Roxie Food Center
Sandwich shop · Mission Terrace
1901 San Jose Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94112
Highlights
Hearty deli sandwiches on Dutch crunch, a San Francisco legend
Hearty deli sandwiches on Dutch crunch, a San Francisco legend
"Right across the street from Balboa Park is Roxie Food Center, a tiny convenience store with near-constant lines of people seeking tuna melts. We always ask for ours on dutch crunch with a light toast—that way the bread gets even crispier without getting so toasted that it loses its chew or dries out the fish. For a non-canned fish option, the Simon Special with turkey and pastrami is great, too. Either way, pack a blanket to lay on the grass with your sandwich at Balboa or walk about a block down to find a bench." - julia chen 1, lani conway, patrick wong
"You’ll have to give up on the concept of personal space to get a sandwich from this cramped Excelsior convenience store. But no matter how much you hate feeling someone else breathe on the back of your neck, you’ll likely be happy to do it again after tasting their Simon Special that comes ballooned with turkey, pastrami, and cheese on a just-toasted-enough dutch crunch roll. The tuna melt that’s almost more mayonnaise than fish is a great back-up. Both travel equally as well to Balboa Park across the street." - julia chen 1, patrick wong
"Don’t be dissuaded by the crowd waiting outside this tiny Excelsior convenience store—service is quick and delicious canned fish awaits. Sure, you'll probably be able to name the brand and scent of your linemate's deodorant, but it's very much worth the reward of a build-your-own melt. For the best results, surround your fish with dutch crunch, and go easy on the list of vegetables and spreads. Roxie’s tuna spread is wet and heavy on mayo—you could probably use it to paper mache—and any extra sauce may threaten your sandwich’s structural integrity. There's no seating at Roxie, but if you'd like everyone to watch you strut around with your glorious fish, head to the nearby park that has a huge grassy field." - julia chen 1, patrick wong
"Whether you need to refuel after a pick-up game of touch football or console yourself with meat, cheese, and bread after getting swept by an eight-year-old tennis prodigy at the Balboa Park courts, find your way to Roxie Food Center. The tiny convenience store requires you to get over personal space requirements as the line always snakes its way through the two tightly packed aisles. They keep the menu simple with a handful of options—the best is the Simon Special that comes ballooned with turkey, pastrami, and cheddar cheese on dutch crunch. If building your own, try the mayo-heavy tuna or the tri-tip as your protein. Whatever you order is guaranteed to be hefty and messy—though we suggest asking for a light toast as the bread can end up dry. Be prepared to take your order on the road or make a picnic out of it at the park across the street. photo credit: Patrick Wong" - Patrick Wong
"This beloved corner store across from Balboa Park changed owners in 2020 but the sandwiches remain the same: massive and delicious. They’ve got all the basics covered whether you’re craving smoked or peppered turkey, barbecue beef, meatballs, or liverwurst. The pro-move, however, is to order the tri tip, which comes with melty cheddar cheese, barbecue sauce, and horseradish." - Lauren Saria
