i don't have to miss bahn's anymore now that we are back in durham and within walking distance! hooray. i am excited about the veggie wonton soup on wednesdays and also the veggie noodle soup on saturday. thank you to bahn's for adding some new, yummy veggie options! previous review: i miss bahn's so much. i try and try to find something similar to their number 8 in san francisco but never can. If you haven't had their number 8 special on saturday (also wednesday) then you are really missing out. It's a plate of perfectly fried tofu, but it's not super firm tofu, in fact it's kind of soft. it's covered in a delicious black bean gravy with fried onions..my mouth waters thinking about it. on the side is some sticky rice that is a little sweet and has peanuts and sesame seeds on top. also on the side is a yummy spring roll and a hoisin sauce, with peanuts, to dip it in. i haven't had a number 8 since october and i don't know the next time i will get one. it's really pretty sad. read more

This place is small in size but, the taste is gigantic...the quality of the food is high but, many may see the place as sketchy because of the Coke machine that looks like it's from the 1970s and the use of large crockpots to cook your food...I highly recommend it because the prices are unbeatable and the food is delicious but, if you're really picky about the set up and look of the restaurant you probably won't be a fan. read more

Just get "the special" and trust it will be great. Bring cash because they don't take credit cards. Sit outside for delightful people watching. read more

Banh's is a small place with simple, wholesome, home-cooked food and pleasant service. If you like tofu, the Wednesday vegetarian special is worth a try. I also enjoyed the chicken curry dish with potatoes and carrots. But this is definitely not a full-service Vietnamese restaurant. If you can get past that and accept it (difficult, I know!), you'll enjoy Banh's a lot more. read more

Every Wednesday and Saturday they serve more 'authentic' food. I found the food to be flavorful and well priced. I ordered the 'Friday special. It was served promptly. 'I will visit again on a Wednesday or a Saturday to try the more authentic meals. Inexpensive and not very flashy. read more

Just don't stray from the vegetarian plate and you won't be disappointed.

I have been some what of a regular for Bahn's Saturday Fried Tofu specials. The platter costs about $8 with taxes and includes 3-4 big pieces of delicious fried tofu, sticky rice sprinkled with peanut bits, black bean sauce and a vermicelli roll. For the price you get a very filling meal. The fried tofu is delectably crisp on the outside and silken smooth on the inside. The vermicelli noodle rolls are very well put together. Tip - for a different sauce flavor try mixing the soy sauce, hot sauce and duck sauce. I do not mind paying cash because I am aware of the blatant gouging that Credit card companies engage in. read more

Love this place and visit every time I come to Durham to get my Americanized Chinese fix. Appreciate the no-frills food, fresh veggies in their dishes and their large portions for such a reasonable price. Also appreciate the customer service from the wonderful lady who always is friendly. My recommendation is the ginger chicken with the fresh julienned ginger. read more

My favorite place in Durham to eat!!! Delish!!!! Everything is AWESOME! You can't go wrong here!!! Save yourself from nasty Chinese chain restaurant that do not use fresh ingredients! Support your local businesses! read more

Bahn's is a Durham classic. The space doesn't look like it has been changed since it opened over 20 yrs ago. But when you get a huge plate of fresh food for under $7, one can not expect major renovations, just delicious, inexpensive food from a the smiling Mrs Bahn cooked up fresh by her husband. Expect to leave full and happy,without breaking the bank. read more

this place is everything i want out of a restaurant: convenient, cheap, no frills, and incredibly fresh. for less than $10 you can leave with a full meal of fresh and tasty vietnamese food. read more

This place proves that you can't judge a book by the cover - a little hole in the wall on 9th Street. I've eaten at Bahn's about a half-dozen times, and that was before I discovered the Vietnamese specials on Wed. and Sat.!!! The ginger chicken is one of their daily Chinese specials and it's very good. But my new fave is the Satay chicken with carrots, cucumber, ground peanuts and salad over rice noodles and fish sauce - only on their Vietnamese days. If you've never had Vietnamese food, fish sauce may not sound appetizing. But trust me, this dish is delicious. They have hot sauce on the side, which I add as well. For a generous $7 portion - same for lunch or dinner, you can't beat it! read more

I go here at least once a week, on Wednesday or Saturday, when they have traditional Vietnamese. I love it. And I love the folks who work there. read more

Ms. Bahn I think you love me! Every time I call to place an order you talk to me like a close nephew. I can see the smile in your voice as you take my order. Excellent ginger chicken. Excellent chicken and broccoli. Stupendous pork shrimp noodle bowl. read more

I'm a fan of this place. I used to live up the street and would come here every Saturday for lunch for "traditional Vietnamese days." Their Vegetarian delight made with tofu is good. Their Satay Chicken is delicious. The lady (owner) that works there is very nice. With all the new restaurants opening up on 9th street, I really hope Bahn's stays! We need more local mom and pop shops on 9th street and this is a Durham classic! read more

Absolutely delicious comfort food. Certain days of the week they do different styles of Asian cuisine, so keep that in mind when planning to go. My favorite dish is the lemongrass shrimp. Even though this place is kind of a "hole in the wall" the dining area is clean and bright and the food more than makes up for the sparseness of the dining area. FYI this is a casual place where you order at the counter and then seat yourself. read more

Super great hole in the wall place with fresh tasting food at a cheap price. Really fast and nice service!

A nice low key eat-on-the-street type place place. Interesting cultural hub.

This is a scrappy, really scrappy restaurant-- and all with love. THere's limited seating and not a lot of decor. It's for a quick lunch eat. So for scrappy, large portion food, run by the same family for more than 20 years, and only $5-7 a plate, bahn's is your bet. A super kind family. read more

Very tastey. Amazing portions and prices-- wish they had daily specials online. Be sure to bring cash along.

Many people only know pho, but if you want authentic vietnamese food in Durham, this is the place to go. I highly recommend going on Wednesdays and Saturdays, as that is when there are menu specials. The Thit Nuong here is so well seasoned and cooked, and is bursting with flavor. The wings are also a real treat - I personally think they are fantastic. Even if you get food from the regular menu, the Kung Pao Chicken and the Chicken Satay are great. Also has great vegetarian options - only drawback is cash only. The lady who runs this place is really nice. Take it from a Vietnamese person - this is as authentic as it gets in terms of Vietnamese home cooking. read more

Just wanted to completely second everything Kristie P said.. i just had it again today, and i've had nearly every week for the past 3 months. ok time to find something new. read more

Easily one of the best spots in Durham. The vegetarian special (Wednesdays & Saturdays) is the best food I have ever had, and the people who work there could not be nicer. I always have a perfect experience at Banh's, and I will always cherish it dearly. GO! Cash only btw. read more

After reading the reviews here I had hope for this little spot after my husband suggested we try it out. He ordered the spicy chicken wings and the chicken and broccoli in saté sauce (extra spicy) with an imperial roll. I ordered the broccoli and chicken with black bean sauce. He says he thoroughly enjoyed the food. The one thing I really liked was the imperial roll. Crispy deliciousness. :) My meal was ok. read more

Bahn's is a wonderful restaurant, and one which has stood the test of time on Ninth St. I like how quiet the restaurant is in the evening -- it's feels like the perfect refuge to me after a work day. Placid and fantastic food at an extremely good value...and fresh. This restaurant focuses on what is important if you're not going for atmosphere... The tofu with black bean sauce is a favorite, and I really like the fresh ginger matchsticks which top the plates of chicken with ginger. Amazing. There is limited seating, but it seems a table always becomes available when I go for a visit. When the weather is nice, there is also additional seating outside. read more

Great Chinese food all week and Vietnamese on Wednesdays and Saturdays. They only take cash but the amount of food you get for $8 is amazing! It's definitely worth making sure I have cash in my wallet. read more

One of my favorite places for the last 14 years. Veggie dishes on Sat and Wed are amazing, and they have THE BEST wings.

I've only had the Ginger Tofu and Spring Rolls, and have only been here twice. The food is great, so full of flavor! I get three meals out of one order, the portions are big. My only wish is that the menu was larger and more Vietnamese! Looks like you have to be there Wed. and Sat. for their full menu. I will be back often! read more

The veggie plate special (Wednesdays & Saturdays) was excellent, and included fried tofu and sticky rice. I got the Kung Pao chicken, which was only average. The place is tiny so be ready to take out or get cozy on busy days. Atmosphere was very casual and perfect for a low key, low cost lunch. Cash only. read more

Vegetarian plate is yummy, clean and cheap, good for a quick meal.

Good food and good people, they are cash only, sesame chicken is always on point. Rice is good I've had the steamed and fried, prefer steamed over fried but that's personal opinion, get their spicy it brings the flavor of the food out without covering it up. All in all, if you've got a 5$ in your pocket give this place a go. read more

The surly owner of this Asian hole-in-the-wall has thoroughly won me over. Despite the food being totally just whatever (unless you go on Wednesday and get the tofu special with black bean sauce: then it's the best thing ever), and despite the general sticky feeling of the tables and chairs, this place feels like a 9th Street institution. Let's face it, this town is changing, and I for one am grateful for a shop owner who gives you the heads-up about which spots and lots are likely to tow your car and then kindly direct you to ones where you're in the clear. read more

Amazing tofu, great Vietnamese specials on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Solid vegetarian options every day of the week! Filling, tasty, quick and cheap - Banh's is a West Durham institution! read more

Great lunch specials. Great vegetarian options. Easy and quick. Frankly, aside from Gourmet Kingdom in Carrboro, this is one of the better places I have found in Durham/CH area. read more

Terrible - ordered kung pao chicken - hardly 2-3 small pieces of chicken and rest of it was watercress and other random veggies that were not even fresh - stay away read more

Forget it. Not Vietnamese, just another cash only, nothing exciting, American style Chinese dreck. Wanted something authentic. Not it

Some friends and I came here today based on the fact that we were nearby and they had good yelp reviews. We walked in and were promptly greeted. We were shown today's specials, and I placed my order. I pulled out my debit card to pay only to be told they ONLY ACCEPT CASH! I had $6 cash to my name and my order was $7.76. My friends didn't have any cash on them either. I had to cancel my order. On our way out, they told us where a couple ATM's are, but to us, it just wasn't worth it. I understand that for a business, accepting only cash is so much easier, but for customers, it's so much more annoying even with ATM's potentially close by. With so many other great restaurant choices around, for the time it'd take to go find an ATM and then come back, I could already be ordering somewhere else... so that's what we did. I might try it again another time if I have cash on hand, but I hardly ever carry it so it seems annoying and un-customer-friendly to require it. I don't mind paying more for food to compensate for credit card fees. Please get with the times and consider taking plastic. read more

the place doesn't look great, but the food is really good. try the kung pao chicken or the tofu options!

Classic 9th Street joint. Simple chinese and vietnamese food... Good people, reasonable prices. Had a craving on this rainy day.

Tried their chicken curry. Simple and delicious. Owner very friendly. Will come back again for sure.