This is my favorite deli in the US...and I lived in NY- home of the delis. First of all, they are one of the only places I've found in the OC that carries Bores Head Meat and Cheese- the best of the best! The sandwiches are delicious!!!! So is the meat, fish, and pre-made meals! It's also located in an adorable little corner of San Clemente next to a flower shop. LOVE IT!
Review Source:A friend introduced me to Billy's Deli for lunch and it was excellent. I'll definitely be back for lunch or on the way home from work. Custom turkey sandwich was wonderful in every way, super fresh and flavorful. I liked the Minestrone soup to include the broth and vegetables, however the pasta was more mushy than I would have expected. Great looking meat and deli counter that I am sure to visit again soon.
Review Source:i was on my way home from San Diego when i had a tinkering for a great sub sandwich, Naturally i yelped something close to San Clemente and this spot came up with great reviews. Decided to give it a try myself and it lived up to its expectations. The sandwich was perfect! i ordered a vegetarian. Â the area was super cute too!! definitely my new spot on the way down to San Diego!!!
Review Source:I have to say, I enjoyed watching the dudes at San Clemente tattoo smoke their cigs more than my "Poorboy" sandwich.....
I saw this place while making a delivery next door. I pulled out my #$%@, aka cell and yelped it. The place had pretty good reviews so I decided to give it a try. When I entered Billy's my senses went into overload. Fight or Flight? Starving and unable to find any other parking for my delivery truck, I decided to stay. The pics on Yelp of the "Poorboy" sandwich looked good so I ordered one. In need of something to wash the sandwich down, I made a hard left turn into the mini liquor store. Every option for a drink was overpriced. I'm not sure on the beer prices because I'm sure San Clementians don't want me driving my commercial truck through their pretty little city all lit up. The master sandwich maker called my number so I grabbed my sub and headed back to my truck to mow it down. I knew I was in trouble when I started to unwrap my sandwich and a river of oil/vinegar/mayo ran down my arm onto my work shorts? Thank the sandwich gods they weren't my Sunday best shorts. It still kinda sucks making deliveries with a big stain on your crotch! My first bite almost prompted a call to 911 because of the whiplash I sustained trying to rip the "Bread/Roll". Wtf? Why would a deli put Boars Head meat on something that resembled one of my dogs chew toys? The sandwich tasted ok when I was able to scoop everything from my crotch back into the chew toy. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
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#CRUSTYFRENCHBREADNOTCHEWTOYS
If I lived closer I'd be shopping here on a regular basis.
This is a deli/market/sandwich shop all rolled into one. If you aren't looking for it, you could easily pass it by. There's about 6 or 7 plastic patio tables in the back, so you can order your sandwich and enjoy it right away. The patio is dog friendly.
I tried the po boy, which is their spin on an italian sandwich. It was good, although I wish the bread was softer. Anything with boars head meat is pretty much guaranteed to be good.
I was able to try a bit of their hot pastrami on rye, which was really good. That's what I would order next time. However, if you are used to a traditional "jewish deli" pastrami, this doesn't even come close. There's such a small portion of meat used - it almost looks funny. For the pastrami, you're going to want to order a whole sandwich, because just the half wouldn't be filling enough at all.
Their tomato soup I would define as minestrone soup, not that there's anything wrong with that.
They have a large deli salad area where you can purchase by the pound - but when you walk in there's a refrigerated area where you can buy the same salads in a small container for .99. Â I liked my italian pasta salad.
This would be the perfect place to come get supplies for a day at the beach, a picnic, or just hanging out on their patio with your dog.
I'll be back here for sure.
I love the location-Right across the street, under the awning, next to that little cutie flower shop. I also really love that they serve Boar's Head products- which is why we thought this might be comparable to our beloved Publix subs.. But no. They do not compare.
The sandwiches are on boring bread with bland veggies- nothing organic or sustainable about this place.
Still, we try this place over and over again. There seems to be no other sandwich options in town. (actually the Posh Peasant Tea Room just down the street makes a pretty good sammy- TRY THEM!)
Here is some advice.
Fly to Florida, go to Publix and see what can really be done with Boar's Head meat and proper bread.
A gluten-free option might be nice too.
Has nobody in this town experienced the joy of a Publix sub?
Perhaps I shall just start my own sandwich shop and show San Clemente what's up.
Watch out!
Unbelievably great gem for locals and visitors. Â Visitors can grab a casual sandwich, locals have a full market to choose from. Â You never have to go to Ralph's again.
The butcher shop is really the jewel. Â They have fresh opah, yellowtail, and snapper which is such a nice variety compared to the basic halibut & salmon that regular markets offer. Â Lots and lots of pre-marinated choices for steak/chicken kabobs, etc.
You can buy a sandwich with freshly sliced high quality deli meats, or by the pound to take home. Â Prices per lb. are comparable to the regular market. Â They have veggies, sauces, dairy, desserts, pre-made salads...I go to Billy's for everything I can't get at Costco & Trader Joe's.
The service is always super friendly. Â It has such a great small town vibe. They have parking in the back if you can't find parking on Del Mar.
After a fifteen mile bike ride through San Clemente and Dana Point, the sandwiches here hit the spot! Â Their meats are fresh, their sandwiches are huge, and their service is speedy. Â I love the authenticity of this deli. Â Plus, it is always busy, which is how I gauge the quality of those quaint little "holes" in the wall restaurants. Â I HIGHLY recommend this spot for a sub on the go, a baked potato out on the patio, or a pack of fillets for dinner later. Â Thanks Billy's!
Review Source:It's a Sunday, around noon, and the San Clemente Annual Car Show is back...... and the cars were very "vintage"...... just like the guys walking around with "Old Guys Rule" t-shirts. Geeze those shirts are corny! (I didn't have mine on that day!)
Let's talk food for now, not service. Outside of the "disconnected stare" of the lady collecting money at a seperate counter and register, the gal taking my order was very nice and accomodating. And I got a feeling that the well staffed open-kitchen knew their business, and were about doing a good job.
Chapter 7 "The word Deli ain't what it used ta' was......"
So... it's "My Bad" for ordering corned beef... or was it pastrami, on rye. There was so little meat in my sandwich, I honestly don't remember? I think the counter gal said 4 or 5 ounces is standard? And that was after I asked if they could make a NY style sandwich... meaning "stacked." I asked for "melted Swiss"...... and maybe a traditional deli rye? I ended up getting a cold sandwich and unmelted Swiss on a white-rye. Could that be because I was maybe only the 2nd person this year asking for a NY deli style sandwich? Why am I bucking the crowds?
For my wife's veggie sandwich, which was much larger than mine, and the same price, plus my "short-stack" and a litre Coke........ $16. Their sandwiches are about $7. I'm thinking I may go back again, but I'll leave corned beef and pastrami up to Brent's in Northridge, or if I only drive as far as downtown L.A., Cantor's. (I keep forgetting we're living in So.OC now...... "my bad..... totally!")
The favorite deli in the wall. Â For good value, and better quality, my family loves stopping by Billy's for delicious sandwiches and any beverage we could dream of.
Enjoying today, I was reminded this is not a fast food stop, nor is it a quiet get-away when the crowd packs in the tight waiting area. But part of the charm is everybody knows and loves Billy's: San Clemente's community delicatessen.
This is a nice little surprise on Del Mar... GREAT meat...I mean...top quality. Â So the sandwiches...pretty decent..although they charge up the ying yang if you have your own idea (a classic italian sub is proscuitto, dry salami, and maybe mortadella..c'mon.). Â Stay away from the ham salad though...way too pickly...ugh. Â Chinese chicken salad is pretty good..but I am tempted to give them my dressing recipe as it would make it perfect. Â Their pasta salad is good too..always fresh. Â All in all a great place to stop for sandwiches. Â Can't go wrong with Boar's head meats...and you can actually get a REAL New York style pastrami sandwich..but double up on the meat.
Review Source:Good Good sandwiches! I love how it looks, like a neighborhood deli where everybody knows your name. Â I also like the multiple signs suggesting their endorsement of Boar's Head products. Â Let's just say, I was here for one long weekend and happened to go here twice for lunch.
reuben: He got this one and was SO happy. Â I saw tears in his eyes. Â The most delicious part, of course, was the burned edges of cheese left on the foil - amazing. Â
hot pastrami: I got this one and mmmm that meat was good. Â A little hot pastrami never hurt anyone. Â I got this as a half sandwich with a side of tomato soup... which was also amazing. Â Their tomato bisque was nice, warm, and and not too heavy.
Italian Pasta Salad: Â They have small containers of their salads available in the refrigerated section of the deli. Â This little scoop was only $0.99 and oh so refreshing.
italian sub (poor boy): Â This one got him reminiscing about his childhood days in New York, walking to a neighborhood deli and ordering Italian subs everyday.
meat loaf: I liked this one! The meat loaf wasn't dry and overcooked and was very well seasoned.
Overall: Â I would love to come back here and try a lot of their sandwiches, soups, and salads. Â There is such a wide selection I may have to come here quite a few times to try even a quarter of their stuff.
Drove all the way from Costa Mesa just go come here. Between me and another friend, we split an egg salad sandwich on wheat, 2 cabbage rolls, and a twice baked potato. The cabbage roll wasn't what I remembered it to be..a bit too tangy. Â The egg salad sandwich was delicious. The egg salad was pouring over the sandwich and completely filled me up. The twice baked potato was creamy and cheesey topped with bacon pieces. Â I definitely wanna come back to try their prepared salads and different sandwiches. Â I love that they carry all Boar heads meat and cheeses.
The deli itself carried a ton of different beers, meats, seafood, and drinks. Â I loved the variety that they had and its a great place to pick up stuff for a quick lunch or a picnic at the beach. Â Will be making a drive back here soon for their other foods.
Baskin Robbins of meat and cheese. Take your pick from the 30 flavors. Get a half sandwich as the full size is huge. They stack the meat vertically, so you get more volume from top to bottom rather than side to side. Have you ever thought which is better a flat sandwich that is long, or short sandwich that is wide? This place makes you think about this critical life choice... what do I like better? Short and squatty or long and thin?
Don't forget the 6 types of bread, and my favorite 4 types of mustard - regular, dijon, spicy, garlic and honey mustard that you can add on to your sandwich. Yummers. You can fax your order ahead of time which is nice. Lots of different types of chips. You can also get shark, halibut and other assorted fresh fish and raw meat to grill up.
The patio area is spacious, and it is nearly always full. The chairs and tables are comfy. The bathrooms along the perimeter are fairly clean and tidy, and at the beach, that can be hard to find.
Very friendly counter help and cashiers, even though they may not look it. They will joke with you, if you give them a good smile. The only thing that is missing is the ocean view.
I remember coming here as a little kid. My mom and grandma would take me to the Five and Dime store down the street to get materials for my Superman cape (which was awesome btw), then we'd stop at Billy's and pick up some stuff to make breaded meat. What a way to end the day eh?
Nowadays I grab a sandwich whenever I can-- you can't go wrong with anything on their menu. It's all delicious. Hell, for the same price as a Subway $5 footlong complete with rubber meat and stale lettuce, you're getting something a hundred times better.
Keep it up Billy's!
Seriously the best sandwiches in OC! Â They are always fresh and tasty. Â I have never been disappointed with anything i or my boyfriend have ordered. Â We usually only eat here on the weekends and the crowds can get bad but its totally worth it. Â Plus they use Boars head meats and cheeses which is always a plus. Â Go try it!!
Review Source:I tried this place on the fly. I had the special which was half sand and pint of soup for $6.00. The tomato soup was very good and hot. The tuna sandwich was also very good if a bit  small. But it was only HALF, afterall.
I added a bag of chips and a large bottle of German beer. What's cool is There are patio tables outside and you can dine(and drink your beer) in a nice little courtyard with a fountain. Not too fancy, but cozy.
The deli also stocks shelves of different mustards and other tasty looking condiments, relishes etc. They feature Boar's Head Meats and sell bottles of beer and wine.
Cheers!
Great place to grab a sandwich! My hubby & I frequent here on the weekends. Everything there is so fresh and tasty. Just remember to pick up a ton of napkins - there is absolutely no possible way to eat their sandwiches neatly (which makes for a great laugh, usually at my expense...).
Review Source:Convenient and quick sandwiches over a deli counter. Got the roast beef sandwich and it taste better than I expected! Everyone who got a sandwich with me were satisfied. Also got a homemade soup, which was very oily. The cookies were very good. All meats on the sandwich were high quality and fresh.
The only drawback is that it is pricey. I spent $7-8 and only got a soup and half a sandwich. I could have gone to subway and gotten a lot more.
Great meat and cheese selection, but your sandwich can get kind of pricey if you add extras like cheese and avo. Â The place can get really crowded at lunch time and on sunny weekends, so watch out if your claustrophobic, not too much room in there between the coolers and the deli counter! Â They have lots of great looking meats for take-home-grilling and a super beverage selection (all the new fangled juices and sodas and beer and wine). Â Nice outside patio where you can sit and eat - and drink your beer, as they have an on-premise liquor license unlike Vince and Tina's Deli down the way. Â They also have a mini-produce-stand of sorts on the patio if you need to buy some lettuce, tomatoes or pineapples while you are out to lunch...
Review Source:Okay, this is a great establishment but here is why I only give it three stars:
They carry great meat (Boar's Head) but can't seem to slice it right. Just ate there two days ago and the Po Boy had chunks of meat and not much of it. The bread was mediocre too. Deli meats should be sliced thin and piled high!
Other than that it's got a fantastic selection of quality product, deli and butcher shop. The line for service is long but well organized.
Better sandwiches are out there, I guess I have been spoiled at Matano's.
I went here for the first time today, but my dad has been going here for a couple years now. All the meats are fresh and high quality. Their sandwiches and homemade soups are very tasty. All of their side dishes and salads were very fresh. They also had a wonderful selection of baked goods which I forced myself to stay away from. I wanted a cupcake sooo bad. Billy's has a great hometown kind of feel to it, which is nice. The only thing lacking is a nice heated patio to sit at. Their food would be best for a picnic down at the beach.
Review Source:Bily's rocks!
Their meat is the best in town. Â THe chicken is sooo tendr every time I cook it no matter how I cook it it is alays tender.
They do sandwiches that rock and their mini cakes are great.
I even get the cookies and they freeze lock them to send to my pen-pal in Iraq at no charge.
They will special order for you and the most important thing they always give me a little sliced sandwich meat for my dog!
Their meat is better than Gelson's.
Tip.. get the pre marinated "Basq" Chicken. Â You won't be dissapointed.
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