The pate is sooooo smooth and creamy, it's the soul of Banh Mi. This reminding me the original taste from Vietnam that I couldn't find at any where else in the U.S. Highly recommended the #1 special, their cold cuts are the best. read more

Banh Mi Express - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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Decent banh mi spot run by a local family. Got a grilled pork - comparatively to Ks sandwiches, they have more filling, but I think the flavor profile is better at Ks, whereas this place has better bread and more meat. Pork was a little underseasoned but that's just personal preference. read more

Banh Mi Express - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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Was going to carls Jr but Banh Mi sounded a lot better. Smaller shop w six tables. Usual sandwiches Bahn mi special; sardines; BBQ beef; pate and cold cuts. 11 sandwiches offered. Spring rolls and drinks are also on the menu I ordered the special. Outcomes are shorter, but fatter sandwich filled with veggies and a really good amount of meat. They don't skimp on ingredients. bread is fresh, but my body is covered with crumbs. One of the heartiest Bahn mi I've had. Filling two hander read more

I love Banh Mi Express! It's my go to spot for lunch during the work week. The food is reasonably priced, the portions are amazing, the taste is impeccable! I personally love the grilled chicken banh mi and the shrimp and pork spring rolls (I always ask for extra peanut sauce because it's sooooo delicious) with a Thai tea or a Vietnamese coffee depending on what I'm in the mood for. While the restaurant is small, it has plentiful seating, and fast service, it typically takes 10 mins or less to get your food after ordering. I typically call my order in as I'm walking over to make it a bit faster for me and allows me to get back to the office if I have a busy day ahead of me. The staff is super friendly and always happy to see everyone that comes in. If you're looking for an authentic Vietnamese place to enjoy some amazing Vietnamese food, look no further and come in for a visit and enjoy some of the best Vietnamese food in town! read more

I originally pulled into this parking lot debating between Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf or grabbing a poke bowl at Poke One N Half, but then I spotted Banh Mi Express and decided to try something different. Little hole-in-the-wall spots like this are either a gamble... or absolute gold. This one was GOLD. I walked in completely sight unseen--no Yelp check beforehand--and ordered the #6 grilled chicken banh mi along with a Vietnamese coffee. After paying (around $16 with tip), I had my coffee immediately and my sandwich in under five minutes. The bread was still warm, so I ate it right there in my truck--and wow. Everything tasted incredibly fresh. The grilled chicken was packed with flavor, the veggies were crisp and bright, the sauce was perfectly balanced (not heavy at all), and the baguette... absolute perfection. Super fluffy on the inside with that light, crunchy exterior that makes a banh mi great. And if you follow my Yelp reviews, you know I take my coffee seriously--especially iced coffee and cold brew. The Vietnamese coffee here was fantastic. Strong (in the best way), not watered down by cream, and perfectly portioned. Just really well done. Banh Mi Express is officially going into my regular lunch rotation when I'm at the office. Fast, fresh, affordable, and delicious--with friendly service to top it off. Easy five-star spot. Thanks for the great food and service! read more

Banh Mi Express - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Banh Mi continues to offer excellent sandwiches. Price have gone up so I added updated menu pictures. read more

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Came here on a Monday around 10am. There were no customers inside but we were greeted and attended to right away. There are plenty of tables to sit inside and outside. We ordered #3, pate cold cuts and a Thai tea and Vietnamese coffee. The drinks and Banh mi all came out very quickly. The Thai tea tasted pretty standard but was still good. The Banh mi was great. The baguette was fresh, the crust was crunchy but not too hard, and the inside was soft. There was a good amount of pate and the Vietnamese mayo, which I really enjoyed. Made the last bite full of flavor instead of just a hard nub like most other Banh mi places. I definitely would recommend a try here. I for sure would come back for a banh mi fix if I'm in the area. read more

Baguette is very fresh (5 stars). Sandwich size is big, so for me 1 sandwich was for breakfast and lunch, worth $ and the drive. I like the Special Sandwich. I don't like the Grilled Pork Sandwich because the pork was like Cha Siu flavor Chinese red pork, not the Vietnamese lemongrass grilled pork. Coffee is really good. The peach tea was also very good. read more

My favorite Banh mi spot in SD!! I'm always craving Banh mi when I come visit my family on the weekends. I only wish they were open on Sundays. But honestly you can't go wrong with their banh mi special or grilled pork Also, their Vietnamese iced coffee always hits!! So good and strong. read more

Bánh Mi Express in Kearny Mesa serves up some authentic Bánh Mi sandwiches with freshly made bread that is perfectly crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. The meats are super flavorful and the vegetables give the perfect freshness the sandwich needs. Follow @allthingsfoodinsandiego for more must try San Diego restaurants, date night ideas, food experiences, kid friendly spots, with a sprinkling of home-cooking! read more

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WORK LUNCH STOP (3.75) - FOOD: good - PRICE: fair - SERVICE: quick (all orders to go) - AMBIANCE: small plaza restaurant This is a work lunch kind of place. Since this is very close to my office it's more of a convenience than a crave. :: ORDER :: #6 GRILLED BEEF BAHN MI ($7.99) - since this is not my go to place I had lower expectations only to take a bite and was pleasantly surprised of my first bite. The layers of stuffed banh mi checked off. The grilled meat tasted more like left over lightly marinated kbbq meat (and in in with that because it wasn't bad). I thought to myself, okay I can now just come here if I need a sandwich instead of driving to K Sandwiches although K sandwiches is the preferred RECOMMEND SODA - served in a can. Not much selection. The basics. I'd def come back to try their springs and some of their custom beverages. Until the next review... read more

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Absolutely a sandwich worth every bite. Their classic cold cut special stuffed with all the meats and generous pate spread balanced with the crunch of pickled carrot, daikon and cucumbers and the heat of jalapeños all wrapped with precision on a crunchy light chewy baguette was on point. read more

Banh Mi Express - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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This bánh mì shop is located in a big plaza with plenty of parking. It opens early which is perfect for breakfast time. The service is always good here and food comes out fast. The shop is clean and has a few tables for dine in, I think most people do takeaways though. The bánh mì itself is delicious and filled to the brim with meat. The baguette is always crispy and fresh! I initially thought the price is kinda high but you get what you pay for. Highly recommend! read more

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Got a quick sandwich here after running an errand. Found parking right in front. Service was fast! Banh mi was delicious. Fillings were a great ratio. I'd get the bbq pork sandwich again. read more

I ordered the beef Bahn Mi. The baguette, vegetables were good quality but some bites of the beef was sort of chewy. No the best quality. The service was friendly and fast. read more

This is my go-to spot do Banh-mi, especially around lunchtime. They really get it right here. The baguette is freshly baked crispy on the outside, soft inside - and that's what makes the difference. You can't fake good bread. The place itself is clean, nicely lit and can get busy, but staff is quick and efficient, which helps when the lunch crowd rolls in. read more

Banh mi is my favorite sandwich, and probably one of my all time favorite foods. I crave it morning, noon, and night. Even as an 80 year old with no teeth I'd blend one up and drink it with a straw. Anyways, I was excited to see good reviews for Banh Mi Express, as it is closer to me than Mira Mesa, where my favorite banh mi in SD can be found. I dropped by Banh Mi Express on a weekend and it was empty, though they were working on takeout orders. The shop is small with seating and a TV playing food videos. Service is friendly and I got my food quickly. I ordered the dac biet with extra veggies, and the fried spring rolls. When I got home, I was surprised to realize there were two sandwiches in my bag, along with the bag of 4 spring rolls and it's accompanying veggies and fish sauce dip. I'm unsure if they threw in an extra sandwich or gave me two since the bread was small, but regardless it was an exciting find! The spring rolls were crispy and very flavorful, no notes. Deliciously messy to eat in a lettuce wrap with pickled veggies and sticky-sweet fish sauce dripping down your hand. The banh mis were also delicious. I had one day-of and one the next day. The large amount of mayonaise made the bread get soggy in places overnight, but overall still held up quite well. I think that the bread is still not as good as the bread from my favorite banh mi place, Paris Sandwiches. It didn't taste quite as fresh, and was more domed and less flat, which is just more difficult to eat, and made each bite feel a bit breadier than I would have liked. The fillings slid around more than I would have liked, despite the death grip I had on the rear of my sandwich. On to the fillings, this sandwich was STUFFED. When you ask for extra veggie, they give you MEGA extra veggie. Tons of cilantro and pickled veg. There was a generous amount of cold cuts and thick globs of pate. Stupendous. I will say that next time I think I will ask for a touch less mayonnaise, as that was a bit excessive for me. Overall, very solid little sandwich shop that I can see myself frequenting when I want a banh mi but don't feel like risking my life on the wide, endlessly merging highway towards Mira Mesa. I would love to try the other banh mi fillings, Viet coffee, as well as their noodle dishes. read more

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I stopped by to get Vietnamese Iced Coffee because I was running on very little sleep. I experienced great customer service - a friendly greeting and a smile when I walked in. I ordered my coffee and she handed it to me like a minute later - super fast! It tastes great, it's strong coffee, and I will 100% be back...probably within the next week :) read more

Banh Mi Express - Inside - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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I love this place!!!! Best Banh Mi sandwich. The service is fabulous too. It's a must try! read more

This is a solid to go banh mi place that my husband and I love. The sandwiches are all under $10 and the portion is pretty generous as well. They also sell rice noodle bowls, spring rolls, coffee, iced tea, and smoothies. My personal favorite is the avocado smoothie! The place is small but very clean. Every time I come here; the service is fast and no problems at all. Bahn Mi Express is located in a small shopping plaza and it opens very early, which is so convenient for night shift works like me. Overall, i definitely recommend this place! read more

Banh Mi Express - Inside - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Walking distance from Kaiser that brought me there it's tucked away in a shopping center. I've had the combination plate to the banh mi sandwich, Vietnamese coffee and everything was delicious. The line to order can be quite long around lunch time. Staff are all friendly and helpful. Closed on Sunday. Cathy E. read more

Banh Mi Express absolutely delivered. The food came out fresh, fast, and loaded with flavor. The bread had that perfect crunch without falling apart, and the fillings were generous -- you can tell they actually care about quality. The grilled pork was easily the standout for me, super well-seasoned and not greasy at all. Their spring rolls and dipping sauce were also legit, and the portions overall feel worth the price. Service was quick and friendly, and the place is perfect if you want something tasty without waiting forever. Definitely a spot I'll keep coming back to. read more

Great food and nice staff always friendly! Perfect spot for a quick lunch if you're on the go! I give it 5 stars!!! read more

Banh Mi Express - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

FINALLY a banh mi place that doesn't charge $10+ for a banh mi and actually packs it full of ingredients! The deli special is the classic one to get and one Banh mi is plenty to get you full and in a food coma. It comes with a nice thick layer of pate and creamy butter so it's not dry at all! The bread itself is crunchy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside - literally like that one scene in Ratatouille. There's seating inside if you want to eat in, simple tables, nothing fancy but clean. Adding this to my list of regular places to grab lunch! read more

Super inexpensive and a perfect quick lunch pick up! The staff was really nice. The tofu banh mi itself was pretty good. I wish it tasted a bit more refreshing. It went a bit heavy on the black pepper and I would've love to taste maybe some mushroom pate or some dynamic flavor added to the sandwich. Overall, still very good! read more

Banh Mi Express - tofu banh mi - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

This banh mi sandwich shop in Kearny Mesa has changed names multiple times. I don't know if the ownership remains the same as when the original business first debuted several years ago. The suite was fairly small and hasn't experienced any major upgrades with a few tables available for on-site dining. The parking lot at the Ruffin Village can be congested at peak meal times as there are plenty of dining options in this plaza. My visit occurred during the final hour of operation, however I don't think any item was sold out or unavailable. The menu screens displayed eleven varieties of banh mi, egg rolls, five combination specials, five kinds of spring rolls, and beverages (coffee, iced teas, smoothies). I do believe the variety of choices has been slimmed down from its predecessor (e.g. chè and desserts were no longer offered). All of the sandwiches were priced at either $6.99 or $7.59. Back in the day, that would be considered expensive, however it's about the norm in 2024. I chose the #1 Banh Mi Special which was a Dac Biet and the Shrimp Spring Rolls. The sandwich ingredients were cold cut ham, pork, chicken liver pate, mayonnaise, pickled daikon, carrots, cucumber, jalapeno, and cilantro. The bread was crusty on the exterior and soft in the inside. The size was pretty good with a solid amount of meat and pate. Two pieces came with the spring roll order along with a traditional peanut dipping sauce. The rolls were standard in portion size. Overall, I gave a 3.5 star rating for my takeout meal at Banh Mi Express. read more

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The pate has a fishy smell, and sometimes it's cold, which makes it even fishier. They add too much pate and too much bread, which makes it even worse. read more

This is without a doubt my favorite banh mi shop in San Diego. The bread here is just better than any other shop I've tried and on par with the elite shops in Little Saigon. Small shop, small menu, but biglong flavor. Great service and it just reopened so it's very clean as well. 10/10 if you haven't tried it, order a grilled pork if you want a standard banh mi, but cold cuts or sardines if you're true vit na me read more

I wanted something light, so I came here for a banh mi. It was on a Tuesday afternoon and there was no one inside. It was quiet with some relaxing musing playing. One of the workers sweeping, but went to the back to wash his hands and help me right away. I ordered the #7 Grilled Beef Banh Mi and it was fire. The bread was fresh, hot and crunchy. The beef was flavorful and the veggies tasted fresh. read more

Banh Mi Express - #7 Grilled Beef Banh Mi - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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Got the Banh Mi Special and ooooooooommmmmmmmmmmggggggg........Absolutely delicious! I was unable to get a picture of the food due to the fact that I could not put the sandwich down! This place is definitely a hole in the wall that I will be visiting frequently! 10/10 read more

I'm certainly not super well-versed in Vietnamese cuisine but this place makes a great sandwich. Crunchy bread, fresh toppings and tasty pork. The coffee is strong and delicious. And the price is unbeatable. Always quick and accurate. read more

Every experience here has been a positive one for me. If you need something quick and fresh, I highly recommend trying this spot out. 1) I always get the chicken banh mi - the bread is always soft with the right amount of crunch (it will not scratch the roof of your mouth!). 2) If you need a big hit of caffeine, the Vietnamese iced coffee is always a good choice. 3)I just tried one of their noodle dishes - I got the shrimp and grilled pork. The portions are huge and it was delicious! read more

Definitely one of the better Bahn Mi places in the area. Love that the sandwich is loaded with veggies and ample meat, in my case it was the grilled pork. Also like the Vietnamese coffee, it's not instant and is strong. I also got the grilled pork spring rolls, which were fantastic, but they didn't have any chili paste, only sriracha?? That's a miss from a Viet place, but otherwise I highly recommend. read more

This is the best Banh Mi I've had yet. It's all in the baguette for me. The service is really good and friendly. It's a small place (i think there's only one table inside) but there is seating outside. read more

This place has the best banh mi in San Diego. It's overly stuffed with protein, and their in house fresh pate, mayo and bread makes it taste amazing. The guy there is always so so friendly. It's a small shop, a good on the go food place with high quality and very inexpensive. read more

Banh Mi Express - #1 special - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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Banh Mi Express. FIRE. Small fast food style dining room and quick, very friendly service. Now the food. I got the #5 Grilled Beef Banh Mi with extra vegetables on a fresh & crispy baguette roll. The beef was marinated and tender, and the veggies were juicy. The sliced jalapeños were served on the side of the sandwich, which I liked because I opted not to include them this time. The sandwich was fire. Very delicious...and $7.99. This is refreshing in a world of unending $12 sandwiches these days. The egg rolls came in a pack o' four and were freshly prepared to order. Very tasty and pretty large. An ok value at $6. I may not order them again but they hit the spot today. I will be coming back. read more

Banh Mi Express - Beef Banh Mi with extra vegetables and an egg roll - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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Great size Banh-Mi for the price! A good place to get your banh mi fix. The place and menu has all the types of banh mi you would want. The special tasted great! I ordered some spring rolls as well and it was fresh. I also got a thai tea and it was sweet and creamy. The service was fast and friendly. I would definitely come back. read more

I ordered 2 bánh mi. A combination and a grilled pork. I had the combination and it didn't tasted right to me. The bread and meat ratio was off. Too much meat that breaks the sandwich. The pickled daikon and carrots wasn't pickled enough that gives you a bland taste and lack of acid to balance out the meat, pate and mayonnaise. I couldn't finish the sandwich. My daughter had a grilled pork one and she couldn't finish her as well. Her comment was "it didn't tasted right ". So I guess we're not coming back. read more

Prices are great! Got a grilled chicken banh mi for $11 (which includes the tax and 18% tip!). It was packed with delicious chicken and great pickled veg. I will definitely be making this my new lunch spot! read more

Banh Mi Express - #6 grilled chicken banh mi - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

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Two full banh mi (9 in) for 16 dollars! So good, egg rolls AMAZING. Service was super fast and friendly, the best banh mi place I have found. Very authentic and I'm Asian!! Best to eat in person. read more