There isn't anything too special about this place. The sandwich was just ok, definitely fresh but just ok. I think it needed a side of dipping sauce and a little more meat. The bread made up for the lack of meat but I was just expecting more flavor. read more

It is so hard to find a Vietnamese restaurant that serves Banh Mi (Vietnamese street sandwich) in this town. Banh mi are comprised of a 6-8" french baguette with cucumber, cilantro, and a choice of proteins, and they usually go for around $4. Catina's are much better than the Vietnamese Deli around the corner. They do have a generous selection of proteins (12 including some authentic vietnamese items) and 12 Bubble Teas as well. But that's ALL they serve, outside of some side dishes, desserts, and condiments in the fridge in front, and it is TAKE OUT ONLY, there is no place to sit and eat. The flavors are good, although one is underwhelmed by the amount of meat on each sandwich, however, again it's about twice what you get at the Thai Deli. The service is a step above the Seinfeld "soup Nazi" episode. It's good for cheap no frills eats. They don't have extra Hoisan or Schirracha if you want it (unlike my favorite Pho Saigon on West Broad) and they only serve Banh Mi and Bubble tea. The value is good for authentic vietnamese no frills take out. read more

This place is the bomb!! The bread makes these sandwiches. FYI, I still think they don't take credit cards. The #12 is my favorite with extra Jalapeños. I've had a few and they are all good. The pork buns are also good. They make these puffed sesame pastry things on the weekend that are filled with air (not the small round ball ones), they are So Good!!! I highly recommend and I think they will sell you the bread on its own. If you know Mexican food it's very similar to a Bolillo. You could make a delicious torta with the bread. If I owned a Mexican restaurant I would totally buy bread from them. read more

Hole in the wall but very worth while when you look for it! Prices are good! Banh Mi is very tasty, baguettes are fresh and the taste of it is close to how they make it in Vietnam. That's from my mother who is 60 so trust me, she KNOWS what good banh mi is! Highly recommend and will be returning! read more

This review has some good stuff and some bad, which is unusual for me. I've been here twice now. I really like their food. Really good sandwiches, and you order the sandwiches off a numbered chart on the wall... Don't be afraid, they're really good... I've seen somebody leave with a huge bag full of the sandwiches... . It's CASH, baby. No cards accepted. I have to say there can be some confusion about the experience here due to a general lack of labeling and pricing on shelved food, and I have seen people walk in and look around, and walk back out... They are just confused and since nobody really greets them, they leave... They don't mark their pastries and rice confections with any label or prices so you are standing there looking and wondering what could possibly be in these items. Obviously if someone has a food allergy they could buy something here, eat it, and lose their airway, and Gluck Gluck, Gluck and Gluck calls with a different kind of order, a lawsuit. They don't speak much English in here, so it can be tough to figure out what all the various offerings are on the shelves. To their credit, they try. I I always feel it's my fault for not speaking their language so, when I get stumped here I just try to move on to another safe choice. So, anyhow, back to the food... The number 2 bahn mi is pate serving on a tasty soft French roll with a little hot sauce like sriracha on it, and the usual shredded carrot, cucumber and cilantro. These are amazing. The number 10 barn mi is grilled chicken and the like ingredients for the above mentioned sandwich. It's got some sweet chili sauce on it, and is very good. I've bought pastries here, they're good... A lemon sponge cake... Yum. Of note was one little taro cake which was very thick and rich and tasty and direct from Vietnam (hence the $6.50 price for a cake the size of the bottom of a spaghetti sauce jar). The Vietnamese coffee they sell is better than anything we make here in the US, in my opinion. And the little coffee candies rock. All said, I will become a regular here, and overcome the language barrier. :) read more

I know this place has mixed reviews, but it's so worth the trip. Their sandwiches are so cheap and really delicious. I always go for the grilled pork. It's a tiny hole in the wall but it's pretty clean, it's wicked fast and there are always people waiting to pick up their food, which is generally a pretty good sign. read more

Best banh mi in Richmond! This place is cash-only, barely English speaking, and sometimes they randomly run out of ingredients for their drinks, but I still come back to fulfill my banh mi craving. For those of you unfamiliar with Vietnamese eateries, don't come in expecting amazing service. Good Vietnamese places focus on food and efficiency, and if they are cash-only, you know you're at a legitimate place. I always order the combination with no soy sauce(what I'm referring to is Maggi, a version of soy sauce that is traditionally put on banh mi). I find that the Maggi's flavor is too strong for my tastes, and it overshadows the flavor of the pate. The problem with ordering one sandwich is that it rarely survives the ride home, so you find yourself back at your apartment, covered with crumbs, and still wanting more. You can also order the sandwich with the veggie toppings separate for when you want to save the sandwich for the next day. All it needs is 5-10 minutes in the toaster oven, and it's almost as tasty as when it's fresh. I don't really order anything else here, although my friend likes their fruit drinks that they offer. Apparently they make their drinks with fresh fruit, so next time I'm out there, I plan on investigating. One time I was there, they had a sign up for fresh tofu with ginger sauce. If you ever have the opportunity to order this, then jump on it. It's a tofu dessert, which sounds kind of gross at first, but the tofu is as soft as custard with a sweet ginger sauce that goes on top. It was unbelievably delicious, and my friends and I were practically fighting over who had control of the spoon when we shared it. They were always out of tofu when I tried to order it again, unfortunately. The worst thing about Catina is that they will randomly close from anywhere to a few days to several months at a time, and often without warning. It usually happens right when you are in the midst of a serious banh mi craving. You can go to Vi's Bakery for banh mi to fulfill the craving, but it won't be as satisfying as the sandwich you get from Catina, and as much as you try to fool yourself, your mouth remembers. read more

Really, it's a 2.5 star kind of place. The banh mi left a lot to be desired and the overall experience was kind of blah. It would have gotten a lower rating but seeing as how it's the only banh mi place in town that I know of, it gets a bit of an edge. I came in for a late lunch and still had to wait about 10 minutes for my sandwich which is a bit surprising since 1. banh mi do not take long to make and 2. there wasn't anyone else around (though a few more people meandered in shortly after I did). I ordered the patê cha banh mi which is the standard by which I measure all banh mi places; it's a classic combination. The whole experience was entirely underwhelming. The bread was soft and chewy... But a little too chewy, almost like rubbery which was unpleasant. There needs to be a nice balance between chewy, soft and airy with a good Vietnamese petit baguette. Everything was overpowered by either soy sauce or Maggi sauce which was a shame (this is very strange of a place to do, most, in fact all, banh mi places I've been to have never ever served my sandwich with soy sauce or Maggi). There seemed to be a good amount of patê but I couldn't barely taste it as the sandwich was so salty. The cha was a bit scarce and thinly sliced so I tasted nothing of that. Finally, the two quintessential banh mi ingredients, the mayonnaise and pickled verges were lost in the briny sea of whatever they doused my sandwich in. I don't know if I would go back :( Plus, the avocado bubble tea I got was on point though some of the bubbles were a bit frozen. The other bakery/deli items the place offered look a bit on the sad side. All in all, I suppose it's good for what it is: the only dedicated banh mi joint in the city. But that doesn't make it a good one. read more

$3.75 for a big ole sandwich or a frosty bubble tea smoothie? Sign me up! I tried the #12, with shredded pork and bbq pork. The bread, while not exactly an authentic French baguette, was pleasantly chewy with a toasty exterior, and the insides were also delectable. I think their yummy mayo is homemade. I do agree with a previous reviewer, though, that the meat is a little too highly seasoned/salty and the pickled veggies not pungent enough to balance it out. My taro bubble tea was okay, pretty obviously made from a mix due to its slight chalkiness. This place can't be beat for the price, though. There are lots of interesting/unidentifiable deli items available, both sweet and savory. We got a fried sesame ball pastry to try from the case by the register. I was expecting sweet red bean paste inside, but this one had a sweet yellow filling instead (mung bean, maybe?). It hit the spot anyway - sweet, nutty, fried-tasting, and pleasantly chewy from the rice flour dough. A couple other notes: 1. I'm pretty sure this place is only open at lunchtime. 2. There's nowhere to sit and eat inside, so plan for takeout. 3. Cash only, plan accordingly! 4. While neither authentic nor cheap, the HUGE tofu banh mi at Black Sheep on West Marshall Street is another tasty option in RVA! read more

Its a good place, possibly the only good place for a bahn mi, but not for all bahn mi's. I had a number 6, which was delicious. Then I had a number 12 which was NOT delicious. I guess its all in what you like. I also appreciate Richmond getting more specialized eateries. I really like the fact that they only do bahn mi, even though it not my favorite sandwich ever. read more

Since I'm from Washington, DC and now currently residing in Richmond, it's difficult for me to find true authentic Vietnamese food/banh mi in the area. Although I must say Catina has the best banh mi I've tried so far in Richmond. I come in at least once a week for lunch and am always satisfied with the sub. However, the service seems to be lacking... there is no proper hospitality etiquette- which is a shame since their food is very delicious that you always come back for more. The man and sometimes the lady who works behind the cash register never greets or even smiles. Friendly service would be nice, don't ya think? Anyways, banh mi get's my two thumbs up and service gets a thumbs down for me. read more

We were so excited to finally try this place and it was a little bit of a let down. We would go again but only if we can't find another place nearby that competes. :( read more

Was craving bahn mi, and heard this place sold good bahn mi. Had the pork belly (#8) bahn mi sandwich.. Pretty good! Wish they added more veges to my sandwich though; they kind of skimped on it. But, can't complain about the price. Not as great as the bahn mi in CA but I'll definitely come back here again! :) read more

Sandwich, mostly bread. Not much chicken. Coconut bubble tea completely worth it. Wow.

Good but not great - though, I suppose I'm also a little biased and spoiled having sampled lots of bahn mi in Los Angeles and the greater Bay Area. The grilled pork and grilled chicken sandwiches are ok but not amazing. The pork was more flavored than the chicken but the bread used was actually softer than most vietnamese sandwich shops, which is a plus. The meat marinade was...interesting. I did not sample their drinks since they all appeared to be heavily artificial. For what it is, this place is passable - Richmond really doesn't have too many options unfortunately. Only real downside is the service here - the female cashier just had a what-the-*-do-you-want attitude and looked like she had been forced to come to work instead of going out clubbing. read more

For the price and quality, I'll be back. Buy 5 get one free!? Nice. There aren't too many places in Richmond that you can get banh mi. So I'm not complaining. They're just not as fast as I'd like though. A little on the slow side. But that is better than nothing. read more

Killing me to have to give this one star. Zero stars should be an option with this place. Ordered 3 pork bahn mis and 1 was missing pork completely and the other two had a few scraps each, the rest was stuffed with these disgusting gelatinous noodles. Huge disappointment. Will not be returning. Finally the place could use a good scrubbing. read more

Pretty good Bubble Tea. I just moved around the corner and decided to check the place out. Ive heard the actual Vietnam Restaurant next door is really good. I wanted to try a bahn mi sandwich but havent yet. I felt like an a-hole bc i came in 15 mins before they closed so i just got the tea. Will return again soon for bahn mi read more

I love how cheap it is for me to buy banh mi and an avocado boba. I can't find any other place in RVA that sells boba made with fresh fruit. Its much easier to find at Eden Center in NoVa. The other baked items taste good too but its pricey so don't really come here for that. Come here for the Banh mi and the boba. read more

A great cheap lunch. The drinks are freshly made and yummy. Take out only and closed Wed & Thurs.

So I have come to this place a few times and the sandwiches don't disappoint but be prepared it is a small hole in the wall joint and it shows it is a small cramped and sometimes a little dirty. On my last visit I happened to see a small bug on the counter needless to say I checked my food but overall still a good place for a sandwich cash only !!!! read more

Went in last night on the strength of review on another website. The folks were very nice and the service was fantastic! I asked lots of questions because I wanted a Bahn Mi sandwich and had never had one before. The sandwich was fresh and tasty but I would have used different meats had I known better. I also got a pineapple/coconut bubble drink - FANTASTIC!! I will return again. read more

This is my favorite spot for boba in richmond. Only down fall is they only take cash so make sure you remember that before head over there. And the coconut boba slush is AMAZING!!!! I think they use natural ingredients rather than power. I tried the acacado the 2nd time I went, it was very good but I prefer the coconut or taro. read more

Okay so I got the mango bubble tea because I have been craving it and drove all over town try to find it! The tea tastes fine, but the place is absolutely filthy. If you can get past the grime and bugs and the fact that it is cash only, great. But the place made me a little squeamish drinking my tea. read more

S h i t t y service and roaches. But yummy cheap food and boba. Also it's cash only. Grandpa is probably mad that I said my order in English so bring a Viet friend. read more

After reading other good reviews, I went to Catina for a try & I found that its food quality was not that great as some reviews rated, my humble opinion. Its service was awful with an attitude "take it or leave it, I don't need you". You are not the only Banh Mi shop in Richmond, so please. I don't care how good the food is but I ain't going back to Catina because it doesn't appreciate its customers. Other Banh Mi shops also have a good deal, buy 5 get 1 free. read more

I came in about 1PM and there was no one inside but a woman in the back. She looked like she was prepping something and we made eye contact. I stood up front for 5 more minutes. Another woman came in and the lady in the back looked up and made eye contact with me again but did not get up from where she was sitting. Do I need to yell what I want to get service? I just left after after about 8 minutes of waiting. Not worth it. read more

I was craving Vietnamese food yesterday and I decided to check this place out because I didn't have enough time to sit down at Vietnam 1. I'm so glad I did because it is AWESOME. I got the grilled pork bahn mi and it was the best I've ever had. And so cheap!! Who cares about customer service at a place like this? It's an authentic, no BS kind of place run by people who aren't going to coddle you and there's nothing wrong with that. You just walk up to the counter, order and leave. It's pretty much fast food... But the best fast food ever. read more

Horrible experience... Was there late June or early July 2016. There were roaches crawling on the floor by the cash register area (and coolers). It was disgusting. read more

There really is a lack of Bahn Mi places in Richmond, so Catina is my go-to when I am in the mood for a Grilled Pork Bahn-Mi. The rolls are amazing and baked in house. For under 4.00 you just can't beat it! Id give this 5 stars, but from time to time the sandwich can be a bit salty. Still delicious, but keep me from giving the extra star. read more

Delicious pork belly sandwich. The French bread was perfect and crispy, and all the flavors melded together perfectly.

I had a pork bahn mi sandwich from Catina before and found it dry and lacking the traditional bahn mi flavor. The meat was almost non existent and the bread was not fresh. The Naked Onion on Cary Street has a kick ass pork belly bahn mi sandwich that is fantastic. read more