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Categories: Sandwiches, Vegetarian
Neighborhood: MissionMon., Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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So delicious. Seitan cheesesteak is a godsend for vegetarians suffering a hangover or just craving protein after a long bike ride.
One gripe: they need to do something about that bathroom. It's gone from gross to grosser. Yesterday, the toilet seat was on the floor converting the potty to squatty Asia-style.
Urgh. Man...
.. Hate to say it but the seitan cheesesteak I ate here once was just...... not good. It didn't taste gross or anything, but a third of the way through it I was looking at other people's orders and wishing I'd gotten something else.
Was seriously let down & haven't been back since.
That aside, props to them for the large amount of vegetarian items. Some props too for good location & cool look to the place.
No extra props for good service as it was only "Meh."
I have 2 stars.. one for each of ya.
First time i ate here, i was dead silent for 20 minutes. That good.
Second time, my friend said "this is the best thing Ive ever put into my mouth."
And its the kind of good that i feel guilty for going to because im tempted to go every single day. And i cant afford that.
Best. Philly. Veg. Cheesesteak. Went to philly. Dissapointed. Went to Jays, and I cant stop.
Oh and add jalapenos its bombertown.
I love the peppers in my cheesesteak. Fries are goood.
4.5 stars.
So Good!
Was this place good, or what!? Got the eggplant parmesian sandwich, stuffed high with shredded lettuce. Who knew iceburg could be so fancy?! The eggplant was buttery, the condiments were uber yum. Big sandwhich for me too, could only eat half. I do think the ketchup at the table was moldy (smelled fermented). But alas, I'm coming back.
Open late too! Late enough for a 9PM dinner straight from the office.
This is not your typical cheesesteak shop. The cheesesteaks that come out of here are not authentic at all-hence the lettuce and tomato that come with the sandwiches. But once you get it out of your head that your not going to get a real-deal Philly cheesesteak, these sandwiches are quite good. They have a variety of sandwiches up on the menu that stems from your regular cheesesteaks to BBQ chicken and to your vegetarian seitan sandwiches. I'm sorry....I tried the seitan...and just felt like I was missing something every time. I dunno...maybe meat??? Lol. If you are vegetarian...why go to a cheesesteak shop? I usually get just the regular cheesesteak with a side of garlic fries. The sides they have to offer here are pretty good...but not good for you. Garlic fries taste similar to the ball park's. Fried zucchini...yum. Fried mozzarella sticks...well you can't go wrong.
I wouldn't go here if you're craving a Philly cheesesteak, but if you're craving a hot sandwich and you're in the Mission...give this place a try.
This place is great for the veggies looking for a quick, friendly bite. The latino guys behind the counter were great (possibly because I spoke to them in Spanish, unlike most people who walk in off of Valencia) and brought our food outside to our table, asked if we wanted ketchup, etc and were overall really friendly.
The food was above par for the price and I thoroughly enjoyed eating it in the sun and partial shade of 21st street.
very disappointing. I expected more from a place that markets itself first and foremost as a cheesesteak place. I ordered the basic cheesesteak with wiz not even remotely considering that it would come with shredded lettuce and tomatoes. nevertheless it did and was really really gross. also, the meat reminded me of taco meat. should've just gone to a taqueria.
don't do it. hold out for real cheesesteaks. go to Jersey.
Phat Philly came to the neighborhood, but I still have to go with Jays. When you strip away the lettuce, tomato, pickle, and whatever other nonesuch they put on their hoagies; you are left with a pretty decent version of a cheesesteak.
What Phat Philly has that Jay does not? Well, TastyKake, and that is huge!!!!!.
Better than the Divisadero shop - I usually eat here once a week .... great taste. Could it be MSG?
Jay's has a firm place in my heart... and my arteries. I actually don't even order the standard heart-attack inducing cheesesteak, but instead get the baked turkey sandwich. Who the hell gets a turkey sandwich at a cheesesteak shop? Well, I do. It's good. It's really good. Piping hot toasty baguette-like bread is all it takes, and the yummy fixins help too. Try it. You might like it too.
(Note about the artwork on the wall: good god, it's not my thing. I remember watching the artist paint it -- and I thought it was cool that they'd have a local artist doing his thing -- but this is other worldly, weird stuff. Other people seem to like it. I guess diversity of opinion is a good thing...)
Two things I love about Jay's:
1) The seitan "cheesesteaks." Heh. Well, you have to call them something and they are darned good,* way* better than Phat Philly.
2) The eggplant parmesan sub (so amazing that I cannot seem to order anything else). The food is really fresh and tasty, lots of variety on the menu (I really should order other things), *big* portions (usually I share a sub and fries with my bf and we're both stuffed), and a few outdoor tables conducive to hipster watching, if that's your thing.
Five stars because good vegetarian comfort food is hard to find and Jay's does it so very well.
Jay's is a staple in the neighborhood. For some of the best seitan cheesesteaks this side of the Pecos, you gotta come to this joint right hurr! Large garlic fries FTW!
GO!!!
JAY MAKES THE BEST FRIGGIN CHEESESTEAKS, FUGETABOUTIT!!
Ima big cheesesteak fan take my word for it, he makes some of the best tasting cheesesteaks featuring neiman NO ANTIBIOTIC NO HORMONE TREATED BEEF.
BIG LOVE FOR JAYS
Brought here by a vegan dude, with big plugs, tattoos and that vegan penchant for being the only one in the group with a dietary preference, but being unwilling to offer an opinion on where to go- I was not so into the whole scenario leading up to Jay's, as I felt like I had to force said dude into giving me a place he felt he could order at.
But the guy behind the counter was really cool and I let him order what he thought was best, which was meaty goodness in the form of their #2, with everything.
Not too greezy and very filling for the price (8 smackaroos).
Now I know one other place, open kind of late, to take future indecisive vegans.
My wife and I visited San Francisco last weekend...and no visit is complete without a trip to Jay's Cheesesteak. Jay's makes the best vegetarian seitan cheesesteaks ever. Jay's sandwiches are always fresh, hot and made to order. The service and staff at Jay's are great too...the owner seems to be working every time we visit and he's always very friendly.
Can't wait to go back!
Nummo!!! Vegan cheesesteak - who woulda thought! It's good, it's big, you'll probably take half home. You can sit outside at a table when it's nice. There's a smoothie and juice place next door too!
I am happy to close my accidental week of cheesesteak here close to home at Jay's. It beats those Pac Heights' places handily.
We got a mushroom cheesesteak, a chicken-parm, and some fries.
The cheesesteak was great. The chicken-parm was OK. The plain fries weren't so great; next time I'll try the seasoned or garlic fries.
The bread is perfectly toasted - soft enough to eat like a sandwich, but toasty enough to fight the good fight against its inevitable death-by-disintegration-via-cheesesteak-drippings.
The murals on the wall provide something interesting to look at while you wait for your order.
This review is for the turkey burger.
I don't know what it's made out of, but it's not turkey. Or if it is, they've used exclusively the most tasteless parts of the bird.
It's beige. What's up with that? I've made my own turkey burgers with meat from Safeway, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. It's always been pink/red to start with and ends up brown.
Whatever this substance they use is, it starts beige and ends up... beige.
Jay's may very well do a great cheese steak, but their turkey burger sucks.
Oh, and I didn't think the fries were that good either. I like fries to be crispy and these weren't.
No stars (Jay, if you change your meat please leave a comment and I'll go back and try it, and change my review if I like it better. And while you're at it, try the chicken cheese steak at Craig's Place. They use real fresh chicken breasts. You may want to consider improving that too.)
As a vegetarian, it never would have occurred to me to even go into a place named "Jay's Cheesesteak," but I learned about their seitan version thanks to http://breadxbread.blo..., and got the chance to try it for the first time on Sunday. It was delicious and filling, and they had a slew of other vegetarian options that I can't wait to test out. The fries were the best I'd had in a long time, and a large order was more than enough for the three of us to share.
The hamburger patty I ordered for my dogs, tied up out front, appeared to have been exceptionally well-received, but I'll admit the dogs are not too picky in that regard.
I realize Jay's doesn't make a "real" cheesesteak and I have never actually had an East Coast cheesesteak (One day!...oh God, I hope, one day) so for this review's sake I will put cheesesteak in quotes.
My usual is the green pepper "cheesesteak" with avacado (I know. I know. But I put avacado in all my sandwiches). It is ssoooo good and huge and fulfilling. It's an amazing experience.
My BF always orders the BBQ "cheesesteak." It has the perfect amount BBQ sauce in it. Very good.
The hamburgers are big and yummy; just your regular old hamburgers. I try to eat hamburgers sparingly but when I do I like to add bacon and cheese and avacado. And it can get a bit pricey. But make sure you get the fries with it. Their fries are gooood.
I've tried the BLT sandwich, which wasn't so great.
So, if you're a first timer, I'd stick to the "cheesesteaks" and their burgers. They'll satisfy your belly. And bring cash. They don't take cards.
What a find! Jay's was recommended by a Valencia Cyclery employee where i bought my new bike from (review comes next). What a great recommendation he gave us! Once we walked in we we're greeted by the owner himself! What a nice guy, looks like Vin Diesel... and has a thick east coast accent. He recommended the mushroom Philly cheese. DELICIOUS! It comes on a baguette which is toasted. I'm still savoring the flavors of the cheese steak. Tony H. and I also ordered a side of seasoned and garlic fries mix, which was delicious as well. The were fried extra crispy and seasoned to perfection! This is probably going to be a new spot for me when I come in the area. Great food and great service, Jay sure knows how to run a great business.
Like Green in Arizona, I want to eventually eat everything on the menu. I started down this bold path by having the eggplant Parmesan. The sauce was a little oddly colored (pink) and tart, but the crispness of the bread and the generous portion of well-cooked eggplant more than made up for this. That's a nice sandwich!
I was disappointed with my trip.
First off, I intended to order a cheesesteak but was totally thrown off by the menu stating it came with lettuce, tomato, mayo, mustard and various other un-cheesesteak-like toppings. Being from the east coast this was off putting. I didn't want to order it plain (as it rightfully should be) for fear that it would be skimpy, but the idea of shredded lettuce, mustard and mayo mingling with the greasy, cheesy sandwich was just horrifying.
So, I steered clear of the cheesesteak and I went with the Baked Turkey sandwich. Now, maybe the entire sandwich was baked, but the turkey certainly was not. In fact, it was just cold cuts... and it was the slimy kind... and it was hot... and the melted cheese was indecipherable from the warm mayo (if you're getting a a little ill reading this, you got the right idea). I definitely expected some sort of baked or roast turkey. IMO, serving someone warm slimy turkey cold cuts slathered in warm mayo is a major foul...
As for price, the sandwich and a snapple cost $10.13 No fries or chips or pickle or anything... So not a very good value.
The bread was the only redeeming factor. It was warm, crispie and delicious. Awesome, in fact. Considering the price point, the nasty turkey, the warm mayo, the whole mustard-on-a-cheesesteak idea, the bread is the only thing that saved this from being a 1 star review...
I'd give Jay's 1 more shot for redemption since it comes so highly recommended in the neighborhood and I do see the potential. Next time I'll try out the cheesesteak or a burger. Or, as the other reviews imply, maybe this place is just best saved for fake-meat eating vegetarians... actual carnivores beware!
It's not everyday that I'm in the mood for a vegetarian-style cheesesteak, but when I am, Jay's hits the spot. I've never been to the Jay's on Divisadero, so I can't compare, but these guys have always toasted the bread perfectly, and prepared a sandwich worthy of my friends back in Philly. The fries are also delicious.
One irritating change of policy I recently noticed is that seitan cheesesteaks are now more expensive than regular cheesesteaks. Before, whether one ordered the beef, the chicken, or the seitan -- in whatever variety she choose (original, mushroom, pepper, tomato & pper, bbq, pizza, teriaki, etc), it was the same price. The last time I ordered -- a seitan mushroom cheesesteak -- there was a 50 cent surcharge. What the fuck? (The increase in price isn't posted; I caught the cashier charging an extra 50 cents and inquired accordingly).
In the event that the reader is unfamiliar with Jay's, let me break it down. They use NIMAN RANCH BEEF. Niman fucking Ranch, humanely raised, and sustainably farmed beef. It ain't cheap. I don't get Niman Ranch seitan. But, I guess raising a cow, having it drink 2500 gallons of water and eat 1-1/2 acres of grain (or grass or whatever the folks at Niman Ranch do) per 1-lb of beef harvested, is cheaper than me ordering my completely vegetarian, water-friendly, non-grain or grass consuming seitan. It irks the fuck out of me --this "vegetarian-tax," if you will. When I inquired to the cashier, he said the policy changed a few months back. Bullshit, I say. Absolute bullshit.
The only place a vegetarian gets her proper due is at an Asian restaurant, where tofu, seitan/gluten, or strict vegetarian entrees are typically cheaper than those with meat or seafood. Makes sense, no? I hate going to burger joints and paying a premium for ordering my burger with a tofu patty. It's crap, and I believe it's gotta stop.
Food: 4 stars (I've only ever had the seitan cheesesteaks and fries).
Vegetarian Tax: Fuck you
Holler - really great service and really good sandwich! One mistake, should've gotten the cheese fries. =)
Although I now have this rule of not repeating SF restaurants, I think I'll be back here.
The Cheesesteaks are not bad, but they're definitely not Philadelphian. I usually go for the chicken cheesesteak (oxymoron?) or the mushroom cheesesteak, and sometimes the garlic fries. I guess if I didn't know real cheesesteaks, and if I weren't craving real cheesesteaks, this place would be pretty good. But I guess since they advertise it being a cheesesteak joint, I was kind of disappointed. Prices are good for the sandwiches. I recommend this place for the drunk munchies. Too bad it closes at 11pm. If it were open to 3am, I'd probably eat there frequently.
Side note, there is a great mural by SF artist Sir Ron Norris on the wall, which adds to the atmosphere. The mural itself is worth at least one stop-by.
As a crypto carnivore (see Coupland, Douglas : Microserfs), it is always fun to find a place that makes a traditional meat dish, veggie.
Jay's makes fantastic veggie (seitan) cheesesteaks in a forms (original, mushroom, bbq, pizza, etc.). Perfectly toasted bread. This place is super solid.
Friendly as well.
I usually don't yelp anymore... as "yelping" is very last year, and i'm always very hip, but i'll make an exception for this place at the expense of my hip-ness...
so, i haven't had anything close to a cheesesteak in years. partly because i'm vegetarian, and i don't really care for fake meat products, and partly becuase there are four places that do it right in the universe: Tack's Sandwiches and Lattanzio's Sandwich shop in Reading, PA, and of course, Pat's Steaks and Geno's in Philly.
Now, let's not nit-pick... there are subtle differences between the Reading cheesesteak and the Philadelphia cheesesteak, such as Reading's don't use wiz (onion optional), they use prov and red-sauce mixed with the meat. and the rolls are different... Philly uses Amoroso's and Reading uses ATV Bakery rolls... and both of these variations have their perks and are simple meat-cheese-bread sandwiches. when i moved away from SE Pennsylvania, about three million years ago, i set out to find another good cheesesteak in my new home, Da 'Burgh. this was a mistake.
Now, the nit-picking begins.
Enter the world of homogenized, cornfed idiot "cheesesteak"-ery. My first experience with this was from Peppi's Olde Time Sandwiches on Smithfield street about a week into living in Pittsburgh. i ordered a cheesesteak over the phone (wayyy back when people still talked into phones), picked it up, and was *horrified* to find mayo, lettuce, tomato, and some other empty nutrition on my fucking cheesesteak. i was pissed that they, being fellow Pennsylvanians, would slight the good name of a cheesesteak by putting something like *lettuce* on it. LETTUCE! it's a fucking outrage. WHO THE HELL EATS LETTUCE ANYWAY? turtles! TURTLES! AND LOOK AT THEM!! SEE HOW GOOD THEY DO ON A DIET OF LETTUCE?! HUH?!
god...
Anyway... i searched like Diogenes to find a good cheesesteak there in Pittsburgh... and eventually, i realized that it was hopeless and gave up the good fight and became a vegetarian. yes, that's the sad truth. i became a veg-head because i could no longer get a good cheesesteak.
*sniffle*
so for years, i just gave up looking for anything with a semblance of my former love. i lost lots of weight, started listening to bright eyes, and going to political protests even though i (and most everyone else, it seemed) didn't know what the hell they all were protesting. i was of a sad lot.
i moved to SF with no hope of finding something that would fool my senses into thinking that it could be a suitable replacement for my home region's cheesesteak™... until tonight at Jay's.
NO. it doesn't have Amoroso/ATV rolls. NO. it doesn't have mysterious red-sauce in it. NO. it's not served to me in Pennsylvania...
YES. this store did have a bunch of nasty perversions of the form of cheesesteak... and of course, the obligatory salad-onna-roll form with mayo, tomato, blah blah blah that everyone outside of sanity regards as a cheesesteak...
BUT: it was available quickly (that's a +), Had an edible roll (double ++) and was available WITH WIZ OR PROVALONE! (winner!! +++)
The staff was indifferent, the place is small, and it has something my pathetic and effete vegetarian palate can be fooled with: the seitan cheesesteak without everything except fried onions and wiz.
i am going to return, even if i don't eat meat there. or anywhere.
looks like i can now take the second small step towards being a person again: like getting rid of my bright eyes cds ... or leaving them in a parking lot because i'm too self-conscious to take them to a store to trade in to get some money back. h'm.
This place is great. I have passed by it so many times after seeing shows at The Independent, and I finally went. The husband was out having proper food with a friend and I decided to get what I love...a cheesesteak. SO good! Not a traditional cheesesteak tho. The bread is good bread and toasted. The meat is a fair amount of quality beef and the cheese is lightly melted down the middle instead of sliding over the edges and threatening to drop on your pants...which is often a sign of a pump out cheese product.
I went for trashy food and was rewarded with a great sandwich that wasn't overwhelming or filled with chemicals.
Formula for Success (food success that is):
Step 1:
Order seitan sandwich hold the mayo and cheese,
Add mushrooms if you like
Include side of spicy Fries
Step 2:
Carefully transport said sandwich to place of dwelling (no eating fries on the way home!)
Slather with Veganaise (evil vegan spread)
Douse with a light spattering of hot sauce
Step 3:
Devour sandwich!
Note of Caution:
If you don't have a giant stomach, eating the entire sandwich will be painful, but usually worth it.
When I first walked into this place, it was full of smoke. The type of smoke that happens when you are cooking something amazing in your kitchen and you set the fire alarm off and ruin your perfect night with frantic "FUCK FUCK, how do I turn it off" type of panic. Whats worse is when one smoke alarm sets off all the smoke alarms in the house and then your neighbors come over, worried. That ruins everything.
Well, it was more smoky than that, but no fire alarm. So it was cool.
This place makes me happy because although its a meat fest, it offers seitan alternatives. Sometimes I want to be normal and enjoy non-hippy food, smoky restaurants, and food that will raise my cholesterol like a normal American.
I personally think the seitan is a little bland. Despite my cheese steak full of bellpeppers, onions, and various condiments, the seitan still tasted like air. I will forgive that.
It is a little expensive. My cheese steak and bottled water costs $10+
I didn't notice if they have cheezwiz available, but I ordered a cheesesteak with only onions, mushrooms and cheese. True Philly Cheesesteaks DO NOT have mayo, mustard, lettuce and tomato. Um, no.
I don't like cheesesteaks without cheezwiz. It's just pretty bland without it. And I don't think this place uses Amoroso's bread. If they do, they must not get fresh shipments daily because the bread was a little stale. NOT GOOD.
Too bad about this place. It's right next to my school. I'd love to come again, but I'll pass.
NOT A CHEESESTEAK.
Look, these guys are nice, the mural is kind of cool, but these guys do not serve authentic Philly cheesesteaks. Even if you try your best to have them make it without all the crazy extra condiments and garnishes, it's the wrong bread, wrong cheese, etc. The Cheesesteak Shop several blocks down Divis is the place to go.
Furthermore I have to give the place 2 stars because even if you get a burger it's pretty bad: thin, greasy, and the fries aren't so great either.
I don't know how this place is garnering 5 star rave reviews. If you don't believe me, try both places and tell me which is best, never mind authentic.
I love Jay's. Great for a quick bite on the go.
Cheesesteak was very tasty, fairly priced, and came out quick. No real complaints and I'll definitely be going again for quick food when I'm in the mission!
I love Jays! I come for the seitan cheesesteak sandwiches and the herbal garlic fries at least once a week. Sirron Norris' art on the walls are a huge bonus.
Listen up, haters.
Jay's never asked for your opinion, anyhow -- it doesn't fucking care if you think the atmosphere is lacking or its employees could be a little friendlier. Don't like the mustard or the way your sandwich is prepared? That sucks for you.
The cockroaches are part of the goddamn charm.
Bottom line: Jay's is fantastic, not to mention full of personality.
I owe Jay's an apologize. I think I am madly in love with the seitan sandwich with peppers and mushroom and was somehow too scared to say so. Each day that goes by I think about you more and more. Will you ever forgive me my one true sandwich love?
I am a vegetarian so I obviously have a bias here. About once a month I get a major faux meat… Read more »
This review is just for the grilled seitan sandwich with BBQ sauce and sauteed mushrooms that I ate after throwing back a few at the Revolution Cafe on Easter Sunday. Holy resurrection of Christ our Lord, that was an amazing sandwich.
The bread was crisp on top, chewy in the middle and toasty on the bottom. The seitan was tender and meaty, dripping with sauce and plump mushrooms and garnished with crispy shredded lettuce and some good old fashioned mayo. I threw on a couple of hot peppers and things really took off from there.
I love that this place serves up such delicious, decadent vegetarian fare. Move over Trader Joe's veggie corn dogs- these sandwiches are my new favorite drunken munchie food!
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