50 Best Delis in San Diego

“We were at the zoo and starving, left and came here then ate our food at the zoo. One of the best Philly Cheesesteaks i’ve ever had. All of the sandwiches looked like something I would love. Free parking lot. Cheap drinks and lots of snack options. The salads and take home goods all looked good too. No tables to eat at, but good food to takeout.“

“Great breakfast items! Great family 💙“

“Very friendly staff the food is great.“

“Since my First time eating at sunrise, Leara and David, have treated me w respect and kindness, and that kindness transfers over in to their food, as they have a variety of choices.
If your looking for neighborhood Deli, that’s welcoming, adorable, affordable, this is the place“

“Parking is okay. But they do not have parking lot of their own. So I was lucky to find a spot right across the street. Walking into the deli it gave me a mom pop type vibe. Very clean and plenty of sitting areas ordered pick through uber eats. When I went to pick up my order they had not received the order. They explained it was something with the Uber site so it problem just didn't go through yet but they made my items right away. As I was waiting I heard the chime when my order had went through there system. The lady at the front was very nice and helpful through the issue with my order. Which I appreciate.
They had a wide range of items from deli to smoothies and salads. I ordered the chicken chipotle. I was starving initially why I didn't get the first photo but it was so delicious after the first bite I forgot I take the photo completely!
The sammich comes with a side salad. Very fresh. I also ordered the peanut butter smoothie with cacao bits and vegan protein. It was ok, but I think the protein it's what made the taste off.
Overall give this place a shot.“

“Love the cheerful, friendly welcome and the first timer helpfulness! Delicious sandwiches prepared to order, personal preferences are catered to. Always something new to try, creative variations.“

“eggplant parmagiana, lasagna and all the sandwiches. go eat it on the pier, beach, cliffs, or your favorite place“

“great sandwich. best in town in my opinion“

“Omg!!! Wow! A hidden gem off Miramar rd! This bagel is DELICIOUS!!!!!! The place is super clean, great variety of drinks, snacks etc but the chef takes the cake!!!! I knew he was a pro as soon as I walked in, but the first bite of this breakfast bagle sealed the deal!!! Wow, my new favorite spot for breakfast!!!!!!“

“Chicken Diablo sandwich is the BEST!!!! This place is delicious“

“Can’t go wrong stopping at this gem! Excellent food(brisket is super-solid), creative/stylish menu, music/ambiance is on point, healthy drink options, and the best part: the peeps that operate it! Thank you to Justin & John for a great 1st experience! I’ll be back...🌞“

“Awesome subs. Picked up two during a moving day. Lifesaver. Got the Italian and a turkey and provolone. Fresh toppings, generous portions of meat and cheese, excellent bread. Found a parking spot right out front. Fast, friendly and excellent customer service. I shall return!“

“Got the chicken and artichoke hot sandwich...and man this was so good! The bread was toasted to perfection and the flavor was on point. So simple but so great. This will be living rent free in my head.

I got a big sandwich, large latte (double shot) and a banana bread for $20. Can't beat that price in La Jolla. The ladies there were so nice too!“

“This is my favorite deli in all of San Diego! I discovered it when I worked nearby, and still drive the extra 10 mins several days per week for a lunch sandwich. Their bread is exceptional and every single thing on their menu is delicious!!“

“LOVE the sandwich. It was huge, definitely big enough to share. I was delighted to get to try a bottle of Butterscotch Rootbeer, as well. Highly recommend!!“

“Growing up in Hampstead, spending a lot of time in Golders Green and Finchley it was funny to hear how the Deli got its name. Rugeleh was excellent. My wife and mother-in-law who was over from Hendon liked those plus their corned beef.“

“THE. BEST. turkey, bacon and avocado sandwich I've ever had in my life!“

“this Hilton is top notch. superb service“

“This Deli is newly owned by Chris & Natalie Albrecht and they are doing a terrific job! Things I love about it, is that you can always look forward to a new soup added weekly. We have tried quite a few of them and they are delicious! They have also added new sandwiches to their menu to help keep it interesting for their regulars.
As far as daily specials go, I’ve seen Thai, Greek, Asian, American , so it helps to look online to make sure you don’t miss out on a favorite of yours. We’ve tried a few and have never been disappointed.
We’ve also tried a few of their salads and they taste so amazing! Your tastebuds will thank you. Ice cream was currently added and is a big hit.
So to sum it all up, stop by and give this deli a try. With all the delicious options available to you, along with great service and amazing prices, I am positive you will leave there a very happy customer.“

“Just discovered this place while attending a conference. Nice deli with decent sandwich selection for $12 each. I ordred the hot pastrami with kraut thousand island toasted. The owner greeted me and is friendly. They have TV inside toWatch while you eat hours are 8 to 5pm

Parking: 2min from 15 Aero drive exit freeway

Wheelchair accessibility: Lots of room“

“Fantastic sandwiches and great hospitality! I’d pick this place any day of the week over Subway :)“

“I pass by Big Front Door often heading to work. Decided to stop in and give it a try this afternoon. I got their Cobbler salad and my friend got the chicken parmesan sandwich. The portion sizes are very generous, I asked for extra dressing with my salad and didn't really need it as there was a decent amount left. The food tasted great and was served up without much of a wait time. The star of the show was the gentleman that helped us though! I wish I had taken the time to get his name to give him proper credit. He greeted us, made small talk while my friend and I decided what to have and as we were leaving he offered to clear our table for us. Very polite and friendly! I will definitely be adding this to my list of regular places to go.“

“Fresas con crema🍓 y smoothie 🍓“

“I love their food. Wish they have the langs challah bread, their challah bread is not something you can do kiddush with.“

“there natural waters are delicious and tostilocos are great“

“The only family owned and operated Deli Restaurant and Coffee Spot in the heart of Downtown San Diego. If you're new in town, you won't find it just strolling through downtown San Diego, but ask anyone who works within a mile of 4th and B, they can point you to The Plaza Deli and 401 Brew Street. I've been eating here for 26 years. Beautiful family, amazing and friendly staff. Good portions. Sandwiches large enough for two meals, and more salad choices (and salad dressings) than you will find anywhere. My breakfast fave, the croissant with sausage, egg and cheddar - toasted :)“

“Amazing Sandwiches!! I got their Tuna Melt (The Melt I believe) and it was so good! It was so stuffed with Tuna salad and it was just cheesy enough, I'm not a pickle or pickle juice fan however the addition to it in the Tuna salad was amazing! Please check them out if you haven't already! Highly recommend 👌“

“I can’t say enough good things about this place! ⭐️ Since moving back to San Diego, I’ve been looking for a solid deli with great food and an even better atmosphere - this spot delivers on both. The staff here truly go above and beyond, treating every customer like family. You can tell they put a lot of heart into what they do, and it makes all the difference.

The sandwiches are top-notch, made with fresh ingredients and generous portions. But what really stands out is the genuine kindness and warmth of the people who run this place. It’s the kind of spot that reminds you why supporting local, family-owned businesses is so important.

If you’re in the area, do yourself a favor and stop by. You won’t just get a great meal - you’ll get a great experience. 👏🏻“

“One of the hidden gems in this area. Whenever I'm in the area I always make sure to come by and pick up a sandwich or two.
The lady working there is always so nice and smiley, it certainly made today's rainy weather feel less gloomy.

The prices are very generous and the ingredients are very fresh.
-The mayonnaise, mustard, banana peppers, red onions, lettuce, tomato, and giant slither of pickle ("pickled" cucumber?) was very well-balanced, nothing overwhelmed one-another.

-I ordered The Valley Melt -corned beef, turkey (on sourdough I think)
The other was The Pastrami melt
And 2 slices of Bacon on the side (which was devoured as soon as I got in the truck)

Support small businesses and give Yummy Deli a try!

:]“

“They simply don’t make them like this shop anymore. It was exactly what I wanted- a fairly priced small family owned bodega-style shop. I got the breakfast croissant with egg bacon and cheese. So good and $6.99. Skip Starbucks and get yourself some good sandwiches that don’t break the bank while also supporting a small business. Will definitely be back!“

“We ordered the Smoked Turkey Breast Dinner with Green Bean Casserole, Loaded Mashed Potatoes, And Maple Sweet Potato Souffle for 4-6 people. We added on another side of Macaroni and cheese, gravy and Hawaiian rolls which got us $10 off the order, basically a free side dish. There was no line when I went early yesterday to pick up the food, and the cashier was friendly and got my order ready quickly. The food was really easy to cook. Just popped everything in the oven at 375 degrees for an hour and stirred and rotated food as directed. Four of us each had a large plate, and everything was delicious, on point, and as good as homemade easily, plus you don't have to do all the work! With the extra side I would say the meal would feed 5 to 6 people, so I would recommend ordering it. Thank you Honey Baked Ham Company for helping create a memorable Christmas Dinner!“

“Aside from the fact this place is literally down the hill from me.. the owner & his beautiful family are Gucci ASF. Always smiling no matter what.. I've seen him take over this place, update & upgrade expanding not only his professionalism but the overall popularity in owning/running a well established business. I highly recommend stopping by for one of his infamous handcrafted deli sandwiches. Yooo, you don't even knoow!! 🤤 As for the liquor aspect of it, your boy's got a top notch selection of shelf spirits varying from Bourbon, Rye, Tequila, Gin, Vodka, Scotch whisky, Amaro & even Bitters! Oh Mylanta Georgia I almost forgot.. 🤗 this family owned business even has the types of snacks & munchies we all crave; don't let me get started on the Mexican candies yo 😆 I'm telling y'all if you still think it's too good to be true, just see for yourself!! Well worth the spending xoxo“

“I’ve known the owner for years working downtown. Always welcoming. Never an issue. Sabrinas is a regular lunch spot for me. The croissant breakfast sandwich is really good. A business that has been in place for over 30 years is outstanding. Thank you.“

“This is the only place I get lunch from! I started going because it’s so close to my work but I only go here now because the food is always delicious and seriously SO fresh. The owner and his family are really the nicest people ever. The food is such a great price and the portions are so big that even the half size fills me up! This place will forever get my business! I have photos of the Italian but forgot to take a picture of my delicious Cobb Salad. I recommend this place to all my coworkers!“

“Good little deli spot off the main road in Clairemont Mesa Blvd. Ingredients were fresh, good selection of bread choices, a huge selection of deli meat combination for sandwiches and a good balance of mayo, mustard, meats, tomatoes and lettuce.
Prices are also very affordable. Most of sandwiches were $8.50 and some were a bit more but not by much.
All its missing to complete the meal was a pickle but sadly it's not included with the sandwich.
It's available for purchase though, so maybe I'll do that next time ?“

“The Sandwiches hands down. The Italian sandwich is a must try. This place could get really busy around lunch time. So call in your order if possible.“

“They are so NICE here! I have crazy sandwich orders and they never complain. As a matter of fact, I always end up having a great conversation with the person working. If you are looking for Sandwiches that are PACKED with toppings, this is your place. Great experience every time“

“The sandwiches are delicious and hearty!! At a great price too.“

“Nice guy running this small local business. Fast and friendly service. Received a full hot turkey sandwich and it was better than expected, plus it came with a little soup, all for $12. This deli combo was much cheaper than nearby similar businesses. Not to mention, Fred’s hot turkey sandwich was much better (and fuller) than the sad, squished sandwich I received from corner bakery cafe the other day. I’d rather give my business to a place like this than the more expensive chain businesses.“

“Bomb place to eat very good sandwiches. Try it out you'll like it�“

“Delicious food and awesome service!“

“What an amazing place! The food is soooo amazing and the staff there are so kind and helpful! Beautiful location. Great place to grab lunch then go for a beautiful walk to spanish landing park! The mediterranean salad and roast beef sandwich was a 10/10!!! I would t care if I had to pay $50 for parking to go there! I would still pay it!“

“Great service and seating“

“The best quality , service and prices around! Don’t go anywhere else“

“Fast, easy, tuna and poke bowls are amazing.....and Jackie is awesome!!!“

“A hidden gem in the East Village. Small store with AMAZING cheeseburgers! Far cheaper than fast food and WAY better tasting. ??

Sam, the owner, is salt of the earth! Super kind and accommodating. Get a burger today! I promise you won’t regret it.“

“The place was busy, but the food came out really quickly. I had a Super California and it was loaded with ingredients! the veggies were super fresh and everything tasted great. There was also plenty of space to sit and enjoy my meal comfortably.“

“The Amex Hilton card quarterly $60 benefit was almost expired for this quarter. I found NY Garden Deli on a Reddit sub that showed the credit working at their location.

GPS helped us to easily find the small deli along the side of the Hilton Garden Inn Del Mar. Just like the other reviews all say…the ladies in the deli are friendly and helpful.

We ordered Philly Steak and Italian subs. The sandwiches took about ten minutes to be freshly prepared. Both sandwiches were delicious…I might have like the Philly beat but the Italian was very good also.

I will return again when in town and maybe try the tasty sounding Ahi Tuna Salad next time. Breakfast items,soft drinks, beer and wine also avaliable as well as some desserts and sweets.

Tip: Quarterly Amex Hilton card $60
Credit is a good way to get some tasty subs.

Remember the deli closes at 1pm.“

“Great sandwich shop! Best in San Diego!“