Came here to grab a quick sandwich with my brother yesterday, so while I didn’t sample much of the menu(we both had a sandwich and a drink each), I can say that this is a wonderful little find in the depths of Kensington. In an area that’s known for being rather upmarket, and difficult to find a simple and affordable lunch, getting two freshly-made, tasty baguettes and Snapple for both of us(I LOVE whenever I find this in the UK!) for under £10 was a fantastic bargain. The shop itself is rather small, with no seating, and packed full of customers, but I can only assume that that’s just testament to the consistent quality of the shop. Plus, with the Natural History Museum’s grounds nearby, it’s not far to walk to eat your sandwich in a lovely green area anyway. Next time I’m in Kensington and don’t fancy a full three-course lunch that will burn a hole in my pocket, I’ll certainly be coming back to here!
Grégoire B.
Rating des Ortes: 4 London, United Kingdom
Cheap, large sandwich, fast to serve. I paid pounds for mine for a half baguette size sandwich filled with chicken chunks, avocado(i had to look for it though I ordered it), and black olives. You have the choice of sandwich or wrap, and can pick/add ingredients. They also have a big selection of paninis, and falafel, ready to eat stuff like pizzas, samosas, etc. It is exactly as described, cheap, fast, large, though not too much my type anymore. I wouldn’t mind spending a few bucks more for a nicer sandwich but as a student, yeah I would have loved this place. We change, right? This place is great though it is not my description of a gem sandwich place. 4 stars mainly because of the price/quantity thing rather then the foodie experience. To try if you are starving and in the area.
Steven L.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Great Neck, NY
Two words: GOOD&CHEAP What else can one ask for? Has to go there everyday from now on! My fav is chicken curry wrap!
Edouard R.
Rating des Ortes: 4 London, United Kingdom
This used to be my go to place when I was at university. It’s cheap and cheerful, although I’ve been more recently and it seems to have gone down a bit since I left. They have a half price deal going on so that made it all the more interesting — I used to get 4 sandwiches for less than 3 pounds. A real no brainer. I’ve since had a bit more money to spend on Lunch so I would not go back as often, but love the idea!
Patrick C.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Philadelphia, PA
Solid, cheap baguettes. Nothing to write home about but if you’re looking for decent, cheap food in an otherwise swanky neighborhood, look no further.
Marissa D.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Glen Allen, VA
Great quick and cheap place to eat! My husband and I went here after just arriving to our hotel in London and we were STARVING and needed good, quick, cheap food! We loved the variety of things they offered. I got the chicken tikka kebab with rice and my husband got a lamb kebab on a baguette. Yummy food for our first meal in London. We will definitely be going back there multiple times before we leave, the breakfast is supposed to be great as well.
Ed W.
Rating des Ortes: 3 London, United Kingdom
In the office, this place is commonly known as ‘crazy sandwich’. Two things give it this reputation, first crazy prices which is well covered in other reviews and second the crazy ordering process. At lunchtime it is pretty common for this place to be busy, not because it has lots of turnover, although I am sure it does, but because of the confusion when trying to order. An order is placed for a baguette, you are handed a piece of paper with the price. For the uninitiated this leads to them standing, filling the thin walkway between the till and the exit waiting for their baguette and trying to offer money to the back of someone busily making the baguette. The people who know, take the paper to the till at the end, often staffed by a teenager, squeezing past confused people and paid up regulars alike. The baguettes are delivered by memory of the person making it, which although impressive for people who make a few dozen baguettes an hour is not perfect by any means. It might be wrapped in paper, grease proof paper, oddly smelling cling film, cut in half, or not, who knows? The bacon might be fresh, hot, back bacon or cold, pre cooked and tough streaky, it is a total gamble unless you attempt to direct the process. Just to add to the craziness, sometime late in the afternoon the ordering process switches to that of a normal sandwich shop, give money, get baguette(with any of the random variations mentioned above). Unfortunately, craziness aside, you do get what you pay for, they aren’t great, but they are cheap!
Adam P.
Rating des Ortes: 4 London, United Kingdom
Cheap(especially for this part of London) and cheerful subs, sandwiches, wraps and a variety of hot foods. It’s a no nonsense, no frills place, don’t expect much banter, a fancy interior, or wholemeal or gluten free bread for that matter. What they do offer is generous servings of decent food at a good price. The breakfast special of a coffee + breakfast sandwich for 2.50 is a great deal. Gets particularly busy at lunch, with the queue often stretching out the door.
Dexter C.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Loma Linda, CA
A godsend for abroad students. Simply put, living in London is not cheap, and eating out is no different. As the nearby Richmond campus is located smack-dab in Kensington, where a Rolls Royce can be parked behind a Bentley, followed by Ashton Martin, one has to search carefully for some cheap eats. Thankfully sandwich shop can help help stave off your hunger. With a myriad of food besides their assortment of sandwich choices, there’s plenty to choose from as the owners strive to have different menu options.(Given their Eastern origins, I recall them having an interesting take on a standard burrito as well as a surprise appearance of Chinese food) My go-to selection was always their sweetcorn chicken, a sweet and savory selection for someone feeling a little peckish.
Alexis B.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, NY
I ate at this place daily while studying abroad in 2006(though it was called sandwich world at the time) — the portions were huge and the price was cheap. which is saying alot because if you are living in this part of london you know how expensive it can become. the staff was always friendly and made great suggestions. never had a bad meal here. my favorite was the chicken salad on baguette.
Christine T.
Rating des Ortes: 4 San Jose, CA
Being a broke study abroad student. these 2.50 pound sandwiches helped me survive. The breakfast sandwich with tea was amazingggg. Any sandwich basically was good. The service was always helpful and they also helped for recommendations. A quick and easy place to go in to get all sorts of lunches. Grab a breakfast sandwich and you’re good to go for the rest of the day!
Howard Z.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Torrance, CA
While I was studying abroad, I basically lived from this place. Sandwiches are delicious! Great price for uni students(Imperial is just down the street). A nice breathe of affordability in an area that is typically quite expensive. Service is prompt and nice. Make sure to try everything!
Kevin T.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Los Angeles, CA
The year was 2006 and we knew it by the name of Sandwich World. And it was greatly loved. I studied nearby, an American student across the pond and thrust into the world of the British Pound Sterling. We learned pretty quickly that the exchange rate wasn’t working in our favor, we were going to be doing a lot of dining out, and that pound coins saved in various change jars were probably better spent on pints at less-than-respectable joints. Or on cheap sandwiches. Honestly, this must be one of the best deals in London – surely in Kensington. Sandwich World was fast, cheap and tasty and right around the corner, what’s not to love. I’m not sure if they are entirely staffed by young Russian girls, but there was that and speaking of we used to go to a Russian café not too far off where sandwiches were half price after some time late in the night. We went once or twice, Sandwich World was a better call. I went at least a few times a week, sometimes buying 2 or 3 sandwiches for the walk home. I fondly remember the curried chicken and the chicken and avocado(avocado, in England, music to this Californian’s ears!) and honestly, if someone there would like to give me the recipe for the curry, I still kind of miss it. I was so happy(and somewhat surprised…) to see this place with a website(!) and Unilocal reviews even(!!) and glad it was still around. It was the first thing I told a friend of mine who is studying at Imperial in the fall about. The second was to not do what I did at the Imperial pub, but that’s a story for another day… To the Russian girls, the Indian men, the chicken and avocado with salad no butter, the line mostly populated with poor students and construction workers at the sandwich place on Gloucester – I will see you again sometime.
Stefano P.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Lausanne, Switzerland
Maybe the best alternative to franchised food chains I know in London. Many of the customers are Imperial College or Royal College of Art/Music students, but also road workers or embassies employees, which makes it a very cosmopolitan place to have a sandwich. Calendars or posters made by students and posted on the walls testify of the long-established customer loyalty. The service is incredibly fast, and based on trust, even during rush hours. All ingredients used for sandwiches are fresh and good quality. The cakes are also very moist and tasty, and a really good value for price. I’ve never tried the indiand curries with rice take-away options, but I surely will soon !
Tom E.
Rating des Ortes: 3 London, United Kingdom
Five starts for value — that’s for sure. It’s just a shame the taste isn’t better because big, fresh-filled baguettes for less than £2.50 is a London bargain. But then again, so was Benjys… and you thought you’d buried that unhappy memory. I think while I’m here I should give mention to the name. Could they have been any less original? ‘Lunch Place’? ‘Food takeaway’? I guess they’re being very Ronseal about things. Good for them, although one other reviewer has pointed out that they also have the alternative name ‘Sandwich World’ — which makes me think of a literal world made of sandwiches… how good would that be? … bye bye darling — I’m off to take the chicken baguette express to my work at the giant tuna cucumber bloomer, make sure you take the two little brioches to see doctor panini this morning!
Kristie C.
Rating des Ortes: 1 Palo Alto, CA
Sorry to ruin the 5 star trend here, but my honest opinion is that this place isn’t that great. Breads? Only white bread, no brown bread. Filling? Not organic, deli-sliced meats look poor in quality. Store? Looks dirty from the outside, how can it be clean in the kitchen? Staff? Don’t really speak English(they’re Indian) and they’re not very nice It’s cheap, yes. But if you want a sandwich, there are a lot of other chepa sandwich places with better quality — like Paul, or even the deli right by it has freshly carved meat sandwiches for only £1.20!
Robin C.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Chicago, IL
Listen carefully. After 4 pm, this lovely Sandwich Shop sells its sammiches at a discount — only £1 for a big olé’ baguette stuffed with yum. £1 people, £1! You can’t beat that in London, let alone Kensington. You bet this place was my lunch and dinner many, many days in a row. There’s a reason this place is always crowded at lunch time with students(me having been one of them) — we’re broke as a joke but we still need to eat! Don’t be daunted by the long student lines at lunch time(or at 4 pm you smartie, you). This shop is a well-oiled machine; you’ll be in and out in no time. Pick your sandwich, get your FREE piece of fruit(free, apple, FREE!), admire the hot Eastern European women that staff this place and be on your merry way. AKA shoving a fresh baguette in your face as you shuffle down Gloucester. They also sell a few other random take-away dishes, like pizzas, pasta and samosas, but mostly I’d recommend sticking to the baguettes. And let me say that the sandwiches and baguettes were GOOD and always fresh. So don’t let my cost-focused review trick you into thinking the quality of the food must not be there and that I’d beg at the side of the road for free food(sure). The Sandwich Shop proves yummy things don’t have to cost a lot — or to be exact, more than £1.
Boon K.
Rating des Ortes: 4 London, United Kingdom
Owned by an Indian, staffed by Eastern European girls, but who cares! This sandwich shop does sandwiches, pizzas, and pasta well and cheaply too. Probably the only place around the area where you can get a very filling takeaway lunch for less than a fiver. It does get very crowded during lunchtime, with the queue stretching out onto the side pavement, but they are very efficient and you will get served very quickly. Also, for those looking for even more of a bargain, after 4/5pm they sell all their leftover sandwiches at half price! But be sure to go quickly as you’ll be competing against the hordes of students from the nearby Imperial College.
Matt J.
Rating des Ortes: 5 London, United Kingdom
In need of a generously filled sandwich? There’s few places which can beat this. Freshly made on the spot, and very cheap prices(which get even cheaper after about 4pm). Obviously, the main stock-in-trade is sandwiches, but there is a limited amount of hot food available(pastas, for example) as well. Gets incredibly busy during the lunchtime as it is about a 5 minute walk from Imperial College, and so many students and staff get lunch from here(mainly because it is cheaper than the College’s own catering outlets!). But, even when the queue is out of the door — as it frequently is – the wait is short thanks to the efficient service. For cheap, fast eats — can’t really be beaten.
Laura I.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Chicago, IL
I have purposely flown back to London, gotten off my plane and made a direct bee-line straight to this place. It’s a little deceiving as there’s also a sign above it calling it Sandwich World. To me, it’ll always be Sandwich World. I frequented here nearly every day when studying abroad back in university eon years ago. Upon coming back, I was delighted to find the sandwiches were made just the same and were a great cheap buy indeed.(Highly recommend the cheese & salad one.) I have dreams about your sandwiches and believe me, whenever anyone I know goes to London, first words out of my mouth are SANDWICHWORLD! You have imprinted my heart with your wholesome tasty goodness and 8 years later, I’m still singing your praises. I miss you. And your sandwiches.