Sourdough Eatery

Sourdough bread fresh out the oven!
–spicy peppered turkey sandwich
This place is down the street from my workplace. Fast and convenient. I like that the bread is always fresh. Overall this place is good, not the best sandwich I ever had but good for being down the street. I will have to say that today I was a bit disappointed, I did not receive a pickle with my order –_–

Four stars for the food. I ordered a turkey sammich, chips and a bottled water. Total: Eleven dollars and some change. A bit pricey but the sammich was quite delish. The bread is freshly baked and the condiments are simple and easy, lettuce, mayo and something else I don’t remember. Once ordered, your sammich is ready in two blinks and a stink. Very efficient. Kinda like the soup nazi, sans the soup. The most peculiar thing about this place (aside from the dauntingly eerie décor) is the geriatric cashier. Maybe the owner? I mean… It’s cool they’re seniors and still running the place but it’s dark and lowkey scary up in there. The restroom door has a padlock on it so once you’ve finished washing your hands, you’ve dirtified them as you must fasten the lock back onto the latch to secure it from «vandals».
If you want to feel normal, order your food to go or eat outside on the bench near the enchanted garden near the sidewalk.

Best sandwich ever in the world. Would give them 10 stars if they had the option. I drive from south San Jose to downtown just for their sandwich.

Difficult parking situation. You have to park on 2^nd Street and walk through the bank next door’s lot.
Great sandwiches, adorable environment. No touch and no cell phone usage signage throughout.

Best cold sandwich on the planet. Most unique eatery in the area. Staff/​ownership is a little curt since I have been visiting for over fifteen years. I am willing to overlook this behavior because the product is soooo good. A small game I like to play is how many time you can see the word NO posted in the order area. No pictures, no substitutions, no no no… Order the sandwich and enjoy, it is all part of a unique experience. Bread is phenomenal … Just do not ask to buy any, the answer is NO!!! Seinfeld could have taped an episode here.

A hidden gem in downtown SJ! I found this place while I was on jury duty. There weren’t very many ‘good’ places around the court so when I found this place using Unilocal,I was very intrigued. The place itself is kinda hard to find. it’s small and unassuming. But oh my god, once you step into this place, you are in another world! The decorations were sooo unique and interesting. There were paintings and little collectibles and antiques. They have a garden in the back to sit in and it was just beautiful. Very intimate and cozy place. They don’t allow pictures to be taken inside and they have signs that ask you to turn your phones off or in silent (not sure if they actually enforce this).
Anyway, the sandwiches here are pretty simple. They have a menu and don’t allow for much customization. The only customization you can do is whether or not you want mustard or tomatoes. I tried the regular turkey sandwich and the peppered turkey… the peppered turkey was delicious!!! Really high quality ad flavorful meat. BUT the star was the sourdough bread… it was so fresh, soft, fluffy, chewy, and crisp. Amazing.
I think it was around $ 7 (cash only) for a sandwich. Portions are huge. Highly recommended if you are in the area or if you’re doing jury duty haha.

A hole in the wall that does one thing and does it well: sourdough bread sandwiches. Salami sandwich was filling and I couldn’t keep myself from eating it all. Their pickles are yum. Service is efficient and the ambiance really cannot be matched by anything else in San Jose. Enjoy your sandwich on the back patio and chat with your friends in the good ol’ fashioned way — face to face, rather than via text or FB.

This place is all sorts of unique, from the hidden exterior to the paintings inside to the backyard that’s overflowing with plants and street signs and miscellaneous collectibles. The owners (who are delightful) have been doing things their way since before I was born and it’s been working out pretty well for them. And me.
They have several different choices of meat you can get for your sandwich, but I generally get the pastrami. I’ve tried some of the other meats and they’re not bad or anything like that, but the heart wants what the heart wants. Even then, the meat is secondary to the amazing sourdough bread they make fresh daily. It’s simultaneously flavorful without being overpowering. Allegedly their mayonnaise is good, but I have a weird aversion to mayonnaise so maybe you shouldn’t take my word on it.
Most people take their sandwiches to go, but this is a nice place to kick back and relax during your meal. Don’t be in a rush and try to put away your phone. Bring a friend, maybe a few friends. Commit to enjoying yourself instead of inhaling calories. Going here reminds me of simpler times.

delicious sourdough sandwiches! The lady boss has beautiful and quaint paintings and art work all painted n made by herself. Strict rules about no pictures although I would love to have taken a picture. Nice patio n rooms to sit down and have a nice lunch.

The sandwiches at sourdough eatery are probably some of the best in the South Bay. Everything tastes fresh. The bread really makes the sandwich. This places really reminds me of the soup nazi on Seinfeld. I always think they will say no sandwich for you!

Very hidden. You wouldn’t even know it was there if you didn’t work nearby. It’s only open 11 – 2, M-​F. Their bread is so fresh!
4 stars for:
I said light mayo and it was slathered with mayo. Ew.
The ambiance is creepy and not super welcoming and there’s a cat walking around. Hopefully it stays away from the food prep. But to each his own.
They have a limited variety of options as far as toppings is concerned. It comes with Swiss cheese, shredded lettuce & mayo. No other cheese. No other bread. I did notice some sliced tomato so I asked for it. And whoever the guy was who made my sandwich was unapproachable. Didn’t speak to me at all.
The owner? I imagine that’s who she is, was very nice. My sandwich & drink came to $ 10.27. She asked if I had a quarter, and I did not so she just charged me $ 10. Small gesture, but very appreciated.

I love this place!
It’s truly a hidden gem in the hustle and bustle of downtown SJ. They accept cash only and you cannot «customize» your sandwich much, but with the taste and quality of the ingredients, why would you need to! YUMM-​O!!! I love the peppered turkey and turkey/​salami sandwich. Bring a friend/​mom/​dad/​coworker/​buddy and take your time to ENJOY lunch again!

So i didnt notice there was a no photography policy here. Cause it’s full of wacky shite, i started snapping. Then some guy in a wheelchair got all aggro on me. Yeesh it’s a sandwich place! Sure it maybe a historic preserve but there are nicer ways for you to tell your customers not to do something. Sando was good, decent meats and cheese with good bread for the price. The german potato salad was tasty but pricey for the portion. The outside is huge and seems to be in some decay but it’s nice to be outside when it’s spring. Just dont take photos ezt to the wheelchair guy

If you are on jury duty, this is conveniently located around the corner on 1^st street from the HOJ. The electic grounds offer a change of environment compared to the jury waiting room or courtroom. The actual area to order is small with just a deli counter and cashier. There are standard meat/​cheese options on the board, but also look for things like German Salami and Pastrami. Delish! I hear the dough is baked daily. It’s fluffy and not overly sour. Portion size of sandwich is healthy and the rich side salads are just right. About $ 7 out the door with sandwich, chips or salad and a canned soda.

The friendly owners and comfortable place have character. The food is basic but delicious. The standout things are the sourdough bread and select meats.
If you want to be pampered with exotic items just so that you can brag on Facebook, this place isn’t for you. If you are picky and need special treatment, this place isn’t for you.
If you love a well done basic sandwich with lots of love, this is the spot.

Hands down best sourdough sandwich I’ve had. I love this place. New fan!
The artwork drew me to this place. I never knew it was a deli. It’s convenience is awesome and I’ll be coming here on all my lunch breaks

As I walked up, I was relying on a gut feeling that this building was my intended lunch destination. I couldn’t even see a sign. The only reason I knew Sourdough Eatery existed because I saw it on Unilocal.Taking a deep breath, I wandered into the narrow hallway, encrusted with paintings. I could only hope that I was actually in the right place.
Around the corner, I discovered the deli-​style sandwich counter and a few people waiting in line. It was a bit after 11am, and I was picking up an early lunch (after running some errands). A menu of 20 different signs, each with its own sandwich, was posted on the wall behind the counter. It took some squinting, but I saw that #20 offered turkey and salami. That sounded just right to me. The line moved fast, and I think I got my sandwich in less than 30 seconds after ordering it. I grabbed a can of soda from the fridge, and I paid less than ten bucks.
They could have easily charged me more for this lunch, and I’d be just as happy. It’s a delicious sandwich. While the sandwich is simple (with bread, meat, swiss cheese, lettuce, and mayo), all of the ingredients were high quality. The bread was nice and fresh. The salami and turkey made an excellent combination. Good flavor in that salami. The pickle spear on the side was just the right addition. Next time I go back, I think I’ll try the potato salad too. Yes, I’m definitely going back.

Came here with some coworkers for lunch, and got the spicy turkey sandwich (I think it’s #21?). Decent sandwich, but I guess this review can be summarized by saying…
It isn’t Ike’s.
The sandwich wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t anything memorable either. The sourdough was pretty good — warm, crispy on the exterior with a fluffy interior, but it wasn’t something I’d crave out of the blue. The vegetables and turkey were kind of tasteless; the focus at this place is definitely on the bread and not the inner workings of the sandwich.
Remember that it’s cash only — there’s an ATM inside in case you don’t have any on hand. The line may seem intimidating, but it moves incredibly efficiently. I was probably the 12^th person in line, but my turn came in about 5 minutes. The line kind of reminds me of the Soup Nazi, but I actually got a sandwich, so that’s a good sign.

Bring cash!
This place is a landmark sandwich place very close to the Courthouse and municipal buildings.
Outdoor patio is quite, cool, shaded, comfortable, romantic in a unique garden setting. First time you walk in, its not obvious is is a place to eat, or where to walk or where to order. Just meander until you meet the owners. Then sit down, you will forget (if for just a moment) that you are in the hub bub of Silicon Valley when you take your first bite.
Barbara and other owner have been there for 30 years (Barbara has some great paintings /​art of herself and co-​owner adorning the walls). They are part of San Jose history.
Twenty sandwiches to choose from — all $ 6.99, all on freshly baked sourdough (other breads available), all with swiss cheese, lettuce and mayonnaise/​mustard and a ¼ pickle. Kinda like a Henry Model T sandwich shop.
Sandwiches are ok, but the ambiance and owners and overall experience is what this place is all about.

Well, now I know what happens when Unilocal malfunctions during lunch time… I end up at the wrong Sourdough deli! Was trying to go to California Sourdough but ended up here.
It wasn’t a BAD sandwich, but it wasn’t great. There weren’t any accessories on the sandwich. No tomato, no onion; just some shredded lettuce and mayo. I’m glad I got the spicy peppered turkey because otherwise it kinda lacked flavor. ½ my sandwich hardly had any meat on it. I ended up throwing away ¹⁄₃ of the sourdough roll because it was just mayo and lettuce.
The instead creeped me out a bit. Maybe I’ve been watching too much American Horror Story, but that’s exactly how the inside felt.
It’s hard to see from the outside. I drove right by it and the second time I realized I had to park in the neighboring restaurant lot. There’s a heavily covered sign making it pretty hidden.