A K Meats - San Francisco, California

Crystal L.

If you're looking for a sandwich shop that nails both flavor and quality, this place is a must-visit. My husband swears by their pastrami—it's always perfectly seasoned, tender, and piled high on fresh, crusty bread. Every bite is a satisfying mix of savory and smoky that keeps him coming back for more.

As for me, I can't resist the Decadence. It's a heavenly combination of rich flavors that never disappoints. The ingredients are always fresh, and the balance of textures and tastes is spot-on.

The staff is friendly, the service is quick, and the atmosphere is relaxed—making it the perfect spot for a delicious lunch or a quick bite on the go. Highly recommend this place to anyone who appreciates great sandwiches!

C T.

The hot pastrami lived up to the hype. It was super flavorful without being salty and had a nice texture. The turkey was just as flavorful and a good choice if you want something more mild. They used half an avocado scooped directly from the whole fruit onto the sandwich and their Dutch crunch roll was crunchy without being hard, sweet and flavorful. The sandwiches are huge. I shared with my 10 year old son. Their meat section also looks really fresh. With the market right next door, you could get a sandwich, eat at the nice seating outside, shop at the market and deli, and be ready to put dinner together.

Erin M.

WOW!!! Wish I could give 10 stars!! These sandwiches were out of this world spectacular. Got the AK Decadence on Dutch, Pastrami on Rye with Sauerkraut, BLTA on wheat. These were LOADED with high quality ingredients and were so delicious. Loved the Dutch crunchy bread and they weren’t lying when they said this is the best pastrami in town! Such a friendly, courteous staff as well they were so nice and got sandwiches so quickly.

Gökhan ?.

Best Pastrami Sandwich EVER!
The Turkey-Brest-Avicado Sandwich was also awesome, too.See you soon again!

Breanne H.

I cannot say enough good things about my experience at A K Meats - I was in town waiting for a redeye flight and they were the kindest people who made me a sandwich as they were closing. I cannot say thank you enough. The sandwich was AMAZING and so fresh, just what I needed while traveling and eating so much processed food for multiple days. When I am in town again - I will be back!

American A.

I was just across the street at the antique store bartering for an antique ivory pegleg that was fully carved with scrimshaw by one of the survivors of the whaling ship Essex of Moby Dick fame, and decided to take a break in the back and forth negotiations and go have one of the bay area's best sandwiches!
That's right Pilgrim...A K Meats!
They can slam dunk a sando better than anyone in the city! Although they pride themselves on their Pastrami, today I opted for the Roast Beef, and let me say just one thing...it was Amazing! 5 stars ☆☆☆☆☆
Oh...I got that peg leg and it'll sit within my antique Harpoon collection.
Man-O-Man ...what a sandwich!

Noelle T. N. G.

We visited AK Meats, Deli, and Butchery to try their proclaimed famous pastrami sandwich. The place is clean and well-stocked. When we arrived, there was one employee near the deli counter and another at the butcher counter with fresh meats. When I initially asked a question about ordering the sandwich, the employee didn't seem to respond or know how to respond, and he pointed us to another employee near the deli area. This person was stocking items and turned around, but wasn’t very welcoming or friendly. We went ahead and placed our order anyway.

We also asked some questions about the potato and macaroni salads in the case, but the staff didn’t seem to know which was which, or what the ingredients were, or if they were made in-house. We then began ordering the pastrami sandwich and requested a Reuben style. The person started making the sandwich using a Dutch crunch roll. I noticed he immediately added mayo and mustard, even though my mom did not want these, and traditionally they aren't on a Reuben. He continued making the sandwich regardless.

I was particularly interested in whether the portion size of the meat would be substantial, comparable to famous delis in New York or Los Angeles, like Canter's or Katz's. It's challenging to find a good deli in the Bay Area these days, especially with great pastrami like there used to be on Geary Street, such as Shenson's or The Bagel on Polk Street in SF. As the sandwich was being made, a woman, who might have been the manager or owner, asked if we were being taken care of. We inquired if she knew about the salads, if they were made fresh. She said they purchased the potato salad from elsewhere, although it appeared good and fresh. We wanted to taste it first and she kindly offered us a taste.

I also saw the deli sandwich maker squeezing Wish-Bone brand Thousand Island dressing onto the sandwich. While a good Reuben does have the sauce, it was disappointing to see it wasn't made fresh or from a better brand. The bottle appeared almost empty, and the contents were squeezed directly onto the meat instead of the bread. The woman who seemed to be running the place rang up the purchase and asked if there was anything else we needed so that interaction seemed friendly and welcoming to make sure we were taken care of.

The shop is small, with only one table inside and a few tables on the sidewalk. Fortunately, it was a sunny day, so sitting outside was pleasant. I liked that they offered Boylan’s cream soda among the drink options. It was nostalgic to sit there because I grew up in the neighborhood as a kid, and it was nice to see some of the old restaurants there that survived since the 70s, such as Gordo’s Taqueria or even restaurants like Bill’s Place burgers down the street.

When we unwrapped the sandwiches to eat, the meat looked fresh, juicy, and flavorful with the first bite. The bread was fresh, but it was disappointing not to have sauerkraut! and the mediocre Thousand Island dressing didn't enhance the sandwich as hoped. At $14 per sandwich, I expected better ingredients and better presentation. Although the meat portion was adequate, everything else was either mediocre or missing. For the same price, you can get a Reuben at Tommy’s Joynt, and while the pastrami at AK was a bit more tender and juicy, I prefer the toppings and preparation style at Tommy’s.

Another issue arose outside when other patrons, who seemed to know the owner, started smoking cigarettes right by the doorway next to our table, which hurried us through our meal and was unpleasant.

I'll probably return to pick up the pastrami meat to make my own sandwiches or take my nephew there since his school is nearby. Overall, it was a hit-or-miss experience. The side salads were tasty and fresh, even if one wasn't made in-house, and at least they were honest about that, and it was good. As we were sitting, some passersby noticed our sandwiches, praised how they looked, and expressed interest in trying them. We told them that despite some issues, they were worth a try the pastrami meat was excellent overall!

Angie O.

This place has the best pastrami sandwiches of SF! The people are also SO incredibly nice. Highly recommend