Stefano's Golden Baked Hams

18220 Yorba Linda Blvd
Yorba Linda, CA 92886
(714) 993-4267

General:

I have been to this place so many times as I consider it my neighborhood deli.  The place prides itself in their home-made ham and rightfully so.  Line is long every Easter and Christmas, when people come to pick up their pre-order hams. No deli service during these times, pick up only.

This place has a killer panini.  Every single one that I have tried ranges from very good to excellent.  Basically, you can't go wrong and it really depends on your mood.  However, I usually suggest the perennial favorite Golden Baked Ham and Swiss Panini for noobs with buyer paralysis.  Their secret is simple: start from fresh good quality ingredients and everything will show for itself.

They open early at 8.  At brunch and lunch time, the places operates like a deli:  you order, you pay, get a number, and wait.  At dinner, in which they also have a dinner special dish, they are running it full service which could be quite confusing.

Yes, they serve alcohol.  Some wine and local beer selections that can be consumed in their nice front patio.

Details on paninis:  

All paninis have nice crunchiness texture with pretty grill stripes.

Golden Baked Ham and Swiss: the perennial favorite here is quite creamy and on the sweet side from Swiss and honey mustard.  This complements the mild sweetness from the ham really well. Lettuce and tomato garnishes. Recommended for first timers.  5- stars.

Cubano Stefano : ham here is fortified by slow cooked carnitas. Swiss  and mayo and to the luscious creaminess that is counter-balanced with sharp sourness from mustard and pickle.  Must try.  5- stars.

Rue Bini: Italian-German-Asian?  Just call it New Yorker then.  The protein here is pastrami and Swiss which are countered by sourness and texture from sauerkraut. Thousand island dressing, somehow a favorite among Asians, adds medium sweetness and creaminess. Onion gives it a nice crunch and flavor.  4.5 stars.

Bostonian: a double protein here with roast beef and turkey, both are home made, although I prefer it without turkey. The mild salty flavor profile comes from a strong overtone from garlic-jalapeno cream cheese and pepperoncini, both giving a nice spicy kick.  Pepper Jack and avocado add to the creaminess.  Tomato and pepperoncini give a mild sourness undertone supported from the additional crunch and flavor from onion.  4+ stars.

Positano:if you like a Mediterranean touch, this is yours.  Turkey and provolone are the protein. Avocado gives a foundation for the creaminess that is fortified by the Mediterranean touch of sun dried tomato,olive, and onion. 4+ stars.

Palermo: can't get any more Sicilian than this, well, except for their "Uncle Carmine's" (which I haven't tried yet). Delicious chunky home-made meatball sauced with medium sour home-made marinara, then topped with melted Mozarella and Parmesan.  A strong garlic undertone.  4 stars.

Bostonian Panini, no Turkey