Latest reviews from San Gabriel

“We visited this unbelievable place the first time 1st of May 2014. We were so sorry to hear that the owner Sam passed away this January. He can be very proud of his achievements ! The Stuffed Sandwich was founded almost 40 years ago in 1976 and was one of the first places in LA to focus on good beer. You feel the history when entering the restaurant. The beer selection is amazing, many Belgium beers, but also beers from all over Europe and the US. They even had Granit Bock from Hofstettner and Rieder Pils (both from Austria and of course they had two different Samichlaus)! No mainstream, a very distinctive sortiment. We were very welcome in this place. The sandwiches were so tasty. The interior and the collection of beer souvenirs has grown over the years, you just feel the history and the beer enthusiasm. What else should I say, absolute MUST visit when you are in LA.“

Schlenkerla 3647 days ago

“Came here on a random Tuesday? night with Bobby (t0rin0) I’ve been meaning to drop by this place for years, but every time I’m in SoCal it seems to slip through my fingers. Not this time. We showed up in the late afternoon/evening and there were just a couple people in the place… Bobby said that this was highly unusual. We chatted up the owner (Marlene) for a few minutes and then got our beers. The tap list was good, but the real impressive thing was the bottle list. Holy crap…. tons of crazy stuff that was way past it’s prime, but still exciting to see and drink. I got a bottle of 1995 Bigfoot for $8… a great deal considering most places around me would’ve charged at least $20 for the rarity of the vintage, even if it was flat and horribly oxidized, but what the heck, it was my high school graduation year…. good times. Lots of other vintage stuff like Old Stock that was +10 years old yada yada… Lots of space inside with a nice patio to boot. Inside, was a veritable craft beer museum with all kinds of old bottles, beer glasses, etc. I had a great time just marveling at all the old memorabilia. Obviously, this is a place that has had a long standing relationship with craft breweries that goes back 30+ years. Rare to see that nowadays. I got a chance to chat with Marlene for a minute about Sam. I only wish I had made the effort to visit this place while he was still alive. He sounds like a great, memorable person. His legacy lives with his place. Stuffed Sandwich FTW!“

joeneugs 3651 days ago

“> The progenitor of craft beer bars in LA finds itself outdated but still dearly loved

>> It is an assuming strip mall place with an outdoor closed off, small patio along with inside long table bench type seating. The menu is mostly sandwiches and the quality isn’t really up to par, but the portions are large and people seem to really like the spaghetti and meatball sandwich. I can’t recommend getting the BLT. For beer, it is a very bizarre concept that could spell disaster for someone not ’in the know.’ First, you need to bring your own beer glass. Any shape seems to be okay as long as it is about 12oz I guess. If you fail to do this, you must buy a glass on premise, though they are $4 and up and you get to keep them. Plus, they aren’t just pint glasses but proper tulips. So it isn’t so bad if you forget. Then you can choose from bottles in their fridges or beers on tap. However, there are usually only 8 beers on tap and they keep with a theme. I’ve been here twice and it was barleywines in February and pumpkin beers in April. A little bit off season, but okay. So not much variety on tap as they are all so similar. For the bottles in the fridge, there isn’t a list that I know of and thus no price list either. So it is sort of shoot and miss asking to look at bottles and checking vintages and price. The process is a bit frustrating for patron and staff. Prices are not super cheap with markup you would expect at a nice gastropub or restaurant. With that said, some bottles here you won’t find elsewhere such as 1991 Pope Elridge Thomas Hardy’s Ale, $31. A quick glance through the fridge shows about 60% Belgian beers, 30% American, 10% German. Breweries to expect: De Dolle, Scaldis/Bush, Dupont, Fantome, Rochefort, Aecht Schenkerla, Lost Abbey... Most of the selection is similar to what you might find in Total Wine or a decent bottle shop, though the older retired English barleywines are quite the find. Ambiance is definitely outdated, could use new decoration, ceilings are very low, carpet is old. So from an outsiders perspective it isn’t much, but from an insider’s perspective it is a local treasure having been around for so long and put LA on the craft beer map. That puts me at odds on how to view this place. I can say the staff and the people here are what make it tick rather than location, selection, food, or decor. “

GT 3668 days ago

“Although I knew about this place beforehand, I have to thank Bobby for introducing me to the "real" Stuffed Sandwich and the crew. Awesome selection, got to try a lot of stuff here that I’d never heard of. My favorite part of the selection is the back vintage stuff; it may not taste the greatest but it’s cool nonetheless. I do enjoy the Polish sandwich, and the fact that the taps change every month is great. I also like bringing my own glassware, it gives it a member’s club feel.“

wutangfinancial 3935 days ago

“Pretty small little diner atmosphere with tons of coolers full of bottles and a few drafts. Order a burger and a good beer, no frills.“

devman171 4013 days ago

“Been coming in almost every Wednesday since the summer of 2007.

Some people get turned off by the rules and by Sam’s attitude and I can understand that but they are really nice people. Sam is all talk, he’s actually very friendly. And the rule about having to buy food is well, that’s their rule. It’s a restaurant not a bar. And yes, you should bring your own glass or else buy one from them if you dont want to use a paper cup.

Beer wise it’s hard to really stand out these days with so many restuarants and bars competing for the same beer but these guys always have an ecclectic collection and they go way back with a number of California brewers (Sierra Nevada, Moylans, North Coast, Stone, Hair of the Dog, the list goes on) and still have some really old stuff; Marlene sold me a bottles of batch 2 and batch 5 Adam in 2012 and a week later pulled out a 1996 Cantillon Kriek. They have Bigfoot back to the 90s and Anchor Our Special Ale back to the 80s.

The food is pretty good over all. Its mostly sandwiches but you can also get full entres as well as soup, fries, chili, and a few other things.

They put on a new set of kegs every month and occasionally organize tastings. I’ll continue to come back whenever I can. “

t0rin0 4137 days ago

“Amazing selection of bottles and a good rotation on tap as well. Staff is very knowledgeable, sadly Sam was not there during my visit due to his illness. They have a great variety of aged beers as well. Bring your own glass if you go or else you will be stuck drinking from plastic cups.“

amlove 4467 days ago

“One word, awesome! Sam and Marlene are LA’s craft beer spot and original. Sam has been ill for a while so call before you drive there. Food is great, owners are the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. Every beer imaginable, I mean everything plus some vintage stuff.“

ReverendRhino 4574 days ago

“It’s sort of one of the quintessential beer places in LA County, and we don’t really have too many of those. Everyone knows about Sam and Marlene and their rule about food. The beer selection is hard to top, though some of it is kept in less than stellar conditions. Don’t eat the polish unless you like to crap yourself.“

brokensail 4623 days ago

“Small spot in san gabriel and they have been around for a while. They usually have around 8 taps going and this year they are doing different styles of beer each month. Sam knows his beer and it shows. Amazing bottle selection with some rare stuff. Food is mediocre but the beer is the reason to go here. Owner jokes alot so be ready. Another great SGV spot.“

breaks808 4805 days ago

“Great beer selection, lots of vintage stuff that’s difficult to find. Food is OK, but is basically just a requirement to order beer. Owners were very friendly and helpful, would definitely go again.“

ekoerper 4861 days ago

“Great beers selection, some in better shape then others. Food is ok, nothing special. Not worth going out of the way for but if your in the area a nice beer stop.“

paiste2002 4881 days ago

“True it is the home of the Beer Nazi, but is there a more worthy cause? Funny place, but been there forever. They serve in paper cups unless you buy a glass! or bring your own! Never heard of byog before. They have a funny rule about bending over to sip your glass before you take your beer so you don’t spill on the floor. about 10 taps and more bottles than anyone, including the owners could ever count. Food is pretty mediocre but who goes there for food?“

berad54 4962 days ago

“A longtime mainstay in the Socal craft beer scene. Gotta check it out and enjoy it. Marlene is a doll and so is her husband :-)“

djenkin 4974 days ago

“This place is extremely out of the way - but the experience i had made it worthy. The owner is hilarious, passionate, and knows his stuff. His attitude towards getting the best of everything is right up there. A stellar selection of beer, wine, and cigars. Food wasn’t that great for this place is defiantly a ’take-out’ place and not ’sit-down’. Again, go here for the beer, and try to chat with the owner. “

hopwartz 5073 days ago

“Ambiance and service are annoyingly subpar. Food is not great. But I’ll be there as often as I can, because here you’re looking at a real bottle shop.“

buenosdiaz 5077 days ago

“There are places I enjoy more. Worth visiting, its a great story to tell.“

LtDan 5380 days ago

“Great place in a horrible strip mall location. You have to buy a sandwich to get beer which is a drag sometimes but the food is better than others. Usually have awesome specials on beer. Patio is great when it isn’t too hot.“

beersearcher 5396 days ago

“two words BEER NAZI here you gotta know someone to get somewhere great place wednesday hold a beer tasting night good family place this is the place that opened my eyes“

DrDrinkAll420 5476 days ago

“Went there a few years ago. Pretty much a sandwich shop with an awesome selection of bottled beers and a decent selection on tap. Atmosphere leaves a lot to be desired, but the beer selection is incredible. Beers are served out of plastic cups.“

infinitetease 5532 days ago

“Great Place I support the beer Nazi. haha “

m4rest88 5606 days ago

“Absolutely great place and a step back into beer history. Sam and his wife are great people, and yes, I support the beer nazi. I allowed Sam to pair a beer with my pastrami sandwich and then was able to score a bottle of 2005 Decadence Old Ale from him for a mere 18 bucks. An amazing place with bottles of 88 Samichlaus on the wall. I plan on returning again and again...“

BMan1113VR 5607 days ago

“No it’s not the best deli you’ve ever been to, no they don’t (always) have hyper-limited stuff or anything you can’t get from a good distributor... this year. But Sam and his wife A) are one-of-a-kind cats and B) keep their beer FOREVER. You can easily walk in any day of the week and find ten-year-old beers: Rogue, Gouden Carolus, Stone that I’ve had, and any number of Belgians that I haven’t. The only place in LA certainly where you can look at the glass and get a real sense of beer history. Absolutely a top-ten place in the US to sit down and have a craft beer. And every time you go, there WILL be something new. Even if you go twice a month or more. Sam Sam invented retail cellaring in this country and that is a plain old fact. This bottle list is the closest you will get to Kulminator on this side of the Atlantic.“

ajm 5685 days ago

“You might get yelled at if you order your turkey sandwich without mayo...something like, Why is turkey even worth it if you don’t get mustard and mayo? Regardless, after the good-natured abuse, it is a really. great. sandwich. The ambiance is a strange cross between a deli and your uncle’s garage....with tables and folding chairs in the middle. If you’re into proper glassware, I’d strongly suggest bringing (or buying) your own glass as the beer is served in paper cups. “

sealfriend 5686 days ago

“I have been wanting to try this place forever. However, someone forgot to tell me to bring my own glass. Folks, unless you like paper cups, BRING YOUR GLASS. This is a total mom and pop food joint in an aging strip center. You can’t drink any beer until you order food, so get that out of the way when you walk in. Now to the beer. Very nice selection for consumption on premises and take out. The owner is into cellaring, so he is always bring out vintage kegs, and even has vintage six packs of Bigfoot for sale going back to the 90’s. Indoor and outdoor seating. Food is reasonably priced, but nothing special (just ok). This place may not be fancy, but it has a lot of character and the people that run it do it their way- whether you like it or not. Service was excellent and I chatted with the owner’s wife for awhile. My type of place.“

illinismitty 5698 days ago

“Simply the best place I have ever been to get any beer I have wanted to try. Those who say you can get many of these beers elsewhere obviosly don’t live in the Midwest where brewers like Alesmith are nonexistant. Or Rogue who does sell in IL, but not to the extent that is at The SS. Glad I made the trip and will stop in next time I am in Cali.“

tdryan700 5711 days ago

“I don’t care what anyone says about this place, but it is a pilgrimage for anyone who seeks good ale. While it does has its quarks, I cant think of a better place to share/enjoy a hard to find or vintage beer. This was my second time (went last year) visiting, and while Sam is a character, he is the best type of character there is. The tap selection is top notch for the limited, but always rotating (8-10 taps) but you don’t go here for the taps.....its all about the bottles and what more can be said ohhh the bottles. On a good day, there are great gems to be had. I enjoyed a nice 87 Hardy’s and a sublime 93 Sami, where else in the world can one get these beers. To top it off me and my buddy enjoyed some great sandwiches (try the pastrami or corn beef). Even my non beer friends are blown away by the SS food and beer. IMHO the best place for beer (or sandwiches) I have ever been in CA, and I try to get around to see the places.“

mmtmatrix 5791 days ago

“I don’t get the what’s so great about this place either. It may be a lot of things but it isn’t world class. I think I’m the last one in my group of friends to try this place. I’ve met the owner a few times and heard all about the place, been by it - just never stopped for whatever reason. The beer selection is extensive and they have some nice beers without a doubt but I honestly didn’t see a single beer I haven’t been able to buy at a decent beer store. They do have some vintage bottles around which is nice. They did have some nice belgians on tap (belgian month?) though several taps were out - also out of the first bottle I ordered off the list. You have to order food so I ordered Freedom Fries. (Don’t get me started - I love my country but this was one of the most retarded, embarrassing things to come out the neo-patriotism in this country) Anyhow, they took forever and when they came out they weren’t even fried!! Looked like they were frozen fries baked in the oven or something, half were burned and half were raw mush and dredged in salt. Back to the beer - I wanted to sample a few things on tap so asked for a small pour. They offer a small sample pour in a dixie bathroom paper cup. I heard about the paper cup thing but too weird - there are shelves and cases filled with glassware for sale. The pour was right to the top but don’t dare reach for it as he balances it to the bar mat slowly and carefully as to not spill a drop. I was ordered not to touch it but bend down and suck off some foam before it overflowed onto the bar. Don’t spill a single drop on the way to your table or you will be chastised as well (I was informed I spilled exactly 2 drops). Nice guy but a very odd ritual for getting a cup of beer. I’ve been a bartender and some spilled beer is a fact of life. I tried a few bathroom cups of beer until the cup was soaked through. Went to pay and $6 for a fucking bathroom cup of beer!! I’m anything but a cheap bastard but give me a break - that’s over $1 an ounce. Lousy food, whack service - I’m not going out of my way for this place again. “

Dunk 5816 days ago

“Peculiar spot with an incredible selection. You have to order something to eat before you get a beer, which is annoying, but certainly a wise choice. The sandwiches are beyond stuffed, but too much of an average thing, doesn’t make it better than average.“

nbutler11 5826 days ago

“Great place to grab a sandwich and have some great beer. Sam knows what’s going on with beer and has a bottle list that shows it. There’s even special beers he has in the back for worthy customers. The sandwiches are pretty damn good, too.“

Vac 5826 days ago

“This place is pretty inconspicuous from the outside, situated in a tiny strip-mall of Asian stores in San Gabriel. Stopped here for beer and lunch with jarspag, my girlfriend Katie and Jon before heading to cquiroga’s Woodshop Tasting. Upon walking in, you notice coolers full of great Belgian and American craft brews. We were able to taste some De Dolle brews and HOTD Fred at the same time. Lots of beer memorabilia on the walls, with empty magnums for decoration (also some full ones for purchase). Pretty tasty sandwiches for a good price. Be sure to bring your own glass! I ended up drinking Belgian ale from a paper Dixie cup. A must-stop if you’re in the area.“

hapjydeuce 5894 days ago

“Dropped by on the way back from Los Angeles. I’ve been eager to visit here for years, but it is 1:40 from my house. Today I had an excuse. Some Old Guardian 05,06,07 on tap. Tons of Bigfoot bottles for sale for around $6 each from late 80’s to today. Lots of OSA magnums for $70ish. Some Opus1 wine bottles for $2000! Cool beer store restaurant. I had a cheese sandwich and some beans. Not bad, but I wouldn’t get it again.“

wetherel 5907 days ago

“I tried this place out last year (2006). They were supposed to be featuring Alesmith on tap if I recall. When I arrived, there was nothing left. Huh. I ordered a pastrami sandwich and Sam, the owner, informed me several times in his own inimitable fashion that this was not Burger King and I was going to have it his way. Well, his way was stringy and full of fat and grease. Blecch. I wound up splitting a bottle of Speedway Stout with a friend on their depressing little patio in order to get away from the noise of the regulars inside. What a waste of an afternoon and a thirty mile drive. I said at the time I would never go back, and I haven’t had the slightest bit of trouble sticking with that vow.“

User57106 6023 days ago

“Be nice to Sam - he controls the beer! Christmas in July? You have to experience 3-4 different years of Anchor on tap. No where else I know of in the US has vintage beer like Stuffed Sandwiches. BYOG ----- There are no places in SoCal more dedicated to beer. We always shopped here for our Annual Winter Beer Fest!“

NickVega 6096 days ago

“Located in a nondescript strip mall, this restaurant/beer bar boasts a staggering list of beers to drink or take out - perhaps the best selection in Southern California. They specialize in Belgian beers, but carry offerings from 40 countries, including a great selection of U.S. microbrews (mostly West coast), and even some nicely aged beers. There is a decent food menu that includes sandwiches, salads, pasta and pizza. Their license requires that you purchase food before you can drink beer. Be sure to bring your own glass or buy one from their extensive selection of beer glasses. The owners will happily talk beer with you.“

marcus 6124 days ago

“You have to have an enthusiastic/friendly attitude when coming here. I suspect some of the previous reviewers did not. And you CAN buy the bottles to go, so I dont know what alafito is talking about. Prices were fantastic too. 1987 Anchor Old Foghorn for like $5. Sam opened a 1992 Thomas Hardys for us as well and offered other vintages of it too. Instead of using a dixie cup, they have a glassware selection, which you may as well buy if you’re here for some serious drinking. It’s a small outfit, so having some patience and understanding is helpful.“

ClarkVV 6188 days ago

“I really dont get why this place is so special... i mean maybe if you could by some bottles to go, but still they would be grossly overpriced. The service is horrendous, theres 3 people doing the bartending, cooking and register so you have to wait 15 to get your food order in and then another 15 for the bar order. The bottled seletion is the largest ive seen anywhere but there where only 6 draft options and nothing too special... and no sampling either you pay even for a tiny sip. Once you order you get a mini dixie cup for $3 bucks, and you better come hungry cause you cant drink if you dont eat (thats there bev. license). The sandwiches looked ok though i only ordered i salad since i wasnt hungry. The amiance is nothing special... they had soft jazz in the background and many people minding there own. I did however meet a nice couple from LA., they say its a much difrent service when your local. Anyway im not returning... ever.“

alafito 6212 days ago

“Like others have said, this is a pretty cool deli in an odd location. If you have ever been to San Gabriel, you know, it’s about 75% asian, and it’s interesting to find a beer spot in this area. On the day when I went to Stuffed sandwich the selection on taps was pretty dull, actually. In fact, the overall selection offered nothing that can’t be found in my area locally, save the couple of rarities floating around. The food was good, albeit way overpriced, as was the beer. I felt almost uneasy drinking my $10 belgian beer out of a dixie cup. I had a brief chance to talk to Sam and seemed like a decent enough guy. Pretty neat place, and worth stopping in if your in the area, but nothing about this establishment wowed me. There are FAR better establishments in Southern California.“

Naven 6222 days ago

“Such a weird location for this place, but that seems to be a common theme among good establishments in CA. I started out with a large (cup) of SN Bigfoot 2002 on tap. I think it was pretty funny to drink it out of a paper cup, I had to at least experience that but then I moved on to a glass that they had for sale. Other than about 2 beers on tap the rest were uninteresting because they had some regular stuff on from St. Patrick’s day.
The bottles are where they shine though, particularly the vintages. We had a couple of vintages of Old Foghorn (’86 and ’96, I believe) and a Thomas Hardy’s 1992. Also enjoyed an Alesmith Yulesmith and RR Supplication. I could have spent a lot more time/money here.
The food was good too, Sam kept warning me about the Polish Sausage sandwich but when I tried it wasn’t all that hot. Sure it had some bite but it didn’t live up to the taunts. I’ll have to go back just to see how hot he can make it!
The owners were very cool.“

mds 6234 days ago

“Wonderful selection and service. Haven’t had the opportunity to interact directly with Sam, but have been helped by Marlene. Very knowledgeable and helpful. I will definitely frequent this place!“

littlecarp 6239 days ago

“There is no place that I’d rather have lunch at than at than the Stuffed Sandwich. Sam and Marlene are great people, and if he likes you, he will hook you up. The ambiance, the attitude, and the beer are all phenomenal. If you like hot food, order the Polish Sausage sandwich, it’s damn hot and tasty as well. Bring your own glass or you’ll be drinking out of a Dixie Cup.“

KAME 6299 days ago

“Came here during a lunch on a Tuesday. Kinda busy. Awesome tap list. Had some 3 year old Double Bastard and some of the rare bottles they had. Made the mistake of ordering a full size sandwich and a side of fries. It was like 5 pounds of food. Great tasting though. Nice owner. Good service. Would love to be here during a notable event as it was a very professional crowd in there for lunch. I liked this better than Lucky Baldwin’s, that’s for sure.“

BückDich 6344 days ago

“Wow...awesome. Sam opened a 25 year old beer for us...that was sweet. I don’t know what to write...I thought my sandwich was pretty awesome too. Amazing amazing selection.“

Walt 6345 days ago

“I enjoyed my journey here. I was immediately impressed to see a variety of vintage beers on tap, something I’ve never encountered and have always dreamed of. Imagine how I felt when cases of vintage OSA and Bigfoot were stacked near the door for affordable purchase. We dug deeper and discovered a case of 1998 Fuller’s Vintage Ale available, which was mightly exciting, along with some other rarer belgians and the holy, of holies, a bottle of Rodenbach Alexander. Some bad things. Paper cups for pour beer is moronic. I’m sorry, it’s just plain inappropriate, I don’t care how good the place is otherwise. If you’re serving the best beers in the world, appropriate glassware needs to join it. The staff was extremely helpful, but they lose a point for being too busy to go back into the warehouse and dig out more vintages for us (yeah, I’m a jerk). And the food, this was a joke. At least to me. I’m really not into paying for sandwice’s a five-year old could make, so that I can have them with my vintage OSA. Not. But, all of this doesn’t really matter, because the beer selection rocked my world and that’s all that really matters. So in the end, Stuffed Sandwich, don’t change.“

auerbrau 6362 days ago

“This place is amazing. The selection at this place is unlike anywhere in Southern California. If you get the chance to drop by you won’t regret it.“

gears81 6400 days ago

“Fun place, with hundreds of beers! Sam and staff are hilarious. He is kind of like the beer nazi, if you say the right thing, you get what you want....if you don’t then he gives you a really hard time and might not sell you beer. It’s funny actually. Fun place and great sandwiches.“

ChazMania 6417 days ago

“Great place to have a sandwich and a good beer. When I visited last they had Ale Smith’s whole lineup on tap! Owner can talk to you all day about beer. It is his passion and so is his cooking (he will tell you).“

bu11zeye 6466 days ago

“Excellent sandwiches and beer selection, especially of the Belgians. You can drink your beer there or take it to go so it’s also an essential retail spot. Very casual atmosphere, simple sandwich shop with an enclosed fence patio that lacks atmosphere but would work on a warm day. Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Shame about the paper cups, so go prepared with your own glass.“

BeerLimey 6623 days ago

“The owner is a beer freak! Great knowledge and selection. Beers are served a bit too cold and in paper cups. Would have been better if I brought my own glass. Definitely a place to see though, lots of character that could only come from a pair of beer lovers.“

chilehead 6829 days ago

“A great place, where you wouldn’t expect it! Sam and crew are very nice, and the beer selection is great! Food is quite good too! True, you need your own glass or you will drink from Dixie cup, but go a few times and its like home, great place, great people, if you’re in the L.A. area, its a must!“

Saarlander 6836 days ago