Ike’s Place

I’m afraid Ike’s may be closed. Went to closed doors today. If not today, The Stanford Daily says by the end of the month —
.

I have heard that this place is closing :(
Their Matt Cain sandwich was extremely filling, satisfying, and worth the price and wait. My friend got the menage a trois and enjoyed it as well! One of the best sandwiches I’ve had

Ike’s is located in the Huang Engineering building on the 2^nd floor. It’s on the west side of campus, and a convenient place to grab a bite to eat.
Food: This is one of the most famous sandwich shops and there are a ton of reviews that already rave about it. My experience is not much different. I would definitely recommend the spiffy tiffy if you are undecided (its an all around great sandwich). My other favorite is the meatless mike. I’m not a vegetarian by any stretch of the imagination, but this is one of the BEST meatless meatball sandwiches I ever had. It is a little heavy on the sauce, but it’s so delicious I highly recommend you I’ve it a try! I always get mines on wheat bread and with all the fixings! Best way to go!
Service: There’s no getting around it. It gets really busy during rush hour. After ordering your food you wait around and they call your name really loud and someone walks around to deliver your sandwich wherever you are. Make sure you give them an easy to say name or you might get a little embarrassed.
Ambiance: They’re located in a really new engineering building so its a great place to hang out and relax. I think the coolest thing is actually the skype-​type dish table that they have set up. There is a café located at MIT that you can video chat with, so if you have some friends there then it can be pretty fun experience.
Expert tip: You can order online! It’ll save you a ton of time especially during the busy hours!

I feel partially to blame for Ike’s closing: mere weeks after I gave it a 1-​star review, it was announced that Ike’s was closing due to long lines and general dissatisfaction. Note to self: with great power comes great responsibility!
That said, I came back one afternoon when literally nothing else was open. «They deserve ONE more chance,» I thought. And while my experience was definitely better this time, Ike’s is still plagued by some of the same problems as before and I’ll be interested to see what takes its place.
This time, although the bread was crispier, the meat was still unappetizingly soggy. I got a bigger portion than last time for 10 dollars (I think it really varies depending on the size of the bun you get), but still found it overpriced. It was better that I didn’t go at lunch (it was SO much quicker! Down from 30 minutes to 10), but they still gave me things I didn’t want (e.g., banana peppers).
I think this review update can be summed up with the phase: «one step forward, two steps back.» Some things were definitely improved this time I went (shorter line; bigger, better-​made sandwich), but their lack of attention to detail (it’s like they don’t listen to the order) and overall price are still problematic.
Overall, I think Ike’s probably isn’t worth a one-​star like last time, but in the end it’s still overhyped. Farewell Ike’s! You’ve survived long enough to see your quality deteriorate, which is an accomplishment in and of itself. Let’s see who can step up and fill your spot!

Best vegetarian options on campus! I usually get the Captain Kirk though anything with their vegan breaded chicken is pretty great! Also the staff is super friendly. There is almost always a huge line for sandwiches– order online to skip the wait!

After you utilize the free parking in the on campus garages on weekends, it is an easily stroll over to the engineering building. Once you get in the building, walk up the stairs and there it will be. After they take your order, they will yell out your name and bring your sandwich over.
A lot of meaty options! We went with the dutch crunch which was both soft and crispy while also sturdy. It held up well to all the toppings. I personally thought it was a bit too saucy and salty. If we go again I will ask to go light on the sauce.

«Menage a Trois» on dutch crunch with pickles, lettuce and tomatoes = absolute heaven. As long as you can handle mass amounts of sugar (it comes with BBQ sauce, honey mustard, AND honey), this is a must try. This is also the only joint I’ve ever been to where I voluntarily opt to get the vegan version («The Love Triangle») and have zero regrets.
Also, any place that lets me add pesto to anything for free is a winner in my book.

I LOVE Ike’s. While the prices may come as a shock at first glance, it’s justified because the sandwiches are huge, and the taste amazing! And they have so many varieties you’re bound to find something that looks good. (Thus also why I have no specific recommendations: I’ve never been disappointed!) I would also highly recommend getting the Dutch Crunch bread. Hands down the best part of the whole sandwich.
The only downside (and why it only gets 4 stars): Because of the dearth of better lunch options on campus, the line is insanely long at lunchtime! (And as a grad student that has classes and studying to do, I can’t afford to stand in line for half an hour just to order) So I only ever come at 11am, when I can avoid the long line.
There’s also a smartphone app that allows you to place orders and pay on your phone, but I have yet to test that out!

Best sandwiches in the area. Be forewarned that the line is LONG, so if you’re going there for lunch, go EARLY (11am or earlier). OR place an order online beforehand.
The Dutch Crunch is amazing. Everything is amazing. The last two sandwiches I’ve had are the Spiffy Tiffy (chicken, pesto, avocado, mushrooms, provolone, pepper jack) and [Name of the Girl I’m Dating] (avocado, chicken, honey mustard, pepper jack). Can’t wait to try more on the menu. SOOO glad there’s an Ike’s on campus!

The line here for lunch was INSANE. That being said, Ike’s allows you to order online via a Facebook app and then you can select a time slot to go get your sandwich. Super convenient (as long as you’re willing to plan around it).
The Menage a Trois was delicious. I wish the chicken had more flavor (it tasted a bit dry to me by itself), but the honey and the BBQ sauce really gave the sandwich a sweetness I didn’t expect. Definitely worth a try for the adventurous ones. Also, the sandwiches are pretty messy so grab a lot of napkins before digging in!

AHHH the best sandwiches I’ve ever had. My first Ike’s experience was in the SF location, which is far and scary to drive to, so having more Ike’s open up in the. not-​sf area is a blessing.
The stanford location can be kind of confusing to get to. There was a lot of construction and blocked roads going on as well, which further added to my confusion, BUT I PERSISTED, cause THATS HOW GOOD IT IS. I really wanted my visiting friend to be able to experience Ike’s and that kept me going even though i was lost as ever. We parked at the parking structure (free on weekends) and made our way into the campus. Ike’s is located in the building itself, at the dining area. It’s a small place, but that does not take away from the delicious. My resulting sandwich was the most satisfying meal ever.
if you get lost, DONT GIVE UP, it’s worth the circles you do to find the place!

I came here today, first time at this location.
I parked in the visitor’s parking structure and it was free after 4pm :) SCORE!
I got the Spiffy Tiffy because there are a lot of reviews on it. I think it got hyped up for me. I preferred my friend’s Matt Cain. Like another person said, for some reason, the dutch crunch was more soggy than crunchy. Nevertheless, it was still delicious and filling.
Plus, I got a free tshirt! (TIP: Sign up for their emails for awesome worthwhile deals!)
Service was good too. We didn’t have to wait very long (but I’m guessing that’s probably because it wasn’t lunch rush hour).

Hi, my name is Channing, and I am addicted… to Ike’s! ALL of the sandwiches DELICIOUS!!! They are so unique, so full of flavor, and keep you coming back for more. The staff there are always friendly and Ike, who can be found at many locations during the week, is very nice and super supportive of the communities where his shops are located. The stores are always clean and you can even download the Ike’s app to order your food before you arrive. The chips are delicious and the atmosphere is always lively and fun. Not to mention, if you go in and have had a sandwich, but it is not on the menu for that particular store, they can still make it for you!
Some of my favorites (well, they are all really good but my top few, in no particular order)
The 49er
Going Home for Thanksgiving
SF Giants
Name of the Girl I am Dating
Hot Mamma Huda
The Dutch Crunch is the BEST, and when it is all warm, and ready to eat… ohhhhh… nothing better!
Peace, Love, and Ike’s Sandwiches for life!

Being a Cal bear, I hate to say this. but I’m totally jealous of Stanford for having Ike’s on campus. I fell in love with their sandwiches after trying the menage-​a-​trios at the Ike’s in SF and if they had this on the Berkeley campus I would’ve gone everyday for lunch! This Ike’s is tucked away in the Engineering center, but it was pretty easy to spot from afar as we saw lots of people eating sandwiches on the balcony and tables outside. I opted to try the Spiffy Tiffy sandwich on dutch crunch (my absolute favorite type of bread for sandwiches) and it was delicious! I must say, anything with avocado in it is usually pretty good, but the combination of that with the shredded chicken, pesto, and veggies was definitely a match made in sandwich heaven!

No salads? Boo :(
That being said, they will make you a sandwich just they way you want it. The staff is ultra nice. I’m not too happy that a lot of their meats are halal, because I heard some pretty bad things about halal meat processing factories (not clean, they get fined a lot)… But I got turkey, so I’m safe: D They have gluten free bread (yay!), but I think they put butter on it (boo!)

Another Man vs Food location conquered. After taking a hike from the parking lot through the med school graduates (congrats!) and some construction detours, I finally made it to Ikes! It was like a high school cafeteria with a small section for Ikes but of course don’t be fooled as a line of people pile on easily.
I ordered the Menage A Trois which was halal chicken with honey mustard bbq, pepper jack, and swiss cheddar. Once the order was taken the wait of death awaited, they had an expediter calling out the names of everyone’s order and then I realized everyone sitting at the tables wasn’t there just to hang out but waiting for food. The sandwich was awesome, I put the jalapeño chips in it like a boss and didn’t talk for 15 mins. When the food is good, no one speaks. Any other questions?

I’m incredibly jealous of Stanford computer science kids for a number of reasons, but this has probably got to be near the top of the list. There’s no way that a sandwich shop this good is allowed to be in the middle of your freaking engineering building.
Something about Dutch Crunch just makes me super happy. These aren’t your average sandwiches — they have a whole lotta of weight to them. It almost feels like you’re getting a burrito filled with every meat in the world instead of a sandwich.
The menu options are also something that make this place super memorable and fun. There’s sandwiches named after Giants players like Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner, to mouthfuls (no pun intended) like «Sometimes I’m a Vegetarian» or «We’re Just Friends» or the «Menage a Trois.» There were so many options the first time I came here that I was a little bit overwhelmed. But once you settle on something, you’re set for one of the best sub sandwiches you’ll ever have. Oh and the caramel apple pop in every bag is a huge plus that adds extra character to a place that already has a whole lot of it.
I heard they’re opening a store in LA soon, but in Westwood. I would’ve given this place 7 stars, but since they’re doing that I guess I’ll have to drop it to 5.

In my favorite movie, Kill Bill, there’s a scene where Budd, the diminutive antihero sibling of the title character, says, referring to a samurai sword owned by the protagonist of the film… «If you’re gonna compare a Hanzo sword, you compare it to every other sword ever made… that wasn’t made by Hattori Hanzo.»
Well, if you’re going to compare an Ike’s Place sandwich, you compare it to every other sandwich ever made… that wasn’t made by Ike Shehadeh.
Case in point: My coworker buddy was forced into veganism by her girlfriend last week. Today as we were discussing lunch options near work (Palo Alto), I said «Oh, you know there’s an Ike’s on Stanford Campus now, right?»
She has had Ike’s. She didn’t know. Overheard four times in the hallway within two minutes: «Oh my God, have you guys had Ike’s Place?» and «Hey, like, the best sandwich place in the world just opened nearby. Wanna go?»
Kind of says it all. Sure, the line gets a little ‘crunchy’ at lunchtime, and it’s hidden on campus in a place that’s not the easiest to get to. But you know what, think about that… it’s hard to get to, and there’s still a line. Nobody in the car today stopped talking about their lunch the whole 10 minute drive back to work. When was the last time THAT’S happened to you on your lunch hour?

I live in Los Angeles, but over the last few years, I’ve managed to eat at three different Ike’s while visiting friends in the Bay. Ike’s seems to be an easy default for a quick lunch, and I never object to a fat tasty sandwich.
I am a little bit jealous that Ike’s showed up on campus after I graduated, but I guess I wasn’t eating $ 10 sandwiches when I was in college. I also didn’t get out to the techie corners of campus very much, so maybe I would’ve been too lazy to bike out for Ike’s. Still, how many colleges have gourmet sandwich shops of this caliber on campus? Stanford students are lucky.
I went with a big group to grab a quick lunch between a MemChu wedding and a later reception off campus. The lunch was not particularly quick. Even on a Saturday at 2PM, there was a long wait for the register. Service was fine, though, and there was plentiful casual seating.
I’ve had a few of Ike’s sandwiches now, and I like that crackly dutch crunch and that signature dirty sauce. This time around I had the Matt Cain, which came with roast beef, salami, turkey, provolone, Godfather sauce, and some lettuce and tomato. I liked the triple hit of meat, but I actually found the sandwich a little too sweet. Not my favorite of Ike’s offerings, anyway, but still pretty good to eat.
I always forget which ones I love, and the menu is so big and enticing that I tend to stray around anyway. I think Ike’s is planning a branch in Los Angeles, and I will be there, though I doubt I’ll be in biking distance.

I had warned my Ike’s Place virgin coworkers that it would be an adventure as I was not sure how to get to this location. Google Maps indicated it was only 4 miles away, but as Stanford University is confusing, it took us quite awhile, at least 20 minutes more than what Google had indicated to get here. Luckily, I had noted directions from other Unilocalers, and we nabbed the last visitor parking spot in Parking Structure 2. 5 cents for ever 2 minutes.
It was a gorgeous day, and we found the building easily, even though Via Ortega was closed. At first I was confused that we were going to the campus café, but saw the familiar pictures, and walked to the end where a line was formed. Luckily, I have studied this menu pretty intensely, and knew I wanted a Tony Soprano. My coworkers on the other hand, only looked at the few choices on their menu above, and service with Verizon is pretty slow here so I couldn’t pull up the menu for them. That’s what they get for not studying the menu on the link I sent them days before!
The workers here are chill and helpful, and you can see the steady flow of sandwich making behind. One guy was in charge of putting the sandwiches in the bag, with the caramel apple lollipop and napkins and calling out names. Takes the usual 10 – 15 minutes to get your order, and I was dying of starvation that I almost opened up my sandwich in the car and ate it.
Sandwich is just as good as always, but normally I can’t finish a whole in one sitting. However, I devoured the whole thing fast, and didn’t feel overly full the whole day. Coworkers loved it, which I had no doubt they would. Would come back since it’s the closest to my work, but it’s quite a journey and paying for parking stinks.