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About Mendocino Farms
Mendocino Farms is a California chain of sandwich and salad restaurants. This is its downtown Palo Alto location at 167 Hamilton Avenue. Husband and wife Mario Del Pero and Ellen Chen opened the first Mendocino Farms in Los Angeles in 2005. By 2019 it had more than 20 restaurants across Southern and Northern California.
The Palo Alto restaurant opened on May 2, 2019, according to Palo Alto Online's Peninsula Foodist column. It was the company's 26th location at the time. It took over the Hamilton Avenue space that had been home to LYFE Kitchen, which closed in 2018.
What is on the menu
The menu is built around sandwiches and salads, with seasonal items that rotate through the year. When the Palo Alto branch opened, Palo Alto Online reported that the chain's best-selling sandwich was the "Not So Fried" chicken sandwich, made with roasted Mary's chicken breast on ciabatta. The opening menu also included a plant-based Impossible burger on a plant-based brioche bun, plus salads such as Chinese chicken, Cobb, Caesar and a taco salad made with plant-based chorizo.
The same report noted that most sandwiches could be made gluten free. Menus change with the seasons, so treat these dishes as examples and check the current menu on the website before you go.
Unlike many quick lunch spots, this location also pours drinks. Its location page lists local craft beers and local wine, which makes it a reasonable choice for an early dinner as well as lunch.
How ordering works
Mendocino Farms is a counter-service restaurant. When it opened, Palo Alto Online described a setup where customers ordered first, then picked up drinks and sampled free sides before paying. Diners then took a seat and staff brought food to the table. The same article said the Palo Alto location was piloting online ordering with a separate pickup area, since the company expected heavy demand from downtown offices.
Check the website or call the restaurant for current ordering options before a busy weekday lunch.
Catering
The location page says catering is available all day with deliveries as early as 10 a.m. To order, call the restaurant or email its Palo Alto catering address, both listed on the location page. The restaurant notes that its phone lines open at 8 a.m., two hours before the dining room, which helps when you are setting up an office lunch the same morning.
Planning an office order
For a team lunch, a few steps keep things simple. Collect dietary needs first, since the menu covers vegetarian, plant-based and gluten-conscious choices that are easy to mix in one order. Call or email the catering team the day before if you can, even though deliveries can start at 10 a.m. Confirm the delivery address and a contact name at the front desk, which matters in the larger office buildings along Hamilton and University avenues. If your group is small and close by, picking up from the restaurant is often faster than delivery.
Who it suits
This is a practical pick for a weekday lunch, a quick dinner before a show or a working meeting over sandwiches. The menu has clear choices for vegetarians and for diners avoiding gluten. Beer and wine make it easy to linger at the end of the day. It is part of a chain, so if you want a one-of-a-kind downtown meal, look at our burgers and sandwiches guide for local alternatives.
Tips for visiting
Parking is easier than at many downtown restaurants. The location page points to free two-hour parking in the lot directly behind the restaurant at High Street and Hamilton Avenue. It also suggests Palo Alto Garage R on High Street and street parking nearby.
The restaurant is a short walk from the Palo Alto Caltrain station, so it is easy to reach without a car. Our downtown Palo Alto guide covers the surrounding blocks. Our parking guide explains the city's downtown lots and permit rules.
Location and getting there
Mendocino Farms is at 167 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301, in the Downtown area of Palo Alto. Our Downtown guide covers what else is around.
The Palo Alto Caltrain station is less than a quarter mile away, a walk of a few minutes.
Parking: street spaces and city garages with posted limits (see parking in Palo Alto).
Hours
| Monday to Sunday | 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
|---|
Hours from the business's own website, checked October 30, 2026.
What is nearby
- MNT Studio, studio or gym, under 0.1 mi
- YogaSource Palo Alto, studio or gym, under 0.1 mi
- Palo Alto Creamery, restaurant, under 0.1 mi
- Bell's Books, shop, under 0.1 mi
- Kitchen Nail Bar, salon or spa, under 0.1 mi
- Lytton Plaza, under 0.1 mi
- Pacific Art League, 0.1 mi
- University Avenue, 0.1 mi
Other quick bites and takeout nearby: Bare Bowls (under 0.1 mi); Sweetgreen (under 0.1 mi); Nick The Greek (0.2 mi); Marugame Udon (0.3 mi). Browse the full quick bites and takeout list.
Before you go
- Ordering ahead online or by phone saves time at lunch, when downtown and Cal Ave spots get busy.
- Delivery apps cover most of Palo Alto, but prices and menus there can differ from ordering in person.
- Check the posted hours before a late-night visit, since closing times vary by day.
About this listing
Checked October 30, 2026 against Mendocino Farms Palo Alto location page; Palo Alto Online: Mendocino Farms brings its sandwiches to Palo Alto (2019). How our listings work. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Mendocino Farms in Palo Alto?
Mendocino Farms is at 167 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301, in the Downtown area. The nearest Caltrain stop is the Palo Alto Caltrain station, about 0.2 miles away.
Where can I park for Mendocino Farms in Palo Alto?
The restaurant points diners to free two-hour parking in the city lot behind it at High Street and Hamilton Avenue. It also mentions Palo Alto Garage R on High Street and street parking.
Does Mendocino Farms in Palo Alto cater?
Yes. The Palo Alto location says catering is available all day with deliveries as early as 10 a.m. Orders are placed by calling the restaurant or emailing its Palo Alto catering address.
What are the hours at Mendocino Farms Palo Alto?
The location lists hours of 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day. It says its phone lines open at 8 a.m. for orders and questions.
What are Mendocino Farms's hours?
Monday to Sunday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m..