I have recently been eating at Saigon express and I have to say there is a CHANGE in the taste! The banh mi sandwiches are now more tastier than ever. The grilled beef sandwich was a 10/10 AND it was under $5.00. Fresh pickled vegetables, grilled beef, and the jalapeños hit my taste buds 100%. I also ordered the beef/shrimp vermicelli noodles with egg rolls and it was absolutely delicious. I simply added chili paste into the fish sauce and poured all of it into the bowl and mixed it up. Mildly spicy, flavorful, and crispy! Beer. There is nowhere in Berkeley that sells beer for $3.50. Blue moon. Stella Artois. Modelo, Corona, and IPA lag. I downed 2 blue moons, 1 banh mi, and a whole bowl of delicious vermicelli. Tasty cheap food + cheap beer Nothing can beat this. read more

Amazing prices for big dishes. After coming from school I would either get a banh mi or pho and just devour the whole thing... Twas the best comfort food. The dishes come out fast and hot. It might not be the most flavor intense food ever but I am still satisfied every time I leave. read more

Love the broth when you get their Pho! Have yet to try anything else but the Chicken Pho is fuckin' bomb! If you haven't been here definitely recommend trying it out! read more

Meh, cheap and fast, but flavor is just fine. Lettuce tasted like soap. read more

New favorite pho place since the one on University closed over a year ago. Fast, well priced, and nice people behind the counter. They also don't take shit from anyone, including the Cal kids. My kind of people. I usually get the pho. Their vermicelli noodle bowls are good, but the pho is better. Need it to go? That's fine--they'll keep the noodles and broth separate for you. Close to BART, fresh ingredients. What more do you need? The good: om noms. Cheap-ish. The bad: the space is a little dingy, but whatever. read more

I love this place! they're super cheap, super fast, and super nice. I always stop by here on my way home if I want a good meal, cheap price. Once before I was even able to finish paying, they had already made my banh mi. I've also had buon, their eggrolls and their thai tea and loved them just the same. probably will frequent here for as long as I'm in the area. and who doesn't love helping mom n pop shops? read more

This place has great pho. The man that owns the place is very nice and polite. Family business.

Really good ban mi and okay shrimp rolls, both at a very reasonable price!! Def recommend

Pretty average banh mi and the entrée dishes are pretty average as well. If your looking for a cheap Vietnamese food fix then this is fine, but if you have a couple extra bucks there are much better options. read more

TLDR: Cheap food,ridiculously fast service, lot's of options. Berkeley is always a great place to find restaurants with good value, and this place was no different. We dropped by here because we wanted pho and this was the closest place. It was raining and there was a line out the door for takeout. Even though the line was long, the ordering process was moving so quickly that I only able to glance at the menu a few times before they got to me. Luckily, we get pho a lot and I have a pretty good idea of what to get so I found my order right away. When I told them I was getting eat-in I was pulled out of the line and seated immediately, they asked me if I wanted them to call my order right away or wait for my bf (he was coming from a different place and was behind a few minutes.) Thinking that I would have a couple of minutes between placing my order and the food being ready, I told them to place it. The food literally arrived before I could pull out my phone to tell my bf that I had ordered for us already. I skimmed through a menu after I got my food because I wanted to see what other options they had for the next time I go there. They had more choices than some of the other places I've gone to (and not just variations of the same dish). I didn't even see the $4 Banh Mis on my first glance! Definitely interested in going back to try some of the other dishes. read more

Matt doesn't know that the city of Berkeley in finding at least a decent restaurant to "get his grub on!" is a bit of a challenging task. Inside his heart and mind, they say "Get lost, and go home!" But he needed to try another one of UC Berkeley popular spots for lunch. This corner Vietnamese Deli/bakery makes assorted items including the famous Vietnamese Banh Mi sandwich. Matt took a chance and bought the Pork Banh Mi. The $3.00 sandwich had slice-up pork, cilantro, Julienned carrots and daikon compressed in a Kaiser-roll. The meat in the sandwich was bland and not too tasty. Matt also had the $2.50 Iced Vietnamese Coffee and the drink was very thin in flavor. Oh my god! The Saigon Express of Berkeley is definitely not Saigon Sandwiches in beloved San Francisco's Tenderloin. Sadly, finding a decent restaurant must continue. read more

Actual rating 3.5. VENUE: Located in Downtown Berkeley on Shattuck, close to campus. One of the biggest deterrents is the parking, but this can be said for any other establishment near Cal. SERVICE: It's one of the more unusual restaurants serving pho as it's the only place that I know that serves pho that you order at the counter. They also serve banh mis and two-item combos with rice. Yet the ladies at the counter are quite nice and the servers are quite efficient bringing two bowls very quickly. It's also one of the fastest times I've observed pho brought over. Pho itself is average (didn't even take a pic) but sometimes when you're sick/stressed or just get a pho craving this bowl can do the job. For ~$7 I got a bowl with more meat than vegetables and a decent (though slightly on the watery side) broth that can be improved upon with a lime wedge spritz and basil. Their plate of sides was a bit underwhelming. Like the Yelp description for 3 stars, "A-OK". It's the perfect one sentence description for this place just for the simple execution of Vietnamese pho. Don't let my rating stop you as sometimes all you need is just a simple meal without hassle. read more

Service is 5 stars Food is from 2-4 stars: Mr Rinky's veg Bahn Mi was not very good. Low quality bread. Veggies okay 3 stars Veggie Imperial Rolls were good but way too greasy---2 stars Veggie birds nest--4 stars Fresh veggies (carrot, broccoli, celery, cabbage and other veggies ) sautéed and served over a "nest" of fried noodles (which were not greasy). I liked this dish a lot. Lots of menu choices including a steam table filled with selections. They also have fresh rolls, which I remember liking in the past. I think the operative word is "Express." Quick, affordable food fir students and others wanting a quick bite. read more

Not great. Not terrible. Good service. Food hits the spot. It's occasionally hit or miss, but usually of decent quality. I just went back after many years and it's the same as it was before. Truly a 3 star "A-OK" experience. read more

4 stars simply for selling banh mis under $3.50 and for being close to Bart and campus. The banh mis aren't mind-blowing and the quality fluctuates but they always do the job. If you're a starving student or just want a sandwich under fifteen dollars, forking over a few bucks at Saigon Express is a no brainer. It's almost offensive that people will spend just as much (if not twice as much) on boba/tea/coffee when you can get a complete meal-veggies, meat, sauces and herbs all wrapped up in a bready bun-for such a dealio. Don't drink your foods, people. read more

Good prices, good food, kind of slow service. The sandwiches are an excellent value and very tasty. Need a cheap $3 lunch? Here it is. read more

No cilantro or chive in a vermicelli bowl. Wow thats a new one for me. read more

Oh, college kids, heed my words. If you think a Tylenol and some Gatorade is the solution to your hangover, you've never had good pho. And Saigon Express has the real shit. It's hot, meaty and delicious, just like what you were probably doing last night. For real, son, this is the quality jank, for not much money. And their Vietnamese sandwiches are off the chain. Idk what's going on with the food they have chilling in the pans up front, don't even bother, jump on the soup, that is where it's at. They're also sweet as hell up in here, if customer service is a thing you might care about. read more

I have never before experianced such a poor representation of pho. The broth is oily and bland.

Screw the pho here, its so bad! Just walk two streets down to Pho Hoa & you'll be much happier. However, if you're craving banh mi, Saigon Express is going to be your buddy. If all of their sandwiches came with the requisite pate, they would be much improved. My favorite sandwich is the combination, which comes with authentic Vietnamese shiet, like pate, "meat pie" & cha (Vietnamese ham). They're about $3 & I think is a pretty good deal for a lunch in downtown. Nonetheless, from one sad Vietnamese girl who misses $1.25 supermarket banh mi from Sacramento, this place manages to get props for their sandwiches. read more

There is a soft spot in my heart for Saigon Express. I love the owners and the people who work there and not to mention their great pate sandwiches. Yes, I think I'm the only person who orders just a plain pate sandwich. This is my spot for when I'm craving pate sandwiches and pho because a lot of Vietnamese sandwiches in the area do not serve both. I have to say that their food did improve. Perhaps they got a new chef? I highly recommend this restaurant for their banh mi sandwiches. They range from $2.99 -$3.50. Well worth the price of a meal. Not to mention their vermicelli salad bowls are quite good as well. I usually go with the grilled beef. Come here with your friends or family if you're by Downtown Berkeley for tasty, cheap, Viet food. The people are great, although the background music reminds me of 80s karaoke instrumentals. 4 stars because of their great service. I believe they also do a lunch special so it gets packed during lunch. Try it out! Their hours change in the evenings though depending on how busy the place gets so they usually close by 9 even though the sign says 9:30. Also they are closed on Sundays. PATE SANDWICH :) read more

Yelpers I'm disappointed in the lack of love for Saigon Express. I am Vietnamese, and while I am sometimes a Vietnamese food snob, my mom is a lot worse worse. Saigon Express is of the few places I feel comfortable bringing my mother. This one of the most authentic Vietnamese places I've been to. Food is great. The meat is always high quality. This isn't a fancy restaurant, but If you're looking for authentic Vietnamese food for a value, this is a great place to go. Saigon Express is one of my favorite Vietnamese places of all time. The restaurant is run by a Vietnamese family and they've had it for years. Very nice people and I feel good coming here and supporting them. I eat at Saigon Express whenever I'm in town, and I'm never disappointed by the food or service. Pros: The food at great prices Quick service All the Vietnamese "fixins" They don't "skimp" on the food. You feel satisfied after every meal. Cons: Ambiance: It's humble, but don't be fooled by what the restaurant looks like on the outside. read more

I love their banh mi sandwiches! ^_^ They have a consistent afternoon line (starting 12pm) that goes out the door, so if you're hungry seat yourself and ask for a menu and they will get you your food without you having to wait in line. Pros: -Food comes out fast -Friendly lady! Awesome service -Restrooms are available -Cheap and tasty sandwhiches -Portion/Pricing ratio is well met Cons -From time to time the pho can be a little too greasy for me read more

I bought a sandwich and three spring rolls. The sandwich was little, but they were enough for me with three spring rolls for a dinner. The sandwich was good but I don't like the sauce for the spring rolls. Overall it is a cheap place to have a quick bite and to take away. I would consider to replace McDonald's with these combinations sometimes. read more

I get to Berkeley about twice a year and always get by a at least one meal. Banh might is great, love the clay pots. All the food is good. Very basic decor, family run. Friendly folks. read more

There aren't too terribly many Vietnamese places in Berkeley, so I was disappointed that this wasn't better. The food sitting in the warming dishes was basically crap. There's no way I'll go here again when People's (on the same block) makes good sandwiches, and any number of little Chinese places can match/beat them for quality in similar items. The bathroom wasn't filthy filthy, but it could stand a cleaning. read more

Guys, let's be real here. This place has some of the best tasting, cheapest food around campus. Where else can I get a banh mi for $3-4? The prices are so ridiculously good that I can overlook the small lapses in flavor and ambiance. I'll probably continue going to this place when I have a sudden, crazy craving for a banh mi or other Vietnamese food. read more

I can't say I'm a fan of this place really, since the only thing I ever bought here were sandwiches. And every banh-mi lover knows that the South Bay reigns supreme in quantity of locations, cheapness, and quality of these tubular toasts. But let's be realistic in this scenario: I'm in Berkeley, I don't have a car, and I'm craving for a crunch of torpedo rolls. You gonna tell me to honk down to San Jose instead? Don't think so. Are Saigon Express' sandwiches really that good? Well, they sold out one day before 5:30pm. One normal, quiet night a few days after Christmas. That should tell you something. They also have the coveted headcheese sandwich (or, I guess, "ham" or "pork"), which for some reason is a rarity outside the South Bay. Hmm? Oh, I guess their other offerings are okay. Shrimp rolls were kinda meh. Never had anything else from here. Maybe they should just do sandwiches. They would be rolling in dough. read more

Worth going in for a quick snack if you're passing by, maybe on your way back to the apt from BART. It's tough to find parking on Shattuck. ++ | Chicken Bahn Mi (Vietnamese Sandwich) | BEST vietnamese chicken sandwich. Toasty roll, a juicy piece of chicken thigh, pickled veggies full of flavor, & a few pieces of jalapeno to watch out for. The only note is that you have to eat this quickly; the baguette isn't made fresh on site, so it'll get brittle if it cools too much. -- Pho Not their forte. Stick w/the sandwiches. Cheap quick snack! $2.75 Bahn Mi (made to order) read more

Order the clay pot they recommended, very unappetizing. Service is terrible, don't go here, there are other good Vietnamese restaurants at Berkeley. read more

I've been a SE customer for 14 years. The folks behind the counter, they know me and I know them. Once I left my wallet there and came back 2 years later, they had kept it for me behind the counter, bless them. My faves are the noodle bowl and tofu spring rolls. Satisfying in hot or cold weather. I've never had food poisoning in all the years I've been eating there. Don't drink the Vietnamese coffee past 5 pm, though, or You Will Be Up All Night. I tend to agree that the 2-item plates are not that great--on the greasy side with a dollop of white rice. The Pho is pretty good, maybe a touch bland. I just like the rolls and the noodle bowls. It's always clean and well-lit with a healthy gathering of UCB students & staff in the back, so they're doing something right. read more

Visit it today as my new job is in downtown Berkeley and I love Pho. To be honest, Pho is below average compared to Vietnamese restaurants in the south bay. Will try something else next time. read more

Honestly this place is seriously underrated. There are very FEW vietnamese places in Berkeley that will provide you with the food and service that they do here. ITs not out of this world amazing and went a little downhill after the change of management but it is still the best in Berkeley. Their pho, spicy beef broth, and bo luc lac are some of my favorite eats in Berkeley. I also highly recommend their ban mi's if you are looking for a quick cheap and delicious eat! I know there are greater places in Oakland but if you cant get there, this is the place to get yor vietnamese fix. read more

This place is awesome! I work down the street and have brought multiple co workers to this place and they all love it! Usually call for take out, they're always quick with food prep and so friendly. I've even come after closing once (unknowingly) while staff was cleaning up the kitchen - I believe him to be the owner, still asked what I wanted and prepared my spicy tofu on the spot! Try the spicy tofu! You won't regret it, I'm not even a tofu lover to say the least and it's my go to. read more

I had started a review for this with a good score but I have to change it due to a pick up order last week. On a night in their closing hour, when I went to get some bahn mi sandwiches with my friends, the two chicken ones that we ordered both had raw chicken in them. Noticed too late because we took them to go. I had ordered the fishcake one for myself but it just wasn't that tasty. The other few experiences I've been were good, fair prices and the food was decently good. I've had a pho dish, the sandwiches prior to this night, and the moon crepe. These are all during the lunch hour on a weekday. The raw food accident was done on a weekday around 1/2 hour before close. I understand its near close, but you still shouldn't let raw meat pass by. If its too late for quality service, just close earlier... I would have appreciated it more if they just said they couldn't make it any more for the day. read more

Today I ordered rare beef pho and veggie tofu pho for my mom. I ate all mines and my mom took hers home and sent me these photos. I got 7.00 back for my mom but it is still not enough if you have cockroaches in your food. read more

Saigon Express - Vietnamese Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

Hi, my name is Jessica and I am an addict. A pork bahn mi addict that is! I usually hit up Saigon Express after a grueling gym session in Berkeley. It's my carbtastic reward for a job or jog well done. You can't beat the prices. I only get the bahn mi - I've tried the combo and the bbq pork -- both satisfied my needs. I can't comment on the rest of the menu but I would like to try their salads. It's a small, family run corner joint with fast food and a no frills menu. You can sit inside if you want but I usually get my goods to go. They don't go too heavy on the spread or veggies, so ask for more if you want a heartier sammy. They do not however, skimp on the spice! read more

Come here for banh mi, but nothing more. -------- Food: Out of four possible stars: two stars. With how many Vietnamese restaurants there are in Berkeley, most everything Saigon Express has is not good enough to distinguish itself from the pack. The two item rice dishes don't really give much in regards to the items. The pho broth is not rich, and the noodles are often overdone. But the banh mi are a complete opposite. Fresh bread, fresh meat, crisp vegetables, and sharp kick from the peppers. For the price (2.50-3.50), they are a bargain as well. A bargain worth two stars. -------- Miscellaneous: Out of one possible star: zero stars. The restaurant is dirty and not very well laid out. The entrance way is narrow and right next to a food counter, so it is often cramped. On top of that, there is just that general feel of Berkeley filth. read more

Claypot combo review time!!:) So I always avoided this restaurant when I was going to Cal because I thought it was kind of shady/janky from the outside and sometimes there were flies right by the door. Yes, there were a few when I went last night for dinner and the sit-down area by the kitchen has no ambiance, but the area above that was really nice and inviting, much like the people who run the restaurant. One of my friends who took me and another friend to eat here said that a lot of Vietnamese students eat here- and I can see why- it's delicious. The claypot combo was a little pricey $9.80 including tax, but the sizzling crispy rice and the various textures of the veggies, squid, chicken, shrimp, and beef definitely made up for it. It was delightfully flavored, with lots of soy sauce and asian spices (maybe a little fish sauce?). Sadly more rice than protein/veggies, but I still would order again. My friend's sizzling beef looked really good, too:)! read more

Saigon Express - Claypot combo, super warm and deliciously crispy:) - Vietnamese Near Me - Berkeley, California

It was 60 degrees when I ventured into Saigon Express, which means below-freezing temperatures for a SoCal wuss like myself. Naturally, I began craving a piping hot bowl of soup and tried to find the nearest place that sold a decent bowl of Pho. The reviews and pictures made it seem like a coin toss kind of place, but I made the gamble anyway. I got the well-done flank Pho to go (~$7 for a decent amount) and a super cheap $3.45 ham combo banh mi for snacking on later. + The Pho was piping hot, even after a 5 minute walk in the wind. The noodles were separated from the broth, which I appreciated -- there's nothing worse than soggy noodles -- and they included a side of sauce and a sandwich bag of the regular toppings as well. + Yummy, but pretty standard broth. + CHEAP AF BANH MI. Not the best banh mi I've had, but certainly not the worst. It tastes okay after a day in the fridge, and for the price, it's unbeatable thus far. All of my criticisms have to do with the Pho, unfortunately. - I have never before eaten Pho that was so chock full of MSG. This is the first time I've felt SO thirsty in less than 2 minutes after eating less than a fifth of the container. That makes me question the actual quality of the dish (because TBH if your broth is already good, you don't need that much MSG to save it.) - Not a ton of meat. - The greasiness of the Pho is a problem. Mine wasn't as oily as some of the pictures on here, but I really wish they could cut down on the grease. Bottom line: order the Pho if you're really desperate, otherwise save a couple bucks and go for the banh mi. read more