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    Cali Baguette Express

    3.5 (457 reviews)
    InexpensiveVietnamese
    Open 7:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Cali Baguette Express Takeout or Delivery

    Cali Baguette Express Photos

    Business Info

    CALI BAGUETTE EXPRESS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Quiet
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Cali Baguette Express

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    Do not order
    Malia P.

    I ordered the wrong thing. We were waiting for world supermarket to open and stopped here to get smoothies. Their drinks are made of colorful pre-made mixes that come in gallon jugs they blend with ice. I didn't know because most places use real avocados and bananas. The flavor was artificial and chemical like plastic for the avocado smoothie. One sip and I threw it away. The picture was taken right before it got trashed. Never again for their smoothies. I didn't try their food, might be better.

    Sandwich is so small
    Lina P.

    This is not my go to spot for banh mis. I feel like portion size is smaller compared to other spots. BUT they do make the baguettes fresh and they are still good. I come here when I am short on time because they are fast with a drive through! I've never actually been inside so can't review about that. The fresh bread is a 10/10 though! Thai tea is 7/10. Viet iced coffee 10/10. Eggrolls 6/10. Service is a hit or miss but it's just drive through and they have never messed up my orders.

    Visit here and you might end up taking a trip to the ER. There was a piece of broken glass when I bit into my eggroll. I am concerned if I swallowed any small pieces. This is unacceptable. This business practices unsanitary, unsafe handling. You deserve to be shut down. This was not the first time either. In 2022, I bought a waffle from the Mira Mesa location and there was a piece of plastic in my waffle!! What is going on??? Regardless of location, City Heights or Mira Mesa, they all have the same horrible practices!! You all deserve to be shut down. Never ever going into here again!!

    ##1 Cali Special no filling Banh Mi. Not the banh mi spot anymore
    Chris P.

    At least I didn't see that nasty cashier this morning... hope they got rid of her. Sandwiches look pretty sorry now. Meats are sliced thin & super skimpy on the filling. Baguettes have been on the soft side lately and those are shrinking too. Guess I gotta drive to Mira Mesa location if I crave their banh mi. I will still grab egg rolls, bun bao and jerky salad if I'm in a pinch.

    Barely any meat in the sandwich.
    Choy R.

    This place used to be good and known for one of the best banh mi sandwiches in town. They raised prices and now put barely any meat in their sandwiches. Today I ordered a #1 and it was mostly bread. The flavors are still good, but for $7.50 I don't want to be eating mostly bread.

    Long boys!
    Hannah S.

    Fantastic! I was craving some Banh Mi & Viet Coffee and it was exactly what I needed. Quick and affordable. Friendly service and I was in and out and pleasantly satisfied with my choices! I got the bbq pork and a spam and egg. Bread was fresh and soft and scrumptious and the toppings were crisp and vibrant!

    Menu
    Jiselle T.

    Best bahn mi sandwiches in San Diego. The bread taste fresh, I get the Asian sausage with egg which I can't find anywhere else. They have a bunch of other small foods too, service is good. Minimal seating, but I normally take it to go.

    Drive thru
    Nyssa B.

    Hmm should probably pass on this one... When someone here has a drive thru, you think it's convenient right? WRONG! I really had high hopes for this place as I've been to the one in Mira Mesa and had amazing service and food. I guess they aren't all created equally. This one was definitely disappointing. First off, waiting about 20+ minutes in the drive thru ain't right. Second, the sandwiches were lackluster, very minimal ingredients, skimpy and dry. Lastly, two sandwiches and a soda was about $17 for that price I'd say take your business elsewhere and get you a better quality sandwich.

    Calina N.

    Probably one of my favorite places to get banh mi in San Diego! It's very unique because of the drive thru and also variety of Vietnamese foods. Pros: -They have a drive thru -Nice customer service -On El Cajon Blvd close to SDSU -Comes with all traditional banh mi toppings -Drinks are super good! Cons: -Not all menu items are available through the drive thru (such as pho, and other soups) Mostly just banh mi, drinks, and porridge -They put ALOT of ice in the Vietnamese iced coffee so it was gone before we knew it (it was great though maybe I'll ask for less ice next time) -If you do the drive-thru you might be waiting a little but it wasn't that bad if you're patient -The building seems old You can add a fried egg to the sandwich which I did but it didn't do anything extra for me personally. The "fried egg" was more like a omelette. I recommend: -Vietnamese Ice Coffee -Sugar Cane Drink -BBQ Pork Sandwich -Dac Biet Sandwich

    Egg rolls
    Kaye F.

    I've been here once bout 10 years ago and never thought, "oh this place is good." Today, I happen to be in the area and thought I'd give it another try and I just wasted $13 on nothing.. I ordered the Avocado smoothie and the milk tea with boba for my daughter and 6 of the egg rolls.. NOTHING tasted how it's suppose to.. The Avocado smoothy had zero Avocado taste to it, my daughter called it a green vanilla milkshake. I asked how was her milk tea and she said, "ummmmm, I mean it's okay." I tasted it and still have no idea what it is. The egg rolls taste like deep fried rice paper with lots of glass noodles.. We will never come back here.. They were nice people though.

    Andrea W.

    I'm here to review their most amazing item! The baguette! If you are looking for fresh from the oven amazing baguette look no further. I go there and buy many since is a little bit out of the way for me. I wrap them in foil and put them in the freezer. When is time to eat just remove the foil and put in the oven. It comes out as fresh. Amazing bread! Great for sandwiches or sliced to serve with cheese and meets or simply with butter. Delicious!!! Anddddd they have a drive thru! :)

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    3 months ago

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    4 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    9 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Looks like an old Taco Bell store, but the food does not disappoint, staff is very flexible to what you want!

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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Great Ban Mi at affordable pricing. Love to stop by here and grab some veggie ban mi. Going to try the shrimp one next.

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

    Fresh, delicious and relatively cheap. Not a spot I would take someone to impress them with atmosphere but definitely for a satisfying meal.

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Amazing food and friendly tentative staff. Literally my go to spot for Pho. The boba drinks are super bomb too!!

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    2 years ago

    Come for the freshest, tastiest baguettes in San Diego. Their bahn mis are amazing too.

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    5 years ago

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    Page 1 of 12

    Ask the Community - Cali Baguette Express

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    Pho Duyen Mai

    Pho Duyen Mai

    4.3
    (1.4k reviews)
    6.0 mi
    $$

    What a delicious spot! I got the #51, which was vermicelli with egg rolls and grilled chicken. The…read moreservice was quick (they got the food out within 15 minutes of sitting down). The ambiance is what you would expect from a mom and pop restaurant. Food makes it all worth it.

    The check-in process was an absolute failure and set the tone for the entire experience. We…read morereceived a text saying our number was ready for seating, and my husband and I walked into the restaurant within five minutes. Once inside, we stood there for about 15 minutes, and not one employee acknowledged us or asked if we were waiting to be seated. There appeared to be no hostess managing the front or any clear process for letting someone know that your number had been called. Eventually, I told my husband to flag down a waiter just to find out what was going on and how we were supposed to alert someone that we were there. When he finally spoke with an employee, we were told that our number had been called and that after five minutes they considered us a "no-show." That explanation made absolutely no sense because we had been standing inside the restaurant for at least 15 minutes, and during that entire time, we never heard anyone call a number or a name for ANYONE. To claim we were a no-show when we were physically standing there waiting to be acknowledged was extremely frustrating. Unfortunately, things didn't improve much from there. I'm from Dallas, Texas, where we have plenty of great Vietnamese restaurants, so I know what good pho and Vietnamese food should taste like. Unfortunately, this experience fell short. I ordered the chicken pho, and my husband ordered the bbq pork vermicelli. For appetizers, we ordered the egg rolls and the pork paste spring rolls. I did enjoy the pork paste spring rolls, but the egg rolls were very greasy and tasted like they had been re-fried. My chicken pho was also disappointing. The noodles were cut in half and were so mushy that they practically disintegrated in the broth. The service was also lacking, and the staff did not come across as particularly friendly or welcoming. While the pork paste spring rolls was a bright spot, the overall quality of the food and service left a lot to be desired. Don't believe the hype.

    Photos
    Front desk / entrance
    Front desk / entrance
    22. Salt-Pepper Chicken Wings in Butter (6 Pieces) / Cánh Gà Chien Bo
    22. Salt-Pepper Chicken Wings in Butter (6 Pieces) / Cánh Gà Chien Bo
    Rolls | Instagram: GaoGirlsGrubbin

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    Rolls | Instagram: GaoGirlsGrubbin
    Phuong Trang

    Phuong Trang

    3.9
    (2.6k reviews)
    5.9 mi
    $$

    It was the first time my husband and I had eaten there. We had heard wonderful comments about it…read moreand it did not disappoint. The food we experienced was delicious. With the friendly, advice of the waitress at the bar we ordered a good variety of food, without it being too spicy for me. The ambiance was perfect. We plan to go back.

    Phuong Trang has been a San Diego staple for decades. It first started in Linda Vista in 1988,…read moreserving traditional Vietnamese family-style meals before moving to its current home on Convoy in 1992. Today, it's one of the most well-known Vietnamese restaurants in the city, and after this visit, I can definitely see why. One of my favorite things about coming here is the location. Even though it's right in Convoy, parking has never been an issue for me. I usually avoid the area because finding a spot can be a headache, but Phuong Trang has a large parking lot that makes stopping by so much easier. I came in for a quick takeout lunch. One thing to know before you go is they don't accept Apple Pay, so make sure to bring a physical card or cash. The staff was incredibly welcoming. They greeted me when I walked in, gave me plenty of time to look over the menu, and never made me feel rushed. That kind of hospitality really stood out. I ordered the Char-Grilled Beef Vermicelli and the Shrimp, Pork & Jellyfish Salad. The salad comes with shredded green papaya, celery, cucumber, carrots, shrimp, pork, jellyfish strips, fresh mint, crushed peanuts, and shrimp chips.The salad was refreshing with plenty of shrimp and jellyfish throughout. I especially liked the crunch from the green papaya. My only complaint was that the dressing felt a little one dimensional. I wish it had a little more brightness to bring out the fresh herbs and vegetables. It was still enjoyable, though. The Char-Grilled Beef Vermicelli was my favorite of the two. It came with vermicelli noodles, fresh herbs, pickled daikon and carrots, crushed peanuts, plus five grilled beef rolls wrapped around scallions. The beef had a delicious smoky flavor from the grill. The only downside was that the inside of the rolls was a little chewy since it didn't get the same char as the outside. Even so, every bite was packed with flavor, so it wasn't enough to take away from the dish. Between the friendly service, quick turnaround for takeout, and solid food, I can see why Phuong Trang has stayed so popular for all these years. I'd happily come back and keep working my way through their menu.

    Photos
    Phuong Trang
    Jelly 390670. Shrimp Pork And Jellyfish Salad
    Jelly 390670. Shrimp Pork And Jellyfish Salad
    Jellyfish/papaya/pork salad

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    Jellyfish/papaya/pork salad
    Hoai Hue Restaurant

    Hoai Hue Restaurant

    4.3
    (665 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    My favorite restaurant in San Diego for authentic Vietnamese banh beo and bun bo hue! The owner is…read morefrom Vietnam, many (if not all) of the staff are Vietnamese, and if you're unsure of what to get, the staff are happy to make recommendations. It is such a comfort food place for me, having grown up eating Vietnamese dishes. The restaurant is clean and efficient. The banh beo (small steamed rice cakes with shrimp) and nuoc mam (fish sauce) it comes with is so good - you can either get each rice cake in separate bowls (as pictured), which is perfect for sharing, or just have them all on one plate altogether if you'd prefer to enjoy them all for yourself. Pour the fish sauce over the banh beo before eating! They have lots of options for bun bo hue (spicy Vietnamese noodle soup) depending on what toppings you want, and you can choose between the small and large size. Each bun bo hue dish comes with a side of bean sprouts, lettuce, and lemon that you can put into the broth. Their broth, meat, and noodles all taste very good. Would definitely recommend checking this place out!

    As someone who was born in Vietnam and lived my whole life in SoCal eating Vietnamese food, this…read morewas a 2.5-3 star food place. Banh beo: undercooked, good nuoc mam Bun Bo hue: lacked depth of flavor, no lemongrass or aromatics that define the dish, fish cake ball was great and wish there was more of it Com tom nuong: they brought it to us missing the shrimp patty. Shrimp was cooked well and broth was clear and savory. I never expect great service in Vietnamese restaurants but there was one lady who looked like she'd rather be anywhere else but there. It made the whole experience a bit depressing. Flies also were around our food as we ate. I would not come back or recommend it to friends.

    Photos
    Indoors
    Indoors
    Broken rice with grilled beef and shrimps
    Broken rice with grilled beef and shrimps
    Banh bok loc

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    Banh bok loc
    Kingfisher

    Kingfisher

    4.3
    (701 reviews)
    4.4 mi

    Now we don't do fancy often but when we do we make it count. This is a spot for that. Love…read morekingfisher. You know the rules...one quick review: Food: top tier for sure. Great great all around Service: attentive and we went for a celebration and they made custom menus. Love that Ambiance: elegant but inviting, simple but upscale. It was perfect. Worth the trip, the money and the time. Go...

    Ive been here twice now and heres my honest review on this place:…read more Ambiance: More formal than casual but definitely leaning more towards casual-formal than formal-formal -- the place itself has a nice vibe with an island bar in the center surrounded by high tops, tables, and booth + table seating. If I had to describe it in one word I would say "aesthetic". Service: Great, the servers check in a decent amount of the time and you can usually flag them down if you need anything Food: This is where my review goes downhill. The only thing I would say is worth getting at this restaurant is the baguette with butter (no add-ons, caviar or whatever they have going on at the time -- its just not worth it -- when I got the black truffle on my butter the shavings were so thin they might as well have not been there since it made no difference in flavor) The tamarind wings are one dimensional -- the wings are fried well, but lack in flavor, its straight *overwhelming* tamarind with no other notes. House made egg noodles lack any sort of noticeable flavor, most of it stemming from the Lap Cheong but most definitely not worth the price tag that it holds ($36) The dry aged duck is where I feel the most "scammed out of". Ive gotten this both times i've been here. Both times its been overly salty. I understand its dry-aged, but the saltiness overtakes any other flavor of the duck. The sauces try to make up for the lack of flavor but they just cant carry the entire dish on their own -- especially not for a $100 price tag. The first time I ordered this dish (Jan 2026) the duck came out cold-warm, and the second time I came here (July 2026) it came out warmer.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Hokkaido scallops $39
    Hokkaido scallops $39
    Crispy chicken wings

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    Crispy chicken wings

    Cali Baguette Express - vietnamese - Updated August 2026

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