A Guide To The Sandwiches Of The Inner Sunset

A Guide To The Sandwiches Of The Inner Sunset

Photo: Lucca Foods

Caitlin Harrington
Published on October 02, 2015

San Francisco is the land of sourdough, so it's no surprise that locals don't have to look far for a quality sandwich. The Inner Sunset is no slouch when it comes to sandwich honors, with several delis showing up on "Best Of" lists and in restaurant guides. Here we give you some of the most popular, unique, and occasionally hidden spots in the neighborhood, listed from east to west. With nearly all of them boasting price points under $10, they're sure to fill you up without costing you a lot of bread.

(For the purposes of this list, we're sticking to traditional sandwiches made with two slices of bread—while delicious, lavoshes, burritos, and breakfast sandwiches are not included.)

Wooly Pig

A favorite of UCSF students and other sandwich enthusiasts, the Wooly Pig's off-the-beaten-path location on Hugo St. doesn’t keep it from doing a brisk breakfast and lunch business. Rotating specials accompany a menu of largely Asian-inspired sandwiches, like the banh mi (Vietnamese cold cuts, pate, pickled carrots and daikon, fresh herbs and jalapenos, and Sriracha aioli on a garlic butter French roll) and the eponymous Wooly Pig (Shanghai-style braised caramel pork belly, organic mizuna greens, and pickled shallots on a toasted challah roll). Owner Lieng Souryavong chats with regulars and offers service with a friendly smile. ($6-$8, extras additional. Open Mon-Fri 7am-3pm, Sat-Sun 8am-3pm. 205 Hugo St.)

The "Wooly Pig" sandwich. (Photo: Tae Kim

Golden Bear Trading Company

Another favorite UCSF haunt, Golden Bear Trading Company offers a menu of traditional sandwiches, made to order alongside its popular Turkish coffee and baklava. The market wears its high Yelp score with pride (the site ranked them 2015's #1 place to eat in the Bay Area and #9 in the U.S.), with Yelpers particularly enjoying the turkey on sourdough and hot pastrami. A 2013 remodel has created a sleeker look, and early and late hours, free WiFi, and a 10 percent discount for UCSF staff and students are additional enticements. ($6.98, extras additional. Open 6am-11pm. 1401 6th Ave.)

The Yellow Submarine

The Yellow Submarine has been sating Sunsetters' appetites since 1971. They haven’t changed much since, and judging by their regular appearance on “Best of SF" lists (like Thrillist’s and San Francisco Travel’s), they haven't had to. Owned and operated by the Naser family since 1975, including Juliet and her son Jack, the sub shop prides itself on offering "an honest sandwich at a good value." Juliet personally selects the cuts of meat, while bread is baked exclusively for the shop from a secret recipe. Thin, disc-shaped potato slices offer a unique take on fries, and customers rave about the homemade hot sauce. ($7.35-$9.69, extras additional. Open Mon-Sat 11am-8:30pm, Sun 11am-5:00pm. 503 Irving St.)

Photo: The Yellow Submarine

Pluto’s

If you’re in a DIY mood, Pluto's lets you create your own work of sandwich art from a menu of breads, toppings, condiments like Sierra Nevada honey mustard, and meats like Angus steak and roasted Norbest turkey— or portobello mushrooms, for veggie-lovers. If you’d rather leave it to the experts, there's a menu of pre-fab sandwiches, too. Meats are hand-carved at a carving station, and can be accompanied by generously portioned sides like orbital onion rings, solar sweet potato fries or Martian mac & cheese. ($6.50-$9.50. Open 11am-10pm. 627 Irving St.)

Pasquale's Pizza

Since it's known primarily for its pizza, diners may be surprised to discover Pasquale's boasts an extensive sandwich menu. With options like charbroiled ribeye steak, sloppy Giuseppe (Italian-style sloppy Joe), and eggplant parmesan, the bulky sandwiches offer a lot of bread for the buck. Starting at $6.50 for a sandwich and a side salad or fries, it’s one of the better values in the neighborhood. Night owls can get their sandwich fix late— Pasquale's is open until midnight Sunday-Thursday and 1am on weekends. ($6.50-$10.50. Open Sun-Thu 11am-12am, Fri-Sat 11am-1am. 700 Irving St.)

Photo: Tae Kim

Daily Health

Health-conscious sandwich fans can get their fill of organic, vegan, raw, and gluten-free goodness at 9th Ave's Daily Health. For a variation on the traditional sandwich, sample the “live sandwich” (sprouted flaxseed sunflower bread, organic avocado, tomato and shredded carrots, organic sun-dried tomato, and raw vegan parmesan) or the peanut butter crunch panini (sprouted whole wheat bread, banana, and raw agave, all organic). For vegans and vegetarians otherwise consigned to a short list of sandwich options, Daily Health might be a welcome alternative. ($5.99-$11.99. Open Mon-Fri 10am-8pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 12pm-5pm. 1235 9th Ave.)

Roxie Market & Deli

Another hidden gem, Roxie Market joins the Yellow Submarine on San Francisco Travel’s list of top SF sandwich spots. You’ll find the deli in the back, past the selection of Irish groceries and sizable offering of candies from the British Isles. Roxie caters to a range of appetites, serving up ample helpings of meats and veggies between their hefty slices. Sandwiches come in junior, regular, and supreme sizes, but portions skew large, so come hungry—or with a friend—if you plan to go all in on the supreme. Adventurous eaters may want to try the Irish breakfast sandwich, stuffed with sausage, pudding, bacon, two eggs, cheese, ketchup and HP sauce. ($5.99 (junior), $7.99 (regular), and $11.99 (supreme). Open 7am-9pm. 500 Kirhkam St.)

 Roxie's supreme size turkey sandwich. (Photo: Tae Kim)

Irving Subs and Cheese Shop

Irving Subs helps fill the sandwich void between 9th and 19th avenues. Dubbed “classy” by Thrillist for its cheese shop vibe, the shop stays down to earth with sandwich names like Hey Ya! (smoked mozzarella with roasted red peppers and marinated artichokes) Goodfellas (coppa, salame, prosciutto, provolone, pesto sauce), and Beat L.A.! (roast beef and turkey, farmhouse cheddar). As expected, the cheese selection is abundant, with options for sandwiches ranging from Swiss and pepperjack to smoked gouda and horseradish cheddar. Order pick-up or delivery through Order Ahead. ($6.25-$7.65, extras additional. Open 11am-6pm. 1298 12th Ave.)

Photo: Irving Subs

Andronico's Market

As a grocery store, Andronico's benefits from a wide selection of sandwich materials, specifically "14 different breads and tortillas, 14 meats and veggies, 12 add-ons, 7 condiments, and 9 cheeses," as their website boasts. The deli offers a smorgasbord of custom and pre-made sandwiches, but the selection sometimes dwindles as the day goes on, so arrive early for the best pick. For diners in a hurry, they also offer a wide selection of pre-made sandwiches and panini. ($7.99-$8.99. Open 7am-10pm. 1200 Irving St.)

Lucca Foods 

Voted "Best Deli" by the Bay Area A-List for four out of the last six years, Lucca Foods is located slightly outside the Inner Sunset, just west of 19th Ave. But daily fresh-baked sourdough rolls, high-quality ingredients, and generous portions make it worth the trip. Lucca's sandwiches are lauded by Yelpers, who have dubbed them everything from "solid" to “life-changing.” You can pre-order or get delivery through Eat24. ($5.99-$8.99. Deli open 9am-12am. 1899 Irving St.)

Photo: Tae Kim

Did we miss any of your favorites? Let us know in the comments.