I visited Cafe Cuong with my girlfriend for a quick lunch. It was my first time here, and I left pretty satisfied. The food was great, and you can tell this place has a long history. Having been around for over 30 years, it's clear their approach to making good food hasn't changed. Overall Ratings Atmosphere - 5/5 Service - 5/5 Food - 5/5 Parking - Street Parking Atmosphere - The decor is definitely showing its age, but the restaurant is clean and well maintained. The artwork feels vintage and adds to the character of the space. Service - We had a chance to chat with the owner's son while we were eating, and they were very friendly and welcoming. What We Ordered - Vietnamese Iced Coffee (Good) Com Chay Cha Bong (Crispy rice with chicken floss and fish sauce) Surprisingly delicious and very addictive Deluxe Banh Mi (Very good) Final Thoughts - It's not an area we visit often, but we would definitely come back if we're in South Philly again. If you're in South Philly and craving authentic Banh Mi, this is definitely a spot worth checking out. read more

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I ordered the Grilled Pork Banh Mi and Vietnamese Iced Coffee for delivery - the order was delivered quickly and packaged perfectly. The iced coffee was delicious and strong - condensed milk was enough without making it overly sweet. The grilled pork Banh mi was one of the best I have had - pork was tender and flavorful while the veggies were so fresh. read more

Cafe Cuong - Grilled Pork (No pate) and Iced Coffee with Condensed Milk - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Quick service and tasty food. Wish they put a little bit more into the banh mi though. Bread is good and fresh, meats tender and flavorful. read more

Cafe Cuong - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This cafe is small but friendly with two tables. No bathroom. Banh mi is definitely on the thinner side. $9 It had the pickled carrots jalapeños cold cuts and strong pate. I like how much pate they used. Bread is fresh but it it need more filling. Great customer service read more

Cafe Cuong - Banh mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We were really craving a banh mi and decided upon this small seemingly family owned shop. There's only one table to sit at, so take your food to go. We ordered a chicken banh mi, only one, because we weren't that hungry. It came out quickly. But I was a bit shocked when I saw it. It is long, but so thin and $9! For the price, they could have at least filled it more. The chicken wasn't pieces of chicken, it was shredded and I honestly think there was mayo in it. Which for banh mi, felt a little weird. The guy before me asked for his to be mad extra spicy, which I understand why now because their jalapeños are basically bell peppers in their level of spice. I was thoroughly disappointed. read more

Cafe Cuong - Chicken banh mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

While in my hunt for the right bahn mi I found this spot and whole looking through the photos it seemed like a good place. However! This place is tiny with a single table which might be uncomfortable to sit at to "dine in" if at all. The bah mi was not that good. More like a sub you get from the corner and it had some type of mayo sauce. Maybe I am being extra picky but I wasn't the biggest fan. read more

Somehow I'd never been here before. It's a bit farther north of Washington Ave than I tend to venture for SE Asian food, but it is now squarely my favorite Banh Mi in the city. Their bread is crispy and light, they are filled up with meat and toppings, yet still manage to stay balanced in the filling ratio. This is a big deal to me. As much as I'll allow people to call a taco a sandwich (if a hoagie is a sandwich, so is a taco, fight me, you will lose), there is an art to constructing one that won't fall apart if you stare at it for more than 2 minutes (looking at you, Corporate Wawa). Cafe Cuong makes sandwiches that are a pleasure to eat and don't require 20 napkins and a fork. And the flavors. Everything is a combo of bright, fresh, and filling. I'm thinking about getting one right now, and you should too. read more

So good, solid and dependable spot for Vietnamese hoagies. They take Venmo now! Their classic banh mi is delicious and is perfect for lunch or dinner. Or breakfast, which I just had... read more

Cafe Cuong - Banh mi (photographed by Dave Liao) - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I love a spot where you can call in your order and they tell you it'll be ready in five minutes. That kind of efficiency is always appreciated. As for their banh mi--it's tasty. Maybe not the absolute best I've ever had, but the combination of ingredients and the bread come together with great flavor, texture, and overall satisfaction. read more

This is a nice mom and pop shop. Friendly and nice couple. The banh mis are just the classics but that's all you really need. I always get the deluxe and it has not disappointed me yet. The rolls are nicely toasted and just yummy. The iced coffee hits the spot on a hot day. read more

Cafe Cuong - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This has been my go-to spot for over 10 years now. Hands down the best and most authentic banh mi in South Philly! I love that they open early @ 8 am (closed on Mondays) so I can get it for breakfast for me and the fam. I always call in my order for 5 or 6 regular banh mi and my kids are picky and doesn't want veggies in theirs so I ask for it on the side as well as no jalapeño peppers in mine. They will customize it however you want and they make it super quick too. Their Vietnamese iced coffee is also really good (and strong!). The owners are very nice, they truly make some delicious banh mi here, the baguette is toasted perfectly, crusty on the outside, soft on the inside and the meats & veggies are always fresh along with their housemade mayo and pate. I love it! read more

Cafe Cuong - Banh mi thit nguoi (regular Vietnamese hoagie) $4.50 - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I was really excited for all the Vietnamese food when we moved to this neighborhood. What a Great chicken banh mi! Also happy that they offer a chicken option and it's not ground chicken. It had some really great flavors that paired well with the sarcones roll. I love that this spot has a small menu; it shows that they are good at what they make and I think that holds true. Everything is quickly made in front of you. Not a lot of space to sit and eat so it's easiest for pick up. I loved that they were playing kid cudi in the kitchen while preparing food. Can't wait to visit this spot more in the future! read more

My favorite Banh Mi in the city hands down. Consistently delicious in every way. So happy I live so close to it! Cheap and filling! read more

Cafe Cuong - Chicken Banh Mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Great mom and pop banh mi shop. Feels like going to visit your Vietnamese g-mom and g-pop, and hanging out in their kitchen while they prepare you a treat. Their deluxe has great head cheese , special Vietnamese ham not many carry, homemade pate and is made with love. Perfectly fresh crisp yet soft baguette, Any time I'm on Washington ave to shop at the markets i stop here and get a few so i have them for a couple days and I'm never disappointed. Best banh mi I've had in this part of the city where there are many options. Stop by and get a taste of authentic banh mi you will surely enjoy. read more

Driving out of the city I was lucky to find a parking spot near the cafe. Parking is impossible in South Philly on the weekends. The store owner was very friendly. No menu posted it I knew what I wanted. I ordered the ham and pork roll. 30 secs later my sandwich was ready. after 30 min commute to the grocery store -20 min in the grocery store and then home. Bahn Mi was still fresh and bread crusty on the outside.veggies were fresh with cilantro,cucumbers, and radish pickles, little Mayo. Couple of slices of jalapeño. Delicious- so far the best in Philly! 4 stars as I would like a bit more meat slices as the ends did not have meat in the bite. Def going back. read more

Cafe Cuong - Ham and pork roll - dish - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Cash Only This is probably my favorite place for banh mi's. It isn't the biggest or the most creative but that's why it's my favorite. It's exactly what it should be. A simple, Vietnamese cut cold sandwich with the basics like pickled carrots and daikon, sliced jalapeno, a strip of cucumber, pate and cilantro. The bbq meat banh mi's are simple and delicious as well. The bread is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. If you go late, they may be out of a few sandwiches so I suggest going early if you want to order what you want. I haven't had anything besides their banh mi's but that's all it took for me to become a regular. read more

Small family owned cafe. Traditional and delicious banh mi. The pate on the banh mi is delicious. The bread is fresh and crispy. Don't be alarmed if you see a cat walking around inside the store. read more

Cafe Cuong - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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This is by far the best banh mi I've had in Philly. I always get the deluxe cold cut & my partner gets the bbq pork. All of the ingredients are super fresh, and you can also purchase the ingredients if you want! The Vietnamese iced coffee is also top notch. I've went to a lot of Vietnamese cafes, and this place does it best. Not too sweet, not too bitter. Make sure to have cash on hand! read more

This is a small local Vietnamese shop serving a few bahn mi options. I ordered the chicken bahn mi. I thought it was very good. The bread was crunchy on the outside and soft inside. The chicken was juicy and tender. And the condiments were well balanced with an intelligent amount of mayo to add savor without dominating the sandwich. read more

Cafe Cuong - Chicken Hoagie - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Best banh mi in Philly compare to all the other banh mi shops in the area. It's probably the most authentic one here. My go to banh mi, the deluxe version. It's so good and you can't beat that price. Cash only! read more

Best tasting Banh Mi sandwiches and awesome customer service. I love how their menu is simple and straightforward. Cafe Cuong is the best!

Bahn mi that just hits the spot - local eatery with the family preparing the bahn mi and coffee in the back. read more

Cafe Cuong - Chicken BM - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Okay I'm coming here more often. I came in around 8:30. There were already people there sipping their coffees. The owners were already busy roasting bread and making their bahn mis. I got an iced coffee with milk and a chicken bahn mi. Wow. What a breakfast of champions. The coffee is smooth with a spoonful of the condensed milk at the bottom giving it an overall caramel taste. The chicken bahn mi has tasty chicken that's not dry at all and filled to the brim with the regular veggies. Definitely a go to place that I'm going to go to more often. read more

Cafe Cuong - Iced Vietnamese coffee - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Cash only. Strong Vietnamese coffee, amazing banh Mi. This is a spot that I've selfishly refrained from giving a review on Yelp because I don't want people to find out. That's how amazing their foods (and drinks) are. Being a northerner Vietnamese, it's very rare for me to find a spot in Philly that make it like how it authentically taste where I grew up in Vietnam. This hole in the wall place has very limited menu and pushes out the most amazing banh mi and Vietnamese iced coffee. Honestly you can point with your eyes closed and wouldn't be disappointed with what that left you, but if I have to pick favorites, they would be the special cold cut and the shredded chicken. They put so much love in their selection of ingredients, everything tasted fresh. The chicken is lean yet moist, the cold cut is stuffed with meat slices. If I have a choice, I'd buy banh mi from Cafe Cuong over Ba Le any day no questions asked, but being an only husband and wife team, their opening hours are limited. So sometimes I have to settled for Ba Le. read more

I've had many friends tell me about this small banh mi spot and recommended I try their famous chicken banh mi. The chicken was not what I expected, it was shredded. I don't really like my meats shredded because they tend to be soggy but OMG It wasn't soggy nor dry... it was perfect... It had all the normal banh mi toppings but my favorite has got to be the scallion oil! Who would've thought something so small can be so big. Anyways, I'll def be back for their banh Mi but ask for extra scallion oil this time, I just love it. I took off one star because their banh mi thit nuoi was too dry, don't skimp on the pate and butter read more

Café Cuong is so underrated. It's been around for years and years. I prefer Café Cuong to Ba Le because the owners are friendly and their banh mis are incredibly cheap and delicious. I love that there is never a line. Not that it matters because we always call ahead and they are super quick. They're a cash only establishment, so be sure to have cash on hand! read more

Delicious!!! Got 7 banh mi's before I left Philly yesterday. Have to say the sandwich taste way better than Ba Le. The staff was so nice that they even gave me two packs of ice so I can have it in my bag cooler. I have to say the quality of the bread and meat is so fresh. I wish they had a bakery here out in NYC! read more

Cafe Cuong has the best Vietnamese hoagies in Philly! I personally love the chicken banh mi here. The marinated, shredded chicken goes so well with the Vietnamese mayo, toasted baguette and pickled veggies. I've also had their regular and deluxe hoagies and both are great as well. I try to avoid buying Vietnamese hoagies anywhere else because whenever I go somewhere else it just does not compare to this place! read more

The best bahn mi I've ever had! Definitely the best authentic deluxe bahn mi in Philly. The bread has the perfect crunch, the pickled veggies have the perfect sweetness/pickled combo to balance the house mayo and pate combo. The best all around. Haven't found another that compares in town. read more

I've been coming here since I was a child and I do not like the classic banh mi from anywhere else! To explain how much I love this place, let me just say that when I visited Vietnam and came back home, I still liked Cafe Cuong's the most! This is a small, little hole in the wall with two tables. However, most people just order takeout. The family is really nice and friendly, and makes everything themselves. Just keep in mind that this place is cash only! One banh mi will not set you back any more than $5, but prices over the last 15 years have nearly doubled like everything else LOL read more

I've been going here for years and glad to see they're still open during the pandemic. A lot of my favorite places growing up have closed. I really like this place because of their pate and ratio of bread, veges and meat. One of the underrated places that I don't see many people outside of town really talk about. But one of the best banh mi's in the area for sure. Wished they expanded and found a place with better parking, because parking in this area can be rough. read more

I've had some of their banh mi sandwiches a few times now, and I think this is now my go to spot for Banh Mi sandwiches. I normally get Banh Mi Dac Biet (Specialty), but they happened to have the last BBQ Pork this time around so I had to try it. I was impressed with the BBQ Pork. The baguette for the sandwich is amazing with a nice crunch texture. The meat they use is very juicy but not fattening. I also got their Ca Fe Sua Da (Vietnamese Iced Coffee with Milk), and it was smooth yet strong. This is probably the best place yet so far in Philly for their Vietnamese iced coffee that I have tried. If you guys want to try this place, definitely call in ahead first and make sure they still have baguette because there has been times where I came later in the afternoon, and they were all sold out (which only shows how great their baguette and sandwiches are!) read more

Cafe Cuong's Chicken Banh Mi is one of my favorite Banh Mis ever. The bread is fresh and just the right amount of chewy, the proportions of the ingredients are just right, they're made fresh, and I love the long skewers of cucumber giving them a satisfying crunch and cooling counter balance to the jalapeños. I enjoy it most with one of their iced coffees, while sitting on a bench at Palumbo park or Cianfrani park talking with a loved one. read more

$5 for a fantastic banh mi is such a steal. I just came to this place for the first time last weekend and will for sure be returning. Usually I exclusively go to QT in Chinatown for banh mi but this place is officially in my rotation. I believe the sandwiches here top out at $6. I got the banh mi thit nguoi ($5): the bread here is perfectly crusty and the patê smear is sooo good. I bought one and took it with me to lunch on Monday and forgot to take a picture so you'll have to take my word for it. Next time I plan on getting the dac biet because I believe it comes with pork and more meat in general. The family that runs this place is super friendly and can answer any questions you have about the menu. Be sure to stop by if you're in the mood for a great viet sandwich! read more

So far the best banh mi in Philly! Owners are very friendly. I missed taking a picture because I finished it right away! I wish I found this place sooner! read more

I went to cafe cuong before the covid. Their banh mi was okay. Yesterday I was in the area, so I stop by around noon time expecting fresh banh mi. Yet the banh mi was SUPER HARD and dry. It hurt my gum as I bit into it. There isn't enough of pate/butter. The meats and veggi are good. But the bread is so bad that even though the meat is good, it doesn't matter. $8 for this??!!! Too expensive for bad quality banh mi. read more

Cafe Cuong - Banh mi dat biet - Vietnamese Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I tried it and liked it. My 1st bahn mi. Got the chicken and 1 bbq pork. I will be back.

Stopped in on the way home because I needed a handheld snack and the reviews looked promising. The place is small and charming - a few seats but you can tell most people order their food to go. I got the chicken banh mi and have to say I was pleasantly surprised at how tasty it was. Nice, crusty bread and the jalapeno and cilantro were fresh and light. For less than $6, I'll definitely be back to try all of the sandwiches on the menu. Also need to get my Vietnamese Iced Coffee fix. read more

My favorite. Cafe Cuong is the OG. I grew up eating their banh mi thit nguoi (cold cut). Reminds me of my childhood. Every time my parents visit me in the city, banh mi cuong is always part of their visit. I no longer eat meat (pescatarian) and they even make me a banh mi without any meat (pickled veggies, cucumber, jalapeños, cilantro, mayo) and it still hits. I just inhale it. Highly recommend. read more

My favorite place for Vietnamese hoagies! And the owners here are super nice. There are a few different types of haogies you can get or you can get the spread and meat individually and make them yourself at home! And if you buy 10 you get 1 free. Oh, there is also a cat walking around some times. read more