Light Guy at Turner's Kitchen — kyu's Review (Nov 20, 2023)

WHOA! Thanks to @anistavrou, I learned about Prime Roots’ #nationalsandwichday extravaganza. I previously encountered this #fakemeat/#meatalternative brand at Plantega locations in NYC, but this was my first time actually trying it. Their deli slices are made with koji, an aspergillus fungus also responsible for culinary hits like sake and miso. I was back in SF this weekend and noticed that Turner’s Kitchen was only a short (but harrowingly steep) drive away. It is a very small spot with no seating (in fact, you can’t even set foot in the door; they take your order from a POS set up in the threshold,) but it’s clearly popular. As I was waiting for my vegan sandwich to be assembled, a half-dozen patrons showed up and started asking whether we were in line. The service was super efficient, but the worker who took our orders was also so friendly and willing to answer our questions. He (Ken?) even took the time to help me get a detailed receipt so I could redeem my free #sandwich.

Turner’s is not a vegan shop, but they have a variety of vegan options, all of which sounded delicious. In the end, Light Guy won the day. The fully vegan version of this sandwich features Prime Roots koji plant-based turkey, avocado, vegan mozzarella, arugula, roasted sweet red peppers, and vegan jalapeño-lime mayo (not spicy) on sliced sourdough. The cheese was surprisingly tolerable; though I could taste a hint of coconut oil, it wasn’t overwhelming. Unfortunately, I so rarely consume vegan cheese that I haven’t the foggiest idea which brand it might have been. I definitely appreciate the statement on the menu that plant-based #deli meats and #vegancheese are always available! The koji turkey was tender, peppery, and delicious; they were very generous with the protein (and the avocado, too!) Actually, though I enjoyed everything about Light Guy, my favorite part of the sandwich was the savory, citrusy aioli. I’m normally not a mayonnaise person, but it was so heavenly, I contemplated licking the paper.

$15 is kind of a lot for a sandwich, but you can almost of taste the love and care at this spot — they definitely specialize in creating filling and high-quality options that surpass what I’ve gotten at other delis. Furthermore, they clearly understand what vegan food is and have established workflows for ensuring an animal-free meal (though as always, the specter of cross-contamination looms;) there’s also no onerous up-charge for subbing in the vegan options. If I found myself in the Mission area again, I’d certainly stop by Turner’s Kitchen — free sandwich or not! #veganisnotscary