The price was very reasonable for portions. I also thought the staff was very friendly to me when I came in for pick up. The inside of the sandwiches were good, but we both agreed the bread could have been better. Usually I like a good flaky and crunchy outer crust but this bread was more soft and chewy. Other than that this spot has a cute little outdoor patio or dine in options. Doesn't seem to have AC so keep that in mind in summer. read more

Vietnam Cafe & Sandwich - Tofu banh mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Was a MEH experience, came in before closing to find us as the only customer. Ordered five sandwiches for our wedding party off to practice. We felt it was very average, not crispy bread, meat was just okay, and the veggies just was missing what the best Bami have some character read more

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Great pho! Kiss your hangovers good bye, the nectar of the gods will cure what ails you. After going to all of the nearby pho places, I am choosing to endorse this restaurant. The broth is great, portions are great, and they have real chili oil. The good stuff. And you don't have to ask for it, it's just there for you. If you haven't fckt with chili oil yet, then you don't even know. You need to take an order to go so you can go home and watch Aladdin sing "A Whole New World" while you eat it. Which brings me to my next point, great take out spot as well. Cheers read more

Vietnam Cafe & Sandwich - Pho tai - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Ordered a rice platter on a previous holiday. Delicious and well portioned. Flavors were authentic, not over bearing. Inside looked very cozy. The guy who took my order was super nice, I would return to eat here. read more

Got the chicken vermicelli bowl for to-go! WOW, I really didn't expect that!!! Quick service and amazing food!! I was so surprised by that location because you wouldn't expect the great food. Very fresh and delicious! Now, I just wanna come back here to try more. Casual ambiance with friendly service. read more

Simple, good, and well priced. The menu comes with numbers and there are a lot of options ranging from beef pho/vegetable broth based pho, rice noodle (wide vermicelli) bowls, Bahn Mi, and beverages. Many options. As everyone said, the main owner cooks and greets you, while also serving your food. He tends to remember regulars and is pretty quick. If you get there right at lunch there may be a small backup as people wander in all at once and to go orders come through. He manages efficiency nonetheless. The bahn mi my friend had (not pictured) was good too. The veggie broth pho was good too and you can still get meat added into the pho. It was still flavorful and the option with added veggies came with plenty. The space can get warm if sitting inside with the sun coming through the window, even in the winter so wear your layers to unload. Overall, came back once and looking forward to returning as winter sets in early this year. read more

Vietnam Cafe & Sandwich - #47 raw beef with tendon in beef broth - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Outside of the ID, you never quite know what you'll get from a hole-the-wall type of vibe restaurant. But, the convenience of being one block away from work, drew me in. I usually buy lunch here and if I'm buying lunch it means something has gone off the rails in my day, which means I'm annoying shop keepers at 3pm hoping for a quick meal. I'm pleased to say that this place always cooks from scratch. This takes a little longer than a place that just reheats your food in an oiled wok-- but that means the end result is better. I tried the Pho one day (smartly packed in separate containers so as not to ruin the noodles) and a bahn mi another. Both were really flavorful, delicious, and HUGE. Either could probably serve two. Price is a little high. It's always about $25 with meal/drink/tip which is a shot right in the pocket book. That said, this seems like a nice quite place to meet a friend away from the hustle and bustle of downtown ballard. I think I'll keep this one in rotation. read more

I'm a repeat visitor for the tofu bahn mi. It's seriously the tastiest, most filling and affordable sandwich on this side of town. Whenever I call to place an order, they're so quick to make my meal. Perfect for grabbing a quick sit down bite for two and always the right answer for takeout. Give them a try! :) read more

This was my first trip to Vietnam Cafe & Sandwich and it was good, but not great. My mom and I both got vermicelli bowls, and were both a little underwhelmed. The noodles were the "wet 'n' wide" variety, really slippery and hard to get a hold on. The flavor on mom's pork was a little off. Flavor on my chicken was good but it was on the dry side. The fish sauce wasn't quite on point. There were some good things happening here, but not enough of them. I've heard their banh mi are good - that's probably the smart order here, and I will be back to try one. Will update this review when I do, hopefully to add a star! read more

Vietnam Cafe & Sandwich - Pork vermicelli - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Possibly the worst place I've been to. My friend and I had sandwiches from here and got blended drinks. The drinks was like ice and milk blended so flavor. And the sandwich we ended up throwing away after two bites... read more

Solid bahn mi. I ordered the pork bahn mi and asked to add the Vietnamese ham which they accommodated. The pork had a nice char while remaining moist and tender. It had a subtle sweetness that paired well with the fresh jalapeño. The vegetables and herbs were fresh and bright. The restaurant interior was nothing special, but that didn't take away from the overall experience. The bubble tea was blended with ice, so it was refreshing on a hot day. It wasn't a stand out bubble tea and there were several full ice cubes that were not blended in, but it got the job done. I would return for the pork and ham bahn mi. read more

Vietnam Cafe & Sandwich - Pork & ham bahn mi and taro bubble tea - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The noodle soup is too salty. The meat is overcook and pretty chewy The foods are not impressive read more

I ordered the food over the phone and it was ready for pick up within 15 minutes. They packed everything very well. The staff packaged the meat and noodles separately from the broth. The pho broth is on the sweeter side but still savory. They give plenty of beef/brisket slices per order and each bowl ranges $9.50 to $12.50 for the deluxe pho, which is super affordable compared to other places I've tried. The special combo sandwich was good but lacks the paste that I'm used to from Florida bahn mi sandwiches and it was not toasted so lacks the crunch/texture. Definitely would come back again for their pho and other noodle dishes. read more

Vietnam Cafe & Sandwich - Special Combo Banh Mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Sorry, this was probably one of the least tasty banh mi we ever had. :( Had high hopes for this little hole in the wall but honestly I couldn't even finish my sandwich. Not sure what was going on with the bread but it literally fell apart like it was so old and stale, it literally just broke as soon something saucy touched it. Not a good sign. It was also not flavorful. I usually give all places at least two tries, but I don't think I will be going back. read more

I didn't like the banh mi bread. Like a hot dog bun. Soft and big with no crisp and no flavor.

Not going to rate low stars because I went to a Vietnamese restaurant and ordered a Japanese dish, my fault. Anyway I'm not sure what this was but it wasn't Yakisoba. A handful of thick cut boiled strips of beef and some type of noodle that wasn't Yakisoba noodle. Broth no sauce. Idk maybe it shouldn't be on the menu as Yakisoba. I couldn't eat it. Force fed myself so I can have energy for the rest of the work day. $20 including tip. Menu said $12.99, came out to around $17 after tax and fees. read more

I was initially hesitant about eating here based on the comments but decided to try it anyway. After all, we all know when it comes to food, it is very subjective whether something is good or can be improved. I was glad I tried this place. I am picky about my Pho and if any vietnamese restaurant is worth its salt, they better have good pho that can meet my standards. Vietnamese Cafe passed my taste test. The pho was delicious and had just the right flavor. I've tried two other places on market street that served pho; one was too salty and the other was too sweet. Vietnamese Cafe was just right. I had the pho that had everything in it, tripes, rare steak, brisket etc. and it was good. Portion is sizable as well and thus a good value. I returned the following day to try their fried rice and again they surprised me with a good value dish. I had chicken fried rice and the wok Hei was very good. Plate was served with piping hot fried rice. Every bit of onions, peas had that slight charring from a hot wok. The chicken meat was not plain chicken meat either. The chicken meat was already marinated and grilled. By itself the chicken was tasty. Combined with the fried ingredients, the dish was splendid. The one thing I would change the next time is ask for less salt. As for the environment, the red light is a tad tacky but it makes the place interesting and unique. The owner (I think) cum chef is very friendly as well. Do give this small shop a try. You won't regret it. read more

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After my workout I decided to not cook and treat myself to some Viet food. The menu seemed limited but it was late and I was hungry. Ordered the pho soup and vermicelli noodles with grilled pork. They both were delicious! Pho had a rich authentic flavoring. Noodles were cooked perfectly and a decent amount of herbs on the side. The vermicelli noodles common at first until you bite into the grilled pork. Tender pieces of gloriously marinated meat with a char around the edges from the hot open flame. The juices from the meat sat on top of the warm noodles soaking up all the flavoring. I could have eaten this dish every day! I'm excited to try some of the other dishes next visit. read more

Pretty decent pho for Ballard. I prefer this place over all the pho joints on NW Market St. The broth is a bit on the sweet side but I normally add nuoc man (fish sauce) to all my broths anyway. I always get Pho Tai. The meat is tender and soft. My husband had the pork banh mi, which he thought was slightly bland, but I honestly thought it tasted fine. It's a typical small family-owned Asian restaurant where you come to eat, meaning it's not atmospheric or trendy. This isn't the best Vietnamese restaurant in Seattle, but if you live around Ballard and don't feel like venturing far for pho and Viet cuisine, this hits the spot enough for me. read more

Vietnam Cafe & Sandwich - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I was in the mood for a v-bowl and seeing this lil shop for a while now piqued my interest, so I decided to come by for lunch. Parking is minimal on the street but I struck luck finding a nearby spot. Good luck with that. Nice mom & pop shop, gentleman greeted me quickly advising I could sit wherever. Not too busy around noon, but had customers. Good sized menu with a lot of options. But I came here for a v-bowl, so I got the grilled pork & egg roll. Made to order, fresh veggies, nicely grilled pork and tasty egg roll cut up in the bowl. Pour some of that chili & nuoc mam on it, I was good to go! Definitely tasty and would come back for it. I didnt need much service but the gentleman was very nice with me and other customers. Pricing is pretty good for lunch, about $10. Glad I came by to check them out! read more

Vietnam Cafe & Sandwich - Grilled pork & egg roll V-bowl. - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

My first bahn mi & it was absolutely delicious! Nice chill vibe & the service is excellent. read more

Seattle is definitely lacking in the true and authentic Vietnamese food scene. Having been raised in Orange County, CA and having had Little Saigon a 10 minute drive away, it's been really hard finding a good pho place. I try to give all the Vietnamese place a chance here in Seattle, but none have really met a 5 star criteria. First off, a bowl of pho is more expensive up here by like $2-3 then what I am used to. Anyways, I ordered: - pork vermicelli bowl - shrimp spring rolls I am used to a more flavorful, charred Vietnamese pork, but this place's pork was pretty tasty, not charred at all though. Good sized bowl for $8.50. I liked the spring rolls here a lot. They were just made to order, the shrimp was still warm, which is different because usually it's served cold. But at least the rice paper wasn't chewy like it had been sitting in the fridge all day, so extra brownie point for just making the rolls! I would come here again, I need to try the broth of their pho next time and see how that tastes. Good job Vietnam Cafe, you serve decent Vietnamese food! read more

Vietnam Cafe & Sandwich - Pork vermicelli bowl $8.50 - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Ok, this sandwich isn't great; too much mediocre bread, not enough stuff. But that cold noodle salad is bomb with a capital F. Also, this place may have the best tofu in Seattle. I never order it and here it's the only thing I order. LEGIT. read more

Vietnam Cafe & Sandwich - Noodles. Get them, b hap. - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Food: is not great in terms of quality or flavor. The meat was rough and too salty, and the boba is watered down. Service: is alright, but nothing special. Ambiance: is slightly run-down, but with decent outdoor space. Value: not great. One dish and a drink will cost you $20. read more

Vietnam Cafe is one of my go-to takeout places in Ballard. I really can't recommend it enough. The prices are very reasonable for the area, the service is fast, and the food is to die for. The pork banh mi is my go-to order and it's the perfectly balanced heavenly sandwich that you want from a little corner joint. There's really not much more to say, it's one of the best deals you can get in town and probably the most delicious sandwich in the city. read more

This place had its highs and lows. High - pho. My daughter had the pho and it was really good. The broth was neither too sweet or too salty but a good balance of both. Aggressively Okay - Bahn mi was all right. Nothing to rave about but nothing to complain about either. Skip it - vermicelli bowl was awful. The noodles were mushy and hot. Typically the noodles are served cold with the hot meat on top. Because the noodles were so hot the cucumbers, carrots, and lettuce lost their crunch and just became this warm mess. The sauce is typically sour sweet. This sauce was mostly just sour. Will definitely not get this again. The service was good. The bubble tea is super sweet, which is right up my daughter's alley, so she loved it. read more

The best Banh Mi in town is at Q Bakery in south Seattle, but we happened to be in Ballard and so we stopped into Vietnam Cafe and Sandwich. I about fell over when I saw that the Banh Mi sandwiches were $10.00, as opposed to the usual $4.25 or so in Seattle's south end. But we were hungry and needed to get on the road, so as I paid, I said, "Wow, these are the most expensive Bahn Mi in town. I hope they are good." The cashier, who happened to be the cook also, grunted in response and after ringing me up, quickly disappeared. As we waited, I heard frying and sizzling. He came out several minutes later with a GIANT Banh Mi stuffed with hot onions, tofu, and yumminess. It had a combination of cold cilantro, the usual pickled carrots and daikon (I think), and the hot tofu yumminess. So in fact, it really was EXTREMELY good. The one place it fell down was the bun. It should be a crispy, crunchy French bread bun - and this one was rather mushy. For $10, I want a crispy crunchy bread too. So, I probably won't go back because Q Bakery reigns supreme in taste, but if you happen to be hungry and have $10 to burn in your pocket, you won't regret spending it here. read more

Small Vietnamese restaurant with inside and outside seating. We were passing by and though of eating Banh mi. We ordered Pork and Beef. Food came within about 15 minutes. Both were really good. We also had Taro Bubble Tea. If you are looking for a good sandwich in a hurry, this is the right place. We will visit again. read more

This is kind of a hole-in-the-wall place that is masquerading as a house-on-a-corner place. It feels a little weird inside...kind of abandoned, but it's not. It's a weird house conversion from what I can tell. Cheesy menus and rather spotty service don't inspire confidence, but their bahn mi sandwiches are decent-to-good and my family likes the pho. Never been in there with more than a few other folks as customers so I wonder how they stay in business. Still, I have come back several times for the sandwich. read more

Some of the best tasting broth that I've had! I order the pho for takeaway all the time. The owner is very kind and the order is ready very quickly. This place is a local favorite of mine. read more

Just not as authentic as what you get in Chinatown. Little meat and the spring roles are meh

This is my favorite place to grab a bahn mi. So delicious, great service, and super friendly folks.

Best pho in the area, hands down. The flavor of the broth is amaaaaazing my go to every time. The fresh shrimp Spring roles are also an order I usually make. They're actually pretty big compared to others in Seattle and the price is better than most. Love it here! Definitely recommend. read more

This is one of the best PHO dishes in Seattle. Woo the meat is fresh and the broth is by far the most tastiest broth around. Great service and a large unique menu. GO HERE! read more

Vietnam Cafe & Sandwich - Brisket and Meatball Pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Had the combo Bah mi dry soggy bun not toasted, jalapeño was just cut in half seeds and all won't go back. Pd 13.00 not worth it

Came to this neighborhood cafe because we were craving bubble tea smoothies in Ballard. The guy in the store was helpful and honest (their boba drinks are all made of powder mix, not real fruit). Hence went for jasmine green tea instead of fruit. Even then, it had the consistency of a gas station icee with barely any flavor and boba was soft (except for the rogue frozen one). Disappointing for $6 a pop. 2 stars for the drink, 3 for the service. Maybe their food is good, but don't get your hopes too high for bubble tea here. read more

I've been by this place countless times and never really noticed. I was in Ballard looking for something to eat and ran across this business. As has been noted, it is located upstairs so it is not accessible to everyone. Everything was very clean but a little plain. There were two employees there and a 4-top table when I went in. The service I received was quick and friendly. I originally went in to order a bahn mi but called an audible and ordered a pork vermicelli bowl instead. For $8.50, it was a good sized portion. The pork was perfectly tender but slightly under seasoned. The noodles were perfect. I got the order to go and I will say that the container it came in was not conducive to mixing everything up (lack of space). I found this to be a reasonable lunch for the price and someplace I can return to. read more

Vietnam Cafe & Sandwich - Pork rice vermicelli - Vietnamese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Went here a few weeks ago to get a Banh Mi to-go for my husband and me, after I had just gotten a pedicure next door. I was quite surprised to see the gentleman who just finished my pedicure taking my order for my Banh Mi. Looks like there is some secret passage way between the two businesses. ; ) Not going to lie, it was a little unnerving to have the guy who just finished scrubbing my toes now making my lunch. But I must give credit where credit is due. The Banh Mi was quite good. Maybe it has just been a while since I've had one, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think this business owner should stick with what they do best....Banh Mi's and not Pedi's! (See review for Salon de Paris for the Pedi review) read more

First of all, the food was hot, fresh and tasty. BUT... The place was empty at 6:30. (Not a good sign) The service was lousy. (Especially since we were the only customers) The atmosphere was unwelcoming. Harsh, bright, unappetizing fluorescent lights. The background music was Christian rock. They don't serve alcohol. The condiment jars on the table were stuck shut. The waitress refilled our water, but never asked if we needed anything during the meal. She never cleared the finished plates. She nearly forgot to bring our check at the end. And they were closing up at 7:30 p.m. before we were ready to leave. I can't recommend this place And I won't be giving it another try. The way this space has turned over so quickly lately, I can't imagine it staying around much longer. read more

Maybe I'm spoiled, but this place isn't quite all that it should be. My Mother is Vietnamese, and I grew up in the area where Pho and Vietnamese cuisine basically spawned in the US. The best Bahn Mi I have found is actually in Chicago, and the best Pho in Washington DC. The Pho here is not even in the same league and tastes like Pho I could make at home with chicken broth and seasoning packets. Like a glorified ramen noodles. Sorry for the harshness, but that's the truth. It's not that special and I really hoped it would be as good as back home. The Bahn Mi, well I've only tried one of them and it was decent. I may go back for the sandwich since it is very convenient to my place, but once you've had proper, delicious Bahn Mi, it's really hard to appreciate anything less. read more