Apple Fritter: Pigs Gone Wild Brekky
This San Mateo eatery offers breakfast ("brekky") and brunch with doughnuts, burgers, sandwiches and more. On the menu is a "brekky sandwich" section that includes the Yoga Mom Brekky (grilled spinach, mushroom, egg, cheddar cheese, pesto) and the Pigs Gone Wild Brekky (grilled mushrooms, bacon, cheddar cheese, scrambled eggs, arugula, chipotle mayo).
The brekky sandwiches come with several bread choices (sourdough, egg, brioche, gluten-free, wheat, rye, or English muffin) — but if your choice of bread happens to be a glazed doughnut, get a doughnut burger. Yup, there's a special section on the menu dedicated to doughnut burgers! Try the Donut Luther with a beef patty, bacon, American cheese and a fried egg.
applefrittereatery.com; 1901 South Norfolk St., San Mateo; 650-525-9125.
B Deux Go: Croque Poivrons
B Deux Go's croque-style sandwiches with ham or peppers, Gruyere cheese and bechamel sauce are perfectly packaged to eat on the run: The sandwiches' buttermilk bread is baked with no oil on the outside and served in a paper envelope with a napkin neatly tucked within.
Pick up your sandwich to go from the kitchen door at Baume's fine-dining restaurant. The Chemel family launched their to-go sandwich concept in Fall 2021.
bdeuxgo.com; 201 California Ave., Palo Alto (pick up from kitchen door on Park Boulevard); 408-900-8000.
Cafe Bunn Mi: Crispy Duck
This South San Francisco cafe offers baguettes served with crisp pickled carrots, onions and daikon, and a choice of combination pork, five-spice chicken, grilled pork, lemongrass steak, crispy duck, vegetables, tofu and more. Also very satisfying to go with that crispy duck sandwich? A side of garlic fries.
yelp.com/biz/cafe-bunn-mi-south-san-francisco; 226 Grand Ave., South San Francisco; 650-745-8883.
Greedy Ant: Artichoke Art
This Belmont eatery has a tightly curated sandwich selection with a focus on fresh ingredients.
Among the menu's seven sandwiches are the Artichoke Art (artichoke hearts with fennel pollen, melted brie, roasted red peppers, greens, tomato and garlic pesto), Ham I Am (with choice of shaved truffle ham or rosemary ham, plus havarti, marinated onion, greens, tomato and their magic mayo) and Disco Chicken (roasted chicken breast with herbs, sauteed red onion, jack cheese, tomato, greens and lime-basil mayo).
Each sandwich comes with a choice of side. Choose between marinated chickpeas in dill or pickled beets.
thegreedyantgourmet.com; 932 Ralston Ave., Belmont; 650-832-1136.
La Casita Chilanga: La Super Aguila
La Casita Chilanga has been in the community for more than 20 years. At an eye-catching location painted half green and half white on Middlefield Road in Redwood City, you'll find tortas with fresh-baked talera, housemade aioli, xipoctli salsa, avocado, cheese and caramelized onion along with your choice of other toppings.
On the menu, you'll find tortas that pay tribute to Latin American soccer clubs, like La Super Aguila (breaded chicken breast, smoked turkey leg sausage, chorizo, ham, yellow and Monterey cheese) and celebrities like Sofia Vergara (breaded chicken breast). La Cubana is the most popular, with thin-cut breaded beef, ham, chorizo and smoked turkey leg sausage.
lacasitachilanga.com; 2928 Middlefield Road, Redwood City; 650-568-0351.
Little Lucca: Egg salad on Dutch crunch, with everything
Little Lucca has been on the Peninsula since 1980, expanding from South San Francisco to Burlingame. Choose between a roll (sour, sweet, wheat, Dutch crunch or ciabatta) or sliced bread (rye or white).
If you get a roll, the Little Lucca team scrapes out the middle, creating a pocket of crust for maximum filling.
You choose — there are crab and shrimp sandwiches, meatballs, liverwurst, cured meats (including salami, soppressata, coppa and prosciutto), combos like the Chicken Cordon Bleu (breaded chicken, ham, Swiss cheese) and Veggie Delight (cream cheese, tomato, cucumber, avocado and creamy Caesar dressing), and more.
Order your sandwich with "everything" (mayonnaise, mustard, pickles, red onion, lettuce, tomato), and especially one (or both!) of the housemade hot pepper and original garlic sauces for extra spice and savoriness.
littlelucca.com; 724 El Camino Real, South San Francisco; 650-589-8916; 1809 El Camino Real, Burlingame; 650-697-8389.
Just My Toast: Char Siu Toast
Order ahead so your favorite doesn't sell out, then pick up street toast at this newly opened eatery in San Bruno.
Choose from Pimi & Cheese (roasted red bell pepper, cream cheese, cabbage slaw), the J.M.T. Signature (prosciutto cotto, egg, cheese, cabbage slaw), Char Siu Toast (char siu, egg, cabbage slaw) and the Chicken Melt (diced chicken, celery, mayo, onion, cheese, cabbage slaw). As a side, get crispy mini smashed potatoes with onions and garlic.
instagram.com/jmttoast; 1212 El Camino Real Suite F, San Bruno.
Breakwater Barbecue: Brisket sandwich
On the menu at Coastside destination Breakwater Barbecue is the Gold Rush Pulled Pork Sandwich (topped with apple cilantro slaw and Gold Rush sauce), a Reuben (house-smoked pastrami, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, pickles) and a banh mi that features a daily smoked meat selection.
Founder Wyatt Fields has a particular passion for brisket. The brisket sandwich features slices of smoked and seared Black Angus brisket, caramelized onions, pickles, ancho coffee barbecue sauce and mayo, all on thick cut country sourdough from Rosalind Bakery in Pacifica.
breakwaterbbq.com; 30 Avenue Portola, El Granada; 650-713-5303.
Mendocino Farms: Mrs. Goldfarb's Unreal Reuben
Founded in Los Angeles, Mendocino Farms has locations in Palo Alto, San Mateo and Mountain View. The menu clearly marks vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free items, as well as which items contain nuts.
For those who crave a meaty sandwich without the actual meat, try a Reuben on rye made with plant-based corn beef, apple and celery root slaw, bread and butter pickles and Thousand Island dressing. Get it with havarti cheese for a vegetarian option, or plant-based smoked provolone cheese for a vegan option.
The menu also has options for gluten-free sandwiches, including chimichurri steak and bacon or chicken pesto caprese (these both have meat), a plant-based burger and more.
mendocinofarms.com; 401 San Antonio Road, Suite 64, Mountain View; 650-209-3987; 167 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto; 650-543-8135; 1060 Park Place, San Mateo; 650-332-8300.
Respectable Bird: The Sandwich (Spicy)
At a South San Francisco ghost kitchen or food truck, the Respectable Bird team makes their regular or spicy fried chicken sandwiches available via pickup or delivery.
Each is served on a Martin's potato roll. Also used by Shake Shack, the bread holds up to a hefty half-pound of thigh meat, as well as sauce and juicy pickles.
If you're feeling especially bold when it comes to spice, try a level 4 hot chicken sandwich from the group's Love Burn brand. If you do, you'll be required to sign a waiver. Served with a complimentary side of milk.
respectablebird.com; 312 Swift Ave., South San Francisco; 650-754-6258.
Plaza Gourmet Delicatessen: The Godfather
The Peninsula has no shortage of excellent cheesesteak establishments. At Plaza Gourmet in Foster City, you'll find an assortment, including the Famous Philly (grilled sliced beef, onions, peppers, provolone), the Slim Philly (turkey breast, light Jarlsberg) the Pizza Philly (grilled sliced beef, marinara sauce, pepperoni, onions, peppers, melted provolone and mayonnaise) and the Vegetarian Philly (grilled bell peppers, mushrooms, onions, artichoke hearts, melted provolone and mayonnaise).
You'll also find other sandwiches like the Godfather (prosciutto, salami, mortadella, coppa, provolone, olive oil, vinegar, artichoke hearts, pepperoncinis, lettuce, onions, oregano) and Shrimp Supreme (shrimp salad, avocado, mayonnaise, mustard, lettuce, tomato pickles, onion), as well as imported meats.
fostercitydeli.com; 929 Edgewater Blvd., Foster City; 650-666-8813.
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