Maybe one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. How do you get fresher than fresh? Bake your own bread, slice your own meats, and make one outstanding sandwich at a time. No idea where to park, there's no lot and no easy side streets, but take a little hike and give this place a try. If you can make it there, you'll be rewarded with a sandwich that's worth every step. This is what a sandwich shop should be. Everything tastes fresh, thoughtfully prepared, and made with care. In a world full of chain sandwich shops, this place reminds you what a truly great sandwich is supposed to taste like. I'll gladly walk a few extra blocks to come back here again. read more

If you're a fan of chain sandwich shops with standard menus, scripted conversations ("Make that a meal?") and quick assembly line service then this isn't your spot. Come to the Sourdough eatery for their fresh & warm sourdough bread, copious meat portions, and aging decor with kitschy art painted by the owner who also served you today. Then eat in their garden courtyard and add the Sourdough Eatery to your downtown lunch rotation. Downsides? It's Cash only and come prepared as the in-store ATM is frequently broken. They don't allow customization and you order by number. Also there no parking lot so take your chances on street parking which this close to the courthouse means you'll often walk a bit. But ... Support these longtime San Jose mom-and-pop places. They have soul this town needs; something that's in even shorter supply than the loaded pastrami and turkey on fresh sourdough I demolished this afternoon read more

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Barbara & Gelacio are really quite incredible. Also incredible is the patience shown by nearly every guest who stands in line during peak times waiting to order and enjoy one of the best sandwiches in California. In a world of "instantaneous" results, it's really quite amazing to experience. There's just a calm as each knows the wait is so worth it. It's just wonderful to once again see and personally experience the line that winds thru Barbara's delightful museum of personal paintings, art, momentos and more--ultimately reaching Gelacio and the order counter. He welcomes you and off you go. You are now almost ready to enjoy heaven. Make your choice of the BEST sandwich and pickle--all fresh ingredients including steamy warm sourdough...just outstanding. Gelacio makes the sandwich in about 60 seconds. Then pivot back to Barbara to see her smile and efficiently accept your cash payment and off to the outside patio to enjoy this one of a kind sandwich. It's almost too good to be true. Sourdough Eatery has been around since 1978. I've been enjoying these sandwiches since about 1991. Pick an off time for a shorter line but no matter--the sandwich is worth it no matter! read more

Sourdough Eatery - Sandwiches Near Me - San Jose, California

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This has got to be the BEST SANDWHICH in the Bay Area. First time here and I was impressed. Arrived there around 11am. Parking is on the street considering they do not have their own parking lot. However, when I got to the restaurant it wasn't packed and I got the chance to talk to the gentlemen that makes the sandos. He asked me if it was my first time at the shop and I said, "yes." He cut a piece of sourdough for me to try, and it was delicious. It was like biting into a cloud it was so soft all I needed was butter. what I order: -#4 #10 #12 All sandos were delicious, big portions, and we enjoyed them. Great customer service. Will definitely be coming back here! read more

Sourdough Eatery - Sandwiches Near Me - San Jose, California

***CASH ONLY Just a heads up, it isn't obvious, but this is a cash only establishment. I think it could be more clear. It was a good thing I noticed last minute. Aside from that, if you enjoy freshly made sourdough bread, you will love this place. The star of the show is indeed the bread, but it is delicious! I sure wish they added some better veggies on there, and there was no tomato? I noticed the worker hustling, and slings out those sandwiches pretty quickly. I'll try the cheese sandwich next time, since that one is recommended. read more

Sourdough Eatery - Turkey sandwich. The amazing sourdough bread steals the show. - Sandwiches Near Me - San Jose, California

Finally had a chance to try this local staple. Upon walking in this place is covered in paintings from none other than Barbara herself. She was in the shop and was pulling fresh sourdough out of the oven as we walked up to the counter. Now when I say this woman is a relic and icon I mean it. The man behind the counter is whipping out sandwiches like nothing. We got a sample of the sourdough because he had cut into a new loaf and shared the end, which was warm and delicious. I ordered the spicy peppered turkey and my husband had the ham and pastrami. I really liked the turkey, very flavorful and hearty. The ham and pastrami were great as well. Now this is a very simple sandwich but no notes. Each one comes with Swiss cheese, mayo/spread, lettuce, and a pickle. read more

Absolutely beautiful place! It's got that rustic, medieval feel. It was like traveling back in time! The workers were very nice, truly elevating the experience. The sandwiches were absolutely amazing! You have got to try them any time you're passing through San Jose. Simply delicious. read more

Sourdough Eatery - Sandwiches Near Me - San Jose, California

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I want to keep this place all to myself!!! Wow, wow, wow! Fresh, delicious sandwiches, and the carrot cake is so good. Fast and friendly service. It is so wonderfully eclectic. Whatva treasure of a place. read more

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My favorite sandwich place in San Jose. I've been coming for years and everyone I bring loves them too. Barbara, the owner, bakes the bread daily so it's always fresh like the rest of the ingredients in the sandwich. It's just her and the guy who makes the sandwiches but they're quite a team. He's quick and has the menu memorized so all you have to say is #11 and he's on it. I usually get #11 (the turkey) or #16 (turkey and salami). It's a good sized sandwich. Sometimes I finish the whole thing and sometimes I save the other half for later. They also have plenty of canned and bottled drinks to choose from They have seating inside and outside. I prefer sitting outside especially in the back. You don't feel like you're in San Jose. Plenty of seating back there and the whole place is decorated with paintings that Barbara painted herself, signs and plants They don't have a parking lot so you'll need to find street parking and walk over. Make sure you out enough money on the meter because they do check. Ask how I know It's cash only but they have an ATM inside. I think recently they set up Venmo as well read more

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When here in February. Took the train to SJ and then light rail. What a great place. Fresh, out-of-the-oven bread. Lovely gem with ample outdoor dining areas. I look forward to going to this place again. read more

Sourdough Eatery - Inside the Sourdough Eatery. - Sandwiches Near Me - San Jose, California

As others have said it is cash only but they do have an atm in the store so that's cool. The sandwich was good and sourdough was so soft and delicious. We do wish there would have been more meat in one of the sandwiches but besides that there's so much seating and the patios are just calm . No parking so you have to park around the corner. Artwork inside was awesome to look at. Would return read more

Sourdough Eatery - Turkey sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - San Jose, California

This was the only good thing about jury duty...and the only reason why I might possibly be less disappointed when I get called for jury duty again... The sourdough is out of this world and I will be wishing that they were open on the weekends and not just weekdays... PSA - cash only, but they have an ATM machine! read more

Back at my favorite sandwich spot, always deliciously fresh, always made to order with care, and always served with great conversation. Five stars every single time. The vintage décor alone makes it a must visit, full of character and charm. And don't miss the beautiful artwork by the owner, Barbara, a true staple in San Jose that adds such a personal, timeless touch to the space. read more

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The environment is very nostalgic and the food is very tasty the sourdough bread is baked fresh on site sandwiches are warm as the bread is straight outta of the oven then directly to the cutting board best tasting sandwich in the South Bay Area. read more

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Top quality meats and bread all prepared in house. Only open for lunch Monday through Friday. Don't miss it.

This place is amazing! It definitely should not be overlooked! We were on a bike ride and stopped by this place. We walked through the cute outdoor seating area and into a time warp! The decor was filled with old school pictures and other memorabila. Recommend to take time and wonder through the multiple indoor rooms to check out all the decorations. The service was quite fast, despite only one guy making sandwhiches. You can call in your order so you don't have to wait in line. We ordered the Spicy Turkey and Salami sandwhich! The sourdough bread was definitely the highlight of the sandwhich. It was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, just as it should be. They went a little heavy on the mayo, we should have asked for light mayo. The meat was good and plentiful on the sandwhich. We aslo tried the carrot cake! It was really good and moist. Definitely recommend this place for a quality sandwhich on quality bread. read more

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I've been wanting to try this establishment for quite some time now! I'm a fan of hearty, meaty, tasty sandwiches so my expectations were a tad high. The place itself is a little hidden but good thing they had a big sign on the outside of their patio indicating that they were voted "The Best Patio" in SJ... so that helped. There is no designated parking lot, you have to find street parking. I'm not a fan of street parking but luckily I found some. As soon as I approached the entrance, it reminded me of a cottage. Lots of ivy and quirky signs outside the building. And once you're inside the building, you got a nice whiff of bread. But every inch of the walls inside are covered with the owner's oil paintings! Pretty cool and different! The owner herself is super sweet though. So the prices for all of sandwiches are all the same, $14.99. Once I saw the price, I was a little surprised but hoping that I would get a nice, hefty sandwich. I just ordered the all turkey sandwich, just to be safe, but after my experience, I wish I ordered more than just turkey, lol. Sandwiches come standard on the freshly-baked sourdough bread, chopped lettuce, mayo, and Swiss cheese. Once I got home, I took a look inside of the sandwich and was really surprised with the LACK of meat I got. If I'm paying $15 for a sandwich, I'm expecting a SANDWICH. A lot of meat, all the toppings, etc. But this sandwich was subpar. I appreciate the freshness of the bread and customer service, but for the price that I paid it was not worth $15. So all in all, really cool, funky little sandwich joint but I've had way better sandwiches. I'll stick to my La Villa/Zanotto's. read more

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I LOVE this place! Since retiring & leaving the area, I have not found any other sandwich shop that compares. Specifically, their peppered turkey. I recently came back to the area and made it a point to get my favorite sandwich. It was as good as I remembered and the owner and sandwich maker remembered us!! read more

Wow this place is good. I ordered the spicy turkey sourdough and it was absolutely delicious. The warm sourdough is really the star of the show. I contemplated on getting a second sandwich lol. The owner Barbara is so nice and the guy who makes the sandwiches make it so fast and efficient . It's cash only but you can also Venmo her. There a cute resident kitty and the outdoor patio is real cute read more

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If you have cash on hand these sandwiches are worth the wait! We arrived just before the lunch rush it seemed, maybe 6 people ahead of us then the line was down the hallway shortly after! A taste of sourdough just before ordering, listening to what others who seemed to be regulars ordering ahead of us, we were excited! Flavorful meats and delicious bread make for a great sandwich! We loved that it was a no customization menu! Definitely will be coming back. Also, the patio seating is so cute and a great space to eat in nice weather! read more

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Interesting place owned by an elderly woman! This place seems like a blast from the past with the plethora of nostalgic decor. There's some seating here but overall it feels like you step into another era. CASH ONLY!!!! Sandwiches are pretty simple - fresh sourdough bread, some combination of turkey and ham and cheese, lettuce, and sourdough spread (mostly mayo). For smaller appetites, this is 2 meals. Given those ingredients, you can probably figure out the taste is more one dimensional - I would've put some mustard or oil/vinegar on it but the bread is pretty incredible, especially when the next stay it still stays pliable after being in the fridge. Worth at least one trip. read more

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Prepare to be skimped on the meat. Barely had a few pieces of meat on the sandwich. Cant justify going here

Food: They make the sourdough bread fresh on-site and sandwiches are deli style. I went with the #4 that has roast beef, ham, turkey, cheese, lettuce, mayonnaise, and added red onion to complete this hearty sando. Ambiance: Old school country Americana with a beautiful indoor area to eat or eat in the back if you want some nature vibes. Parking: Street parking only so it's a bit rough to park but work the walk. read more

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What a find.....Embarrassed to say I have been coming to downtown SJ for 40+ years and never knew about this quaint gem of a sandwich shop! Even been to Jackie's next door dozens of times and never realized this lunch spot was there - but now I know and it will be a regular stop. Bread is fantastic. Pretty much any sandwich on that bread will be amazing. I devoured a Sourdough, beef and ham one, but really, I plan on working my way through their list. Very unique ambiance too - You gotta check it out. read more

A hidden gem in the heart of San Jose. The owner is so kind and friendly and the food is made with love / care. The patio seating area is also something out of a travel magazine. So beautiful & relaxing! A must try if you can. read more

Sourdough Eatery - An absolute hidden gem & the food is made with love! - Sandwiches Near Me - San Jose, California

Excluding specialty sandwiches like Langers and Katz this is the best sandwich you'll ever have. As the name suggests, the bread makes this place. The turkey, salami, cheese ect. is good but not special. It's really the fresh bread made in house that comes standard with every sandwich that makes this first ballot. Aside from the food the place is quirky. The lady who owns the spot is older and runs the register. She has a definite Fairy Godmother vibe for my Cinderella fans. The place is decorated extensively with paintings/sculptures and the theme seems to be "cats" and "scantily clad young women"..draw your own conclusions. You'll likely find yourself eating on the patio behind the restaurant which can accommodate roughly 30 people but I will warn you this place gets busy during the work week. Pro Tip: CASH ONLY and park several blocks down near the mail truck lot since parking near the restaurant is non existent. Ladies leave the LV Purse and Diamonds at home for this one. It's across from the court house and near a few bailbonds so there is some riff raff floating around. Enjoy! read more

This place might be a little hidden. It's not in the plaza where all the food are located, but across in the business area. The line is long, but moves quick. Love the nickname the worker gives you when she calls you to pick up your order. I went with garlic turkey and it was absolutely tasty. There's a lot of sauce on the side but I don't think it's needed. You must try the food when you get it so it taste fresh and the bread is still warm. I'm not sure if they actually make the sourdough there though. We saw a glimpse of the back and the bread seemed to be bagged up in plastic. Would have been great if they freshly baked the bread there too. read more

Sourdough Eatery - Sandwiches Near Me - San Jose, California

MENU AND FOOD: Sourdough Eatery offers a selection of sandwiches on FRESHLY MADE BREAD. SERVICE AND ATMOSPHERE: Service was quick and efficient, despite the long line. Their decor is plain and simple with tables outdoors. PARKING: Located in downtown San Jose, they only have street parking. IMPRESSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: We had their turkey and salami on their FRESHLY MADE SOURDOUGH ROLL. Their sandwiches are well made and the bread is amazing and served warm. It comes close to Freshly Baked Eatery nearby! read more

Tried this for the first time w some coworkers and to summarize: +Good ambiance +Cute and friendly shop cat +Big portion -Kinda pricey (cash only) read more

First it's cash only! They do have an atm on site with a low fee if you need it but in a day we are all use to using credit cards!, it's good to know. IMO this is the best sourdough sandwich in San Jose! This is a simple place with great food, ambience, and great people. The sourdough bread is always delicious, balanced, and never over cooked. You know when you get sourdough that crust hurts the roof of your month, never experienced that here. The sandwiches are simple and delicious. I have tried 7 now on the menu and have enjoyed each one. This isn't subway so you get what the menu lists as your meats and you can remove toppings I think but I haven't. The carrots cake is their recipe and it's excellent and if you like carrot cake worth a try. I brought a group of friends here on a bet this was the best and they had another spot in mind and I won the bet! Parking is on the street or lots with short walks. Can't recommend the place enough! Maybe even best sandwich place in SJC. read more

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This is quite literally the best sandwich I've ever had in my life . Will definitely beck again

Amazing ambiance! The sourdough is second to none!!! The staff is super friendly and passionate about what they do! Incredible sandwiches!!! read more

Sourdough Eatery - Sandwiches Near Me - San Jose, California

Great sourdough bread but not enough meat to cover the sandwich evenly. There is no option to add additional meat for a price.

Institution. Been around forever serving sandwiches on freshly baked sourdough with house roasted meats. Super high quality in a quirky setting with the owners art work on display everywhere. Bring cash. read more

Atmosphere is amazing. Guaranteed No place like it. Great sandwiches and the outside seating area is relaxing

Went to get lunch, cute place and i love their spiced pepper turkey sandwich. I usually don't like sourdough but their bread is amazing! Small place but so fast! Cash only but they are set up for Venmo now! read more

My son told me about this place so I decided to try it out and I'm sure glad I did . Didn't catch the name of who makes the sandwiches but he sure knows the correct balance to make a delicious sandwich . I only got a cheese sandwich and it was so good . My fiancé got the salami and he was impressed with the freshness and the quality of the bread. This place is a wonderful discovery of oldschool sandwich making . Barbara you're beautiful and I'll be back soon to enjoy the beautiful atmosphere of the patio . read more

Sourdough Eatery - Cheese sandwich with potato salad - Sandwiches Near Me - San Jose, California

My husband has lived in this area his whole life and only heard about Sourdough Eatery a week ago. He got a couple of sandwiches (pastrami, corned beef and turkey), which we enjoyed so much that I ended up going the following day to pick up sandwiches again for lunch! This time around I got to see the cute little restaurant tucked away on First Street. I couldn't find a parking lot attached to Sourdough Eatery but found street parking on Mission Street. You could tell that Sourdough Eatery was a San Jose institution, and it was absolutely adorable. It was giving me cottage vibes, and the decor was so interestingly eclectic. I was warned by my husband that the restaurant was cash only, but they have an ATM conveniently onsite with a very low transaction fee. After getting cash, immediately turn around to the deli case to place your order. I came in around 1:30pm on a Wednesday, and it appeared that I had beat the lunch rush. I got my order very quickly and was in/out of the establishment before my 15-minutes were up at the parking meter. I got a pastrami sandwich again and a 2nd sandwich of just corned beef. Both meats were flavorful, but I honestly couldn't tell which was which because the textures were almost identical. That being said, I still enjoyed both sandwiches. They are simple and no frills, but tasty and made well. I'm a fan of their special spread, and I love their sourdough. The bread has a nice bite to it and soft, chewy crumb. My only complaint is that there's not enough meat to bread ratio, hence the 4-star. read more

One of 3 sourdough delis in San Jose but each with its own charms. I've been coming to this location since 2001 when I moved to San Jose and worked nearby for Lanier (an American manufacturer of dictation machines & copier/fax machine sales company) on N 1st Street. Continued to come here ten years later when my coworkers introduced me to a similar deli (freshly baked eatery) on N. 3rd Street in the lobby of a law office building. The artwork is a fantastic touch for Sourdough Eatery and a big part of its charm. Obviously, an excellent roast beef sandwich is the main draw, haha. I always wondered if there was any connection between these 2 delis? Anyway, the third spot is in Berryessa called California Sourdough Eatery. Gotta be a connection here, right? read more

Great atmosphere and people running the place. The cashier was charming, and the fellow running the counter gave me a fresh piece of sourdough to try while exploring the menu. The food was 5* as well. read more