Lou's Cafe

"The big subs from Lou’s Cafe deserve their own national holiday. And while we probably won’t have time off to honor Turkey Cranberry Sandwich With A Generous Swath Of Garlic Aioli Day any time soon, we can still grab the actual sandwich from this family-run Richmond spot. For something this big and this good, $10.90 for one is a steal. They also have tons of other options, from hot pastrami brisket to meatballs covered in housemade marinara." - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez, patrick wong

"The big subs from Lou’s Cafe deserve their own national holiday. And while we probably won’t have time off to honor Tuna Melt With A Generous Swath Of Garlic Aioli Day any time soon, we'll settle for heading to this takeout spot in the Richmond weekly. For something this big and this delicious, $12.50 for one is a steal. They also have tons of other options, from an excellent turkey cranberry to meatballs doused in housemade marinara. Go dutch crunch, always." - julia chen 1, lani conway, patrick wong

"Our ideal day is staring lovingly at a gigantic tuna melt from Lou’s Cafe (on a fluffy dutch crunch roll, obviously), and then inhaling the entire thing in less than three minutes. The same goes for the rest of the standard deli sandwiches this counter-service spot turns out, like the turkey cranberry on sourdough or the Roma’s Club stacked with bacon and avocado chunks. Get here to spice up a weekday lunch, and always level your sandwich up with the glorious creamy special house sauce and salty-spicy jalapeño spread. " - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez

"If you ask a resident of the Richmond neighborhood where to get a great sandwich, there’s a good chance they’ll point you to Lou’s. Though the shop operates four outposts in the city and one in San Carlos, this location wins points for its instantly recognizable orange and black exterior. Order a classic like the tuna melt or Italian special or go for one of the more off-the-wall options such as the Pomaikai, made with ham, pineapple, jalapeno rings, and teriyaki sauce." - Lauren Saria, Justine Jones, Eater Staff

"The tuna melt from Lou’s Cafe deserves its own national holiday. But until we get a day off to honor the creamy, gooey knockout, we’ll settle for shouting about our love for this sandwich until our voice gives out. Like the tuna melt, the sandwiches coming out of this takeout-centric, counter-service joint in the Richmond (and their other locations in Parkside and FiDi) could stop traffic. The keys to their success are the standard deli fillings that exist together in such harmony you might even hear a chorus of angels sing. And when the person behind the counter asks if you want "everything" on your sandwich, nod "yes"—the special house sauce and jalapeño spread is a just-as-holy combination. The fact that a single sandwich costs less than one-and-a-half oat milk lattes is another reason to get here for your next lunch or as a pre-picnic pit stop. Food Rundown photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Tuna Melt Do everything in your power to get your hands on this tuna melt. It’s simply iconic with its generous helping of tuna salad, melted swiss and cheddar, and chunks of avocado. You’ll instinctively crave this daily at 12pm. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth BPAV If you’re working on upping your vegetable intake, alfalfa sprouts, roasted peppers, avocado, cucumber, and pepperoncinis spill out of this stunner. This sandwich also comes with bacon, because, well, balance. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Roma's Club A gorgeous rendition of a turkey club, this one with bacon, swiss, avocado, and pesto aioli. The Dutch crunch roll it comes on is the right amount of sweet." - Julia Chen