Ted K.

No frills interior is clean and much nicer than the foreboding concrete exterior would lead you to believe. It's close to the ED side of St Joe's. The person taking orders was quite sweet but English wasn't her forte. I believe I got the grilled pork bahn mi for $10. It was delicious, whatever it was. And surprisingly filling.oh, and it's cash only.

Cassandra K.

Super delicious! Definitely a place to stop when craving bahn mi. I took off one star as I had ordered spicy and it was mild at best. That said, otherwise the flavors were all there.

Saret B.

I haven't stopped in here in a while so when I saw a post on Instagram I took it as a sign to get lunch last week. It's my mom and I go to place for báhn mi. They have a small menu with four items and they have vegetarian options you just have to ask. I guess from what I read they offer coffee and some times phó. It's not a fancy place, a hole in the wall type place. But they're good at one thing which is making sandwiches. I get a # 1 hot, you can chose spice level if you desired any. The vegetable was crisp and the meats as flavorful as I remember. It's a good size sandwich for $9! There's no parking lot so finding street parking can be a challenge.

Cody P.

I don't have a ton of experience with Bánh Mì, but I can confidently say that this place crafts the finest Bánh Mì in the entire spectrum of conceivable reality. They have all the telltale signs of being a great, authentic place. They're easy to miss, have no web presence, aren't available on delivery apps, super limited menu, limited hours, cash only, with a huge language barrier. I constantly drive by this place and finally looked them up and read reviews just to find out what they offered. We can put together a reasonably good Bánh Mì at home, and have made a habit of Bánh Mì'ing everything we can, like burgers, tacos, pizza, etc. Right in the middle of that madness, this place just plopped into my world like I unlocked it from an achievement. This place was tricky for us. Being in town ready to order before 3:00 with cash in hand is kind of a feat. On the day we finally made it happen, we got there around 2:30 and the door was locked. My first instinct was to cry and have an emotional meltdown on the corner of Butternut and Salina, but first I took a wild shot and gave them a call. Huge language barrier over the phone, but to my relief they were still there and they let me in to order! Their menu was super simple, so we just said "One, Two and Three." Followed by "As spicy as you'll make them." I saw a sign for Vietnamese Coffee, but they walked away after the initial order and didn't come back til it was ready, so I didn't push my luck. My girlfriend and I cut them each in half to try them all, and ended up eating all three before the end of the day. The first impression pulling them out of their little paper bags is the fresh bread. It comes from Nino's Bakery, and all sandwiches should be made on this bread. It's firm to the touch, structurally sound, but soft and forgiving on your teeth. And have I said Fresh enough times? It's so fresh. Of the three we got, only one was spicy. Just enough to show what they were capable of, but didn't follow through with. Maybe they're not supposed to be that spicy, or maybe they saw we weren't regulars and were hesitant to bring it on. That happens. All of them had the basics - the fresh crunch from cucumbers, carrots and cilantro, and the sauce. Mostly it's the meat they switch up, and they all worked in their own way. #1 and #3 were pretty similar to each other. #2 uses deli meat, and it was the one we voted out to replace with #4 on our return trip. The return trip went more smoothly. We knew what to expect, and with some serious planning and logistics, we got there before 2:00. #1, #3, #4, very spicy, and this time we got an iced coffee. This time, none of them were spicy. But #4 was the most interesting of all. I have an open mind and there's no food I wouldn't try once, but this one startled us. Why the heck is it fluffy? After careful inspection, the fluff tasted and smelled like meat. I couldn't find it on Google, so I asked ChatGPT what the fluff was on my Bánh Mì, and I soon learned about Chả Bông (aka: ruốc, meat floss, or meat wool). Green light, the fluff is on purpose. One bite, and this was our favorite of the four. Now where can I buy this stuff to fluff up other food in my life? The coffee was in a small 8-12 oz cup. This is usually a sign of good coffee, because my regular big gulp cup filled with this stuff would probably send me to the hospital. It was so strong, and potent. It took every bit of self control I could summon to make it last through the drive home. This is some of the best coffee I've had in Syracuse. This place is a not-so-hidden gem on one of the busiest street corners on the north side of the city. If you like Bánh Mì, grab some cash and get here. Order a #4 and whatever else you think you can manage, along with some coffee. If you don't like Bánh Mì and haven't been here, come try it here before you write it off entirely. There's really no circumstance where you shouldn't be planning a trip here as soon as possible.

Caitlin C.

Had lunch here the other day and all I can say is this place is a must try. They only have banh mi's, vietnamese coffee, and a small selection of canned drinks. Of the banh mi's available 4/5 have a combination of various pork products with the fifth being sardine. They are also available in mild, medium, and spicy. We got the Number 1 and 3 banh mi medium spice, though they did not have a hint of spice (which may be attributed to my white girl-ness, fair). We also got a Yeo white gourd drink, which I was very hesitant to try but exceeded any expectation I had. It was refreshing and unlike anything I've tried before. I saw people compare the flavor to caramel which feels closer than whatever I would expect white gourd to taste like. The banh mi's were out of this world phenomenal. The bread was perfectly crusty and the toppings were all so fresh. Our total came to $20 even for one of the best lunches I've had in months. I will definitely be back.

Frank L.

Good Bahn Mi. Only 3 on the menu. I went with a number 1 spicy. Sandwiches are $9. I'd come back but not travel out of my way to do it.

Kieu-My N.

To preface- I'm 100% Vietnamese and have very high standards when it comes to Vietnamese food but this place is SO GOOD. I decided to bring my dad here to grab a bite to eat while he was helping me move out and naturally he started chatting it up with the owners who are so nice and sweet. Definitely get the banh mi thit nuong, this is the classic one. Although honestly I don't think you can go wrong with anything on the menu. The restaurant itself is a total hole in the wall and looks a bit sketchy but that's when you know it's good!!! It is cash only but there is an ATM inside the restaurant. Highly highly recommend this little place and I'm very sad I no longer live in Syracuse because I would be here all the time.

Fox E.

Are you ever on a highway, and you see another vehicle out of control, and you're like... "man, what is that car doin'?" Well, the owners of this Bahn Mi shop feel the same way, only they don't speal reel goud, so they named it "Wats thet ka duyen?" It was later shortened to the easier-to-remember "Ka Duyen." So now you know. Please don't tell me it was you driving that thing. What to get: Bahn Mi with BBQ Pork What's on it: Pickled carrots, delicious cilantro, amazing crusty french bread, and delicious steeaming pork. And?: Some of the loveliest service and best pricing ever What else: Attack of the Bread What does that mean: Patience, my dear. Patience First of all let me say this is the best Bahni Mi I've ever had outside NYC and San Francisco. So basically the 3rd best I've ever had. Absolutely delicious. And this is despite it being microwaved (the meat part... yes, I'm serious... but I still prefer this because the other options all have those weird Vietnamese cold cut sausages on them), and despite the fact that the sandwich f***ing attacked me and drew blood. I'm not kidding. Settle in, I'll tell you the story. So I go in, and the place looks like an 80s crack house. Well not really, but it's very run down, on a street corner, and one of the oddest little places I've ever been inside. It smells kind of odd in there. The menu is tiny, almost to the extent of not existing. Is it just a front? Or a back? Or a middle? There's space, but not really to sit. It's just a very odd set up. So already I think I'm gonna be in a drive by. But I wasn't. Little did I know, they don't need to shoot people in Vietnam because they have "deadly bread." I found out the hard way. The very very hard way. I ordered my BBQ Pork Bahn Mi and waited for it while she microwaved the meat, then assembled the sandwich for me. It cost $5 total (what a steal!), and then I braved the rain and went back to my car to eat it. As I opened it up, smelled the crusty bread and steaming pork and fresh cilantro and pickled carrots and such, I began to fall in love. As I bit into it, I tasted the crunch of the bread, the deliciousness of the fillings, the orgasmic perfection of this Bahn Mi washed over me like waves upon a beach. Sorry I always wanted to say like waves upon a beach. Would you prefer I say "like water in a rainstorm." I know some girls who would. So anyway. I bit once. I bit twice. I bit three times a Bahn Mi. And I was lovin' it like no McDonalds eater ever has, ever. And then... It happened. IT. BIT. BACK. I was attacked by a Bahn Mi. I was assaulted by a Vietnamese Baguette and I lived to tell the tale. It's true. I don't know how it happened, but the bread locked around my lips in a vice-like death-grip that even the KGB's finest female assassin or Xenia Onatopp herself would have been proud of. The pinch was intense. Relentless. Unending. The pain was excruciating. The bread would not let go of my lip. Blood exploded from me. It splashed all over my shirt* and I writhed and moaned in agony. Which is quite difference to writhing and moaning in ecstasy, and I can show you the difference if you come over to my place tonight. *It didn't get on my shirt, but we need to sell this to the major studios so we have to embellish a bit. Don't call me on it. Don't snitch. Don't be that guy. Girl. Whatever. I recovered slowly, with tears streaming down the face. Then I violently tore the blood-drenched Bahn Mi to pieces with my teeth. And it never bit another human again. However there are rumours that it's not over. There may be a sequel to this movie. Because, shockingly, as it turns out, there are others out there. Other Bahn Mi's. Ready to bite. Ready to kill. We must not let this happen. We must get our hands on all these Bahn Mi's and eat them before they attack our children. Or our grandparents, even. Although if our grandparents are particularly annoying, or can't feel pain anymore because they're so old and take so many pills, then maybe it's not as big of a deal. I dunno, that's for you to decide. So anyway, the bottom line here is quite simple. It's the best Bahn Mi in the world outside NYC and SF. And when you bite it. It. Bites. Back.

Debbie W.

I tried a banh mi sandwich the first time I visited this restaurant. It was pretty good but the crustiness of the bread always cuts my mouth. I did notice a microwave beep behind her little cart. I was happy to see that they offer prepackaged bun (rice vermicelli noodles with grilled meat, raw veggies, and nuoc cham sauce). There's a bag of lettuce, mint, and beansprouts that you top the vermicelli with. However there's one herb in there that I can't place, but detest. Not quite sure what it is. It didn't taste like cilantro (which I don't mind). Each item is $5 cash and stacked up right at the register. The bun is a steal for that price. I ended up getting 3, some to share with my husband. Makes a great lunch or dinner. I believe she said they only have bun Tuesdays and Fridays. I can't wait til they come back from vacation so I can get more!

Thomas C.

Ky Duyen Cafe, a Vietnamese-style restaurant, serves up a variety of traditional sandwiches out of a red streetcar cafe placed inside the building. You walk into the cafe from one of two doors, lined with potted plants. To the right-hand side of the room is an assortment of seating and a large flat screen TV. There is also a large disco light in the ceiling. To the center is the cafe where you can order the authentic Vietnamese sandwiches, called banh mi. Banh mi is a meat-filled sandwich on a single-serve baguette that became a popular Vietnamese meal during the colonial French era. Ky Duyen Cafe offers five versions of these sandwiches, all $5, and they can be ordered mild, medium or hot. They also offer vegetarian sandwiches, but the menu did not specify what these contain. I ordered the banh mi nem nuong, made with barbeque pork, mayonnaise, ground pork paste, pickled carrot-daikon, cucumber and cilantro. The sandwiches were huge; the bread was crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside -- a perfect baguette. It was just a little difficult, due to the size, to fit into your mouth in one bite. The cilantro and cucumber combination was really fresh and the pickled carrot added a nice crunch that paired well with the bread. I also noticed they serve pho, which while it's not on the menu, is always available for $9. Pho is a Vietnamese noodle soup with a simple broth filled with rice noodles, herbs, spring onions, regular onions, mint and bean sprouts, and thin slices of beef, slightly undercooked with the idea that it will cook in the hot broth. I have yet to try theirs, but I LOVE pho, so I'll be giving it a shot at some point. It is the most authentic version of Bahn mi in Syracuse, and since they also have pho, I'll definitely be back.

I love this place for appearances it's the dive bar of restaurants. The Bahn mi is wonderful. All I've had is the number one and the number three both excellent. They would do more business if they thought of things like condiments on the table still I can't recommend more

Huy N.

Banh mi were so delicious. The owner was really nice. Amazing quality for the money. Highly recommended!!!