I've been to Mommy's Banh Mi while back but but I forgot to take the picture back then. I think I've had the lemon grass chicken and it was spectacular. This time, I went back in because the fried chicken banh mi caught my eye on tiktok, and never have I heard a friend chicken banh mi in the long banh mi history of San Jose. But, I can only imagine it to be good so I had to go check it out. Just as I had thought, immaculate. A chicken sandwich is excellent, so how could it go wrong? But, unlike many fusion food that is fused just because of sake of fusion, without much thought, like a pokemon fusion generator meme where people slap on something weird and think it's unique and funny, here, the combination is transcending. We've known that a pickled vegetable goes well on sandwiches, especially on fried things to balance out the heaviness in fried food with the vinegar and sourness from things like pickles. One solution that fried chicken place often try out is coleslaw which is nice, same concept but vinaigrette and subtle vinegar in mayo usually cannot fight at the same weight class of deep fried meals, going against a raging fire with garden hose. Here, our Vietnamese fighter Do Chua fights at same weight class, no need for pound for pound to bring us the equal match we've been waiting for. A whole new book of revelation in sandwiching, for both the world of chicken sandwich and banh-mi. It brings a water to my mouth thinking about mixture of meaty tender fried chicken, awaken by the do chua, ciantro and the greens, locked in between fresh and baked filling banh mi breads. Oh and whatever they put in their specialty green sauce is the bomb. I just wish they gave me more! The spiral potatoes were also hot, fresh, crunchy on the outside soft and fluf inside. I wonder if the spiral potato wedge thing is slowly becoming like a SJ downtown thing as I'm seeing more and more of it. One of the best Banh mi place, not just in downtown, but in the whole of San Jose, which means that it is the one of the best in the US and the world (aside from Vietnam obviously) read more

Mommy's Banh Mi - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

Review for food only. Had the Fried Chicken Banh Mi, Porchetta Banh Mi and Lemongrass Banh Mi. Ordered through Door Dash. All three sandwiches were pretty good size; almost as long as a full length French baguette. As big and as packed as a good size burrito! All three had the sweet pickled crunchy carrots and daikon radish. Also lined with cucumber slices, and a spread of their signature cilantro aoli which was yummy. There's also thin layer of chutney like sweet caramelized onion. The aoli tasted like it had mayo as base ingredient. Bread was crunchy on the outside but soft inside. Had the jalapeno on the side. 1. Fried Chicken Banh Mi - this is like having a chicken katsu sandwich Vietnamese style vs Japanese. It has thinly sliced dark meat chicken coated with panko type breadcrumbs fried to golden crispy. Looked like it was going to be dry becaue meat was thin but it was not dry at all. All the veggies especially the cilantro worked really well with the fried chicken. Enjoyed this one a lot. Ate the entire sandwich before I remembered to take a photo. Good meat to veggie and bun ratio. 2. Pochetta Banh Mi - thin slices of grilled pork belly with the same veggie additions as above. This meat's flavor note was mild garlic and pepper. Mostly leaner slices of pork. You get layers of flavor: garlic and pepper from the meat; sweet, vinegary tart from the cucumber, carrots & daikon; and herby taste from the fresh cilantro and the aioli. My #2 of the 3 sandwiches. Lemongrass Chicken Banh Mi - mild citrus flavor from the lemongrass. This sandwich's ingredients have the most similar flavor to each other so even though lemongrass has a stronger flavor this sandwich is not as memeorable as the others because it was not as complex. Overall very good sandwiches with good meat to veggie proportion. Reasonably priced for the serving portion and how many ingredients they offer. read more

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Always a favorite and if you haven't gone - this is a must try for you. I usually get the Bahn Mi Sandwich... but this time I got the Medallion Vermicelli Noodle Bowl and it was amazing! (Pork lemongrass patties served with Rice-vermicelli Noodles, spring mix, crispy fried onions, green onion scallion oil, cucumbers sweet pickled carrots & daikons, cilantro, jalapeños, sweet and savory vegan Vietnamese "fish" sauce. Complimentary 1 oz. side of Green Sauce (our signature cilantro aioli). The only thing I would have liked is more of the Vietnamese "fish" sauce - they give you one little container which, in my opinion, is not enough. And be sure to dip the Medallions in the green sauce... super yummy! It is a small place with limited seating, but take away is just as good! Street parking is in the surrounding area... and a parking garage across the street. The staff.... ALL super friendly and helpful. I always feel like they treat me like family - it is very nice. Would I go back? Yes, always!! read more

Second time stopping by here, and I love it! Their Bahn mi, and vermicelli are delicious. I've ordered the lemon grass chicken and porchetta Bahn mi. The bread is perfectly cooked, the cilantro, jalapeños, pate, pickled carrots and daikon go so well with the meat. It's just so fresh. Their in house green sauce is still phenomenal, you definitely need to order extra. The porchetta Bahn mi is 10/10 the best Bahn mi I've ever had. Their vermicelli bowl portions are insane, packed with lots of meat. Their twirly fries are yummy as well. The Vietnamese coffee here is pretty strong but it tastes delicious. There's staff are quick and sweet. There's a good amount of seating inside. If you're in the area, this is a must. I have never had a bahn mi that's better than the porchetta here and I continually rave to people about this place. read more

Mommy's Banh Mi - Porchetta Bánh Mì - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

The Vietnamese iced Coffee $6 is very good; it's not as strong as other places, but it has good flavor complexity. read more

Mommy's Banh Mi - Vietnamese Coffee $6 - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

Food: tried their vegan vermicelli bowl and it was absolutely delicious! I'll like to again and try more of their vegetarian items Service: great, super sweet folks! Ambiance: super chill! read more

Mommy's Banh Mi - Vegan Vermicelli Noodle Bowl - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

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Tried Mommy's Bánh Mì for a Saturday lunch, and it was a great experience. The place is small but very cute, with easy parking nearby. We ordered the BBQ Lemongrass Chicken Bánh Mì, Fried Chicken Bánh Mì, Twirly Fries, Thai Tea, and Vietnamese Coffee. The food took a little while to come out, but it was worth the wait. Both bánh mìs were excellent. The lemongrass chicken was flavorful, the fried chicken was juicy and crispy, and all the fresh veggies added the perfect crunch. The cilantro aioli was incredible and took the sandwiches to the next level. The twirly fries were crispy and delicious. The Vietnamese coffee was outstanding, while the Thai tea was just okay. Service was warm and welcoming. The guy who took our order patiently answered all our questions and even came back later to ask for feedback. Overall, a fantastic meal. We'll definitely be back to try more of the menu! read more

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Out of this world!!! Not sure if the lemongrass chicken or pork medallion was better. Both so flavorful and juicy! Cilantro aioli took the food to the next level. Loved my meal here definitely a gem in the neighborhood! Large portions and alot of meat. read more

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This is one of the best banh mi's in the South Bay! Ordered the porchetta banh mi and the medallion banh mi. Both were delicious, but the medallion banh mi was my favorite. The pork lemongrass patties had a juicy, bouncy texture and were flavorful. The green sauce brought everything together and added a creamy, rich, vibrant flavor to the sandwich. I'm not sure if they have their own parking lot, but there's a parking garage across the street along with metered parking nearby. I placed an order ahead, so the metered parking was perfect for a pickup. read more

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I order doordash from here all the time, it's become my go-to. The lemon grass stuff is great, but for me the thing that separates this from other good banh mi places is the value of buying the wings with fries. That green sauce they give you is SO GOOD, and the oil on the wings tastes amazing. I'd highly recommend the wings and fries, the pork medallion, and lemongrass chicken! read more

If you're craving a solid bánh mì in San Jose, Mommy's Banh Mi is definitely worth a stop. This spot keeps it simple but delivers where it counts. The bread is perfectly toasted--crispy on the outside with that soft, airy inside that makes a great bánh mì. The fillings are fresh and well-balanced, especially the grilled pork which is flavorful without being overpowering. The pickled veggies add just the right tang, and the cilantro and jalapeños bring everything together. Service is quick and friendly, making it an easy grab-and-go option. Prices are reasonable too, especially for the quality and portion size you get. The inside is nice and gives out that great vibe of chill and relaxing mode while enjoying that tasty and delicious bahn mi sandwich. Great ambiance. read more

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One of the best bánh mì spots in the Bay Area. I absolutely love the sandwiches, and a colleague always orders one of their bowls. There's usually a wait during rush hour, but the food is well worth it. The atmosphere is casual and unpretentious, just great food done right. If you haven't tried it yet, you're missing out. They take a humble bánh mì and add their own special touch. Every bite is packed with flavor, and it's one of those meals that leaves you craving another sandwich before you've even finished the first. read more

I recently tried the vegetarian Banh Mi at Mommy Banh Mi, and overall it was a refreshing experience. The filling really stood out as it felt light, fresh, and packed with crisp veggies, almost like eating a fresh veggie roll in sandwich form. The balance of ingredients made it enjoyable and not too heavy. That said, the bread was a bit of a letdown. It was quite tough and harder to chew than expected, which took away from the overall experience. I'm not sure if it was just an off day, but a softer, crispier baguette would have made a big difference. Overall, great flavors in the filling, but the bread could definitely be improved. I tried vegetarian Banh Mi. And yeah Cilantro alio sauce was too goood.!! read more

Mommy's Banh Mi - Vegetarian Banh Mi - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

Ordered online ahead of time and picked up during my lunch break. Order was ready and made on time . Walked inside of Mommy's and saw that the restaurant was clean and also full of customers! A good sign. Quality of my sandwich was on point! Ordered the bbq lemongrass chicken with paté. The cilantro sauce was a wonderful complement to the bahn mi. Passion fruit iced tea was crisp , not overly sweet and refreshing. I'll definitely come back and try some of their other food! read more

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Updated Review: By far the best Banh Mi and bowls in the Bay Area! If you haven't tried them out, I highly recommend you do. Also, their green sauce is to die for! Don't forget to get extras. The staff members are also extremely nice and helpful. read more

Mommy's Banh Mi - Shredded Chicken Vermicelli Noodle Bowl - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

I had the pork medallion banh mi $14. Wow. This baby is packed with flavor. It reminded me a pork meatball banh mi I had in PDX at a place called Lardo. This thing was amazing. Very well seasoned and tasty. I think I've found my new banh mi plug. Service was quick and the interior is no frills and clean. read more

Mommy's Banh Mi - Efficient operation! - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

This spot has become my go to lunch spot on my office days and on occasion take home dinner. I have not eaten at this location, but have ordered from Doordash several times and had it delivered to my work. Always there within 20 minutes, no matter what time I order it. I've had the Bbq lemonsgrass chicken banh Mi, always with extra sauce and I recently tried the Bbq Lemongrass salad and it's just as good. read more

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I got the lemongrass chicken banh mi and it tasted pretty authentic. The bread was crispy the way a good banh mi baguette should be -- that satisfying crackle when you bite in -- and the lemongrass flavor on the chicken was solid, not weak or drowned out. Everything tasted fresh too, which makes all the difference with banh mi. When the ingredients are fresh and the bread is crispy, you can tell they care about doing it right. The menu is small with just a few items, but I'd rather have a short menu done well than a long one done so-so. And the service was great and friendly! One heads up: parking sucks. It's right in downtown San Jose, so it's all paid parking and hard to find. There is a parking lot across the street, but that's paid too. Just budget a little extra time (and a few dollars) for parking. Overall, a legit banh mi spot. read more

Porchetta banh mi: 5/5. Cilantro aioli: 5/5. Lemongrass chicken banh mi: 4/5. Twisty fries: 4/5. Vietnamese coffee: 4/5, a tad sweet. read more

My son brought me here for lunch. I had never heard of it. But judging from the line at the door and the constant traffic while we were eating our lunch, plenty of people HAVE heard of it. We shared the Porchetta Banh Mi and the Lemongrass Chicken Banh Mi along with some Twirly fries. Both of the sandwiches were outstanding with incredibly vibrant flavors and fresh tasting ingredients. The fries were great too. The seating inside is a bit cramped. The workers there are friendly and helpful. It's not hard to see why this place is so popular. I am looking forward to coming back here to try more items on their menu. Great spot! read more

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Food: - The lemongrass chicken Bánh mi was amazing, super flavorful and filling - 10/10 Service: - Super friendly wait staff - 10/10 Ambiance: - Lunch rush is insane here so I do recommend ordering beforehand - Also limited seating because of the rush + the place is kind of small - Nice and well kept place however - 7/10 read more

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Believe the hype! Visit and (patiently) wait in line to order their lemongrass chicken and Medallion. Those were the family favorites! My husband said it was the most delicious banh mi he's had, and that's saying a LOT since we've got some pretty amazing spots here in San Jose. read more

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I'm not going to lie, at first I thought $12.95 for a Banh Mi sandwich was too much. After eating my Banh Mi sandwich, I definitely will be back. We all got the BBQ Lemongrass Chicken Banh Mi. The bread was soft, but crusty, how it should be. The vegetables were thinly sliced. The flavors were balanced, and the green sauce (cilantro aioli) was bomb. The staff greets you as soon as you enter, and the counter staff were very happy & friendly while taking our order. The vibe here is relaxed and inviting. A very clean and well taken care of establishment. I would guarantee you will come to the same conclusion, if you visit here. read more

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Had lunch here on a Saturday. It's a counter service spot, so you order at the counter and then find your table. Service is quick and friendly. We got the pork Medallion Banh Mi and the Twirly Fries. The banh mi was very tasty, and I'd say you definitely need their green sauce with it (the cilantro aioli, they give it to you on the side). My bread was a little on the dryer side, but still good. The pickled veggies and pork medallions on the sandwich were spot on. The sandwich is pretty sizable, so if you're not a big eater, splitting this with the twirly fries makes it a very affordable meal for two. Twirly fries were seasoned well, and a great addition. I do miss not having the option of ordering head cheese with my sandwich, tho, as that's not on the menu. If you enjoy the taste of the head cheese and pate, maybe adding extra pate to the sandwich will help, as that is an option. Might need to try that next time! read more

Mommy's Banh Mi - Medallion Banh Mi - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

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The pork banh mi was delicious! The cashier was also very professional and if you pay in cash, there's a discount. I was able to get a seat inside and they also have outside seating. Seems to get busy around lunchtime. The price was very reasonable and I'm used to paying a lot more. read more

I always park in the San Pedro parking garage and always pass by this place, wanting to try it, but never did until now. I regret all the times I passed by and didn't order anything all these times because it's so good! I love how different their menu is, the workers are actually nice and considerate, the place has a decent about of tables, they do offer complimentary 1 oz green sauce but just make sure to let them know, water station is available self served. I split a banh mi with my cousin. We ordered the lemon grass bbq chicken banh mi and the porchetta pork banh mi. It's really flavorful, bread doesn't cut the roof of your mouth which is always a plus. My other cousins is vegan so they ordered a vegan banh mi and vermicelli bowl. The vermicelli bowl looks realllllly good and I want to try it out next time! For someone that loves banh mi, this place will be my go to in San Jose read more

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If you're looking for a banh mi with a twist, look no further than Mommy's Banh Mi! With so many banh mi shops in and around San Jose, I was excited to see some unique options like the fried chicken and porchetta banh mi. They also offer some traditional ones like lemongrass chicken and pork. I ended up trying both the porchetta and lemongrass chicken. While both were good, it was the more traditional chicken one that was the winner for me. I'd be interested to come back and try some of the other meats and one of the bowls. Sandwiches are a little more expensive than some other spots in SJ, but not over the top. They have a prime location in DTSJ near San Pedro Square Market, and it is a nicer more trendy spot than most to-go only shops you find. Service was great, they greeted everyone that walked in, as soon as they walked in, and were happy to chat over the menu and give some recs. Metered street parking available in front of the shop and in the garage across the street. read more

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I feel like it's rare to see a more modern take on Viet food, so this was refreshing! I tried the lemongrass chicken vermicelli bowl, the porchetta bánh mì, and the viet iced coffee--and everything was impressive. Portions were very generous; the vermicelli bowl in particular came with an insane amount of chicken. LOVED the cilantro aioli (even my bf who is the biggest cilantro hater didn't mind it) and the vegan fish sauce was so full of flavor that you'd never know it was vegan. The porchetta (Italian pork belly) offered a wonderful soft, rich contrast to the crisp baguette and fresh, crunchy vegetables. My only wish is that the dishes were served a bit hotter in temperature, but the flavors and textures were excellent overall. read more

Mommy's Banh Mi - Mommy - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

Got a Banh Mi fried chicken sandwich and BBQ chicken lemongrass vermicelli bowl. I thought both were kind of dry. The noodles were stuck together. I asked for no jalepeno on the GrubHub app and they ignored it. The side dressing was also too spicy. Overall it was ok but there are better places like Vietnoms. read more

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Was on Tully Road in SJ and could not find a vermicelli or banh mi spot! Mommy's seemed to be the closest option, only gotcha is the parking meter Got the lemongrass chicken vermicelli bowl, and my buddy got the wings and a beer. Food was good read more

Had been on my bookmarks for a while. 5/5 Lemongrass chicken banh mi! Quite flavorful and also filling in terms of the amount of chicken. I'd say good value for money! As other reviews have indicated, definitely get that extra cilantro aioli sauce. I did and one extra 0.30 sauce was just about right! I parked in the garage right opposite (free 90 minute parking). read more

Mommy's Banh Mi - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

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First time visiting and it won't be the last. Can definitely see why it's always busy during the day. Everything was really fresh and the employees are on top of the cleanliness of the tables, floors, etc. Definitely try the lemon grass chicken banh mi, it is so good! And the green sauce they give on the side is beyond delicious! Got the Thai tea, which was the perfect amount of sweet. read more

They had me at green sauce. Parking (5/5): I lucked out with street parking right in front of the shop, but there are also a few nearby lots that offer free parking for the first 90 minutes. Ambiance (4/5): A casual space that works for both solo diners and groups. The walls are pretty minimal, but the hanging ceiling lights brighten things up nicely. Service (5/5): Fast, friendly, and efficient. Food (5/5): We overheard the cashier say they ran out of bánh mì two customers ahead of us... NOOOOO . Since we were already there, we opted for their bowls instead--same proteins, served over vermicelli noodles or rice. We got the fried chicken and lemongrass chicken vermicelli bowls, which come with a fresh spring mix, pickled carrots and daikon, fish sauce, and the star of the show: a 1 oz green sauce. Vietnamese restaurants sometimes make their fish sauce a bit too sweet for my taste, but this one was perfectly balanced. The pickled carrots and daikon had a great tang that I absolutely loved. Overall: A really satisfying and filling meal. The vermicelli was great, but I'll definitely be back for the bánh mì--next time, I'll just go earlier to make sure I get one. read more

Wow probably one of the best banh mi's I've ever had. For starters, I ordered online and their estimated time was very accurate and easy to pick up. Staff was friendly and there is a good amount of seating available for how small the space is. The sandwich itself had so much flavor and the veggies were fresh and crunchy. I LOVED the green sauce that it came with. It really made the sandwich extra tasty. But it is amazing on its own. The baguettes taste like they are freshly baked everyday. I hate when they are too crunchy because I end up cutting the roof of my mouth. This baguette didn't do that. Great place to grab lunch if you work in the area. In terms of parking that might be tricky. There is a paid parking lot nearby and street parking available! read more

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This restaurant is in the location where back a yard used to be on Market. A pro tip is you can avoid paying for parking by parking in the parking garage across the street at those times when the first 90 minutes are free. Check online for those times. My wife had the vegetarian banh mi and I had the chicken banh mi. A nice thing about this place is that the "fish sauce" is actually not fish sauce but a condiment that is vegetarian friendly, but always ask in advance. You never know if this might change. To order you get in line and order at the counter. There are menus posted along the wall so you can plan your selection. You seat yourself at any of the many tables and your order is brought to table. Ours was to go so they gave us a pager and we sat in our car until the Pager went off. My wife really gave a good review of the vegetarian sandwich which has tofu in it. My chicken sandwich was also pretty good and filling. No pictures this time because we just had to eat and go read more

I love a Banh Mi place that has veggie friendly options. The rice bowl was good and fresh and packed with flavor, but the meat substitute was lacking in flavor and texture. It was more like soggy tofu. I do appreciate they have a vegan fish sauce though, as that is often overlooked in most Vietnamese restaurants when offering a veg option. They do have a great drink selection, including a banana matcha that was great. Good seating inside and easy parking in the deck across the street that had free parking for 2 hours. read more

Mommy's Banh Mi - Vegan Rice Bowl - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

I was honestly pretty impressed with the medallion (pork) banh mi at Mommy's Banh Mi. I ordered during lunchtime on a weekday. It took about 15 minutes for the food to be ready, but it was definitely worth the wait. I feel like the meat was seasoned and cooked well, and the portion size was pretty good too. Will definitely be back again! read more

Mommy's Banh Mi - Medallion Banh Mi - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

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Came here recently with my husband, we both agree one of the best banh mi in SJ! Ingredients all fresh, meats well seasoned, and bread equally as soft as it's crispy. I got the lemongrass chicken, I thought the green sauce complimented it great. Also grabbed the medallion bowl with vermicelli noodles. Large portions and fair for the price in the area. The twirly fries were also good, tried them but probably wouldn't order again. The staff seemed upbeat and friendly, and the food came out quickly. Small spot with limited seating, but they had a sign that said there was a back patio. Will have to check it out next time! Tables were clean and staff were quick to wipe down tables as people left. We were able to split that order between two people and have plenty extra to take home! read more

Mommy's Banh Mi - BBQ Lemongrass Chicken Banh Mi Medallion Vermicelli Noodle Bowl Twirly Fries - Vietnamese Near Me - San Jose, California

As soon as you come through the door, the entire front facing staff greets you. Everyone is soo friendly and full of smiles. The place is decorated tastefully and has good vibes. The food hit soo many notes in my mouth..delish!! read more

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This is a very good lunch spot to go to! This is unusual Vietnamese restaurant to go to, because they don't normally serve Vietnamese ingredients in rice bowls or vermicelli. However, they also serve bahn mi. So basically, they listed all the meats and other main ingredients, but you can either put them in a sandwich or a rice bowl. I decided to get a rice bowl since I usually their ingredients in a sandwich. They're really big though and can fill you up. I actually eat those circle green things (don't know what they're called) and it's so spicy that I couldn't really eat for 10 minutes. Good thing that it went away though. The lemongrass chicken is very tasty especially with the sauces that come with it. The ingredients they use to make rice bowls is how you usually get a rice plate from a typical Vietnamese restaurant. It's like they to smush everything into a bowl rather than making space for the ingredients. Also, the Vietnamese iced coffee was very sweet! They also have a patio outside, but it's very small though. Perhaps in my opinion that it's better to stay indoors unless the temperature is very bad compared to outside. If you decide to pay with cash, you get a very slight discount! The bahn mis here is very expensive ($12.95) compared to most Vietnamese sandwiches (usually under $9), but I would still try the next time I come here. read more

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