Jerry's Deli

Here is a quick food review of Jerry's Deli found just off the highway in Mission Viejo.

Natalie and I traveled south to DelMar to enjoy a day at the races and see some old friends in San Diego. We both have our favorite eateries throughout SD and we like to make it a priority to visit one or two each time we return, but this time we stumbled onto a deli, just off the highway in Mission Viejo, as we raced home late for work.


Jerry's Deli is a little NY style deli is tucked back in the corner of a small strip mall, the quintessential local secret. I found it to be a little bit of sandwich heaven. For my taste, a great sandwich always starts with awesome bread and is filled with only the best quality meats, cheeses and veggies. This place had it all from a perfectly crusty baguette to the softest squaw as well as some home cooked roast beef and hand prepared meatballs.

I ordered the house prepared roast beef, upon the shop owners recommendation, only to find that it was prepared to a perfect med-rare and layered on squaw bread and topped with lettuce, tomato, onion and just enough mustard to complete this perfectly simple and delicious sandwich. My lady opted for the other house specialty, the meatball sandwich. This sandwich started with a hunk of baguette that was just crusty and firm enough to stand up to a "wet" sandwich, but soft enough to not overpower the delicate textures of the home-made meatballs or make work out of chewing. They topped the meatballs with their house made tomato sauce and then provolone cheese before it was toasted momentarily to melt the cheese and complete this dime of a sandwich. Simple and delicious.

Stumbling onto a great find of an eatery or sandwich shop is always welcomed, but to do it by chance, on the road, as you race north up a freeway and select an off ramp at random makes the find almost seem like destiny. I hope that anyone traveling through Mission Viejo has the opportunity to tryout this hidden gem just off the Highway 5 at Crown Valley Pkwy.