Busy Bee Market

Been here before but it had been a while since we live clear at the other end of L.A. by the foothills. There was a long line as usual, but we knew the food is worth the wait. Got an Italian sausage and my husband got the turkey pastrami, both delicious.
We got our sandwiches and drove a few blocks to a nearby seaside park and while we were eating, four more parties arrived with brown paper sacks containing Busy Bee sandwiches; that’s how popular this place is!
If you are in the area, stop by… you won’t regret it.

Quantity vs Quality — 2^nd try there are still don’t think the place lives up to the hype. It’s probably the only sandwich in the nice part of town which makes it popular. Its conveniently located and stocked with basics, chips, beer and soda before head to beaches of pv but not a scrumptious stop. Will try one more time this time the prosciutto. So far had belly buster (let sandwich pick their worse 3 meats for it chicken, sausage, ham), pastrami today lacked flavour (pepper, salt). Again, good beach stocking stop and if really starving after your hike, surf, dive in pv.

Best sandwich place ever! It’s literally perfect for anytime of the day, whoever you’re with! I enjoy the BBQ chicken the best. I don’t get it with mustard and get some avocado instead. Thanks so much to my boyfriend for introducing me to this place. It’s even better that he only lives down the street!

Always so good! Usually a wait as it is almost always crowded. Only downside is they close at 6, so I can’t usually make it after work. Which, actually might be a good thing as I could eat there all the time!

One word to describe it. I can’t use just one. How about yummy delish tasty big sandwich. I got the Italian sausage. Very good. Only thing bad was I got there at 4pm. The sausage I got was tough at the ends like it was in the heater a long time. Heard from a coworker that the meatball one is also a good choice. I like they sell t shirts. I will be back.

Outstanding sandwich! Had the BBQ chicken, it was very very good. I definitely recommend this place to anyone in the area.

Awesome sandwiches, made to order. Had the honor of having a belly buster today and could not be happier. To of busy bees meats with the signature marinara sauce. It’s heaven in a sandwich form. Beard was soft and fresh, chicken was well cooked and juicy. To sum it up in one word «amazing». A real treat if you a in or near San Pedro.

I love all their sandwiches. It’s a little overpriced, but delicious. It can get packed on some days. I love Busy Bee Market!

Amazing sandwiches… what else can I say. This place is a pain in the but to get to and the parking suck. However, if the true believer managed to over come all those obstacles they are in for quite a treat. Juicy, overflowing sandwiches that could be turned into to meals!!! Sign me up.

One of the best sandwich in town. Tried the belly buster roast pork and pastrami.

This place is delicious!!! They most definitely live up to the hype!!! It’s small, but the food is so delicious!!! I could get one of these everyday and I hate sandwiches!!! Fresh baked bread! They have all of the chips you’re looking for!!!

They really live up to their slogan, «The Best Sandwiches In Town». I’ve come here numerous times and I’m never disappointed with any option I get.
Located not too far from sunken city and the bell of friendship resides Busy Bees Market; a small, yet quaint business that creates some mighty tasty subs! There’s often lines out the door, but thats a great sign letting you know these subs are no joke.
They have a variety of subs to choose from and also have potato salads you can add for an additional cost. I’ve had the Meatball Sub, Beef Dip, and Bbq Chicken sandwhich and all of them were out of this world! They’re full of flavor and packed with sauce, so it can get messy at times. The market has a variety of drinks and chips to choose from, which is great if you want to have some side options. If you’re looking for some great tasting sandwiches, then Busy Bees is the place to go.
As a heads up, it is a cash only place. They have an ATM inside if you don’t have cash, which is really convenient.

Hometown favorite!
Honestly, you need to eat here. My family’s go-​to order is the Meatball sandwich and the BBQ chicken sandwich. All you have to do is add a bag of chips & a drink and you’re set. The sandwiches are huge and amazing. It is hard to finish it in one sitting but its sooo good that you attempt it anyways.
Tip: Always-​Always-​Always order ahead, it is just so much easier that way.
Cash only but they have an ATM inside (might not always work)
If you want the full San Pedro Experience head over to Pt. Fermin to eat it while looking over the water.

Oh man. After lots of hype I was a little let down when I went in for a hot beef sub. The meat was on point and delicious but next time I would have them hold the tomato sauce cuz it was a bit bland and made the roll soggy.
I will go back for a cold sub I think the bread will hold up better.
The service was fast and friendly but people were speaking of this place as if it had the grandest grinder. Not busy bees fault that my hopes were so high and perhaps I need to explore more menu options. But if you re going for the first time expect a solid sub a fair price but nothing mind blowing.

Don’t believe the hype! They really aren’t the tastiest or freshest sandwiches. Messy, yes! My bf got the BBQ chicken, which is considered their #1 seller, but the «bbq sauce» was actually bland marinara sauce & the chicken was really overlooked. I tried the Italian sausage, which was pretty good & made in house. However, they poured that bland marinara sauce over that too, drowning the entire sandwich. Not surprisingly, the bread was soggy by the time we opened it 10 mins later. They don’t have tables, so there’s nowhere to sit & eat anywhere within the block. The people there were nice, nonetheless & we liked the old deli feel of the place. If u want lots of meat, a messy sandwich, and soggy bread to-​go, be my guest.

Wow! Busy Bee is worth the drive from Long Beach! I love their hot sandwiches. I have ordered the beef dip all 3 times I’ve been… no I’m not a simple-​minded conformist who never tries new things, the beef dip is just that darn good that I couldn’t imagine any other sandwich being so splendid! I get the sauce on the side now because I thought there was way too much on it for my liking. Plus I like to take my sandwich to the overlook on Gaffey or Pt. Fermin Park to eat it. If you leave the sauce on for anything over 5 minutes, you may have a soggy sandwich. Don’t you tarnish that beef dip, ask for the sauce on the side! Busy Bee can get slammed especially around lunch time so call in your order, skip the line and they will have it ready in 10 – 15 minutes! Voila! Now off to the next one, you Busy Bee, you!

I gave this place a few tries because my parents were curious about it. I’ve tried it all, their pastrami, turkey, chicken, meatballs. All of their sandwiches are soggy. Their sauce is well-​known is just tomatoes that are blended with water and prolly with a little bit of salt. One time we asked for this sauce to be on the side so we can add that nasty concoction ourselves, and the sandwich was still soggy. Like wow! The chicken bbq one was just average.
The fact that they charge extra for vegetables should be a crime. I don’t mean to compare a «hole in the wall» to a fast food chain, but I can’t help it. Subway doesn’t do that. There. And they actually have many different breads to choose from. And it’s cheaper. I know they’re not perfect, but I’d choose them over this place any day. The only plus side I see to busy bee’s is that they seem to give a lot of meat, that’s good for meat lovers I guess.
I begged my mom to not come here again. Got down on my knees and begged her to not even mention this place whenever we decide what to eat.

It is with a heavy heart that I have to drop my 4 star rating of this San Pedro Icon. Simply stated the owners have become greedy and they are no longer worth the price. There are many places to get a great sandwich that are more realistic. It has become more than a little insulting to be herded out the door with a sandwich a bag of chips and a bottle of water, to find yourself being fleeced for vastly more than a sit and dine price. I used to compare the busy bee to World famous Icons like Genos in Philly and Central Grocery in New Orleans, Now they are only more expensive and they don’t rate it… since when is turkey, roast pork, meatballs or sausage more than steak piled a mile high?!

Best sandwiches from a Deli I’ve ever had.
So much meat as well as variety you can choose from. You most definitely get your moneys worth here. Now I understand why a small market like this has lines leading out the front door.
The sandwiches are amazing!!!
Lunch 2÷14÷2015

Se pasan!!! Muy «delicious» como dicen los gueyes. Belly Buster es «too much» pero rico AF!

Holy smokes! I was not ready for the beastly sandwiches found here. I visited the Korean Friendship Bell nearby and was starving by the time I left! A friend suggested that I visit this place and after a short drive I spotted this joint in the corner of a neighborhood. Parking can be tough and I ended up parking about ¾th block away in front of some random house and walked.
On the outside it looks almost like it could be a pawn shop, but once you open the door and enter, it looks like a fusion of liquor store and deli. Don’t let the ugly hole in the wall setting fool you, the food will make you forget all of that stuff.
Immediately, I noticed a sizable line and once it was my turn, I was greeted with a counter and there were about 4 – 5 guys hustling and bustling behind it slapping together sandwiches. Each sandwich is made fresh on spot, meats dipped/​sliced right after you order. Everything is quite fresh. I ordered 2 belly busters, and a sm. pasta salad side. 1 sandwich with Italian sausage/​pastrami and the other with Italian sausage/​bbq chicken. They were HUGE. I misjudged all the Unilocal pictures big time (not a good indicator of how large they are)! They were packed and overflowing with meat. The pastrami, Italian sausage both had great flavors but I found it to be very salty. The chicken was good but there were some dry pieces. Overall, the sandwiches were good but not great. The side however was so acidic and sour that it was inedible.
With all that being said, after finishing one belly buster, I tapped out. There was just so much meat! So much that I couldn’t eat meat for the next few days because all the protein was still oozing from my pores. You will definitely get your moneys worth. Overall, it was a so-​so experience. Make sure you have some health insurance before taking on these sandwiches (jk), they can be overwhelming. Moderation is key here!