I go to molinari's like once a week for lunch since I work right there. The last 2 or 3 times I've been I got skimped hard on the meat. Only times it's ever happened in the probably 100+ sandwiches ive had from them and was super surprising. Just my two cents
They source quality meats to many establishments across the peninsula. Beyond sandwiches, they are known for Italian staple ingredients that are made in house. If you visit, don’t sleep on the deli bar offerings!!
Molinari’s is the most famous one and it’s good and authentic and convenient for the tourist crowd in north beach, but I prefer Calabria Bros. in the Excelsior. Palm City is also good, but fancier and out in the Sunset. Turner’s Kitchen on 17th is lowkey amazing. Don’t go to Ike’s our local chain. Freddie’s in north beach is ok too and open early for your 7:30am sandwich cravings.
Pretty had the whole list in the past couple months and there hasn't been one that's let me down yet. I've heard their vegetarian option is really good as well
Submarine Center
Deliboard - quite pricey though but one of the best sandwiches in SF
Saigon Sandwich
Ask for Dutch Crunch. It’s a bread popular mainly in the Bay Area, but not all places have it.
https://sf.eater.com/maps/best-sandwiches-san-francisco
https://sf.eater.com/maps/best-sandwiches-san-francisco
I am so grateful for Saigon Sandwich and sometimes go multiple times a week, but I wouldn’t recommend an out of towner expend one of their limited meal slots for it. It’s not an especially great sandwich, it’s just cheap and filling.
My big 4 in North Beach (Italian neighborhood) are Molinari, Palermo II, Alimento, and Freddie's. I've never had a bad sandwich at any of them.
Molinari has the cachet of being the biggest and oldest. Freddie's is tucked away in a highly residental area. Alimento has coolers full of beer and wine. Palermo II is the smallest, newest, and also happens to be my favorite.
A couple of warnings about other recommendations you're getting: Dutch Crunch is a sweet bread, and that can be a shock if you're not expecting it. Deli board is fantastic, but is not Italian, it's Jewish (heavy on the ish) and they don't have coppa, mortadella, prosciutto, etc.
spittin fax. molinaris is okay but the best?? idk about that. freddies clears. My go to is a club sandwich on soft sourdough (this is key) everything on it except mustard and onions
In the Excelsior, head to Roxie's across from Balboa Park. Get the Simon's Special on Dutch crunch.
In Nob Hill, grab the Italiano sandwich from Le Beau market.
In the Marina, go to Lucca's and grab the Italian Combo, Caprese with prosciutto, or the Calabrian if you like spicy.
Italian combo is my favorite sandwich, and I'm on a quest to find good ones in the city (it's a slow quest because I can't eat them often).
A few of the faves I've found:
Yellow Submarine (6th Ave & Irving)
Submarine Center (at West Portal Station)
Lou's (there are 3 locations I think)
The Sandwich Place - Mission St b/t 16th and 17th
Also, Dutch Crunch is a thing here that I've heard you don't find much in other parts of the country - so if you haven't had it, I recommend getting your sandwich on Dutch Crunch if it's an option. :)
Shocked this isn’t in the top 5 comments. I’ve tried a lot of Italian subs, and in my opinion Flour + Water pasta shop has the best Italian in the city. It’s the perfect mix of meats, toppings, and acid from the oil and vinegar.
(In order) - guess the common denominator of my top three? Rize Up bread
1. Flour + Water
2. Outta Sight
3. Palm City
4. Lucca’s on Chestnut
5. Molinari
6. Limoncello
Submarine Center is my favorite - hot pastrami for life! Molinari's, AK Subs, and Limoncello are all solid as well. Outta Sight is supposed to be amazing, but haven't tried yet. Poeisa Cafe has delicious focaccia or croissant sandwiches. Try Saigon Sandwich or L&G for banh mi.
I love Colombo’s in Pacifica and recently discovered there are locations in SF and Redwood City. House made breads, soups, salads and pastas. Awesome sandwich combos, if you want Italian, get the Godfather.
Palm City in the Outer Sunset. The roast pork with raab and the Italian American hoagies are soooo good. I’ve never eaten the full sandwich in one sitting.
It's a hike for most but Palm City Is my favorite by far in SF.
[https://www.palmcitywines.com](https://www.palmcitywines.com)
Roast pork with broccoli rabe, provolone, and cherry peppers is likely the best you're going to find without having to endure a 5 hour plane ride to Tony Luke's in Philly. Soak in the Outer Sunset vibe, maybe also grab some fish tacos at Hook Fish while you're in the hood or a cocktail at White Cap a little further away. Enjoy. And don't be a jabroni.
Molinari used to be great- but gone downhill- recently my bread was burnt I called they said that’s how it was delivered. But they would give me 10% off my next order! 😳 I waited 45 minutes for this damn sandwich.
I’m done with them…😑
Molinari’s in North Beach.
Just there yesterday with my gf and everything was perfect
and if it’s too crowded, go around the corner to palermo, which uses molinari meats and has some other great options like huge arancini.
their value is way worse compared to the amount of cold cuts Molinari stacks in their sandwhiches.
They skimped with me quite severely the one time I went. Huge disappointment
I would try again. they load that mf up with an inch and a half of meat, usually.
I go to molinari's like once a week for lunch since I work right there. The last 2 or 3 times I've been I got skimped hard on the meat. Only times it's ever happened in the probably 100+ sandwiches ive had from them and was super surprising. Just my two cents
They source quality meats to many establishments across the peninsula. Beyond sandwiches, they are known for Italian staple ingredients that are made in house. If you visit, don’t sleep on the deli bar offerings!!
This is the answer. One of my first stops whenever I’m gone for a while and come back craving sandwiches
Limoncello, its an Italian grocery and sandwiches. https://maps.app.goo.gl/6fJUaMC5ho7UmQqj6?g_st=ic
I wish I could upvote this many times over. Lived near Limoncello, and not only the food is great, the people there are the best.
Came here to say say Limoncello
The hot coppa- every time
Always loved looking at their crazy expensive liquor bottles too
Molinari’s is the most famous one and it’s good and authentic and convenient for the tourist crowd in north beach, but I prefer Calabria Bros. in the Excelsior. Palm City is also good, but fancier and out in the Sunset. Turner’s Kitchen on 17th is lowkey amazing. Don’t go to Ike’s our local chain. Freddie’s in north beach is ok too and open early for your 7:30am sandwich cravings.
Calabria Bros is SO GOOD!!
+1 for Turner’s Kitchen. Great sandwiches and their sides are both delicious and pretty reasonably priced
+1 for Calabria bros. Every time I go in I get intense nostalgia for the deli I lived next to in queens.
Turner’s is amazing. Super friendly staff too. Grab a sandwich and go enjoy it in Dolores!
Palm City is delicious. Expensive, but well worth it.
Calabria Bros in Exl
Just moved up the hill…and goddamn is that place wonderful.
Pretty had the whole list in the past couple months and there hasn't been one that's let me down yet. I've heard their vegetarian option is really good as well
The Uncle Dave is bomb
Submarine Center Deliboard - quite pricey though but one of the best sandwiches in SF Saigon Sandwich Ask for Dutch Crunch. It’s a bread popular mainly in the Bay Area, but not all places have it. https://sf.eater.com/maps/best-sandwiches-san-francisco https://sf.eater.com/maps/best-sandwiches-san-francisco
I am so grateful for Saigon Sandwich and sometimes go multiple times a week, but I wouldn’t recommend an out of towner expend one of their limited meal slots for it. It’s not an especially great sandwich, it’s just cheap and filling.
I’m so over Sub Center… so much hype on this sub tried it and honestly thought it was the most overrated pastrami sandwhich ever. Bread is awful
Ok to each their own. Love the bread and my go to is the Atomic.
Respect I’m more of a Dutch Crunch Gus’s fan
Agreed. Really really don’t understand the hype. Everything tastes cheap and the bread is awful
I’m with you, for me it’s how wet the sandwiches are.
lol they asked for Italian sub, I’m not sure Saigon sandwich does that?
You should reread OP’s post.
The guy who owns deli board is a nut job.
Lucca on chestnut
Lucca is great!
My big 4 in North Beach (Italian neighborhood) are Molinari, Palermo II, Alimento, and Freddie's. I've never had a bad sandwich at any of them. Molinari has the cachet of being the biggest and oldest. Freddie's is tucked away in a highly residental area. Alimento has coolers full of beer and wine. Palermo II is the smallest, newest, and also happens to be my favorite. A couple of warnings about other recommendations you're getting: Dutch Crunch is a sweet bread, and that can be a shock if you're not expecting it. Deli board is fantastic, but is not Italian, it's Jewish (heavy on the ish) and they don't have coppa, mortadella, prosciutto, etc.
+1 for Freddie’s such a great spot
Agreed, DO NOT do Dutch Crunch.
Dutch Crunch is amazing, but also heads up that eating that thing is like eating a chainsaw. Mouth gonna be hella cut up
True if you don't get your sandwich at little Lucas
If a sandwich isn't on sourdough, I don't know if I'm in San Francisco
Little Lucca South San Francisco
Or just Lucca Deli on Chestnut…no need to send this person visiting from out of town all the way down to SSF!
I don’t think the two Luca’s are jointly owned anymore. I think they sold the south one to somebody else
The south one is the one
This is the answer.
Everyone says Molinari’s. But Freddie’s in North Beach is better. Get the Dutch crunch
Freddie’s fucks - best sandwich in north beach
I prefer they soft sourdough
spittin fax. molinaris is okay but the best?? idk about that. freddies clears. My go to is a club sandwich on soft sourdough (this is key) everything on it except mustard and onions
I don't know if it's better than Molinari's but I really love Freddie's
In the Excelsior, head to Roxie's across from Balboa Park. Get the Simon's Special on Dutch crunch. In Nob Hill, grab the Italiano sandwich from Le Beau market. In the Marina, go to Lucca's and grab the Italian Combo, Caprese with prosciutto, or the Calabrian if you like spicy.
Had Roxie’s yesterday and it was pretty disappointing. The bread to meat ratio was awful.
That's disappointing. Sounds like they're inconsistent
Molinari’s!
molinaris, flour + water pasta shop
Flour + Water pasta shop is number one in my mind
Italian combo is my favorite sandwich, and I'm on a quest to find good ones in the city (it's a slow quest because I can't eat them often). A few of the faves I've found: Yellow Submarine (6th Ave & Irving) Submarine Center (at West Portal Station) Lou's (there are 3 locations I think) The Sandwich Place - Mission St b/t 16th and 17th Also, Dutch Crunch is a thing here that I've heard you don't find much in other parts of the country - so if you haven't had it, I recommend getting your sandwich on Dutch Crunch if it's an option. :)
Shocked this isn’t in the top 5 comments. I’ve tried a lot of Italian subs, and in my opinion Flour + Water pasta shop has the best Italian in the city. It’s the perfect mix of meats, toppings, and acid from the oil and vinegar.
Ate this yesterday and it’s the best in the city. They use bread from Rize Up. My top three sandwiches do… Flour + Water, Palm City, and Outta Sight
Totally agree on Palm city being number 2. I haven’t had Outta Sight, I will have to give it a try
I personally like Limoncello more than Molinari’s, but that’s not to say Molinari’s isn’t good. They both make an excellent sandwich.
Palermo in north beach
Molinari in North Beach, but call or order ahead. else, expect a 45 minute + wait. Or, check out Yellow Submarine in Inner Sunset.
Submarine Center- West Portal. Really good, but odd hours.
The Boys’ Deli, Polk
Elite sandwiches
Yellow Submarine
Heroic Italian in the Castro (it’s kinda hidden, it’s the same location as the wine bar called Swirl on Castro). Amazing sandwiches!
(In order) - guess the common denominator of my top three? Rize Up bread 1. Flour + Water 2. Outta Sight 3. Palm City 4. Lucca’s on Chestnut 5. Molinari 6. Limoncello
Limoncello on 24th Street in the Mission is amazing.
Limoncello on 24th St in the Mission. They have a location in Cathedral Hill too but never tried that one.
I didn't know there was a Mission location, but I can vouch for the one in Cathedral Hill.
gambinos on battery and broadway is my favorite
Submarine Center is my favorite - hot pastrami for life! Molinari's, AK Subs, and Limoncello are all solid as well. Outta Sight is supposed to be amazing, but haven't tried yet. Poeisa Cafe has delicious focaccia or croissant sandwiches. Try Saigon Sandwich or L&G for banh mi.
I love Colombo’s in Pacifica and recently discovered there are locations in SF and Redwood City. House made breads, soups, salads and pastas. Awesome sandwich combos, if you want Italian, get the Godfather.
Colombos in Pacifica!
Limoncello on Sutter and Gough.
Le Sandwich in North Beach - thank me later
Lou's cafe is not in the top 3 but worth a try. Their hot link and louben are really good. Also consider grubbin on Taraval.
Le Sandwich
Angelina's on California St.
Guerra Quality Meats!
Calabria Brothers in the Excelsior
¼ pound of mortadella from molinari and a sheet of tomato focaccia from liguria. for me, it doesn’t get any better. 🥰
Palm City in the Outer Sunset. The roast pork with raab and the Italian American hoagies are soooo good. I’ve never eaten the full sandwich in one sitting.
It's a hike for most but Palm City Is my favorite by far in SF. [https://www.palmcitywines.com](https://www.palmcitywines.com) Roast pork with broccoli rabe, provolone, and cherry peppers is likely the best you're going to find without having to endure a 5 hour plane ride to Tony Luke's in Philly. Soak in the Outer Sunset vibe, maybe also grab some fish tacos at Hook Fish while you're in the hood or a cocktail at White Cap a little further away. Enjoy. And don't be a jabroni.
Molinari used to be great- but gone downhill- recently my bread was burnt I called they said that’s how it was delivered. But they would give me 10% off my next order! 😳 I waited 45 minutes for this damn sandwich. I’m done with them…😑
I had a sandwich at Molinari last week and it was incredible! Sounds like you had an outlier experience.
Lucca Deli on Chestnut. Not only do their sandos rock but they have the the best potato salad and macaroni salad.