Darby Dan’s Gourmet Sandwiches

I have been coming here for over 28 years. The best reasonably priced crab sandwich in the Bay Area, I drive 40 miles for this place.

hello darby dans,
we are regular customers. love the sandwiches and burgers from the grill. however, when are you going to have the potholes in your parking lot repaired?

I ate here for the first time today. I had the sleeper with avocado. It was good. The garlic mayo with jalapeño makes it addicting. I had to force myself to stop before I over eat. I have heard of complaints regarding stale bread. I feel like my wheat bread was just 2 days away from being stale since it was a bit dry already. (Didn’t stop me from being a fatass tho)
Overall it was good not great. And I wish adding avocado doesn’t cost more than a dollar.

Best damn sandwich ive had in a while. The people behind the counter are nice and the atmosphere is very inviting.

If you’re as thrifty as I am you might initially balk at the listed sammie prices of $ 8 to $ 10. Persevere! You are going to get 3x the meat of Subway and 3x the quality at only a couple bucks more. Seriously, the sandwiches here are huuuge. I was pretty hungry and one half of the Piccolo (ham/​turkey/​roast beef) did me for lunch and the other half for dinner with some mixed veggies on the side.
They also have an excellent selection of breads, pretty much anything you could want in both roll and sliced form.
Place poops all over Ike’s in terms of value at the same price point.

Good selection of sandwiches, which are also fairly large. Jalapeño spread and garlic mayo are musts. There is a modest amount of seating, but not for large groups. The speed at which the staff make the sandwiches could be physically much quicker, but the wait time is reduced by having 4 – 6 staff preparing sandwiches simultaneously. Not cheap, moderately priced ($ 8 – 9) but tasty and worth it. Come with an empty stomach!

Ok, 3 stars for a good sandwich… I’m not sure how far I can expound on ‘normal’ or ‘regular’… given the reviews (and friend recommendation) I admit, my hopes and expectations were elevated, so for that I was disappointed. I went with the tried and true Darby dan, the bread cut the shit out of my mouth, and frankly that is the only noteworthy thing about it. I told my buddy that for a $ 9 deli sandwich I would rather go a block away to the big belly deli, way way Way better… of course here there were places to sit, it was clean but if I could comment on anything, the staff was anything put friendly or personable. Tomorrow, I’m headed to BBD.

Great sandwiches. Nice little place. Great service. I’ll be back.
There is a bit of parking behind the place but you might just want to park on the street. Easy enough to do. I like to show up before the noon rush. They take care of people pretty quickly, but it’s good not to wait.
Did I mention the GREAT SANDWICHES?

Rating sandwiches is a very subjective sport. Is it about the meats? The bread? The spread or toppings? Do you you like it wet? Or dry?
Well, here’s my take on Darby’s.
A Unilocal friend Janet T. (
) checked in here which led to a bookmark. After a menu study, I shared this place with another friend who works by the airport.
On a recent pre-​holiday weeknight, we met up for a Warrior’s community event and said friend brought us dinner. Debating between two of their touted sandwiches, I settled on the Sleeper (
), hold the mayo with the jalapeño spread. The deciding factor was the bacon which gives a crunch element to this meal. The jalapeño spread had a nice bite to it but not overly spicy, a bit mellower than Lucca’s famed garlic sauce. Another great thing about this sandwich is that it stayed relatively dry unlike a touted sandwich place on SF’s 16^th Street and Lucca.
Attending this community event, I did not want to fill up so I ate half of the sandwich before and the other half afterwards.
Overall, I enjoyed this sandwich and look forward to trying their crab sandwich on a Friday. Yes, I will be back, especially if and when my friend continues to buy them for me!

My «deli sandwich» was gross. The meat is not deli meat it store bought cold cuts. The covered the sandwich in so much mayonnaise it was falling apart. I was very disappointed in my order. That was a first and last time experience.

The only reason we aren’t giving this place five stars is because of the the filth. If you can come in, order your food, pay and leave without touching any tabletops or bathrooms – then you will have an excellent lunch! Otherwise the sticky tables, ground in dirt, chipped paint screams hole-​in-​the-​wall.
The food is so fresh tasting it’s a big contrast. Delicious Dutch crunch, crunchy pickles, etc. we had 9 different deli sandwiches and they were all excellent! Everyone raved about the meats, cheeses, produce and sauces.
Super recommend you add this to your «must grab a sandwich enroute to airport» stop list!

One of my all time favorite sandwich spots! I’ve been eating here more than 10 years and the tuna on Dutch crunch is still the same. I love the garlic mayo. I really haven’t tried many other their sandwiches. This 5-​star is for the tuna alone.

Awesome place with great food and great people that know how to provide customer service, quick and easy and the food taste great. I will keep coming back here

I wanted a light lunch and after seeing a picture of the crab salad sandwich I thought I would try the half and half. Yikes was that not what I expected. The portion is generous but the shrimp and crab salad are both dressed in mayonnaise. Maybe I’m just not used to eating really rich foods but just a few bites in I was struggling to continue. The hot sauce helped to cut the richness but in the end I ended up throwing away ²⁄₃ of the sandwich. Which was disappointing because I hate wasting food. But the bf saw that I was struggling and made me stop trying to eat it (haha). Also the Dutch bread had a nice crunch but was a bit hard so idk if it’s stale or if that’s normal. Anyway, I didn’t enjoy this sandwich but I know it’s a favorite among some of the patrons.
The bf got the Dan durby. He liked it and thought it was spicy. I took a few bites and thought it tasted like a deli sandwich and didn’t think it was spicy at all… So as you can see our tastes differs quite a bit.
I did get the Nantucket pineapple orange guava and thought that drink was good.
The staff was quick to service us and the interior is clean. But in regards to the sandwich, I wouldn’t be returning but if you’re looking for a sandwich (they also have a hot food menu) then maybe try it, you might like it.
P. s. Almost forgot that the bf got a chocolate chip cookie and brownie. One word: AVOID! The brownie is cakey and I hate cakey brownies. The cookie is horrible. It’s sinful to sell cookies like this. It’s rock hard, stale and tastes oily. After trying this cookie I’m pretty sure the bread was stale and I wouldn’t recommend this place. It’s overpriced and lacks quality.

Great sandwiches everything from hot to cold. Great place for lunch. Lines can be long but you just gotta hack through it. Piccolo, Meatloaf and Crab are the ones to try.

Working so close to DD, it is often a request from employees to feed at staff meetings as well as the other sandwich joints like Little Lucca, or Milbrae Sandwich (since they deliver). Sandwiches are often perfect for us to feed our hungry employees while also keeping food costs to a minimum. Since I lead the meetings I am also responsible for placing the lunch order. When I can’t decide, I flip a coin. And as as the saying goes, you know what you really want by the result you hope to get from the coin. If I toss a coin in the air, heads is Darby Dans and tails is either Little Luccas or Milbrae SS, I sort of hope for the coin to land on heads.
My go-​to is the Sleeper on sour dough with everything, add avocado. I used to be a big fan of dutch crunch but I find it very stiff/​hard at DDs. The sleeper includes ham, turkey, bacon. Everything refers to garlic mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomatoes, and mayo. Yes, 2 different kinds of mayo on one sandwich. Don’t worry, it isn’t too much mayo.
Other notable sandwiches that are not served everyday: meatloaf and the half and half (crab and shrimp).
From the grill side… I have never had a chef’s salad quite like this. LOADS of deli meat sliced and rolled and piled onto a bed (california king sized bed) of greens and veggies. It’s amazing!
They’re very good about accommodating large orders… always fully staffed and the lines move fast. Friendliness and obvious hustle of the staff is much appreciated!

I’ve tried Little Lucca’s, when our office was on Spruce. A year ago we moved to Oyster Point, so it was obvious we had to try Darby Dan’s.
I’d say me and my co-​workers order from DD multiple times a month. For sure once a week, sometimes twice. We are definately dedicated to DD now. 2 of the best sandwich spots in SSF.
I am a HUGGGE fan of their Half/​Half Combo, half crab, half shrimp on either dutch crunch or sliced soughdough (however mostly dutch crunch or the soft roll) with EVERYTHING on it. At DD when you say ‘everything on it’ that includes mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomatoes, garlic mayonnaise and jalapenos. The crab & shrimp sammies are only available Wed-​Thurs-​Friday. Their crab melt is to die for!!!
I’ve even had their Turkey, Cheese and Avacado, which is Yummy, as is their Egg Salad. OMG!
I find I can only eat half at lunch, and usually have the other half that night for dinner (I usually make a salad to go with it or a cup of soup). Can’t really save it for the next day. It gets too wet/​soggy.
I just love Darby Dans. Plus they are so friendly. Speedy service too.
Their sandwiches are the BOMB​.COM. I’m not sure if its the sandwiches or that garlic mayo jalapenos spread!!!
If you haven’t tried this place, your missing out!

I was raised East Coast, and in my lifetime I’ve had some of the best sandwiches made on our blue planet. Out West, Darby Dan’s is without a doubt a place where you can get one of the best. Make sure you don’t skip on the homemade jalapeño spread anytime it is offered — fantastic stuff! I used to eat meat, and back in those days The Sleeper was my favorite sandwich of all time. Now that I am veggie only, the hot Grilled Eggplant is,…WHOAH, I’d drive a hundred miles just for one of those, incredible! Pretty much anything on the menu is gonna knock your socks off. The breads are super fresh, as is everything else in-​between. It is a very unassuming looking place from the street, easy parking, go in there and you will find a great vibe and great grub.

The only reason I came here was because I found an old gift certificate in my glove box for this place.
Unlike a lot of people, I’m not a fan of their sandwiches.
Why?
Something about their hard dutch crunch, fatty bacon, and not a really good garlic spread that makes me wonder how my friends can spend $ 10 on a plain sandwich here.
I mean, this tastes like a sandwich I can put together.
And I don’t want a sandwich that I can put together.
I want a sandwich that someone better than me can put together.
I mean, I’m the type of person who can’t even cook Rice R Roni correctly.

Water.
water.
Man, now replace the thirst with hunger. And that’s how I was. Lunch time was coming and no meal prep in sight.
Order
—
Crab sammie.
So my coworker went to grab it for the group. What a lifesaver. Now instead of being hangry. Back to being sleepy.

This is definitely a great place to get a sandwich. I agree that Darby Dan’s has fast service, and their sandwiches are always fresh. Plus, their sandwiches fill you up for a while. You won’t have to worry about being hungry after you eat a sandwich from here.
The only problem I have with them are that their sandwiches are a little pricey, and you might have to pay around $ 10 or $ 11 if you get chips and a drink with it, but overall, it’s worth it. For sure, one of the best sandwich shops in the area!

A little too much bread for me BUT very good sandwiches had the meatloaf on dutch crunch today could only finish half. Hella full at work now and it’s only 11 am how am I gonna get through the day lol. Anyways… good food and its clean inside unlike another unnamed sandwich shop in the area that I also like but isn’t the cleanest.

Love me some Darby Dan sandwiches! I like their garlic and jalapeño spreads. They definitely don’t skimp! Good amounts of meat and large portions. I usually get two meals out of one sandwich so score for me!

I hate to do this… but I had a very disappointing sandwich today. Towards 5pm they had sold out of Dutch Crunch rolls and we had to settle for White Rolls, Wheat Rolls or sliced bread. The White rolls were decent and soft, but they are obviously smaller than the Dutch Crunch rolls (same price).
Also, I have been noticing this a lot with DD’s turkey, it reminded me of lunch meat from a store bought package. It was «fake» turkey and slimy. Once upon a time when I was a kid they would take the turkey breast and freshly slice it for you using the meat slicer machine. Now they just take it from a bin like Subway. I have noticed the quality of the turkey go down over the years.
This time was just such a let down after not having a DD sandwich in 4 months. Still love the mayo, but for the price can’t they use «fresh» meat?

I just wasn’t a fan of Darby Dan’s. The name is fun to say for sure, but I didn’t enjoy the food! I’ve gotta be biased because my hometown is in Jersey where we call sandwiches «subs» and they’re quite a different delicious breed.
I ordered a wrap with awful turkey breast. It wasn’t lean white meat, much poorer in quality. The only nice flavor that saved it was the jalapeño which is a great option.
My partner ordered a pastrami with on whole wheat. There was really nothing special about it. While the foodie scene in San Francisco is incredible, someone point me in the direction of where I can get a really good sandwich that doesn’t need to be dressed up in fatty fixins’ to taste decent.

I’ve tried Little Lucca and now I can I’ve tried South City’s other pride and joy, Darby Dan’s. It took some time to finally get a chance to try Darby Dan’s due to my schedule, but it’s safe to say that it was worth the wait. It’s easy to compare Darby Dan’s to Little Lucca: they’re both sandwich shops in South City; they both serve generous portions; and both have been around for decades. The exterior of Darby Dan’s is pretty new and includes a private parking lot with plenty of spaces.
The first thing I immediately liked about Darby Dan’s is the spacious layout. There’s plenty of room to place your order, a bar area, and plenty of tables to enjoy your meal. The menu behind the deli counter proudly displays their sandwich selection including some of their legendary sandwiches, such as the Sleeper sammy. I passed on the Sleeper and came for their Half & Half, a crab and shrimp salad combination served on Thursday’s and Friday’s.
Darby Dan’s has a steady supply of bread choices and I almost went with a wheat roll before asking what bread is best and my sandwich maker steered me towards the Dutch Crunch. In addition to the crab and shrimp, the sandwich included mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomato, garlic mayo, and a jalapeño spread. I opted out of the mayo and added avocado for a surcharge of $ 1.25. The sandwich was a more than reasonable $ 8.95 with a bag of chips costing an additional $ 1.09 and a fountain drink costing $ 1.80.
As I was handed my sandwich basket, the seafood sammy looked nothing short of amazing. It was well put together and wasn’t overly massive in size and wasn’t falling apart. The Dutch Crunch was visibly better than other sandwich shops and wasn’t overly thick. I headed for one of their tables and began to dig in to my Half & Half. The first thing I noticed: the crab/​shrimp salad wasn’t overly mayo. The garlic mayo and jalapeño spread were a perfect counter balance and gave it a nice kick. The Dutch Crunch? Hands down much better than the competition. Crunch without being overly thick and bland.
Towards the end my sandwich was dripping crab/​shrimp salad into my basket, which I thoroughly enjoyed with my baked chips. Add a bit of their table side Tabasco and you have one amazing sandwich. The only way I see their sandwiches getting any better is by pairing them with one of their cold beers. Also, I should mention that I went on a Thursday one hour before closing and they still had the crab/​shrimp sandwich available. After trying the same sandwich at Little Lucca, I can confidently say I’d take Darby Dan’s over Little Lucca, but a little sandwich rivalry never hurt anyone.
Ambiance/​Décor: ⁴⁄₅
Food: ⁵⁄₅
Service: ⁴⁄₅
Price: $
Overall: ⁵⁄₅
Pros:
+ Sandwich specials, deli sandwiches
+ Crab/​Shrimp sandwich
+ Dutch Crunch is especially good
+ Veggie options
+ Large selection of chips
+ Large dining area
+ Beer
+ Broiler and grill menu
+ Lottery tickets
+TVs (sports games)
+ Open on Sunday’s
Cons:
— Crab/​Shrimp special only on Thursday and Friday
— Closes daily at 4:30pm