Ike's Love & Sandwiches (restaurant)

Ike's Love & Sandwiches also commonly referred to as Ike's is a U.S. based sandwich restaurant franchise that offers meat, vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options.[1][2]

History

The restaurant was founded in 2007 in San Francisco in the Castro district by Ike Shehadeh.[3] The store was originally called "Ike's Place."[4] Ike Shehadeh is of Palestinian descent and stated that he learned how to make sandwiches from his mother.[5] Ike stated that his inspiration for creating the company was "to share my love of bringing people together over amazing food.”[6] By 2024, the restaurant had over 100 locations, primarily in California, but additionally in Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, Hawaii, Texas, Louisiana, and other states.[7][8][9][10][11] Its current CEO is Michael Goldberg.[12]

The restaurant offers a wide variety of options including meat, vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options. It also frequently does celebrity collaboration sandwiches, having over 100 collaborations in 2025.[8] The sandwiches are also known for having unconventional names such as the "Sometimes I am a vegetarian" or the "'Hella' Fat Bastard".[13][14][15]

See also

References

  1. Indy Staff. Ike’s Love and Sandwiches Arrives at State and Mission The Santa Barbara Independent, 2019-07-11, retrieved 2026-02-12^
  2. Greg Morago. Ike’s Love & Sandwiches opens second Houston location in Rice Village Houston Chronicle, October 3, 2025^
  3. Dianne de Guzman. How Ike of Ike’s Sandwiches went from sleeping in his car to running an empire SFGATE, retrieved 2026-02-12^
  4. Sara Cardine. NorCal shop with a cult following brings love, sandwiches to Costa Mesa Daily Pilot, 2022-01-15, retrieved 2026-02-12^
  5. Yitong Lei. Palestinian Pride Expressed Through Coffee and Cuisine East Bay Express, 1 May 2024^
  6. Brett Callwood. Ike’s love, sandwiches is loved up for Valentine Culver City News, 2026-02-06, retrieved 2026-02-12^
  7. Nico Madrigal-Yankowski. Beloved SF sandwich chain opens 100th storefront as new flagship SFGATE, retrieved 2026-02-12^
  8. Megan Bobilin. Ike's Love & Sandwiches opens new Kona beachfront location KITV Island News, 2025-04-02, retrieved 2026-02-12^
  9. Beth D'Addono. Ike Shehadad moved to New Orleans to open a unique Ike's Sandwiches in the Marigny NOLA.com, 2025-01-10, retrieved 2026-02-12^
  10. Martha Cruz. New restaurant to host hiring event for opening team in Henderson KSNV, 2026-02-12, retrieved 2026-02-12^
  11. Sandwich lovers: "Ike's Love and Sandwiches" opens in Fresno ABC30 Fresno, 2019-02-12, retrieved 2026-02-12^
  12. Ike's Love and Sandwiches to open in Roseville abc10.com, 2023-07-19, retrieved 2026-02-12^
  13. Ike's Has Monster Sandwiches, Throws Some Heaters Houstonia Magazine, retrieved 2026-02-12^
  14. Novelty, Gimmicks and Sandwiches at Ike’s - LA Weekly 2019-08-08, retrieved 2026-02-12^
  15. Vegetarian sandwich recommendations in Berkeley www.dailycal.org, 2023-11-22, retrieved 2026-02-12^