Cafe X-press

Been four times. Everything’s delicious. Genuinely feels like it’s too good to be in Salem.

Our family of six enjoyed a great lunch at Café Xpress. Small area for seating but good food that some of us couldn’t finish!

One of the best places to eat in the Roanoke valley. We frequent this place at least once a week. My breakfast favorite is the Lentil waffle with fried potatoes, an over easy egg, house tomato chutney and greens. Their BLT’S are the best you’ll find, at least 6 pieces of bacon on homemade bread. Some of our lunch/​dinner fav’s are the Samosa chaat, the Roanoker jerk chicken sandwich, steak wrap, and Asian rice bowl. Try it out, you won’t be disappointed!

We lived in Roanoke/​Salem for about a year and a half. There were restaurants that were ok, but having been away now for several months nothing that I miss. Except this GEM! Café X-​press!
There is nothing that compares to the sandwiches and platters that this family run restaurant dishes out. Fresh in house made deli meats, fresh ground turkey for the turkey burger, excellent Salmon platters the best in the area at any price.
I had BBQ turkey legs that were amazing. Slaw on your sandwich no problem and its dripping with goodness. Like it spicy? I do! Let him know, he knows just how to amp things up and layer the flavors to make every bite a delicious one.
Nothing in town compares. Nothing.
Take a risk, try the Samosa Sampler its amazing. Get the tandoori chicken wrap, branch out. This guy knows how to make the ordinary, extra.
His staple dishes are great too. Everyone from a foodie like myself to a meat and potatoes kind of guy will enjoy what comes out of this kitchen.
Make it easy on yourself. Order the special. I don’t care what the special is, its going to be great!
Many thanks to the husband and wife team that work hard everyday to bring the area something genuinely special. Your dedication to your craft shows up in all the meals that you serve. Keep up the great work!

You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. But there’s stuff that’s «off the menu» which are sometimes posted on a black board. The off menu stuff, like my favorite Samosa Chaat, is delicious and has an authentic flavor.
The sandwiches are delicious! In the winter the soups change frequently and are always hearty and satisfy. Desserts are made in house and match the quality of all other menu items, which is to say, excellent. However, do call for the hours as they change somewhat seasonally. Try this place, you won’t regret it. The hard-​working Nepalese couple are friendly and always smiling. It’s not a large place and the place has already developed a loyal clientele who are regular, sort of like «Cheers» on TV!

This small, unassuming café is a real find. The couple that runs the place is very friendly and the service is great. If you can find a seat among all the regulars that frequent the place, you’ll be quite happy with the food. They have plenty of choices and all are well prepared. Good portion size and fresh ingredients make for great food. I had a Roanoker, and it was excellent. Several of the regulars recommend the soup, and the fries, and half a dozen other menu items. They roast their own beef and slice it right there. Bottom line, make time to get to this place. It is great!

Absolutely our favorite place to eat in Salem, hands down!
The owners are Nepalese, and know how to cook. It’s all made from scratch, and they eve smoke their own meats for the deli sandwiches. What’s unique, is their spin on everything, from chicken curry to their kabobs. Even spaghetti and meatballs, a daily special sometimes, that is awesome. They make delish sweets too. They are right next to the 7 – 11, at Apperson and Colorado St. Try the tandoori chicken sandwich if your like me and love spicy!

Was feeling bold and thus pondered where better to stop off at than a spot next to a 7 – 11 gas station… but yet not in the mood to eat some 7 – 11 Big Bites (which is usually my pre-​basketball snack).
The first time I went here, I got a roast beef sandwich and a shrimp salad platter. The shrimp salad was ok, but the salad portion of the platter was really fresh… everything from the lettuce to the tomatoes. The shrimp were good but still had the tails on them, something that I don’t mind terribly but not something I was expecting. My roast beef sandwich was awesome. The roast beef was fresh, rare, and thinly sliced… not like the «roast beef» loaf from Arby’s. I will go back for another one of these in the near future. The second time I went, I tried the chicken salad wrap with avocado and a side of oriental noodles. The wrap was ok and noodles were essentially cold sesame noodles, which were also ok.
Some other patrons were really enjoying the hell out of the homemade soup. They had some split pea. I will be back for another roast beef sandwich and maybe try another salad… if I get backed up.

I actually stopped at 7 – 11 but I read «New York Style Deli» and decided I needed lunch. I chose the Cajun Chicken Sub. It was perfect, all around. Very nice couple run the place and the menu is extensive.
What sets this place apart from others is that you can tell that this is truly a family run place. I like that… small business kind of feel. Also, they have other items that you probably can’t find locally. Different types of green teas, sodas, and candies from around the world.
Noticed they serve breakfast. Going to try that next.

We read a review of Café X-​press in the Roanoke Times and went for lunch today. My husband and I both ordered off the special menu and were quite pleased with our sandwich choices. The restaurant’s tag line is «New York Style Deli». You won’t exactly think you are in the big apple, but I will tell you they have corned beef, pastrami on rye, an outstanding cole slaw, tuna melt open face on a bagel and yes even knishes! I believe they are open 7 – 7 Monday — Saturday. We initially drove right passed it. It’s behind a Liberty Gas Station and 7 – 11. Tiny little place, maybe 6 tables and a small counter. The owners were charming and although the place was packed they seemed calm and on top of their game. A real find.