Originally located in Los Angeles is Mendocino Farms. Personally I’m in LA quite frequently typically attending events, if not then at least trying new eateries. Occasionally I will stop by Mendcino Farms once in a while to enjoy their fresh delicious sandwiches. If there’s one thing about me you should know, it’s that I LOVE sandwiches. It’s a buffet on a plate for me, you have bread, veggies, protein, and always and awesome sauce to pair, what can beat that? Their sandwiches are done so well you won’t miss not having a burger or something fried on your plate. The amazing thing about this restaurant is that they are dedicated to sustainable farming and only seek vendors treated fairly with respect.
Once you walk into the restaurant you start off by looking at their menu on a large wall with a brief description of each item they have to offer. From there you place your order and you’re given a number. At that point you can pick chips from little buckets, I personally love the brand they offer and would suggest the dill pickle chips. At that point you walk past their cold items, little salads, veggies, cold pastas. Mendocino is very kind and will offer generous samples, you can even try one of each. Personally I love their almond romesco pasta salad, and their quinoa with beets and apples.
Typically my go to sandwich I always order is their “Not So Fried” Chicken sandwich. Slices of roasted free range chicken, topped with little crispies, and herb aioli, mustard slaw pickle, tomatoes, and red onions on a toasted ciabatta roll. You have the option of either their chipotle bbq sauce, or mustard pickle remoulade. I always go with the chipotle bbq as this pairs very well with the sandwich. The reason for it being called Not So Fried is because their chicken is slow roasted rather than being fried and they add little crispies to the sandwich making it resemble as if you had a piece of fried chicken without the additional calorie count.
Spicy Lemongrass Steak Banh Mi – Being part Vietnamese of course I’m going to automatically want to try their Banh Mi to see what the comparison is to an authentic banh mi sandwich. Served pressed all together on a Ciabatta roll the sandwich has a lemongrass marinated steak with a chili aioli, pickled daikon & carrots, cilantro, jalapenos, and cucumbers. The steak was nicely cooked, vegetables were fresh, and the jalapenos gave a nice kick. This was similar to an authentic sandwich however in my personal opinion the steak should’ve be heated, cold steak is not moist and tends to come off a bit dry regardless of how well it’s cooked.
Other sandwiches I’ve had here is the Peruvian Steak sandwich, kurobuta pork belly banh mi, steak BLT on a Pretzel roll. All have been very delicious but the Not So Fried Chicken has been my ultimate favorite. If you prefer an entrée salad then I would suggest the Save Drake Farm’s Salad which is gluten free as well.
Free Range Chicken Breast, herb goat cheese, beets, green apples, dried cranberries, honey roasted almonds, red onions, and mixed greens served with a Citrus Vinagrette. The salad is so flavorful on its own to be honest it doesn’t even need the citrus, however the citrus is delicious so I still top it off with a little. Refreshing and very filling at the same time.
They offer a patio outside and are also dog friendly for your fur babies such as my own. There is an ample amount of parking, however on the weekends especially, they get very busy since Starbucks is next door. Delicious, fresh, and affordable, you can’t beat that. Give Mendocino a try and let me know what you think. If you’re a sandwich monster such as myself then you will definitely love this place.
Location– 450 East 17th Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Contact – 949.548.2500
Cuisine – Sandwiches & Salads