Summer is sometimes a stranger and it can be sunny one day and rain drops on another day. This happened while I was on a drinking binge this week on my matcha bender in Berkeley. Although I go get some Pho after a night of drinking this time I decided to go before noon . Any day when there is rain falling would be an excuse to grab some Pho. There is one place in Berkeley which has been serving Pho for years. I haven't reviewed it until now. It's called the Saigon Express. On a Summer stroll in Downtown Berkeley while rain fall on a supposedly sunny day I landed at Saigon Express. This is a good casual spot to get some Pho. I decided to get chicken pho and it was tasty. I could had a whole bucket of the chicken broth. The noodles were like Angel hair and soft and fresh. The chicken was tender. This place also sells banh mi like the fish cake banh mi on a flakey baguette like some on my social media feed. Overall a good spot to grab a good bowl of Pho rain fall or shine. Walking in Downtown Berkeley I felt the rain fall "on me" a place which has " drawn me" to the Pho place for the one and only "Don Juan V." which also serves some flakey tasty Vietnamese sandwiches called " Banh Mi" Go on a stroll party people from dusk till "dawn"with the hella cool "Don Juan" and they even have a "Seafood Udon "so make an express line to a place with the last name express and the first name "Saigon" read more

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A great spot for a quick banh mi fix. Very good prices and quick service. We recently went to dine in with a larger group and also had a good time. Banh mi as good as I remembered, but even the plates (e.g., eggplant basil, stir fried noodles) were fast, tasty, and generously portioned. read more

The employees were super friendly and enthusiastic. Service speed was ok. Sandwich was ok, but a bit dry, but still good and super good prices. read more

Saigon Express - BBQ Pork Banh Mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Who's impressed with Saigon Express? Possibly, maybe the worst bowl of pho you will ever stumble across. The pho dac biet lacks tripe. In lieu of a lime wedge, they give lemon. The whole condiment caddy is insufficient with two slices of jalapeno and maybe four or five cilantro springs. Everyone's polite though. Anywhere else, you find heaps of cilantro and basil, several limes and jalapeno rounds. The dirth of herbs, which form a nest to raise the raw flank steak means the flank it's submerged in hot broth, rendering it rare no longer. read more

One line review: Solid. This place was a no-frills experience: just a reasonable portion of good food at a decent price. The decor is nothing to speak of. The customer service is a cashier who takes your order and cashes you out. But the food was satisfying. Having been here once, next time I would skip the spring rolls and just order the meat over vermicelli. It looked like my friend got a slightly better portion of meat, and while the spring rolls were fine, I would have preferred that. Customer service was minimal but adequate. Parking stinks in downtown Berkeley, but I parked for free blocks away (near McKinley) and took a walk on a pleasant, sunny day. Bottom line: I would eat here again. read more

Saigon Express - beef vermicelli - Vietnamese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Customer service was great and the spicy pho was absolutely amazing. I order the spring rollls and a Banh mi to go but the pho was the star of this meal read more

Saigon Express - Number 29 spicy chili pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Berkeley, California

My date got cancelled tonight so I treated myself to some good ol saigon express. Never had the vermicelli bowl here before but it hit just right. Tender grilled beef, fresh veg, soft noodles, and crispy egg rolls. Finished off with some thai iced tea and my day's already made better. Def recommend read more

Saigon Express - Food so good I had to draw it. Got the #44 grilled beef + egg roll vermicelli bowl with the thai iced tea - Vietnamese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Came in for early lunch at around 11am on a Monday - ordering was quick and easy, service was fast! Plenty of seating inside for dine-in, not super busy at the time that I went. I got the Fish ball Bánh mì, and my sister got the tofu vermicelli noodle salad bowl. I enjoyed the Bánh mì - it's affordable, you get what you pay for. The bread was crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, I do wish there was slightly more protein inside. A perfect light lunch, albeit not super filling. My sister's vermicelli noodle salad had a good balance of vegetable, protein, and noodles. The vermicelli noodles were cooked well, tender and springy. Overall, I've had better, but this place will do if you're craving Vietnamese food or a quick meal that isn't super heavy! read more

Saigon Express - Bánh mì - Vietnamese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Fantastic service & consistently great food- the chicken banh mi is absolutely delectable

I really enjoy eating here and the experience overall each time I come. I've decided that this is my favorite pho shop in downtown Berkeley. read more

Saigon Express - Vietnamese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Love this place, they have the best sandwiches in Berkeley. Owners are always very nice, and the restaurant is always very clean

I usually get the #6 (chicken bánh mì) and I enjoy it every time. Ingredients are fresh and the pricing of the sandwich is extremely fair ( as of March 2025 I pay $8.31 after tax for my bánh mì). Customer service is great, the uncles and aunties working are lightning fast and very kind. I do recommend people come before 12/noon because the place gets jam packed for lunch during the week (high school students especially lol) and they run out of bread sometimes. It's happened to me a couple of times ( I don't mind it at all--happy that they get the business and support). read more

I love this place, it's recently become my new favorite in Berkeley! The food is delicious, the prices are great, and the service is friendly and awesome. They're also super fast! Everyone here is super nice, especially the man who usually takes your order. I've tried the spring rolls, banh mi, Thai tea, pho, everything! Super tasty, and my roommates and friends love it too. We come here numerous times throughout the week, and it's one of my go-to's. The restaurant is also always clean, spotless. read more

Saigon Express - Pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Probably the best tofu banh mi I've had in Berkeley! Service was great, food was super yummy, and was very affordable. I would 100% go back to reorder. They also have rice plates and noodles with good veggie and tofu options for vegans. read more

Saigon Express - Banh mi sandwiches - Vietnamese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This review is quite late, sorry about that - please note that the price info listed is as of May 2022. I placed an order ahead via phone, and I think at first the staff were a little confused where to find my order when I showed up for pickup, but didn't take long for them to find my order and hand it to me. Prices have definitely gone up over the years so at the time it was $13.75 for the lemongrass tofu, $6.25 for a veggie shredded tofu banh mi, and $4.25 for Thai iced tea (not including tip and tax). The lemongrass tofu was quite salty and slightly spicy, but overall delicious and flavorful. I felt the huge quantity of rice was actually good to help balance out the strong taste and it was a pretty generous portion even if the cost isn't so cheap anymore. The banh mi was also yummy and I felt that was a good portion for the price so it's still a good place to get banh mi in Berkeley. The Thai iced tea was fine, nothing particularly remarkable. It's too bad they're not open on weekends at the moment, but you can stop by for a weekday lunch or dinner. read more

Saigon Express - Veggie shredded tofu banh mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I came here for the banh mi, since I heard this was a great spot for an affordable and delicious meal! I love banh mi, and haven't really found any good ones in the Berkeley area so I was super excited to give this a try. I came around noon on a Wednesday, and there was a good number of people inside. You order at the counter and then pick up your food at the end, and then go sit down. My friend and I both got the #1 banh mi dac biet (combo) which came with a variety of different meats and pickled veggies, all in a nicely toasted bun. The bread was crispy on the outside and nice and fluffy on the inside which is the perfect texture. All of the meats inside, which I honestly cannot name, came together deliciously. For only around $7-8 after tax and tip, this definitely makes a great lunch! If you need something quick and are close by, definitely give this spot a try! read more

Saigon Express - Banh mi dac biet - Vietnamese Near Me - Berkeley, California

We always eat here before going to Berkeley Rep...which is right nearby! The food is always delicious! We always enjoy the food and the service and will continue dining here...over and over!!!! read more

The food was amazing! I got the pork banh mi, and the bread was really nice and crunchy, with the flavor of the pork really complimenting everything else read more

Saigon Express is a locally owned vietnamese restaurant serving up a variety of noodle plates, phos, banh mis, and more. They are currently open for indoor dining and have a surprisingly spacious seating area towards the back. There are extra squeeze bottles of sriracha and hoisin(?) sauce to season your food to taste, not that it's needed - I just like my food spicy enough to clear my sinuses for the rest of the week. I always get the beef ball pho here because that's my go-to at any restaurant that serves pho. The servings are plenty generous and last me a minimum of 1.5 meals. I wish I had my own rice noodles so I could reheat the leftover broth for a full second meal. The people who run the restaurant are so kind and grateful every time I patronize their business. Although you pay when you order at the front, if you specify that you're dining in, they will take note of where you sit and bring your food to you. The pho isn't the best I've ever had but it hits the spot when I'm craving some piping hot noodle soup. I look forward to trying their banh mi someday! read more

Saigon Express - August 2021 menu - Vietnamese Near Me - Berkeley, California

I've been craving Beef Stew Pho so I decided to come here this morning as it's open for business @ 10am and decided to dine in there. My bowl came piping hot with my special request for egg noodle instead of the typical rice noodles. Now everyone knows a good bowl of pho requires a tasty soup base full of flavor and having depth in flavor of spices and this met all my expectations. The beef was very tender and had very little fat on it and was accompanied with the usual chunks of carrots! I must say I found another great Pho place in town! Food=A+ Full of Flavor Service/Staff=A+ Super Nice Cleanliness=A+ Price=A+ Very reasonable If you're looking for a no frills tasty place for a quick bite to eat, this is the place! Another Keeper!!! Big Thumbs Up!!!! read more

Saigon Express - Beef Stew Pho with Egg Noodle - Vietnamese Near Me - Berkeley, California

My friend and I decided to come here to pick up Banh Mi's for our picnic! This is my friends go to for Banh Mi's so I was excited to try it. I ordered the Veggie with Shredded Tofu Banh Mi, which was light yet filling. The bread was soft, flaky, and had a nice crunch to it! There was a decent amount of veggies in the Banh Mi. Although I wish there was more tofu, which was really delicious! Service was good and we were in and out in no time. We were able to walk in, order at the register, and receive our Banh Mi's relatively fast. The restaurant is counter service and there wasn't any seating indoors. My friend told me they raised their prices for Banh Mi's. Honestly, for $5 and the amount and quality you get I'd say it's still a good deal! read more

Saigon Express - Veggie with Shredded Tofu Banh Mi (Front) and BBQ Chicken Banh Mi (Back) - Vietnamese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Food is so good especially the coffee and man at the cash register is so nice! I loved it I will be back

Small hole in the wall in downtown Berkeley. Close to campus. Hours are 10-7 so limited time to visit if you work a 9-5 and not in the area. I stopped in after work for a quick sandwich to go. There's a few tables in the back and what was a hot food bar up front. I was greeted immediately and order taken quickly.b the staff were friendly. Food was ready really quickly too. Got the pork combo (#1) bahn mi. The sandwich wasn't too big but the head cheese and pate were real good. I would definitely want to try other items there. Didn't like that they have an extra charge for using a card but at least it was posted. read more

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You can always rely that they will serve you fresh food here. Everything on their menu is delicious. The workers are always friendly and happy that you're coming in to eat. I love getting their rice plates and vermicelli noodle bowls. The protein is perfectly seasoned and the flavors are just so good. read more

Saigon Express - Saigon Combo Plate. - Vietnamese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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One of the best sandwiches ever!!! And we always walk along Berkeley. Service was speedy and definitely mom and pop shop. Pop served us. What a silly guy with personality. Seating inside is wide. Literally one of the best sammys in Berkeley read more

Saigon Express - Veg tofu sandwich - Vietnamese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Saigon Express is my reliable lunch and dinner spot. Vietnamese food is not greasy or overly spicy and meat dishes include enough protein to meet the basic 20 grams per meal reccommendation. I often have beef combination pho but the beef stew pho is remarkable. The restaurant is clean and comfortable. There is a raised seating area in the back that offers a bit of privacy if you want it. I happen to like sitting by the South facing window near the front door because there is sun if the air is cool but the sunlight does not make it to the tables, so there isn't any glare. The folks behind the counter are friendly and fast. Food gets out in time for abbreviated meal schedules, but there is no sense of being rushed to finish and leave. Saigon Express is located at 2045 Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley, one block South of University Avenue on the East side of Shattuck. They offer catering if you call them at 1 510 486-1778. read more

Amazing fresh and tasty banh mi for an affordable price! I got the number 1 dac biet ($6.75 pre tax and fees) which came with a good amount of meats and fresh veggies. The staff were extremely friendly and speedy. There are quite a few tables inside as well as bathrooms. I would definitely come back for a nice lunch again! read more

Saigon Express - Number 1 banh mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Came here for lunch a few weeks ago cause I wanted something quick and cheap, and that's what I got! I'm not sure where else I can get a banh mi for under $5 around here anymore and it was good! I can't say anything for the meat ones though. Still kinda blows my mind that the sandwiches are cheaper than the spring rolls, haha. But both tasted good and was a decent place to get a cheap, light lunch! read more

Saigon Express - Tofu Spring Rolls - Vietnamese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Best service with the kindest people. With even better food. My favorite spot in Berkeley!!!

Saigon Express is one of my favorite places near campus for a fresh meal that won't break the bank! The staff at this restaurant are so incredibly sweet and kind. They always greet me and make sure I am well taken care of. The restaurant is very clean and not very busy. I always opt for the tofu bahn mi which is served with fresh veggies and well seasoned tofu. The bread also tastes very fresh and is toasted to perfection. They have a wide variety of items on the menu but this is always my go to. I highly recommend checking this place out! read more

Saigon Express - a sandwich on a piece of paper - Vietnamese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Well known spot for Vietnamese banh mi and pho as the prices are fair for college students. I come here when I am in search of a quick bite! The food is decent and will satisfy a craving to a certain extent. I highly recommend getting their banh mi dac biet (combo cold cut)! read more

Saigon express is one of my favorite places to get lunch @ the banh mi's are amazing and very affordable. Aswell as the staff is so friendly and the dude at the cash register is an amazing dude. Def an amazing place to eat read more

Food is yummy and price isn't that bad. The service is great! These people are too nice. Never change read more

Saigon Express - Combo Beef Pho for my sore throat and this cup of tea is so homey. Thanks to the waitress for some cough drops :) - Vietnamese Near Me - Berkeley, California

A gem. I've only been a couple times and I already look forward to going here during my 30 minute lunch. Affordable, quick, friendly, fulfilling and delicious. My first visit I had the Dac Biet pork combo bahn mi (not pictured. The bread was toasted perfectly and arrive warm. The pork cake they have is perfect. The vegetables are crispy fresh and delicately pickled so it's not overwhelming but compliments the sandwich. I added extra pate for a 50 cent charge and they slathered it on. Oh boi. Beyond worth the $9. Next I had the bun bo hue. It only comes in a large like most places and literally brought me back to life. It is a touch heavy because of the spicy lemongrass sate added, but who doesn't like to indulge sometimes? It's actually not overly oily despite its appearance. Good amount of lemongrass in there. It comes with a side of shredded cabbage, lemon, and bean sprouts. Perfect to add after you've finished the noodles or if you enjoy that added crunch or break from the flavor bomb. No extra condiments needed. I slurped this broth. The place is spacious and has a lower and upper level for seating with high ceilings. It feels old in the charming way like when books collect dust and you've revisited them to find those series that helped shaped the you today. read more

Saigon Express - Bun Bo Hue w/regular pho noodles to really soak up that delicious lemongrass broth - Vietnamese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Uhm excuse me what? you are telling me I can get a bahn mi for less than $5???!?! What a steal! The food is cheap, but it's not that bad. I think it's actually tastier and healthier than what you'd expect. I actually spent $10 at McDonalds for fries, a drink, and a fish fillet. Here, I spend only $7 for an entree consisting of 2 servings of veggies and tasty chow mein that didn't put me to sleep within half an hour of consumption. Feels good. The variety is limited, and the food is more on the mediocre level, but it's filling and not absolutely nasty. Lines get crazy around 11:45am though but at least there is ample seating. Definitely a good fast-casual spot but nothing to go out of your way for. read more

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Best pho in berkeley hands down. I highly recommend this place on a cold day. The staff are very friendly too, and prices are reasonable.

My order - the Claypot with Shrimp. A few minutes later it arrived at my table steaming hot, yet the vegetables were crisp; I love al dente veggies! read more

Amazing from start to finish! The food is full of authentic Vietnamese flavors, fresh, and beautifully presented. I was especially impressed with the pho - the broth was rich and fragrant, the meat was tender, and the noodles were just right. The bún bò Huế and spring rolls were also fantastic! The restaurant is clean and cozy, with friendly staff and fast service. Prices are reasonable and well worth the quality. This is definitely one of the best Vietnamese restaurants I've ever tried. I'll be coming back for more. 5 stars! read more

Just came back since 2013 and got a banh mi. It was better than I had remembered! The staff is great, quick, and they accept contactless payment. Perfect for the lunch rush! read more

Back in September when I was working in Berkeley, I hit up this place whenever I was craving pho. I think I got takeout twice from here, and all the times, the food was pretty tasty. The service is friendly and efficient. They do have safety protocols implement at this place so that's great. I felt safe in getting food from there. I remember the first time that I was there, the guy helped open the door for me so that was very kind of him. This is a great Vietnamese spot in the area, and I'm glad that it was nearby where I worked. I would say 4.5 stars, but I'll round up the overall rating because of the staff and service. read more