Mendocino Farms

2026.01.03 Saturday Mendocino Farms in Palo Alto CA is consistently serving great fresh and sustainably sourced foods and improving their services. Their menu is so refreshing that we came back more than 3x to try their very delicious menu! *The Not So Fried Chicken Sandwich is very satisfying! Great juicy chicken with fresh vegetables! *The Vegan Avocado 🥑 & Quinoa Superfood Ensalada 🥗 is so refreshing! *The Greek Lemon Chicken Farrro Soup (see pic)🥣, we ordered 4x in 2 days! So healthy. Mendocino Farms use very fresh ingredients! The Closing Manager 🤩”Jorge” is so helpful. He does quality checks of foods and asks very pertinent questions regarding how we like the foods. Jorge is always very positive and offers great service! Yes, 🙌 we really appreciate the atmosphere here because the people are nice, they work as an effective team, and they keep the place clean! Will definitely come back more often!

Amazing! Mendocino Farms - the healthiest food in Palo Alto California (on Hamilton St, Palo Alto downtown)! Just heard that they are expanding everywhere! 🙏♥️ 🥰 The very caring manager Alan recommended the (1) Not So Fried Chicken Sandwiches & they are SOOOOO DELICIOUS! We ordered 3x! (2) All their salads are fantastic! THOUGHTFULLY SOURCED & SUPER FRESH! (3) The curried couscous is out of this universe! Must come again! This restaurant represents the beautiful spirits of Mendocino CA very thoughtfully and compassionately. Thank YOU 🙏 so much! We will ask all of our friends and families to come join us @ Mendocino Farms! ♥️🙏😍

Stopped by Mendocino Farms and ordered the Vegan Banh Mi sandwich for takeout. The sandwich was really good — fresh ingredients, great balance of flavor, and the tofu was perfectly marinated with just the right amount of crunch and spice. Service was friendly but took a bit longer than expected for a takeaway order. Still, the food quality made up for it. Overall, a tasty and satisfying meal — I’d definitely come back to try more from their menu.

We wanted something that was reasonably priced. This was a good choice. Very fresh. Nice selection. The salads were very large. The food had a good flavor profile. We would go back definitely.

Total Score: 7.88 Bathroom: N/A Didn’t use the bathroom Customer Service: N/A Was takeout restaurant Ambiance: 4.5/5 Cow farm core. Food: 4.5/5 Grabbed quick bite before pickleball and this was YUM. Lowkey thought this was vegan salad place before coming here but the sandietches were loaded with meat and sauce. Good combos too Wow: 0/1 Normal sandwich restaurant. Total Score = (2*AM + 5*FOOD + WOW)/0.8

The food is simply delicious. I ordered from them for a retreat i had with about 44 people. Not only was the food decimated by overwhelmed mouths, my friends concluded that Mendocino was going to be the only place we ordered lunch from during our retreats. Also, I loved how they were quite responsive on phone and how I also found my order ready. One of the staff helped me carry the heavy bags to my car and arranged them for me in the car. This made me feel relieved and special. I definitely recommend them 💯

Absolutely delicious salads and sandwiches. Everything we got was so flavorful. Curried couscous is a must have Not so fried chicken sandwich was our favorite! You need to try it. For salad, we got the mama Chen chicken salad and the peanut flavored dressing really made it! We got the seasonal chicken corn which was good as well. The environment is nice there’s outside and indoor seating and service was great. Will be back

Absolutely delicious and health focused sandwich and salad restaurant (although they have some tasty not so healthy options as well!). The ingredients and dishes here are carefully crafted, extremely high quality, and delicious. They even have vegetable juices on tap. I highly recommend either of the steak sandwich options or the not-so-fried chicken sandwich. Wow, simply amazing. They have ample indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor seating is covered and located in a lovely area of Palo Alto. When ordering, you order at the counter and then sit at whatever table you want. You scan the QR code on your cable and your receipt and they bring the food to you pretty quickly! Highly recommended, one of the coolest and tastiest sandwich locations I’ve been to recently.

I love coming here! The food and customer service is always amazing. Melinda always welcomes me with a smile and has the best recommendations when I can choose what I want.

Cane in for lunch twice now for their Tofu Banh Mi + added the Dill Potato salad on my last visit (limited time item) -- Incredible service and friendliness from all staff I interacted with, epecially the real tall person who I believe is a manager (didn't catch his name but he's awesome!) There was a slight mistake on my first order and they rectified it in such a kind way -- will always be back for lunch. Love the offerings too: heartier or healthier sandwiches, unique salads, nontraditional/fun sides, and a variety of fruity house-made drinks! No pescatarian options but they have some great vegetarian and vegan ones so I can't complain

One of my favorite places to get a healthy lunch meal! The vibes are always nice and service is always fast. These are my favorite go-to items on their menu: avocado & quinoa superfood ensalada, not so fried chicken sandwich, and banh mi. Would definitely recommend coming here if you're looking for a fresh and yummy lunch or dinner. You can also order ahead and pick up, which is very convenient.

Customers service was so great. I love getting lunch or dinner from Mendocino farms. The food is always great.

Sandwich itself was pretty good. But next time I'll ask them to skip the step where they make us wait for ages until the sandwich is stone cold before giving it to us...

My goodness, Mendocino Farms Palo Alto hires the most efficient, courteous staff. Once again, I am the unrivaled queen of picky ordering at the counter. This on the side, none of this blah blah. Pamela at the counter knew exactly how to write up my order so it would come out right and it certainly did!! Thanks so much Pamela and kitchen team!!

Thank you Pam for helping me with all my crazy catering questions you are the best. Pam. Thank u. Happy holidays Mwdocino farms Palo Alto.

Located in Downtown Palo Alto, parking is plentiful and easy to find. The interior is sizeable with plenty of seating both inside and outside. Mendo's original pork belly bahn mi (4/5): the meat was tender and easy to chew. There were lots of vegetables which was nice. The bread was crispy and crunchy. The portion is a bit small for what you pay for though. Food was served quickly and was in and out within 30 minutes upon arrival. Tap to pay is accepted. Overall, Mendocino Farms has some great food.

I am most definitely not a salad person, but this place has got me craving salads! I come here to eat regularly for lunch on work days and have tried many of their sandwiches, salads, and sides, and they do not disappoint. My personal favorites are the pork belly banh mi and not-so-fried chicken sandwiches and the avocado quinoa superfood ensalada -- they all have the perfect balance of health, flavor, and texture! Their soup and side selections (along with a few salads and sandwiches) are rotated out seasonally which makes it fun. A secret tip is that you can ask to order any of the sandwiches as a salad, and vice versa, so there are infinite combinations to try! Mendo's vibe is very Californian, so you can enjoy outdoor seating year round, and the staff are extremely friendly! This location does get really busy during peak lunch hours between 12-1pm though.

Second time here and tried the quinoa superfood salad. It was tasty and the portions were big but some of the lettuce was wilted, maybe because it was a bit overdressed. Loved the crunchy texture in the salad though. I got the chicken sandwich last time and think I preferred that a bit more. Prices are a bit higher but nothing unusual for the area. I think I prefer a few other spots for salad in the area but it's nice to have this as an option when I want to switch things up!

Thank you Pam for your amazing customer service. Thank you for helping me and my colleagues have a great day. Food was amazing.

So disappointed in their recent changes to recipe (without transparency) Their "kale" salad is now all lettuce with maybe 3 leaves of kale and a tablespoon of "superfoods". I have been a regular customer and a fan of this salad so I am very acutely aware of the change in the ingredients. It's a pretty shady practice as a business where they substitute ingredients for lower price and low nutrient items. It used to be good and a high nutrient salad but now it's like eating a bowl of water. Won't be ordering again

I've always loved this chain and my first time visiting this location. As typical of all their others, the customer service is super friendly and on the ball, efficient, order and pay at the counter, wait for your order, and they deliver it to your table. We got their turkey with the avgolemono and a side of potato salad. The turkey sandwich super fresh, and though I'm picky with bacon, this hit the spot. It's a big enough portion that I could have several meals with it. The soup as good as it gets for a place of this caliber. The interior is spartan clean and whimsical with murals colorful on the walls. They used to have a tuna sandwich that absolutely slapped and I have no idea who had the insanely bad idea of taking it off the menu ... not a good enough seller for corporate, which sucks because I can't imagine that nobody wants an alternative to veggie and meats. Seriously? The service, interior, efficiency and efficiency is all wonderful. The prices are fair. If I had one teeny critique: the potato salad could be less mushy and more vibrant, more sparkly. Love this place. But pleeeeze: add tuna on the menu!

Easily one of my favorite spots for a quick bite -- they're conveniently located on University Ave and have plenty of street parking. The workers are very nice and great at making recommendations. The space itself is bright and airy, complete with a nice outdoor patio. The Tofu Banh Mi and Grilled Cheese (Caprese) are my absolute favorites -- they have some seasonal sides, but the Basil Shells are a classic.

Last week my order was stolen off the door dash shelve. But Pam help me out to get my ordered Rushed shortly after. Thank you again Pam. Happy holidays

First time coming here , the staff and food were amazing! Melinda helped with choosing our food and her customer service was top tier. We will be back.

I was in search of the best fried chicken sandwich near Stanford, and my search led me here. Well, the fried chicken is seasonal and was not available tonight After perusing their menu, I decided on the Peruvian Steak Sandwich with a side of housemade pesto with shells. Everything was absolutely delicious ! Of course, I added some Abuela's Sweetheat Chili Crunch to the pasta and sandwich, and it took the flavor to another level! The service was really great too. I think his name was George, he was very helpful and offered me a free drink of choice. That was super cool The place itself is pretty chill with an open floor concept. There was plenty of seating all around. Pay them a visit for sure! Oh, they also have plenty of vegetarian and vegan options to choose from. Follow @Friday_night_bites_209 for Abuela's Sweetheat Chili Crunch

I've been to Mendocino Farms a couple of times, and the Downtown Palo Alto location is located within the heart of University Ave. There's a lot of street parking available. My sister and I decided to grab the Pesto Caprese sandwich and the Basil Pesto Shells. The sandwich was 10/10 - it tasted fresh and had a great blend between cheese, basil sauce, balsamic vinegar, and tomatoes. The Basil Pesto Shells, on the other hand, I'd have to give a 4/10. I don't like cold cooked pasta shells, and that's basically what the side is. Even though the restaurant was slightly busy, we got seated and had our food within 10 minutes of placing an order. The Palo Alto location offers a small outdoor patio, which was really pretty. The wait staff has been growing flowers, and they were starting to bloom!

got the sweet peach salad (swapped goat cheese for fresh mozzarella) + a small side of the couscous tabbouleh. both tasted fresh with high-quality and well-paired ingredients. inexpensive for palo alto, order at counter with plenty of seating area, food comes out quickly. great place for a healthy & casual-setting meal.

TLDR: 10/10 always hits. this is literally like a chain so i'm not going to say much other than the fact that the modern caesar salad is everything to me it has all the right elements imo and the shaved parmesan is sooo bussin. the most recent time i went there my server must have been feeling generous because i felt like i got extra cheese without even asking!! i love it no notes

Can't really go wrong for a quick bite and location was clean. The lemonade machine had some issues so we waited a long time for our drink. Didn't get our drink till food was almost eaten. I've been to other locations and all I could think was, are the sandwiches shrinking! Tasted great but seems to be 25% smaller than it used to be. Overall, love the food.

For the second time I find that the greens in the salad are brown around the edges ... not fresh at all as one might assume by the "local" name. Barely a cut above Sweet Greens which isn't saying much. Also upset my digestive system about one hour after eating. Maybe the cooked sandwiches are okay but avoid the salads!

Always consistent, this place hits the spot when it comes to sandwich cravings.. Quality ingredients combined with super solid customer service (that always comes with a smile) show that this place really knows how to bring it all together into a well and proper eatery. Worth the premium- has never disappointed me

Yesterday Was a busy day at Mendocino I was helped by Melinda at the Register who was very kind and helpful as it was my first time here. A Victoria brought out my food and cleared my table. She was very kind and interactive. This place has a nice vibe to it

*PARKING: Street parking only or you can park at the garage under the city hall. *EXPERIENCE: I love that there was an outdoor seating area that allows dogs. We had our puppy with us, so it made it super convenient. You order at the counter and the hosts taking our orders were super friendly. Once you get your receipt, you can head back to your table and scan the QR code and type in your receipt number. This will let the server know where you're seated and they will bring the food straight out to you. Otherwise, the server will have to walk around and call out your name. *FOOD: My all time favorite is the avocado quinoa salad and the curry cous cous. Honestly can't go wrong with this combo.

The restaurant was bright, spacious and comfortable with lots of tables. Ordered a not so fried chicken sandwich. It was very delicious with the right amount of fried bits that makes the whole meal satisfying yet refreshing. The ciabatta bread was soft inside and well toasted outside to give the whole sandwich even more texture. I chose the mustard pickle remoulade and it was a delicious add of moisture to the sandwich without overpowering. Customers order food up front at the cashier and the food is delivered to the table for you. A great choice for a relaxing and light meal. Will definitely come back again.

I was in the area today, when I came across a Mendo here in Palo Alto, I go to the one in Walnut Creek. The workers were friendly and helpful. I noticed the staff laughing with each other. In particularly two workers Victoria and Melinda. They really went above and beyond to make my experience just as good as my home Mendo store. Good job team!

I ordered takeout online from here during the week for a late afternoon lunch (2pm). I got to the restaurant right when they said it would be done, and sure enough it was waiting for me at the counter! I was expecting my order to be on the delivery shelf, but it was at the counter with the employee. I ordered the vegan banh mi sandwich, which I've had before. I also got the potato salad, which I loved. I enjoy Mendocino Farms, and I appreciate their accurate online ordering system.

The food was good, we got the steak sandwich and the traditional banh mi sandwich which were juicy and delicious. The cashier was also super friendly and helpful! Got to sit in a cute booth that was half indoors and outdoors, best of both worlds. Would definitely go back.

Been to this restaurant a couple times--once dining in and once for take out. Have only had the salads which are all very good. My only complaint with them is they are a little to heavily dressed for my liking so I get my dressing on the side. Has a small selection of beer, wine, lemonade, tea, and sparkling water. The restaurant has nice seating and music but no sound proofing so it can be loud. If you have sound sensory issues, bring headphones or get take out.

Mendocino Farms is like a dose of "happy" in the day, delivery timing, quality, deliciousness and consistency that has resulted in me being a loyal fan & customer. I usually get the Vegan Bahn Mi because it is tasty and fresh, but I have gotten the Impossible Taco Salad (also good). The sandwich is a whopping 750 calories, but have no fear! Mendocino Farms has got you - they offer a half sandwich and side, which rotates. We used to get the Lentil Kale soup now it's the Rainbow Kale Salad. I started getting delivery from them a couple years ago every week and time timing is pretty reliable throughout the day on DoorDash. I think once or twice my sandwich was super messy but they corrected it themselves. I really secretly hold a place in my heart for Mendocino Farms for being inclusive and servicing the Vegan community and not making a fuss about it but also reliable!!

Great place for a quick bite! There are plenty of seats available, both indoor and outdoor. They also have a lot of pick-up orders. We decided to dine in. First you order at the counter and they give you a number on the receipt. You scan the QR code at the table and a server will bring your food to your table. My favorite is the not-so-fried chicken. Crispy outside and nice tender chicken inside. They have their own version of banh mi which was tasty. The space was clean and well-lit.

Love me a good Tofu Banh-mi! And one of the best ones can be found at Mendocino. I also love their Thai Mango salad and the curried couscous. Their decor is cute and refreshing and we've found staff at various locations to be courteous and friendly. Not one bad cookie! One of my favorite places to catch up with my girl friends!

I Came to eat here for the first time and was helped by Victoria. She was pleasant and very helpful. I definitely will be coming back!

Thank you Pam for helping me last week with my walk in catering questions and my order. Super helpful and my food so good. Thank you again Pam.

I like coming here for a quick lunch. Location is great and service is friendly. Had to order the avocado and super crunchy salad, always a go to. I like all these places have a farm theme which makes it cute, but I do wish they asked how much dressing I would like as sometimes they can out too much. A bigger bowl would be nice as well as it's hard to mix sometime to go seeing they place the chicken on top vs. mixing it in.

I'm from DC but visit Palo Alto often for work. My team often orders from Mendocino but this time I decided to walk over and I'm glad that I did. Tre greeted me and helped me pick out a delicious lunch. Everything is so good, it's sometimes hard to decide...! Professional + friendly employees makes the meal even better. Thank you for the great customer service and tasty meal!

My company usually gest Mendocino farms for lunch every other week but this time it was off My co worker got the grilled cheese sandwich and it was terrible. How can you mess up a grill cheese. I got the pork belly salad and it tasted as it sat over the weekend. I also said no daikon and carrots and they seemed to have missed it. I think we skip the place next time.

I spoke with a Victoria, on the phone who was very patient with all the questions I asked, and with helping me figure out what I wanted for a call in order. I felt compelled to leave a review because most places are short and rude on the phone but Victoria was soooo helpful. I'll definitely be back.

Went to this location on Wednesday. Before, I had gone to the Roseville location and it left a bad taste in my mouth, but this last experience has changed my mind for the better. A young man named Morgan took my order and recommended a chimichurri steak and bacon. It was the best thing I've had in a long time! The steak was perfect, along with the peppers and the sesame roll. Morgan gave exceptional customer service! He made sure that all my needs were met, and accommodated my allergy requests, while being super friendly and welcoming at the same time. Thank you Morgan, for giving me a better experience. Next time I'm in town I know exactly where I'm going to take my friends and family to eat!

I can't believe it took this many years to finally try their Banh mi.. but it was incredible and tasty. The right amount of jalapeños, and picked veggies combined with moist and flavorful pork belly all toasted like a panini. Sammys seem to be their specialty any way but didn't expect them to execute an Asian sandwich so well! My wife also enjoys their Cesar salad which has a unique quinoa crunch. You can also ask for the salad to be lightly dressed (what we normally do). The workers were very welcoming and clear on the ordering! No complaints. This restaurant is also located in an awesome area of Palo Alto with indoor/outdoor seating and chill vibes.

I arrived here for the first time on my mother's birthday. As soon as we walked into the store a lovely lady named Melinda greeted us. She followed with making sure we ordered the correct items through her suggestions. Overall all, we left happy, satisfied and full! Melinda rocks- made me want to come back.

I came in yesterday evening starving and curious, And never being here before. I was greeted at register by a worker by the name of Victoria. She was patient with me & knowledgeable, but most of all very kind. It's really the little things like this... l'll def be coming back asap!

I Called yesterday to see if my online order could be brought out to me because I'm pregnant and was not feeling well yesterday. Victoria assured me she would bring it out and actually brought it out herself. I truly appreciated it because I was not feeling well at all!

Melinda, Eric, and Victoria provide amazing customer service! They are super attentive/friendly and on top of it. I love the salads and sandwiches here and it's a nice place to sit and enjoy your food.

Hear me out... yes it is expensive but it is so good! I ordered the Thai Mango Salad. I thought $14ish bucks for a salad was ridiculous until I had my first bite. Wowza was it tasty. The mango pieces were fresh and ripe! The almonds were toasted nicely. Noodles were great. I could literally drink the dressing! The greens were crunchy and very fresh. I highly recommend coming here. The service was good as well. I'm ordering this salad again for sure!

Came here with my sister who has said nothing but great things about Mendocino Farms. She pitched this place as the perfect meetup spot since there's not only some variety in the cuisine itself, but there's something for everyone (vegan, vegetarian, omnivore). FOOD: I got the vegan bahn mi with a serving of kale lentil soup. I'm not even vegan but was so excited to try it; my sister who is familiar with the menu also opted for it. We both thoroughly enjoyed the sandwich. While the soup was good, the sandwich was stellar. I'll definitely be back, but be going for the full sandwich! OTHER: Also, I like how this location had all the doors open for fresh air. The vibes were cozy and charming, too. Thanks, Mendocino Farms!

I don't leave reviews very often, but i couldn't help but share my experience. I came into Medocino Farms and wanted a sandwich. Immediately Tre stepped up and walked me through the menu and help me get the sandwich that i needed. He went above and beyond. It made me feel like this was the spot. Thanks Tre!

Melinda is fantastic! She always provides the best experience. Even in the midst of the busy lunch hour, Melinda is upbeat and attentive. From the moment I walk in, she greets me with a big smile and remembers my meal every time so when I get to the register, all I have to do is pay! In a fast paced spot like this, having Melinda, who goes the extra mile to make my visit pleasant is a real treat! This will always be my go to spot for good food and great service!