Big Sur Deli

I had heard that the Big Sur Deli was the place to stop for a hearty meal on cold mornings and I was not disappointed. I was slightly late to breakfast but they whipped me up a breakfast burrito designed for a king (or at least a prince who was down on his luck). I also sampled a delectable double chocolate muffin that I washed down with some chocolate milk for good measure. There were some other options under glass that looked rather good but that will have to wait for another pass. The staff were very kind and knew what they were doing. The Deli itself has some great magnets as well and is attached to the a tasting room where you can sample local beers and wines. I bought a sampling of IPA’s to try while sitting around the fire with/and for my friends, their selection was large and varied. I highly suggest grabbing a post card and utilizing the Big Sur Post Office located next store. It’s a classy move and it costs under a dollar to make someone’s day. I will definitely be stopping at the Big Sur Deli on my next ride through.

Charming deli nestled near the Redwoods & sunlit creeks. Huge assortment of cuisine. Delicious sandwiches and great decals. Fun assortment of snacks. Only upgrade would be cleaner outdoor bathrooms. :)

Sandwiches are to die for. Highly recommend the avocado cheese. It will change you. Trip highlight

Heard this was one of the premiere spots to get sandwiches and food in general at Big Sur. The sandwich was huge and went way above expectations. I ordered a Turkey Sandwich with Swirled Rye bread and it had mayonnaise, dijon mustard, lettuce and tomato. We also ordered a Tuna Salad sandwich with sourdough and it also had mayonnaise, dijon mustard, lettuce and tomato. Nice sandwiches to enjoy the amazing scenery of Big Sur.

I stopped in a little before the taproom opened so I grabbed a sandwich ($10), the up in smoke and a craft beer and had a picnic in Big Sur State Park. The sandwich was amazing nd filling. They also have a great craft beer selection in their coolers. Really hit the spot and a perfect stop after some hiking or a day driving down Highway 1.

Can't go to big sur without grabbing a taquito from the deli!!!! The sandwiches are FIRE, the roast beef is some of the best I've ever had! Everything in the deli case is AWESOME and they'll heat up anything for you, or customize most stuff within reason. It's also an adorable little general store but don't sleep on the deli as a lunch option if you're in town!

Amazon talk out good. Got to try their fry chicken and burger

Nothing compares to missing lunch by two hours, driving down the beautiful 1 thinking there wont be a place to stop for food that doesn't empty my wallet and leave me dissatisfied, walking in to what looks like a cool mini mart and realizing that all my dreams may actually come true. And they did! We would make the trip again just for the sandwiches (and mac and cheese....and fries....and I'm a coffee snob, but even the coffee was amazing) and we were all so happy to be well fed and not broke at the end of it.

This is our go-to spot for supplies and hot food when we camp at Ventana. This is up there with the best chorizo breakfast burrito I've ever had. It's fresh and SO flavorful and densely packed. The shop has all kinds of supplies and snacks, including some local specialty items. I'm not sure what the reviews about the service not being friendly are all about... Every time I've come in they are polite and efficient - what more could you need? It has a cute souvenir section attached as well.

Big Sur Deli made a pretty good sandwich. In Big Sur, there are not too many choices, but the deli was perfect for good hiking food. Their sandwich stickers made the sandwiches even more fun.

We visited Big Sur so many times and drove by the Big Sur Deli so many times it never really occurred for us to stop by and check it out. We wanted to mail a postcard out one day and stopped off at the USPS right next door. We poked our head into the Big Sur Deli and saw a line of sandwiched premade and ready. At that time we told ourselves the next time we visited Big Sur we would stop by and grab a sandwich or two, so we did. We picked up the Big Sur Hipster and Up In Smoke. Both are great option if you need a bite for much or pack something with you on the trail. I dont know if it was the nature or just being out camping but those sandwiches tasted amazing. The flavors were kind of what you expected based on the description but it was just good. This shop also sold many other things, anything from premade meals to basic necessities to get you through a weekend of camping. We saw stickers, postcards, candles and snacks/food. This was a really neat place to stop off and get a quick lunch. I recommend anybody starting their trail give the sandwiches from Big Sur Deli a try. Also browse around their shop a bit and see if you need to pick anything up.

Deli with many choices for cold cut or hot sandwiches. They also have a vast beer selection. I actually tried the chicken/cheese tamale located in the front deli case. The deli heats it ups for you , pack it nice and give you the needed plastic tableware. It was D E L I C I O U S !!!!

EDIT: The folks from Big Sur Deli reached out to let me know this employee doesn't work for them and actually works on behalf of the post office to keep post office post office spaces clear for residents. While we weren't in a post office only spot this seems to check out and I'm changing my rating so it doesn't negatively impact Big Sur Deli. We were going to go to this place for a meal while here. On the way to Big Sur Bakery we accidentally pulled into the wrong parking lot. We got out and started walking. A dude ran up behind us and put his hand on my shoulder bed yelled at us to take our car and go. He was about as rude as someone could be. Yes, he was we doing his job and I'm sure it's annoying when people accidentally park in the wrong parking lot. And, yelling isn't acceptable. We made an honest mistake. He could've just simply asked whether we were going to Big Sur Bakery then asked us to park in their lot. We would've done it no problem. He then proceeded to tell us that Big Sur Bakery wasn't even close and it was around way up the mountain, which then made us think we were completely in the wrong place. So then we drove up the road a ways before we realized it was actually next door and the dude straight up lied to us. Again, he could've just told us the parking was for Big Sur Deli only. Instead he yelled, was rude, and lied to us. We were planing on stopping by Big Sur Deli later in our trip but that's off the table at this point. Big Sur Bakery can just have more of our business because that place rocks and has the kindest folks working there and delicious food.

If you're headed up the PCH and you start to get hungry, this place is a must-visit. They've got a menu to suit anyone, a good selection of convenience items that you may need, souvenirs, t-shirts, etc all under one roof and they're connected to Big Sur Taphouse just in case you want to sit down and dine or grab a drink. The place has a rustic sort of vibe, and the sandwiches from the deli are huge. Prices are right, and the people are friendly. Would definitely return.

I still dream of the Big Sur Hipster. Since returning home, I've been on an endless search for a dupe and every time I am disappointed. Before being introduced to this delectable sandwich, I've been skeptical of roast beef -- it's just the meat is a hit or miss. Big Sur Deli surely hit it out of the park. I look forward to returning and enjoying this beaut after a treacherous hike (or just after a stroll).

First off the employee went straight to making my sandwiches without washing hands or putting on gloves. Straight up grabbing bread & meats with bare hands. As I looked at the meats counter, there were flies literally sitting on the food. The breads are just sitting uncovered & I noticed blue tiny specks on my bread. Mold?

Did a road trip to Big Sur over the weekend and did everything I wanted to do including Pfeiffer Falls, Henry Miller bookstore, Bixby Bridge, etc. However, getting food was another story! I wanted to dine in at Nepenthe and it was a diaster! 2 Hour wait for 2 people! No thanks. All the other cafes and restaurants seemed packed with lines out the door. Just the nature of reopening from the pandemic and summer. It was so difficult to get food in Big Sur! If you are going to Big Sur, would suggest arrive early. We arrived at around 12noon and most of everything is packed. I would suggest heading to Big Sur Deli to pick up pre-made sandwiches. I ordered a Roast Beef pre-made. It was made earlier in the morning and was not bad. The bread was a bit hard. I would also suggest having them make you a fresh sandwich there! This deli does have everything you need...chips, snacks, drinks, Big Sur souvenirs. Check out their drinks too! They have some great drinks in glass bottles like their Orange Creme Soda and organic fresh brewed teas. This is a great stop to stock up so you can avoid long restaurant lines and enjoy more time hiking or beaching versus standing 2 hours just to get food. Enjoy Big Sur!

Really underwhelming. The layout of the sandwich counter is terrible. People didn't know where to stand to form a line. We finally figured we would make the line around the beverage refrigerators and then blocked all the customers trying to get drinks. No order. I am not a good cook by any means but I could certainly make a better sandwich with what I have in my fridge at home. They forgot mustard in 2 of the sandwiches, and I'm pretty sure my tuna sandwich didn't even have mayo. It tasted like nothing so I'm glad I picked up some jalapeño chips. No one ate more than half of their sandwiches and didn't enjoy eating even that much.

Small shop to stop and grab some food / supplies. I ordered a hot pastrami and cheese sandwich. Was very tasty and no complaints. Meat was fragrant and moist; bread tasted fresh. There were some pre-made sandwiches to grab as well. Most supplies there are a bit on the pricey side, but it's to be expected in this area. Service was pretty quick and all the staff was very kind.

Probably my best meal in California! You all have to check out Big Sur Deli if you're looking for some good eats in the area. I got the breakfast burrito and it was hands down the best breakfast burrito I ever had! I got the sausage, potatoes, jack cheese, pico de gallo and it was so so good! Hope to come by again if I visit Big Sur again.

Their sandwiches are the best value in town and quite tasty. The Big Sur Hippie was down right delicious.

This spot is the definition of "hole in the wall"- it may not look like much from the outside...or even inside but I swear the deli will not disappoint! It's actually been over a year since I've been here and I think about their breakfast sandwich on a daily basis. It was a simple bacon and egg sandwich on sourdough but the ratio of bacon to egg was something to write home about. I was not expecting a breakfast sandwich this good when we stopped by here on our way to a wedding in Big Sur. When we stopped by, we ran into the entire wedding party getting drunk at the bar connected to this spot. My partner and I weren't feeling getting drunk in a dive bar at that particular moment (no tea, no shade- just wasn't feeling it)- so we took our sandwich to-go and enjoyed the coastal views. I would highly highly recommend picking up some goodies from here and taking it to enjoy on the beautiful coast. Wish I had photo evidence of this sandwich, but we truly weren't expecting it to be this memorable.... and we were starving so that shared sandwich didn't last long.

Bad dry sandwiches. Very expensive and they get your order wrong. Most the food looks and taste like it bas been sitting out. The miserable workers and very excited to get your order's wrong and charge you for this sad deli food. Stay clear from here.. just have a beer at the bar connected to it and thats about it!!

Ya know, when you have 70 miles of pristine coastline at hand, you need a sandwich to go with it. This is where Big Sur Deli comes in. We were driving through, only had the day and pressed for time, so grabbing a sandwich and eating on the side of the road was the move. The sandwiches were made to order, quick, and boy were they fresh and delicious. They were so big, too! All three of us could only finish half. Big sandwiches in Big Sur.

This will be a short and sweet review of my experience this morning. I want to start off by saying that the Deli itself is great. Friendly workers, lot's of goodies and souvenirs inside. Why the 3 stars? The Duck Dynasty looking "security" guard that was patrolling the Big Sur Center. Right when I pulled up, he walked up to my vehicle and told me that I was on the line and needed to fix my parking. (I was giving myself room since there was an RV parked in the spot next to me). Then I watched as he harassed pretty much every customer that pulled up to the center. Customers who parked and bought lunch at the deli and wanted to walk over to the bakery were yelled at to move their vehicles. If the goal is to keep people from parking at the center. I think a "No Big Sur Bakery Parking" sign would be more useful than having this knucklehead patrolling. *EDIT* I've learned that the security is hired by the Post Office in the same center and unfortunately it seems to happen often. It sucks that these other businesses are affected by this dude on a power trip. Review changed to 5 stars knowing the Deli is not responsible for this guy.

I go to Big Sur once a year and like everyone else in the area, there doesn't seem to be a care in the world. It's a beautiful place with beautiful people and it's just heaven on earth. And then you walk into Big Sur Deli and somehow they manage to rub you the wrong way. They could not look anymore miserable than they are. They have attitude with you for even bothering to come into their shop. Not a single smile as you enter, order, pay and leave. I work in food service as well so I thought they might have had a bad day and tried to give them the benefit of the doubt but after the 5th year of me going in there and seeing the same people just as miserable and new employees to carry on the miserable legacy and terrible customer service it seems to just be the norm at this place. It's very upsetting and they actually make really good food! I want to support them but it seems that the employees that work there don't want me to. Even the last time I went I left a really big tip in their empty tip jar (wonder why it's empty) and he just watched me put the money, didn't say a single word to me. I said bye thank you have a nice day and his response was a combination of a grunt and a sigh. Even as I walked out, two other separate groups that walked out were talking about how terrible their customer service is. I don't know who owns this place but they should really give them a beginner's course on the fundamentals of customer service. It's not THAT hard to smile, especially when you work in a beautiful town like that. Do better.

* review of the deli / general store, not the adjacent tap house * My husband and I aren't true campers. We're more like glampers, glamor-campers. We reserve a cabin with a mattress and buy food as opposed to pitching a tent and bringing a cooler of food. So it makes Big Sur Deli a fantastic asset! It's part convenient store with understandable prices for providing convenience, including sandwiches and empanadas to take on hikes. It also makes custom-order sandwiches, breakfast sandwiches and BREAKFAST BURRITOS! Moreover, vegetarian options are available like only eggs or soy-based chorizo. Plus, the drip coffee is good; it serves two varieties of Raven's Brew Coffee: a dark roast and a breakfast blend. After slaying our morning appetites, we were ready to hit the trails! (Don't forget that if you pack it in, you pack it out.) Bonus: burritos are not wrapped in plastic; they're wrapped in paper and paper-bagged.

i have been several times actually. precovid and very recently! i always stopped by here whenever i am in big sur. i loveeeee their sandwiches so much! i get my lunch here and eat it with an ocean view. they are right next to big sur post office and big sur bakery. maybe look up how to get here before you lose signal. but once you get here, signal is back on! anyways, i always get their corned beef sandwich, with cheese, white or sourdough bread. lettuce. tomatoes. they used to have horseradish but sadly, the last two times i ordered from here, they no longer carry it:( so sad bc their sandwiches are soo good with horseradish. so now, i just add mustard and jalapenos. still super delicious. their sandwiches are super big too. my husband didn't really like their cold sandwiches but he loves the breakfast hot sandwiches here. his sandwich smelled so good. breakfast sandwiches are only served until 1130am. they also have cute random things here. super cute deli place. and the staff is super nice as well.

Great spot for a quick lunch/dinner in Big Sur. We got the 3-taco set with vegan meat and it was soooo good. The flavor was outstanding, the tortilla was soft and smooth, and the lettuce was super fresh and crispy. For $15 after tax, you get three big tacos filled with meat and cheese. We were also surprised that at this tiny deli place they offer vegan meat options. Definitely among the best tacos we've had!

The Big Sur Deli is a combination of your run-in-the-mill roadside convenience store/deli/gas station and a quaint cottage like space surrounded by the giant redwoods of Big Sur. It's close and convenient to several of the major destinations in Big Sur, as well as numerous campgrounds. You can purchase normal conveniences as well as sandwiches, pastries and coffee. Is it a must visit, groundbreaking destination, no...but well worth a stop if you're near by.

A great place to get souvenirs drinks and food. The deli offers all cooked meals or burgers. I mainly eat food from the taphouse at neighbor. I think you can get excellent tacos there as well. It's dog friendly in the back it's a nice setting With views of the mountains.

We came here because Nepenthe had a 30 minute wait and Big Sur Bakery's kitchen was closed. We got the lasagna, sandwich, and samosas to try. Everything was ok because the food wasn't made fresh and the staff had to microwave them. It wasn't too expensive especially considering the location and the taste and portion were decent. Super quick service and friendly staff. It's fine if you're in a hurry or if other options aren't available but it wasn't that gourmet or special.

Quaint little deli/market in the area. The deli is interesting as they also serve Mexican food along with your typical deli sandwiches. They even have a dish that uses Impossible products for you vegetarians out there! Placing and paying for your order requires you to line up twice which did not present any issues. While waiting a short period of time for your order to be ready, be sure to check out the standard Big Sur/surf area souvenirs and stickers!

Stopped here today for sandwiches to go. After we got to our destination, I pulled a long hair out of my sandwich. And then my son pulled a long hair out of his own sandwich. Absolutely disgusting.

Cute deli off of highway 1! Make sure you research how to get here before you head to Big Sur since there's barely any cell signal. We came on a Thursday morning and took our sandwiches to Pfeiffer beach (just a few mins away) for a picnic. Covid 19: everyone was really good about wearing a mask and I appreciated it. I got a cold pastrami sandwich on sourdough bread and cheddar cheese. It was very good and huge! I could only eat half and saved the other half for later. Be careful though and check the extra costs -- cheese and certain rolls cost extra and I didn't realize that until after I ordered.

This place hits all the marks given the environment! Seated in the middle of big sur you'll be greeted by this spot on the left (heading north). Great friendly staff. WIDE selection of treats, gifts, HEARTY food. Wife and i came here twice now on both our trips. They have a surprisingly excellent selection of craft beer and hot sauce. Their deli sandwiches are fresh, filling and reasonably priced. Do yourself a favor and make Big Sur Deli a "must do" on your next trip through the area! You wont be alone because the parking lot is always full- and for good reason!! Thank you BSD for being there, being friendly, being filling and for being open!!

Sad how these places screw you with the price. It was pretty expensive for one sandwich and the meat was so fatty I couldn't even chew it. Service was great. Lots of options- I should have tried something else. The Reuben was not good at all the bread was good. Just took the meat off of

Here's why I don't like this place. - food is very dry I ordered a chicken torta and I took like 2 bites and threw the whole thing away. - the people that work here are unpleasant and seemingly unorganized -Parking isn't the greatest Go here if you're starving and haven't packed food.

I recommend the sandwiches and sometimes they have cool shirts- hit or miss. If you need something for hike or beach or campsite for the cooler it's pretty good verses the other places for grab and go. They also have that postcard you're looking for.

Speaking strictly from the perspective of someone perusing the store - not buying a sandwich or taking advantage of the counter services - I'll say this was a nice convenience store option in an area without many. Located right next to the popular Big Sur Taphouse, this small space is crammed with a lot of goods, from touristy clothing options to a pretty awesome selection of craft beers. The deli offerings looked appetizing. It definitely seemed like they have a selection meant to appeal to an upscale bay area crowd, with many brands that one would consider "specialty." Fancy offerings means higher prices and nothing here is cheap. Blame that partially on the remote area, partially on the fancier items on the shelves. Nevertheless, the small bundles of firewood we thought were too expensive here were actually much pricer further down the coast. Compared to the even more remote stores further south, at least, their prices aren't that outrageous.

I visited mid-June while on a bike ride from Monterey to Ragged Point. My friend had been to the deli before and highly recommended it. I got the TBS and it was delicious. I only ate half as I was in the middle of my 80 mile ride. I had the other half a day later and it was still just as tasty and fresh. I like the rustic vibe out back and wished I wasn't riding as a pint of IPA in those surroundings would've been perfect. Service was fast and friendly.

Super yummy sandwiches. My husband made his own and I had a pre made and they were both delicious. The outdoor patio area is so cute and relaxing!

Been coming here for years love the Italian Stallion, the Up in Smoke sandwiches and their Tortas are low key bomb. Everyone is always nice and all smiles. Everything you need for a great lunch somewhere around Big Sur

Huge, delicious sandwiches. Prices seemed very reasonable considering the location and the size of the sandwiches. Thick slices of bread. Delightful eatin'! The only thing that put a damper on our experience was that a very boisterous man came in and was mouthing off very loudly to another customer who was waiting in line behind us. He was very loud and sharing his opinions that really nobody else needed or wanted to hear. It seemed like maybe he was a regular patron of the store. Definitely wasn't the deli's fault, but it did put a damper on the experience.

My boyfriend and I were driving interstate 1 checking out the national parks. We decided to stop for something to eat and this place seemed not to be as busy as the others were. This little place was perfect. They had premade sandwiches that were pretty big in size. My boyfriend and I actually shared the whole thing. The little store sold lots of goodies, from chips to beers to gifts and souvenirs. I am so glad we stopped- the sandwich was pretty good for the price! I would stop again and love to try the ham and Gouda!

Make sure to try the tamale!!! I ordered chicken tamale and cheese tamale and they were super moist and tender!!! I was so impressed!!! I got the tee shirts on sale- one that says "Take a Hike" which is pretty cute. Cute store with vintage/hip postcards of Big Sur. The post office is next door so if you want to mail postcard from Big Sur, this place would work wonderfully.

Customer service is horrible; sour attitudes and dispositions. I witnessed their dismissive attitude towards a few customers, not just myself, so this is something you can anticipate walking in. Prices are ridiculous; $30. for two sandwiches - one they got completely wrong and the sandwich counter was not busy. Their souvenir selection is underwhelming and overpriced. The sandwich they did make correctly was delicious, but definitely not worth the experience or the price. There are a few stops available around this establishment... drive the extra mile and try there if you have the time.

Fresh and delicious! Beautiful view! A great experience everyone should go see this amazing place!

The beyond meat torta was amazing! After a long drive in the rain this place was a treat. Friendly staff.

Great people working there always friendly and provide excellent service.. they have amazing sandwiches (the hipster is a must try) and the have a good beer and wine selection you rarely see in a remote spot like Big Sur. There homemade deli salsa is also worth a try. Been spending the last 14 days close to the deli and I went there everyday for newspapers, wine and food!! Great service, they deserve a raise!!

I live in a town that has nine different Mexican restaurants, and none of their Carnitas can touch these folks Carnitas! I got the three tacos with the hot salsa ranchera, and they were absolutely phenomenal. I got them for breakfast and am now here again, waiting for my lunch order, with three of my friends. Lol. This place is a treasure. 10/10 recommend.

We were hungry and looking for a light snack. Omg that was the best corn dog I've ever had at $1.5. The ice cream was also to die for. Next time we'll try their sandwiches

My friend and I took a trip to Big Sur only to find out that the beach we wanted to go to had been closed due to the freeway. We found this gem because we needed directions and I'm so happy we made the stop because their sandwiches are the bomb. To me , I would view it as a "man sandwich" since it's so big but it's very fulfilling. I customized my sandwich and you can tell they use fresh food. I wish I would have taken a picture of it so you can see for yourself. Give this place a try you won't regret it!

Quick vacation up north and stopped in twice for snacks (corn dogs, chimichanga) for teenagers and then a picnic lunch the next day : "Mexican" sandwich and pesto pasta. All were delicious and fresh! We appreciate the variety for the area (kind of limited). Prices are moderate but not touristy outrageous. We plan to visit and stop in again!

My friend and I came here to get some snacks and food before continuing to go around Big Sur. We bought two sandwiches, one roast beef and one pastrami. When we had settled to have a picnic lunch by the river at one of the parks, we realized that the white bread was moldy. In both of our sandwiches. And both of our orders were wrong. I had asked for half a sandwich, but was given a whole sandwich. And my friend had asked for no tomatoes or lettuce, yet was given a sandwich with tomatoes and lettuce. These wouldn't be so bothersome if it weren't for the MOLDY WHITE BREAD. We quickly lost our appetite. Waste of money.

Such a delicious breakfast sandwich. The sourdough was fresh, the eggs were light and fluffy. The service was great too! I

Went at 7am for breakfast and the employee said "the cook isn't here yet, I don't know when he will get here" hmm ok. We were able to order at 9 and received the wrong order