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    Cali Banh Mi

    4.2 (410 reviews)
    ModerateSandwiches, Salad, Soup
    Closed 10:00 am - 8:30 pm

    Order Cali Banh Mi Takeout or Delivery

    Cali Banh Mi Photos

    Business Info

    CALI BANH MI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Cali Banh Mi

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    Lemongrass ribeye fries
    Jamie W.

    Great food and reasonable prices. The spot is quite hidden but we always make sure to go on our way down to Padres games. We love their loaded fries which are unique and have a nice kick!

    Randall B.

    When we pulled up, it looked closed. Had we not tried the door and found out it was open we'd have left. The sandwiches a are great. Warm and toasty bread filled with yummy delight. Not much at most but a good place for a good sandwich.

    Split spring rolls
    Sidney T.

    I've been a Cali Bahn Mi fan for a long time, but this is now the third time in a row that I've ordered spring rolls for takeout and the rice paper is split and the filling bursting out. The split side is also down in the wrapped container when I pick them up, so I don't notice until a take them out. Super disappointing. The quality hasn't been great lately.

    Valerie T.

    On a surprise detour as the designated driver for my hungry crew, we discovered Cali Banh Mi, tucked just off the freeway. Though slightly tricky to access, it turned out to be a delicious hidden gem with plenty of parking and both indoor and outdoor seating. We were immediately impressed by the freshly baked bread, which set the tone for the meal. The ingredients were crisp, flavorful, and clearly fresh. We tried three different Banh Mi sandwiches: chicken, lemongrass ribeye beef, and pork--each one delivered in taste, texture, and balance. Beyond the sandwiches, the menu offered a wide variety of tempting options, including a great selection of drinks, desserts, and even fresh shrimp chips that added a fun twist. The friendly staff and vibrant atmosphere made the stop even more enjoyable.

    Classic Banh mi with Vietnamese iced coffee
    Fareed S.

    Grabbed breakfast (classic Banh mi stuffed with hash browns) and Vietnamese iced coffee. Very tasty, clean atmosphere and prompt service.

    bbq pork- not authenic
    Trang K.

    looks legit but I dont know if this place is vietnamese owned. - bread: no chew whatsoever. bread is everything for the experience.... tastes more like a subway piece of bread roll: negative! -the ingredients looks legit too. but the pickled veggies have no taste.... also way too small and little. the cucumbers - not enough either. it just missed the mark altogether. - I wouldnt ever eat here again. if you are hungry and need a sandwich, its edible, just not vietnamese edible. When I asked if the vietnamese coffee is drip coffee, the guy gaved me a puzzled look. He didnt even know what I was talking about......... hmmmm dont get me wrong, if you get it right... youget it. but the taste is nothing vietnamese! :/

    SURF & TURF SPRING ROLLS
    Kimme F.

    The banh mi bread was so fresh and perfectly toasted. Fillings were so delicious and flavorful. Also tried the surf and turf spring rolls which was a little different but still good. Loaded with shrimp but the meat was not like sliced steak but more of minced then cooked after being molded together. The owner was super friendly and sweet! She told me the popular items on the menu and I wasn't disappointed. Definitely will come back to try something different next time.

    Menu
    Nay L.

    Oh my gosh, YUMM. Talk about the biggest banh mi option menu I've ever seen INCLUDING all day breakfast. They have a lovely little treat display as well with delicious and all over the board items and a full menu or coffees and bobas. The service was very friendly and the location itself was clean, modern, with a lot of natural light and very casual.

    BBQ Pork Vermicelli, Viet Iced Milk Coffee
    Alyssa N.

    Service was there! My to-go order was ready in around 8 minutes! This place is definitely pricey, especially if you add a drink to your order. Compared to other Vietnamese restaurants, this place is not authentic. Pork vermicelli is one of my favorite Vietnamese dishes, and the dish was nice and light! However, the pork was a bit dry.

    Menu
    Tina L.

    The cleanest, brightest, and aesthetically pleasing banh mi shop. Service efficient. Food is a bit expensive and Americanized, but the sandwiches are a foot long and loaded with protein. While the bread is very light and airy, it's not your typical French baguette. The surf and turf beef was sweet? The spring rolls came with not enough sauce. Good if you're in a rush and need a quick bite.

    Back corner view of the suite
    Emmett T.

    Cali Banh Mi did a great job of renovating the former space occupied by Muscle Mill Grill on Garnet Ave. The updated light fixtures and new paint inside made a big difference to the ambiance as it felt cozier than before. If you aren't heading westbound on Balboa Ave, then a better option to arrive here would be to pull into the McDonald's driveway on Mission Bay Dr and then park in the corner adjacent to the outdoor patio of this suite. There were four reserved parking spaces for CBM in that area. The menu was surprisingly extensive with traditional Vietnamese, American deli style, and breakfast banh mi sandwiches available in addition to boba drinks, spring rolls, salads, energy and Cali bowls, fried rice, and desserts. I ordered the classic Shrimp and Pork Spring Rolls along with a savory BBQ Pork Vietnamese Banh Mi. Each item was a good value for the serving size. A standard peanut dipping sauce came with the spring rolls. The banh mi was on a legitimate French baguette and not some other type of bread. The outdoor patio doubled the on-site seating capacity and was a feature that the other CBM locations don't have. You may have to take a circuitous route if you are coming from a particular direction (e.g. north or west). Otherwise, it's great to have a Vietnamese sandwich shop in this neighborhood so you don't have to drive to their Convoy District or Point Loma locations.

    Marinated Chicken Wok Fried Rice*
    Gail U.

    What a feast. Doc ordered wonderful items for lunch. Huge generous portions that were each delicious. A treasure trove of flavors and their fried rice and steak bowl blew me away. The veggies in the dishes were fresh, brightly colored and even the way they were placed in the containers that Grub Hub delivered were excellent. Thank you Doc for a wonderful satisfying yummy meal, SO much for lunch!

    Sarcastic rude girl up front

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    8 months ago

    The sandwiches and bowls are amazing! Customer service is great and we love Tea as well.

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    10 months ago

    Friendly, clean, fresh food. Had the lemongrass ribeye bahn mi. And the bbq pork spring rolls

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    2 years ago

    Fast casual banh mi. I got the BBQ pork banh mi. They bake their own bread, very good. Quick friendly service, lots of drink choices.

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    2 years ago

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    Soup Du Jour - Roasted Duck Wrap

    Soup Du Jour

    4.7(451 reviews)
    4.4 miSerra Mesa
    $$

    I've only ordered Soup Du Jour through DoorDash, so I can't speak to the in-person service or…read moreatmosphere, but the food has been SO good! The crispy spring rolls are my absolute favorite!!!!! Rival A Chau. They're perfectly crispy and seriously addicting. I also love the salt and pepper wings, they're flavorful, crispy, and always hit the spot. Everything I've ordered has traveled well and still tastes great by the time it arrives. Definitely one of my go-to spots when I'm craving spring rolls and wings!

    This excellent, small informal restaurant was sold 6-12 months ago to people with much less skill…read moreand attention to detail. If only they had mastered the recipes and kept things exactly as they were when they purchased the place. The focus and attraction for this place is in the title. ITS THE SOUP! I strongly advise sticking to that concept and making sure the recipes are carefully followed. The new menus are a bad move. They deemphasize what made the place a success in the first place. Throw them out and create new ones more closely resembling the original ones. Remember that a restaurant is a hospitality business. Greet customers properly. Don't ever close at 8:00 pm, regardless of your desire to go home for the day. If the original owners are available, ask them for a refresher course on how to run the business. They are smart highly skilled people. They created a fine little place. Please bring your business back to standard!

    Photos
    Soup Du Jour - Chicken and front counter

    Chicken and front counter

    Soup Du Jour - Fried bread for congee

    Fried bread for congee

    Soup Du Jour

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    PHOnomenal - House Special Pho

    PHOnomenal

    4.8(512 reviews)
    11.3 mi
    $$

    Whoa, the pho is so good here. The broth is clear and so delicious. I drank half of the bowl first…read morebecause it was so good. Then I remembered to add the homemade chili oil sauce! I called ahead to let them know how many house specials I was ordering and what time. There was a slight wait for a table when I got there, and it made me even hungrier. The parking lot is tight, but it wasn't hard to get a spot. Service is great. Everyone is so friendly. I started with an order of shrimp roll. The roll itself is just ok; it has a lot of noodles. The peanut sauce was great and sweet. They ran out of the pork roll. They only make a limited amount of pho every day, and once they're sold out, they're done for the day. I definitely recommend to come early or call ahead. The pho though is actually PHENOMENAL. I would come back even though it's like a $25 meal. They give two beef ribs that have meat falling off the bone. The homemade chili oil was so good that I bought two jars to take home. When am I going to come back to National City?? HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

    Cannot believe it took us this long not to try this spot…read more Arrived at 10:30 a.m. on a Saturday. Waited 10 mins to get the available seats, which is okay since it's only like 8-10 tables. House Special Beef Ribs - 5/5 Broth taste - balance and rich flavors Beef tenderness - meat fell off the bone. Noodles - silky and smooth texture like it; not overcooked. We thought the herbs would be too overpowering with the soup, but it wasn't; it balances out the broth flavor overall. Shrimp and Pork Spring Rolls - fresh veggies and delicious shrimp and savory pork slices with a good amount of peanut sauce. Big size rolls. 5/5 Fresh Sugar Cane Juice - refreshingly delicious. The price is on the high end with the size. They offer a small menu, but every dish is amazing! Outstanding customer service! Be patient and prepared to park by the street. Highly recommended for Pho lovers/foodies!

    Photos
    PHOnomenal - Partial view of the dining area

    Partial view of the dining area

    PHOnomenal - Their Phonomenal food item that always sells out!!!!

    Their Phonomenal food item that always sells out!!!!

    PHOnomenal - Shrimp and Pork Roll

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    Shrimp and Pork Roll

    Cali Banh Mi - sandwiches - Updated September 2026

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