Toasted is a small and comfy women-led sandwich joint in Parkwood. Many consider this shop a hidden gem, mostly because of its location and its lack of online presence.

Nonetheless, they’re quite popular as Joburg’s very own supplier of delicious toasties. 

The first thing we like about this sandwich shop is its menu. Despite being simple and only focusing on offering toasted sandwiches, they’re able to offer a good variety of options.

Toasted has 14 different sandwiches to choose from, and we just love that they have vegan and vegetarian options too. Their sandwiches can be accompanied by light salads and beverages as well, such as coffee, lattes, teas, and chocolate drinks.

Their food is quite affordable too, with a price range of R 90 – 130 for sandwiches and around R 40 for their drinks.

Service-wise, we love how customers describe Toasted as a place brimming with good energy. Their staff are friendly, energetic, and welcoming, which we commend.

Aside from the delectable food, many of their regular customers love Toasted for their space. While their indoor space is quite small, it opens up to a spacious courtyard decorated with tables and seats.

However, take note that Toasted is also a co-working space fixed with a high-speed internet connection so it’s no surprise that afternoons at Toasted are quite busy. Hence, it might be a challenge to score an empty seat.

The Sandwich Baron is one of the most popular sandwich franchises in South Africa, especially in Gauteng. They’re a well-established business with multiple branches nationwide. 

Aside from their wealth of experience, we also selected Sandwich Baron for their strong reputation, particularly in serving delicious and hearty food. Obviously, their forte is sandwiches, and we love that they offer a broad range of flavours and types.

It’s just amazing how they have about a hundred different combinations of sandwiches. Regular customers also find it thrilling to have a different sandwich they can try out on each visit.

Sandwich Baron also has healthier sandwich options, which is awesome.

It’s also a plus for us how Sandwich Baron is so accessible. Aside from having several branches all over Gauteng, they also have an informative website which lets you conveniently place an order online.

Take note, though, that there are a few complaints about the delayed arrival of online orders. We’re told some customers only receive their food after more than an hour, which is disheartening.

Unfortunately, their in-store service isn’t consistent as well. We’ve received multiple grievances about the usual long waiting time at the shop, which customers find appalling.

Nonetheless, Sandwich Baron’s staff are friendly and we appreciate their efforts to promptly attend to customers’ concerns.

Mugg & Bean is another popular food joint that has branches all over South Africa. We think it’s awesome that they’re also one of the most- and highest-rated food shops that offer delicious sandwiches.

One of the things we like about their sandwiches is aside from offering multiple flavours to choose from, their servings are guaranteed to fill you up. Customers appreciate how their sandwiches are delicious and composed of fresh ingredients.

While many of their customers’ favourites are the shop’s hearty sandwiches, we love that Mugg & Bean has a varied menu. It’s also a big plus for us that they have a separate Halal menu.

Mugg & Bean allows in-restaurant, on-the-move, and delivery orders. It’s great that customers can easily order online, but what’s awesome is they even have their own app you can download on your phone.

They claim orders are processed a lot faster when ordered through their app. However, it’s worth noting that there are multiple complaints about Mugg & Bean’s slow kitchen.

We’re told customers usually have to wait long before receiving their orders, regardless of whether you order in-store or for delivery. Some experienced having to wait more than an hour for their sandwiches, which is just unacceptable.

On top of that, there are also grumbles about the shop’s poor customer service. A few customers complained about the staff’s sloppiness and inattentiveness when waiting at their tables, which is a dismay. 

Although they’re more known for offering one of the best coffees in town, The Perfect Cup also has mouthwatering food, especially their sandwiches and jaffles. The shop is proudly local and handcrafts all the food and coffee they offer, which we love.

They only have the classics so there’s not much to choose from, but customers vouch for the great taste of each sandwich variant. It’s great how their food goes really well with their coffee too, which makes it a perfect place for breakfast and snacks.

The Perfect Cup has a wide-ranging menu, also offering breakfast plates, salads, light meals, and refreshing drinks. Price-wise, their food and beverages are affordable, especially considering the quality and serving amount.

Many prefer this shop for the mesmerising aroma of the coffee beans and its trendy and charming shop set-up. Customers love the welcoming and comfortable ambience and the beautifully-designed interiors.

Their staff are very friendly and welcoming too.

The Perfect Cup is usually very busy, though, especially because they have a lot of regulars who visit daily. So, it’s no surprise if you get there and all the seats are taken.

Nonetheless, there are a handful of grumbles regarding the shop’s poor customer service. Some customers complain that they feel as though the servers aren’t attentive enough.

We hope they can hire and train more staff to be able to provide better service and accommodate more.

Manna Food Co is a young and rising local food joint established in 2020. Their mission is to provide accessible, delicious, and healthy meals to the Joburg community.

They specialise in healthy salads and sandwiches and we love that they offer a variety of innovative flavours to choose from. 

Although they’re a new business, Manna Food Co is quite popular for serving hearty and delicious vegan and vegetarian-friendly meals. Customers also prefer this shop for consistently serving fresh and tasty sandwiches.

They currently have two branches open: one in Rosebank, and one in Bryanston. 

Take note, though, that they are a cloud kitchen, which means they don’t allow dine-in orders. Instead, they allow for pickup orders, as well as for delivery orders via Uber Eats and Mr. D.

Another feature we love about Manna Food Co is their commendable customer service. Their staff are often complimented for being friendly and prompt to respond to inquiries and requests.

However, there are a handful of minor complaints about slow service. As most of their orders are for delivery, there are instances when the food customers receive is a bit later than anticipated, which can be an inconvenience.