The Junket

I have lunch at the Junket maybe once a month. The imported meats and cheeses are intriguing and if you want to brush up on your German, this is the place. Just reading the labels is fun. Food is OK but I shop here mostly for the imports. As to lunch I have to echo some of the other reviews. There is tremendous hustle and bustle behind the counter, but service is slooww. The clientele tends to be elderly. Don’t take offense at this remark. I’m 65 myself but I’m still working and need faster service. If you’re retired, definitely pull up a chair and read the newspaper while you’re waiting.

OMG how wonderful to find this hidden in plain sight gem. Great food, easy parking yay.

Need a quick trip to Germany or Europe but don’t have the time or money? Swing by this little german deli and you will find yourself some super delicious sandwiches, sausages, and other European sweets that were imported from Europe that you really can’t find anywhere else.
I have tried their reuben sandwich on marble rye and it’s DELICIOUS. Their turnovers are buttery, flakey, and very good as well. I have taken my family here and they loved it. Since my family was from HK, my parents found a lot of their childhood snacks and sweets here that were from the UK! They were like kids in a candy shop.
This place is truly a hidden gem in the El Cerrito plaza and it has been around for a very long time. It’s a family-​run place and the owners are a cute old couple who you will find still working diligently behind the counter because this place is their baby for almost 40 years. The time and effort that they put into this deli is just phenomenal.
The atmosphere is very relaxed and slow, so perfect for a Sunday brunch. You will find yourself eating with a lot of grandpas and grandmas, since they probably have been coming here for many many years!

Best place for sandwiches! I have eaten here a hand full of times and it has been fantastic every time! The price is very reasonable. I get half a sandwich, a small side and a bottle of water for $ 7.50!

I’ve lived in Albany for 7 years and unfortunately found out about this gem AFTER moving out of Albany… I came here on a sunny afternoon and ordered pastrami on rye with mustard simple right? But the flavors are beyond that. The pastrami was so fresh and nestled in between warm, soft, toasted rye bread was just phenomenal. Highly recommend!

Nothing to write home-​about. Save yourself the $ 1.50/$ 2 in added cost and just pick-​up a sandwich from Lucky.
The meat and cheese are of OK-​quality but nothing special. The veggies likewise are bland and don’t feel like they are that fresh.
The service is kind of a crap shoot. The ladies who make the sandwiches do a good job but the management (the two old guys) are whack. Totally disorganized, confusing, and cold.
Sandwiches are $ 7 or $ 8 when they really should be $ 5. Honestly the whole German experience is lost in this place too. I’ve never been to Germany but I think an actual German would scoff at this shop.
To the owners: goto Davis, CA and checkout Zia’s Delicatessen. They do it right. They probably do 2x your volume in ¹⁄₈ store size and have a truly homey feeling.

I grew up eating at a German Deli, called «Mecca» deli, in the Monterey Bay. Best sandwiches ever.
So I was excited to hear of The Junket and hustled down there to get a Pastrami Sandwich. (Did I say avoid Saul’s Deli’s Pastrami sandwiches? I didn’t listen & my stomach AND wallet paid the price…)
Findings @ «The Junket»:
–Mostly female employees, which I like. (Women are kinder, on avg.)
–Close to Traders Joes Eeeeeexellent!
–Drop dead comfy interior. «Cooliance»! Yeah, I coined a new word after being in there (Cool+Ambiance. C’mon, keep up!)
–I can bring my dog (she’s well behaved)
–tall Brunette working the counter was as breathtaking visually, as she was kind and helpful (turned me on to purple sour kraut, which I now prefer).
–Their German beer collection made me forget about the Brunette at the counter!
–Sandwich was crafted as I’d expect from a real live German dude, with attention to detail. (It was so good, I gave half to my uncle, as a great sandwich is made to be shared.)
–Sandwich came lightening fast
This will be one of my haunts.
Great beer here, too bad it was lunch hour.
Thanks for a wonderful 1^st experience, crew @ Junket,
Prost!

For as many people they have working here they’re sure unorganized and slow during the lunch rush. It can take 15 minutes just to lined up and be rung up and they haven’t even starting making your sandwich yet.
The sandwiches and other European speciality items are nice but this places needs to do better overall.

Such a cute restaurant! Usually I like my sandwiches toasted, just my default answer every time I’m asked at deli’s but since they didn’t ask me, the sandwich wasn’t toasted which I actually appreciated! I love Dutch crunch bread but it usually hurts the roof of my mouth every time I eat it, but since it was not toasted it was softer and so easy to eat!
I ordered the chicken salad and it tasted so fresh with the apples inside of it. And the red potato salad was VERY good and not sour like some places. Definitely coming back.

Food was decent, I picked a bad dutch crunch because it wasn’t the usual texture of dutch crunch. I had a decent amount of meat in my sandwich but my friend had like. NOTHING. Also the front lady was pretty rude to my friend. She wasn’t AS rude to me, but she was pretty mean to my friend, taking our orders. Otherwise, the other 2 gentlemen that helped me were super nice and friendly. They have a cool little grocery section and I happened to find stroopwafels so I got them… they’re…AMAZING.
I ended up getting some pasta salad with my sandwich and it was just OK.
I’d like to come here again and get the sausage meal since it looks bomb.
I’m going to try again and see if I can get another nicer lady to take my order instead. lol.

We shared a cajun turkey sandwich from here the other day and it was delicious! I did not go inside this time but I’m sure we’ll be back for more and different. It is right by the Trader Joe’s we do most of our shopping so I see lunches from here in our future and I will update this review at that time.

I’m a fan and will be back. We ordered the Cajun Turkey Sandwich and had avocado and muenster cheese added. Our sandwich which came on a baguette was $ 8.50, but fed two adults. The shop (Deli) is very clean and spacious. Although a little confusing to me being a first timer. I had to ask where to go to place my order and then where to go to pay and pick up. The folks working there are very nice, helpful and joined in on a little joking around with the customers.
Since I had time to wait for said sandwich, I looked around a little. Quite a nice selection of European cookies, crackers and there is a fresh cheese case with a very nice assortment of cheeses.
Considering how tuned into sweets as I am, I totally bypassed the dessert case! I HAVE to go back just to check that out.
So now our sandwich arrives and it wasn’t long before we were sharing our delight with this choice for lunch.
The bread was very fresh. The Turkey perfectly seasoned with just the right amount of kick. The avocado addition was perfect. Overall a very good sandwich.
I’ve been in this area practically all my life. When I did see this place from the outside, I stayed away just because of the name, I guess. It doesn’t scream «Come see what I’m all about people!» from the outside. Very understated. But with so many of my Unilocal friends having been here, I just couldn’t be left out any longer. And we’re so glad we’ve made another wonderful personal Unilocal discovery!

BRAUNSCHWEIGER. I have no idea where to get braunschweiger in these parts (This might be due to the fact that I haven’t made an effort to look and I mostly buy groceries at Target. Don’t judge me!). My doctor basically prescribed liver to me and I don’t really like it, but then I remembered I loved braunschweiger as a kid. I’m going to take a stab at it and see how it goes. I can’t speak for it yet, as I’m full to the brim with a Westphalian ham sandwich. I just remember that it requires lots of mustard.
It was refreshing to walk into a spot that didn’t feel like a artisan, handcrafted handlebar moustache. There are lots of different sandwich options, including a few different types of ham. I can’t wait to try all of the hams!
There were also desserts on display, including princess torte and also have strawberry rhubarb pie! Oh and they have quark and german potato salad, which are both on my list of things to get next time.
There’s a Stammtisch on the second Friday of every month where you can hang out and converse in German, maybe eat some ham while you’re at it.
The groceryesque part reminds me of the Christkindl Markt in Chicago, except it’s indoors and not 12 degrees. If only they had the steaming hot potato pancakes, then it might be truly perfect. Still, I give it an A+.

My husband and I were regulars here (him more than me) when we lived down the street. We would come in for a sandwich (me) and brat (him) and enjoy a good beer while sitting in/​outside. The owners are the nicest people around and we still miss them and their awesome shop years later.
Their grocery portion of the store is amazing. I got all my German and British food needs here and every time my German born Oma (grandma) would come to visit us, she would go nuts in the deli and chocolates.
They have a great beer selection, on tap and bottled.
They have a great Oktoberfest every year with music and traditional dancing.
If I’m ever in the neighborhood again, I want to stop in just for the nostalgia, and perhaps a beer. :)

I have just 1 word for you: Bauernschinken
I’d never heard of bauernschinken until I tried it at this adorable little german market just past Trader Joe’s in the El Cerrito Plaza. I tell you what, it makes for one delicious sandwich. Bonus tip: get it open-​face.
Lots of fun european goodies can be found here, including deli meats and cheeses, chocolates and candy, canned and dry goods, german beer on tap and in bottles, and cute little tchotchkes. A perfect respite for expats missing home, or 1^st generation East Bay residents with parents that passed on a taste for the old world.

passed by the Junket for decades. didn’t think much of them until Ivy R. tuned me in.
offerings: german draft beer, bottled german and european beers, deli/​salad/​pie/​bakery section, european/​british cookies, sammies, condiments, etc.
eats: corn beef sammie on dutch crunch (6.75) no tax
–acme bread with mayo, lettuce, tomato, pickle spear, etc.
–bread and pickle delish, everything else average.
–cheese, .+.75
3ish stars
crumbs:
–sammie average re taste
–rest of menu interesting.
–lots of seating in front near windows.

Lovely little restaurant in the corner, friendly people and yummy simple food that just satisfied your appetite!

I found myself in El Cerrito during lunch time so I turned to my fellow Unilocalers to look for a good sandwich place. The Junket popped up and I decided to give it a try. My GPS wanted to make life difficult and kept swearing the place was right next to Trader Joes. I decided to use my map skills to figure out that the place was on the outer edge of the larger shopping area.
My husband and I were greeted by a couple of different employees that were all friendly and helpful. I knew I wanted to order the roast beef and muenster thanks to previous reviews. I wish I had tried the wheat bread that everyone has raved about. I loved my sandwich but I had the sourdough roll and it was a little hard for my liking. My husband had a pastrami and swiss which was good, but not as awesome as my sandwich =)
I loved that they had diet Stewart’s Root Beer available which is hard to come by. They also have many beers on tap if you want to enjoy one with your meal.
There is a selection of grocery items as well and I stumbled upon some low carb bread. It can be hard to come by so I had to buy a couple of different types. When I told the cashier I was excited to see the items for sale, he let me know that if I called on a Friday they would order some on Monday for me and put it aside for pick up. How nice is that? This may become routine for me as the bread is fantastic!
When I am in the area I will definitely stop by The Junket for good sandwiches and great customer service!

I happened upon this place all by accident. Hunger can lead you to many wonderful places.
The front of the restaurant is open seating once you stand through the order line. It took me a minute to navigate the menu board but I got it down.
I had a delicious Roast Beef Sandwich with Muenster Cheese. The wheat bread was the best wheat bread I’ve ever had. It wasn’t earthy but sweet and nutty. I didn’t get it toasted because I was wearing red lipstick.
Service was outstandingly good. They treated everyone wonderfully. Which inst always the case at very German places I’ve found.
Then I topped it off with an iced regular coffee. They have a wide selection of German Beers and treats. I had to leave with my sandwich to another appointment but I so wished I could have stayed in and ate lunch here.
I would come here every week if I could. The sandwich was great. Service was second to none and the ambiance isn’t something you find everyday. Come by any mean necessary.

I was very impressed with The Junket. My guy brought me here after realizing that he never shared this place with me. He wouldn’t tell me where we were going and tried to throw me off when we arrived at the mall.
It was a German Deli with storefront and beer on tap. A perfect lunch on a beautiful afternoon. I absolutely love places like this, run by the same owners over the years. My guy has been coming here since High School and remembers the same people behind the counter.
I love checking out the German and European products you can only find in specialty stores. The aisles are filled with crackers, cans, sweets. They sell specialty meats and cheese. I bought some crackers which I thought would be great with a cheese plate at home.
For lunch, I ordered a Reuben. I just knew that if they made good sandwiches, that this would blow me away and it did. The meat was so juicy and flavorful with the sauerkraut, the sauce and dark rye bread. Would you believe me if I said it was perfect?
My guy ordered his favorite all time sandwich, the Roast Beef Provolone half sandwich and soup combo. The soup was chicken noodle and reminded me of the kind that my grandma Josephine would make. Simple and comforting chicken noodle soup.
And finally, the tipping point for a Beer Lover like me was the selection of quality beer in the cases. If you love German and Belgian beers, you will find yourself in a difficult situation picking just one. We decided on the Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier to go and a Bitburger and Spaten for there. They serve it to you in the proper glass, which I love.
I can’t wait to come back and try other sandwiches and cheese and beer and stuff. It really is a hidden treasure in El Cerrito.