The Market Chef

Absolutely loved my visit to The Market Chef! I tried the Spicy Italian and the Summer Garden sandwiches—both were incredibly fresh and clearly made with high-quality, clean ingredients. The portions were generous for the price, and the overall vibe of the cafe is super cute, with some cozy seating options in both the front and back. My only wish is that they were open more than four days a week! Highly recommend stopping by if you’re in the area—you won’t be disappointed.

Delicious sandwich (Roast Beef and Rocket), lots of items suitable for gifts. But unfortunately they are closed 3 days/week. Happy they were open when we were downtown. We sat outside (a non-typical sunny day!).

Really enjoyed this restaurant! I loved the tuna sandwich and recommend upgrading to the tuna melt- it’s worth it :) Staff is very friendly and helpful. Lovely to sit and eat with the view of the harbor. Stopped by for lunch here after arriving from the Anacortes ferry. Just a short 3-5 minute walk from the dock. Sandwiches are made from 11a-3p. This place is worth checking out!

The hours at the market chef are crazy, I’ve been trying to get one of these gorgeous sandwiches for the last 4 years! We visit San Juan twice a year and I’ve just never been in town on the right day or time. So happy I finally was able to try! Super delicious sandwiches and salads, everything you want from an elevated deli situation. I had the roast beef with rocket sandwich and it was gorgeous. Love the poppy seed bread and the olives are beautiful. Comes with a little pickle. I also got a little container of the quinoa salad and it was awesome. Adorable interior with good wine and snacks and little gifts.

WOW! I loved the roast beef and rocket sandwich. I guess the Rocket is the horseradish? I normally avoid horseradish, but this was awesome. The sandwich got better with every bite. The blueberry croissant was also incredible. Fresh peach kombucha on tap, so good. The owner greeted many customers by name, so clearly the locals love it. Seating outside, we enjoyed the sun. It's not cheap but SO WHAT. Treat yourself.

Must try! If you like sandwiches they have seasonal fresh ingredients. All of us three adults were commenting with every bite how good our different sandwiches were. They also will customize if you or your kiddo want something a little less full of stuff. Like the gridded cheese both of my kids ordered.

Everyone in our group loved the food! We got the Deer Haze, Victory Garden, and kids grilled cheese. The customer service was probably the best on the island. Guy was super friendly and helpful. I highly recommend this place. The bread and fillings inside the sandwich was amazing. Definitely a different kind of sandwich but one I would go back to.

Food was delicious, but a little pricier than I expected. We got the spicy italian and prawn tacos (the tacos are only available every Friday). Really cute store with fairly priced items (pantry staples, fancier tinned fish, cooking utensils, etc.)

Market Chef is a small shop but with ample natural lighting and open kitchen its ambiance is quite cheerful. A couple of thoughts: - Fast and friendly service - Few tables inside (only 2 tables), so if it rains and if there's no space inside you should order to go - Really fresh ingredients make everything sing - Friday fish tacos are to die for - Roast beef sandwich is savory, even with the dreaded-oh-I-don't-like-olive olive jam - Culinary gems from around the world I was pleasantly shocked they even carry Mexican Monte Xanic wines, normally you'd need to get them in San Diego or cross the border to Valle de Guadalupe! We tried coming back to next day only to find out they're normally closed Sat-Mon. Oh well, if I ever find my way back to San Juan Island I would not hesitate to stop by again!

We took a day trip to Friday Harbor and had three hours on shore. We really wish we had longer, but I digress... We walked around the little city first before making any decisions. Lots of burgers and pizza places. This was a bit more unique than the other options. I don't know what it was, but these were some of the best sandwiches we've ever had. The bread was so super soft! I got a Turkey sandwich, and my husband got the Italian one. They were both excellent. A bit on the smaller side, but it was enough. My husband almost ordered another one because they were so tasty. If we come back to visit, we'll definitely go here!

This place will make you a world class roast beef sandwich to take for a picnic on a beach, a walk in the woods, or a road trip out of town. They carry some fine kitchen implements: towels, cups, tools. Also some delectable jarred jams and sauces. You get the idea: don't miss this place!

Always great sandwiches and salads and a wide variety of whatever your heart desires in the deli section. Outdoor dining only or to go. The staff are friendly and efficient. They have a really cool store section with lots of interesting stuff to look at and buy. A fun place to check out!

I sent feedback through Square and they got upset that I thought service and wait time was terrible. The food reminds me of Panera or a PCC deli at a higher price. Nothing special. I kindly asked for my tip to get refunded because their employees thought I had an attitude. They were incompetent on my initial request to have food to go. Not enough room to seat a family of 4. They disappeared and took forever to bring my food back. I went in store and the employees were confused about what I wanted and thought that was attitude. I wouldn't step foot on this island or this cafe that'll probably be out of business if I ever return. Thanks to my credit card for giving me my tip back because these people don't deserve any extra.

Great little sandwich bar for lunch! They had a special of fish tacos and I'm sure that's what all the locals came for, but the Italian sandwich was calling to me! Lol. If you by chance get a table on the front porch, you have a view of the water, but we sat in the back and it was just as darling but no water views sandwich was the best I've had in so long! Thank you.

Staff treats you like family. Fantastic, local food. Try 'My Favorite Turkey Sandwich' it's unbelievable. Great deck and tons of amazing pantry items.

Came in right after they reopened from a vacation and it's clear they hadn't lost a step. The staff was friendly, cashier especially, and they served up some superb sandwiches. Take a look at the deli case and the goods to buy also - some real nice picks there. Given the number of phone calls we heard them take when waiting -- almost all of which were variations on "are you open again?" it's clear a lot of people were glad they'd come back from vacation -- and after eating there I definitely understand why!

Great sandwiches and cold salads. Freshest ingredients you can imagine. Nice patio seating.

My favorite place to eat in Friday Harbor, we've been coming for years. Laurie and team do an amazing job, food and service is great and their shop has wonderful gourmet items.

Friendly staff and wonderful fare. This is the kind of restaurant that you visit on vacation and wish you could recreate what you ate at home but know that you'll never be able to do it. My husband had the chickpea everything salad and we couldn't tell what crunchy deliciousness was on top but it was amazing. Included was a tuna salad-type chickpea mixture, greens, quinoa, carrots, black and regular sesame seeds, and a special dressing. I had a daily special: the Market Griller, a panini-style sandwich with ham, peppers, gruyere, and pesto. Another thing I probably couldn't recreate at home because, let's face it, the ambience, the weather, and the charm of Friday Harbor combined with our food made it a heavenly summer lunch. Order from one window, pick up from another. An third open "door" allows you to see what's in the deli case and order directly from there. We will definitely be back when we visit again!

A wonderful deli and small shop of gourmet delights,one of the best places to get delicious, quality prepared food in Friday Harbor. Family owned and run by folks who know their way around local residents' taste buds and waistlines, and also conveniently located for visitors. The Spicy Italian's my fav from the regular sandwich lineup, but I rarely get it since there usually are some very enticing specials. The vegetarian spouse also always finds something to smile about. May this place never shut down!!!

Probably our favorite of all the eateries on San Juan Island. Foodies, come here! The crew here are so good at crafting fresh, flavorful food. Even a tuna sandwich here is amazing. (It's no secret, even the name of the sandwich is "not your mother's tuna". We especially like the gourmet kitchen shop they have incorporated and all of their yummy sweet treats. You should take some home. Feel free to bring me some while you are at it. ;)

Ate lunch here at the recommendation of a local. Good selection of sandwiches on freshly baked bread with creative names. I had the vegan sandwich with lemon harissa hummus, pickled veggies, red onion, herbs, and shredded beets and carrots. Very good but could have used just a pinch more hummus. Husband had the tuna sandwich which he enjoyed very much. Finished off with fresh out of the oven, huge chocolate chip cookies! Refreshing iced tea with free refills. Inside and outside dining; nice place to have lunch on a sunny day.

We came here for lunch with friends that live on the island. There are many options for salads and sides, soups, and sandwiches. There is also an area offering local goods and products as well as interesting housewares for sale. I stocked up on some Christmas gifts while we waited for our sandwiches. The porch is a perfect spot to people watch and soak up the sun while we ate our lunch. The food is high quality, fresh, healthy, and tasty from scratch with lots of varieties for everyone. Look for the special of the day and soup options.

They offer island owner products. Has Yummy sandwiches & salads. Love the local deli feel & setting.

Always SO fresh and high quality ingredients. The daily specials are fun! Great sandwiches and dinner items to go for cooking at home.

Food is fresh and delicious. My only complaint is how expensive it is. I got a Cuban sandwich special recently and it was $17 and change, nearly $20 after tip -- For a sandwich that was fine, but on the small side and unremarkable (it was very tasty, just not extraordinary). That's steep for a sandwich! The people are nice and I'm sure they're dealing with increased supply chain, labor, and food costs, so I certainly don't fault them for it, but it's hard to justify spending that for a sandwich on the reg. The key lime shortbread cookies are great. And so is the Mac n cheese! I tried a Korean fried chicken special once too that was delicious.

Walking into this small, busy, beautiful shop before the ferry leaves makes me never want to leave this gorgeous island. I recently bought a gorgeous bowl from a local potter, ramen soup base from Japan, Italian pasta that I can't find anywhere else, and one of the best burgers I've ever had. I love this place so much!

Wow, these folks are snooty. The food was good but overpriced and rude service. I've tried here a couple of times and won't be back.

Very lovely little find! The Sandwiches are great, filling and good flavor. The menu isn't overwhelming long, yet still plenty of to order from. Great place to go for lunch to sit outside on the deck on a nice day. Staff is very nice and service was great. I already plan on visiting here again.

From the name, I was expecting a kitchen supply store or something in this converted house. Instead, it's a lunch deli. You can order a sandwich, but what I found more satisfying was to pick out a bunch of tempting looking meats and fish from the deli case and ask for a small portion of each one on a plate, heated up in their oven. (It's a real oven, not a microwave.) And every one of them was stunningly delicious.

Delicious to say the least. When in season the crab cakes are great, also sandwiches, ribs and olives. It's more pricey than I would like but worth every penny!

I ordered the roast beef and rocket sandwich. I was starving and didn't think I could finish it... But I did . Delicious and super flavorful with caraway seeds, dill mayo and pickled red onions. It came with a pickle, too.. The pickle was crisp and not soggy (sadly many places serve soggy pickles so I make it a point to mention it lol). Lovely front patio. I didn't realize they have a back patio, too. Got some sun while eating. I heard folks raving about the buttermilk chicken and key lime treats. I'll be back for them!

WOW!!! I asked someone at San Juan Excursions where the BEST DELI was in town! BOY WAS SHE RIGHT! One of the owners, Laurie greeted me as soon as i walked in! Super friendly and informative! I love a good salad and can RARELY find one. I got the tuna salad over greens with vinaigrette.... I can't say any more. Best salad I've had in a long time! I found my new lunch spot while working in Friday Harbor! THANK YOU MARKET CHEF!

All other reviews are true. A local store owner recommended this deli as it has been in business for 30 years. Wonderful sandwiches and salads. I enjoyed the rare roast beef sandwich and my wife had the egg salad. The homemade cookie that we split was an exceptional treat. Patio dining with a harbor view mad this short walk up the hill a pleasant dining experience away from the tourist crowds near the dock.

My wife and I stopped here for a quick sandwich before a whale watching trip. The food was prepared quickly and was delicious! The service was top-notch. I highly recommend this place if you're looking for a quick bite on the island close to the ferry terminal.

Really like the roast beef sandwich! Only thing is it is overpriced. Would go so much more often if it was even just a dollar or two less than it is right now. Key lime pie is also super good! I don't remember his name maybe Tristan? He's super nice that works there

Absolutely delicious Everything was perfect. I had a Turkey sandwich, Hubby had Ham & Cheese ... we sat outside on a beautiful day with friends who live on the island and frequent The Market Chef ... if we lived there, so would we

We both got the Turkey BLT sandwich and it was excellent ! Delicious bread, plenty of tasty filling. Service was quick considering the crowd, and the young man who helped us was cheerful and friendly. Highly recommended !

Wonderful curried egg salad sandwich plus much more. Nice deli. Open midday Monday to Friday. When it warms up can sit outside.

We flew into Friday Harbor in the morning on San Juan Airlines. The weather was perfect and we had a great view of the islands and the water. We were too early to check into our lodging so walked and visited the shops and had a cup of coffee. The woman at the coffee shop directed us to Market Chef for lunch. After looking at the menu we decided to give it a try. Ms T wanted the Neuske's Ham Sandwich and I ordered the Turkey and Cranberry Sandwich. Both were served in artisan bread, mine included cranberries in the bread. We are very familiar with Neuske's products having been customers for many years. On this sandwich, the meat was a little stingy and the Major Grey's Chutney really overwhelmed the smoked ham. My turkey sandwich was better although it also suffered a little from meat stinginess. It had cranberry sauce on it. The breads were fresh and not overly thick. All in all, the food at Market Chef is very fresh and somewhat creative. It is a strong 3-1/2 stars for what we had. Just a little more attention to the meat on the sandwiches would help and I say this as not a huge eater. I just wanted a little more.

Little cafe/deli featuring sandwiches, soups, salads, and deli-case items. We grabbed a couple of half sandwiches and two salads from the service case to take on a picnic. Ambiance was homey and we thoroughly enjoyed our food. My only complaint, which is costing a star here, and which I would recommend they take a look at, is that I watched a cook dipping his bare fingers into food, taking a taste, adding stuff and mixing, and going in for another quality control taste WITHOUT WASHING HIS HANDS IN BETWEEN. Ew. I would have been way more put off if I hadn't worked with European chefs in the past and if I didn't currently work in kitchens. I've seen this happen before. BUT...this could really bother some people. WA Health Dept. requires employees to dish samples into a disposable dish, taste it with a disposable utensil. Not a bad idea if you have an open kitchen. Staff friendly, close to ferry terminal, lots of interesting items.

We arrived just two minutes before closing time, and the staff couldn't have been nicer. Excellent and fast service, and extremely clean facilities. The best part, however, was the delicious macaroni and cheese. I am a mac and cheese snob, and this definitely meets my standards. My husband had the turkey sandwich, which he said was excellent. Don't skip the cookies...yum.

Visited here for a decent lunch. I ordered the tuna sandwich, while decent, I make a better one at home. Bread was kinda thick making the sandwich a bit dry. Wife had the turkey sandwich, she felt the bread was too thick, but enjoyed the sandwich. Or friend had the roast beef with horseradish and he enjoyed it. His wife had the crab cake with some pea pods, she said they were yummy. Prices were moderate, staff was friendly, very cute little place. I would recommend toasting the bread on the sandwiches. I would probably try someplace else if I ever return to San Juan island.

This place is SUPER cute. But then again, there's not many places in Friday Harbor that isn't super charming (except for the Asian Pizza restaurant, what is that?!). The boy was craving a good sandwich, and thanks to the good reviews, we ventured over there. The boy ordered a tuna salad sandwich and they offered to grill his bread even though that's not the norm. I hate it when places make such big deals over small things, so it was nice that they were so accommodating. I wish we were in town longer because I would've loved to try some of their other items they offer. They had some huge crab cakes that looked delish, some pasta salads, and a plentiful selection of sandwiches and soups. Very cute place, very quick, and reasonably priced. Go, yum!

I had food from Market Chef that was to go. I thought everything we had was exceptional and delicious even after rewarming. I thought it was kind of expensive but maybe that's what people charge for food on our wonderful little island paradise. Did you know that, according to Alexa, " Avalon is an island represented as an earthly paradise in the Western Seas, to which King Arthur and other heroes were carried at death". Coincidence, I think not. Rand

Fresh, fast, and friendly.... But I ordered their Ham sandwich off the menu minus the chutney. I got nothing but meat and cheese. $10 for a ham and cheese sandwich I was expecting at least some veggies. Sprouts, onions, pickles, peppers -anything. I wasn't even asked if I wanted veggies so I guess I assumed there would be standard deli toppings for such a price. The bread, ham, a cheese were good quality though.

Can't say enough good about this place!! Walking distance from the ferry. The best customer service, who can describe the food in such a way that even if you were not hungry, you will be! The food is amazing! Local, seasonal, and made from scratch. We had their burger special with grilled mushrooms. Seating inside or outside, and you can't go wrong either way. Lovely garden-like scenery outside, or cozy up inside with the delicious scents and happy customers. Can't wait to come in for breakfast.

LOOOVE the market chef!!! Always friendly people and the most tasty food. Be sure to visit! Chocolate Chip cookies are incredible!,

There's not much in the world I'd call "perfect" but this is one of them. Delicious and varied food options (today's special was rock cod fish tacos--so good) and a wonderfully friendly, easygoing staff. Although I'm a visitor to Friday Harbor, it was clear that they're also a key part of the local community, yet I felt as welcome as an old-timer. I only wish they were open on weekends so I could go back to try more food (though I totally respect the desire of the family that owns this spot to have a family life with their adorable daughter--she stopped by as I was leaving). The food was so good that I bought a bunch of things to bring back to my cabin for dinner: crab cakes; Vietnamese-style pork and calamari sausage(!); sautéed young kale (the owner let me try this first since I'm not a fan of chewy kale, nutrients be damned); and roasted cauliflower. I can't wait for dinnertime! Dinner update: the crab cakes were really, really good--I'm pretty picky about crab cakes since I really want to taste the crab. These were perfectly proportioned so the crab flavor was full but still nicely spiced. The Vietnamese sausage with Nc Chm sauce was also really delicious. Tasted very authentic to me. Can't wait to return.

Really excellent sandwich, great little cafe, super friendly staff, excellent soup, I liked this place a lot. They had a wide variety and it's the perfect place to go for lunch.

I was excited to eat here with all the positive reviews. I wasn't impressed. I'm thinking maybe this place is good compared to others on island. I had the sister's favorite with ham, a roasted veggie bisque and my bf had the turkey cranberry and mac and cheese. It was all underwhelming. We even tried one of the key lime shortbread cookies for dessert. Less than mediocre. Not sure if my expectations are just too high or what but didn't have a great experience.

The food was excellent. Really enjoyed the bowl of the soup of the day and a whole turkey sandwich. What I didn't like was the price of $20. Besides I had to get the sandwich myself and bus my own table. Bonus a cute backyard to sit in. Too bad the old tables we still on he porch. What an eyesore. Would I go back? Yeah for the soup. It was delicious.

Fresh,scratch cooking local kinda vibe. Deli case full of yummy creations many gluten free Options

Tuna melt is to die for! Chicken breast encrusted in parm was a five! Turkey sandwich was good, friendly service too

good choice for fresh sandwiches, salads and sides. This place is colorful and quaint. The food is quality. It's a bit overpriced as I gulp at the price of a latte and pastry...I mean seriously, does a latte need to cost $5? I would like to see more vegetarian sandwich selections though besides that apple cheese thing. I went in the other day and asked for a vegetarian sandwich (not the apple one) and they gave me a perplexed look. Then offered me rolls with a side of vegetables. Whatever.

Great sandwiches. Hours are short so make sure to go before they close at 4:00. Nice outdoor seating in the rear garden. Good for take out.

I love places like this. I am just a sucker for fantastic ingredients from local farms made into some really wholesome food. And I loved the fact that they had such an imaginative vegetarian sandwich (the gouda, green apple, mustard and sprouts with sunflower seeds). It was unusual but tasty and I felt so healthy after eating it. I had half of that and half the tuna salad, and boy, was that good too. I don't usually like tuna with onions but these were diced very fine. Tuna had such a gooood flavor. Wish I could go back. Eat here for me!