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Banh Mi Express

4.6 (70 reviews)
Closed • 7:00 am - 4:00 pm

Banh Mi Express Photos

Business Info

BANH MI EXPRESS ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Dogs allowed
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Banh Mi Express

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Reviews With Photos

Brandon T.

I originally pulled into this parking lot debating between Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf or grabbing a poke bowl at Poke One N Half, but then I spotted Banh Mi Express and decided to try something different. Little hole-in-the-wall spots like this are either a gamble... or absolute gold. This one was GOLD. I walked in completely sight unseen--no Yelp check beforehand--and ordered the #6 grilled chicken banh mi along with a Vietnamese coffee. After paying (around $16 with tip), I had my coffee immediately and my sandwich in under five minutes. The bread was still warm, so I ate it right there in my truck--and wow. Everything tasted incredibly fresh. The grilled chicken was packed with flavor, the veggies were crisp and bright, the sauce was perfectly balanced (not heavy at all), and the baguette... absolute perfection. Super fluffy on the inside with that light, crunchy exterior that makes a banh mi great. And if you follow my Yelp reviews, you know I take my coffee seriously--especially iced coffee and cold brew. The Vietnamese coffee here was fantastic. Strong (in the best way), not watered down by cream, and perfectly portioned. Just really well done. Banh Mi Express is officially going into my regular lunch rotation when I'm at the office. Fast, fresh, affordable, and delicious--with friendly service to top it off. Easy five-star spot. Thanks for the great food and service!

Drinks Menu, March 2026
lisa j.

Banh Mi continues to offer excellent sandwiches. Price have gone up so I added updated menu pictures.

Entrance
Jillian C.

Bánh Mi Express in Kearny Mesa serves up some authentic Bánh Mi sandwiches with freshly made bread that is perfectly crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. The meats are super flavorful and the vegetables give the perfect freshness the sandwich needs. Follow @allthingsfoodinsandiego for more must try San Diego restaurants, date night ideas, food experiences, kid friendly spots, with a sprinkling of home-cooking!

Grilled Beef Banh Mi
Jane A.

WORK LUNCH STOP (3.75) - FOOD: good - PRICE: fair - SERVICE: quick (all orders to go) - AMBIANCE: small plaza restaurant This is a work lunch kind of place. Since this is very close to my office it's more of a convenience than a crave. :: ORDER :: #6 GRILLED BEEF BAHN MI ($7.99) - since this is not my go to place I had lower expectations only to take a bite and was pleasantly surprised of my first bite. The layers of stuffed banh mi checked off. The grilled meat tasted more like left over lightly marinated kbbq meat (and in in with that because it wasn't bad). I thought to myself, okay I can now just come here if I need a sandwich instead of driving to K Sandwiches although K sandwiches is the preferred RECOMMEND SODA - served in a can. Not much selection. The basics. I'd def come back to try their springs and some of their custom beverages. Until the next review...

Todd I.

Absolutely a sandwich worth every bite. Their classic cold cut special stuffed with all the meats and generous pate spread balanced with the crunch of pickled carrot, daikon and cucumbers and the heat of jalapeños all wrapped with precision on a crunchy light chewy baguette was on point.

Bánh mì thịt nướng
Lily M.

This bánh mì shop is located in a big plaza with plenty of parking. It opens early which is perfect for breakfast time. The service is always good here and food comes out fast. The shop is clean and has a few tables for dine in, I think most people do takeaways though. The bánh mì itself is delicious and filled to the brim with meat. The baguette is always crispy and fresh! I initially thought the price is kinda high but you get what you pay for. Highly recommend!

Dac biet banh mi (#1)
Angela W.

Banh mi is my favorite sandwich, and probably one of my all time favorite foods. I crave it morning, noon, and night. Even as an 80 year old with no teeth I'd blend one up and drink it with a straw. Anyways, I was excited to see good reviews for Banh Mi Express, as it is closer to me than Mira Mesa, where my favorite banh mi in SD can be found. I dropped by Banh Mi Express on a weekend and it was empty, though they were working on takeout orders. The shop is small with seating and a TV playing food videos. Service is friendly and I got my food quickly. I ordered the dac biet with extra veggies, and the fried spring rolls. When I got home, I was surprised to realize there were two sandwiches in my bag, along with the bag of 4 spring rolls and it's accompanying veggies and fish sauce dip. I'm unsure if they threw in an extra sandwich or gave me two since the bread was small, but regardless it was an exciting find! The spring rolls were crispy and very flavorful, no notes. Deliciously messy to eat in a lettuce wrap with pickled veggies and sticky-sweet fish sauce dripping down your hand. The banh mis were also delicious. I had one day-of and one the next day. The large amount of mayonaise made the bread get soggy in places overnight, but overall still held up quite well. I think that the bread is still not as good as the bread from my favorite banh mi place, Paris Sandwiches. It didn't taste quite as fresh, and was more domed and less flat, which is just more difficult to eat, and made each bite feel a bit breadier than I would have liked. The fillings slid around more than I would have liked, despite the death grip I had on the rear of my sandwich. On to the fillings, this sandwich was STUFFED. When you ask for extra veggie, they give you MEGA extra veggie. Tons of cilantro and pickled veg. There was a generous amount of cold cuts and thick globs of pate. Stupendous. I will say that next time I think I will ask for a touch less mayonnaise, as that was a bit excessive for me. Overall, very solid little sandwich shop that I can see myself frequenting when I want a banh mi but don't feel like risking my life on the wide, endlessly merging highway towards Mira Mesa. I would love to try the other banh mi fillings, Viet coffee, as well as their noodle dishes.

Inside
Liz G.

I stopped by to get Vietnamese Iced Coffee because I was running on very little sleep. I experienced great customer service - a friendly greeting and a smile when I walked in. I ordered my coffee and she handed it to me like a minute later - super fast! It tastes great, it's strong coffee, and I will 100% be back...probably within the next week :)

Inside
Stephanie D.

This is a solid to go banh mi place that my husband and I love. The sandwiches are all under $10 and the portion is pretty generous as well. They also sell rice noodle bowls, spring rolls, coffee, iced tea, and smoothies. My personal favorite is the avocado smoothie! The place is small but very clean. Every time I come here; the service is fast and no problems at all. Bahn Mi Express is located in a small shopping plaza and it opens very early, which is so convenient for night shift works like me. Overall, i definitely recommend this place!

John L.

Great food and nice staff always friendly! Perfect spot for a quick lunch if you're on the go! I give it 5 stars!!!

tofu banh mi

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Ask the Community - Banh Mi Express

Can the tea drink sweetness levels be adjusted?

Hello, and yes we can adjust them.

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Banh Mi Express - sandwiches - Updated May 2026

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