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    Banh Mi Express

    4.6 (80 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Banh Mi Express Photos

    Business Info

    BANH MI EXPRESS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Banh Mi Express

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    Tofu spring rolls
    Kimberly K.

    I love this little hole in the wall Bahn mi shop. Its location in a strip mall right near my work so I make my way over every now and then for lunch. It's a tiny shop with a handful of tables inside but not a lot of seating. The service is great and food comes out quickly. They always get my orders right when I ask for no jalapeños or cilantro on the side. I typically get the grilled pork Bahn mi which is delicious with the pickled veggies and crispy on the outside but soft on the inside baguette. The jalapeños can get pretty spicy so just be cautious of that. The pork is always tender and delicious. This time I tried out the grilled pork spring roll. The spring roll was nothing really special but it comes with a nutty creamy peanut sauce that has only a very slight spice. My worker always gets the tofu spring rolls and I've shared with her a few times. The tofu is delicious and seasoned with a great firm but not spongey texture. I think the tofu spring roll is my favorite type after trying the pork and chicken. The shop also has various teas and Vietnamese coffee. I love that this shop is easy, quick, and pretty cheap and that will keep me coming back.

    BBQ pork....
    Sal D.

    Definitely recommend the BBQ pork, crispy outer shell but soft and fresh inside. Pork was delicious and tender. Service is quick and price is great. Highly recommend this spot.

    Brandon T.

    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!

    Drinks Menu, March 2026
    lisa j.

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

    Entrance
    Jillian C.

    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!

    Grilled Beef Banh Mi
    Jane A.

    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...

    Tony V.

    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.

    Todd I.

    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.

    Bánh mì thịt nướng
    Lily M.

    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!

    Dac biet banh mi (#1)
    Angela W.

    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.

    Update your hours if you're going to close the location for a month. Ridiculous for someone to waste their break to come here and it's full on a ghost town. Everywhere online says open. It's not hard to update hours on Google, Yelp, etc.

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    Ask the Community - Banh Mi Express

    Can the tea drink sweetness levels be adjusted?

    Hello, and yes we can adjust them.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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