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Banh Mi Cali

4.2 (121 reviews)
InexpensiveVietnamese
Closed 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

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BANH MI CALI ATMOSPHERE

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Quiet
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Banh Mi Cali

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Reviews With Photos

Will N.

Really hate to give 2 stars for a small Viet establishment, but this is one of, if not most disappointing banh mi sandwiches I've ever had. The bread is similar to a roll versus they key baguette. Filling ratio is way off. Lack of flavor from the filling that was in there too. Even as someone who doesn't live in Philly, I can name several places I'd recommend before this place. Very kind workers of course, but I was expecting more. I think this sandwich may be good for you if you like something very minimal and don't care about taste.

Bbq pork hoagie
Uyen N.

Bread is too chewy and not crunchy. I dont like the seasoning of bbq pork either. It is just too dry overall.

Chicken Banh Mi
Adam B.

Stopped by for lunch and it was great. Fantastic chicken Banh mi with the freshest bread, delicious chicken, and the spiciest chili. Server was very nice and helpful. And good value for money. Do Attend.

27. Vietnamese Coffee with Condensed Milk
Stan H.

Conveniently located at 9th and Arch, sandwiches are traditionally tasty and coffee is straightforward and not too shabby. Staff is friendly even though may be a bit hard to understand. It was raining out and the female staffer really cared about my safety. There was a small Place to sit at but I opted not to. They also offered a number of non-hoagies too.

Front counter
Lucy N.

The employees speak Vietnamese so food is authentic. Viet sandwiches are $8. The French bread was very good.. soft and fresh. I do wish they would put just a bit more meat but overall they were good. Viet coffee is $5 and pretty decent too. Employees were very nice. Only has a small table with 3 chairs. Small sink to wash your hands.

6. Original Vietnamese Ham Hoagie and Vietnamese Coffee with Condensed Milk in the back
Michelle F.

I ordered the #6 Vietnamese ham banh mi which has ham, pate, carrots, and some other veggies inside, which was $7. It was super delicious and the pate wasn't too liver-y and was nice and smooth. The carrots & veggies were marinated really well and added a great flavor that helped cut into the flavor of the ham & pate! Like many others have said, the bread here is so great!!!! It's crunchy on the outside (but not too crunchy where it can hurt your mouth) while the inside is nice and soft. I also got an iced Vietnamese coffee which was $4 and amazing!! It's nice & strong coffee and the condensed milk blends super well with it! All in all, a great meal for $11 - what else could you ask for?? Just make sure to bring some cash and you'll be in for a treat

vegetarian hoagie
Elise P.

I went here on a weekday around lunch. An older man was sitting up front and got up to take my order and was pretty friendly. It also only took like 5 minutes to pull together my vegetarian hoagie which was great. Heads up that it is cash only. I took it over to Franklin square since the weather was nice and I was happy with the fresh bread. I didn't get the spicy version but I think I will next time because I think it could use just a tad more flavor. It was still a great lunch for $7.

Let's see what these are hitting for!
Harold P.

I've been trying different Banh Mi spots and this is my second favorite out of the ones that I've tried. I had the BBQ pork banh mi and it was exceptionally tasty! The roll had just the right amount of crisp, the veggies were fresh and the pork was tender and juicy. It was so good that I ate it while my mouth was still numb after my dentist appointment. I was hungry and this was perfect. The pricing is a bit better than average. $7 is great considering it's a full roll and most places charge a little more. Some even charge more with a shorter roll. That's not gonna work for my inner greedy guy! I'll be back!

the front of a restaurant
Colleen M.

this a very straightforward banh mi shop that seems family owned. Most of their Vietnamese hoagies are under $10 and very filling. They kindly ask if you're okay with spicy when you're ordering. They have lots of drink options (soda, tea, bubble tea, Vietnamese coffee, etc) and do have dishes other than the banh mis but the sandwiches are so good that it's all I tend to get. The bread is always just right, fluffy but crunchy. The toppings don't look like much but all the flavor is there so it's not skimpy.

Number 6 - Vietnamese ham hoagie
Sammi K.

I was looking for a quick bite to pick up after a 2-hour bus ride from NYC and am so glad I found this gem. Oftentimes, I find myself craving banh mi and all the shops I like are not walking distance from my house. When visiting Philly, I thought it'd be a great lunch to curb my cravings. Upon entering the shop, I've noticed how homey it feels. It's quite small and a little movement can trigger the motion sensor doorbell (I'm guilty of it multiple times). The nice lady came to greet me as I entered and took my order: Number 6 - Vietnamese ham hoagie. It took some time since it was one lady taking all the orders and the food is made to order so it's understandable. After she's done making my banh mi, I paid in cash and headed to a park to enjoy it. Let me tell you this, I've eaten many banh mi's in NYC from numerous shops throughout my lifetime. This is the first time I've had banh mi crispy on the outside yet so fluffy on the inside. I've never had this texture of baguette from other banh mi shops before. Most of the other banh mi's I've had has a very hard exterior, to the point where it scratches the top of your mouth. I thought those were the best I could find until I found Banh Mi Cali. The filling was really good as well. There was a great amount of pate and ham but I would love it more if there were more pickled carrots. I honestly wish I could bring this shop to NY with me. It's definitely something I will miss and my cravings won't be as satisfied as it used to be because my standards have been upped. If I ever visit Philly again, you'll find me here.

Menu
Jeannie S.

I love that their sandwiches aren't too much, starting at $7. Their bread is very fluffy and slightly flaky. I am not the biggest fan that there isn't a whole lot stuffed in the sandwich, but it is cheaper than most banh mi joints. There is a lot of drink options and they offer very fair priced Vietnamese coffee (cold or hot). Cash only!

Cindy L.

I was having a craving for Bahn Mi and so I called ahead to order for pick up. After 10 mins walk, I got my BBQ Pork Bahn mi as soon as I arrived. The protion size is decent. The bun is slightly toasted, so it's crunchy on the outside. Veggies are fresh and BBQ pork was very flavorful! I finished it so quickly that I didn't get a chance to take a picture of the delicious Bahn mi.

Banh mi

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2 years ago

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1 month ago

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9 months ago

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6 months ago

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

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1 year ago

Order was quick but I felt they were cheap with the protein. Felt like it was mostly bread

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

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6 years ago

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1 year ago

Best tofu banh mi around! Best price for any sandwich in the area. Nice, hard working owners!

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3 years ago

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6 years ago

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

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3 years ago

I love their hoagies !!!! So authentic. I'd order from them every time I'm around the area to get my nails done.

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7 years ago

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5 years ago

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7 years ago

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5 years ago

Amazing vietnamese hoagie place, best in Chinatown Philly. I recommend #5 or #6. A full hoagie for only $7 is definitely worth it

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6 years ago

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4 years ago

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6 years ago

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8 years ago

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7 years ago

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4 years ago

Good is great, customer service is also great! Nicest family owned business in Chinatown I've been to so far.

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7 years ago

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11 years ago

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Pho 75 - 1.Phở - Tái, Nạm, Gầu, Gân, Sách

Pho 75

4.4(719 reviews)
1.2 miBella Vista, Passyunk Square
$$

A no frills place. Cash only. They serve great pho. Johnny on the spot. Sit. Order. Eat and pay…read more But it's consistently really good. Not really a date night. But definitely is a nice comfort food option.

This is supposedly the best phở in Philadelphia, and the best I've ever had! And it's incredibly…read morecheap compared to Boston. 1.Phở - Tái, Nạm, Gầu, Gân, Sách: The broth was dark, but the flavor was natural and umami; the beef was in big portion and large slices, tender, and the tripe had no gamey taste; the rice noodles were authentic Vietnamese phở, perfectly cooked and very refreshing. The biggest surprise was the tái (eye-round steak), yet still retaining that pleasantly chewy texture of undercooked beef; the gầu (fat brisket) was thick and crisp, fragrant but not greasy--who would have thought I'd find brisket fat here? This showed the restaurant's precise control over the broth temperature and the thickness of the beef. Almost all phở restaurants claim to offer authentic raw beef or various cuts of beef, but very few can truly make customers feel the difference. The restaurant's decor is simple but spacious and clean; the service is average, but very efficient. Efficiency is essential for phở, otherwise the beef would be overcooked in the hot broth. After all, the essence of a restaurant is food, and for such affordable ones, it's gratifying to see them spend most of their costs on the food itself.

Photos
Pho 75 - Inside

Inside

Pho 75 - 1.Phở - Tái, Nạm, Gầu, Gân, Sách

1.Phở - Tái, Nạm, Gầu, Gân, Sách

Pho 75

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Pho Today - Shrimp and pork salad

Pho Today

4.4(77 reviews)
1.2 miBella Vista, Passyunk Square
$$

They have rainbow ice! Most Vietnamese restaurants don't make these anymore…read more The biggest pho with the mostest: short rib pho. Can split between 2-3 ppl honestly. A lot of seating. Though not a huge fan of their lighting; a bit too bright. Fast customer service and they check back often. Large bathroom in the rear. Clean.

Pho Today is an enormous restaurant which does authentic Vietnamese very well. I honestly believe…read moretheir broth is better than Pho '75 across the street which seemed rather sweet to me. They have great meats. Their hearty Buns will blow your mind: as noted, the House Special is practically enough for two people. You'll also see many people eating the Prime Rib Pho which is quite different. to me it looks a bit unwieldly (much prefer meats cut into the broth). Their Bún Riêu, Duck Soup (served with a unique ginger sauce and bamboo shoots) and Bún bò Huế all hit the mark. Pho Today gives you two choices for the classic Fish In Pottery Pot, bone-off and bone-on. Many Vietnamese restaurants don't carry this anymore. One thing I should tell y'all is that, when you order your meal, ask for the homemade chilli oil.....they won't give it to you unless you ask: it's made with garlic and is really special. If I were to nitpick I'd suggest upping the ante on the spring rolls which are more of a footnote here. I much prefer the larger spring rolls, cut into 4 sections served with basil, veggies and lettuce for wrapping. But, yea, this place does a really good job and seems to be the go-to for both Vietnamese food and serious eaters.

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Pho Today - Entrance

Entrance

Pho Today
Pho Today - Outside of building

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Outside of building

Banh Mi Cali - vietnamese - Updated May 2026

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