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    Banh Mi Express

    4.6 (81 reviews)
    Open • 7:00 am - 4:00 pm
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    Banh Mi Express Photos

    Business Info

    BANH MI EXPRESS ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Banh Mi Express

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    Tofu spring rolls
    Kimberly K.

    I love this little hole in the wall Bahn mi shop. Its location in a strip mall right near my work so I make my way over every now and then for lunch. It's a tiny shop with a handful of tables inside but not a lot of seating. The service is great and food comes out quickly. They always get my orders right when I ask for no jalapeños or cilantro on the side. I typically get the grilled pork Bahn mi which is delicious with the pickled veggies and crispy on the outside but soft on the inside baguette. The jalapeños can get pretty spicy so just be cautious of that. The pork is always tender and delicious. This time I tried out the grilled pork spring roll. The spring roll was nothing really special but it comes with a nutty creamy peanut sauce that has only a very slight spice. My worker always gets the tofu spring rolls and I've shared with her a few times. The tofu is delicious and seasoned with a great firm but not spongey texture. I think the tofu spring roll is my favorite type after trying the pork and chicken. The shop also has various teas and Vietnamese coffee. I love that this shop is easy, quick, and pretty cheap and that will keep me coming back.

    BBQ pork....
    Sal D.

    Definitely recommend the BBQ pork, crispy outer shell but soft and fresh inside. Pork was delicious and tender. Service is quick and price is great. Highly recommend this spot.

    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...

    Tony V.

    The pate is sooooo smooth and creamy, it's the soul of Banh Mi. This reminding me the original taste from Vietnam that I couldn't find at any where else in the U.S. Highly recommended the #1 special, their cold cuts are the best.

    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.

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    3 days ago

    The banh mi was big. Lot of meats. Taste OK. Usually I ordered over the phone and it's ready when I got there. The service was great.

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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.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    3.5(118 reviews)
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    Jersey Mike's always makes me happy and my recent visit was especially great!…read more I stopped by during the busy lunch rush. Opposed to standing in line, I ordered on the app and waited in my car. I was immediately greeted when I walked in a few minutes earlier than expected order completion. They let me know it'd be ready in less than 5 minutes. I liked the communication between team members and to the customers. I ordered completely different than my normal turkey and provolone. My order, which shall 100% be repeated, was: regular Italian on wheat, pickles, banana peppers, hot chopped pepper relish, oil and vinegar. I asked for extra pickles and banana peppers too. He said he put extra on the sandwich but the other locations give me extra in a cup. I asked for the cup and they made it no problem. I thought I'd take a Pic in the car, eat half and save the other half. Ha! That entire sandwich was gone in 10 minutes. Super enjoyable! The lot is tight and gets crowded, but because so many people are doing quick pick-ups, the turnover rate is high. You shouldn't have to wait long for a spot. ​Suggestion for Management: Adding shade or umbrellas to the outside tables would be a huge improvement! Other spots in the shopping center offer shade, which can definitely be a deciding factor for lunch on a warm day.

    My daughter and I dropped by here to grab a couple sandwiches for lunch after hard morning of work…read more When we arrived, there were 2 other men waiting for their sandwiches to be made and 1 young lady preparing them. She asked us for our order and proceeded to make my daughter's #3 (ham & provolone) sandwich with the 2 male customer's sandwiches. This was very efficient. We ordered: 1 Regular #3 (Ham and Provolone) with Avocado and 1 Regular Mike's Chicken Cheesesteak. The issue is that she asked the 2 men what they wanted on their sandwiches (mustard, mayo, lettuce, veggies, etc.) as she finished making them, but never asked us what we wanted. She was rushing because 2 more customers came into the line. Her coworker, a male, came out of the restroom. He then went to the sink behind the counter, washed his hands for 7 seconds, dried them, and put on plastic gloves to start helping her make sandwiches. I expected her to ask us what condiments, veggies, etc, we wanted on our sandwiches after she rang us up at the register, but she did not. She just wrapped up our sandwiches and gave them to us. I commented that I was going ti ask for lettuce, mustard, pickles, etc. She then offered to unwrap my sandwich to add what I wanted but I declined because that will ruin the packaging of the sub and make it messy and soggy...it's too late. This location needs to do better on a Sunday afternoon at 1p.

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    0.4 mi•Kearny Mesa
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    Another great Yelp find! Lit'l Pepper Gourmet Deli came recommended by fellow Yelper Kandy F., and…read moreher recommendation was true to form. Thanks for the inspiration, Kandy...!!! First thing you need to know: the sandwiches here are HUGE! I ordered the Italian Torpedo, and when it arrived I immediately realized I wasn't finishing the whole thing....! Loaded with Italian meats and all the fixings on a big sesame roll, it was fresh, delicious, and substantial enough that half went with me for later. It also came with a simple side salad and some really tasty Italian dressing. What really impressed me, though, was the hospitality. The owner learned that this was my first visit and actually came over to my table to welcome me. She was so nice that she brought me a cup of their spicy chicken soup to try, on the house! Little gestures like that make a first-time customer feel appreciated, and the soup was excellent too. This place is also clearly doing some serious business beyond the dining room. There are multiple Lit'l Pepper catering vans outside, and while I was eating there was a steady stream of Grubhub and Uber Eats drivers coming in to pick up orders. They cater to a lot of the surrounding businesses, and after eating here I can understand why. Despite being busy, the operation runs like a well-oiled machine. Every table seemed to be cleaned almost immediately after someone left. There are plenty of comfortable tables inside and a few outside as well, although with the Santa Ana winds pushing that hot desert air into San Diego this week, inside with the A/C was definitely the better choice! Excellent service, enormous sandwiches, good food, a very friendly owner and an impressively efficient operation. I'll happily stop here for lunch again on a future trip to the area. Thanks again for the recommendation, Kandy F...!!! You nailed this one!

    Delish !! Good service !! Great food !! We would definitely…read morerecommend this place!! And I like the tshirt

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    Gaglione Brothers

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    4.3(1.2k reviews)
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    I was craving fries and happened to be nearby, so I decided to give this place a try since I love…read moretheir fries at Petco Park! I thought I'd just get the fries since cheesesteaks seem to be their specialty, and I don't eat beef. But I decided to try their Chicken Ranch sandwich. The sandwich was better than I expected. I was picturing the basic grilled chicken sandwich--a piece of grilled chicken on a hamburger bun. Instead, it was loaded with tender, flavorful chicken, bacon, white American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and ranch. Totally messy to eat, but in the best possible way! And the Cheez Whiz fries were exactly what I was craving. They definitely hit the spot. Customer service was excellent too! So glad I stopped in!

    After a six-hour tattoo session, I had earned two things: a cheesesteak and absolutely no judgment…read moreabout the amount of food I was about to eat. Being from Philly, I take my cheesesteaks very seriously. Probably more seriously than a reasonable adult should. So when I finally tried Gaglione Bros. in San Diego, I went in hopeful. First, the good stuff. The staff was wonderful, genuinely friendly, the place was clean, and there were plenty of options. They even had Amoroso rolls and fresh-shaved prime rib. On paper, we were speaking my language. But whenever I try a new "Philly cheesesteak" place, I order my first steak plain. No cheese, no onions, no peppers, no hiding behind toppings. If you want to call yourself a Philly steak shop, the steak and bread should be able to stand on their own. Unfortunately, this one didn't. The meat was heavily salted and peppered, surprisingly dry, and every couple of bites I was pulling out pieces of fat. And nothing makes you question your dining choices quite like discreetly removing a piece of steak from your mouth in public. For me, a great cheesesteak has balance. The meat should be tender and juicy, with enough seasoning to bring out the beef rather than overpower it. There should be a little richness from the griddle, the steak juices, and everything cooking around it. Then you add the onions, mushrooms, peppers, cheese or whatever your particular Philly allegiance demands. This steak just didn't have that softness or heart. It honestly reminded me more of the tourist cheesesteak experience in Philly. And my fellow Philadelphians know exactly what I mean when I say that. A real Philly cheesesteak isn't complicated food, but that's precisely why every part matters. The bread matters. The meat matters. The griddle matters. And somehow, when someone really knows how to make one, you can taste the heart in it. Would I try Gaglione Bros. again? Probably not for the cheesesteak. The people were great and the place itself left a good impression, but the steak didn't. Mostly, the experience just left this Philly girl Jonesing for a long weekend back home, a walk down South Street, and a cheesesteak from that place. If you're from Philly, you already know which one I mean.

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    On my most recent visit, I placed an online order scheduled for 12:00 PM. I arrived on time, but…read morestood at the front for 7 minutes before being acknowledged, even with a simple greeting. During that time, I could clearly see my completed order sitting on the pick-up counter. Employees passed by or chatted without checking on customers waiting at the counter. Ultimately, I received my food 10 minutes late, even though it had been sitting ready for most of that time. To top it off, when I got home, the extra sauce I paid for via the app was missing. While I should have checked the bag before leaving, the overall delay and lack of attention made for a frustrating experience. Suggestion for management: Implementing a designated self-serve rack for online pick-ups, like many other chains do, would streamline the process significantly. It would get customers out the door faster and take pressure off staff when they are busy. Note: I actually like the food here, I just dread knowing no matter what I do the service won't be good. I've visited this location multiple times, and unfortunately, the service consistency remains hit-or-miss.

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    Banh Mi Express - sandwiches - Updated October 2026

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