Looking for the best Viet sandwich in San Francisco? You found it! This place is a hidden local gem. I've tried (what I believe is) every "known" or "popular" spot in SF and IMO, nothing compares to Ilana. Kevin gets fresh bread in everyday and when he runs out, that's it for the day. Because he cares about quality. He makes a solid latte as well. Service is always fast and place is always clean. Enjoy! read more

If you're roaming the Richmond and need a refuge from the fog, this spot hits the mark. It manages to pull off a cool, intentional vibe without the pretension that usually follows. It's the kind of place where you actually want to sit for a while rather than just grabbing your caffeine and sprinting back to Geary. The service is the real standout here--genuinely friendly and efficient, which is a refreshing change of pace for the neighborhood. As for the fuel: * The Mocha: Excellent. Rich, well-balanced, and clearly made with quality chocolate that doesn't drown out the espresso. * Drip Coffee: Clean, bold, and reliable. It's a proper cup of coffee for the purists. * Pastries: Decent selection. They aren't reinventing the wheel, but they are fresh and provide a solid supporting act to the drinks. Whether you're looking to park it with a laptop or just need a high-quality mid-day pick-me-up, it's a top-tier addition to the local coffee circuit. read more

Food: Highly recommend getting the BBQ pork banh mi (vietnamese sandwich). The ingredients were all fresh, reasonable amount of tender, juicy meat, and the bread !! So soft and warm with the perfect crunchy exterior. Service: All counter-service and you bus your own tables if dining in. Very fast. Ambiance: What you would expect from a no-frills neighborhood coffee shop. The space is well-kept/clean. Just be mindful that the restroom was out of order when I went (3/6/26). Overall: Would definitely come here again. Good price point, fresh vietnamese sandwiches. Only issue is parking can be tough around here read more

ilana Coffee - BBQ pork Vietnamese sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Tasty sandwich and super friendly staff. Good sandwich and coffee spot in this area! We love their bagel lox!

Ilana Coffee is my favorite coffee shop in the area. The people that work here are cool. The cafe feels local with good bagels, coffee, pastries and sandwiches. My favorite is their combo Vietnamese sandwich $8.25 w/extra meat pate +$1. Ilana Coffee is a great place to hang out on a lazy Sunday. read more

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Day Visited: Tuesday @ 1:45 PM Price Range: $6 - $9 Parking: Street meters Ordered: BBQ Pork Banh Mi Between the golden & crispy layers of fluffy bread and the tenderness of the bbq pork, this banh mi was so filling! We absolutely loved the texture of the bread and the tartness of the pickled carrots and daikon. The staff was friendly and provided our food in a timely manner. There were plenty of tables inside and some outside as well. They try and limit your visit to an hour, but that is plenty of time to receive and enjoy your meal! This is a hidden gem but definitely recommend visiting! read more

ilana Coffee - BBQ Pork Banh Mi - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came here for some coffee and banh mi and got only the coffee as they ran out of banh mi. The drink was fine nothing special, and the atmosphere was a bit dark and didn't feel very welcoming. read more

ilana Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Best neighborhood coffee and combination Vietnamese sandwich during my college days and it's still here. This is definitely a local hangout. This couple talk to their regulars like old friends. The husband and wife team has been here forever; yet, they look and act just as young as when they first opened. It's true what they say, "Asians don't raisin." Great prices, fresh, consistent food, and always friendly service. read more

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Sad didn't get the opportunity to try a bahn mi here as the person in front ordered the last one. While we were in line, I don't think the person at the cash register noticed us and then a line started forming back to the door.. so we waited again. How do you run out of it at 11am?.. I did notice it is the cheapest here as I went to another spot for bahn mi. read more

We were in the area and Hubby wanted to try their bahn Mi instead of going over to the Tenderloin where we've gone in years past. We ordered 2 chicken, one pork belly and a pork combo. I only tried the combo which was Ok. I've certainly had better ones and the amount of meat you get wasn't as generous but their sandwiches are $3 or more less than other places with larger portions. Hubby and I thought the size of sandwich was good for the price point. We also liked the bread a lot. Crunchy exterior and decent inside. Hubby said he couldn't taste the pork belly as there was more vegts in it than meat. Staff was nice and friendly. read more

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This place needs some love for their great Vietnamese combo sandwiches, great service, and great sweet desserts (ever heard of lemon squares or bread pudding, or chocolate everything squares). I think about their combo sandwich alot. It's not for everyone. I like chew, homemade ham. Great ratio to marinated carrots and daikon with the amount of meet. Lots of cilantro (i count as my daily veggie). Bread is so crunchy even sitting for awhile. I remembered "no jalapeño." Extra pate! You'll thank me later, and please do. They open 6 am and close at 5 pm. Come on, who opens at 6 am? Sometimes I just don't get to this place, Can't get the right timing. It's always about timing. Today 4:58 pm and they still took my order. I was the second to the last customer. Yay. read more

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Vietnamese owned cafe that has the best banh mi in sf Dish: -Banh Mi Dac Biet (everything combo): ooooh sooooo good. Best banh mi spot in sf, hands down. Highly rec asking for extra pate. Logistics: -accepts card -street parking only read more

I was craving a bánh mì so I stopped by on a Tuesday during lunch time. Even though they're called Ilana Coffee, they offer a lot more than coffee. During a previous visit, I tried their Vietnamese iced coffee, which was milky, strong, and perfectly sweetened. I ordered the Combination Vietnamese Sandwich ($7.25+tax) w/no jalapeño. +Baguette had a crispy exterior and a soft, airy interior: Didn't scratch the roof of my mouth. +Good variety of cold cuts (chả lụa, head cheese, pâté) +Plenty of fresh, crunchy vegetables (cilantro, cucumber, pickled carrots & daikon radish) +Sandwich was split in 1/2, which made it easier to eat. *Verdict: This is now one of my favorite bánh mì! The owner is also kind and patient, and it didn't take too long to receive my order. read more

ilana Coffee - Combination Vietnamese Sandwich w/no jalapeño - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

I tried their attempt at a vietnamese sandwich and I have to say its not so bad. But at almost 9 bucks to be so damn skimp on the ingredients is a rip off. If you're going to give barely any meat and veggies charge less read more

ilana Coffee - This is so skimp. It should be priced at 6 or 7 bucks not 9 dollars - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

I came here to try their lattes . And I'm really disappointed. I mean McDonald's makes better coffee . I don't recommend this place . They are close but I would go farther for better coffee. The service was ok . They are a bit rude . But I do have to say . It was clean . read more

Great local spot just outside of the Richman district. It is on Crescent street. We were looking for a spot to grab lunch in the city and came across this place. It is run by a husband and wife team that makes all of the sandwiches from scratch. This is a coffee shop yes, but with great Vietnamese sandwiches. They have excellent American and Vietnamese coffees, as well. They are very friendly and make excellent sandwiches. Just be patient as I mentioned they are a husband and wife team that work alone. Thank you so much for the great coffee and sandwiches. read more

ilana Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Ilana Coffee is a cozy, neighborhood cafe that serves great drinks and yummy food. This was my first time at Ilana, and I was thoroughly impressed. We ordered the Lemon Bar, Blueberry Cheese Danish, Breakfast Bagel, Cappuccino, and Vietnamese Coffee. Everything we ordered exceeded our expectations. For the Breakfast Bagel, the bagel itself was super soft, not over-toasted or hard. It was perfect. Pricing is very cost-efficient. The service is friendly and welcoming. I will be visiting again very soon! read more

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I read a stellar review on the banh mi sandwiches here, which I thought was odd for a coffee shop, so I had to come try. I was not disappointed. One of the best banh mi sandwiches in town (the other one would be Saigon Sandwich)! I had the combo banh mi and it had the prefect balance of meat and veggies, on fresh bread that didn't cut-up the roof of my mouth. At $8.25, the price was a great deal for San Francisco! The cafe was clean and neat, with friendly service, too. I'll definitely be back! read more

We came here after our hike on a weekend day and it was such a nice day to have lunch here with our dogs at the table outside here. We called to order and the food was ready for pick up in the time we were told. We ordered the bbq chicken and combination banh mis and everyone enjoyed them. The bread was super fresh and very fluffy. Though someone with us did say the proportion of bread to meat was too high. I thought the bread was delicious and loved it. The chicken was very fresh too. The Thai teas and Vietnamese coffees were also great. I liked that I could put soy milk in the Thai tea instead of regular milk. The food and drinks were great here. And I liked that this seemed to be a gathering spot for elderly folks over the weekend. It had a nice vibe. We found street parking pretty easily. And they accept cards/Apple Pay as well. We'd come back! read more

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Solid banh mi for an affordable price (7.54 with tax). The bread is fantastic - crunchy, warm, very fresh. The ingredients have great flavor all together as well, not dry at all with the mayo sauce. I do wish there was a tad more meat for the amount of bread but it's unbeatable at this price. The owners are friendly as well and you can tell it's frequented by locals! read more

ilana Coffee - bbq chicken banh mi - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Favorite hidden gem for the best banh mi on Clement - staff is sooo friendly and prices are cheap! read more

ilana Coffee - BBQ chicken banh mi and Vietnamese iced coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Good food would go again my family usually orders for pickup and it is ready by the time we get there so yeah

This is my go-to for the best chicken banh mi in town. Paired with a Vietnamese coffee, it's great to enjoy at a table out front in the sunshine. The staff are super friendly and service is swift. read more

ilana Coffee - Chicken sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

I am not the best at updating reviews but for ilana Coffee, I will. I will keep it simple because that is what ilana Coffee is, simple yet so good. VEGGIE SANDWICH is STILL my go-to meal after all these years. I found ilana Coffee 7 years ago and till now, I still love it. Do not sleep on the veggie sandwich y'all!!! So simple, yet so fresh and good. ilana Coffee is known for their cheap Banh mi sandwich. You get what you pay for with their Banh mi sandwich and I think that's what people get twisted. For the price you pay for, the banh mi sandwiches are honestly so decent. The service is one of the top-tier services I have experienced. There is nothing like store owners remembering your order. Even after a year of not going here, the owners still remember my exact order. The Vietnamese coffee is one of my favorites as well. Strong coffee flavor and is perfectly sweet. Parking is hit or miss. read more

Want a cheap but quality banh mi paired with a tasty Vietnamese Coffee? Ilana Coffee is the place to go! Their bread? Warm and crunchy (but not crunchy enough to cut the roof of your mouth). Their meats? Overflowing from the bread and juicy with each bite. Their service? The epitome of a small business! Service may be a bit slow from time to time because it's a two women show taking and filling all the orders but they always approach you with a smile and seem extremely grateful for any business they have. The ambiance? Definitely a cute and cozy spot with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. All around, a solid cafe with good coffee and tasty sandwiches. read more

ilana Coffee - Steamed Pork with Pate Banh Mi - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Decent banh mis, AMAZING honeydew drink, and great vibes! Would recommend if you're in the area. read more

ilana Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I ordered 2 Vietnamese coffees here this morning and it was delicious! The lady who helped me was so nice and welcoming! The coffee was STRONG as expected and was just the right level of sweetness. The cafe has outdoor and indoor seating, and very clean. Adding to my list of cafes for when I'm in the area again:) read more

Food - I ordered the combination banh mi and the bread was SOO FREAKING CRISPY! The meat was also really good and overall, the banh mi was satisfying. You also can't beat it for the price! I paid around $6.50 for it! The only thing about the banh mi is that if you look at the pictures, the veggies are all on one side while the meat is on the other side. I'd prefer if the veggies and meat were mixed in together so I can get a bite of everything but it's not a big deal. I did it myself. It's just that when the meat and veggies are so separated, you're literally taking a bite of bread and all veggies and then a bite of bread and all meat. I like a bite with both meat and veggies. Service - super quick and easy to order. They also take apple pay which was a PLUS! Ambiance - pretty small inside with about 3 tables but there's outdoor seating. Really nice interior and felt comfortable. Tables inside were meant for two people only so works for small parties. read more

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Ilana Coffee is my food pilgrimage to San Francisco. It's closer and cheaper than a flight to Vietnam, and will undeniably be visited by me at least twice each trip. My ultimate combo? Steam Pork with Pate Banhmi ($6.95) and Vietnamese Iced Coffee ($4.95 for M, $6.75 for L)! Their Banhmi is generously filled with Vietnamese steamed pork ham, pate, pickled vegetables, cilantro, and jalapenos. Unlike some places where the filling is scant and the proportion of bread to filling is imbalanced, Ilana Coffee ensures a well-rounded bite with each of the ingredients. Their choice of baguette is perfect as well because it has a thin, crispy crust and a pillowy soft crumb; it gives texture without cutting the roof of your mouth. If your spice tolerance is low, consider omitting the jalapenos or removing the seeds yourself because they can pack quite a punch. You can also add an Iced Coffee to neutralize the spice because what's a meal without a drink? The medium size is sufficient for me, though I do get it with less ice. Rich, smooth, creamy, and sweet - it's hard to beat. You'll definitely be energized with that hit of caffeine and condensed milk! I'm so glad my sister stumbled upon Ilana Coffee because it's easy to overlook this mom 'n' pop shop in the Richmond District. The design is fairly simple: there's the kitchen area with display cases of pastries and snacks, as well as the seating area both inside and outside. Although I would love to gatekeep Ilana Coffee, the quality of their banhmi alone is worth travelling for. I have yet to try the rest of the menu beyond the above and the Combination Banhmi ($7.25), but rest assured that there will be many more visits in the future. read more

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Best banh mi I've ever had! Skip the Lee's Sandwiches and def support this small business instead. Came across this mom and pop cafe when I was looking for a breakfast sandwich but decided on trying the banh mi instead. I've been here multiple times for the combination banh mi and it has never disappointed me. I've always received great service and greeted with a smile. The freshly baked bread has a great crunch, pillowy soft on the inside, and won't leave the roof or insides of your mouth scratched up. They are generous with the pâté which is so rich alongside a creamy flavorful mayo/butter spread. They definitely don't skimp on the cold cuts (head cheese and cha lua) and the cilantro and jalapeños are super fresh. Lastly, the daikon and carrots are pickled to perfection and perfectly blend all the flavors together. read more

ilana Coffee - Banh Mi Combination (Vietnamese sandwich) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Stopped by for a banh mi because I heard good things and this is a total gem. The price was very affordable $8.25 and you get a solid, well-balanced sandwich instead of one of those overstuffed monsters. First of all, the bread was fresh. Little pillowy with just the right crunch, but not crunchy to the point it hurts the roof of your mouth. Everything in there was the right amount from the pate/meat to the pickled veggies. Will def come again when I'm craving a banh mi. read more

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Nice little mom and pop shop to get coffee, breakfast sandwiches, and Vietnamese sandwiches. I got the combination sandwich and a Vietnamese iced coffee. It was sooo good! Would definitely recommended eating it fresh cause it's warm. Coffee was strong and flavorful. The shop had both indoor and outdoor seating. Would be better for smaller groups as a e had 10 with us and took up most of the inside. read more

ilana Coffee - Menu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Super nice family cafe Very friendly service I always stop by for a latte Muffins are top notch read more

Possibly some of the best Vietnamese iced coffee in the city. Ilana is a local Richmond District spot on Clement Street in the outer avenues and has typical "bodega fare" like bagels, croissant sandwiches, and yes, coffee. But the real star is the cà phê sữa đá or Vietnamese Iced Coffee. A medium size is just under $5, and a large is almost $7. A little pricey, but the coffee is rich, sweet, and almost chocolatey in decadence. Meters aren't enforced until 9am, so if you can find parking on Clement, Ilana is a perfect spot if you're looking to shake up your morning coffee run! read more

ilana Coffee - Vietnamese Iced Coffee, large size - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Very nice mom/pop coffee place with delicious Vietnamese sandwiches, bread pudding, pastries and great service. Indoor and outdoor (2 tables) sitting. Perfect hangout when we have our pup with us. I usually get the Combo Vietnamese sandwich but I may venture to get some other flavor next time. 4.5 stars. read more

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One of the few places that opens super early! The owner was super nice and made my order quickly. I ordered the Vietnamese sandwich and breakfast bagel. Both of them were delish. Their Vietnamese coffee is super strong! There's lots of indoor seating and a couple tables outside as well. read more

ilana Coffee - Combination Vietnamese Sandwich & Vietnamese Ice Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Nice cafe in a lovely neighborhood. Iv been here a couple of times now and both have been consistently solid. The cashier lady taking orders is super nice. The banh mi sandwiches are flavorful and perfect amount of pâté spread and the meats are fresh. It almost taste housemade like a auntie would make it. The bread is toasty, doesn't cut the top of my mouth. Compared to something else down the street, the price is perfect for the size. 4.5 stars solid. read more

ilana Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Concept: 4/5 It's rather cool that I can order a banh mi with my coffee. Ambiance: 4/5 chill seating. Amenities: 3/5 no WiFi for customers. read more

ilana Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Tucked away in San Francisco, Ilana Coffee is an unassuming breakfast and lunch spot that absolutely delivers on flavor, hospitality, and quality. During a recent trip, I had the pleasure of trying several menu items--and every single one exceeded expectations. I ordered the BBQ chicken banh mi, lox bagel, and egg salad sandwich, and everything was delicious. The banh mi especially blew me away. The bread had that perfect balance--soft inside, just the right crisp on the outside. The veggies were super fresh and crunchy, and the BBQ chicken was packed with flavor. Everything just worked together perfectly. I don't say this lightly: it is the best banh mi I've ever had. The portions were big enough to feel like a real meal, and everything tasted fresh and made with care. Even better, the owner went out of their way to accommodate our big group. We placed large orders over several days, and they even special-ordered bread just for us so everything could be ready in the mornings. That level of service is rare and deeply appreciated. If you're anywhere near San Francisco, definitely check this place out! I'd travel back from my home state just to eat here again. It's that good. read more

Lovely neighborhood cafe and sandwich shop. Stopped in this morning for a bagel with hummus and Vietnamese Iced coffee and am impressed with the service and fair pricing. The coffee packs a punch which is important when you have to be up bright and early for work. I want to come back soon to try their banh mi subs and other sandwiches as well. They have boba too, could smell the tapioca this morning. They have Wi-Fi and plugs which is nice and the seating is comfortable. Wish I had one of these next to my apartment in Tampa. Definitely support this small business if you can in sf! read more

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