I work in Union Square and whenever I have the chance to come here- I do. The banh mi selections are varied, fresh, delicious, and a great price. I've also had a sausage, egg, and cheese on an English muffin and it's better then McDonald's. Also the Vietnamese coffee is a favorite of mine. I could not recommend this place enough read more

I ordered the pork Bahn Mi every day I was in town for a conference. Mai is the young woman at the counter who I think is the owner. Mai came to know my name after the second take out order :) I walked past this place and actually thought it was a broom closet connected to Walgreens (the one on Market street and O'Farrel) it's SO SMALL! Unless you are looking for it, it's really easy to miss. (Seriously a hidden amazing gem, good job.) Mai told me that they changed their Mayo spread recipe recently and their Bahn Mi ordered have tripled! read more

Hole in the wall I walked past on the way to work, but I came back for lunch and had the best grilled pork banh mi sandwich there! Vietnamese ice coffee is really good too, it's strong, creamy, and nutty. read more

Cafe Dolci food used to be just average, I havent been back to this place for so long. Just recently heard that the owner has changed so I thought maybe I'd come back to give a try and boy do I glad I made that decision. Every sandwiches I tried and I love it. Everything, including the Japanese ice matcha drink, is so much more better than before. Even the owner now is alot more nicer and sweeter. The combo sandwich is my favorite, and I've been back every week. read more

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This tiny little place makes the _best_ banh mi in the city, delicious soft warm bread, packed with meat and veggies and for an amazing price, you should definitely go here next time you need lunch. read more

$3.95 for a vegetarian vietnamese sandwich. These are one of those simple things in life that elaborating on - just seems like excess. Like (insert a candy bar that went too far - ie: marshmallow reese's) Fresh veggies, juicy tofu, and a slightly crispy roll for just $3.95. (and if you're into meat -their BBQ pork is supposed to be delicious) That is all. read more

Part of the charm of downtown SF are tiny closet sized cafes like Café Dolci; Dolci is so small that only 2 customers can comfortably fit inside at a time and there isn't any place to sit. The menu is limited to 8 kinds of banh mi ($4.35, e.g., meatball, BBQ chicken, tofu, combination - the usual). They also have Chinese steamed and baked buns, potato chips, drinks, and dumplings. * Grilled pork banh mi ($4.35): I really liked the softness of the toasted roll but that was the best part of the sandwich. The bread/roll seemed hollowed out which is good - they're paying attention to the bread to fillings ratio. The cilantro stems were tougher than average and the marinated meat was okay (average quality and flavor, on the sweet side). The pickled carrots and daikon were crunchy. The sandwich was doused with too much Maggi?, making it unpleasantly salty. Service was pleasant and very fast. Cash only. read more

Cafe Dolci - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

They make a solid Vietnamese sandwich, fresh ingredients and some great bread (I always go with the chicken). It's the smallest food stand I think I've ever seen and sometimes they have as many as three people working inside, amazingly efficient use of space... how green! Most of the time there is what seems to be a husband and wife team working behind the counter. They know most of their customers by name and are super friendly. I love to see businesses like this thrive. Oh and did I mention it's a freaking bargain? $3.95 per sandwich; it's so cheap I usually get two. read more

Some new information to add: Cafe Dolci recently raised their banh mi/sandwich prices up to $4.25. However, that's still a pretty good deal in the Financial District area. Their Vietnamese coffee, hot or cold, is still really awesome. I like it hot these days, probably due to the windy weather in the past few weeks. On a warm week like this one, an iced Vietnamese coffee is delicious. They also have a variety of other drinks including the typical lattes, etc. You can get a Depth Charge (coffee + shot of espresso) here as well. Some other non-coffee drinks are in the display up front. Recommended sandwiches (so far): Grilled Pork, Meatball. I'm to try the Grilled Chicken next. The small box of fried rice is greasy but hits the spot for an alternative to the sandwiches. Their fresh baos (choose from steamed or BBQ) are delicious and generously portioned. In the mornings, there's a plethora of western baked goods (e.g., muffins, HUGE cinnamon roll, bagels, etc.). For a fresher option, the Shrimp Spring Rolls are plentiful for lunch (3/package) with savory peanut dipping sauce. They even have gift certificates here; a little old-school (handwritten, fill-in-the-blank), but that's the way I like it. If you become a regular customer, they'll warm up to you and know you by name (and vice versa). I'm completely sold to this place and hope they stay in business for a long time! Be sure to stop by on weekdays, 7:00am - 4:00pm (it's a really small shop but look carefully, beside Wells Fargo on the corner of Grant/O'Farrell/Market). You surely will not regret it. read more

Cafe Dolci - Shrimp Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

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4.5 stars, super delish, would be 5 but I'm from the 626 where there's bahn mi sandwiches down every corner for $5 and under. Butttt, this would totally be a regular spot for me if I lived in SF. Important stuff: - Parking is a beezy, you can circle around a jillion times and try to find parking, or you can do as the locals apparently do (and how we did) = park wherever and flip on those emergency lights. - Lovely, friendly service; literally a mom and pop shop with the mama and papa as the two owners and sandwich masters - Sandwiches are hot and yummy, ranging from $6.75-8ish A quick review: I ordered the grilled pork sandwich with everything on it + spicy peppers. It was $6.75, ~$7 with tax which we were kind of surprised about since we can probably get 2 for that price back at home in the SGV. But, we were also pretty surprised at how huge the sandwich was lol. They use these really soft and fat baguettes that were probably one of the best parts of this meal. Freshly toasted, these tasted really yummy. Inside the sandwich there were thick slices of grilled pork (delish) and tonsss of pickled carrots and radish (yay!!) plus cilantro and peppers. Was really yummy. And my last note: the mama and papa are a lovely couple, really nice and friendly and totally add those extra sparkles to an already great business :) read more

Cafe Dolci - Grilled pork... Yummmm! Lots of pickles and yummy pork! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

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22+ years and still going strong! Great service with a smile, terrific Vietnamese coffee (oh God is it tasty), and awesome breakfast foods. When I can - I grab a Vietnamese coffee, and a jalapeno bagel breakfast sandwich with cheese, and hell if it doesn't fill you up. The couple that've been running the joint is super friendly, they'll remember you after your first pop-in, and make sure you're happy before you step out of their shop. The spot is tiny, like super tiny, so it's definitely a grab & go. No sit-down for you. Do yourself a solid - spend your would-be $5 Phil'z mint mojito scratch on a Vietnamese coffee at this joint, and support a local family owned business. 10/10 would {{clever_verb}} again read more

I've walked past this place countless times and thought they only served coffee and pastries. And even though it's barely larger than a closet, the owners are so efficient that customers can get in and out in minutes. So space doesn't matter. I got: - Chicken banh mi ($4.50) - the baguette was a bit hard and I had a bit too much cilantro for my taste, but it was no big deal. It was still really tasty. - Pork potstickers, shu mai, and shrimp dumpling ($3.25) - They offered to warm it up for me! The dumplings were good, but I wouldn't get them again since they're only 40 cents a piece in Chinatown. Cale Dolci also carries prepackaged Vietnamese shrimp spring rolls. And of course, coffee and pastries. They seem to know all their customers, which I think is awesome especially in a big city like SF. Bottom line: When I think about what kind of a lunch I can get for downtown for under $5, I can't think of many options besides the Dollar Menu at McDonalds ((gross)). But here, you can get a filling, healthy lunch on-the-go from a couple of smiling faces :) read more

Cafe Dolci - Pork potsticker, shrimp dumpling and shu Mai ($3.75) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

A tiny hole in the wall by Walgreens. Super easy to walk by if you don't know where you're going. They have some delicious Vietnamese sandwiches, my favorite is the Combo one, with all kinds of delicious meat, carrots, pickled daikon, and cilantro. They also have some vary large buns with pork and chicken which I want to try but honestly, the sandwich is already large enough to fill me up. The spring rolls are probably worth trying here, I haven't yet, but I see people ordering them all the time. read more

I was sooooooo ecstatic that I work right near a place that sells Vietnamese sandwiches (banh mi) and also even more ecstatic that it wasn't in China Town like I would usually suspect. I walked merrily to the cafe and bought a cha banh mi and couldn't help but buy a pork bun too. "How much is that??" I asked about the che. "$2.50" was the man's response. Eh, way too pricey. No thank you. I walked back to the office and scarfed down the whole pork bun. It was just as good as I know them to be. Mmm! Perfect bread and innards. Mmm, innards.. sounds kinda gross. Ha! Anyway, as I got back into the office, I opened the sandwich and was excited to eat it. I sat at my desk looking at my coworkers talk/interact. One of the superintendents was eating his lunch and one of the owners of our company said... "Whatever you're eating, you better brush your teeth after." Shoot! I had totally forgotten that banh mis wreak of fish and vinegar and also that my entire office is comprised of mainly white people! Oopsies! "Uh, I think it's my sandwich..." I said. "What's in it?!" "Um, pickled stuff... and stuff..." Then someone else says: "What'd you get? The DIRTY SOCK SPECIAL?!" How embarrassing! :( Any who, I ate as much of it as I could, as quickly as I could.. and did NOT brush my teeth afterward. HMPH. $4.50/banh mi cha $2/pork bun P.S. CASH ONLY and SUPER TINY EENSIE WEENSY CAFE. NO CHAIRS, BARELY ANY STANDING ROOM. Barely any breathing room for that matter. P.P.S. It was good and is a Vietnamese owned place. read more

Cafe Dolci - Right next to Wells Fargo. Literally. And it's super tiny. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Cafe Dolci is literally a hole in the wall similar to Little Saigon Deli. The primary differences are in the sides offered (I like the Chinese sausage stick rice!) and the variety of drinks including a fresh mango tapioca drink. * Grilled Pork Banh Mi - 3.5 STARS ($4.35): Airy crispy bread, pretty standard grilled pork, and a generous amount of thick cut pickled radishes. I enjoyed the sandwich more than the banh mi stand on Market near the Ferry Building, and more than Little Saigon. I prefer the flavor of Saigon Deli (and pretty much any other Banh Mi place in TL). The only other nearby option I've tried that is better is Soup Junkie (chicken banh mi is so tasty and gigantic!), but the price is about double. * Chinese Fried Rice - 4 STARS: This sticky rice side is topped with a generous portion of sliced chinese sausage (lap cheung). I liked it alot, and while it's not the best I've had (ahem Koi Palace), it's a pretty good side dish you can't really find elsewhere in FiDi. * Mango Tapioca Shake: I didn't get to try this but it's made of fresh mangoes. I LOVE MANGOES! I would return just to try this drink. It's not a destination if you are in search of the best banh mi out there, but an overall solid choice for lunch if you're looking for cheap Viet and a variety of sandwich, rice, spring roll options. read more

I was pretty surprised at the size of this establishment. It was very small but the lady inside had a very charming presence. I ordered a banh mi and the pork bun and they were both very delicious. I was pleasantly shocked at the quality of food even though she works in such a small space. Definitely will be coming back next time I'm around in SF. Total for banh mi, pork bun, and a tea was like $11. Not the cheapest but my cheap is compared to Los Angeles San Gabriel cheap. read more

I was slightly confused when we rocked up to Cafe Dolci today - it's super small, more like a nook really. Once I recovered from its lack of largesse, I zeroed in on the fresh rolls which come in three varieties: veggie, shrimp and shrimp and pork. My dining partner advocated for the shrimp and pork and I was all too happy to acquiesce. For $6 we got three well-packed rolls and a delicious peanut chili dipping sauce. The rolls are packaged well, which makes it easy to take them to a nearby park or bench to consume. At around 12:45 there was no wait and since the rolls are pre-made, the entire transaction took about two minutes to complete. I will return! read more

There are certain things I like to eat when I'm by myself so no one will judge me. So, right up there with bugles and squeeze cheese, I place Cafe Dolci's grilled pork banh mi. Unfortunately, I learned this lesson the hard way. It's the smelliest banh mi I've ever eaten, but it's really effing good. What I like most is how they stuff it full of veggies! It's a pretty massive sandwich once they pile on the pickled carrots, but the bread is still soft enough not to attack the roof of your mouth, so go 'head and take a big bite. It's a teeny tiny storefront with just enough standing room for one person to order at the register, and it's cash only, but worth a visit when you need your fix. read more

Cafe Dolci - Grilled pork banh mi - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

This tiny little place sells good, BIG bahn mi very inexpensively (the bread is definitely better than at Bun Mee), and the line moves amazingly fast when you consider that it's a one-woman operation working with one little mini-oven. Their drink selection is surprisingly good. Also look for discounts if you get lunch late. That said, don't expect a short wait anytime around lunch. Fast food it is not. read more

I am sitting here fuming. Not because I received bad service. No. But because somewhere that calls themselves a cafe charged me $2.50 for cheap Apple Cider mix and a shot of sugar substitute when what I ordered was an Apple Cider. I expect the mix when I'm at a bar, or a really divey restaurant, but at a coffee shop that has a cappuccino machine I'm shocked apple juice just wasn't steamed and put in a cup. I took two or three sips trying to figure out what had gone wrong before I dumped it and just continued on to work where I tried for a half hour to get the horrible taste of spun sugar and the acidy edge of the mix out of my mouth. Nope nope, never again. read more

Cafe Dolci is the perfect place to pick up a Banh Mi for lunch without putting a hole in your pocket. The restaurant itself is super small and there is no seating-- only enough room for a couple people to order. It looked like its run by an elderly Vietnamese couple, so I knew this place would be legit! I picked up a couple of Grilled Pork Banh Mi's and Shrimp and Pork Spring Rolls for my drive back down to SoCal and I do not regret making that decision! The bread was toasted lightly and was fresh and soft, unlike some banh mis that tend to butcher the roof of your mouth -.-. The grilled pork was tender, flavorful, and not overly fatty! They used just enough pickled veggies and jalapenos. http://s3-media1.ak.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/UBljocyw32zRHHQzOWsLCQ/l.jpg The Spring Rolls came with a peanut sauce and they were good, but they tasted like your ordinary spring roll. I did really like how they used big pieces of grilled pork rather than those thin processed slices of meat-- pretty filling! http://s3-media4.ak.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/7aVMb6I_q3LxaR4n5hGpZQ/l.jpg read more

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Call in and avoid the line! Finally I have found a Vietnamese sandwich that can really be called a great Vietnamese sandwich. I always get combo 8; ham and pate. It comes on a delicious crunchy bread packed full out pate, cold meats and healthy helping of pickled veggies. I absolutely love this place! They always sell out of spring rolls so come early! read more

Cafe Dolci - #8 combination- ham with pâté. Amazing. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This place is a really random small window next to Walgreens and you would never guess that it sold Vietnamese sandwiches with the name Cafe Dolci. Cash only! Got my pork Bahn Mi sandwich which was so good for less than 5 bucks but couldn't resist getting the dumplings that were sitting there by the counter for 3 bucks. Overall really good and pretty quick when I went around noon. Would go back to try other sandwiches. read more

More like 2.5 stars. I got the #8 - ham and fancy pork with pate. Bread was kind of stale and they very skimpy with the meat, but generous with the pate. Cost was $7.50 which is very expensive for a banh mi. If it was good, then fine. But it wasn't. Cash Only. Tiny to-go shop next to Walgreens. read more

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The Lus make the best banh mi east of Hyde Street. West of Hyde Street they'd still be contenders, but we'd have to argue about style. Let's just enjoy downtown's best: quality meats (grilled pork, meatballs and cold cuts are all outstanding), lots of fresh crunchy vegetables, and proper bread. Nice people, too. There is also coffee, breakfast pastries and sandwiches, a few dim sum items, and spring rolls, all of which have their following. read more

It's great to see this cafe open. Their sandwiches are amazing good. They have this special taste that I just keep coming back. The sandwich tastes fresh and all the ingredients are just right amount. Really good combination meat, taste carrots, fresh cilantro and pepper. In addition, me and my coworker fall in love with their matcha drink. We have been ordering their sandwiches and drink since this cafe open. read more

$4.35 for their YUMMY tofu sandwich!!! I do love me some tasty tofu, and boy oh boy do I love anything pickled!!! The only thing is there is a little bit too much bread in comparison to the substance inside the sandwich....I would recommend tearing off the bread at the bottom and top of the sandwich to get to the goods inside. But DELISH! and don't forget to ask for EXTRA SRIRACHA! read more

Cafe Dolci - Tofu Sandwich $4.35 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Back in the day when I worked downtown in retail, I'd be at Cafe Dolci at least twice a day! Linda and Danny are phenomenal. They knew my coffee habits and knew what to fix for me based on the time of day - large coffee in the a.m., double latte in the p.m. They got me through many holiday seasons as well as the rest of those years. I'm no longer in retail and no longer downtown but once a week I hop the Metro for a few stops to pick up lunch from Cafe Dolci. They've got a great selection including Vietnamese sandwiches, spring rolls, dim sum and pastries. My current fave is the pork and shrimp spring rolls with peanut sauce. Yum! Usually I call in my order ahead of time but sometimes when indecision strikes, I walk in and ask Linda to decide for me. But whatever I have, they know I almost always have a double latte with it. If its one of those rare hot days in SF, iced Vietnamese coffee is the way to go. read more

Cash only! Grilled pork $5.50 Iced tea $2.50 The bread was so soft and delicious! No place to sit, basically buy and eat somewhere else :) read more

Cafe Dolci - Grilled - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

My co-worker wanted to see who wanted to come with for some Vietnamese sammies. I haven't had one in a few weeks and I wanted to see how the FiDi impresses with their Banh Mi. The place is urber tiny. So tiny that you would pass it if you didn't know where to look. Yet, the owners make it work. I ordered the #6: Ham & Pate for $4.75. However, the wait is loooong. We got there approximately 7:25 and I didn't get back to the office (which is a 2.5 blocks away) until 7:50. Since I didn't read the reviews beforehand, I would of been prepared to wait awhile for my food. Other than that, the sandwich was DELICIOUS. Every bite I could hear the fresh crunch of the baguette. Carrots and cilantro just pouring into my mouth. And just mounds of ham and pate to munch on. I definitely want to go back and check out their coffees. read more

Cafe Dolci - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Wow seriously the best Vietnamese sandwich in the city! And I've tried them all! The most perfect portion of meats and pickled veggies and pate, nicely spread on their crunchy toasted bread.. absolutely a must try! I came here on a weekday around 11:30am after a search on yelp for Vietnamese sandwiches.. was hesitant to try since they didn't even have 'sandwich' in the name of the store, but boy am I glad that I came by. It was a little bit difficult to find, because the awning was the same color as the store next to it... they sell themselves as a coffee shop and sure maybe their coffee is good but I don't think they realize the sandwiches are the true star!!! Should rename to XX sandwiches so people know to order it! Will definitely be coming back.. wish they had weekend hours and wish it was easier to find as it's a hidden hole in the wall and easier to find parking read more

This place is a gem. It's so tiny, you can easily overlook it. It amazes me how much they can do with so little room. Great Vietnamese sandwiches for a great price. I always get the chicken sandwich and I've never been disappointed. Their Vietnamese coffee is awesome and will definitely give you a caffeine boost. Most of the time it seems to be the owners serving you. They are friendly and work very efficiently. They accept cash only so make sure you have those dollar bills ready. read more

A place in SF that does the combination banh mi exactly the way I like it! I walk by this all the time but didn't realize it was a vietnamese sandwhich place because the name didn't sound asian. Going to come here all the time now :P read more

Every morning Danny & Linda crawl under the bar of their humble glass miniature storefront to serve simple Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches that have a bit more mayonnaise and veggies than your average banh mi, plus a secret ingredient: dedication and pride. They've been commuting up the Bay, parking in Soma, and whipping up the only Vietnamese sandwiches on Market Street for over a decade. I always make sure to visit when I'm in the neighborhood. Great price, great people, great location! Tip: order beforehand by phone, as the storefront is tiny and it can get busy. read more

The Nicest couple ever operate this little shop. Between Grant and Kearny on Market St, you might miss it if you blink. I recommend... Everything. Their coffees, teas, and bagels are all very good and the tasty Vietnamese sandwiches are a steal! read more

Good Vietnamese sandwiches at a good price in a touristy area devoid of anything else worth eating. No seating and no tables. Just the way a nice hole in the walls should be. read more

I used to walk by this place all the time and never looked in. It wasn't until I watched a local t.v. show about bargain bites that I finally took notice. Literally this place is an hole in the wall. It's amazing how they can put out food in such a tiny spot next to the WFB and Walgreens. Compared to the outlying neighborhoods where you can buy a Vietnamese sandwich, I thought it was somewhat pricier here; but still fairly inexpensive compared to other types of sandwiches you can purchase in the financial district. I had the grilled chicken banh mi. It was a well made sandwich, but the chicken tasted a litle like pressed chicken (a little like mystery meat). Will I go back? Maybe. read more

alrighty, have been eyeing this place on yelp since forever when i craved a sandwich. thought it was a bit far and never went. well today i did and its only a block and a half away! the place IS really tiny and an old lady and man work there trying to go as fast as they can to make the orders. luckily i beat the tiny rush that came after me. i got the grilled pork banh mi #4- from first looks all you see is the pickled carrots and stuff, so i wasn't impressed. but as you munch on you get the flavors and such. not bad. the meat was juicy and the bread was nicely toasted. BBQ bacon banh mi #5- so i didn't quite know what a bbq bacon was...now i do, its the meat that looks like tendons and stuff....this one not so good, the "bbq" part just tasted like it was soaked in soy sauce? iono but mehhhhh wouldn't order this one again. and a viet iced coffee $3.50- strong as i am hyper as we speak. i guess...i should have known better to think a banh mi place downtown would be "authentic" watever authentic is for banh mi...and 5.50 isn't really cheap but i guess cheap for downtown area.... there's a banh mi place closer to work, so i guess if I crave it....to the other one i'll go...and yes cash only! read more

Cafe Dolci - Vietnamese iced coffee and pork banh mi - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Owner is so nice, and the banh mi is always a hit. I love going for the Vietnamese coffee, it always wakes me up when I need it! Definitely a go to spot! read more

Thank you for one of the best banh mi I've ever tasted. This tiny store is so inconspicuous but will definitely surprise you. I am definitely going to be a regular (as much as my waistline would allow me!). read more