Nice deli. Food was fresh and place seemed clean. Priced well for Bethesda. Whole Real turkey for turkey subs. Got the Italian sub, it was good, fresh baked bread, nothing exceptional. In and out quickly. Only problem... Ate lunch there walked out smelling like a grilled sub myself. Not a good thing wearing a suit going back to work. Overall good, clean, fast service. Just don't eat it there unless you wanna smell like a grill.
(4)
Adarsha K.
Great place close to the Bethesda Metro. It seems like a hole in the wall type location, I walked into it by mistake. Great for lunch time food, they have a lot sandwiches, panini's, salads and depending on the day of the week they will serve special Korean meals. The owner was very friendly, even let me sample a portion of the Korean Spicy Pork dish. Overall I highly recommend it for everyone.
(5)
Aisha P.
I had to attend a training and I wanted to grab a quick breakfast sandwich so I wouldn't be hungry while trying to concentrate. So, I yelp a few places and this place grabs my interest. I ordered a turkey bacon, egg & cheese on a bagel with no high expectations. But, it was pretty good, hot and generously prepared! The staff prepare your food right in front of you. By the time lunch rolled around, I was still not hungry because the sandwich was stacked. If in the mood for breakfast, I will definitely stop by this place.
(4)
Nicole B.
This is a great little place with an extremely convenient location--within walking distance of many an office and hotel in the area, but tucked away enough to give a sense of privacy. The people there are talented and efficient; the menu gives you a ton of great lunch options; and the food is hearty, substantial, and delicious. They have a larger selection of canned beverages than I've ever seen at any other deli, too, which I thought was super cool. If you're looking for a quick and excellent bite to eat, this is the place to go. Just make sure you have somewhere to sit down and really dig in once you get your food... These sandwiches are to be savored.
(5)
Jennifer B.
I don't know how I've forgotten to write a review for my favorite local sandwich place!? I love Hampden Cafe. The ladies who run are are super sweet and always recognize regulars. My favorite sandwich is the carved turkey breast with fresh avocado and alfalfa sprouts on pita! They also have a great breakfast menu, from ham, egg, and cheese croissants to breakfast burritos. The food is always hot, fresh, fast, and prettyreasonably priced.
(5)
A F.
Stand-out little lunch spot in a crowded market. This is my go-to lunch spot in Bethesda, because few places here manage to balance quality and price as well as the Hampden Cafe. When i arrive, Mimi the owner always greets me and remembers the sandwich I like; I turkey and avocado with cheddar cheese. The turkey is carved on the spot, which Jettie's also does, but Hampden's is just so much more juicy and tasty. Of course the sandwich is excellent every time, and for $8, it's a steal in an otherwise upmarket neighborhood. I get a sample of the turkey every time i go; i recommend you do the same.
(5)
Tom M.
Very lovely place- friendly service - clean and a good menu. Very generous portions. Here's a tip - if you stay at the Hilton garden inn near by - don't eat there - it's horrible - come over here and get a good meal!
(5)
Stephanie S.
I have been here a few times for breakfast and once for lunch. For breakfast, I recommend the egg and cheese sandwich, but make sure you bring your appetite for that one! They also have a selection of bagels and muffins if you're in a hurry. For lunch, I would recommend the turkey supreme avo on pita - so delicious! All of the ingredients are very fresh and tasty! The only reason I give this place four out of five was the "cafe" part... The coffee is decent but don't get a mocha... It tastes metallic and not as mocha-y as I would have expected.
(4)
Candice D.
I to order lunch from here when I worked in Bethesda. If you want a real turkey breast sandwich carved right from the turkey with fresh fixings come here. I'm not too much of a sandwich person, but they hands down make a great sandwich! And take a big cookie to go with your sandwich.
(4)
Amanda M.
Started a new job and needed a place to satisfy my breakfast cravings - enter Hampden cafe. Small little place that appears to be family run. They remember their regulars. I usually just get a breakfast sandwich but their breakfast wraps (they include homefries inside) seem to be very popular. The breakfast sandwiches are filling. I get ham, egg, and cheese. The eggs are scrambled (they have an option for egg whites only), the ham is thick cut and in bite sized pieces and the cheese smoothly melted. I usually end up here at least twice a week.
(4)
Kaleb P.
Had the Gyro, and it was o.k.. Note for business traveler's: They do not have itemized receipts if your company requires them for reimbursement. Wish I would have known that ahead of time. Service was fast and friendly, and the price was reasonable. Overall, nothing special though.
(3)
Rachelle P.
Got the turkey panini. Was not good Meat was very dry, didn't like the spread. Literally was just meat, tomato and lettuce on ciabatta(ciabatta was good tho lol) .Gave no options to add anything else. Was not worth the price (8.29). The ladies serving were extremely nice. Next to job so maybe I'll try something else next time....
(2)
Andre D.
Staff has a bad attitude. Came in on a morning after driving 5 or so miles based on yelp rating and wasn't impressed. I don't need to search out places like this.
(2)
Amy C.
My boss recommended Hampden Cafe one day when I asked her for suggestions for lunch spots. She swore by their sandwiches. When I arrived at Hampden Cafe, I was in the mood for a wrap rather than a sandwich so I ordered their lunch wrap (lettuce, tomatoes, guacamole, black beans, salsa, dressing, rice, and choice of grilled chicken or ground beef). As I watched the lady behind the counter prepare my wrap, I was grossed out by all the ingredients tossed together into a giant burrito. However, after I took my first bite, I couldn't stop eating. It all ends up in the same place anyway, right?
(3)
Orlangela A.
He said..."This place is great for lunch, my wife hates sandwiches places and this is one of the few ones she likes. I love how they carve the turkey right in front of your eyes. It has to be fresh that way. I could write all day about how good this place is, and looking at my previous review it looks like I already did. There are alot of imitation places like this in Bethesda and Rockville but this deli serves up the the freshest food. Always a pleasure to go there." She said..." Love the fresh carved turkey. As a pregnant lady...you cannot eat deli meat, but since this place only gives u fresh carved meat, i can safely eat here. Theres not processed deli meat here, only turkeys, hams and chickens that are literally carved infront of you. If you are prego and have been craving a good deli sandwich, come here to eat one thats safe for you!"
(5)
Jordan L.
Easily the best place to get a sandwich in Bethesda. I've been coming here for the past 3 years and every time I get the same thing. Never am I disappointed with the taste or quality of the food. Plus, the owner gives me a free cookie on occasion when I come in! Definitely worth a try.
(5)
Stephen O.
The breakfast and lunch burrito is to die for. First time trying it was about 4 weeks ago, and I have had at least 2-3 burritos per week since then. Great place, great workers, great fod and pricing.
(5)
Ali S.
Good quality deli with awesome salads and sandwiches. Nothing particularly blew me away about this place, but since most places in Bethesda tend to go that route I would still pick this place over the other nearest thing which is the Potbelly chain. The roast beef is pretty solid here, it just looks better than the more standard deli-fare. Also, this place isn't particularly ethnic associated. If anything it's Asian because of all the workers. I guess that makes them the underdogs in what I like to separate into two categories, the Polish and the Italian deli sectors, which are awesome in their own right. You won't be disappointed by this decision, it's a good place to get something fast but a little healthier at lunch. It's just not really comparable to the juggernauts of the deli, mostly hailing out of NYC.
(3)
Angela R.
This cafe has been here for years. I used to work in the building next door (over 10 years ago). I recently was in Bethesda at lunch and went by to see if it was still there - and they recognized me! They have the BEST fresh roasted (turkey, beef, ham) sandwiches. If you are in the mood for desert, try one of the blondies, they are amazing.
(5)
Andrea S.
I started working in north Bethesda a few months ago and hadn't found many places by the office to eat. 7-Eleven became the go-to spot especially with the hassle of finding street parking downtown (their salads and fresh fruit make for a decent lunch). Today, I finally did a Yelp search, convinced there was something better around which is when I found this place. It had decent reviews and completely lived up to my expectation - fresh chicken went into a delicious Hampden Lunch Burrito made in front of me for about $7. Even though their online ordering portal didn't work, I only had to wait a couple minutes for my food. I even lucked out and found street parking right across from the cafe! They were fast, friendly, affordable and my lunch was perfect - I can't ask for anything else!
(5)
Linda C.
I love this place, so fresh and they give you big portions. Everyone is also very friendly :-)
(5)
Alicia G.
I really like Hampden Cafe. I used to only get their sandwiches of the breakfast variety, but I've recently been coming here for lunch too. I love that their meats are freshly carved to order. Not your typical deli meats but actual roast beef and roasted turkey breast. And they are generous with the portions. The people are really friendly and work quickly to keep the line moving because the space is small. My combo of sandwich + roasted garlic potato chips is also cheaper than what I typically pay at the Brown Bag which I think is plenty reason to continue coming here.
(4)
Jonathan P.
solid lunch spot -- sandwiches are huge for the price and they cook their turkey perfectly. it is a family-run business and they are very friendly.
(3)
Delnora E.
We love this place. The constantly busy lunch time crowd says it all. They roast their own turkeys every morning, so a turkey sandwich there is really with freshly carved turkey. Not some nasty, slimy lunch meat that was wrapped in shrink wrap 2 weeks ago in NY. Friendly, quick service. Quality ingredients. Not cheap, you'll pay a good $7 for a sandwich. But it's a quality sandwich. Our go-to sandwich is the following: whole grain bread, turkey, cranberry sauce, mayo, lettuce, tomato, red onions wow - craving one now!
(5)
Geoffrey R.
Bethesda lunch mainstay. Consistently fast friendly service. My two go-to items are the burritos and the cobb salad - I like that they toss the dressing in with their salads. Sandwiches are great also, all of the meet is freshly carved.
(5)
Izzat A.
This place is great for lunch. I got the parm grilled chicken sandwich and it was very tasty. Prices are great and they get you in and out very quickly. I've heard they have great breakfast burritos. Will have to try that next.
(4)
Adrienne L.
Ohhhh my goodness. Everyone is so friendly here, and the sandwiches are amazing. They carve the meat in front of you, and the roasted turkey is very juicy and not dry at all. I walked out with a turkey/bacon sandwich and chips for $10. Sure, you can go to Subway and get the same for less, but you're not getting nearly as much meat. They were slammed for lunch but still lightning fast.
(4)
Marty H.
As others have said, the perfectly cooked, freshly cut meat really sets this place apart. I go there every once in a while for breakfast..the bacon egg and cheese croissant is awesome.
(5)
Chris F.
Very good - solid lunch spot for sandwiches
(4)
Matthew B.
If you frequent Subway, Chipotle, or any salad shop I suggest, NAY, I demand you stop by this little deli on Hampden Lane. Unlike Subway they absolutely load your sandwich with delicious goodness. The freshly carved meat is done so right in front of you and the taste will blow you away. If you prefer a burrito they have all the tasteful ingredients for that as well. My suggestion is the Turkey Burrito Bowl, once you've had that you will never go back to Chipotle again. The prices are slightly higher but the sandwiches and bowls are twice the size.
(5)
D B.
This place is disgusting. I work in the building, so I often venture down there to get drinks and an occasional coffee. Try to avoid the lobby route; the hallway will make you gag. My lungs react like they are cooking straight chemicals. Usually a restaurant is supposed to lure you with smell; this one makes me wanna puke. The menu is bland. Little do you know, the menu on the wall doesn't mean shit. It took me 6 months of working here to be told they have hummus. This brings me into my next point. The food is a guess on whether or not it's fresh. I've had stale tortillas, brown guacamole, and the hummus was once so frozen, they microwaved. Apparently, I'm the only one who orders it. Don't go there with a question. They won't understand your english. I don't eat dairy, but they don't understand the word. I asked if they have non-dairy creamer, and they pointed to the skim milk. I almost threw my coffee at him. I don't eat meat, and once they tried to get me to eat an onion soup. I asked at least 5 times if there was chicken or beef in the broth, and finally they said yes, chicken. I sort of yelled at them for it. Finally, they are very overpriced. A burrito at chipotle tastes better, is bigger, and costs less. They don't compensate me on more vegetables when I ask for no meat in it. I could devour a $7 meal there and still be hungry. I gave it two stars because of the convenience.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Bill P.
Nice deli. Food was fresh and place seemed clean. Priced well for Bethesda. Whole Real turkey for turkey subs. Got the Italian sub, it was good, fresh baked bread, nothing exceptional. In and out quickly. Only problem... Ate lunch there walked out smelling like a grilled sub myself. Not a good thing wearing a suit going back to work. Overall good, clean, fast service. Just don't eat it there unless you wanna smell like a grill.
(4)Adarsha K.
Great place close to the Bethesda Metro. It seems like a hole in the wall type location, I walked into it by mistake. Great for lunch time food, they have a lot sandwiches, panini's, salads and depending on the day of the week they will serve special Korean meals. The owner was very friendly, even let me sample a portion of the Korean Spicy Pork dish. Overall I highly recommend it for everyone.
(5)Aisha P.
I had to attend a training and I wanted to grab a quick breakfast sandwich so I wouldn't be hungry while trying to concentrate. So, I yelp a few places and this place grabs my interest. I ordered a turkey bacon, egg & cheese on a bagel with no high expectations. But, it was pretty good, hot and generously prepared! The staff prepare your food right in front of you. By the time lunch rolled around, I was still not hungry because the sandwich was stacked. If in the mood for breakfast, I will definitely stop by this place.
(4)Nicole B.
This is a great little place with an extremely convenient location--within walking distance of many an office and hotel in the area, but tucked away enough to give a sense of privacy. The people there are talented and efficient; the menu gives you a ton of great lunch options; and the food is hearty, substantial, and delicious. They have a larger selection of canned beverages than I've ever seen at any other deli, too, which I thought was super cool. If you're looking for a quick and excellent bite to eat, this is the place to go. Just make sure you have somewhere to sit down and really dig in once you get your food... These sandwiches are to be savored.
(5)Jennifer B.
I don't know how I've forgotten to write a review for my favorite local sandwich place!? I love Hampden Cafe. The ladies who run are are super sweet and always recognize regulars. My favorite sandwich is the carved turkey breast with fresh avocado and alfalfa sprouts on pita! They also have a great breakfast menu, from ham, egg, and cheese croissants to breakfast burritos. The food is always hot, fresh, fast, and prettyreasonably priced.
(5)A F.
Stand-out little lunch spot in a crowded market. This is my go-to lunch spot in Bethesda, because few places here manage to balance quality and price as well as the Hampden Cafe. When i arrive, Mimi the owner always greets me and remembers the sandwich I like; I turkey and avocado with cheddar cheese. The turkey is carved on the spot, which Jettie's also does, but Hampden's is just so much more juicy and tasty. Of course the sandwich is excellent every time, and for $8, it's a steal in an otherwise upmarket neighborhood. I get a sample of the turkey every time i go; i recommend you do the same.
(5)Tom M.
Very lovely place- friendly service - clean and a good menu. Very generous portions. Here's a tip - if you stay at the Hilton garden inn near by - don't eat there - it's horrible - come over here and get a good meal!
(5)Stephanie S.
I have been here a few times for breakfast and once for lunch. For breakfast, I recommend the egg and cheese sandwich, but make sure you bring your appetite for that one! They also have a selection of bagels and muffins if you're in a hurry. For lunch, I would recommend the turkey supreme avo on pita - so delicious! All of the ingredients are very fresh and tasty! The only reason I give this place four out of five was the "cafe" part... The coffee is decent but don't get a mocha... It tastes metallic and not as mocha-y as I would have expected.
(4)Candice D.
I to order lunch from here when I worked in Bethesda. If you want a real turkey breast sandwich carved right from the turkey with fresh fixings come here. I'm not too much of a sandwich person, but they hands down make a great sandwich! And take a big cookie to go with your sandwich.
(4)Amanda M.
Started a new job and needed a place to satisfy my breakfast cravings - enter Hampden cafe. Small little place that appears to be family run. They remember their regulars. I usually just get a breakfast sandwich but their breakfast wraps (they include homefries inside) seem to be very popular. The breakfast sandwiches are filling. I get ham, egg, and cheese. The eggs are scrambled (they have an option for egg whites only), the ham is thick cut and in bite sized pieces and the cheese smoothly melted. I usually end up here at least twice a week.
(4)Kaleb P.
Had the Gyro, and it was o.k.. Note for business traveler's: They do not have itemized receipts if your company requires them for reimbursement. Wish I would have known that ahead of time. Service was fast and friendly, and the price was reasonable. Overall, nothing special though.
(3)Rachelle P.
Got the turkey panini. Was not good Meat was very dry, didn't like the spread. Literally was just meat, tomato and lettuce on ciabatta(ciabatta was good tho lol) .Gave no options to add anything else. Was not worth the price (8.29). The ladies serving were extremely nice. Next to job so maybe I'll try something else next time....
(2)Andre D.
Staff has a bad attitude. Came in on a morning after driving 5 or so miles based on yelp rating and wasn't impressed. I don't need to search out places like this.
(2)Amy C.
My boss recommended Hampden Cafe one day when I asked her for suggestions for lunch spots. She swore by their sandwiches. When I arrived at Hampden Cafe, I was in the mood for a wrap rather than a sandwich so I ordered their lunch wrap (lettuce, tomatoes, guacamole, black beans, salsa, dressing, rice, and choice of grilled chicken or ground beef). As I watched the lady behind the counter prepare my wrap, I was grossed out by all the ingredients tossed together into a giant burrito. However, after I took my first bite, I couldn't stop eating. It all ends up in the same place anyway, right?
(3)Orlangela A.
He said..."This place is great for lunch, my wife hates sandwiches places and this is one of the few ones she likes. I love how they carve the turkey right in front of your eyes. It has to be fresh that way. I could write all day about how good this place is, and looking at my previous review it looks like I already did. There are alot of imitation places like this in Bethesda and Rockville but this deli serves up the the freshest food. Always a pleasure to go there." She said..." Love the fresh carved turkey. As a pregnant lady...you cannot eat deli meat, but since this place only gives u fresh carved meat, i can safely eat here. Theres not processed deli meat here, only turkeys, hams and chickens that are literally carved infront of you. If you are prego and have been craving a good deli sandwich, come here to eat one thats safe for you!"
(5)Jordan L.
Easily the best place to get a sandwich in Bethesda. I've been coming here for the past 3 years and every time I get the same thing. Never am I disappointed with the taste or quality of the food. Plus, the owner gives me a free cookie on occasion when I come in! Definitely worth a try.
(5)Stephen O.
The breakfast and lunch burrito is to die for. First time trying it was about 4 weeks ago, and I have had at least 2-3 burritos per week since then. Great place, great workers, great fod and pricing.
(5)Ali S.
Good quality deli with awesome salads and sandwiches. Nothing particularly blew me away about this place, but since most places in Bethesda tend to go that route I would still pick this place over the other nearest thing which is the Potbelly chain. The roast beef is pretty solid here, it just looks better than the more standard deli-fare. Also, this place isn't particularly ethnic associated. If anything it's Asian because of all the workers. I guess that makes them the underdogs in what I like to separate into two categories, the Polish and the Italian deli sectors, which are awesome in their own right. You won't be disappointed by this decision, it's a good place to get something fast but a little healthier at lunch. It's just not really comparable to the juggernauts of the deli, mostly hailing out of NYC.
(3)Angela R.
This cafe has been here for years. I used to work in the building next door (over 10 years ago). I recently was in Bethesda at lunch and went by to see if it was still there - and they recognized me! They have the BEST fresh roasted (turkey, beef, ham) sandwiches. If you are in the mood for desert, try one of the blondies, they are amazing.
(5)Andrea S.
I started working in north Bethesda a few months ago and hadn't found many places by the office to eat. 7-Eleven became the go-to spot especially with the hassle of finding street parking downtown (their salads and fresh fruit make for a decent lunch). Today, I finally did a Yelp search, convinced there was something better around which is when I found this place. It had decent reviews and completely lived up to my expectation - fresh chicken went into a delicious Hampden Lunch Burrito made in front of me for about $7. Even though their online ordering portal didn't work, I only had to wait a couple minutes for my food. I even lucked out and found street parking right across from the cafe! They were fast, friendly, affordable and my lunch was perfect - I can't ask for anything else!
(5)Linda C.
I love this place, so fresh and they give you big portions. Everyone is also very friendly :-)
(5)Alicia G.
I really like Hampden Cafe. I used to only get their sandwiches of the breakfast variety, but I've recently been coming here for lunch too. I love that their meats are freshly carved to order. Not your typical deli meats but actual roast beef and roasted turkey breast. And they are generous with the portions. The people are really friendly and work quickly to keep the line moving because the space is small. My combo of sandwich + roasted garlic potato chips is also cheaper than what I typically pay at the Brown Bag which I think is plenty reason to continue coming here.
(4)Jonathan P.
solid lunch spot -- sandwiches are huge for the price and they cook their turkey perfectly. it is a family-run business and they are very friendly.
(3)Delnora E.
We love this place. The constantly busy lunch time crowd says it all. They roast their own turkeys every morning, so a turkey sandwich there is really with freshly carved turkey. Not some nasty, slimy lunch meat that was wrapped in shrink wrap 2 weeks ago in NY. Friendly, quick service. Quality ingredients. Not cheap, you'll pay a good $7 for a sandwich. But it's a quality sandwich. Our go-to sandwich is the following: whole grain bread, turkey, cranberry sauce, mayo, lettuce, tomato, red onions wow - craving one now!
(5)Geoffrey R.
Bethesda lunch mainstay. Consistently fast friendly service. My two go-to items are the burritos and the cobb salad - I like that they toss the dressing in with their salads. Sandwiches are great also, all of the meet is freshly carved.
(5)Izzat A.
This place is great for lunch. I got the parm grilled chicken sandwich and it was very tasty. Prices are great and they get you in and out very quickly. I've heard they have great breakfast burritos. Will have to try that next.
(4)Adrienne L.
Ohhhh my goodness. Everyone is so friendly here, and the sandwiches are amazing. They carve the meat in front of you, and the roasted turkey is very juicy and not dry at all. I walked out with a turkey/bacon sandwich and chips for $10. Sure, you can go to Subway and get the same for less, but you're not getting nearly as much meat. They were slammed for lunch but still lightning fast.
(4)Marty H.
As others have said, the perfectly cooked, freshly cut meat really sets this place apart. I go there every once in a while for breakfast..the bacon egg and cheese croissant is awesome.
(5)Chris F.
Very good - solid lunch spot for sandwiches
(4)Matthew B.
If you frequent Subway, Chipotle, or any salad shop I suggest, NAY, I demand you stop by this little deli on Hampden Lane. Unlike Subway they absolutely load your sandwich with delicious goodness. The freshly carved meat is done so right in front of you and the taste will blow you away. If you prefer a burrito they have all the tasteful ingredients for that as well. My suggestion is the Turkey Burrito Bowl, once you've had that you will never go back to Chipotle again. The prices are slightly higher but the sandwiches and bowls are twice the size.
(5)D B.
This place is disgusting. I work in the building, so I often venture down there to get drinks and an occasional coffee. Try to avoid the lobby route; the hallway will make you gag. My lungs react like they are cooking straight chemicals. Usually a restaurant is supposed to lure you with smell; this one makes me wanna puke. The menu is bland. Little do you know, the menu on the wall doesn't mean shit. It took me 6 months of working here to be told they have hummus. This brings me into my next point. The food is a guess on whether or not it's fresh. I've had stale tortillas, brown guacamole, and the hummus was once so frozen, they microwaved. Apparently, I'm the only one who orders it. Don't go there with a question. They won't understand your english. I don't eat dairy, but they don't understand the word. I asked if they have non-dairy creamer, and they pointed to the skim milk. I almost threw my coffee at him. I don't eat meat, and once they tried to get me to eat an onion soup. I asked at least 5 times if there was chicken or beef in the broth, and finally they said yes, chicken. I sort of yelled at them for it. Finally, they are very overpriced. A burrito at chipotle tastes better, is bigger, and costs less. They don't compensate me on more vegetables when I ask for no meat in it. I could devour a $7 meal there and still be hungry. I gave it two stars because of the convenience.
(2)