My wife and I love their Pho, and Banh Mi. Favorites are chicken or Tofu Pho. All Bahn Mi sandwiches are wonderful. Try the fresh spring rolls too read more

Super fresh banh mi with organic tofu! (4/5 Green Stars) I wish I had tried this place earlier! I had the banh mi with organic tofu for lunch and the total cost, including tax and a 20% tip was $10.50! I was ravenous and had some concerns that it may not be enough - or come fast enough! However, the lady who took my order prepped the sandwich in as much time as it took me to take a few photos. Also, there was really a lot of tofu in the sandwich - two thick layers of it - so in the end it was pretty darn filling. There were several memorable things about the sandwich, which I ate without any distraction even though I would normally read while eating. The bread was at a perfect state of crispiness - like a proper French roll - very light and also lightly toasted. The crunchy veggies - the daikon in particular, added a freshness to it that counterbalanced the umami of soy and tofu. I've only had a couple of banh mi sandwiches in my time but this one was not only the best so far but has also set a pretty high bar to measure others against. I'm giving the Sidewalk Street Food 4/5 Green Stars for social and environmental impact. It's a woman-owned and run business that offers affordable food in a fairly unaffordable neighborhood. Every dish option - banh mi, salad bowl, pho, and spring rolls all had a tofu option. Some of the other options - chicken and pork - are among the more sustainable choices for meat eaters. However, beef and shrimp are among the worst options Sidewalk loses a star for that. My sandwich was pretty much zero-waste in that it was wrapped in a sheet of paper and delivered in a reusable basket. read more

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This place is tucked away off the street and if you're not looking for it, you can easily miss it. I had the beef phò. Of all the Vietnamese restaurants that I've been to where I've ordered phò this place didn't offer the extra condiments to add to your bowl. They did have some liquid additions to spicy up your food but none of basil, bean sprouts etc that other places offer. Disappointing on that note. Just not much variety in the bowl.I ate outside which was sunny and pleasant. Quiet atmosphere. read more

Sidewalk Street Food - Beef phò - Vietnamese Near Me - Berkeley, California

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A staple in my lunchtime rotation when I am craving Vietnamese food! I've had their chicken pho, pork belly banh-mi, and their shrimp spring rolls. The pho is good, nothing special, but will do the trick on a cold day. Their banh-mi is delicious though, the baguette is crispy and soft with each bite; for $9 too, it's a steal. Their spring rolls are also really good, it comes with a side of peanut sauce and sambal if you prefer eating it with a kick of spice. The shop is extremely small, it can accommodate probably 10 people at once and that would be tight. Luckily, if the weather is nice, there's additional seating at the back with benches too. Both times I've been, there's been two ladies running the shop, the service is quick and efficient. read more

Cheap eats for the win! Located over in the back alley on the street across from the Claremont Hotel, this spot is a hot spot for lunch for locals and I can see why - good, simple, clean eats, cheap and a nice little patio area to enjoy. We went with the banh mi with spiced chicken and a vermicilli bowl with shrimp. The bowl was fine. A little bland, but they included about 5 big boy shrimp, although, I would have loved for them to have been freshly cooked/grilled. The banh mi was solid. It was thinly sliced chicken (almost like deli meat style), with fresh veggies and a bit of pate. I found it a wee bit dry, so maybe a sauce of some sort would have been great. THe parts that had the pate on it were delicious. I did to-go and wish they included hot sauce, as well. They included it in the bowl but not for the banh-mi. Overall, solid, hearty eats for a reasonable price. read more

Fabulous family run Vietnamese food, with great vermicelli bowls and tasty Pho. Outdoor seating is great for a sunny lunch.

Great local hole in the wall sandwich shop with soup as well. There's a little seating area which is very cute and has a Peet's nearby in addition to it all the sandwich was tasty and very reasonably priced a good value. read more

Sidewalk Street Food - 5 Spice Chicken Banh Mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Perfect. We ordered the tofu bahn mi, a shrimp spring roll and a tofu spring roll. The rolls were simple and delicious, lettuce and mint wrapped noodles with tofu/shrimp on top. They give you a small plastic cup so you can have as much of the yummy peanut sauce that is provided on the tables as you want. Sitting outside in the sunshine next to the lovely roses was relaxing. The staff is efficient and friendly. read more

Sidewalk Street Food - Tofu Bahn Original Banh Mi - Vietnamese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Sidewalk is a staple in my lunch time rotation. I usually get the beef or shrimp spring rolls or chicken banh mi. Both are always so good and fresh. The coffee is also really good as well. The pho is ok-- I wouldn't go out of my way to get it here. All the ladies are so sweet. They're pretty quick when prepping orders. Parking can be tough in this area. Definitely recommend if you're in the area! read more

After several takeout orders for lunch, we realized this is a go to Banh Mi place for us. We usually order Tofu Banh Mi, & Tofu spring rolls. The service is consistently fast even during lunch time. We found all items on the menu to be reasonably priced, and above orders were always served with generous portions. We mostly use this place as a takeout joint but have seen people enjoy their outdoor seating. Will definitely return for more lunch Banh Mis! read more

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My favorite is the tofu Banh Mi. It's filled with thick warm slices of tofu. And with the daikon, carrot pickles, cilantro and just enough jalapeño a very filling sandwich. They came in during non-business hours to fill a large sandwich order for me. Great to have this local treasure! read more

Amazing Banh Mi sandwiches and fresh bowls! Be sure to let the staff know of any allergies or preferences. They were really happy to make changes to my order. I definitely will be visiting again to try a different Banh Mi sandwich; the variety of the menu keeps me going back for more. read more

Such a cute little banh mi shop, the ladies who work here are sweet and the food is definitely on point. If you want good ol Vietnamese food, definitely consider stopping by here! read more

As far as the atmosphere goes, this place has got it goin' on. Great music, super cozy, mellow vibes; just a nice spot to chill while enjoying your lunch. BUT... there was nothing really special about their banh mi sandwich. It was spicy as hell and packed full of meat, but if ultimately lacked the traditional banh mi taste that I'm used to. Stopped here on a whim since my first choice pick didn't really fill me up. The first thing I noticed was the music that was playing. They be jammin' up in there! It kind of reeled me inside quick. The menu was looking quite delicious too. Banh mi's, pho and rice bowls?! All of the things that Shayla enjoys to eat. Sign me up! I was eyeing the five spice chicken banh mi and decided to get it. One of the cashiers warned me that it would be pretty spicy, but I didn't really take heed to his warning. DAYUM that ish was spicy! So much so that I actually started sweating while eating it. A fair warning to all: if you plan on getting the five spice chicken banh mi, it is HELLA spicy! Although I enjoyed the spice, I felt that it was too overwhelming and took away from the natural flavors of the sandwich. Maybe it would have been better if they had toned down the heat a notch or two, but this just didn't taste like the traditional banh mi's that I'm used to. I will say that the bread was super fresh and it was loaded up for the Gawds. I don't know, something just didn't really taste right with it. It was missing something, but the spice level was too overpowering for me to even figure out what it was. The inside space is pretty tiny but they also share a communal outdoor patio with the other businesses nearby. I love that they have a condiment stand out front where you can load up on extra veggies and toppings if you want more. The kids working here are super sweet and accommodating. They were working hard and that's always a great sight to see. I would definitely give them another chance. Maybe I just chose the wrong sandwich this time around. Would love to give some of their other food items a try to see if they impress. read more

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Very friendly service. I got beef spring rolls, Vietnamese iced coffee and bbq pork bahn mi. All were good. The bahn mi was okay.

Great spot! The fresh bowl was quite big and cost less than $10. I appreciate the reasonable prices and kind service!

This is a great neighborhood shop - the food is good and fresh, and service and value are great. I love having Sidewalk Street Food in our community and am so grateful for their tasty food and the friendly women who run the restaurant! read more

Sidewalk Street Food is in the old Fresh & Best space behind Rick & Ann's. It's a small space with some bar type seating on the sides along with a larger communal table that could be separated into two tops (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/sidewalk-street-food-berkeley-2?select=SIujn_u5AxX2QILDNLz31A). There's also some tables outside, if the weather's nice. Sidewalk is currently in Soft-Opening with a compact menu of Banh Mi, Pho Ga (chicken), Fresh Bowls (vermicelli / Bun), and Spring Rolls (Goi Cuon) with your choice of several proteins including tofu (except the explicitly chicken Pho Ga, of course https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/sidewalk-street-food-berkeley-2?select=Vx_VBiCOnQbAMxNO3516-Q). I tried the "Original" Banh Mi (with sliced ham & pork belly) with no cilantro (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/sidewalk-street-food-berkeley-2?select=zmOPq53AJW8RZhvK-qm5HA) which has cucumber, carrot & daikon, jalapenos, pate, mayo, soy sauce, and pepper (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/sidewalk-street-food-berkeley-2?select=wk7BqxJ6_u0vCZoeXGNVGg). This is like what many banh mi shops call Banh Mi Thit Nguoi or Dac Biet (special combo). The "sliced ham" is cha lua, or steamed pork loaf / sausage and the pork belly is marinaded, thinly sliced and from a distance looked vaguely like xa xiu, with an outer red layer (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/sidewalk-street-food-berkeley-2?select=Oa00BJ9ZNw-uZvWI4Ncwqw) and, with a consistency similar to headcheese, tasted like it was boiled or steamed. All that said, the pork belly not very flavorful. The baguette was soft and lightly toasted . . . I prefer a more toasted roll, but that's personal preference. The daikon and carrot didn't taste like they had been pickled (or for not very long). Cashier was very friendly. While I wasn't enamored with my selection, I will be back to try some of the other offerings. The beef, chicken, and pork looked like decent options (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/sidewalk-street-food-berkeley-2?select=YPcgXMU6FUoYGwtOShsM6Q). read more

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Best Bánh mì in Oakland!!! And the fresh rolls are a light and so good. The service is always fast and courteous. Prices are still very fair. read more

Tried this place on a lark. Yum! Will be back for sure. I got a Five Spice Chicken Bahn Mi and a Beef Vermicelli bowl. Great flavor. Good portions. read more

Great Bahn Mi and Chicken Pho. Very nice nice women cooking and serving. In the little alley next to Peet's.

Delicious bahn mi for a great price. Tucked away a bit so I never would have found if not for Yelp. Glad I did because I will be returning! I had the bbq pork bahn mi and it was fabulous and fresh, great bread. read more

I've been coming here for years. One of the best BBQ pork Bahn-mi's I've ever tasted. Fresh ingredients with lots of flavor.

Legit Vietnamese spot! This was definitely a hidden gem. I was searching for food in the area, and thanks to their signs! It led me right to the store. I was greeted right away by all the sweet ladies working, and even sparked up a great conversation! I ordered the BBQ PORK BANH MI. The meat was sooo good, they even added this special spread to the sandwhich. It is definitely authentic! And I'll be back soon. This place does get packed during lunch but the service is quick read more

Sidewalk Street Food is in a small space in the alley between Rick & Ann's and Peet's Coffee. There are a few seats inside the restaurant but most of the seating is outdoors. I'm so happy to have them in the neighborhood as there's not only a shortage of restaurants near the Claremont in general, but certainly a shortage of Asian food. Stopped in grabbed a bahn mi for lunch. The bread was spot on - super soft and pillowy on the inside, with just a thin, crispy crust on the exterior. The sandwich had the perfect balance of meat, pate, mayo, sauce, and veg and is among the best bahn mi I've had in the Bay Area. We also tried the shrimp spring rolls, which were good, but wasn't something I'd personally go back for. Service was efficient and friendly. This will likely be my go-to lunch spot when we're in the area. read more

I love the food at this place and the prices are great. However the best part about this establishment is the hard working and friendly ladies that work here. You really get the feeling that they like their jobs and work hard to quickly get you your fresh order. It's totally relaxed even when there is a line and they appreciate their customers. I like spending money here. read more

Love this place but don't like the older woman that just glares at you when you walk in. Her servings are so small too. She says it's hot but it's not. I have to grab something else to eat because it isn't filling anymore. Everyone else is great but wish portions were better. read more

This place is the best- fresh, delicious Vietnamese food at very reasonable prices, and the proprietor is so sweet and friendly. The menu is small but sufficient for lunch (fresh rolls, banh mi, noodle bowls, and pho). Everything but the pho can be made vegan/ with tofu instead of meat. One nice perk is that they have extra sauce that you can help yourself to, and the peanut sauce in particular is delicious. read more

Sidewalk Street Food - a bowl of salad and a sandwich - Vietnamese Near Me - Berkeley, California

Sidewalk Street Food is behind Rick & Ann's. interior is a mix of a communal table, tables, benches, and "bar" seating alongside the wall. some outside table seating too. cashier is next to kitchen. all food prep can be viewed if standing nearby cashier station. Sidewalk still in soft opening mode, 3rd month? offerings: banh mi, spring rolls, pho ga, fresh bowl eats: bbq pork banh mi(6.50) -long slender baguette with chunky bbq pork slices, cliantro, jalepeno, cucumbers, pate, house mayo, onions, carrots, daikon, etc. -pork had 2 large gristles, bbq tastes not the usual. 5 spice? take outs: -unknown if food served is actually Vietnamese street food, not touted as such, just implied. -just street parking nearby. read more

Beef Pho is excellent, fresh bowls are nice for variety. service is warm, kind and attentive. Reasonably priced.

Tried a good variety of what they had to offer for delivery and was so happy to have some comforting pho ga (chicken pho) to warm the belly (nice and hot), with dipping sauce and lime and plenty of rice noodle. Also had their Vietnamese sandwiches which were crunchy and plenty of veggies. Spring roll order came with two rolls and a spicy dipping sauce. Overall a good Vietnamese joint that I will definitely try again soon! read more

Banh Mi sandwiches are delicious here and so reasonably price. I also really enjoyed the spring rolls. Food is authentic read more

This restaurant just opened up a few weeks back and I'm wondering where it's been my whole life. Super authentic Vietnamese flavors with super fresh ingredients. I've been a few times with my buddies and am slowly working my way through the whole menu. The BBQ Pork Bahn-Mi is incredible - crunchy bread and a face full of Umami! I also really enjoy their spring rolls if you're feeling like something light. The best part is, they roll them to order! I can't say I've had them so fresh. Also I'm big on sauces - and always hate the awkward moment when you need to ask the restaurant for 2 or 3 sides of extra sauce. These guys put all the sauces out and even give you a "sauce key" that lets you know which ones go with which dishes. 10/10 would recommend to a friend. read more

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The food here is average at best. Nothing special or stand out. The tofu pho is pretty bland even though they use a chicken broth. Tofu spring rolls look horrible as well. No type of effort put into the food to look presentable. At least fry your tofu or something don't just jam it in there. Looks like a kid put the spring roll together. Being vietnamese this place does not check any of the boxes for whats expected of sidewalk street food. Easy pass I wouldn't come back. I don't understand the high ratings honestly. This place wouldn't survive in a real vietnamese community. read more

This wasn't my first choice for food but the restaurant I wanted to go to had a huge line so we ended up here. The food here is decent and a cheap option if you are in a hurry. I got a pork bowl and my boyfriend got a bahn mi sandwich. Both had typical Vietnamese flavors but lacked that special something. I wouldn't go out of my way to go here but in a pinch it works. I did really enjoy the fresh coconut water here and the Vietnamese coffee helped cure our hangovers in the morning. read more

The last home of affordable high-quality food in Berkeley! I love the chicken banh mi, and get it over and over. Has a bit of kick from jalapenos and a ton of cilantro, so omit those or ask for less if they aren't your thing. Tried their pho recently and it was really good. There are nice outdoor tables, and eating a big bowl of pho in the greenery and fresh air was lovely. read more

Found this place on a lark and so glad I did. Great Beef Bahn Mi, loved it! The beef was delicious and the vegetables were so fresh. And loved the little area next to it to sit and eat. read more

This place is so good The ladies are so nice The prices are so reasonable My personal recommendation is to get one of their bowls with chicken or tofu (or half chicken, half tofu). The chicken is always breast meat, perfectly cooked, not gross at all (no wierd parts), beautifully spiced and juicy - this comes from someone who hates chicken usually. The tofu is also the bomb. The veggies and noodles are always super fresh and I like to get half peanut sauce, half fish sauce, and a little hot sauce. For $7.25 you get a huge and filling meal! This is insane! So good especially in the bay in 2022. Support this super cute family business! They are the best. read more

So good and inexpensive. Highly recommended! The workers are nice and the food came out quick.

UPDATE: Got a message from the owner -- the tofu banh mi IS vegetarian, with no fish sauce. It uses a tomato based sauce. It can be made vegan if you leave the homemade mayo out (the mayo is really good, btw)! I was worried when I got the tofu banh mi to go, because it made my car very stinky on the ride home! It's a pungent sandwich. But it was tasty and even my boyfriend, who is picky about Vietnamese food and funky flavors, loved it. I'm not sure that the sandwich was vegetarian, given how funky the smell was - it might have fish sauce. If you're a strict vegetarian, you should probably ask when you order. And I'd avoid picking it up and taking it to eat at work, just because of the smell! read more