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Categories: Delis, Sandwiches [Edit]
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill
48 reviews
Neighborhood: Outer Richmond
"Dude. Pulled pork. No seriously, DUDE. PULLED PORK. Wednesday. Just do it."
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Best egg salad sandwich in North Beach. I love this place, great to stop in a grab a sandwich & chips on the way to the park. Plus the service is great, you may want to call your order in early if plan on stopping by btwn noon and 1pm. The wait can get a bit hectic.
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WOW, GREAT sandwich! The lady behind the counter was SO adorable and friendly. She was like a one woman army, making sandwiches for people that kept coming in. I heard her apologizing to the people for the wait, because it was just her, and she had no help! But I hear people reassuring her, "your sandwiches are worth the wait, don't worry!" And I couldn't agree more. Highly recommend the Turkey Delight. The bread is awesome, the ingredients are fresh, and there is definitely a "homemade" feel for these sandwiches.
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I finally got around to trying a sandwich at Petite Deli this afternoon after seeing it on the Yelp homepage since I started yelping 4 months ago. I wondered how something as simple as a sandwich shop could gather so much attention, so I decided to check out Petite Deli and see what all the fuss was about.
It was a beautiful Friday walking through North Beach from my work. I arrived at the shop around 2 and had to wait about 10 minutes because there were 3 people waiting for sandwiches ahead of me. The name does not lie. Le restaurant est tres petit et mignon aussi! There were about 3 tables and one adorable asian woman making sandwiches behind the counter as a solo act. She apologized for making everyone wait for their food, but no one seemed to mind. She had current issues of Time Magazine at The Economist on her cafe tables, so I certainly didn't mind my 10 minute wait.
I think she rivals my grandmother for "sweetest woman in the entire world." Seriously, the customer service here can't be beat.
But to the food: I ordered a Pastrami sandwich no mayo and the total came to $6, which is a great price for how filling that sandwich was. The roll was deliciously crunch, the meat was great and she had this amazing spicy honey mustard sauce. She abided by my request for pepper jack instead of provolone, and my sandwich was still nice and toasty when I got back to the office
Nicest woman ever. Not the best sandwich ever... but really great for the price and the service. I wish this was a neighborhood joint for me...
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I'd come here again just to have another conversation with the little Asian lady behind the counter, because she totally made my day with her overt friendliness. Wow, what a nice person.
So there is nothing petite about these sandwiches. My boyfriend and I split a Young's Chicken, and I could barely finish my half of the deal. Only $6.50, and a seriously good chicken sandwich. Loved the soft roll and loved the moist chicken encased within.
My only minor complaint is that she (Young?) left the skin on some of the pieces of chopped chicken before putting it into the sandwich.
So grab a sandwich from Petite Deli, maybe some truffles from XOX, and then head to Washington Square for a picnic on the grass. My version of the perfect afternoon.
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My friend says, "meet me for lunch, I know a good sandwich place". I'm thinking about just eating and getting back for a 1pm meeting. I think nothing when entering and just order....10 minutes later I take my first bite of the Turkey Delight and WOW- a hell of a sandwich. Close to the best I've ever had.
Everything about this place is cool- sole proprietor and the only person working, tiny hole in the wall, and a place many people wouldn't know about without Yelp.
Petite Deli simply has unrivaled customer service. If you are having a bad day or you just want to make a good day better stop by Petite Deli for a sandwich. I reluctantly admit that Young just might be sweeter than my own grandma... She really makes my day every time I go to Petite Deli.
I ordered the egg salad sandwich, which was great, and traded halfs with my friend who ordered the turkey club, which was good but not great. While I was sitting down Young came over with a plate of pasta salad because she was concerned that I would not be full after the egg salad sandwich.
Young also really loves dogs and makes them feel really welcome . I had my pup, Sophie, with me and they became best friends after young chopped up an entire handful of her homemade chicken breast and fed it to her!
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07/23/2008
To give this place anything other than 5 stars would be a bit of a sin... even though the food isn't… Read more »
I was skeptical at first, afraid to try not only a new sandwich, but a .... turkey...sandwich!!! I really don't like turkey. But not only was the sandwich unbelievably delicious, the actual meat was good as well!! The turkey delight has spicey mustard, cranberry sauce, avocado, tomato and turkey. On toasted two decker wheat its a really good call and its super cheap. A really nice option for a quick bite or lazy sunday sandwich. The asian woman who owns it is in fact as cute and nice as everyone says she is and its true: if you're asian, she will remind you of your grandma and will automatically find a warm place in your heart.
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PLEEEEEEAAAASE! Jesus Christ, you guys have to be kidding me!?! This place uses the WORST QUALITY meats that it is shameful. The turkey is frigging blue! The tuna is horrible, I felt like I just ate pure garbage. Do not comer here if you like quality deli sandwiches, this is not the place. This place preps sandwiches that could be passed off as government food. It is below poor quality ingredients. Yes, the lady behind the counter is very sweet, but she handles money without gloves and then starts prepping your sandwich with her dirty hands. Where is the quality control on this place? So, for those of you who go for the old lady, I suggest you just donate $5 and don't put that crap in your body.
I traveled across the city for this place? What a joke!
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Well after such rave reviews I had to try this place on my day off. Suffice it to say, it did not disappoint.
Arriving around 2 PM, I found no line and only one guy inside happily devouring his sandwich. I ordered a sandwich for my mom and an Italian hero for me, which took her a few minutes to prepare. Let's get one thing straight: this woman is quite possibly the quintessential Asian grandmother-type woman. Loving, caring, and very friendly, she makes the simple process of ordering lunch an enjoyable experience.
I asked her for half an order of pasta salad and half an order of macaroni salad and she was more than willing to accomodate me. Sure, the sandwiches weren't the stuff of legend. But they were delicious. The ciabatta roll was crunchy and fresh but soft enough to chew. The vinaigrette was tangy and the quantity of meat reasonable (although for what I paid I would have liked a bit more).
All in, with two sodas, I paid $18. Not too cheap, but for a feel good afternoon, aren't we able to treat ourselves just once in awhile? Certainly nice to know people like the woman who runs this shop still exist.
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What happens when you unleash the Yelp chowhounds across the city in search of the best eats? Well, apparently it results in undeniable bargain bites like Petite Deli. This place is featured on the home page for a reason!
I've been twice (both on gorgeous sunny days) and had the same sandwhich - a pastrami on a roll with provlone and everything on it. I cannot begin to tell you how awesome those sandwhiches are! The rolls had the right amount of crunchiness and chewiness, the deli meat was savory and moist, and the sauce she put in there had a hint of hot mustard in there too - perfect!
It is a bit out of the way - on the far end of Columbus toward Fisherman's Wharf. But if it was in a more crowded area, you'd never be able to get your sandwhich. They named this place with good reason; it's tiny inside, with room for three tables and two outside tables. So you might be in a for a wait.
Regardless of the size, the other thing that made this place memorable was the owner. She was so incredibly kind on both occasions and essentially works the place by herself. Even with that workload she's always smiling and making sandwhiches to die for.
So the word is out and I wouldn't have known about this place if it wasn't for Yelp. Sometimes you just can't argue with the Yelp consensus...
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If you want to come here for a quick bite and are in a rush...........this is not the place for you.
Luckily for me when I came here today there wasn't a line. There was however a person behind me after I ordered. He ordered and couldn't wait and simply left. Mrs Young, the owner, said..........."I can only do so much and my hands hurt now.......it's OK............I can't please everyone". I felt like jumping behind the counter to help her. She has that kind of personality. I asked why don't you hire another person. She smiled and simply said...............there's not enough room. Jeff C was right..............It's very amusing to see her come in and out of this 2 foot wide counter top. She's so cute.
I told her I found her on yelp and that I lived in this neighborhood for my entire life. She replies..........."oh yeah.........yelp. I get so much business from them." I was there for 10 minutes and I swear I think we are best friends now. She took the time to introduce herself, asked me for my name, thanked me for the business, and hoped to see me again. She lives near the civic center and her husband helps her out every now and then by driving her. She used to live in sunset until the kids all left so they moved into a smaller place. She said it was easier to clean a smaller place than a house.
To the sandwiches.............................
I ordered two sandwiches because I wanted to sample them. The hero and the turkey delight. The hero was OK.........very fresh and filling. The Turkey delight was to die for. Absolutely the best turkey sandwich I have ever had. Price is reasonable at 6.50 a pop.
I never knew this placed existed. I am glad I found it. See you soon Mrs. Young.
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Great little place on a nice day! go in, order a tasty sandwich, yes, tasty being the key. The nice lady tells you to take a seat outside and then brings it to you. and she is so nice that you are just happy to be eating there. its little places like this, great food, great people, that makes it easy to go out and get something to eat. if every place had ambiance like this, we'd all be much happier people
We desperately wanted to try this place since it was so incredibly hotttttttttt on Yelp. Did Yelpers disappoint? Not really. Maybe just a bit.
First off, the Asian lady who runs the joint is the SWEETEST lady I've EVER met. Sweeter than sweet itself. Sweeter than girlfriends trying to coax boyfriends for new shiny things. Sweeter than sugar. Damn. We rolled up at 2:55pm (place closes at 3p on Sat) and she STILL served us and let us sit down. We left at around 3:30p and she was still willing to let customers in and take their orders and fill their empty bellies.
Sandwiches are decently priced -- roughly $6ish for a sandwich. She let us order first, sit down and eat, then pay at the end. Don't forget that it's CASH ONLY and ALWAYS get the sandwiches on their rolls. The wait can be a bit because there's only the one lady taking orders and making the sandwiches. Anyway, here are the sandwiches we tried...
NY PASTRAMI - A bit on the salty side but the meat was sooo good.
TURKEY DELIGHT - Get it without alfalfa sprouts and it's gooood. The cranberry sauce used in it is sooo tasty.
ITALIAN SOMETHING - It had alot of salamis and hams in it but it was overall okay. Nothing too extraordinary.
I'm not giving this place 5 stars because their sandwiches aren't 'crazy orgasmic mind-blowing omg omg omg yes! yes!! YES!!! good' but at the same time it's definitely a place I would go back to from time to time. Typical sandwiches but made with LOVE. Maybe that's why it's good...
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I would like to thank each and every one of you who took the time to share your thoughts about Petite Deli. I sincerely appreciate those who have waited patiently for a sandwich and I am sorry for those who decided to leave because of the wait. Yelp has created quite a demand for Petite Deli and I work very hard to make sure every customer is happy with their food. Thanks again!
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It's not a cafe and it's not quite a kiosk. Good for take-away's, I feel. The owner was sweet to us, and very polite and courteous, but the sandwiches were just average; the bread was hard and the meats were just ok. Don't get me wrong - it was just a decent sandwich. But nothing to 'rave' about. Just some fresh stuff you could have slapped together at home, perhaps. No mouth watering ingredients - just a slice of deli meat, salad and a hard roll with your choice of mayo or mustard. The service was very warm and the sandwiches were simplistically wholesome. I went once but don't feel inclined enough to go back. It just wasn't that memorable. I agree with the reviewer below me that most ratings are perhaps in awe of how kind and courteous Ms. Young is. Agreed. The sandwiches however, were...so-so.
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I come here for a sammich about once a month... I get into North Beach regularly for a hair cut down at Tony's Hair Studio (I guess I have to write a review for that too!) and then after sporting my new 'do, I head over to the Petite Deli for a quick bit to eat.
I love sitting outside the deli, right on Columbus Ave watching the world go by while I munch on my mozzarella, Basil and tomato sandwich. My favorite way to order this sammie is definitely with just some balsamic vinegar (or balsamic vinaigrette dressing if she has it), salt, pepper and olive oil. No mustard, no mayo, no other distractions like lettuce, pickels and other stuff.
The lady who makes the sammie also goes to Tony's for her hair. I feel an affinity with her. She's the sweetest lady ever - always so happy and cheerful and SO KIND. I just wish I could head over more often!
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For starters is the best "solo"of orchestra my eyes have seen in some time.
Plus, she will welcome you with a warm smile.
I live 2 blocks away from Petite Deli, and stop by for lunch often.
Remarkable freshness, plus friendly, mom-like service.
Try the NY pastrami sandwich....
rollercoaster!
JF
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The business cards for Petite Deli include some nutritional facts, noting that the sandwiches are made of 100-percent love, goodness, happiness, deliciousness, flavor AND tastiness. If that's not the cutest thing ever, I don't know what else to say.
I'm joining the chorus of fandom for PD and Young, its owner, but I'm pretty sure the stellar Yelp ratings are mostly thanks to her. She's the nicest person in the world and apologizes profusely while she says it'll just be a minute; she also actually seems happy to be doing her job, which is great and unusual for a lunchtime hotspot.
I would drop the food itself down to three or 3.5 stars, though, and I realize this makes me a big asshole. But add a healthy dose of customer frustration and Zeitgeist-style bitchiness, and Petite Deli could easily end up in the "not-bad, not heaven-in-a-sandwich" tab of your mental file. Or worse.
I dragged a couple co-workers here the other day at an off-peak time, admitting I wanted to see for myself what all the fuss on Yelp was about. I had a ham sandwich with no mayo and Dijon mustard (and everything else) on wheat, and I'd definitely come back and have it again. That and a bottle of water came down to $6.50, making Petite Deli second only to Trader Joe's and tubby-inducing In-n-Out for cheapest lunch when I'm on the clock. We took our meals to Washington Square, which turned out to be a quiet, nicely shaded place to eat outdoors. Bonus: no crazy people yelled at us!
Best overall deal for a North-Beach lunch, hands down.
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What an excellent deli. I cannot believe I have lived in north beach for 3 years and I had never been there before. The owner Young is extremely sweet and her homemade tofu sandwich is excellent. I will defiinitely be back.
As good as advertised! Quite possibly the BEST sandwich I've ever had. My friend and I rolled into this cozy little shop for lunch a few days ago and were seriously blown away. I'm always skeptical when restaurants are hyped up but this place does not disappoint.
I ordered the Turkey Delight which was turkey, cranberry, cheese, basil, and sprouts lightly toasted on a ciabatta roll. It literally melts in your mouth and was 'effin fantastic. My friend had the prosciutto with vinegrette on ciabtta. I sampled that and it was great as well. Also tried the bowtie pasta salad which was quite tasty. I was such a big fan of the place that I went back 2 days later to taste their mozzarella, tomato, and basil sandwich. Also a winner. I never realized how great basil tastes in sandwiches, but I'm definitely a fan now.
Ok agreed. The lady that works there is definitely top 5 nicest women I've ever met. Even though it was my first time there she treated us as regulars. The wait for our sandwiches was considerable, but that's only because she takes her time to make sure it's the best. You definitely feel the love. Some people are born to play basketball, some born to be singers. Young was born to make sandwiches.
Her quirks will keep you entertained as well. I swear the whole time she was making our sandwiches she was mumbling to herself. She also does a good job of narrating her actions too...you'll see. My favorite part is seeing her fit through a perfect 3 ft opening under the counter when she brings you your sandwiches. Cracks me up every time.
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*walks around in circles*
"do you know where it is?"
"no...I thought you did..."
"I think its near Mama's...."
"I think its on Columbus and Green?"
*walk around Washington Square Park....text a friend for the address*
"Filbert and Greenwich...."
THERE IT IS!!!!
He got a Italian Hero and I had half a prosciutto and cheese, both on wheat even tho he asked for white. Petite in deed. You'd never notice this quaint little shop run by one woman if you weren't looking for it. She kept apologizing to me for the wait, which I thought was very sweet. Both of our sandwiches were soooo good. The basil was sweet!!! Went perfectly with the tomato and fresh lettuce. mMm..washed down with peach iced tea.
We spent $11.50 for lunch.
"too expensive for a sliced bread sammy tho"
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The owner of this sandwich shop is a delight! She makes fabulous handmade sandwiches just like your mother did. She greets you with a smile and loves to throw in a cookie or two on the house. It's a feel-good place with great service and lovely little sandwiches. The only downside is there isn't much room to hang out.
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I live right on Lombard and Mason street and I wish I had discovered this place sooner! [ I always speed walk right pass it! ]
I love this place for 3 reasons:
1. The pastrami sandwich and the turkey delight are by far the best sandwiches that I have ever tasted! (of its kind!)
2. The owner is super sweet and even with the small space, you feel like you are eating right at your grandmother's home because she checks up on you every 5 minutes.
3. What more can you ask for when the sandwiches averages about 5 dollars!
PS... If you decides to go and try this place, I recommend calling in advance and place an order for take out because the place only has like 4 seats, its super hard to find parking and she really takes her time with the sandwiches (that's why they are sooo good!!) This way you can get in and get out without having to wait or worry about finding parking!
Hey *GREAT* "sandwich". I liked it a lot ':-)'
09/10/2008
Nice one!
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I agree with D.M. We love you Young!
I'm tired of being waited on by surly teenagers you have to kiss up to to ensure you're not eating a booger (or worse). If your into vortex's and crystals et al, you'll already know that something made with love is that much better for you, so naturally something made by Young will make you live forever.
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Every sandwich is delicious! Nice and simple. And if it's lunch hour or you're running late, you can call Young ahead of time and by the time you get there, the freshest, homiest, tastiest sandwich will be waiting for you. The place is quite small - I mean, Petite! - but it's a nice, sunny place to sit down and enjoy a great sandwich when it's not busy.
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This place is like chicken soup on a sick day...satisfying. And who better to serve you that chicken soup (salad or sandwich in this case) other than Young, the chef and owner of Petite Deli. She is wonderful and her sweetness and generosity definitely show in her food. I always left this place with a smile on my face and tummy because of her.
Order anything here because you can't go wrong. It really is, "all that and a bag of chips."
Lunch time is busy so call in your order 15-30 minutes in advance.
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The lady there was very, very nice. Best service I've received since coming to San Francisco.
Tofu sandwich was awesome. I hate mayonnaise and forgot to ask her to take it off, but somehow it actually tasted okay. Heh.
Went after crazy lunch hours so there was a short wait for the sandwich. Sat outside in the nice sunny weather so even better.
Petite Deli is one-woman run show--albeit a slow one. I don't mind waiting 15-20 minutes for my sandwich because this little old Korean woman makes delicious sandwiches. I highly recommend her turkey delight sandwich, which has honey Dijon mustard, avocado, cranberry, sprouts, turkey, lettuce, and tomato. This is the only thing I eat there.
Recommend you call and order your sandwich before going over there to cut down the wait time.
tuna on dutch crunch, yo. I have never had a sandwich like this before! I think it would be safe to say that it's the freshest, tastiest sammy I've ever had. The sweetness of the bread meshing with the fresh tuna and crunchy lettuce, and the mustard! Ridic. I'm definitely joining the Young and Petite Deli fan club.
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I have never been a fan of turkey clubs, that is until today. I walked into petite deli and Young was just finishing up another customers sandwich, it smelt so good I knew I was going to have whatever they were having. I was surprised when she said it was a turkey club but I decide to go with my sense of smell. Let me tell you I was not disappointed. One of the better sandwiches I have ever had, very tasty ingredients that were very well proportioned.
The only down side is the hours, I live in north beach and work down town so I don't get much of a chance to go here. However I still give it a 5 as my hypothesis is that the amazing customer service is a direct result of the good work/life balance that Young keeps.
Wow! Over rated & disappointing. An okay sandwich at best (iceberg lettuce - weak!) and yes the gal is nice but geez people, come on, nothing special going on here. Diller's sandwiches are 10xs better.
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The woman who runs this place is quite possibly the nicest woman ever. It's kinda like having my grandma make me a sammich. You know, if my grandma were Korean, not senile, and could make a bomb Italian sandwich. Come to think of it, she's really nothing like my grandma at all.
Come for the sandwich. Come back for the love.
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What more can you ask for in a sandwich shop than Petite Deli? Nothing more.
The whole experience at Petite Deli was perfect.
The extremely nice lady offered us suggestions on sandwiches when I couldn't decide.
I split a turkey and a pastrami sandwich with my friend.
Both sandwiches were very good.
The turkey had cranberry in it and was very good.
The pastrami was nice and warm and tasty.
We sat outside to enjoy the sun and then paid after we ate.
It was an excellent lunch break.
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So after living around the North Beach area for 12+ years I finally got the chance to come here.
This cute little shop not only have sandwiches but the nicest owner I have ever encountered. It was around 12pm when I came and this place was packed and the line was out the door.
I ordered the bf a roast beef sandwich on a roll and a tuna sandwich on wheat for myself. The sandwich did take a little longer than most sandwich shops I've been to but come on she's the only one working there. While I was waiting for my sandwiches I saw the owner making the other customers' orders. I could tell she puts a lot of effort and love to every single sandwich that she prepares. The sandwiches tasted pretty good too. It's not Little Lucca but I can sure taste the love.
CASH ONLY!
Count on me being a regular Petite Deli.
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The Yelp hype is totally what brought me here -- and the hype is right. Her sandwiches are hella bomb and her bowtie pasta salad rocks my world.
She is the most hospitable and kind woman always with a smile on her face, drive to please, and swiftness to turn down excessive tipping which I admit I have a habbit of when I eat at this wonderful lunch spot.
I suggest a cappuccino and free truffle next door if there's a croud (and a wait). Yes it's only her, so please be a dear and sit down and be patient while the sandwich artist goes to town.
The tables out front are nicely shaded in this calmer part of North Beach, and the park is a short strut away -- a great place to eat your neatly wrapped lunch goodness on a sunny day.
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I went here on a windy SF afternoon and was surprised by how tiny the shop is and just how friendly the woman who works here is. Sandwiches were good, but not spectacular. If I ever get to feeling demoralized about the sad state of humanity coming here would be a good first step towards regaining hope - she is just so darn nice.
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By far the best sandwich shop in SF.... every sandwich is incredible because young puts her love into everyone.... if you like chicken salad sandwiches these are her specialty she make the chicken salad for each order from scratch.... oh and try the pasta salad!
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This place is owned by and run by the cutest, nicest little Asian woman. She's always really sweet, very motherly. Her prices are affordable on all her foods and she's always very generous. She hand makes all your orders as you order them and everything is fresh and delicious. This is a perfect place for a take out lunch or a quick 1 to 2 person meal (minimal seating).
Sandwiches, cold pastas, salads, and through in an ice tea and you have the greatest lunch.
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I don't think it would even matter what the food tasted like here because the proprietor is so sweet and kind; you can't help but want to come back again and again.
We're in luck, though: the sandwiches are tasty and won't set you back much at all. As an added bonus, they are made with 100% love.
This place is small, as the name implies, so you may find lines out the door. Consider ordering ahead by phone to avoid a long wait.
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