I don't know why Fresh and Best 2 never seems to show up on those "best Oakland bánh mì" lists, but it absolutely should. My go-to bánh mì is usually tofu, which can be a risky choice. At a lot of places, the vegetarian option feels like an afterthought after they've spent all their energy perfecting the BBQ pork. Not here. Fresh and Best 2 has three different vegetarian bánh mì options, and they're all excellent. In fact, my husband was convinced the spicy seitan bánh mì was BBQ pork the first time he tried it. It's that convincing. My personal favorite is the curry tofu sheet sandwich. It's packed with flavor, and there's something especially satisfying about chomping through all those layered sheets of tofu. The texture is fantastic and makes every bite interesting. The sandwiches here are substantial, hearty, and filling. The bread roll is also better than most: crisp on the outside, soft inside, and sturdy enough to hold everything together without becoming a jaw workout. Beyond bánh mì, they have a huge menu that covers both Vietnamese favorites and classic Western-style sandwiches. But for me, it's the creative vegetarian options that keep winning. High-concept veggie sandwiches are surprisingly hard to find, and Fresh and Best 2 does them exceptionally well. read more

Fresh and Best Cafe 2 - Curry tofu sheet bahn mi- this is THE ONE - Vietnamese Near Me - Oakland, California

Fresh and delicious food and drinks. I recall having a green smoothie here can't remember which one though. Totally worth it! Support this business today. read more

For the food, it is typical and fresh with a lot of selections. Good for take out and fast lunch. I will come again. Beef Sw is good. Mix Vet juice is also good. read more

delicious and quick as always! I love their viet coffee and their bahn mi are my favorite in oakland!!

Stopped by here during my lunch break. Safe to say it was a local favorite, especially for those who work in the area. I loved it! All of their food is fresh, it's a tiny space so not a lot of room to be seated but those are usually the best spots. It's pretty fast paced and they offer options for takeout, you may scan the QR code/order online/ & probably call in. I bought the shrimp spring rolls and they were huge. Pretty filling and perfect for lunch, a light delectable meal. I was obsessed with their peanut sauce. They also offer fresh bakery items, sandwiches (banh mis look legit), vermicelli, regular sandwiches, fresh fruit, plenty of drink options. I will be back! My order took about 10 minutes. read more

Wow. Cute hole in the wall place. The curry tofu bahn mi was so amazing and well priced. I want to go back to Oakland just for this place. We also got the lemongrass seitan bahn mi which was pretty good. The mango pineapple smoothie tasted like pure fresh mangos, the best ever read more

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Street public parking Two lanes and people double park too so it gets busy and messy But beautiful building with a business inside that likes it clean, organized and friendly Got one of each, pork chicken and combo The bag feels like it's 10lbs haha Bread is so crispy crunchy omg The portions of meat look small in the pictures but it is full, but they also shoved 10,000 lbs of delicious veggies and I sincerely thank you for that read more

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Loved my banh mi. Bread was crunchy but not dry. I got the grilled pork and it wasn't dry and flavored well. good portion as well. I also got a smoothie and it was nice and refreshing. They were super busy for lunch. they have so much on their menu! they have some tables for seating but not a whole lot. Since they were busy they forgot my friends juice so we had to wait a little longer. read more

Fresh and Best Cafe 2 - banh mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Oakland, California

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I feel a lot of the reviews are for delivery because the in person experience is truly awful.

Best banh mi place in downtown Oakland. $10 is absolutely worth the quality and size of this sandwich. Cold cuts are plentiful with generous smears of pate and savory mayo. This one banh mi fed both of us for lunch. Quick friendly service too. Note: they have a 3% credit card surcharge. read more

Fresh and Best Cafe 2 - Combo (Cold Cuts - Pork Roll, Ham & Headcheese) - Vietnamese Near Me - Oakland, California

I wanted to try this place a couple of times before leaving a review. I lived in San Jose for a long time and had plenty of great Vietnamese food and banh mi, so I have a certain standard of how they should taste. After moving to the East Bay, my favorite spot became Banh Mi Ba Le. It is still my number one, even compared to places I liked back in San Jose. I first heard about Fresh and Best Cafe from a food reviewer on Instagram who hyped it up, so I decided to give it a try. I have to say, it was really good and definitely one of my top banh mi spots now, even though I still prefer Ba Le overall. The bread here is excellent. It has a slight crunch on the outside but is soft and fluffy on the inside. The size of the sandwiches is another big standout. At Ba Le, banh mi usually runs $6-$7. At Fresh and Best, they are around $10, but worth it. They are loaded with plenty of meat and vegetables, so you get your money's worth. On my first visit, I ordered the coconut pork. It is a unique choice since that dish is normally eaten with rice, not in a banh mi. It was good but not something I would get again. On my second visit, I tried the lemongrass seitan. I love Vietnamese vegan dishes, and sometimes I crave seitan, but this one was just okay. It was missing umami and needed more lemongrass flavor. For comparison, Mango and Mint in Alameda makes a much better version with way more flavor. The service here is great, but parking is a little sketchy. Both times I went, there was broken glass on the street from car break-ins. Ordering online is also a smart move because the line can get long. The second time I visited, it was out the door. Overall, I will definitely come back. Even though the first two sandwiches I tried were not ones I would normally order, the food here is fresh, the sandwiches are packed, and the value is solid. Next time I will stick to my usual BBQ pork banh mi, which is my go-to order. read more

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Pretty tasty and fully loaded banh mi. The combo banh mi was really good. It seemed too large at first with tons of carrots but after a squish, things distributed nicely. The meats and pate all had great flavor and texture. I liked the peppercorns. The roast beef sandwich wasn't bad. The roast beef itself had great flavor and seemed to be made in house. It was a fairly thin portion though, I wanted more. Great for a takeout lunch. read more

Look no further for authentic Vietnamese banh mi and healthy juices/smoothies here in Downtown Oakland/west of the Lake. Stopped by to grab a late lunch and was craving some fresh banh mi. I saw Fresh and Best and their HUGE banh mi baguette size and large portions, so walked on over. They're a nondescript tiny store located next to tall apartment residences. So I feel so jealous of the people who live next door. They take card and have a fresh and healthy menu that serve veggie and meat lovers. Their breakfast menu was so enticing, but I wanted the banh mi, so went with the grilled chicken. I got one of their green smoothies and it was SUCH a nice blended texture. VERY filling. Banh mi has my heart, very generous with the carrots, cucumbers, cilantro, etc. Staff is so nice, run by a multi-generational group of Vietnamese ladies. Shoutout to our immigrants and women business owners! Support local, eat small biz, and power your immigrant workers. Shop is not super clean, but there's ample indoor seating, and they have wifi. Music overhead is kinda loud, Vietnamese music, but it's lovely. Will def be back. read more

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Nice staff, straightforward drinks and breakfast sandwiches, and very casual! My go to is the pineapple sunrise free juice and egg, cheese, & sausage breakfast croissant! I also order ahead on Yelp for quick and easy pick up! Will continue to stop by! read more

Quality Vietnamese Food for a Great Price: This is one of the best vermicelli bowls Ive had. This vermicelli bowl is only second to what I had in the OC area, and for the price, is unbeatable. For $11.95 I am convinced I will not find a meal as filling and healthy. There plenty of grilled lemongrass chicken, a good balance of mint, lettuce and pickled daikon and carrot, and jalapeno along with amazing fish sauce (which had depth due to the chili in it). They fill up the container with food to the brim. I've also had the banhmi here and it was also good for an amazing price. They do not skimp out on the protein! The place seems to be owned by a Vietnamese family and the cashier is always super nice and pleasant. This will definitely be my new go to place for work lunches! It can have a long wait time during lunch rush, so I recommend ordering ahead of time online. There is some space outside and inside the restaurant as well! read more

Fresh and Best Cafe 2 - Grilled Chicken Vermicelli - Vietnamese Near Me - Oakland, California

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I've been going to Fresh and Best Cafe for some time now and honestly it's one of my favorite hidden gems in Oakland (idk why I'm sharing it, but they really are that good). Nestled away on Alice off of 14th, Fresh and Best is a small, humble spot. You walk in and you're immediately greeted with photos of a few of the items as well their extensive menu of smoothies, juices, and sandos. For this trip, I decided to go with their grilled pork banh mi with two added eggs (gotta get that protein). The pork was flavorful with just the right consistency. I really like the banh mi here because the bread is slightly soft instead of the immensely crunchy bread that you typically get at Vietnamese restaurants. All of the ingredients in my sandwich were super fresh and the portion was plentiful! I'd add that the Asian kale salad with chicken is another menu item that I love here. It's a great item if you're looking for so healthy. The staff here are friendly and prompt. I would suggest calling in your order if you're in a rush given that they can get a little busy at times. If you're looking for a good smoothie, sandwich, or healthy salad in downtown Oakland, this is the spot to come to! read more

Fresh and Best Cafe 2 - Grilled pork banh mi with two eggs. - Vietnamese Near Me - Oakland, California

My go-to lunch spot! I like to call and order ahead to pick it up and pay there. There's always groups of workers that walk over for their lunch break too. My favorite is the banh mi dac biet (combo)- super fresh and crunchy bread and the perfect pate to veggie to meat combo. This time I tried the grilled chicken and avocado wrap and it did not disappoint! Great ratio of filling again and so big that I ate it over 2 meals. Their juices are also freshly made and huge for me to put in the fridge and drink throughout the day over ice. Definitely check it out! read more

Fresh and Best Cafe 2 - Grilled Chicken and Avocado Wrap - Vietnamese Near Me - Oakland, California

This is the place to be for a yummy and affordable lunch. I like that thy have seitan as a veggie option, I haven't seen that at other banh mi places. The juice is good too, if you get ginger it will be spicy because they add a lot but it's good for you! Very busy on workdays at lunch time. read more

First of all the smell leading up to the shop was amazing, everyone was friendly and the menu was clear and easy to read. I went in for my Vietnamese iced coffee and ordered a chocolate chip cookie. My order came out quickly, the coffee was delicious and the cookie was delicious. I will be coming back to work my way through the menu, they take Apple Pay!! Parking may be a little difficult but I recommend you stop by if you're in the area. read more

Fresh and Best Cafe 2 - Vietnamese Iced Coffee and a Chocolate Chip Cookie - Vietnamese Near Me - Oakland, California

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I was craving for spring rolls and decided to doordash some. We ordered a combo bahn mi with extra mayo + pate along with shrimp spring rolls. The sandwich was huge! It is a little bigger than ba le's and the pate is super flavorful. Spring rolls were also huge and super filling. I will have to make a visit whenever I'm near by. read more

I love eating Banh Mi sandwiches period! Shock to see prices through the roof though. Heard through the grape vine that the Banh Mi sandwiches purchased here were awfully large and heavy. Had to check it out coming from San Leandro, CA. Saw the photos of the establishment (past and present) and was caught off guard on how dingy and worn down the place looked. Ordered the cold cut selection #7 ($9.95) and was very impressed with the sandwich for sure. 1" 6 oz (felt like carrying a shot put in my hands!). Everything except for the carrots (marinated in too much sugar) was fantastic! Ordered a pork vermicelli ($12.95) and was equally satisfied w/it! The marinated fish sauce that came w/it had the usual M.O. (carrots had too much sugar). If they correct the balance of the sugar, it would be a near perfect Banh Mi for sure! Depending on how busy the place gets, the wait for your order to arrive can be awhile though. Will try their American meat sandwiches next time. read more

Fresh and Best Cafe 2 - Never to young to try Banh Mi sandwiches! - Vietnamese Near Me - Oakland, California

I got the combo banh mi, and it was delicious and hit the spot. The portion was huge as well. The flavors in the banh mi were great, everything was fresh, and tasted amazing. read more

This is my go to neighborhood spot for lunch. I'm obsessed with their chicken bahn mi but lately I've been getting these chicken rolls and they're also amazing! I usually order ahead and pick up but there is seating here. read more

Fresh and Best Cafe 2 - 3 Pieces Chicken Rolls - Vietnamese Near Me - Oakland, California

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A lot of banh mi spots are victims of shrinkflation but not here. The banh mis are all super huge with generous portions of pickled veggies and the perfect crunchy outside + soft inside bread. I'm big back af and couldn't finish the sandwich in one sitting, so that's when you know they're big af. The only beverage I've had from Fresh & Best is their Viet iced coffee, which I thought was pretty good. While waiting for my sandwich, I did notice that almost every person in line ordered a smoothie of some sort; it's something I need to try when I am in the area again. My boyfriend has tried their smoothies and said they're really tasty. It can get busy during lunch time on weekdays but service is generally fast. All of the workers are so nice and there's a good amount of seating. This is definitely my new go-to spot for a banh mi! Worth every dollar. read more

Fresh and Best Cafe 2 - Grilled Chicken Sandwich/BM gà nướng - Vietnamese Near Me - Oakland, California

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They are RIGHT when they named this place. It is fresh and it IS the best! I worked with them to order food for a work event for 20+ people and they answered very quickly and gave recommendations. The build your own vermicelli plate was a smashing hit. They also have deliciously filling breakfast sandwiches, and of course, viet iced coffee! read more

This establishment is next to malonga casqulord in oakland.calfornia. They share the same building and I supported since 2016. I.ve never experienced any negative service until most recently from him. He acknowledges most customers by saying hello may I help you. When he rings my order. He does not address me. He says what else do you need. My comment to him. What happened to hello. His response he's tired. I.m seated in the restaurant. A Caucasian woman purchases food he addresses her and says hello. There are a lot of people of color who spend a lot of money including me. This better stop immediately or i.m filing a claim against the owner. read more

I love this place. I order from here a couple of times a week for their chicken avocado wrap or smoothies. I always choose takeout. They are efficient and reasonably priced, and the wraps are large enough to share. read more

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Hole in the wall kinda restaurant! Minimal seating, expansive menu, very kind workers. People often take food to go. I ordered a Spicy Chicken sandwich packed with veggies and jalapeños. Also a green smoothie with kale banana and I think pineapple? Both were delicious! I was sitting inside and someone else ordered soup across the room and it smelled divine. Definitely want to return to try the soup :) read more

Fresh and Best Cafe 2 - Spicy Chicken Sandwich - Vietnamese Near Me - Oakland, California

Had the veitnamese salad, it was so good. We added the vermicelli noodles for 1$. The lady took our order and gave us cups for water. We waited outside at the cafe table. They have cafe tables and a couch inside. When our order was ready, they screamed for us to come in and pick it up. read more

Saw this in social media and sent my husband over for lunch. He likes it so I gotta try. Came on a Saturday - got a grilled pork Bahn Mi + Vietnamese iced coffee. The bread of the sandwich was warm and crunch yet soft on the inside. Generous portion of meat. We were able to share the sandwich and were satisfied. Service was no nonsense and fast. Cute little mom and pop cafe, ran by a few ladies. They're so efficient. read more

Fresh and Best Cafe 2 - Grilled Pork Sandwich and Vietnamese Iced Coffee - Vietnamese Near Me - Oakland, California

Everything I've gotten here is pretty good. I like the coconut pork banh mi. It's a bit less expensive than a lot of options around and the size and quality is good. Everyone else in the world seems to go here, also, and there are always tons of delivery people standing around and it always seems to be quite busy with walk up orders, also. I'm happy that they're busy, yet sometimes I don't feel like dealing with the chaos that is their queueing system for orders since it seems random when/if your order will get made. I've gone in and ordered at the counter and seen other people ordering at the counter that ordered similar things coming out way before mine. They also don't seem to track whose order is whose and just announce the thing they made instead of calling a number or name or requiring any proof. The delivery people aggressively grab whatever they can, including wrong orders sometimes. Their recommended online ordering platform always seems to be permanently offline and the 3rd party services all charge extra fees even with no deliver (I go in to pick it up). I sorta wish they'd use Square or similar instead of the delivery apps since they charge a lot fewer extra fees compared to all the vampiric delivery middlemen that raise the prices even when doing pick up. Probably the best option is to call in your order ahead and give them your name since it's so frequently a disorganized mess. Hopefully they won't give the order away to the wrong person if it hasn't been paid for yet. Fingers crossed. read more

It should be illegal for vegetarian bahn mi to taste this good. I eat meat. I love bahn mi. I've still never had their meat bahn mi because I've had their vegan and it's that good. read more

First heat wave of the summer had us not wanting to cook tonight, so hubby suggested salads from somewhere in downtown Oakland. He'd heard good things from coworkers about Fresh and Best Cafe 2, and the idea of a Vietnamese salad with grilled meats sounded especially tempting. We are happy to say that after this first experience we are already dreaming about the next visit! We both ordered the Vietnamese chicken salad that featured well-seasoned and grilled chicken atop a bed of shredded green and red cabbage, red onion, celery, carrots, and fresh mint & cilantro. The salad was topped with crushed peanuts and crispy fried shallots. Salads come with a side of nước chấm, a Vietnamese sweetened fish sauce-based dipping sauce/dressing. The dressing was light and flavorful and blended perfectly with all the flavors going on in the salad. Both salads had a few slices of fresh jalapeños to turn up the flavor even more. But we reached for some chili sauce as well to help get some cooling sweat going! All the salad ingredients were crisp, fresh, and cold. The mint and cilantro were beautiful additions to the flavor profile going on. And the chicken we selected as protein was well-grilled and perfectly charred in places to add that wonderful texture and taste. We both agreed the nước chấm could have been spicier, but I guess this way customers can choose their own spice level adventure. We called in our orders, but the website also has an ordering portal for everything from breakfast, lunch, to dinner as well as coffees (American and Vietnamese) and smoothies. Our orders were bagged and ready for take away when we arrived. There is seating inside, but today was a scorcher or a day, and the place does not appear to have AC. If salads aren't your thing, Fresh and Best Cafe 2 also makes well-filled bánh mì as well as vermicelli and rice dishes. We can't wait to return soon and begin working our way through the rest of the menu! read more

Fresh and Best Cafe 2 - Vietnamese Near Me - Oakland, California

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A solid 4.5 stars Banh Mi restaurant rounded up for good and fast service. I'm an American Sandwich type of diner and my wife loves Banh Mi sandwiches. I had to make a trip to Oakland Chinatown and my wife wanted a Banh Mi sandwich. I found Fresh and Best Cafe 2 which is less than 5 minutes away from Chinatown. My wife ordered a Grilled Pork Banh Mi which had fresh vegetables, slightly chewy roll and overall great blend of flavor between the well seasoned grilled pork and veggies. Overall, she thought it compared well to a Banh Mi shop in Honolulu that she uses as the benchmark of Banh Mi sandwiches. A solid #2 on her list overall and #1 locally. I had a ham and swiss cheese sandwich on a regular roll. The sandwich was constructed well with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles and mayonnaise. The roll was a bit more bready than rolls like Maggoria so it was a more filling type of roll. I will definitely stop here again and try a sandwich with a Dutch crunch roll and a Banh Mi for my wife. Best Cafe 2 is one of the better Banh Mi sandwich shops in the East Bay. read more

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A nice neighborhood cafe that serves fresh juices and smoothies, sandwiches, and some Vietnamese items such as banh mi and vermicelli bowls. I stopped by for a quick dinner right before closing on a Wednesday evening and it wasn't too busy. Though as I sat here and ate, I observed a steady stream of customers walking in and either ordering or picking up. I got the grilled pork banh mi without cilantro and jalapeños for $8.95. I wasn't too hungry, and the sandwich ended up being bigger than expected, so I had trouble finishing it. The grilled pork was tasty, and I impressed with the amount of pork that they stuff in here. Definitely felt like I was getting my value for a $9! I'd love to come back and try their other sandwiches or perhaps get a fresh juice or smoothie here. read more

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3 stars The Vietnamese sandwiches here are legitimately delicious -- fresh, flavorful, and totally crave-worthy. But everything else about this place eaves a lot to be desired. The area outside is rough, with graffiti-covered buildings and people clearly in distress wandering nearby. Inside, it doesn't get much better: tables are dirty, flies are buzzing around, and the staff seems more focused on chatting behind the counter than moving the line along. In my case, they actually forgot my order, and I sat waiting for 15 minutes while others were served. It's frustrating, because the food is good enough to warrant a loyal following. But until they clean up the space and take customer service seriously, it's hard to recommend. Come if you're nearby and craving a banh mi -- but don't expect a pleasant dining experience. read more

The "Fresh and Best Cafe 2" is a nice little cafe that serves sandwiches, coffee, and juices. It's located in the Lakeside/ Civic Center neighborhood, depending on who drew the map. Recently, I helped a couple move their stuff into The Hotel Oakland, and they treated me to a sandwich here. I had a roast beef sandwich and a coffee. The sandwich actually looks different than the assembly line type you get at Subway or Togos. It looks like someone actually made it with care. It was fresh, crunchy and tasty. But I think it would of been better without the horseradish. I would of liked some mayo instead. The interior is clean and neat, with some small tables. Only street parking, but it's walking distance from the Hotel Oakland and the Post Office. If you don't mind walking, it's about 3-4 blocks from the County Courthouse. read more

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While we got takeout, the service was great, and the restaurant seemed like a nice place to dine in and hang out, with a clean and peaceful atmosphere. They have vegan friendly options (make sure to ask for no mayo). I got the Curry Tofu Sheets Vietnamese sandwich. It was quite good, and overall the sandwiches are very reasonable for the prices. They are around 8-10 inches in length. The tofu sheets were firm, coming in a generous portion size, and while the sandwiches weren't dripping with a heaping amount of curry, the flavor was there. Great place for quick and affordable banh mi! read more

Fresh and Best Cafe 2 - Curry Tofu Sheets Vietnamese Sandwich - Vietnamese Near Me - Oakland, California

My coworker recommended this place, so we headed there to grab lunch. I got their classic bahn mi combo sandwich & shrimp spring rolls. Both portions were huge; had the spring rolls for lunch & the sandwich for two meals later on. read more

This is one of my favorite local places to eat at in Oakland! Their smoothies are delicious and relatively cheap compared to other smoothie places in the area. They are soooo refreshing on a hot summer day. As for food, I always get the tofu summer rolls with avocados. The tofu is marinated well, and the veggies are super fresh. I've personally not tried their banh mi, but I have heard really good things about them. The wait can be a little long on a busy day, but you should definitely swing by if you're in the area! read more