Bahn Mi. I'm not sure I need to say more but I will. Bahn Mi! If you have not eaten these amazing Vietnamese sandwiches, you are missing a true pleasure in life. I read a little on the Internet (so it must be true!) and learned that bahn mi is actually just the light and crispy baguette on which these sandwiches are made; it's the rest of the name that makes the magic. My favorite from Catina so far is the #11 bahn mi heo nuong, which is made with thinly sliced Vietnamese grilled pork. I've also had the #10 bahn mi ga nuong (grilled chicken) and #1 bahn mi thit nguoi (cold cuts). All were delicious! I'm not sure I want to tell you all the typical ingredients, just so you'll try them "as is" and judge for yourself. There's nothing on any of these that will hurt you (just meats, vegetables, and condiments), but some of you might not think of these flavors on a traditional American sandwich. It's the bahn mi ingredients that make them so good, in my opinion. For you Subway fans out there, this is nothing like Subway where you pick and choose the ingredients as they build it before your eyes. To get the best sandwich I'd recommend you simply step up, request the sandwich by number, pay your $3.50, and patiently wait a few minutes for your your paper-wrapped, rubber band-sealed grinder of goodness. Your courageousness will pay off! read more

Catina - Bahn mi menu - Sandwiches Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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What do you get when you mix avocado with tapioca pearls at Catina? Just the most delicious, fresh bubble smoothie you can imagine. Seriously, other reviewers weren't kidding when they talked about how fresh the bubble teas are at this cash-only spot. The avocado is clearly real avocado as opposed to pure powder, and the flavor is amazing. As for the boba? It's the perfect balance of chewiness without being too soft or hard. If you're an avocado fan, then I highly recommend trying it - don't deprive yourself of this tantalizing treat. This place is pretty hoppin', too, as their banh mi sandwiches seem to be really popular and they also offer a small selection of baked goods and prepared foods. They're open every day but Thursdays, so plan your visits accordingly! read more

The banh mi here is good enough to satisfy your cravings, and quite possibly one of the only places to get the goods in RVA. I usually stopped by here not for the Vietnamese sandwiches, but mainly for the boba tea drinks. Mango is the way to go. I fairly remember it having an unpowdery taste, so I'm pretty sure they use real fruits! Bring cash, because there either is a minimum or it's all cash only. read more

When you walk in this store, omg the smells are all so good. I'm not even viet and I don't even know what was cooking back there but I think that the main thing I was smelling was the bread and it smelled so fresh. Their food, in my opinion deserves a 4. I got the grilled pork and pork belly band mi and I really liked it! The bread was a softer than crispy but I liked that. It still had a bit of crunchiness and chewiness in it. I'm just not the type of person who likes to eat the super hard kind of baguette that hurts your gums, but hey that's just me. Prices are excellent. Cheapest banh mis ever. Each one is 3.75 and it's like a full on sandwich! The reasons why I marked down two stars is 1. Their service was just not it. The man behind the counter worked at suchhh a slowww pace, taking his sweet little time to come from the back and take my order. He looked like he hated life, hated me, and just looked unhappy. Harshed my vibe. 2. This place needs a sit down place, maybe even outside or something. I feel like more people would come if they did. 3. The food that they make in the store and sell packaged all look really good but I really just do not know what any of them are. And it's not like I'm gonna ask the guy who looks like he doesn't even want to talk to me about it. I'd love to try some of those foods, but it would be nice to have some clarity on that. All in all, I really like their food! I'll definitely come back. read more

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I don't like wasting food, especially food I paid for. I threw most of my sandwich away. Reading the two reviews prior, I knew what I was getting myself into beforehand. Dislikes: I ordered the Chicken Banh Mi (photo). I figured it would be the easiest thing to make. I mean, who can mess up chicken? Apparently they can. Not only was the flavor unappealing, there was practically no meat in that sandwich. I love vegetables, but I did NOT order a Vietnamese Veggie sandwich with grilled chicken on the side. Neutral: I ordered a strawberry "icee" with tapioca balls. It didn't taste anything like strawberry, but it was still good. The balls (hah, I said 'balls') were good, with a nice chew to them. I actually ate most of them (instead of shooting them at random things). Likes: Umm, the balls were good. Star Rating: Go here at your own risk. Eating bad food makes me cry and yes, tears were shed during that experience. I'm actually tearing up at the thought of it now. read more

Catina - Chicken Banh Mi - Sandwiches Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I come to Catina (AKA Banh Mi Catina, according to the sign on their storefront) mostly for the boba/bubble drinks in a variety of interesting and tasty fruit flavors. I've tried their banh mi ga (chicken) twice but don't care for it nearly as much as the kind from Kim's Bakery nearby, on Rigsby Rd. The chicken here is grilled and not as flavorful, and the sandwiches contain a rather runny and unappetizing homemade mayonnaise made from raw eggs, according to a sign posted on the wall. I also find the taste of the pickled vegetables overpowering, as opposed to complementary. One thing in Catina's favor over Kim's Bakery is that they offer more varieties of banh mi fillings, but since I don't eat pork or beef, I couldn't tell you if they're any good. If you are picking up sandwiches for a crowd, though, Catina offers a nice buy-five, get-one-free deal. They also have a variety of sausages, pâté, egg dishes, and other cold prepared foods in a couple small refrigerators, though I've never tried anything but the che, a sweet, layered jelly dessert soup/drink; they also sell ingredients to make your own che and other non-dessert dishes, plus the standard bottled water and cans of tea/juice/soy milk you find at most Asian markets. Oh, and there's a section for fresh baked goods, most of which are unidentified, and another for bags of chips, candy, and other snacks and shelf-stored goods. The service is pretty terrible, and sometimes I've had to wait quite a while for my order to be prepared while other people who came in after me were helped first. But if you want a boba/bubble drink in an exotic fruit flavor filled with delightfully squishy tapioca balls, this is your best bet in the West End. I've tried and enjoyed the mango, lychee, and taro flavors, and plan to go back and try all the others. I'm not the type to get upset when someone doesn't smile at me, because I think that's an unreasonable and entitled expectation to have of strangers, but I do wish the lady behind the counter seemed a little less inconvenienced by my presence. One of these days I'll get around to trying some of the baked goods, but most of them are unlabeled and I'm not comfortable asking the aforementioned woman to describe each item to me. All of the chips and other snack items in bags can be purchased at other markets (I'd recommend Far East Oriental Market near Rigsby Rd and Full Kee/Pho So 1). Stick with the boba drinks here and you'll at least satisfy your taste buds, if not your craving for human interaction. read more

Catina - Desserts, baked goods, prepared plates - Sandwiches Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

My neighbors recommended this place- I tried coming once and it was closed, so I forgot about it. I randomly thought about it today and decided to try again. I AM SO GLAD I DID! Holy shit. I am not too familiar with Vietnamese food and there was a language barrier, so really I had no idea what to expect. Everything including the menu is in Vietnamese, but I don't scare easily, and really I'll try anything at least once, so I ordered the chicken sandwich. Service was super quick and 5 minutes later I was handed a warm toasty roll full of the most delicious cilantro, carrots, cucumber, jalapeño and salted chicken I've ever had in my life. I am sure the bread is home made by the quality of it. They're only $ 3.95 - honestly, they would be $10 each and I would still come. One of the best foodie experiences is when you genuinely don't know what to expect and you're mind blown. This is my new favorite place in the world in all the galaxies and beyond. read more

Catina - Grilled chicken sandwich! - Sandwiches Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Not authentic banh mi but it's cheap and quick. Wouldn't go again because I grew up on authentic Vietnamese food. Decent but nothing special. read more

This place has terrible service I have no idea how they manage to stsy open. People who work their are rude and disinterested in earning hour money. No I will never ever go back read more

***so it seems this place had closed down for about a week or so to do some cleaning, it's pretty clean in here now, also I haven't seen the regular owners in a bit only the two ladies that help out. BTW the bahn mi was soo much better today than usual, these ladies are something else plus they were so kind! Normally I feel like I'm an inconvenience to ask questions about the pre maid dishes but she was actually eager to help me.*** MSoooo happy I decided to come here after getting pho at Tay Do! Now I love this place even tho they have the most random hours and cold employees but none of that mattered this visit! There were so many people working today and they all actually paid attention to me when I entered the store (this is a first!) today I got a coconut bubble tea (originally wanted avocado but when I ordered she let me know they were out of avocados) oh well I love coconut just as much! The atmosphere was just different today! read more

Sandwiches are good, but they charge extra if you want a little extra veggies. It's not like I asked for extra meat! All in all, still a good sandwich. read more

Hole in the wall place, so I bought the food then went back to my car and devoured it in the parking lot. This was the best banh mi I have had in Richmond and the avocado boba was great. I will be back. read more

Ever since going to Vietnam we've been looking for a good bahn mi and this place is amazing. The bread is right, the proportion of ingredients is right and at $4 man is the price right. read more

We went to this place around a year ago or so but turned around because there was an odd smell in there. We went back months later because we kept hearing that the bah mi were delicious, but once again we couldn't get over the smell. Then we decided to go back about a week ago. The stench was gone and so we decided to order. We bought 6 bah mi (they were 6 for $20) and a bubble tea. The bah mi were so delicious. The bread was nicely toasted, the veggies fresh, and the meat delicious. I love the fact that the jalapeño was so spicy. It was our first first time trying the bubble tea. It was soooo good that now we are always craving it. It took a while for us to get the courage to try this restaurant but I'm so glad we did. I totally recommend it. read more

Taro slushy bubble tea was absolutely to die for on a hot summer day. The boba quality was great! Went back the next day to try their bah mi. I got the #12 with shredded and grilled pork. Loaded with flavor and the bread was so fresh and delicious! Everyone inside is so nice and their service is so fast. Will be back again and again. read more

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We tried the special banh mi, which was actually very good. The banh mi was crunchy and not soggy at all. The cold cut and pickle had good quality. However, they were a bit expensive compared to NOVA. But overall, if I am craving for Vietnamese banh mi, I definitely come back. read more

Holy banh mi. I've been having the most wicked cravings, so I'm deeply happy that I found Catina. For $3.75, you get terrible service, but you get the banh mi that you know and miss. For anyone who doesn't know, a banh mi is a magical sandwich made from a freshly toasted baguette, some mystery meat, picked vegetables, jalapeños, and a buttery mayonnaise spread. I grew up eating pork belly banh mi's from the grocery store down the street, where they cost $1.50 a pop. Catina's banh mi's are pretty decent. I believe they are buy 5, get 1 free, which is my dream come true. Bring cash, because they don't accept card. You'll probably see me there. read more

Love this place. To begin... Cash only. They will take checks, but the check sign is crossed out, so I am waiting for the time they say no. Also, they prepare everything to order, so plan on waiting for things to be made. It can get backed up around lunch time. The banh mi sandwiches are yummy! They are on the skimpy side, but the flavors and quality is right on and heck, they are only $3.50 each! I always stick with the pork. I also highly recommend the avocado bubble tea --- it is a real treat! Smooth and creamy with a fresh avocado taste and just slightly sweet. Man, I want one now! They also have other Vietnamese items....chips, coffee, candies, Banh bao (aka Steamed pork buns), and tons of other things to try. Cheers! read more

Finally walked into this place after craving some bahn mi. now i'm asking myself why did it take me so long? Ordered two sandwiches, the pork belly and a roasted pork. Both were amazingly delicious. You could tell that everything was fresh. While i waiting i stared at the boba board and thought... hmm avocado boba?!? that sounds spectacular. Most people don't think as avocado as a sweet ingredient, but growing up it was all about avocado ice cream for me. So glad I ordered that too. I had to pry it out of my husband's hands because he kept hoarding it. Anyways, I will definitely be back try the other varieties of bahn mi and per my fellow yelpers, the taro boba is next on my list. oh and bring cash, they no longer accept checks. read more

I agree with the overall rating of 3.5 stars. Catina is just a-ok. Pros: -The price. For 3.75 you can get any Vietnamese sandwich you want. That's an awesome deal. Also, if for some reason you need 6 sandwiches, buying 5 sandwiches will get you one for free! -Cantina is probably the only place in Richmond where you can get the large variety of banh mis to satisfy any craving. Cons: -Horrible, horrible customer service. To be fair, Catina isn't a restaurant so they just want customers to come in, order then leave. With that said, the workers are not friendly. -CASH ONLY. I almost exclusively use plastic for all of my purchases. I would definitely frequent this place more often if they accept card. Overall, the sandwiches are pretty good with a great price tag. I would definitely recommend this place if you are craving a banh mi but don't go out of your way to try it. read more

I always come here to buy Vietnamese sandwiches whenever I go to Richmond. The baguette is not truly Vietnamese baguette but the taste is still good enough to eat, the only thing I don't like about this place is cleanliness, they should clean up more. read more

Finally, my bahn mi cravings are quenched. Walked in today because I was headed to Tan A anyway and thought I'd see if it was open. Lo and behold. Bahn mi heaven. Now, I've only had bahn mi twice before so I didn't know there were so many different kinds! I guess it makes sense. I got the #6 and #8. The #6 is the "Extra". I wouldn't recommend this one for anyone who's not used to strange meats, but if you are it is delicious. I need to go back and stock up. I ate my two too quickly. read more

Best fresh fruit bubble tea in the area! The only thing I got here was the bubble tea, so my review is not all inclusive, but I will definitely be coming back to try their banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches) and all their other Vietnamese pastries and desserts I miss so much from home while I'm at school! I got the coconut bubble tea and it was fresh and delicious. I could taste the real coconut in the smoothie and was so happy! The boba was also the perfect consistency, not too hard but not too chewy either. I can't wait to come back to try the avocado and taro flavors. Great find! Just remember to bring cash! read more

This is a small little Vietnamese bakery in the center of a small shopping center. They've got a large selection of different banh mi combination sandwiches, Boba Teas, and other baked goodies. I tend to stop here when i'm in Richmond. My mother frequents here. Their Banh mi sandwiches are made to order so they taste "fresh". I'm always requesting extra jalepenos and the lady behind the counter (which i think is the owner) always piles it on for me. Don't think she's upset when you see her, she doesn't smile much. I also LOVE their meat buns. White breading on the outside and its filled with meat and either a quail egg or half an egg in the inside. We call it Nom Pao in Khmer. Filipinos call them, Sho Pao's. Gotta try it. Their boba teas are also delicious. Very affordable here. Bring cash with you! Enjoy! read more

I love this place Catina. Sandwiches were $3 now $3.75 but they are so good. You can get the same thing in the fan but they cost $9. I got pork belly, grilled chicken and pork. Maybe some tendon too but i only speak English. I've tried other stuff but not sure what I was eating. Everyone should give these sandwiches a try, they are so special :) read more

This place is new and hasn't been open very long. They sell sandwiches. Buy 5 get 1 free. Sandwiches range from 3 to 3.50 each. They also sell smoothies, ice coffee, and fresh sugar cane. They sell all sorts of snacks such as nem chua and pate chaud. With all of these goodies the service absolutely sucks. Apparently, they've picked up the bad habit of ignoring customers who they think do not understand them. Placed an order for sandwiches and waited. Waited and waited and waited while they were chatting. The cashier bellowed my order again. "I need 6 sandwiches!" I was the only customer in the store at the time. Another customer entered started speaking Vietnamese and they practically ran over themselves to help her. She was in and out within minutes. While my sandwiches "were being made". Never again. The place next door Asian Bakery Cafe is a little slow but at least they appreciate my business. read more

I always come here for my boba fix. Their avocado boba is my favorite. Their sandwiches are also pretty great! Love the food and boba.

You can accuse me of a little bias here. I have been fiending for a banh mi since discovering them in Atlanta two years ago. What I like about this spot in particular is the variety, the cleanliness of the restaurant, and the banh mi itself is HOT like I like it. The bubble tea may be the bigger star here. I devoured the Soursop version and its the best healthy drink I have probably ever had. Yep, on to the Makeyawannaslapyomomma list you go. read more

Maybe I'm giving this place too many stars, but this is the only place in Richmond I've found that does legit Asian smoothies and boba. There's real fruit and it's not overly sweet. I haven't seen litchi anywhere else and Catina's is sooooo good! The banh mi isn't bad but I've had better. The reasons this place may not deserve all 4 stars is because they are randomly closed with no signage to say when they'll be back and sometimes the boba is hard and sticks together =| read more

I like the banh mis here! And would return probably anytime I'm craving one when I'm in Richmond. However it kind of stresses me out when I come here. There seems to never be anyone at the cash register when you go in.. they're probably doing some work in the back, which is fine, but there's a big wall blocking the view to the back, and I don't feel comfortable shouting to the back... So there is usually a wait for someone to come to you. Also they didn't seem to understand me when I asked for more condensed milk in my vietnamese iced coffee. It was so bitter so I asked my vietnamese friend to talk to them. They said something along the lines that they can't because it's already mixed and cold. I think that's kind of silly to not accommodate. That was too bad; I ended up throwing most of it away. read more

this was my very first bahn mi sandwich, so im no connoisseur, just putting that out there. i love pho so i figured i would give this part of vietnamese cuisine a try. i got the number 5 and the 14. the number 14 was definitely better. what i dislike about these sandwiches can be summed up as below -i HATE cilantro and these sandwiches are filled with the vile weed -way too much mayo -the pork had congealed fat attached to it, which was really disgusting the counter guy was pretty sullen. but so were the customers. i wouldnt let that deter you if you want to try something new like i did but it was like being greeted by stalin. also i got some tamarind candy which is really tasty, but it is a bit cheaper at the asian grocery store across the parking lot, so in the future, i will get it from there. cash only read more

A definite hole in the wall serving a variety of pretty decent Bahn Mi. We each had the grilled pork with veggies and cilantro, and enjoyed it. It's strictly take-out, no seating, and the prices are super reasonable. There was also a cooler with a bunch of what appeared to be traditional Vietnamese foods, but we had zero idea what they were, so we didn't venture off the Bahn Mi menu. read more

How can you beat this place? Delicious banh mi on fresh bread that they bake, and $3.50 each? Super deal. If you buy 5 you get one free - which we did. Took home a bag of fantastic sandwiches loaded with fresh carrots, cucumbers, herbs and jalapenos (hot!). We got some pork and some chicken - both were very well-received. I am already looking forward to going back. The only cons I can think of - service is slow, but then again they are making everything to-order and everyone orders a LOT, so it's to be expected I guess. Also, they're take-out only, and cash-only. A little planning ahead goes a long way, though. I foresee a banh mi picnic in my future. read more

Im very picky when it comes to boba and this is so good!! the price point makes it even better read more

Catina - So good!! - Sandwiches Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Alright, so I haven't been back here since my first and only visit over a year ago. (See previous review.) Today I stopped by to give it another chance (and also I just really, really wanted a banh mi). To my pleasant surprise, the owners either got it together or my last visit was really a fluke. While the man at the register was still by no means friendly, he at least acknowledged me right away and took my order as soon as I walked up to the counter. My order took no longer than 10 minutes to come out - MUCH faster than my last visit. Banh mi: highly highly recommended the grilled chicken banh mi (#10 I think). Deliciously seasoned, though just a tad salty. I also tried the pork belly banh mi, usually my fave, but the cuts of meat they used were really fatty (even for pork belly) and seasoned oddly. The veges and other accoutrements are the same for each banh mi as far as I can tell. The bread is still perfectly toasted on the outside and soft on the inside, I think they scoop a little bread out too when making sandwiches because the bread to fillings ratio was perfect. Drinks: on recommendation of fellow Yelpers, I decided I'd try one of their smoothies/boba drinks. The coconut drink is fantastic, and I'm not usuuuually a fan of coconut. Not too sweet, as many coconut based drinks tend to be, but just right. The tapioca/boba is kinda a let-down though. It's a little tough and rubbery, not like how boba should be. I think it was just boba that'd been sitting out for too long. I would get a drink without it next time. Overall, a much improved experience. I entered with great trepidation and thankfully left happy. I'll have to stop by again in the coming weeks, but hopefully nothing happens that warrants another review update! read more

There isn't anything too special about this place. The sandwich was just ok, definitely fresh but just ok. I think it needed a side of dipping sauce and a little more meat. The bread made up for the lack of meat but I was just expecting more flavor. read more

Honestly, when I first got my special (#1) banh mi, I was a little disappointed by the heft (lack thereof) of the sandwich. It seem shorter than usual. It turns out unlike many other things in life, size doesn't matter. After the first bite, I can taste the variety and freshness of the meat along with the perfectly place jalapeno/cilantro combination in the middle of the vietnamese cold cuts in a pate and butter smeared fresh crispy pieces of heaven. The experience was almost orgasmic!!! Don't think for a minute I do not know about banh mi. I lived in many places in my life time (among other, Eden Center at seven corner in Northern VA) and I have been eating banh mi for almost 30 years. What makes these so great at Cantina isn't just one thing, it's all these seemingly simple ingredient blends harmoniously together. As cherry on top, they also have other freshly made vietnamese item like Gio Bi, Bánh Giò, and those fried sesame covered dough ball with mung bean inside. I had the Bánh Giò and the dough ball thingy, and they are both wonderful. Thank you Catina for making me complete. read more

So I bought the combination cold cut sandwich. It had no white pork meat in it, the kind that usually comes with the combination sandwich! Very disappointed. Their pate is not particularly flavorful and same for their veggies! Yet the pate is abundant. Most of what I taste is soy sauce actually. It's a shame! That aside, the bread was very good. Light, crispy and warm. I went in around 2pm on a Saturday. I also bought some eggrolls, which were good and satisfying. I can never complain with Vietnamese egg rolls. I also bought some packaged rice that had Chinese sausage on top. I haven't eaten it yet. They also have the fried sesame balls, pate chaud, lots and lots of packaged desserts. Some dessert cups in the 'fridge, and even some sandwich items you can buy to make your own sandwiches (veggies and meat). And I believe they have drinks with boba. Last I was there on 10/16/10, the place next door (Asian bakerry cafe) was (still) closed. read more

It is so hard to find a Vietnamese restaurant that serves Banh Mi (Vietnamese street sandwich) in this town. Banh mi are comprised of a 6-8" french baguette with cucumber, cilantro, and a choice of proteins, and they usually go for around $4. Catina's are much better than the Vietnamese Deli around the corner. They do have a generous selection of proteins (12 including some authentic vietnamese items) and 12 Bubble Teas as well. But that's ALL they serve, outside of some side dishes, desserts, and condiments in the fridge in front, and it is TAKE OUT ONLY, there is no place to sit and eat. The flavors are good, although one is underwhelmed by the amount of meat on each sandwich, however, again it's about twice what you get at the Thai Deli. The service is a step above the Seinfeld "soup Nazi" episode. It's good for cheap no frills eats. They don't have extra Hoisan or Schirracha if you want it (unlike my favorite Pho Saigon on West Broad) and they only serve Banh Mi and Bubble tea. The value is good for authentic vietnamese no frills take out. read more

I was looking for Filipino food on yelp and this place popped up. Gave it a try and was not disappointed. I had the No 8 sandwich, which is pork belly sandwich. It was excellent, and for $3.75 it is a steal. They had a bunch of other stuff laid out on the table, which I had no idea what it was. I also ordered the Jackfruit bubble drink which was disappointing. It was mostly sugar. However, the sandwich compensated for the let down in the drink section. I wish the lady at the counter was friendly. She was cold and it looked like someone stole her lunch money. She hardly exchanged any words and seemed like she was doing me a favor. That's the reason for the three stars. However, I will be coming back for the sandwich. This place is a cash only establishment. They don't accept credit cards. read more

Catina - Pork Belly Sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Richmond, Virginia