Alvin’s Sandwich Shop

Alvin’s You’ll be missed
Just got back from a trip and decided to stop in for a couple of Alvin’s EXCEPTIONAL breakfast tacos. Unfortunately, they have closed.
I can’t say I’m shocked, as they were never very busy, but I can say for sure that they’ll be missed.

I’ve recently been eating at Schlotzsky’s almost everyday for lunch. They have this amazing cheap deal ongoing for $ 2.90 a meal. One of my co-​workers advised me of Alvin’s similar sandwiches for when the coupons are over with.
So I drove over to dingy shop last week. Horrible aesthetics of a storefront never turn me off because I have had some of the best foods at hole-​in-​the-​walls, but this place was literally mind-​blowing (in a bad way). You walk into a Thai atmosphere with a TV playing karaōke music to one corner and decorations all over the wall. BUT you take a look at the menu, thinking there is going to be some sort of Thai influence, but there is nothing but mainly turkey sandwiches.
Finally, on to the food: The sandwich was decent, but I wouldn’t go back for it. The bread looks similar to Schlotzsky’s but is softer. There is not much flavor to it either. However, my co-​worker mainly praised the breakfast tacos, so perhaps one day… I might go back and try that.

Ate here on the run between jobs one day. Just ok.

Good tasting tacos, you just have to know what to order. Potato, Tomato, Cheese ($ 1.25).

Anyone for a Tomato Spongewich?
Man, this place was bland, bland, bland. My wife and I stopped in after passing this place for years. We got a Philly and a Pastrami. Both came on what appeared to be sourdough. But, I’ll tell you, someone needs to get these people to San Francisco and show them how to make sourdough as it did not taste like sourdough (it didn’t taste like anything). If it was supposed to be muffaletta style bread (with no sesame seeds), it was not tasty at all. Whatever it was, my niece makes better bread in her Eazy-​bake Oven. The bread was like a sponge (almost injera like so to speak) with absolutely no flavor. The meats were even more bland. Really? How is that possible? My wife said it best– «These taste like tomato sandwiches on a sponge.» So, we dined in a grubby dining room on air flavored sandwiches, all the while rocking out to some Laotian music playing in the background.
One positive– the potato salad was good. It had a German Potato Salad flavor to it.
No need to make a return visit. It was that bad.

It’s never a good sign when you walk into an eatery and instantly think, «wow this place is dirty and muggy». For some reason I didn’t walk out immediately — maybe it was laziness. Regardless I paid the penalty.
Based on the sandwich type I expected a more toasty and warm. Based on the look of the establishment it was fitting that what I got was more limp and soggy. I did however enjoy watching an employee shove her arm up the ice maker’s ice-​hole (I had just used) to unclog it. It appeared she’d done this before, because she was an ice-​hole unclogger pro.
Bottom line: Eating at Alvin’s is akin to placing a ticking time bomb directly into your bowels. It will not be pleasant for anyone when it goes off and will most certainly ruin your day.

I am pretty sure that a Muffaletta must consist of some non-​basic cold cuts, like salami and pepperoni. Not just olives with some turkey.
The name Alvin’s just ignites some old memories in my mind. I once had Alvin Ord’s in Belton, TX during a camping trip. I was blown away. I have been eyeing this little cheap, Schlotzky’s-esque sandwich joint for quite some time. It is located in some low key strip mall off Research, and well… Alvin’s seems to have some relation to the one in Belton, TX.
The simple menu was easy to choose from, but I was certainly in a dilemma when they told me that they ran out of pastrami. The rest of the menu is your run-​of-​the-​mill turkey and cheese.
The muffaletta was just some olives tossed onto a regular sandwich, as noted before. The potato salad was a touch too runny, but definitely tangy. Acceptable, I suppose.
Alvin’s is a cool little local spot to drop in for a bite to eat, but I do not really endorse making it a go-​to joint. The grub is affordable, but the quality is just really lacking!

Fresh baked bread, good breakfast tacos… Cheap prices.
Like schlotsky’s but local.
Nice owner, remembers me from off and in visits over the 4 years I’ve been in town.

A sandwich is a sandwich right? Yeah, a sandwich made at home. It tasted exactly like something I could have made from home. I was originally hunting for a turkey wrap while driving down Research but I was running out of options as I got closer to my exit, so I thought, eh what the hay.
The lady working there was incredibly polite and friendly. I sure wouldn’t have been if I was working in there with no ac. The sandwiches felt like they had seen cooler days as well.
Didn’t hate it, but didn’t have anything about it that would make me come bouncing back in there.

While this is nothing I would rave about to out of town visitors, it’s a great little hole in the wall place to eat if you’re a local. I stop here all the time on the way to work for a breakfast taco. In spite of what others said, I think it’s an awesome taco, it’s huge and costs just over a dollar. Unfortunately I’ve never seen another patron eating breakfast here, but they’re eager to help me quickly when I come in.
For lunch, the sandwich is just a sandwich, but delicious all the same.
The staff is always the same two hispanic women who may not speak very much english, are very kind and fast.
I’d recommend this to anyone who is looking for a quick and tasty breakfast or lunch during or on the way to work.

Okay, so Alvin’s isn’t the most spectacular sandwich shop around. It is, however, a unique (or at least unique to me) little hole in the wall that serves pretty good sandwiches at a very good price.
First, I should point out that if you want to come here for breakfast, don’t. The breakfast tacos are greasy, soggy, and generally taste lousy. These guys might be open for breakfast, but it’s strictly a lunch establishment for anyone who actually wants to enjoy their food.
The women working behind the counter don’t seem to be native English speakers, but they have a handy menu with big pictures so you can communicate what you want effectively. Whatever you order (the Alvin’s Original in my case) is efficiently created and delivered. The taste is quite good, and the bread is really a treat. It’s light, airy, thin, and somewhat chewy. The juices from the interior of the sandwich soak through about halfway, infusing the bread with flavor while leaving the top and bottom dry so as to keep the bread from disintegrating while you stuff your face. This miracle of sandwich engineering allows the flavors of the sandwich filling to take center stage without being overpowered by an overly thick slab of bread.
The interior of the restaurant seems to have been furnished about 30 years ago and not updated in any way since then. The overall effect is somewhat dingy, and at times housekeeping seems to be a bit of an afterthought. If this is a problem, order to go like I did. That way, you can take it home and eat surrounded by your own personal filth rather than theirs.
Alvin’s is not the end-​all and be-​all of sandwich shops, but it is a welcome change from the Subway-​Quiznos-​Schlotzkys triumvirate of sandwich sadness.

Had them for breakfast today. I got my order to go because the establishment was kind of dirty. Upon arriving home, my tortilla was so greasy that I couldn’t eat it. Won’t return.

Meh.
This place is dirty, slow, and just not that good. The sandwiches aren’t too expensive but I just can’t think of any reason to ever go here with so many other sandwich options close by.

Years ago…
Hubby says: Why not go to Alvin’s in Austin it’s the same right?
I said: Uh. hmmm not sure…
After our last trip to Alvin Ord’s in San Marcos: Did you guys ever try the one in Austin?
I said: Uh, why no, are they affiliated?
They said: yeah they are known for Breakfast Tacos, I’m not sure about the sandwiches…
I said: Maybe…
Today:
I said: let’s go and try it…
Hubby: ok…
This is what we found:
Pro: doritos, fritos, diet pepsi, dr. pepper
Con: sandwiches not even toasted, flavorless meat, strange sweet tasting pickle spear, strange atmospheric smells and décor that doesn’t make sense.

First of all, F to you yuppy tards that forgot what a family ran establishment is.
The breakfast tacos aren’t the best in austin but have you seen them? They’re like a three egg omelette! for like $ 1.25! Oh and they are made with love.
Sandwiches are decent and potato salad is fantastic… Made with love as well.
The downtime is a result of less staff= less overhead=low prices. But then again some people just complain about everything.

I’d been curious about this place for awhile, since I frequently stop and get a coffee at Dunkin Donuts. Today I had the time and the grumbly stomach that made me decide to check it out.
The best word I can describe it with is «meh».
I recently became a vegetarian convert, and there was exactly one veggie option on the menu, but I understand how that is. Still, it took 15 minutes to make, while many other people who came in after me got served first. I can’t help but feel it was personal. But, I even showered before arriving!
The sandwich was good, and at a hard to argue with, price, but there’s not much else going for this place. It looks like an out of place greasy spoon in the Arboretum, but it doesn’t feel like one. I’m not sure what was wrong, but the vibe was off-​and maybe I wouldn’t have noticed if I didn’t have to wait so long for a sandwich.

I had just finished up with a tough Crossfit WOD and was feeling fairly ravenous. I’ve lived across from Alvin’s for the past 2 years and have never seen it open (I think it’s closed on Sundays). Soooo, on my way home I decided to check it out.
I walked in to be greeted by an older lady. She was nice, but I don’t think much of an english speaker. I ordered 3 breakfast tacos. The was pulling out some freshly baked bread in the back so it took a bit of time for them to be made.
The interior of Alvin’s is not the prettiest. It’s sort of run-​down looking inside.
My 3 tacos were pretty tasty. I got the «veggie» tacos with egg. They had a TON of veggies and probably about 1.5 eggs a piece. Not too shabby.

I can’t believe one of my friends gave this place only 1 star here on Unilocal (I won’t name names). I live quite close to Alvin’s, and I used to work close to it, so I have made a habit of eating there. I love the muffaletta bread. Now, considering the fact that I do not like Schlotzsky’s bread, Alvin’s must do something different — and therefore better — with their bread.
I hate to say that I never stray from getting a medium cheese sammich. But hey, I found something I like, so why should I stray from it?
Years upon years ago in Dallas, my mother convinced me to go to an Alvin Ord’s with her, but I found it was merely a 2-​star worthy restaurant. Well, I guess I’m glad Schlotzsky’s and Alvin Ord’s went their separate ways, because the Alvin’s in my neighborhood is supreme. And now that my parents have moved to Georgetown, I am going to take my mother to Alvin’s.
Also, it’s nice to have lunch at Alvin’s and then bop on over to Dunkin’ Donuts afterward for a donut.

I *will* call anyone crazy who doesn’t like homemade muffaletta bread! Alvin’s bread is great, and so are their sandwiches. I remember when Alvin’s was still Alvin Ord’s and had about as many locations around town as Schlotzky’s. I’ve never had a bad sandwich at Alvin’s and I particularly like their original sandwich. It’s similar to Schlotzky’s original, olives and all. I don’t know if I like it better than a Schlotzky’s original, but it’s at least as good. I’m also a big fan of their smoked turkey breast sandwich too.
I’ve been fortunate enough to not have a problem with cleanliness when I’ve been there. I definitely don’t appreciate a dirty restaurant. Have I just been lucky? Hmmm… I’ve been to this location at least 10 times, so I’m not sure. Oh well… Those that don’t like Alvin’s can just stay away and leave it to me and the other people who’ve kept it open for more than 20 years.

I was on my way to Jimmy John’s when I got off of 183 right in front of Alvin’s. Thinking this would be a great opportunity to try someplace new just so I could write a review I cut across 3 lanes of traffic and swooped into the parking lot. In the face of near death for Unilocal this sandwich had better be good.
It wasn’t. I contemplated leaving when I read the unappealing menu board choices and noticed that the bread is the Schlotzsky’s muffaletta-​style bread. I don’t care for soft oily bread, call me crazy. Well since that was the bread offered I went for a muffaletta and was sorely disappointed that the olive salad was only some sliced black olives. The sandwich wasn’t dry thanks to the oily bread but there wasn’t any other sort of dressing to add flavor. I ate the sandwich because I eat anything but that is about the only reason.