I had time to burn. I was half way to my destination and I figured, it was time for some food. And I wanted to stick around in San Rafael to visit the camera store. Anyhow, never judge a book/restaurant by the cover...(however, I guess I've been judging restaurants by yelp reviews though...). From the outside/street view, this place doesn't look like much. And the menu is handwritten. And there are maybe two, 2.5 tables available for dine-in customers. But the bread was memorable. I felt the sandwich was well balanced between the pickled vegetables, the protein, and bread. If I find myself bored and hungry in San Rafael again, I would gladly return to Thuan Phat. read more

Thuan Phat - Menu - Vietnamese Near Me - San Rafael, California

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Thuan Phat opens just 3 days a week. Next to them is another banh mi cafe. Small space with 2 tables for seating. Limited menu. Cash only. Offerings (Vietnamese): banh mi, coffee Ordered at counter, paid, ready in 5ish minutes. Bites: Combo banh mi (7) -6" banh mi filled with daikon/carrot shreds, jalepenos, parsley. Not a lot of veggies. -crunchy fresh baguette also filled with ham, pork loaf, ham, head cheese. Slathered with pate. -Slightly dry. Overall moist with prescence of veggies. 4.5 stars: worthy! Quality: excellent! Quantity: commensurate with pricing. May is Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month. read more

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Very good banh mi. Small little no frills cafe. Ordered the #4 combo banh mi. Bread is super crispy yet soft and airy on the inside. Combo ham is layered thinly inside the sandwich with perfect ratio of pickled veg. Service is quick and sandwich came within 5 mins Roughly $7 per read more

Thuan Phat - Good layers - Vietnamese Near Me - San Rafael, California

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Tiny whole in the wall. Food is fantastic. Menu is just as small as restaurant. Service was super friendly.

This establishment is located on a little strip in a very busy intersection. There are about 6 ish spots that are 20 minute parking for those that want to be sure there is somewhere to stop by. There were 3 tables of 2 inside, though I can see many people just grabbing the sandwich and taking it somewhere else to eat consider its a bit cramped and parking is limited. FYI, CASH ONLY! I stopped by around 1pm on a Tuesday to grab a bahm mi sandwich. Their menu is very small with 5 sandwich choices, a few smoothies, and iced Vietnamese coffee. They also had a stand with chips and a fridge with ice cold sodas. The owner is literally a one man show! I was very impressed as he was doing it all, picking up the phone orders, making the sandwiches and taking the orders at the front register. He was also very sweet, greeted me right when I entered and I could tell he puts his heart and soul into this establishment. Although he was literally doing it all, I waited maybe less than 5 minutes for my Bahn mi sandwiches. I ordered the combination Bahn mi ($7) and the grilled pork Bahn mi ($7). The combination Bahn mi had a good ratio of meat to veggies. I did wish that the veggies were more fermented/pickled though. The veggies had the crunch but just missing the added tones of sourness. The jalapeños weren't spicy though. The meat was pretty standard. The bread as a little bit of miss for me today, as it was dry and flaky. When I bit into the sandwich, the bread just cracked and flew everywhere. :/ I'd give the combination Bahn mi a 3.5/5 due to the bread and the veggies. The grilled pork Bahn mi was good, the pork was flavorful and not dry. I'd give it a 4/5. The service was fast and friendly so with all that in mind 4/5 overall. From a price standpoint to quality of the product, I would definitely give them another try in the future and hope that it was just a one time thing with the bread being dry and flaky. Fingers crossed! read more

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Solid banh mi spot on San Rafael-I tried and enjoyed the chicken bhan mi which was tasty. Service was super friendly and fast. This is more of a takeout location as the place itself is quite small with limited seating for ~2. Reasonable pricing. Recommend parking in the neighborhood. read more

Thuan Phat - 8. Grilled Chicken Sandwich - Vietnamese Near Me - San Rafael, California

LEGIT. I am always excited to find delicious, cheap and authentic asian food in Marin. This is a true bahn mi place. They have 5 sandwiches to choose from and some drinks, and that's it. It's not your fancy bahn mi place -- not that there's anything wrong with that. :P I've had some yummy fancy bahn mi's. But sometimes, you want the real deal. Cash only. Cheap. The Uncle behind the counter that's the cashier and your sandwich maker. Slightly grunge-y hole-in-the-wall, but who cares -- that's how you know it'll be good. I got the combo sandwich wand a Vietnamese iced coffee. The coffee was huge and delicious. Perfect sweetness level. The combo sandwich was exactly what you want. Fluffy crumbly bread with all the Vietnamese hams and pate you want and expect, and of course topped with pickled carrot daikon, cliantro etc. The jalapaneos are seeded, so it's not too spicy. There's nothing like eating a bahn mi in your car sippin' an iced coffee on a moderate July day. Crumbs getting all over my shirt, but I don't care. There are two tables inside, but does not appear to be very comfortable. I feel like bahn mi's are meant to be eaten in your car, even if it gets all over the place. Anyhow, will definitely be back, especially on my way to Asian Market (the only Asian market in Marin)... it's like two blocks away. So how can I not stop by?? These authentic asian food places do exist! Just gotta seek em out. read more

Thuan Phat - Iced Coffee (with a couple sips taken out) - Vietnamese Near Me - San Rafael, California

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Their banh mi sandwiches are authentic. This my family's favorite spot in Marin. I always order the pork banh mi without jalapeños. It is affordable and tasty. The bread is fresh and one sandwich fills you up. Cash only. There are some tables but we always take it to go. There are some interesting decorations inside. Parking is limited but you can park further up the street or across the street. read more

Had a really great meal with excellent prices. What a gem!! The gentleman who took care of us was so lovely!

Excellent grilled pork bahn mi. I had tried the same sandwich a year ago and the bread was flaky and dry. But the bread today was perfect: crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside. The grilled pork is savory and smoky and just a tad too garlicky. The veggies are thick cut and pickled just right. Sliced jalapeños add bite and you might want to add a little extra. The ratio of ingredients is perfect, though. Some places skimp on veggies but this one doesn't. At $6.50 for a bahn mi, it's a bargain. The owner is friendly and food comes out fast (about 5 minutes). Go ahead and add a Vietnamese coffee. Cold, strong, and sweet. Yum! read more

Thuan Phat - Grilled pork bahn mi - Vietnamese Near Me - San Rafael, California

10/10 sandwiches. Ordered the grill sandwich- didnt expect to be this good! He had back to back orders. The chicken tasted so good!!!!! Price is very reasonable!! Will definitely come back again. Much better than rustic bakery's Asian chicken sandwich. read more

Thuan Phat - 10/10 grillchicken sandwiches - Vietnamese Near Me - San Rafael, California

Fast good and cheap! Delicious and hits the spot. Sad to see it's up for sale though so get in while you can! read more

It's the best Vietnamese sandwiches In Marin Can not beat the prices $7 for a sandwich read more

For 7 dollars as the highest price for their sandwiches, this place is great bang for your buck. I mean where else can you get a sandwich for 7 dollars nowadays, in marin county nonetheless. Food came out in 2 minutes. Viet coffee was good. Its not the best bahn mi you will have (ba-bahn mi in fairfax takes that), but for the price its unbeatable. read more

I can't believe this place has been here for about a year, and I just discovered it! This is my new go to spot for a bahn mi-- the closest to the bahn mis that you can get in the city! And at $6 a sandwich, also the closest in price. Most other spots in Marin are double that! I've only had the pork sandwich and will have to try some others. Great crunchy bread that was fresh and warm, and the pork was tasty. All of the traditional fixings- I love the bigger pieces of pickled veggies. Bring your cash and plan to take it to go. There are a couple of small tables but it's pretty tight inside. Perfect to take for a picnic. read more

Thuan Phat - Inside- cash only! - Vietnamese Near Me - San Rafael, California

This new Ban Mi Sandwich place opened late 2021. This mom and pop place moved from Santa Rosa to San Rafael. This is the real deal if you want a good Vietnamese sandwich all for a great price of $6.00 each. A really good deal for so much flavor. They strictly focus on their sandwiches so don't expect anything else. Simple and good. read more

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Best and cheapest bahn mi in San Rafael Cash only ! Authentic as well Parking could get tricky I advise just parking on the street. read more

Picked up a nice Combination Bahn Mi from Thuan Phat today. It was a very nice sandwich for a light lunch. Different types of Ham, pickled veggies, cilantro, and jalapeno on a nice fluffy baguette roll. Crucially it had pate spread on the roll! Sandwiches came out super quickly, and only set me back about 7 dollars after tax. Their location is right next door to Sharetea too, so boba can be a nice companion for your sandwich. read more

Best authentic bahn mi in Marin!! Highly recommend, parking is tough but worth it. I like the beef and chicken. Both are very good.

This hole in the wall is the only banh mi place in this area with sandwiches that are not bland. While yes they did adjust the flavor to match the customers in the area, it's still pretty good. I usually go for the Tofu Veggie Sandwich-- which to those ignorant customers -- this place uses shredded fried tofu, not chunks of tofu. It's a Vietnamese vegetarian adaptation of shredded pork. So if you don't know, then maybe Google it before writing an ignorant 1 star review on Yelp accusing the store of not giving you tofu. They pack a ton of it, so as you eat, every bite is filled with that yummy fried tofu. Also, I've tried the Sunny Side Egg Sandwich before which is good, but I feel needs a little more sauce. They've also cut down their menu by a lot which is sad but understandable. Overall, great banh mi place for Sonoma County. read more

Thuan Phat - Menu as of 8/8/2021 - Vietnamese Near Me - San Rafael, California

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Stopped by here after getting a haircut a couple stores down. Parking is very minimal. Based on the limited space in the store, they probably do mostly Togos. Service was fast, ordered and payed. Got two combination Bánh mìs ($6 each) Good portion for the price. Baguette was nice and crispy/fluffy, pickled veggies were on point, and meat was good amount too. Would be back for a quick bite if I was in the area. read more

Got a combination sandwich and a grilled pork sandwich with a vietnamese coffee for $20. They are about $7 each for the sandwiches and well worth it. Their bread is amazing. Crunchy but light and soft in the middle. Even after being in the car for 2 hrs they were so good. Everything down to the mayo was perfect and authentic. I often have to go to San Jose or SF to get similar. Very pleasantly surprised. Worth noting is I went towards their closing time and it was just as fresh as if they just opened. We'll go again for sure. read more

***Pre-COVID review*** While we were visiting my cousin in Santa Rosa, wifey wanted to stop by Graton Casino on the way back home. *Rolls eyes* I know this means that I'll be waiting for a while and have to wait for her outside the parking lot. Been there before and gotta keep her happy if you wanna sleep on the same bed. I also hate casinos and can't stand to be inside for more than 10 minutes due to the cigarette smoke. As a compromise, I told her that I'll stop by for some food first. This place popped up on Yelp and it was nearby so I made a quick stop and moseyed on inside. There was a nice, friendly and cheerful middle-aged gentlemen that came out from the back and happily assisted me. I came here for some Bánh mì and got me three kinds: Ham and Headcheese, Grilled Pork and BBQ Pork. Besides, every sammich was under $4 bucks. I could smell the aroma from the grilled and BBQ pork that my mouth started salivating. But I had to save them for later knowing full well that I'll be inside the car waiting outside the casino. When we finally arrived at the casino, I immediately started unwrapping them after finding a parking spot. Wifey wanted a bite of each before heading inside, but I told her not before I take a picture first. The taste hit the spot on each bite and I was pleasantly surprised. A legit Bánh mì joint up north in Santa Rosa. They were good quality, fresh ingredients, meat prepared and cooked well, plus the flavors were on point. I was particularly digging the Ham & Headcheese as the quality was top notch. I was happy and more than satisfied. I'd definitely hit this back again when we are in the area. #YelpChallenge2020 review No. 78 read more

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I've seen this place as I've driven by so many times. I finally stopped by today. The sandwich was amazing!! I'm so mad I didn't try it sooner. The banh mi is the best I've found d in San Rafael. This place is a gem and should not be overlooked. It's casual and pretty small. Parking is tight but don't let that stop you. My son was so sad that he didn't order his own sandwich but then ate all of mine. The bread was perfectly toasted and perfect ratio of meat and veggies. Very flavorful. read more

This is the most authentic and legit Vietnamese sandwich shop. Everything from how the bread is cooked to the ingredients. The bread is perfectly crisp, and everything inside was perfect. I grew up having Vietnamese sandwiches very often, and this makes me feel like home. I had the grilled pork sandwich and WOW !!! Didn't get a chance to take a picture as I destroyed it so fast. Will be back for sure, and great job on the business, thank you !!! read more

This is a pretty good Banh Mi. I got the BBQ pork and the meat was delicious as well as the veggies. The green chili wasn't blazing hot so it made for a nice mouthfeel. The bread did feel a bit dry though, to be honest. So at this point, 4.5 stars. What drops it another star is the price has gone up to $6.50 a sandwich. While still inexpensive, it loses the amazing feeling of a good deal that a Banh mi often gives you. So 3.5 stars but rounding up to four given that inflation really isn't the store's fault. And yes, the strange statues are still for sale. read more

Once you go through the door, this place looks like a bahn mi shop in Hanoi. The sandwiches are great and the service is friendly and fast. I had the chicken, the pork and the tofu bahn mi and they were all crisp and delicious. I will be back many times. read more

It's kind of a hidden Bahn Mi spot, however the owner that runs this is a wonderful man. Their sandwiches are wonderful and the crunch of their fresh bread adds a good taste to the sandwich. Reasonable prices and tasty. read more

Amazing banh mi sandwich. Probably the best in Marin. The staff were welcoming and the service was fast. Like finding a little gem in town. Small, good feeling restaurant. I will be going back. read more

Be aware that most of the reviews of the San Rafael business have all been copy and pasted from the former Santa Rosa shop by the owner. I just scanned the photos, almost all are of the Santa Rosa shop. Might be a violation of Yelp policy. read more

I come here every week for the pork bahn mi. It is by far the best tasting sandwich deal in town. Always fresh and delicious for only $7!

I really love this little sandwich place. Yes, you can get them cheaper in the tenderloin or san jose but i am not driving there just to save a couple of bucks. Cash only. read more

This restaurant just has a change of ownership (was told that the previous owner is moving out of CA). Will miss his friendliness. We got some grilled pork & tofu sandwiches, and the sping rolls today. The sandwiches seem to taste the same - good (although they have not mastered how to wrap a sandwich ). The spring rolls are still fresh and the sauce is flavorful; however, the rice wrapper is a bit off. Prices seem to have gone up for some items. But, still affordable and reasonable. Hope they continue to keep the quality of their offerings. If so, we.will continue to be their loyal customers. read more

BBQ pork is my favorite and is always fresh. It is a perfect size and is a value at 7 dollars. read more

Ordered via Doordash: Surprisingly good. Haven't had an authentic (good) combo ham bahn mi since I moved up north from the East Bay until now. Honestly it's difficult to find a combo ham up here in general. It's definitely a little Americanized in flavor but still better than anything I've tried between Santa Rosa and Petaluma. Bread seems fresh! I've been craving some Ban Con, it reminds of getting to go at Cam Houng in Oakland and it's actually better. Very good portion, stuffing to noodle ratio is great and it has peppers on the side which is an absolute plus for me. Would recommend and will be stopping by in person whenever I go to Santa Rosa, especially to go on a road trip/ beach in the summer since I prefer Banh Mi over any other sandwich. read more

Really yummy and very cheap. It's grab and go style, and only cash accepted. Definitely recommend.

Well I seem to be on a roll with bad food reviews ever since I came to recover from surgery in Santa Rosa- here's another to add to the mix. I've had Thuan Phat bookmarked for months now. I'm recovering from spine surgery so my mother drove me 20 min just so that I could try their banh mi. My fellow Yelpers never fail me. Until today. The store is very bare- clearly they are more of a food spot than grocery. The menu is overhead and very small. Prices are great. I ordered the tofu/vegetable banh mi (no cilantro). Bc it was cash only my mother couldn't enjoy her first banh mi. After a few minutes I waited in line again and noticed the lady being serviced was able to use her card. My mom drove so far so we could try Thuan Phat and the man did t even offer me the option of paying with debit. Whatever- took my food and left. Thank goodness I opened my food in car bc I was extremely disappointed to see no tofu in my sandwich. My poor mom turned around and drove back yet again. Waited in line. AGAIN. This time the man started giving me $ back and I was frustrated. I drove all this way and I felt like he wasn't even understanding what I was saying. Finally he went in back to speak to chef (?). When he came back, he refunded my $4.50 and told me that the tofu was in there. There is shredded and pickled carrots, fried onion strings, veggies, but I definitely didn't see tofu. If the tofu is shredded and fried, it serves no purpose in the sandwich (see pic). I couldn't see tofu nor smell it. The entire time he's doing this, he's laughing at me in front front of 3 other customers. He didn't stop laughing even after I walked out. I've rarely, if ever, been insulted by a restaurant employee, especially with no provocation. I turned around and went back in and let him know that we drove that far JUST for one $4.50 sandwich and he had no right to laugh bc it wasn't funny at all, especially being that I'm still recovering from major surgery. As an Elite Yelper I'm so bummed to have to suggest skipping this joint bc everything about my banh mi was perfect, aside from the lack of tofu. I would usually come back for a 2nd try but not only do I think I'd get the same sandwich again, but I don't think dude even spoke English to realize that he was completely outta line today. So my fellow Yelpers- All I can say is to proceed with caution, bring cash, and don't expect tofu in your tofu banh mi! read more

Thuan Phat - Inside of what was supposed to be a tofu vegetable banh mi (no cilantro). Let me know if you find the tofu - Vietnamese Near Me - San Rafael, California

Best bargain in Santa Rosa for a very yummy and filling Banh Mi sandwich and other yummy items here. My favorite is the pork. Have to take it with you due to Covid right now, so on a chilly winter day we ate lunch in our car. The bread is crunchy outside, soft in the middle as it should be. Tasty pork, chicken is good too! read more

Very good banh mi, crispy outside, airy inside. The owner is very friendly too. Definitely come back.

Best Banh Mi place in Santa Rosa hands down! The other restaurants here offering this are just not authentic and are merely attempting to remake this Vietnamese classic with a Western twist. Coming from an actual Vietnamese person who has eaten hundreds of Banh Mis in her life - from all over Vietnam to the Bay Area classic spots, this is the best you'll find for Sonoma County. Of course if you're willing to make the drive to San Jose, nothing compares to that (at least here in the US), but here locally, Thuan Phat is always my go to. I feel like the negative reviews on here are from people who aren't used to eating Banh Mi or are not familiar with how they're supposed to taste/be like. Everyone who enjoys Banh Mi should definitely come here! It is not a fancy restaurant, just a small family owned business, but the food is delicious and authentic so that's all that matters! I just wished their hours are longer because I keep missing it by the time I get off work! read more