The Old German Deli

Wonderful local establishment serving delicious food, freshly made. I highly recommend the Bavarian loaf sandwich. My wife got the OGD hot pastrami sandwich which was also amazing, I have pictures of both of them. They have a potato salad with sausage in it which is also fabulous. There is indoor seating but the weather was so nice we all sat outside, we had a family of 12.

Absolutely delicious food. Turkey pesto sandwich is amazing. Pretzels with their own spicy mustard, yum yum yum. Pretzel bun, wonderful. Potato salad delicious. Clean, cozy spot. Service is very friendly. Worth every penny. Highly recommend 👌

Amazing sandwich shop with authentic german style sausage sandwiches and plates. No pork for me so we tried the jalapeño chicken sausage and polish smoked kielbasa sandwiches and both were delicious and flavorful. Def a must try in Big Bear!! 👌🇩🇪🌭

The atmosphere and customer service have been good here. My only complaint is the flavor of the food. I tried the hot pastrami sandwich (currently priced at $14 as of 07/25). It lacked flavor significantly, the bread was nicely toasted and flavorful. The cucumber salad was solid - refreshing. Overall not bad, but could improve. For $14 more effort could be put into it and the portion size you pay for. Will give them another try with something else soon.

Revisited in the end of 2024, and the meat amount has been halved. Not sure if it's related to the upcoming Christmas holiday and they're trying to conserve or if this is the new normal. Tastes pretty good still despite the smaller portions

The pretzels are yummy and their ice cream is amazing!! Best in town. They may only have 1 flavor but its homemade and no one else in town has good ice cream. All garbage. Theres is super good. Have to go for that if anything and 4.50 for an 8 ounce cup. It was packed full. Very good price. DO NOT go to any othet ice cream place in town. They are all terrible. The German chocolate cheesecake ridiculously good. I took a star off on the atmosphere because there's no AC in there and with all the ovens its boiling in there. It smelled amazing in there. Like a real authentic German deli. Used to live in Germany.

Highly recommended. The food is fresh and flavorful with a fair price. Sausages and Pastrami definitely handmade in-house, plus there's German beer on tap. Desserts are also handmade, and on point as authentic in my opinion

All the sausage is amazing. The sauerkraut is the best I have had. Love this place! Wish there was one near where I lived.

My husband and I appreciate German food and were excited to try this place out. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating, and is combined with a deli at the front. All guests order at the front and seat themselves, and the staff call your name when ready. We ordered the Currywurst, the Half Sandwich, Half Soup combo, and the Apple Strudel. Our order took quite a bit of time and at one point we thought we were either skipped or someone claimed our order, but it turns out the Currywurst was the hold-up. However, once we got our order, we were reminded of our time in Germany. The Currywurst came with sauerkraut, pickles, mustard, egg, and potato salad. It tasted delicious! The currywurst was melt-in-your mouth and tasted well with the sauerkraut. I wasn't a big fan of the potato salad as it had a kick, but my husband loved it. For the Half Sandwich, Half Soup combo, I got the Smoked Turkey (the soup was potato soup and this was the only option offered at the time). The combo came with a side of pickle and dijon mustard. The soup was delicious; full of veggies and very hot. The Smoked Turkey was also delicious; the marble rye was really good and the turkey paired well with all the veggies. And my favorite part... the Apple Strudel; the top was a semi-thick layer of dough atop apples and spices, with a soft flaky undercrust. This has to be one of the top 3 apple strudels I've ever had. Highly recommended! Everything was packed in a brown paper box, and they gave out plastic utensils even for the customers dining in. Unfortunately, they didn't have trashcans so everyone was bringing their trash to the cashier to dispose (I wonder why). Service was definitely slower than average, as our friends also waited a while for their desserts (they ordered the German Chocolate Cake and Soft Pretzel, and it took at least 10 minutes). Nonetheless, if you aren't on a tight schedule, definitely check out Old German Deli! Next time we are in Big Bear, we are definitely coming back!

Old German Deli was delicious, everyone in our party enjoyed their food. I got the Polish kielbasa with sauerkraut, pea soup (vegetable base with a kick) with a cold bottle of Bitburger pils. We shared a large pretzel with mustard, it was yummy! This place was super cute with indoor and outdoor seating and customer service was great! Gave this place 4 stars bc the Bathroom was pretty gross and unkept, with cardboard covering most of the bathroom floor. Check their hours. In the spring they were closed on Tuesday.

Ordered the German Salami sandwich with Split Pea soup and both are very tasty! The mustard on the side is great, I forgot to ask if they make it? I'm buying some next time I go back. It wasn't busy for lunch on MLK Day but service is good. It has a nice German Pub feel to it with stein's all over the wall plus the TV in the back room has Jackie the Bald Eagle live on the TV in her nest. So glad I tried this place out, looking forward to coming back and trying the weeners.

Needed a break in a dog friendly place. This place did not disappoint. The half Turkey Sando and potato soup were great. Washed it down with a cold German pilsner beer on Tap. It hit the spot I would definitely stop again when I'm in town. .

One of the most solid restaurant choices on the hill. Everything I've ever gotten here has been absolutely delicious. I'm a really big fan of their reuben. Really nice portion size, comes with a side (I usually order the potato salad, which is good, but a little bland on its own), and a delicious pickle. The German chocolate cake is also really delicious and comes in a large enough slice where you could easily share it with others. Whether you're popping in or ordering take out, this place is a really, really yummy option to go with.

I felt conflicted about reviewing this place because the currywurst was actually really good and the customer service as well. However, the bathroom was absolutely horrendous. Luckily I went in there after I ate because I would have run away as soon as I saw the filthy restroom.

Nice ambiance but the toilet was leaking water so had some cardboard on the floor. Sausages were OK. Expected the sauerkraut to be more vinegary but was kinda bland.

Good food and Live music on a Saturday. I got the sausage platter. It came with my choice of 2 sausages, side, pretzel bun, spear of pickle and kraut. I picked Cheddar and Polish sausage and it was good. My entire set was very delicious. Perfectly cooked and not too dry. This place might me my go-to place in Big Bear now.

After Karl & Carol, the original GermanAmerican owners retired, the deli is resumed by new owner. The Blood Sausage & Tongue sandwich is thin & small, comes with a spear of pickle, a piece of thin tomato, and side of potato salad. The sandwich is good, asked for lite mayonnaise. Nonetheless, I was volunteered in paying for $6.14 tip on this to-go order. I requested for refund, Tom the clerk said Boss is not in, and will mentioned to her the refund request. I like to see it posted on credit card record soon.

Revisited in the end of 2024, and the meat amount has been halved. Not sure if it's related to the upcoming Christmas holiday and they're trying to conserve or if this is the new normal. Tastes pretty good still despite the smaller portions

Great sandwiches, beer and plenty of options! New booths totally comfy and welcoming.

10/10. The OGD hot pastrami sandwhich is amazing!!!!! The potato soup is so good and cozy. The turkey pesto is amazing as well!

Over 3+ years later and we returned to Big Bear; and returned here to get our German deli fix! This go around I ordered their pastrami sandwich and my wife ordered their Schinkenwurst sandwich (smoked pork and veal cold cut that comes with bologna and German salami). The beers were ice cold and we enjoyed sitting at a table inside, although we could have sat on their patio if inclined. We liked it so much we stopped here on our way out of town a couple of days later and picked up another Schinkenwurst sandwich to split later that evening. I also picked up some of their German salami (yea) for later consumption (BURP), which I failed to do on our original visit 3+ years ago. If you like German sandwiches or sausages (or desserts for that matter) this is a must stop on your visit, or if you are a local that lives in this beautiful town.

This place is definitely family owned and you can tell they care about this place. I'd say this is among your must visits when you're up the mountain. My dad is a huge sausage fan and he loved this place. Owner chatted saying where he gets his stuff from and we ordered togo. Don't be hesitant and stop by when you're near here. Not many good places to eat up there.

Omg the food was so good that I was full halfway through and finished everything because it was so good. Will be returning to try everything on the menu.

Super cute environment! German music playing in the background. Lots of great German classics!

Came here on Monday with my family. We had sandwiches and a variety of sausages and everything was delicious. So much so that we ordered more to go. Great price points as well. We will be back

The food was good, nothing special to write home about. However, the customer service was definitely unacceptable. For one of our orders, we got 1 sandwich and 1 beer. The person who took the order got it wrong and charged for 2 beers and 1 sandwich, which ended up being about $50. We spoke to the woman that took our order and she said that she got the order wrong, but did not offer to reimburse for their mistake. She didn't even know which beers she charged for and just gave us a small canned beer. Definitely not an appropriate response.

We Decided to try this place out when all the nearby eateries were packed. So glad we did! They have at least 6 different sausages you can pick from to have as a combo which comes with a deliciously soft pretzel bun, sauerkraut, and a side. We preferred the more flavorful Polish Kielbasa over the Veal Sausage. A friend enjoyed the Cheddar sausage though commentef cheese flavor was mild. They also have beers, dessert pies, bread loaves and other various European/German foods at the deli. They have limited tables and 2 long bar counters to sit at. For more SoCal travel tips, IG: @grace.loves.adventures

As a German, I was really excited to visit here last weekend but it was beyond disappointing. We were going to get lunch somewhere else but I at least wanted to get something so we came in to get a pretzel. In fairness, it was a Saturday but the line was out the door but we just ordered a large pre-made pretzel. Without exaggeration, it took 20 minutes!! To heat up a pretzel!? I've been to other German restaurants and they make the pretzels fresh and it takes usually five minutes to get one, or ten if you have to wait on a batch. The pretzel was 7/10 but there was no salt on it - at all. The mustard was great though, stone-ground, little tangy. The problem is that there were only three total workers; a cashier and two helpers. The service was pretty terrible... as we were waiting, we noticed various people getting their orders in to-go bags and they were trying to ask for spoons or napkins and they couldn't get the workers' attention and huffed off. It happened a couple times where people weren't happy trying to get something. Also, there's nowhere to sit... just a couple tables inside, a couple outside, or the curb. The good is the prices are solid, priced just right. They have some legit import beer as well. They have a good variety of sausages and they looked great. I rrrrreally want this place to do well, so I have a German option but man, they have to staff-up for these weekends. They're getting people in the door but you can't have them leaving mad. Looking at other reviews, it seems like this is an issue with the weekend. PS... I fixed their German flags for them out front, wrapped around the bushes :)

Tried the cheddar bratwurst (pork) & polish kielbasa (all beef)......It did not disappoint!

The best! Always delicious, always friendly service, always reliable. I'd recommend you check it out, but I don't want to give away our secret spot.

For some good ol deli flavors , this spot a good place for some hearty food. We had the beyond meat bratwurst and the smoked turkey sandwich with potato soup. The beyond meat bratwurst and smoked turkey were good, nothing amazing. I did like the potato soup but it was on the pricey side compared to other delis I've been to. Considering it is way up in big bear, where choices may not be as abundant as in major cities, it's definitely a good place for those that have dietary restrictions.

Very, very good food, service and the atmosphere very chill!!! Will definitely come here again!

Simple German deli with high quality sandwiches and sausages. I got the reuban sandwich and my wife got the smoked turkey. Both were delicious. They also have a selection of German beers. If you are looking for a simple high quality lunch I highly recommend. Staff was friendly and helpful.

Get the pastrami, you won't regret it!!!! We came to grab lunch before a pontoon boat ride, and this definitely hit the spot. It looks to be a pretty popular place.

Cute little place just a short walk from the main drag in town! Great selection of deli meats, sausage, chpastries, cold beer, and dry goods, plus a decent amount of indoor seating and a patio for warmer days! My group ordered the Beyond brat (vegan), polish kielbasa, sausage soup in a bread bowl, schinkenwurst cold cut, and roasted turkey cold cut. The sides of potato salad and potato soup were standouts, and the sauerkraut was enjoyed by those of us who don't typically like sauerkraut! And of course we got a couple pretzels and strudel, plus German beer from the fridge. I love supporting small family-run businesses like these, they were kind and our food came out quickly. Definitely hit the spot after a day on the slopes. Until next time!

I never thought I would end up at an authentic German deli in the middle of Big Bear but here I am! My friends have been raving about how amazing the sausages are from here so we stopped by for breakfast. I got the veal bratwurst with a side of potato soup. My friends all got the sausage platter that comes with two sausages, pretzel bun, and side. The sausages have a really satisfying snap when you bite into it and it pairs really nicely with the mustard. The soup was rich and flavorful. Next time, I want to come back to try the split pea soup. The interior has a nice homey feel to it and they also have a cool selection of German snacks and beer. We came right when they opened and it took about 15 minutes for them to prepare the food. I also got to try some of the cheddar bratwurst and polish kielbasa and I loved both! My favorite had to be the cheddar bratwurst. If you ever find yourself at Big Bear, then I definitely recommend coming here to grab lunch!

This German deli has a lot of delicious options. I always check out the daily specials just incase there is something bomb I should be trying. I was able to order the #3 which I think was a smoked sausage with their daily special spaetzle (German pasta). It's basically their take on a simple carbonara. It was super delicious! The portion sizes are perfect for lunch. Service was super friendly. The staff is eager to help and if you're a first timer you can ask for recommendations. The young woman who helped me and my boyfriend out was a charm. She took her time explaining dishes that we were unfamiliar with. She's great! The place itself has 4-5 tables on the inside (that seat 4-6 people per table comfortably). Outside there are about 4 tables, these get a lot of sun on the afternoon which can be nice depending on when you decide to visit. This place is a 2 minute walk from the village downtown near the west(?) entrance of the village. You can miss it if you're not looking for it so be sure to slow down a little! Parking is sparse but if you're visiting the village / bugbear you should be use to that. Price point was decent. About $12-$15 per person. Would recommend !

Great food and just discovered it almost by accident- just walking by . I will definitely visit next time I am up there!!

It's a bit further up from the main downtown area of Big Bear, but also worth a stop if you want some tasty German fare. They have outdoor and indoor seating, as well as a mini market with imported German goods as well. We got the Sausage Platter that comes with: 1) 2 sausages of your choice: -We got the veal bratwurst and the chicken jalapeno sausage. -Both were nicely flavored and seasoned. No real jalapeno taste to the chicken one, so don't worry about getting this if you are afraid of it being spicy. Definitely softer in texture than the veal bratwurst. Both went wonderfully with the mustard and there's enough to share and have a little bit of each with the sides they give you too. 2) Potato salad: -Not too sour or strong on the flavor for this potato salad, despite being a mustard based one. There's some bits of sausage in it too, a nice added bonus. 3) Pickle spear & side of mustard: -The mustard is made in house and they sell it in jars, so we had to get one for ourselves. Good stuff. 4) 1 pretzel bun: -Freshly baked, warm and delicious. Fluffy on the inside, great pretzel exterior. It came unsalted too which was great for the dish. Not dry at all. Overall an enjoyable little deli worth stopping by!

Came I here on a whim and it was not a let down. It's a decent sized deli and it offers seating to enjoy your food and drinks. The food offered are cold cut sandwiches or hot sausages (in a French roll).. The menu is small, which is great, because it's not overwhelming. The Chicken Jañlapeño hot sausage and the side of potato soup was delicious and satisfying. They also have a couple of shelves with German products for sale (candy, cookies, cooking products, drinks, beers, and more). The entire place is nicely decorated with German decor. There was only one young lady that was behind the register, but it was slow so no need for more. She was polite and professional. Definitely will be coming back!

The overall ambiance and energy was just ok. I feel they would have more customers if their staff dressed in themed clothing that represented the German culture. I also feel they should maximize their shelf space with more items from Germany as many folks never have the chance to leave the USA. Also, it is a lovely idea to maintain a very clean restroom as there is a correlation to the cleanliness of the kitchen leaving one questioning quality. Please raise the vibes and make me feel like I am entering Germany when I visit. Thanks so much

I heard good things about this place but just had the worst experience. We came in with a large group and everyone received their food except my wife and I. Everyone in our group finished and we still didn't get our sandwich. Finally got the food and it was like whatever. We then placed a to go order of a smoked cheddar sausage sandwich and made a huge mistake by not checking the order. When we got to the cabin and opened the box all we were given was a bun!! Are you kidding me, never going back again.

The chicken jalapeno sausage was delicious. Juicy with a crisp outer skin. Perfection. The pretzel bun was excellent too. Tasted very fresh and was soft. Potato soup was also very tasty. Great spot.

Wow... what can I say! I've been wanting to try this spot for a while now and lemme tell you.. it didn't disappoint! We got the Reuben sandwich and a pretzel. The sauerkraut is sweet and creamy.. the pastrami melts in your melt. The food literally gave me goosebumps.. wash it all down with a lager! Also... service was incredible

This place is AMAZING! Stopped by for lunch today and they were quick getting my meal out. Ordered the kielbasa on the pretzel roll - it was phenomenal. The service was great! Not in the area often, but will definitely return for another but when I am!

What you see. Is what you get! It was delicious ! We got two sausage plates , soup, & a pretzel & a apple strudel We got chicken jalapeño & cheddar brat - both were juicy - sauerkraut was yum & pretzel bun moist. All in all. On point.

I was spending a long weekend in Big Bear with my fiancée and my dogs when we needed a place to grab lunch before checking into our lodge. Since we wanted something new, not fast food, and easy to eat in the car we ended up stumbling across the Old German Deli and they just so happen to save the hungry day. This little shop is located on the edge of the downtown/shopping area and is decorated like a little German deli (I know, but let me have this). I went in to order and was immediately won over by the decorations and selection of chocolate, snacks, and other trinkets. I ended up ordering the Kolbasa Sausage served on a bun with a side of potato soup. Let me just say this, it was basically a big hot dog and I am ALLLLLLL for that. The meat was super juicy and full of flavour while the potato soup it came with was absolutely delicious. My only complaint? I really wish they had German beverages that weren't just alcohol. Overall, the Little German Deli is a wonderful addition to Big Bear and definitely a place I'll be stopping back at on future trips. The food was really good, the staff working were friendly and quick, and the place itself just had a great vibe to it. If you are touristing it up in Big Bear Lake, come and grab some food at this wonderful deli.

Salami sandwich is the bomb, with the potato salad. The staff is friendly and nice. The bread bowl potato soup is amazing as well

We came from Riverside to just chill for the weekend and we're starving. We saw this deli as we passed and we came in. Sandwiches were so delicious and the location is so cute and nice. Love this place my go to from now on.

If you like old world deli's, this is the place to be. Assorted sausages are my favorite. Beef, pork, veal. Some spicy. Some mild. Sandwiches are excellent. Their potato soup is absolutely delicious. A must try. I live locally and my wife and I shop here a lot. Assorted imported beers and other drinks are available. If you like soft pretzels, they have small, medium and very large. Deserts are streusels, German Chocolate Cake and Cheese cakes. Cookies too. Eat in or on the patio on warmer days. Or take it to go. The staff is friendly and helpful. Easy parking.

Stopped by here for a bite. My husband had the brat and my son had a Reuben. I wasn't hungry so I got an apple streudel. Aside from some strange-ish sauerkraut, the food was surprisingly tasty. The brat was a little too finely ground for my taste - I like more of the rough chop where you get more texture and bite - but the flavor was on point. The sandwich was a winner. The apple streudel wasn't that great but it was still pretty tasty. Love that they carry Bitburger Radler which was a nice reminder of drinking in some bier halls in Germany and biking around Rovinj while drinking radlers at every chance. I'd definitely go back.

Saw this place across from our hotel and decided to try it and so glad we did. Food, drinks, and service were all amazing. They have a small dining area where you can enjoy your food. We will definitely return in the future.

Great spot! Very welcoming. Cozy vibes and feels like visiting a friend's home in Deutschland. Definitely worth checking out if you love German food as much as I do.

Came hoping to grab a sandwich to picnic with later. Got there just after opening and the staff seemed less than thrilled to see us. They do have a number of traditional sausages and pretzel rolls but the prices were steep and the staff continued to be pretty rude. We bought a four pack of pretzels that came with their house mustard (a little sweet for my taste) and a small container of salt- no idea how you are supposed to get the salt to stick to the pretzel. Win some lose some.

This is a must eat when we come up here! The food is exceptional and the sausages heated up when you order. The sauerkraut and potato salad are both amazingly good, as are the pretzel rolls that comes with the sausage meal. There is also a nice little German food store as well. They offer indoor and out door dining.

Delicious authentic German food. Their spicy mustard and sauerkraut are delicious a must visit

We had one potatoes soup and one split peas soup. Both were really good. Would be great if both were hotter