Super happy to have a banh mi spot that isn't so far into Boston! Super yummy flavor in the banh mis, my boyfriend loves the grilled pork and I love the cold cuts. The grilled beef skewers are also super good. I love the thai tea here as well. Would definitely keep coming back!!! read more

Banh Mi Cafe - Honeydew bubble tea and condensed milk coffee with ube foam - Bubble Tea Near Me - Watertown, Massachusetts

I have friends who tell me, "You could just make those spring rolls yourself, you know..." Lies. (I've tried. They tasted like sadness.) The ones from Banh Mi Cafe are enormous, sooo fresh, and exactly what I wish mine tasted like. Both the fish sauce and the peanut sauce are excellent, and when I need to bring something to a summer potluck but don't have time to cook, I just order six orders of spring rolls and suddenly everyone at the potluck is happy. Their Vietnamese iced coffee is also absolute jet fuel. It's my go-to whenever I need to work a late night. But the reason I'll always be loyal to Banh Mi Café has nothing to do with the food. ::IT'S STORYTIME:: One evening I developed an absolutely irrational craving for their avocado smoothie with boba. I spent the whole day thinking about it, finally placed an online order, and then got a phone call saying they had just run out. They apologized and offered a replacement or a refund. Instead, I asked them a weird question: "I know this is kind of crazy...but if you'll have avocado again on Saturday, could you just make this exact order then instead, and I'll come pick it up?" To my surprise, they said yes. A couple of days later, I picked up my avocado smoothie, my fresh spring rolls, and went home happy. Maybe it was more work than it was worth for the employee, maybe it wasn't; either way, they took an odd request seriously, and that's the kind of customer service that sticks with you. Beyond the spring rolls, I've also really enjoyed the nem chua, the cold cut banh mi (I wish the bread were a little softer, but the condiments and veggies are excellent), and the grilled beef wrapped in betel leaves, which I hadn't tried before and now LOVE. I still have a growing list of desserts to work through, including the flan. One thing to know before you go, regarding ambiance: this is more of a grab-and-go spot, not somewhere to settle in for lunch. There are only a few bar seats, so I almost always take my food with me, sometimes to the nearby park. There are plenty of Vietnamese restaurants around Boston, and while I'll always happily try new ones, Banh Mi Cafe has earned my loyalty, one avocado smoothie at a time. read more

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Amazing chicken vermiculite dish and I thought the boba was really solid w great hospitality all around!!

Stopped in close to closing time after the Watertown farmer's market, close by. I was craving a smoothie and ended up ordering the Thai tea slush. My boyfriend Francisco P. ordered the shrimp summer roll. The roll was tasty- we shared them later on. Fresh shrimp, vermicelli noodles, cucumber. The Thai tea slush was refreshing, but I couldn't help but notice it was made from all powders- I guess I would kind of have wished they had a tea concentrate, that was a bit stronger. Overall it was a good concept though. Should have definitely read the other reviews and opted for watermelon instead. Look forward to trying the highly rated sandwiches some time in the near future. read more

Was in Newton for an appointment; had to go back later in the afternoon...craving bahn mi and found the cafe. Excellent food good presentation, good deal! It was a beautiful day so we walked over to the Library across the street and sat at one of the umbrella tables, Parking angels got us a spot right out front! Will return when back in town!!! read more

I'm writing another review solely for the watermelon slush. A lot of their drinks are average, but the watermelon slush is FIREEEEE . It is fresh watermelon and basically tastes like watermelon juice. Omg it is so good. (See my previous review for banh mi) read more

Cannot say enough good things about Banh Mi Cafe in Watertown. The food was delicious and was delivered so fast. I had an issue with the 3rd party delivery service (I wasn't able to find the food despite it saying it was delivered) and the staff at Banh Mi Cafe were so kind and drove the food to me personally to make sure I got my meal. Loved the shrimp spring rolls. Will definitely be back. read more

A small three seat coffee shop with traditional Vietnamese dishes. As a Viet, I love their grilled beef wrapped in betel leaf bánh mì . Really delicious and true authentic flavor This is perfect for grab and go food! The owner also really friendly and make u feel like eating at home read more

Banh Mi Cafe - Bubble Tea Near Me - Watertown, Massachusetts

Very quaint little cafe that offers a handful of authentic Viet dishes. This place is more of a grab and go since there are only three little seats out front. I really enjoyed their Viet Coffee with Pandan Foam! It was perfectly strong and the Pandan Foam made for a lovely combination. The cold cut Banh Mii and the Lychee Refresher were also tasty! The bread was delicate and fresh and the sandwich itself is fairly sizable. read more

Banh Mi Cafe - Classic Cold Cuts Banh Mi - Bubble Tea Near Me - Watertown, Massachusetts

I'm glad there is yet another banh mi place nearby. The other is in Waltham. This place is tiny with seating for maybe 3 people inside. Conveniently located across from the Watertown library, there are plenty of street parking (metered) spaces available. The staff was friendly, ordering from the digital machine was easy. Pricing was about what is expected these days. Portion is about what was expected. I did ask for No Greens on my classic cold cut but they gave it to me anyways. I had to manually pick it all out while eating at a nearby park. The spring rolls were good...as it was freshly fried. It was a decent experience for our first go at this place. read more

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The banh mi's was HUGE! I got the pork lemongrass and it was very yummy with plenty of meat and veggies. Pretty worth the price. I was not a fan of the condensed milk coffee :( It was too sweet and bitter at the same time. read more

We ordered lunch from this location on a weekday when both of us had the day off from work. The staff was very kind inside when we arrived to pick the food up, even though the inside is VERY small. I don't think you're really meant to eat in there, just pick up and go! I had food from Banh Mi across Boston before and really loved their sandwiches - I learned during this visit that the Watertown location is NOT part of the other Banh Mi spots. They're actually a very new location, when I asked for kimchi and they said that is exclusive to the other "brand" in the city. Confusion aside, the sandwich was tasty and very filling. Large for the price. The bread was kind of tough so it did take a long time to chew through it but honestly I need to eat slower anyway. :) Thankful for a tasty lunch spot and I hope their business experiences continued success over the years! read more

I love this place - we are so lucky to have this right in Watertown Square. The food is delicious and they are also a huge supporter of the local community - they generously donated to the nearby elementary school for our annual cultural event this year. Definitely check them out!! read more

Stopped here for a weekend late lunch. The place is really take out only but there is a small counter seating area with three stools for anyone that wants to eat in. The person taking our order at the counter was so friendly! We ordered the beef vermicelli bowl, the shrimp spring rolls and the Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk. Beef vermicelli bowl was decent size for the price point (12.99). Some pieces of beef were not as tender but it had good flavor. The veggies were very fresh and had a nice crunch. The shrimp rolls were fresh! You could tell by the wrapping that it was made to order. The peanut sauce was okay... I prefer the sauce with a little more hoisin sauce mixed in. The Vietnamese iced coffee might seem a bit steep at $7.50 for the large but it was delicious and they use the very fine shaved iced so most of the cup is coffee. Overall a good experience and will likely come back when in the area! read more

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A tiny Banh Mi shop located in Watertown. Very happy this place opened. It's convenient for when I want to grab lunch. Their Vietnamese iced coffee is STRONG. Be warned. This is how I had it in Vietnam and it was sooo good. But if you don't like strong coffee, you should opt for another drink. Personally, this is just how I like it. I tried the beef Banh Mi. It was so good. Bread is fresh and the veggies are crisp and refreshing. Had a bit of a spice to it, which was perfect. I think from the peppers on it. The staff is so friendly too. I would highly recommend popping by this gem for take out sandwiches and iced coffee. There is street parking, but main street can get hectic during rush hour. Lunch time is a breeze though. read more

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Anyone claiming to be a sandwich fanatic would know that the Vietnamese-take with their banh mi is a flavorful rainbow tickling just about everything on your tongue and the right amount of textural differences that excites the culinary palate. So as obvious my bias is to the banh mi, I've been quietly awaiting their soft opening to try at least two sandwich before eventually ordering their whole menu over a span of a week or a month. I visited at the later part of the day on the final leg of their soft opening and ordered two banh mi to-go just to visually watch how their team worked together amidst an unexpected rally of customers repeatedly entering the doors (wow - there are a lot of people who love a good sandwich - surprise...surprise). There are definitely a lot of growing to do BUT they are handling it quite well. I'm sure they will figure it out as each day progresses so let's talk food, which is always what really matters. Size...is pretty generous and the banh mi is *stuffed* all the way. Bread had both the crunch and the chew. Meat - both beef and chicken - were salty, sweet, and succulent - WIN! Garnishes were tart, sweet, and bouncy on the bite - WIN again. Jalapeños were not remotely having any heat - unexpected. Can't wait to be back again. Still my favorite "sandwich" and glad it's even more accessible with their location in Watertown. Welcome and best wishes for 2024! read more

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Delicious banh mi and bubble tea. Just keep in mind it's tiny and really only suited for takeout.

Service was prompt and order was ready when we arrived. Had a pork and tofu banh mi. Tofu was not seasoned, unlike the banh mi I had other places. Would order the marinated next time. Pork banh mi was tasty but could have used more sauce. May be result of first time experience. read more

I love their bubble teas! The Oreo is great and so is the Thai iced tea. It can get crowded so recommend ordering ahead.

Great little place with excellent Banh Mi sandwiches and summer rolls. Not to much seating area but very good for takeout. Service was nice and friendly. read more

I was excited to see that there's finally banh mi closer to where I live, instead of needing to head into Chinatown or out to Quincy. I will say this is more of a takeout spot as the restaurant is tiny, but there are a few bar seats by the window. I ordered the classic cold cut sandwich - something about the sauce and/or the pate didn't taste exactly how I would expect traditional banh mi to taste, but it was still pretty good and was able to quench my banh mi craving for the time being. I will say that I was not the biggest fan of their milk tea with boba - the milk tea tasted a bit watered down for my taste and the boba had more of a crunch to it than a soft, chewy texture. Next time I'm craving banh mi, I'll be sure to make a stop back at Banh Mi Cafe. read more

Ordered a pork bahn mi and ate it immediately after for lunch on 3/31. Tasted fine but I got horrible food poisoning and this is the only culprit I can point to based on what other people in my household ate. My guess would be unsafe food practices around the mayo or uncooked vegetables, as that is a common cause. Following this I can't recommend it. read more

I've grabbed food here on a number of occasions now- I was absolutely ecstatic when a banh mi opened so close to home. I don't love the idea of having to go 30 min or so for a good banh mi. I recall really liking the combo sandwich, but it's not my preferred order. I usually like to get grilled pork or chicken no matter where I go, but the last couple times for me fell a bit short. The pork on my last sandwich was dry, and I find the bread to be a bit too dry/crumbly for my liking. I know people have their preferences but I prefer one with a bit more chew than theirs. I also ordered the egg rolls last time, and the rolls themselves were good. The sauce however was goopy and seemed to be more of a sweet and sour sauce instead of the more traditional fish sauce on the side. Not sure if it was a mistake, but I do not prefer sweet and sour sauce on anything and definitely don't expect it with these egg rolls. All that being said, I will continue to make stops here for now. It's just the most convenient. read more

Solid banh mi shop in Watertown square area. The location is small but still has some countertop seating. It's located next to o'some coffee. You can order at the register or at the touch screen. The banh mi baguette appeared too hard but it was surprisingly crusty on the outside and moist on the inside. The cold cut banh mi had some mild heat from the jalapeños and the pickled veggies added a nice crunch. Friendly staff and yummy food and drinks. The price is slightly more than what you see in NY Chinatown or Dorchester but the quality is decent for the greater Boston. I feel like the banh mi here is better than Pho Viet. read more

Banh Mi Cafe - Peach tea with strawberry jelly and Thai milk tea - Bubble Tea Near Me - Watertown, Massachusetts

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I came here for the Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk and it's my absolute treat. My friend put it on and we feel it and take a look with it before every outing. It's the only drink that gives us enough energy to work fully. Definitely custom This is a very beautiful and cute place with delicious food and drinks. I'm happy to support a small business in my local town. Also, they need to open for an early offer to take orders, because I needed to work first! read more

Great addition to the area but I think giving it 5 stars is a tough ask. Their seasoning and sauces are bit less traditional and for me the Pate on the cold cuts didn't hit right compared to the classic recipes found at other Vietnamese sandwich shops. Also given the location, it's a bit pricier so I would say this is a more gentrified experience that doesn't top going to Dorchester or Quincy. I prefer the beef over the cold cut here and the drinks are ok too. I wish they had smoothies like avocado and even durian but seems like they don't want to take that on. Their bread is good though, not too hard or tough to chew. Hoping to see their full menu and if they make any changes to the recipe but again it's nice and convenient for the location. Tiny shop, barely room to stand inside let alone sit. read more

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My first banh mi! It was excellent, we commandeered most of the seats given it's mostly a takeout place, but the service was excellent, ordering was super simple, and the food was SO GOOD. Highly recommend! read more

The service was excellent. The food was super authentic. The pho was a little oily and bland, but the summer rolls and chicken were amazing. I would definitely come back again! read more

I had a great first experience here after seeing this place featured on an Instagram post from a food blogger. I was looking for a spot that had an iced ube viet coffee and this place certainly delivered. I also ordered another drink, a strawberry refresher along with 2 different banh mi sandwiches - The Classic Cold Cuts and a Grilled Pork and they were both phenomenal. The service was excellent, everyone that I interacted with were friendly and had a great atmosphere! The place is a bit on the smaller side, with just 1 counter near the window and is more of a take out place but I highly recommend checking this spot out. I am very excited to come back and try out more of the different menu items in the near future! read more

So my expectations were low going in, but I was pleasantly surprised. These banh mi were as big as the ones I used to enjoy when I worked in Chinatown ages ago. The bread was perfect, crusty and chewy at the same time. We had the grilled beef, pork, and chicken and each of them came loaded with toppings and meat. Highest quality and super authentic for me. We also got the bubble tea- honeydew and brown sugar. Also delicious. I'm psyched this place landed on Main Street and I hope it does well. read more

I went off hours on a Sunday to avoid the lines. I had a grilled chicken banh mi but everything looked amazing. Delicately chopped and seasoned ingredients brought crispness and brightness to the sandwich. All sandwiches are served on fresh toasted bread. I chose a kumquat tea for its balanced flavor but many options for teas and Vietnamese coffee are available. Staff was very helpful and fast! This place makes my return list. It's sure to expand soon. read more

Prefacing this that my order was takeout so no comment on service or ambiance. The review is 100% about my order/food. Food (3/5): Ordered a Grilled Pork Banh Mi with House Fish Sauce. I'll start with the good and end with the bad. For a banh mi, it was definitely larger in portion than most banh mis I've had. For a $13 banh mi, you are getting a pretty sizeable sandwich but that's as far as the pros go. Taste was very bland. The only taste you can get from the sandwich is probably the House Fish Sauce which for such a typically pungent sauce that has lots of flavor, was lacking heavily and I'd even hesitate to say the taste was subtle. Bread was texturally a nuisance. Way too tough to bite through. Lacked taste also and could benefit from brushing it with butter. The pickled fillings were a complete dud and disappointment. The pickling of the veggies were lacking in seasoning and flavor again. It seemed that they were pickled in nothin but water and maybe some vinegar. Compared to well pickled banh mis which usually have a nice balance of salt, sugar, and vinegar - this one fell flat completely. Couldn't find or taste the pate which is a standard ingredient in banh mis. I can't recall if the banh mi was supposed to have pate but if it did you couldn't taste it. Something such as pate is pretty standard and it just didnt have any. Since I can't recall if the sandwich had pate, I won't factor that into the rating but just a note to look out for. Now perhaps the star of the show - the pork. 80% of my sandwich was pure pork fat. I had maybe 2 solid pieces of actual protein. So I basically had a plain veggie banh mi with no sauce or flavor. Dry is the best way I could describe it. The meat itself was pretty dry and poorly marinated. It had little to no flavor and this is probably where the House Fish Sauce was supposed to shine but it didn't. So in conclusion, the banh mi here is just a sandwich. Only worth getting if you're really hungry. Giving it 3 stars because it was complete neutral tasting sandwich. It wasn't bad. It wasn't poor in quality. It wasn't disgusting or vile in any way. It just wasn't good. Giving it a 2 star just makes it seem inedible which it wasn't. Giving 3 stars also seems a bit too high. If I could , I'd give this a 2.5 stars. Again, not poor in condition or quality, but just not even good and lacking in a lot of departments to qualify as a banh mi. Most mom and pop shops will serve you a pretty good banh mi. I just wouldn't come here for one personally. read more

The Banh Mi is very flavorful and the bread is nice and flaky. The nem has nice garlic flavor and texture to it. The staff is very friendly and helpful at giving suggestions and the owner Nancy is always there to greet you. Highly recommend if you are in the area. read more

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If there were ten stars, I would give BANH MI CAFE those. We just got priced out of Cambridge after living there for years and years. What's helping us not to lose our minds is finding the beautiful library, our apartment in a high rise apartment complex, and some great foodie places for me to explore. My very fave is Nancy and her incredible BANH MI CAFE. The best Vietnamese coffee ever as well as the best sandwiches I have ever had. We've tried the beef, the original coldcut, and a breakfast type one which is sunnyside up and pate. All delish...my personal pick is original coldcut. Best coldcuts!! Lots and lots of interesting teas, boba. drinks, etc.Take out only, or Nancy's hub will deliver in the area read more

I tend to rate Vietnamese food pretty hard bc I grew up with so much Asian food in Los Angeles. For the Boston area, this is solid, quick Vietnamese food. Got it after 7 hours of studying and it hit the spot. Everything finished with no crumbs! I am looking forward to trying their amazing looking drinks! 10000/5 service. The ladies are so nice and so kind. We witnessed them give away a boba to someone who was short on bills. This is generous for a small business and it shows that their heart is in the right place. They offer 10% discount to students and first responders and discount when you pay in cash. Highly recommend if you're seeking a yummy, quick, convenient meal and you happen to be seeking some fresh ingredients and solid Vietnamese food. Beef Banh mi: 8/10 spring rolls: so fresh!! 6/10 (they assured me they wanted to make this fresh for us and apologize for the wait which wasn't even that long. Breaks to rate it 6/10 but have definitely had better vermicelli bowl: 7/10 PACKED with meat!!! read more

Banh Mi Cafe - Bubble Tea Near Me - Watertown, Massachusetts

The pho and coffee were absolutely 10/10! The service was fast, and the cozy, homey atmosphere made it the perfect spot to eat by myself during this holiday season. I really appreciated the warm and welcoming vibes! read more

Banh Mi Cafe - Beef Pho - Bubble Tea Near Me - Watertown, Massachusetts

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I tried Banh Mi Cafe for the first time last night and was greeted warmly by one of several Vietnamese women behind the counter. They have a handy Chowbus kiosk for ordering so that you can make sure the order is correct. I ordered 2 banh mi sandwiches and one vermicelli. Both were packed with ingredients including cilantro, scallions, very mild jalapenos and meat (mine was not spicy but my husband says his was spicy). I found the pork to be a little too sweet and salty - it is pretty caramelized, but overall it helped to be balanced out with the hearty baguette. (Note: "fried fish patty" means "fish cake", not filet-o-fish patty.) The vermicelli contained the same type of pork. They serve banh mis, a couple of ramen options, and vermicelli and a very extensive drink list. I also ordered a boba milk green tea and WOW - it was absolutely delicious! I have had a lot of boba tea and this was next level. It was so white I originally thought they had forgotten the actual tea, but the first sip was an explosion of jasmine tea flavor with floral notes. I echo the other boba review - boba pearls and mango jelly stars were perfectly chewy and firm. Very reasonably priced too, even with add-ons. This restaurant is quite small. Only three stools at one counter, so plan for take-out, but please tip generously! It's wonderful to have access to an authentic Vietnamese banh mi place right in Watertown Square. I'm a fan and will definitely go back! read more

Banh Mi Cafe - The most delicious green boba tea I have ever tasted. - Bubble Tea Near Me - Watertown, Massachusetts

Delicious Banh Mi! Fresh bread, flavorful fillings, and great service. Highly recommend if you're craving a quick and tasty bite.

I love Banh mi but I haven't had a banh mi in 10 years after I stopped eating meat. I was so excited to see tofu and veggie options offered at Banh Mi Cafe. I got a tofu banh mi and it was delicious. I'll definitely come back soon. read more

You gotta try the egg rolls here, crispy and filled with flavor. Banh mi is sensational. Small place but service with a smile. If I'm around the area I will definitely drop by again. read more