This is my go-to lunch spot in Ballston. You can't go wrong with the multitude of bread options and fresh-cut meats right before your very eyes. The secret of this place is their daily special. You get a sandwich, chips, and drink usually for $7 or less. Lunch anywhere else in Ballston is $10+! The chicken salad is incredible. Tuna salad is delicious. Steak and cheese is one of the best in the area. I walk past a dozen other lunch options just to go to Mike's because it is always so good... and Mike is just a great guy too! read more

Very Nice cafe, Very good food for the price. Ate there multiple mornings on our vacation

BEST sandwich place in Arlington! Cannot say enough about Mike's or recommend it enough to friends and colleagues! I've been coming here consistently at least once if not twice a week since my first review. Although the line is very long most weekdays when I come for lunch, it moves quickly as their staff is incredibly swift and efficient. The food is incredibly consistent - meat always carved in front of you, vegetables always fresh, and since I usually get a melt - always hot even by the time I get back to the office. Absolutely love this place. If you haven't been here - try it! Thank you Mike and staff for being so close to my office and home! I'll continue to recommend to friends! read more

OTried the Tuna melt...delicious! They are only open for breakfast and lunch and close shop around 3pm....Its your standard deli, but the service was fast and given that you can sit, eat and have a conversation without the loud noise of some other places that are similar (like First Watch) this will be perfect. If the weather is right, you can sit outside and enjoy your order....Tried the Tuna melt...delicious! read more

Mike's Cafe - Order station..breakfast ends at 1030am - Delis Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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This place is excellent. Good service and damn good breakfast, Korean BBQ, and now the quick and convenient dinner menu. Friendly management. read more

Recommended by a friend. Great food! I had the Cuban on whole wheat and this mister had the turkey, whole wheat. Fresh carved when you order and we also shared a bowl of chilli; which was very delish and hearty! Staff is very nice and place is super clean! read more

Mike's Cafe - Yummy pork Cuban and hearty chilli! - Delis Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

I went here because I was craving a sandwich and people on Yelp said this was an awesome place. When I got there, I got the Italian sandwich. It was one of the worst sandwiches I have ever eaten in my life. The bread was hard, the veggies were not fresh. Pretty much will never go here again in my life and I would really recommend people to check out Lost Dog or Jimmy Johns. read more

Decent bibimbap for a deli! Certainly good enough to satisfy my Korean food craving. The pictures on Yelp show a hardboiled egg, but mine was the appropriate runny fried egg. Portions were huge, the meat was fresh, there was a good variety of veggies, and the bowl even came with a side of gim. (No idea why. I saved the gim for later.) Nice service, too -- I asked for extra sauce and the owner, who was putting on his jacket to leave, ran into the back and handed me another portion with a smile. Only caveat: Avoid the coffee. read more

I like how they have hand-carved meats and fully customizable sandwiches for a good price, but I didn't think the sandwiches were as good as everyone else raves. I got a roast beef sandwich on a baguette, and my friend got the turkey melt. I'm glad the meats were not dry, but there was something missing. I prefer Brooklyn Bagel over Mike's. read more

the food is good, but the service sucks. i prepaid for food online, and when i picked it up i wanted to add a drink to my order, but they refused bc i didn't have any cash to pay with. they also neglected to put my sauce and any silverware in my bag. they were pissy with me about all of this. i probably won't return read more

All of my coworkers know of and rave about Mike's deli. When I started my job in Ballston, a generous coworker shared the secret of Mike's my first week and I've been visiting consistently for the last year. The only thing I have ever, and will ever order there is the Turkey Melt. I'll mix it up with the bread choice, but this is an amazing sandwich. Something to know about Mike's - they don't have prepackaged deli meats to put on your sandwich, instead, they will literally take an ACTUAL turkey that has just been roasting and cut off hunks of it for your sandwich. This is an amazing sandwich, it comes with bacon (BACON!), alfalfa sprouts, and avocado. The staff are friendly, super efficient and fast, and the gentleman who is typically at the register seems to remember you and say hello when you come in. Either that, or he is just really friendly. Don't be fooled by the unassuming location and decor. This sandwich is so much better than the offerings at the chain sandwich shops nearby. Also, don't be worried about a long line - it moves fairly rapidly. read more

For a grab and go lunch, this is the spot! Just outside of all the other food trucks parked on the street, this place at least offers a place to sit, inside or out. And of course, great food! The clean Deli shop offers hot prepared sandwiches with fresh sides, fountain soda, bottled drinks, chips and a Korean corner! This shop may be offering you the all-American lunch but for those that want something different like a bibimbap for lunch, he has another line/window for those hungry ones. Quite impressive for $10 at a deli shop. Plenty of choices of different meat for your bibimbap, a drink, and a side of kimchi. 4 stars for cleanliness, taste of food, quick and friendly service, and many choices offered for lunch. read more

Mike's Cafe is located underneath an apartment building and close to the Ballston metro station. We ordered the Big Plate which included home fries, 2 eggs, your choice of breakfast meat, and your choice of toasted bread. They must have over 7 choices of bread! It's just typical breakfast food but the variety of bread just made me happy. The SOMA grilled chicken burger is topped with cheese, lettuce, tomato, and avocado. I don't remember mine having the mushrooms and onions but it could've been on there. It was good but it got tiring to eat the second half of the sandwich. I was more so tired of the taste, if that makes sense. They also serve different types of coffee and espresso at the other counter. The shop sells a variety of other things like cake slices, candies, chips, and beverages to go with your main item. read more

Mike's Cafe - SOMA burger with provolone cheese instead - Delis Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Hand-carved turkey and staff that actually LISTEN to what you want on your sandwich. I love that they have a ton of toppings and very much like Subway, they put them on right in front of you. Really good spot for a delicious hot pastrami sandwich! read more

I would rate this a 4.5 if I could... This place is definitely one of, if not the best, lunch spot in Ballston. The turkey melt and fresh carved roast beef are both amazing and they have quite the abundance of fresh toppings and spreads for you to choose from. The only reason I can't quite go to 5 stars is that you can't leave there with a sandwich, chips and a soda for less than $10 (just over). Definitely worth stopping by if you are in the area though! read more

I've lived in the Ballston area for years and tried a lot of the local spots but had never given Mike's a chance until a couple weeks ago. I'm certainly glad I did - I've only had the opportunity to try a few things from their menu so far but they've all been pretty tasty. So far I've tried the Chicken Philly, Steak & Cheese, and Soma Burger. All three were pretty good and very freshly prepared. The other thing that I appreciate is the quality of the ingredients. My most recent order was a Steak & Cheese: the meat was freshly grilled and the cheese was perfectly melted, a ripe fresh tomato was sliced, and a new head of lettuce was also used. It definitely makes a difference when higher quality ingredients such as these are used! read more

Mike's Cafe - Delis Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

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Stopped here for breakfast and we were not disappointed. Food is prepared to order, and was a huge amount. The price was less than waffle house and much better. Nice location and fast service. read more

I grabbed lunch here with a friend yesterday around noon. There was a little bit of a line, but the whole ordering process went smoothly and pretty quickly. I got a roast beef with provolone on a ciabatta roll. The meats are all freshly roasted and carved in front of you. There didn't seem to be an additional charge for sandwich fixings either. Turns out the roast beef sandwich was on special, so for like an additional 50 cents, I also got a bag of chips and a 16 oz drink. My grand total was under $7 and it was filling. This deli is really close to my apartment, so I see myself coming back. read more

I have ordered from here, via Amazon Restaurants delivery, as I have bad legs and rarely eat at restaurants.. (and I am not sure how you would park for Mike's) .. I guess in a garage nearby. The sandwiches are of a good quality nature, as are the wraps. The service is fast, and there are many options for the sandwiches as to what kind of bread (or bagel, or croissant) etc you want, and you can request most common condiments on them, or on the side of the menu does not specify them. A nice outfit, and I have found the quality to be consistently good. Reasonable if not low prices, as well. Give them a try! read more

Got the pastrami sandwich. It was decent, however, what happened to the days when a slice of cheese on your sandwich was standard and not charged as "extra"? It beats a chain deli any day though. read more

Sandwiches are delicious and big

I came here on a recommendation of a Cal alum during our lunch hour. Mike's Cafe was just steps away from the offlice. Literally, we just cross the street, and we're there. There was a long line when we arrived, but the line was quickly moving. We were in and out quicker than I'd expected. The sandwiches looked great, especially the ones on their melt menu. As one of the co-workers said, "You've come to the best sandwich place in town!" when we bumped into him. Though I didn't try one this time around, I'd definitely go back for a sandwich on the list. The meat are hand-carved and not the deli kind. I did get the minestrone soup. It packed on the flavor, and the ingredients were fresh. Unlike many I've tried, this one wasn't overly salty at all! I definitely appreciated this. This will definitely be a place I'd go again for lunch! It is also budget friendly--most items are below $7! read more

This place is a gem. Having recently moved to the Arlington-Ballston area, I have been on a quest trying to explore different places to eat in the area. My coworker actually had found this place first and recommended that I try it. Now, we make it a thing to eat here at least twice a week. My personal favorite at Mike's is the steak and cheese. It reminds me of a cheesesteak, though not as messy and easier to eat. The meat is cooked perfectly and has great flavor. Additionally, I usually like to toss in a few jalapeno peppers to mix it up. The melts here are delicious as well, such as the tuna or turkey melts. Lastly, give their chili a shot. It is freshly made and a delight to eat. I have yet to try Mike's for breakfast; it is definitely next on my list. Mike's is clean and spacious, with chairs and tables outside for use on a nice day. The lines can be long during lunch hours, but they move pretty fast. Prices are very reasonable as well. Honestly, after reading the reviews for Mike's and writing my own, I think I'll be going there today for lunch. I foresee a delicious food coma to come! read more

Holy smokes! Where have you been? I moved from Northern NJ over a year ago and I've been desperately looking for a breakfast joint that made decent breakfast sandwiches. I FINALLY FOUND IT! (with help from Yelp) Bacon, egg, and cheese on a plain bagel. Not a complicated order but it was perfection. I've been thoroughly disappointed in the DC/NOVA area with cafes and their bagels. Mike's Cafe is the exception. Like everyone else has said: Pros: Clean, Wide selection of anything you'd want in a cafe, and great service. Cons: It's in Ballston (not particularly close to me but well worth the15 minute drive. Do yourself a favor - stop reading this and go to Mike's Cafe! read more

Their specialty is hand-carved meat. Mike's carves the meat in front of you and loads on toppings until you think the bread can't hold anymore. I've had the Cuban Pork, Turkey, Chicken Breast, Tuna Salad, and Chicken Salad. It is all flavorful and moist. After choosing your tasty bread and meat, you are given the choice of a large array of fresh toppings. The resulting sandwich is both delicious and HUGE. Don't forget to grab a pre-wrapped pickle spear at the register when you pay! Fresh vegetables, hand-carved roasted meats, a large variety of drinks, friendly (and efficient and fast-moving!) staff - can't ask for much more in a sandwich deli. Lines are long but move quickly. Even on the rare occasions that it doesn't, it's still worth the wait! read more

I didn't get the Mike's Cafe breakfast experience. 'To rush me is to annoy me.' I was the only person in the cafe when I arrived for my takeout breakfast. The preparer was like Speedy Gonzalez. Never have I felt so rushed to order and get out of a place. The cashier was a sleepy, emotionless, and unknowledgeable teenager. *sigh The roasted turkey that I ordered was pretty dried out. Seems like a so-so deli joint to me. Nothing memorable. Maybe I'll give it another go for lunch to compare but for now, one thumb down. read more

Very big portion, ordered a Western Omelets! Surprisingly big! Very nice neighborhood Deli Cafe. Nice staff!

One of the things that sucks about living in Ballston but working elsewhere is that there are so many great lunch places you never get to eat at. The pizza cart, the Afghan Kabob cart that used to be there, Ravi Kabob, etc. Add Mike's to that list. Fresh, crisp vegetables, hand-carved roasted meats, a great variety of sandwiches and toppings - can't ask for much more in a sandwich deli except to stay open past 5pm. The Cuban pork is flavorful and moist and they do a pretty decent gyro. Add some alfalfa sprouts to the mix and you've got a delicious and filling $6 sandwich. read more

Ok, found my go-to sandwich place in Arlington. Great classic sandwiches AND cheap prices. There is indoor seating, but also hoping for outdoor seating in the summer. Finally a sandwich place with more meat than lettuce. And real meat, not deli cuts. These days I do not consider a sandwich a meal, but a snack filler when I can't make a real lunch/dinner. But Mike's makes a great sandwich; uses romain not shredded iceberg lettuce, fresh looking extras, and fresh soft bread. The end result is a satisfying TASTY meal. And the price? All the sandwiches were $5.75 or less. As bonus, I didn't leave the place smelling like what I ate (think potbelly's). Only negative is the seating. At first I didn't think they had any, but there are two long bar type tables and chairs off to the side. Not a problem when its not busy, but a little to close to comfort to your neighbor if its crowded. So, great tasty sandwiches and at really low prices. Definitely will be returning. read more

New spot, hopefully, it keeps to its great standards. They roast their own turkey. Do I really need to say more? I had a reuben and the man had a pastrami sandwich. (I think we watched a pastrami special on food network or something) Both were really good, clean tasting (no muddling of flavor), quality sandwiches. I was pleased. The gentleman behind the counter, who I believe to be Mike, also carved us a taste of the fresh turkey on the counter. It was moist and I can't wait to go back to try that between two slices of bread. Be sure to check this place out, while it's still new and its quality is still high. read more

Pros: Freshly carved meat Choice of bread Variety in terms of toppings Cons: Service is average, at best Penny pinching in terms of extra charges for items The sandwhiches don't seem to be any different than any other Salads are small for the price read more

I work at the NSF and this place is right across the street. Mike is super friendly and the sandwiches are really good. The turkey melt is delicious, and so is the carved roast beef. It's important to tell the carver at the front of the line to not put the ends of the roast beef in your sandwich - or else you'd have a really chewy sandwich. The bibimbap here is also pretty good, but the composition changed recently (I'm guessing to save money) and you'll have to add your sauce separately - they used to come in little cups. The combo is still delicious with the pepper sauce. I've only had breakfast here a handful of times, and it was ok. Not great like the sandwiches, but ok. read more

I saw something today made me not to want to ever eat here, she was making a breakfast sandwich and forgot to toast the pita bread she took the salsa off the bread and wipe the bread with a cloth and put it in the toaster oven, then she ringing up the food at the cash register with gloves on then go back fixing food, that grossed me out being though we have a pandemic they have good chicken salad sandwiches but you really have to watch them fixing your food. read more

I followed the suggestions from here and wholly agree - great stuff. The breakfast menu is a little limited, so when I wanted breakfast two days in a row I just got the omlette with the veggies and bacon both times. Very good, very fresh, very inexpensive (breakfast was four dollars). The sandwiches are outstanding - I am sitting in front of a beautiful turkey melt savoring the second half. There is something brilliant about ordering a turkey sandwich and seeing the employee pull out a big roasted turkey and a carving knufe. Anytime in the area, I'll be going back here. They also happen to serve my favorite chai here, Big Train. It is a shame they don't have the sugar free version, but it is a stellar chai nontheless. read more

I would give 3.5 stars. Mike is super nice and the food is good, but nothing very special. Disclaimer: I've only ever tried their breakfast food. The menu is fairly standard (for breakfast) and it's all delicious -- but again, nothing is very distinct either. Definitely come for the convenience and price. read more

I've tried about 5 sandwiches now and they all have been really tasty. My favorite is breakfast bagel sandwich and Reuben sandwich.(and chicken noodle soup) You can choose your own bread. The deli is maintained very clean. Staffs and Mike are super friendly. I would like to try all menu there a one day. I know I wouldn't be disappointed! read more

Mike's Cafe - Egg, sausage, cheese bagel! Breakfast menu - Delis Near Me - Arlington, Virginia

Mike's is a go to lunch spot for me as I work right on Glebe. All the sandwiches are tasty. I usually get chicken salad with a lot of added veggies. Pretty dank chicken salad. If you're into fountain Sprite, Mike's is the A1. Lunch special is solid. Added bonus, Mike, is a really nice guy. Usually works the register. read more

Great place to grab a quick bit. My go to is the bacon egg and cheese on a poppy bagel. Great way to start the work day. Service is quick and the staff is very friendly. read more

Under the new owner/management, Mike's cafe became my favorite of all in town. If you are looking for healthy and affordable lunch, you must come here. Today, I just had chicken bibimbap. It had steamed carrots, broccoli, lettuce salad with special spicy dressing, a scoop of white rice, deliciously marinated chicken ( with tasty teriyaki sauce) and chapche style clear noodle. You get protein, vitamins, carbs, all the nutrition in this scrumptious dish for just $7.25!!! They even had my favorite Ito-en's green tea!!! I'm going to try their sandwiches next time! Their coffee is great, too. Their stuff members are really friendly. I recommend this place to anyone who will be in that area!! read more

Awesome grill and deli. They even make fresh sushi which many people were ordering and enjoying. We were here for a late breakfast and ordered bacon and egg sandwiches. The portions are huge and the food was delicious. read more