached our table within 10-11 minutes after we ordered. The sourdough was toasted(?) to perfection, the lamb was tender, and delicious. The balsamic glaze, the feta cheese, and the eggplant & tomato chutney all made for an interesting flavor that complemented the meat. My friend that ordered the Special enjoyed it, but my friend who also ordered the Roast Lamb said it was fine, but, apparently wasn't a fan of the eggplant & tomato chutney. I ended up eating half of his sandwich, and took the other half home with me(all the way back to Garden Grove!), where I reheated it in our toaster oven, and ate the rest. All in all, this place is a cozy little place that serves up some delicious sammies, but, that's not all they offer, when you look at the menu, as well as the rest of the goodies they have around the shop. The next time I'm in the area, I'll give this place another go. Did I mention that the people working there are super nice? Very pleasant, and attentive. The locals, I get the feeling, will testify to that. Oh, I have to apologize to the crew for us just leaving our plates and glasses at our table. I didn't see the trash can at the front until we were on our way out the door after thanking the crew for a great lunch, so, I feel I need to apologize. Sorry, guys!

    Joseph B.

    Meat & Essentials is hands down one of the best spots around. The quality of the meat is always fresh, clean, and top-notch, and you can tell they really care about what they sell. The selection is great, prices are fair, and the staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to help. Everything is well organized and the service is fast and professional. Highly recommend this place if you're looking for quality meats and great customer service. I'll definitely be coming back!

    Special: steak on ciabatta roll
    Miori I.

    Stop #8 on the Friday Sammy Tour Pretty happy to have found Meat & Essentials. We are always looking for high quality meats to bring home for meals. The aesthetic of Meat & Essentials was extremely pleasing. Brightly lit, minimally decorated, clean open space. I loved that there was a short front counter that was open to viewing the what looked like the owners going over recipes. Picture perfect stainless steel butcher table with food and wine being tasted. Loved it! Service was top notch. Friendly neighborhood feel for sure. After we placed our order, a regular came in asking for dinner suggestions and conversing with staff like they've known each other forever. Tons of unique seasoning and sides on the shelves. Sauces, snacks, ice cream, soups, and freshly butchered meat available in the fridges. The food: - Coppa baguette sandwich on Bub & Grandma's French Baguette. I don't know if it was the French butter or the best cuts of coppa and salami but the flavors exceeded my expectations. Literally melted in my mouth. -Special: Steak sandwich on Bub & Grandma's Ciabbata Roll. Toasty, crunchy, with carmelized onions, steak, and Kewpie Mayo (which I love on anything). The also have a breakfast and coffee menu that I'm interested in trying. Might have to take a morning walk soon.

    Sasa F.

    Second visit was a better experience. Roast Beef Sandwich was good (our favorite). Roast Lamb and Luca were fine/decently good. Limited seating inside. One table and small bar seating with two high chairs I think. However, they do have two little two-top tables outside. Parking in front was well as the back. Market selection is interesting. Kinda like it. FOOD: Roast Beef Sandwich 4.5/5 Roast Lamb 4/5 Luca 4/5 DRINKS: Jun 4.5/5 Cashier (manager/owner?) said it's sister to kombucha, which it does taste like it. Fermented green tea with raw honey. Iced Matcha Latte 3/5 It was quite milky and not that sweet despite getting it with vanilla syrup for slight sweetness. They do use ceremonial grade matcha, so that is a plus.

    Amazing.
    Alex P.

    You young bucks won't know this reference, but this is how you feel when you walk through these doors: Sometimes you wanna go Where everybody knows your name And they're always glad you came Yep, Cheers. The warm and fuzzy feeling you feel like Monica and Rachel's apartment door always open to welcome you, very home-y. Boutique Market? Deli? Butcher? Liquor store? A little bit of everything but not overwhelming what so ever. The quintessential quality over quantity where everything sold here is at the utmost quality in its category. The Crown Jewels Sandwiches here are second to none. It's in the crispiness of the baked croissants, the simplicity of ingredients, the perfectly cooked eggs and the delicious "g sauce"!! I don't know if they sell this "g sauce" but you could put this on ANYTHING and it'll be off the chain!

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    4 months ago

    always great pastries, coffees, teas and sandwiches - meat pies are great. Excellent for hand butchered cuts of meat and other items.

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    4 months ago

    Yummy sandwiches, meat and super service. It was late so I didn't get to try the coffee or meat pies and other goodie's. Definitely a winner

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    Ask the Community - Meat & Essentials

    Are sandwiches made until 4pm?

    Yes, the kitchen closes at 4pm every day they're open

    How much is the lamb sandwich?

    18$

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    April 7, 2026 Claro's San Gabriel…read more When ever I have a craving for a great submarine sandwich this is where I come. Subway Nah NO WAY JOSE their sandwiches are shit !! Claro's is the Real Deal for submarine sandwiches I usually get 2 when I'm there. I get the pre-made ones out of the refrigerated showcase they have different kinds so you just have to look at the sandwich and decide what's best for you. Oh don't forget that Claro's is closed on Wednesday open for 6 days out of the week.

    out of all the places in the San Gabriel Valley, this place truly astonishes me. The quality of…read morefood and variety stands out. Especially, I love the cannoli, Italian sandwiches made fresh to order with sliced meats and cheeses, and the fun little ingredients sprinkled throughout the market. coming here as a kid, I used to love how they had straw on the ground. The big old hunk of cheese hanging from the ceiling. The smells, the sites, and the friendly faces I'd see, offering me treats. I feel like the best cannoli I've ever had is here. I've been all over for cannolis, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, etc. but no one really does it like they do it here! The ricotta is creamy with chocolate chips and candied fruit, and the edges are lined with nuts . Sprinkled with a perfect amount of powdered sugar, it's so delightful with the crunchy shell. My dad likes to order the sfogtitelle, pronounced soy uh della. Kind of funny spelling, huh? It's a pastry layered with semolina flour (aka pasta flour) and stuffed with a citrus cream custard. That's good here as well, they also sell it frozen so you can bake it at home. Always a must to grab a sandwich here. They cut the deli meat and cheese right in front of you. There's a wide selection of meats and cheeses to choose from. If you like more of the spicy stuff, I would suggest salami's like the hot Calabrese, hot soppresata, and chorizo. The Italian ham is good as well, mortadella and capacolo. I always also have Cajun turkey in the sandwich. Lots of good cheeses to choose from, Havarti is nice and creamy, provolone has a nice tangy taste, pepper Jack has a little kick, and Swiss a funny little taste. They let you sample the meats and cheeses so you can figure it out for yourself too haha. Always pay extra for the roasted red peppers in the sandwich, it's worth it trust me. me and my friends also love to get the deli meats and cheeses for a charcuterie boards. It's a good deal, cheaper than what you would pay in a market for incredibly fresh meat. They sometimes even give you an airtight container to keep it super fresh. Grocery shopping here for specialty items is great as well. In the freezer section, they have an incredible fresh pesto, but they also have a lot of canned sauces as well. The blood orange juice is nice. My family always gets the Italian sausages by the pound in the big old bag to make sausages with tomato sauce. I've been going here since I was a kid, and I'm happy to see it still thriving. There is truly no other place like this in the San Gabriel Valley, I wish I still lived close to here, but I guess it makes it even more special when I'm around.

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    Piccadilly Grace - Prosciutto and Brie in ciabatta delish!

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    4.2(402 reviews)
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    I'm never on this side of town, My friend sent me a promo…read morethat I've been trying to get. As soon as I walked in cashier helped me right away. This quiet hidden cafe is hidden between the boarder of Pasadena and San Marino. It's a tiny location without any real signage outside. I drove right past it without even knowing. If I woke up early enough this would be a great place for brunch. Because it was a promo, I got a free sandwich and let my cashier pick for me. The French onion roasted beef, Real onion with those crispy fried tiny onions on top of the roast beef and provolone cheese.

    Came here because of a promotion and was surprised at how fresh and delicious the food was. It was…read morecrowded and you order yourself at the cashier, get a number, and get your own table. I tried their vegan sandwich and it was so delicious and the bread was springy and fresh. I will say if you save the sandwich it probably would get soggy because of so many fresh moist ingredients in it. I also tried the lavender matcha latte, iced. They have oat or almond milk and I saw in their fridge its barista milk edition. Also I was told a baseline their match is "ceremonial grade" from Uji. I will say the matcha latte was one of my favorites. Overall really great. My order did seem to take awhile and while they checked in with me when they noticed me still waiting...I could see some impatient faces of other guests.

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