Ben & Esther's Vegan Delicatessen

Delicious vegan bagels, sandwiches and treats. My personal favorite was their onion bagel because the onions are slightly crunchy! Mayah was here everyday that we came during our vacation and she was so friendly everytime! I will for sure be back whenever I visit San Diego.

VEGAN REVIEW wowza! Being from the Bay, we are totally spoiled by having The Butcher's Son-- we are usually disappointed in other vegan delis, but this place is legit! #1. MATZO BALL SOUP. OMG. SO GOOD! #2. Matzo ball soup! It's so good, it deserves to take both top spots #3. Tuna melt. The bread!!!!! And yes the tuna salad itself was awesome. Hubby also loved his Reuben. Definitely affordable- I recommend the meal combo. AND YOU CAN GET MATZO BALL SOUP AS YOUR SIIIIIIIIIDE!!!! We sat outside. Unfortunately this is right next to a crisis pregnancy center- ugh- so I just had to turn my back to it Parking was easy. Service was good. Note that you should wait inside for your stuff. They don't call your name when your food is ready. Will return whenever I'm in SD

The order: Turkey Club Combo w/ Matzo Ball Soup The verdict: Phenomenal Ben & Esther's has always been on our bucket list of local eateries and, today, we finally made the visit. If you are ever craving a sandwich packed with flavor and leaves you feeling full, but not heavy, then this is the place to go! The turkey club is savory and texturally marvelous. From the bouncy rye bread to the fresh veggies and hardy turkey, everything about this sandwich is delectable. Our favorite bit: the crispy bacon. It has a satisfying crunch and a taste that can appease any carnivore. In the words of my skeptical, meat-loving partner, "That bacon has no business being that good." But here we are, and it is truly that good. The Matzo Ball Soup is not something to sneeze at either. You can taste the sweetness of the veggies in the broth and the matzo ball is light and flavorful; a fantastic accompaniment to any savory sandwich. Added bonuses: The women working on the day of our visit are exceptionally kind and you can tell that everything is made and packed with care. Imagine those videos you see of people fancily wrapping presents in a way that creates a pocket for a festive card. Somehow, at Ben and Esther's, they have maneuvered a way to wrapped up the sandwich to have a pickle pocket! The sweet ladies also offered us extra soup and bagels since it was the end of the day, and we went back for a jalapeño shmear that tasted wonderful on the last bits of rye bread from our sandwich.

Everything was amazing. The staff was awesome. We went here three times over a week. All the bagel sandwiches were a hit for us. The cinnamon rolls are very good, I'm glad I don't live close to be honest. The small feeling of a deli was exactly what I needed. They even gave my wife a free pastry for her birthday. Thank you again Mayah!!

No guessing - everything is vegan. Got the veggie bagel and it was delicious. 5 in our party and everyone left happy. Definitely a little gem with good service and welcoming atmosphere.

I had the worst experience here! I just got a sandwich. When I opened the wrapping, the bread was all in crumbles. I thought that I could just go back and get new bread. When I politely asked, 'IRENE', she said, "Well, you should have got it toasted then!" Then she started yelling at me. Again, I said that I only came in to change the bread.. She then told the person that made my sandwich that I said that his sandwich was bad. And then they all started laughing! I NEVER said anything other than the bread was dry and crumbling. And showed them the sandwich. Then they both started yelling at me. UNBELIEVABLE!!! Also, they refused to give me any information to whom I could contact as a manager, then laughed again when I asked. My family will NEVER go there again!!!!!!!!!

Salmon-less bagel, you make me sigh Without savory salmon, you don't satisfy Tastebuds mourn, for they long to fly Okay, so... I apparently can't read good because I went to Derek Zoolander's center for kids who can't read good. I neglected the word "VEGAN" in Ben & Esther's VEGAN Jewish Deli! I think my mind totally erased it or something when I read it, because when I got home to tear into my lox bagel, I was in shock that the half of the half (quarter) I was eating had no salmon! I shrugged, thinking that maybe I just finished eating it and didn't notice. When I started on the second half, I didn't see any salmon either! "Okay, maybe they forgot the salmon lox since they were so generous with the carrots." Despite the disappointment of not having actual salmon, this vegan lox bagel sandwich was filling and had a similar flavor profile to an actual lox bagel. Carrots could have used a little more (marinade? time? Hmm) to make them softer and more lox like, but that could be a personal preference. Would be back to try other vegan fares!

Cute hole-ish in the wall spot that I def recommend! My first time have a vegan bagel and it tasted amazing, def try this spot if you're looking for a good bagel in general. Everyone was super nice too!

Amazing Rueben sandwich from Ben and Esther's! Service was awesome and the vibe here was pretty mellow!

I came here with my boyfriend for the first time and their cream cheese is amazing! We got the LIZZO and it was created by LIZZO herself which is pretty cool. I am not even vegan and I enjoyed this place so much. I felt like I was in a NY deli, they gave me a complimentary matzo ball soup since the matzo balls were falling apart, which I did not mind at all! The parking lot was empty so parking was easy since it was a Tuesday morning and the service was fast! I can't wait to come back here! 4/5 stars i was really looking forward to trying the matzo ball soups where the matzos were actually in a ball instead of being crumbly. The soup was still good tho!

This is just the most amazing vegan subs place. I tried them for the first time last summer while in Seattle, and was so happy to find out there is a location in San Diego! Everything I've ever had from here is nothing short of amazing. Their best and most unique item is the matzo soup. It's insanely delicious. I think I'll always stop here whenever I'm in San Diego!

I was so shocked that there was a vegan deli nearby me! It's in the same complex as Chuy's! My friend is vegan therefore when I am with her I'm always open to trying vegan places. The interior was bright, clean, and cohesive. From left to right there were drinks, desserts, sides, pickle choices, bagel options, etc. The menu was split in three boards and was easy to read. I chose their egg salad sandwich which came on rye bread. And I made it into a combo, by choosing root beer and the kosher dill pickle. My friend chose their lox on everything bagel with the whitefish side and the cel-ray drink. It was beautifully wrapped and bagged up to take on our hike at Mission Trails! The egg salad sandwich was pretty tasty and fulfilling. (ALL VEGAN!) I assume that it was tofu based with turmeric, mustard, and dill. I wish that there was more herbs in it and even more dill. Because dill is what makes egg salad sandwiches so yummy! It came with lettuce, thinly sliced cucumbers, and tomato. I asked for no onion, and it came without onion. Yay! The rye bread was a little dry, but I'm not sure if that's how it's supposed to be. The dill pickle was super super juicy and big. A great hydrating snack on a hike. The root beer was pretty average but super fizzy! I burped a lot. My friend thoroughly enjoyed her lox on everything bagel. The lox part was made from carrots! She said she was glad she chose this to eat for her first try because now she's excited for the other items. She highly recommends the lox! -- also they have so many bagel choices: jalapeño, everything, sesame, pumpernickel, onion, garlic, blueberry, cinnamon raisin, etc! We came around late afternoon and they still had a good deal of bagel options which was pretty nice. She also had 'whitefish' side. This would be spectacular in a sandwich and I agree! I have no idea what they used to make it, but it reminded me of potato and fish. I don't even know what white fish is, but this for sure was delicious. The cel-ray drink was fizzy and an interesting flavor. To me it tasted like apples. She said next time she'd go for a coconut water. (: The workers here are kind and will help you if you can't decide on what bagel to get. Definitely give this place a try! I think they had a few tables for outdoor seating as well as plenty of parking even though it's a shared parking lot.

My partner and I finally gave Ben & Esther's a try after seeing it multiple times as we would frequent the burrito spot in the same parking lot. The girl working was really friendly and patient while we checked out the options on the menu, and she made our order quickly too! At the time of our visit, the chicken salad was still on the menu and I ordered it. My partner ordered a rosemary sea salt bagel with bacon scallion schmear. My sandwich was stuffed full of the chicken salad and fresh veggies, and the bagel had plenty of schmear. I'm typically weary of the texture and flavor of some vegan foods, but I really enjoyed the chicken salad, and my partner said her bagel was delicious! We were both thoroughly satisfied with the flavors of our food, as well as the portions. We will be back to try out more menu items soon!

Absolutely excellent. We are from Arizona. We first had Ben & Esther's on a trip in Portland and fell in love with the food, service and company. When visiting relatives in San Diego we had to visit their location. Does not disappoint!!! Vegan heaven. Everything you can ever dream of is here. Scones, brownies, cookies, bagels, cream cheese, sandwiches and more. All freshly made and delicious. This morning I tried the steak and eggs breakfast sandwich on jalapeño bagel. Holy s%it it was AMAZING! Plant based egg patty, thinly sliced vegan steak, sautéed mushrooms and onion, A-1 sauce, Swiss cheese. The heat from the jalapeño bagel took it up a notch to a full blown party in my mouth. How can I possibly go back to Arizona, a land where there is no Ben & Esther's Vegan Jewish Deli!?!?

Ben & Esther's Vegan Jewish Deli pleasantly surprised even a non-vegan like myself. The Reuben I tried was a burst of flavors, and what impressed me most was its moist and satisfying texture. During our visit with three friends, each exploring a different sandwich, we all found ourselves thoroughly enjoying our meals. We left with a unanimous decision to return and explore more of their offerings. The black and white cookie served as a sweet conclusion, albeit leaning slightly towards the drier side, we still liked it. Ben & Esther's has proven that vegan deli options can be both flavorful and fulfilling. Looking forward to our next visit to continue this delightful culinary journey!

Turkey club and potato salad were yum! Place was very clean and items were labeled. Joshua, Eli and Mayah were professional, helpful and friendly. They made my day. I really appreciated the recommendations :) Definitely will be going back.

Finally decided to check this place out and I'm so glad I did! I put it off due to it being vegan and thinking I wouldn't like any of the food they offered. I got their jalapeño bagel with "bacon" scallion cream cheese and their everything bagel with regular cream cheese. Both were extremely delicious. I'm curious what their other non-meat sandwiches taste like. Will def be returning!

MUST TRY!!! Bacon is ugly af lol but it tastes elite. When I tell you the bacon, egg, and cheese is legit; it's so similar to real version. 8.5/10. Their bagels are elite 9/10. My favs are: Lizzo, Bacon Egg Cheese I'm coming here monthly!!!!!

We need more branches of this deli all over, everywhere (especially near downtown San Diego or Little Italy adjacent). I have LOVED everything (except the Matzoball soup - but that could be because a friend delivered it to me & it was cold). Otherwise - BIG FAN!

Cashier was super friendly and walked me through all the gluten free options, a lot of the vegan meats were made with seitan so be sure to ask and double check when ordering! I got the nova lox on a plain bagel. The up-charge for the gluten free bagel was only $1 which I appreciate. I don't think they were made in house though, but I will take what I can get! The salmon on the nova lox was made with carrots and the cream cheese was delicious! I would definitely come back and try the rest of their bagel sandwiches. They were very attentive with changing their gloves when asked and in the end I felt safe eating here. They have a couple of tables outside for you to eat at which and the service was decently quick.

Everything is vegan and delightful! 10/10 would recommend for all food lovers. They've got deserts and epic bagel sandwiches.

I really like the sandwiches here! I got the veggie sandwich with jalapeño cream cheese and added sausage. I'm not vegan and the cream cheese did not really taste like a dairy cream cheese but I still really liked the spread! I wish I could have tried the Lizzo because it sounded really good but they had run out of some of the ingredients, maybe next time. Overall the sandwich was really good and I would get it again. The staff was really nice and the place was very clean and organized. I didn't try any desserts or pastries but they looked really good.

Always hits and the best customer service. Today I accidentally came in 5 min before closing and they were still so kind. I tried the tuna melt today and it was

On vacation in San Diego and had to try Ben & Esther's. Amazing food- had the Rueben and it was the best!! Everyone was very welcoming and friendly even though it was very busy. Got the croissant and cinnamon roll for dessert. Highly recommend this wonderful eatery! Wish there was one in Maryland!

I tried the Lizzo! It was super flavorful and prob the best vegan bagel sandwich I've had. Only thing is that it was a bit messy to eat because of the cream cheese so just have napkins ready. I'll definitely be back to try their sandwiches and sides.

I recently ordered delivery from this fabulous gem of a place, and loved every single bite of it. This guilt-free meal was NOT a sacrifice of any kind. I'm not vegan....and to be honest, I was really hungry and didn't know if this healthy food would do the trick...but it DID. It was both delicious and SO filling. I completed my dinner feeling both satisfied and energized. Thanks, guys! Blessings, Kat

Wow - what a novel and delicious addition to the SD food scene! As of today, they've got 2 locations in the county: this one in the college area and one in Oceanside. I love trying something new and am very open minded when it comes to plant-based options. Had the chance to swing by for a pickup order that my friends and I devoured from the comfort of their beautiful backyard. More on the food shortly... This store is fairly small, with a line for ordering and a line for pickup. Pro-tip: place an order online in advance. The order was ready upon arrival and service was friendly. The parking lot has many spots. There are two small shaded tables in front, and perhaps four more to the side of the restaurant. The lox bagel was delicious. Made from carrots and well spiced, it had a satisfying texture and tasty flavor profile. The gluten free everything bagel was solid. The vegan cream cheese was very good. Combined with capers, tomatoes, and onions, this was a delicious sandwich. I'd definitely order it again but would also like to try more of their menu. Oh, the NY seltzer sodas, chips, and dolmas were a perfect compliment to the meal. Great work, team.

The idea of a completely vegan Jewish deli is kinda mind blowing to me, in a very good way. I don't eat meat, so when I'm in NYC, it's usually knishes (Yonah Schimmel's has the BEST!) and bagels with vegan cream cheese (a shout out to Tompkins Square Bagels!) for me. So when I saw that Ben & Esther's had landed in San Diego, I got all kinds of excited. My wife and I drove over to the location near SDSU (there's one up in O'side too) and had a look. I bought 4 sesame bagels to take home and a tub of the scallion cream cheese. My wife ordered a veggie bagel sandwich. Everything was really good. LOVED the scallion cream cheese and my wife really dug her veggie bagel sandwich. The bagels were good but not outstanding -- it's really hard to find a great bagel in this town. We'll be back soon to take a deeper dive into the menu.

My partner just got back from NY after having several scallion cream cheese bagels so I brought him here and he could not get over the scallion cream cheese! He couldn't believe how close it was to regular cream cheese. The rye bread, everything bagel, and onion bagel were all delicious!

So glad I found this place! Met some friends here on a Sunday afternoon for brunch. Plenty of parking. The storefront itself is small, you just go in and order at the counter. I went with the Brisket which I really enjoyed, I skipped the Mushrooms, but it kind of seems like they also may have left off the swiss. And also forgot the pickle. But what I did get of it was realllllly tasty. Great toasted bread, enough aoili to make it not dry. Really good. They have a couple of tables out front, and then in a little open area for the shopping center. Unfortunately there was a homeless man that kept getting close to us as we were eating, but finally left us alone. I will definitely be back to try some of the other options!!

Since discovering this place only a few weeks ago, I've already been here three times. During that time, I went to New York and I have to say, even after multiple NY bagels, I was missing my Ben & Esther's bagel! This shop is completely vegan. For a lot of the items, it's really hard to tell. My husband's go to is the egg cheese and bacon bagel. The bacon is so crisp and even has marbeling on it. It's wild! I love the veggie bagel with the lox cream cheese. The lox doesn't have that fishy smell so it's more obvious that it's vegan. Besides the most delicious bagels that you can get with either cream cheese or as a Sammie, they've also got a big menu of sandwiches along with sides and classics like latkes, matzo ball soup and pickles. Pro tip: call in your order as it takes a while to get cooking.

I ordered the veggie sandwich and a cinnamon roll for delivery. The veggie sandwich was so good! Tons of fresh veggies and I got it on the jalapeño bagel. The veggie schmear was so creamy and delicious. I ordered the cinnamon roll cold intending to heat it up later but when I tell you it never made it to the heating process...There was so much cinnamon, the roll was so moist, and the portion is quite generous. Definitely very sweet so be prepared for that. But the food at Ben & Esther's exceeded my expectations, and I expect to order here again soon.

A 5-Star Journey at Ben and Esther's Vegan Jewish Deli! Swipe to relive our flavorful experience! 1 Our first visit was an absolute delight! We savored an everything bagel breakfast with JUSTEgg, cheese, and a mouthwatering mushroom chop. The flavors were out of this world! 2 Round two was even better! I indulged in the Breakfast Bagel with bacon, egg, cheese, and sausage, and the Lizzo bagel was a showstopper! The vibes were on point, and the customer service was exceptional! 3 The Biscoff Cheesecake was a highlight from the deli spread! While some options didn't impress, like the dry cinnamon rolls, the cozy decor and easy ordering process elevated the experience. Overall, it's a 5-star delight! The fresh bagels and cheese added the perfect touch of moisture, and I can't wait for more amazing adventures here! #VeganDelights #BreakfastBagelMagic #FlavorExplosion #PlantBasedEats #LizzoApproved #DeliciousDeliFinds #CelebCollab #FoodieAdventures #DeliTreats #SweetIndulgences #CozyVibes #VeganFoodieFaves #VeganJewishDeli #FlavorfulJourney #PlantBasedDelights #FoodieFinds #DeliciousAdventures #5StarReview #YelpFave #PlantBasedEats #FoodieLove

For a vegan bagel shop, this place is crazy good. I got the cheddar, egg, and sausage bagel sandwich and when I say this was a yummy bagel, I mean it. The cheese was gooey, the egg was fluffy, and the sausage was juicy and was so flavorful! It's meals like this when I contemplate fully committing to being vegan. Good for the soul and better for the environment :-) Highly recommend checking this place out. Next time, I definitely wanna check out their deli items and other baked goods! Would also love to try a simple bagel and schmear as well

amazing deli. my boyfriend and i were dying to try a reuben. we had not ate one since our pre-vegan life and we decided it was a must on our trip to SD. we shared a reuben and ordered a side of latkes and dolmas. parking was very easy to find! the food came out fast. the staff was kind and helpful. overall, highly recommend! i am excited to go back and try some more food.

my boyfriend and i came in around 40 mins before close, a lot of the bagels were still available but we got the last jalapeño one! he ordered the lizzo which seemed the most flavorful, jam-packed bagel sandwich we could've picked. needless to say he LOVED it!! we can never find good vegan places (he's vegetarian) and he craves the taste of meat sometimes. he says this was definitely a spot we will continue to come back to time and time again. 10/10!!!! the lady up front was also super nice :)

I love the 100% vegan menu! It takes a lot of the stress and anxiety out of ordering food! My boyfriend actually found this place and we decided to try it out for breakfast. The Egg + Cheese + Bacon bagel sandwich was good, but a little on the dry side. However, I really enjoyed my boyfriend's Steak + Eggs! Our bagels were both slightly burnt and even the ones we brought home were a little over cooked. I was bummed that cookies were sold out before 11am. So if you want some of your (vegan edition) childhood favorites, come EARLY! I truly appreciate all vegan businesses! So if you're missing NY delis, Ben & Esters is definitely still a place you should check out!!

Am I vegan? Nope. Am I Jewish? Also nope. But that should not stop you from making your way to this fantastic deli! The coffee was weak, but the salmon shmear bagel was right on! Am I from the East Coast? Also Nope, but I know people who are and they would be impressed!! Get a bagel! Get a pickle from the jar!! Definitely get a black and white cookie! Our black and white cookie connoisseur said it wasn't the best black and white she'd ever had but it was impressive. As a Midwesterner on vacation who had never had a black and white before I was super impressed! Loved the sweetness and different flavors between the two frostings! I'd definitely go back here because they have darn good baked goods! Did I mention they have pickles in jars? A bunch of pickles in a clear jar!! Try it for yourself!

What a great discovery in the La Mesa area. It's a full Jewish deli, but everything is vegan. Awesome! The food is delicious and Joshua was super friendly on a couple of visits. Lots of variety I will be back again and again.

This has been our Sunday go to spot for about 2 years now and I have to say it never disappoints! Ol faithful the bacon egg & cheese w/ shmear- you can't beat it. The shmears are actually amazing. Jalapeño is a personal fave! The bagels are soft and delish. The Philly cheese is such a great steak sandwich replacement. I haven't had a better 'steak' anywhere! Matzo ball soup is yum! And the pastries omg- the biscoff cheesecake or whatever JUST GO. I've told so many people about this lovely little place. And the staff is super sweet! (Coffee is pretty good too)

I have had this on my to try yelp for a long time, so I was excited to finally stop in. It was a Saturday 10ish am and they were already out of several items which is pretty disappointing. I got what I ordered and was prepared to say it wasn't worth coming and dammit I ate my words....literally. The breakfast sandwich I got was SO FREAKING delicious. I had to double check this wasn't vegetarian and vegan because the cream cheese is fantastic, the EGG y'all.... I am vegetarian but always searching for more vegan options and this is IT. I feel like the customer service and product availability needs improvement but I will absolutely be back because this is one of the best bagels I ever had. I just went to New York and the bagels I had there did not compare!

I LOVE that they changed their hours to 7pm! I was finally able to go after work. They have so many options and the fact that everything is vegan is awesome. I ordered: CHICKEN SALAD: This comes on marble rye bread. I feel like I would've enjoyed this more if it came on an everything bagel but that's just because the bread was a little chewy and dry. I think it's preference though. The portion size to dollar ratio is great. Super fresh ingredients too! CUSTOMER SERVICE: We called ahead about 30 minutes before closing and the workers were super nice & quick. 4 stars because I've only tried 1 item on the menu but I'll definitely be back!

Second star based on the kind staff there who gave me a bit of mustard for this bland New Yorker sandwich. But the service was excellent. The young lady cut both of my sandwiches in half and wrapped the halves separately. And she cheerfully got me some mustard when asked.

I've appreciate the efforts to make a great vegan deli to SDSU. I've tried the breakfast sandwiches a few times now. The last one I got was the egg cheese bacon. Unfortunately it was not good. First of all the sandwich is covered in oil making it greasy and weird. The fake egg is over cooked and tasteless. The bacon is good but not evenly cooked. Overall, it left me with a stomach ache and I ate only half. What's the point of having something made with plants if it's not fresh, overcooked, covered in oil and expensive.

Came here for breakfast with people who have vegan and gluten free dietary restrictions. Great that we have this breakfast option in San Diego, as they were both craving bagel breakfast sandwiches. I ordered the steak & egg breakfast sandwich (egg, steak, swiss, grilled onion) on a jalapeño bagel. So good! The jalapeño bagel was decent. Not as fluffy as other bagels, but I was impressed with the flavor. And the vegan cheese actually melted! I would order this sandwich again. Also tried their jalapeño mac and cheese. Again, flavor of the jalapeño came through and was a nice kick. However it was almost too cheesy and vegan cheese- tasting for my liking. But then again I'm not vegan, so grain of salt... I'm looking forward to next time and trying out their other sandwiches.

Delicious hot sandwiches! The bagels were fresh and delicious too. I also ordered a half dozen and the Honey Walnut spread and enjoyed our bagels. Really liked the rosemary sea salt bagel. They had a creative one with spices too Zatar? not sure I got the spelling right, but can't wait to try it later. All items are vegan and they also had liquid death and many beverage options. We will be back!

Always amazing service and delicious food. Very clean inside and displays are neat. I've tried a few things already, but the Lizzo is by far my favorite.

Mayah is absolutely so so sweet and made some amazing sandwiches. Coming back fs super cute store, they have a pumpkin shmear right now and it looks absolutely bomb. Recommending to everyone, service is top tier! Thank you Mayah for a great experience

Like many of the customers who have left positive reviews here, im not Jewish nor vegan. I was looking for lox bagel and this place showed up and decided to try. Couldn't tell from pictures what the replacement for salmon would be and it was carrots! Pleasantly surprised! I usually don't tip in to go places but my short encounter with the employee was so pleasant that I felt guilty not tipping on the way driving back. I know this subject may be a bit controversial but next time if I have similar pleasant experience, I'm definitely tipping.

I would love to give this place 5 stars but I had to take 1 away from the not so fresh bagels and when I say not so fresh I mean they were so old and hard that I couldn't eat it. It was a little softer then a rock, no joke, with a sign on the window that said fresh bagels, I expect them to be fresh, not a month old. So disappointed in that but omg everything else was exceptional, that is way I can see past the old bagels and I'll try them again another day, maybe it was a bad couple of weeks and they decided they didn't wanna throw them out and just sell them anyway. I'm 80% vegan because I do still eat chicken but that's it. I was so excited to see a full vegan place with sandwiches, I think bacon was the hardest for me to have to give up but this place has amazing bacon. I couldn't believe how wonderful it tasted, almost like the real thing. We had the egg, cheese && bacon bagel sandwich, the veggie sandwich bagel, Reuben and the New Yorker, all were great except the bagels.