Mendocino Farms

By far the freshest & best sandwiches I’ve ever tasted! In order:
1. Steak Bahn Mi
2. Not so fried chicken sandwich
3. A science study of heat
BONUS: Curried Cauliflower soup is also off the chainnn

I must have missed this place a few times, as it was my first time here!
WOW! 4.5 stars with 700+ raters! that says something.
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Skip the Banh Mi sandwich. Its very bland, but has a great ciabatta bread toasted for it. But the sandwich doesn’t even have mushrooms in it. Thats a 2 – 3 stars.
The noodles had some hint of flavor in the sample, but too cold to taste it when I got the side along with my sandwich. Felt like I was eating smushed noodles with coloring and salt with really no flavor.
Very nice service by the person at sides and beer, but the girl taking the sandwich orders at front is of little to zero help. Very sweet, but no menu understanding or interpretation.
Beer was good.
$ 20+ for the meal and went looking for an espresso shop… NONE to be found around a number of «foodie» or wannabe foodie spots.
There is a SugarFish (you can look up my review), and others, yet all they have is the 7 – 11 of coffee, a Starbux! Are you serious?
Not even a real coffee shop in the plaza!!! WOW! Major fail! When does their 20 year lease expire? for crying out loud!
I had to drive out of the plaza to have an espresso. I might have to try MendoFarms at their other locations. Perhaps they have a coffee shop close by that pulls real coffee.
So that was my experience. Better luck for me next time!
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I think what failed for me at this place is the person at the register when you walk in by the wall menu and order. She really didn’t have a clue about food, or what flavors people lean towards when they express the foods they like. Basically no suggestions. Everything was great and to just go with one. She did give me a run down of the process in ordering etc.
Anyways, I ended up ordering a Banhi Mi sandwich that comes on a ciabatta bread. That’s what the register person I spoke to suggested.
Well, then there were the sides… And I enjoyed tasting each one. They had 4 I think. the noodles, the coos-​coos, the quinoa, and I forget the other. I ordered the shells as it had a nice red pepper flavor to it… not bell, but the longer relano style red peppers. A bit of spicyiness and noodles. Then there was drinks, and they had beer! They had 3 on tap. I tried the IPA and a orange blossomy tangy one, and I skipped the stout this time. I usually don’t like IPA, but this was a mild rendition… I went with it.
So I got everything and sat down at the taller tables. They are a bit crammed closer to each other as i saw people get in and get out with some trouble. I’m kinda of tall and I got in my seat Ok, but noticed that I’m slumped down. So the tables are about 4″ too tall. If I was shorter I would have more trouble. Anyway…
Food.
The sandwich was nice and toasted and it was kind of flavorful, but there was no mushrooms like I have at the Banh Mi shos I get, and it was kind of too simple. It tasted like a creamy mayo sauce with slaw! If it wasn’t for the perfect bread I would be pretty upset to pay $ 10 for bread and slaw, but I’m your American food sucker and felt perfectly OK with $ 10 for a slice of bread and veg slaw.
I thought I better open this mac-​noodle side I have, which is a pretty huge size as a side. Comes in a 6−8oz tub. So I crack that open and its so cold the flavors are still tuned out. So I slowly have a sip of my beer, then a bite of sandwich, and after some time, and realize the noodles don’t taste like the sample batch I had. I looked for the pepper flavor, and it was no where to be found. After those 2 missed shots I drank some more of the beer, finished the sandwich. I left half the beer and noodles as is and called it a meal.
Rating:
So this is rating this particular sandwich… and surely I have had MUCH better. (Although that ciabatta was very good). The BunMe sandwich shop I go to has a great sandwich that is packed with flavor (local greens too).
(Email for the address to try it and improve this one).
Maybe other sandwiches would do much better with me. The Hippie looks really good, and so does the one below it, dosa/​?
Noodles were too cold to taste, or maybe they forgot the papers in this batch, or both.

O-​M-​G!!! I don’t know where to start. The food here is amazing! I decided to come here yesterday last minute. It’s been on my bookmarks forever, so I was very excited to come. This particular location is inside a shopping center, a bit of traffic jam. Once we arrived they had menus outside but of course I already knew what I wanted. By the way they offer a big selection on their menu. As you enter, there is someone to take your order, once you’ve place your order you picking your seating and wait for them to buzz you. We literally waited about 7 minutes for the food to be ready, paid and began to devour our delicious meal. I wasn’t too hungry so I grab a salad. I am not kidding this food is probably one of the tastiest I’ve had. My taste buds were going out of control; everything was fresh, crisp, and tender. Hope you enjoy, check out @foodgurula

Organic hipsters dream sandwich shop. This place has great food with great quality that makes you feel good about what you’re eating too.
My favorite sandwich is the ‘Not so fried chicken’ it has a crunchy texture to it and the bbq sauce goes great with it. I’ve had the joy of engaging several of their sandwiches and I have not had a bad one yet. I would also recommend trying some of the salads. They usually give free samples so you know what they taste like which is helpful since most of their salads are pretty unique so it’s hrs to gauge what you may like.
The ambience is casual but well decorated to appear a bit like it is farm themed which is fun to just sit around in with your friends. Definitely one of those fun places you can take out of town friends to go check out so they can see what the stereotypical California style food is like.
Price will be a bit over 10 $ a person on average so not cheap for sandwiches but definitely worth it for the quality.

Bad ass food. First visit this place is great had a Viet sandwich and beer. One of the best it was not a Viet sandwich. But is was one of best sandwiches I have ever had. 5 star.

Love love love this place. I always head over here when I’m in the area. I’m a health nut so I love all of the healthy, yet yummy choices here. My personal go to is the banhmi’s! Super tasty. A bit pricey, but what else can you except from such a hipster place?

I stopped by to try a couple sandwiches since I saw great reviews on Unilocal!I came at 8pm and it was packed. But the wait wasn’t long and the staff were EXTREMELY nice.
I ordered the Kurobuta pork belly banh mi and the Steak BLT with blue cheese.
The BLT tasted great, but the steak was too well done (I like mine a little on the red side).
The pork in the banh mi tasted fantastic, but the combination of flavors didn’t sit well with me (I’m Vietnamese and have been eating banh mi a certain way my whole life without any type of fusion with other cultures).
Overall, I liked the BLT sandwich and wouldn’t mind coming back to try something else.

Ok so not a huge selection of sandwiches
. The bread is very tasty and fresh. Uses heirloom tomatoes and select cold cuts & bacon. Substitutions are easy here. The disappointment is no bacon strips but chopped up bacon on my sandwich. I came by at lunch 11:10 am and beat the crowd. Tried the spicy potato salad and i hate mayo but this was so tasty you cant taste mayo at all! When i left the line was out the door .
4 stars cuz parking sucked here. very few handicapped spots and in all the wrong places. Handicapped spots are at the end of each block of buildings! They should be in the center

Came here for the first time. Staff is really friendly and helpful. I do like that you can sample the food in the deli cases before you pay. The food here was pretty good, but I am a much bigger fan on Tender Greens. This location also didn’t have enough seating and the vibe was too beachy casual for me, nor enough tables. There are a lot of community tables with high stools, etc. Also how to order was a bit confusing to me because there isn’t really a ordering counter, it’s a person standing with a tablet attached to the wall. Then after you order with her/​him and walk by the staff prepping food, you get to the pay counter. Overall, I enjoyed my food. If others wanted to go here, I would, but would skip returning on my own to go to Tender Greens.

Any time of day you will notice this place looks packed. Do NOT let that allow you to walk away from this place. the line moves fast, the service is awesome, and the food… WELL WORTH ANY WAIT!
Pick up a menu, figure out if you want a salad, sandwich or side. Order, go watch your food get made, and sample some of their new items while you wait. Fairly priced around $ 10-​$ 13 per meal. You get your $$$ worth! Will be back!

Really fun place. Love the concept and the food as well. I got the Study of Heat, EXTRA spicy which was great. The sandwiches are huge, so go with the idea of splitting. They have a tasting bar where you can try all of their cold salads. All of which were yummy. The thai lomon grass steak sandwich was also wicked good.

I really wanted to like this place but the sandwiches don’t taste good and the prices are really high for what it is.
Sandwiches have too much bread… and doesn’t taste good.
Only good thing is that you can try samples of the sides but thats about it!
The price for a sandwich with a side and drink will cost you almost $ 15!
No thanks… a sandwich and a drink should be less than $ 10.
I won’t be coming back sorry.

Stopped in for my BOGO today. No line mid-​afternoon. Or maybe it was ‘coz it was raining? Super nice girl at the front door took orders and handed me the light buzzer with instructions to head inside to pay at the counter. Since it was my first time at this location, and there was no customer after me, she actually walked me in and gave me a ‘tour’ explaining their system. And suggested I try their sides samples while waiting. Didn’t need to tell me twice :-) Especially since I was starving having skipped thru breakfast and lunch. Mmm the curry couscous was just the right amount of spicy kick! Will have to get it next time.
Orders took no longer than 10mins and I was out the door with my Pork Belly banh mis. Oh and ask for the jalapeño salsa for extra spice! Although the banh mi had jalapeños amongst pickled veggies, I enjoyed having the dip for the yummy toasted ciabatta.
Big parking lot but with lots of stores and restaurants in this strip, could get packed at peak times. I’ll be back and will keep avoiding rush times.

Yum! Mendo definitely lives up to its hype and I’m glad I chose it as my last meal before heading to the airport. Everyone talks about the Banh Mi, the pork belly one in particular but that day I didn’t feel like eating a indulgently rich meal, so I opted for the lemongrass steak.
You walk in, place an order with an employee on the kiosk, then walk down to the register to pay. After you pay and grab a pager, you can even sample their side salads that they have on display. Be warned that this place is super popular for lunch so there will be a line at peak lunch hours and parking may be difficult despite it being located in a large parking lot.
The Banh Mi was delicious and not at all a bad deal for $ 10.75 for the size of the sandwich. The steak is flavorful and tender and topped with lots of crunchy carrots, daikon, and cucumber. Their take of a Banh Mi is served on a ciabatta roll instead of a baguette, but their ciabatta was excellent and had a great crunchy consistency as well.
Next time I come back, I definitely want to try the pork belly banh mi and the chicken & prosciutto salad!

Mendo’s, where have you been all my life?!
Honestly, I’m not a huge fan of sandwiches but Mendocino’s takes it to a whole ‘nother level. The ingredients are so fresh and unique, I can never resist.
To die for sammiches:
Spicy Lemongrass Steak Banh Mi /​/​$ 10.45: If anyone loves Vietnamese banh mi baguettes like me, this one’s for you! My friends have told me this is a very «Americanized» version but it’s just too damn delicious to pass up. The pickled daikon and carrots give it a nice crunchy texture while the jalapeños makes it slightly spicy. Although it’s not on a baguette, the ciabatta still hits a home run with me. I recommend getting avocado on it (additional +$ 1).
Peruvian Steak Sandwich /​/​$ 10.95: The herb aioli and Oaxacan cheese is a perfect match, it compliments the steak so well! Get the avocado on it (can you tell I love avocado?) for +$ 1.
My one and only complaint about the sandwiches are the portion sizes. Call me a fatty but once I’m finished with the whole thing, I’m still hungry! …or maybe it’s just that yummy?
I highly suggest calling your order in beforehand. The lines during lunch are rediculous so it’ll help at least a little bit.

Once you have eaten a sandwich at Mendocino Farms you will never be able to go back to Subway or any other sandwich place again.
Starting with the excellent service, the cool vibe, modern, yet comfy, the fantastic selection of fresh made to order sandwiches and salads, everything about this place is 5 stars!
Yes, you will pay over $ 10 for a sandwich, but every bite will be heaven, I literally squeal and am completely satisfied every time I eat here.
No matter what I have had, i have absolutely loved it, you really can’t go wrong with any of their choices.
I can get pretty full and hard to find a table, but the food comes out quickly and still tastes great if you take it to go.

Another yummy Mendo location I visit when I’m in the area.
This location seems a bit busier than the others during lunch time. I tried calling in my order and was informed that ordering in the line would be faster by 45 minutes.
The service was friendly, as always.

Mendocino Farms
CA: Marina Del Rey
3pm Sunday 30^th August 2015
Five Stars
After a weekend of copious drinking and eating questionable food, I needed something on the healthier side. This fast casual soup/​salad/​sandwich place really hit the spot on this late Sunday afternoon. There was 15 – 20 minute wait to place an order with Cassidy who gave us a quick tour, took our order, and gave a beeper. We sampled some complimentary salad and paid at the register. The food came out quickly and was quite delicious. The Cobb Salad had crisp romaine, fresh tomatoes, tangy blue cheese crumbles, crunchy bacon, whole quartered hard boiled egg, and a scoop of avocado and tossed in a honey mustard dressing. I could have used more lettuce to soak up the deliciousness. Overall, a great place to eat a quick-​ish meal for an affordable price.

I love Mendo!!! It’s probably my favorite sandwich chain restaurant. I’d gladly fork up a couple extra bucks to avoid Subway, Quiznos, etc… You can instantly tell Mendo has fresh and local ingredients in their sandwiches. Everyone is always super friendly. Be sure to check out some free samples at the salad bar too!
I normally get the Steak BLT and it hits the spot every time. The sliced steak, coupled with the applewood bacon makes my mouth water every time! Personally, I love the red wine onions… Adds a nice touch to the sandwich! Not to mention that the portions are generous too. Well considering you’re paying over $ 10 for a sandwich, I would hope they serve me a good sized sandwich.
The setup of the restaurant is a little disorganized. It’s a long assembly line but when you get to the cash register, they don’t even know what you ordered. I’ve had to repeat my order on multiple occasions.
On a nice, sunny day, the patio area is a fantastic place to devour your sandwich. Great setting!

It’s a cute healthy fast food style restaurant. I took my friend out for a little birthday dinner and he chose this place. We shared a sandwich, salad, and a side. :) This place uses very very fresh ingredients!
SETUP:
I looked like a complete noob when I walked in, so let me break down the directions first… Go over to the right side to wait in line and you can look at the menu on the wall. As you go down the line, you put in your order to the person standing next to the menu. Then you walk along the line and you can have samples of the food behind the counter (DON’T BE A NOOB AND ORDER THERE. –_​-​) Then you go to the cash register and let them know what food behind the counter you want and pay for all of it then: P
FOOD:
— «A Sandwich Study of Heat»
Turkey and Avocado sanwich with salsa on the side. The buckwheat bread was nice and crispy and the sandwich was really fresh. I was a little disappointed because the salsa wasn’t as spicy as I thought it would be.
— «The Sophisticated Chicken & Prosciutto Salad»
This was my favorite! The prosciutto was so flavorful and really fresh. The chicken was tender and the dressing just combined the entire thing together!
— «Curry Couscous»
This was my friends favorite. The curry flavor is not overwhelming, it is very flavorful and light. I Also, definitely a must! I love anything with a full load of flavors but also really healthy: D
SEATING:
Plenty, plenty of seating outside and some seating inside.

Realmente una agradable estancia, el ambiente es un tanto hipster y el menú un poco grande y complicado pero una vez que recibes la ayuda necesaria y en español!, puedes disfrutar de una gran experiencia. Completamente recomendable!

Delicious, creative food — & fast!