This little cafe has a basic variety of Vietnamese foods such as pho, banh mi's, and other snacks. The portion sizes were decent; the beef stew over rice filled me up. You'll walk out of here spending the average $10-$15 on lunch. The food quality was alright, nothing that wow'ed me. I ordered the beef stew, which had a home-cooked feel to it. The flavor came through, but not as bold/spicy or as much depth in the flavor as I'd expect when it comes to Vietnamese food. Nonetheless, it was acceptable. I also wish it came with more rice. You're only given one small bowl. I also ordered the Thai iced tea, which was surprisingly good. This is good to know as I have no idea who else serves Thai iced tea in this area. The restaurant itself is pretty small, with a couple high tables and a couple normal height. Probably fit about 8-10 people inside comfortably. Right outside is a patio where you can eat outside and people watch all the business people walking over to the Emeryville Public Market. Though the beef stew over rice didn't amaze me, I am curious as to what their other dishes are like. I intend to come back to try the beef pho and spring rolls at some point. Provide you all with an updated review when I do! read more

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For lunch I ordered the spicy noodle bowl at $10 post-tax. The portion size seemed quite satisfactory; the dish itself seems simple enough, with noodles, vegetables, grilled pork (or chicken if you prefer), and peanuts in broth. At this price point, this sort of humble simplicity is all I expect - a no-frills, quick stop experience. read more

Comeback Cafe - Spicy noodle bowl - Vietnamese Near Me - Emeryville, California

Nice little gem in the area. I got a Vietnamese coffee and spring rolls. Generous portion. Both got my Vietnamese approval. Now I don't have to get Spring Roll for a quick fix from Berkeley Bowl anymore! read more

This is my favorite place to eat lunch in Emeryville, especially after all my favorite places were closed at the Public Market and replaced with overpriced hipster food. The bread for banh mi has changed over the years, and the current supplier that they use is very good--the baguette is crisp yet easy to bite into. I love their banh mi sandwiches, so I haven't tried many other items over the past 8 years. The prices are very fair. It is a small shop without ever a line, so food has always been ready in plenty of time to eat and get back to the office. The seating configuration and furniture are the only things I would change. I am always happy to get one of the two outside tables and enjoy the warm sun. PS this is currently marked as "good for groups," but more than 4 people would have a hard time sitting together. read more

me and my boyfriend stopped by for some sandwiches before our picnic. this place popped up on yelp and we decided to check it out, we were not disappointed! staff was so friendly, and the ambiance was extremely cute and cozy. the beef and pork banh mi's were delicious we will definitely be coming back anytime we're in the area read more

This place I must say will have mixed reviews from me. As it is super close to the office, almost everyone comes here for lunch. Things you should order: anything Vietnamese such as the chicken pho, spicy soup , bahn mi sando. Dish you should not order: fire roasted chicken. They use COSTCO chicken and simply place a sauce on top and add rice with salad. And guess how much the cost is?? $9.99!!! The whole chicken at Costco costs only $ 4.99. I even saw them throw away the Costco container. And who could miss the flavor and taste of Costco chicken. Also make sure that you check the chopsticks they provide. One of my officemates said that they REUSE the chopsticks because she got one and noticed that tip of the chopsticks were all chewed up. Gross. read more

This is for their Pho...um, if you can call it that! Sweet broth with inedible mushy noodles (yes, even the hubbie wouldn't eat them!)...side of meyer lemon (a very sweet lemon) and cilantro?? I'm so confused here! No bean sprouts or basil? No lime? The woman behind the counter sure was nice though. Too bad this place sells the worst Pho ever! P.S. They don't have high chairs, just so ya know! read more

I walk pass this place everyday and it is always crowded during lunch with people eating the pho. Today I decided to try them out and had a chicken bahn mi sandwich. I would have gone to my usual place but the 880 north traffic was horrible. I should have bit the bullet and fought the traffic or gone to Chinatown, as the sandwich would have been so much better. For $5, much more expensive than the usual bahn mi places, I was expecting a crispy and crunchy baguette. What I got was a cold, smashed, piece of bread filled with chicken and vegetables. It looked more like a hot dog bun. The chicken was not warm either. But it is the baguette that makes the sandwich. To not even get that right ruins the entire eating experience. Fail all the way. read more

I've been looking for a Pho place and found this thru yelp. I was hesitant to go but I went anyway because right around the area. the menu is very limited. food is pricey for me. I got seafood pho & spring rolls to go for $11.00! the seafood soup had 3 fish balls, three shrimps... not enough for a bowl of soup. the rolls were okay, the dip needed more peanut. it was an okay experience.., I may come back but only if I'm desperate. read more

This is one of my favorite hot spots for lunch. Quick, easy and great tasting food! The service is casual, fast and friendly, and the food is really, really fresh as well. I love their Veggie rolls (comes with an awesome peanut sauce) and the Vietnamese sandwiches!! So good! read more

Comeback Cafe - Menu Board - Vietnamese Near Me - Emeryville, California

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What a little gem that is easy to miss in Emeryville. I have worked nearby for close to 10 years and never thought about dropping by this spot that serves home style pho, bahn mi, and viet coffee!!! The food is delicious and homey. Mom and pop type of place. read more

This place closed as of January 2012. Just thought' I would let everyone know. Went there today and saw the permanently closed sign. read more

They re-opened so reposting: not paying $6 for a vietnamese sandwich. esp. as it's not as kick 8ss as it was before. read more

HIDDEN GEM A couple of years ago new owners took over. This small unassuming clean cafe is my favorite go-to spot in the Oakland/Emeryville area in fact they have some of the best homemade vietnamese dishes I've ever had. My favorites are the chicken bun and the spicy noodles ( a unique dish not found in many restaurants). The dishes are fresh and a great value. The ladies that run the place are very sweet and service is great. It's a best kept secret for breakfast and lunch for workers in area. read more

My husband found this place on Yelp and we decided to check it out. I usually get a vegetarian banh mi and it was interesting. I am used to the tofu being fried. This was fried but stewed which was new to me. My husband got the chicken banh mi and the chicken was stewed as well. We liked it because it wasn't dry. They also use acme bread which makes it feel fancier. Overall, the banh mi was tasty. Service is no frills. The one thing that is a turn off about this place is the water in the water vestibule tasted unsanitary. The water dispenser seems like it needs to be cleaned or serviced. read more

Meh. It was just ok nothing special. Ordered the chicken pho. Broth was sweet tasting, other than that no real seasoned taste. The noodles appear to be pre formed and placed in the bowl then the broth poured over it. Many other places for pho to go to, maybe not in that area though. Best part of the lunch was getting to hang with friends outside of our usual work schedule. read more

Update: Five phone orders were messed up in the past couple of months, and the Pho was COMPLETELY overcooked -- the chicken was like sawdust and the beef was likewise. I hate taking away stars, but this was not acceptable. I'm going to give Comeback a couple of more tries since I really want to restore my stars, not to mention faith, in them. Their prices are also on the rise.....hmmph! ************************************************************ Yay! They finally opened up again after their renovation! The menu got even bigger with more choices. My officemate and I eat here frequently since it's quick, friendly, close by, and very reasonably priced. What we love...well pretty much everything on the Vietnamese menu. The Pho's are good. The Vietnamese Papaya and Shrimp Salad and the Chicken Salad are such a treat on a hot day. The Vietnamese sandwiches are excellent. The pork in the sandwich was very tender and the roll was crispy as promised. If you are really hungry, try the fire-roasted chicken. It's half a bird with a ton of rice. The one time I had it, I was put into a tryptophan coma when I got back to the office. I needed a serious siesta! The cold rice noodle bowls and fresh rolls are also really good. I think Mom's back in the kitchen since the renovation. Our first order taker was a tall handsome guy so while it's nice to see Mom, I'm not complaining... ;-). The last times we went in, our order was taken by a very nice girl. I've never tried the American comfort food dishes here but they sure look good. This is a breakfast and lunch place that is open from 8:30am-4:30pm. read more

One of the best-kept secrets in the Emeryville area, when it comes to lunch spots. They serve a decent beef pho at $5.95 and cold rice stick at $6.50, that hits all the right spots when you've got a hankering for Vietnamese cuisine. Because for some reason good Pho is really hard to come by in Emeryville. It is WAYYYYY better than the Vietnamese in the Public Market food court just a block away, and at a better price even! The next best Pho (trust me, I have searched) is 5 miles north to Ranch 99 in Richmond - not often an option, as I frequently commute to Emeryville via Bart/bus, without car. After you order, you find a free table, and the cashier will bring your food to you. Water is available from the cooler. While the Pho size is not extra large, the bowl is definitely jam-packed with rice noodle and beef (more beef can be ordered if desired). The rice stick is served on a flat plate, rather than a bowl, which is unlike any other rice stick I've been served, but that actually seems to work. Because after you pour the shrimp sauce over it, it doesn't just pan toward the center, making the center more soggy than the rest; it spreads out more evenly. Also, you get a nice sampling of their meats here, some pork, chicken, and beef, not just one. Truly a delight! It's a relatively small cafe, but one can always find seating, both indoor and outdoor. They've also got an HDTV running ESPN to boot! Only complaint is that the pho doesn't come with a bunch of bean sprouts on the side that you can dump in, like most pho restaurants - it was already inside the soup. Though, I should just consider requesting that next time. Curiously, a lot of cops seem to eat here. Maybe they know something we don't? Anyhow, I will come back! read more

I ordered the pork banh mi for $6. I had high expectations for a banh mi that cost that much, but the pork was a bit dry and not like the usual BBQ pork that you get at Vietnamese sandwich shops. The bread and use of a soy sauce(?) made the sandwich better though. read more

I came here for lunch on a rainy day with a craving for pho. Based on the Yelp reviews, I hoped it would be a fairly decent experience, since Emeryville isn't exactly the best place to get any sort of Vietnamese food. I ordered the beef pho and there was some white meat in there that crumbled in my mouth. I don't know what it was, but I think it was overcooked chicken. The beef balls were decent and fairly cooked, and the broth somewhat soothed my craving. But I felt really dehydrated afterwards. A bit much MSG... So aside from the beef balls, there is no other beef. Also, on the board were $5 Vietnamese sandwiches?? When I get my bonus I'll have to see why. I give this place 2 stars because it's small, in Emeryville. But it's really worth 1 star in pho. I'll update if I ever decide to come back here to try the non-Vietnamese stuff. read more

The pho had no taste! Good thing i had it for take out so i went home and flavored it myself. If i wanted to cook i could have done that instead of going down the street to try this place out. My boyfriend did get a tofu sandwich which was good. read more

Since discovering this establishment, I have ventured here on a weekly basis. For those in Emeryville that don't like to deal with sketchy food that inhabits the Public Market, I highly suggest the Comeback Cafe. The Banh Mi sandwiches are a great light sandwich. I, also, heavily suggest trying the pho. Secondly, and most importantly, the Comeback Cafe provides numerous options for the vegetarian and carnivorous folk. Whether you want chicken stir fry or tofu pho, the Comeback Cafe does not fail in providing a warm, inexpensive and tasty meal. Overall, I highly suggest this restaurant to any and all people that work in the West Berkeley, Marina and Emeryville areas. read more

This place was ok. I ordered the Vietnamese chicken sandwich and iced coffee. For some strange reason they were out of ice at 12 in the afternoon, so I got a hot Vietnamese coffee instead. The sandwich was delicious the coffee not so more. If you work in the area its an alternative to the food at the public market, but I would buy the coffee unless you are in to bland coffee and like wasting money. read more

Im so excited these guys opened up again ... My excitement is partly due to them being so close to my office and also the quality of food with great prices. Today I had the Lemongrass chicken and brown rice, and my friend had the vietnamese Sando both were pretty good I must say!!! Keep up the good work guy! read more

As an Emeryville resident I am always looking for some good local eats. For lunch we hit up this spot and I got the pork Banh Mi and with some Thai Iced Tea. The Banh Mi was pretty tasty, good pork with picked veggies and some jalapeno kick. I would have liked to see some Pate' spread used but the flavors were still good nonetheless. My Thai iced tea was a bit on a sweet side so I had to dilute it. My friend got the pho' and said it was pretty good. I would definitely come back and try out some of their other stuff. Good little lunch joint nearby the office. read more

I highly recommend the Comeback Cafe as a great alternative to the Public Market and other Deli's around the area. If you are fan of Vietnamese food, the you are in for an added bonus. The daily specials are numerous and also very good. I am especially a fan of the Vietnamese Sandwiches, there are very tasty with a little bit of a kick. You gotta try this place! read more

The food was amazing! Great atmosphere as well. The owner suggested I try the Vietnamese Sandwich. It was probably the best sandwich I've had in years. The Beef Phó & Rice Plate with Chicken were good too. I don't live in the area but it's definitely worth making the trip. Great service!! read more

I've only been here once.. and I have mixed feelings about it. I think that it's always going to draw a pretty decent crowd because 1) people will get the craving for pho or another vietnamese dish (public market doesn't count lol) and 2) they won't want to drive over to el cerrito. I had a pho dish. It seemed the same size pho as any other place...but in a smaller bowl. It was deceptive because my brain figured I could finish with each, but then my stomach was telling me it was full before I was even finished with it! lol. While it was typical for a lunch in the area ( ~$6-7) I feel like it was overpriced for a place of similar quality in a different area. I'll try the lemongrass chicken next and update with that. read more

I like the comeback cafe. While I think that the prices are much too high I am always pleased with the service and the food that I get here. It is literally just about 26 paces from my job so when I can't trudge the extra 100 yards to Peets this fits the bill nicely. I can also get a huge bowl of oatmeal for $3... just about the only bargain. I like that when I walk in the woman knows just what I want. Who doesn't like being a regular? They are also a notary. How cool is that? Discount if you come in there for coffee all the time. read more

Update: I did get back to try the tofu curry. Yes, it was as good as I expected. Bump one star!!! The girl who works here is really sweet. She chatted with me the whole time the other woman prepared my order. We got two sandwiches - one pork and one tofu. They asked if we wanted curry tofu so I said sure, why not? I have to say that I was a little disappointed when I saw the bread they were using. Run of the mill sandwich rolls like the Columbo ones you buy in the supermarket. Really though, when we got to eating the sandwiches, those rolls were much better than most of the housemade ones you get other places. You know the kind that crumble into dust when you bite into them and cut the roof of your mouth? Lee's still has the best bread in my book, but I liked the fillings here much better. Pork was pretty dry, but tasted good. Tofu curry looked amazing and I think I'll be trying that one next time. Got a thumbs up from my vegetarian friend who couldn't tell me how good it was since her mouth never stopped being full until the sandwich was gone. There's a good chance my review is going to get a bump once I find a chance to get back there for the tofu curry! read more

The Comeback Cafe is a little Vietnamese owned cafe that blends sandwiches with vietnamese rice plates. The ownership has changed a couple times in the past 6 years but from one family member to the next. The quality of the food has remained the same, but the prices keep increasing. The food is worth it, as long as you don't special order anything, else you'll walk away with the way it was supposed to be made, not how you ordered it. Friendly staff with a smile and a great attitude. Sometimes worth the wait.. :) read more

Pretty darn tasty. It was a toss up between Pho or Lemongrass Chicken. The chicken won. Decent price for some good good makes me happy. My co-workers seemed to love the Pho. They have both an American and Vietnamese menu along with the random snickers bar, so you should find something you like. I'll definitely be going back for more experimentation on their menu. read more

I had my first visit here today... I would say being in Emeryville for the past two months, this establishment is where most of the traffic is for hungry worker bees. Most of them would not want to travel to downtown Berkeley or Downtown Oakland. That being said, they will take what is close and convenient. This place offers the basic meals that you would normally crave for. I had the Pork Banh Mi and it was good. They do not have any other choices but Grilled Chicken or Pork. Same goes for the Spring Rolls, they have one for each choice of Tofu, Shrimp or Pork. No combinations. Just one or the other. Overall, if you are just wanting to each and craving these items I would say this will work. Prices are pretty reasonable compared to the surrounding establishments. Like I said, I'm not driving to Downtown Oakland to buy a Banh Mi for $3 and waste my gas. I'd go to the one closer to save me the Moohlah. Banh Mi's and Spring Rolls are ranging between $6-$7 read more

I have been a customer of Comeback Cafe since 1997, Mom's homemade cooking is so AWESOME!! Very Friendly Atmosphere. I miss that Vietnamese Noodle Soup "PHO" and the Vietnamese Sandwhich is DA BOMB!!! read more

Pretty darn good. The flavoring is yummy. Lots of meat, its not packed with potatoes and no meat like most Thai spots are when I order yellow curry. Kudos read more

Comeback Cafe - yellow curry - Vietnamese Near Me - Emeryville, California

Delish Vietnamese sandwich (shredded chicken) and soda for $7. Good value and quick service. Nice owner to boot! read more

Comeback Cafe - Chicken sandwich - Vietnamese Near Me - Emeryville, California

Great food , great service .terrific menu items and delicious Delicious delicious delicious delicious always super delicious cannot wait to try additional items read more

This place is fantastic - the family environment is really warm and comforting. This is the best place to eat in Emeryville by far. The pho is fantastic, the noodle dishes superb. I work near the cafe and have had them cater for events. They do wonderful platters for events. Consider them for your next event and they will make you look like a star. read more

I Love the Come Back Cafe, they always offer fresh products and great quality cooked meals. Great selection of Vietnamese food, very tasty and cooked right there. I also enjoy their sandwiches a lot, specially their tuna on whole wheat and a salad, it doesn't disappoint. The staff is helpful and always nice. Try it for a quick lunch or take home some of their Vietnamese food for dinner. read more

Ok, I wish I could comeback to the comeback but.. due to job cercumstances that my fellow yelpers don't want to hear, I can't comeback to the comeback. But ahh if I could... I'd get the sando's. When I was working around there I'd sit in cube land and think about them... sometimes it would effect my work and relationships with co-workers. The bread was perfect..soft and the meat was ample with a bite of peppers that reminded you... yo, skippy, this aint bubba's BBQ sandwich K. Its the real deal Vietnamese sando, made with much love by the family that runs the place. Which BTW are the coolest bunch of people with good heads on their shoulders. Oh yea. if you go there and there's the "see you in a month sign" Reeeelaaax. they'l be back, everyone needs a break and thats why the come back IMHO is named the Comeback...Enjoi read more