163 Vietnamese Sandwich

This Vietnamese takeout restaurant in Boston's Chinatown serves delicious banh mi with fresh ingredients and delicious sauces.

Some of the best authentic banh mi around . I've been going there almost 10 years. Same great food at same cheap prices . I'd recommend going just to try you'd be surprised. From the sandwiches to the rice or noodle bowls and boba drinks. A must try!

Really interesting almost hole in the wall place. As others have mentioned, no jalapeño and light on the cilantro which is disappointing. But you can’t go wrong with $8 for a giant Sandwich. Insanely fast service

This place has been a Gem growing up. You get massive bon mes for very good prices. I got a giant beef barbecue bon me for only $8 tax included. They don’t skimp on the meat and you’re always filled up by the end of your meal. Additionally the flavor is just right, it’s hits every time. The only thing to be wary of is that they are cash only! Other than that I highly recommend!

Super tiny place where only one person can fit in to order, so it’s take out only. I went here for avocado smoothie and it was delicious. The tapioca was the best consistency bc it wasnt too soft. It was the perfect amount of chewiness.

This place has the most amazing Vietnamese sandwich I've ever had! The banh mi thit nguoi which is a Vietnamese cold cut sandwich was out of this world amazing. The perfect balance of flavors. The pickled vegetables we're super crunchy and the bread was toasted just right. They use a homemade butter mayo that was drool worthy! And their pate was impressive. We went here every day of our trip because it is was a that good. And it never disappointed! The consistency remained daily! Must try!

Quick little grab before I headed out to explore downtown Boston. The baguette with mixed veg and cold cut is 100% authentic, bringing me back to the day when I used to have one of these eating and biking to school back home, lol! Recommend when you are in the neighborhood!

The local fits only 1 person inside. Kid you not. Only person at a time to order but it’s quick how they make the sandwich. The sandwiches are ok. Large bread but very little content inside for the special banh mi, three slices. There is mayonnaise, pate, daikon and carrots, the cucumber slices were too thickly sliced. No jalapeños or chili slices. The chicken curry banh mi lacks flavour. The fresh grilled pork rolls were good the dipping sauce was decent. Not bad but as someone mentioned Ba Le is hands down better. They take cash only so have it ready.

163 Viet provides no-frills take out at reasonable prices. $7 gets you a cold cut bahn mi, prepped and wrapped earlier in the day. Baguette remains crisp, leading to many crumbs. The cold cuts contain some sort of pate that acts as a superior version of mayo, preventing dry bites. Some cold cut slices also have texture variation due to fast and gelatin, which I enjoy. $5.75 gets you 3 shrimp spring rolls. Rice paper remains springy and herbs seem fresh. Note that I went on a Thursday noon. I also picked the cheapest version of bahn mi and spring roll. Other bahn mis cost $8 and other spring rolls cost $7. Cash only, counter service Covid-style where a plastic barrier blocks off most of the interior.

Quick and easy bahn mi. They stuffed it to the brim with ingredients. So many veggies!!! Really worth the price. Put in an order online and got it in less than 10 minutes. Bread was soft and flakey on the inside. Portion size was great, and you can order extra meat, which we did. Make sure to call and ask for jalapeneos if you want them!

Called two days in advance for a takeout order of 30 small boxes (as opposed to large) of vermicelli/rice with lemongrass chicken. I had a vermicelli one. It comes with a sweet and sour liquid sauce, I pour it all in and mix. The chicken is boneless thigh with skin on (skin on is a bonus for me). It was juicy and seasoned excellently. I would definitely come back again. (Maybe try the large box.)

I'm always excited when I pass by this spot and it's open, since the hours seem to be a bit hit or miss. It's strictly a to-go spot and there isn't any seating inside, so be prepared. Sometimes I like to walk over and eat my Banh Mi at the park, but other times I'm so hungry I can't even wait to dig in! This time, I stopped by for lunch on a Monday and grabbed the BBQ Beef bahn mi. I requested to only have fish sauce and no butter on my sandwich. The bread is very flakey and tastes great, but sometimes it overpowers the filling. I think other spots like Bah Le in Dorcester are a bit better at striking the right bread to filling balance. However, I still always enjoy grabbing a sandwich here, especially because it's so quick and convenient!

So this is a funny little place in Chinatown because it's not Chinese it's Vietnamese. I've been frequenting here and grabbing a sandwich or a spring roll referred to as fresh roll for at least a decade or two. The sandwiches are always fabulous. My favorite on the crunchy extremely messy crummy rolls which are delicious. Is the beef sandwich with a variety of vegetables and they pickle very tasty. I've posted some photos. You definitely have to try one. And don't forget to order extra nothing Vietnamese butter. It's freaking amazing. As for the fresh roll. You always get two whole shrimp plus your veggies and noodle in a nice thin wrap and it comes with some fabulous peanut sauce. I could drink the sauce it's so great. Now the people behind the counter are extremely efficient but a little bit on the rude side. Basically you go in you order your food then they ask you to go outside and wait because there's only about 3 feet where someone can order food so on a rainy snowy day it's not the place you wanna head out to but on a sunny day during good weather definitely, you'll always see a crowd or at least three or four people standing out front on a nice day, waiting for their sandwiches and food. As it's in Chinatown the parking is extremely tough so plan ahead just as if you're gonna go to any other restaurant in Chinatown even if you're just picking up a sandwich or say a prayer and do what everyone else does, double park and hopefully not get a ticket. This place is well-established and has been there for approximately 20 years give or take and the food is always good.

Banh Mi sandwich bread, meat and veggies were all good, but no flavor at all. I think it was missing sauce or mayo.

Great sandwiches at a great deal. We got the bbq chicken bahn mi. It's a good place to pick up something to eat and only for only $7!

Small and quick service place for Viet sandwiches that currently operates as a window ordering counter. There's only enough space for you to step in to order but that's it. Prices are around $6-$7/sandwich which isn't too pricey. They also have other items prepped in to go boxes that I didn't get a good look at. Overall, the sandwich was decent although some bites were quite salty. The addition of sliced onions in a banh mi was also interesting. Maybe it was the cold cut that was salty but I'd be interested in trying their other sandwiches.

CASH ONLY... I wanted to ordered BBQ pork vermicelli but already sold out at 1pm. The cashier/boss is not friendly and have a attitude. I ended up ordering the summer roll only for $5.25 for 3 which is not bad for the price. Banh mi is not my favorite here, I preferred Banh Mi Huong Que which is just 2min away and more friendly.

I love this place so much. My boyfriend introduced me to this place and I can't help but to come back for more. The bahn mi sandwhiches are AMAZING and I always get either the cold cut or the bbq pork. The service is amazing and very quick. The ambiance of the store is little and dainty, but they get the job done. I love this place with all my heart.

This spot is literally tiny! Hole in the wall is the exact perfect description. Upon opening the door the space is literally smaller than any elevator I've been into. But the food is pretty good. Was happy that they sold "Banh mi xui mai (meatball) and "bot chien (fried dough with egg and scallion") quick turn around time and food was delicious. CASH ONLY!

A good Vietnamese sandwich needs fresh baguette in addition to other ingredients. I ordered 2 Vietnamese sandwiches today and the baguettes are fresh. They were hard and a bit stale. At $7 each, I won't be going back for this. May be other items on the menu is worth trying.

Always a must visit when in Boston! Service is fast and I love their bbq pork! I hadn't visited in several years and now there are no tables to sit and eat. Oh well, still worth it!!

This is my go-to spot for Banh Mi in the city. I always get the Nam Nuong Banh Mi and they never disappoint. Keep in mind that there's no seating here so you'll have to take the food to-go.

As a child, I was so obsessed with their smoothies that I have very clear memories of this place 10 years later. They put ice cream in there or something absolutely delicious. I do not live in the Boston area, but whenever I visit I have always made a point to stop here.

Fast service, super cheap banh mi, and good portion. The only thing I would change is the ratio of filling to bread, but the bread is still delicious and flaky!

Ive been here so much in the last year, it's such a hole in the wall place. All the bahn mis are less than 7$ and it's so worth it. as a vegetarian I always get the tofu bahn mi with extra jalapeños and it's something I crave all the time

It's all about the bread and pickled vegetables. My friend introduced the place to me. I got the traditional deli meat.

Small little shop, no indoor seating. I got a tofu bahn mi. I think they used fried puff tofu. I wish they flavored or marinated the tofu a bit more, it was slightly dry. The pickled carrots and daikon were refreshing. Otherwise, it was a pretty typical bahn mi. Overall tasted good and hit the spot as a quick and affordable meal. The sandwiches were ready very fast. Cash only.

Ignore all reviews that note ambiance. This is NOT an eat-in place. Even when they had tables it wasn't an eat-in place. Hands down the best banh mi sandwiches in Boston and I live in the banh mi capital of Boston down on Dot Ave. For years I've been coming to this little storefront and I am always so excited for that second bite. The staff is great. Sure there's one grumpy lady but these days most places only have grumpy service workers. The BBQ beef is my favorite, match it with a passion fruit bubble tea and take it to the Common where the ambiance abounds.

Multiple nearby restaurants for Bánh mì that serve better food. Mediocre at best

I've got 163 problems and none of them are these Banh Mi. I've gotten Vietnamese sandwiches from here on a number of occasions and I think they've always been really good. I don't remember how much I enjoyed the first one, but when I gave it a second try I remember liking it more than I remembered. When I gave it a third tray I really liked it a lot. You might end up becoming one of the 163 regulars. But will you come here 163 times? We shall see.

It's a cash only establishment. I was thirsty and while walking around looking for are hostel we notice this little store. I got a green tea with bubbles. My friend got the mango one. $5.00 dollars each. Okay they were good. I went back the next day and got a milk tea with no bubbles. It was hot tea, with ice put in to make it cold. If there still there next year, I'll go back for it.

$6 for a pretty tasty beef banh mi. Ask for it spicy and you won't regret it. Quick and cheap. We went by today around 4 and they ran out of pork so it's better to go there earlier if you are looking for that!

I went here after my doctor appointment to get some subs for the bf and I. We both do not like butter so I asked for extra pâté, First Lady didn't understand me in Vietnamese. So a different lady took my order, she said of course I can add extra pâté, SHE LIED TO ME I came back to Lynn to only find barely any pâté on the bird, no Chilli peppers. This place does not make great Vietnamese subs.

Ordered cold cut. Bahn mi was all bread and barely tasted anything inside besides the cilantro and jalapeño.

This place was surprisingly good! we got a cold cut Vietnamese sandwich, shrimp summer rolls, pan fried sticky rice - $18 and so good! Vietnamese sandwich did not have a lot of meat but everything together was totally sufficient esp for under $7. The summer rolls were under $7 and contained three pieces! that is amazing. The sticky rice totally surprised us also. Quick service and everything was made fresh since I got there an hour before closing. Will def be back!

They are OPEN! Called in today on 9/6/2020 at 11am to ask when they close & they said 4pm or whenever they run out of bread. I'd suggest calling ahead to check if they're open or to come early! I've been looking forward to coming back to this small banh mi shop ever since I returned to Boston because of how affordable & delicious their sandwiches are. The bread is so crunchy (and not tough!) on the outside, and the pate & mayo keeps the sandwich moist :) My friend also tried the vegetarian duck sandwich & she loved how flavorful the "meat" was. Definitely check this place out & keep in mind it's CASH only!

Best banh mi I'm Boston hands down . Price has gone up but hasn't everything else in this world? Always worth the price I'm paying.

Apologies for the picture of my half eaten banh mi, I just couldn't wait! This is my favorite banh mi spot in the area and it even beats Ba Le for me! That's because this shop offers the BBQ pork banh mi that I feel is so difficult to find. You used to be able to sit in their few tables but due to COVID it's only takeout, though I've only gotten takeout everytime I've been here even pre-COVID. It's cash only just like many other spots in Chinatown. I don't necessarily come here for the customer service but the food always brings me back, it genuinely tastes amazing and until I can find another shop to beat it, I'll always be coming back!

CASH ONLY. Remember to bring cash when you come here. I rarely get banh mi in Chinatown but I happened to be there and wanted a banh mi. Small family run place. Ordering is not bad, the lady was nice. I ordered one sub thats ready to eat and one for later (separated the veggies). The boxes of fried rice and noodles in the front were packed full, I usually get mine somewhere else but would try them from here next time. Can easily just pick up and pay for those. The ready one was a bit short on the carrots/radish. A bit more would be nice. It also wasn't toasted enough, kind of soggy, but I ate it when I got home after toasting it one more time, it was warm/crunchier and the flavor of everything was pretty good. Just wish there was a bit more of everything, mayo, pate, carrots. The one I got with separated veggies actually had more carrots/radish. Way more than the one I ate, but still would like a bit more mayo and pate. This is the place to go to fulfill a quick banh mi/smoothie/noodles/fried rice craving. I've never felt like theres not enough filling when different people made my food, so it depends on whose at the counter. Would def deserve a 5 star if consistency is there. I still have faith in this place :)

Not authentic Vietnamese sandwiches or banh mi ba le at all. Dry meats, pickled daikon and carrots (dua chua) tasted horrible horrible, bread was stale. There aren't even Vietnamese names for the sandwiches. "Vietnamese cold cuts"?? . Insult to injury, not even run by Vietnamese people (no wonder). Save your money and support the Vietnamese community by going to Ba Le in Dorchester.

Stopped here last Sunday around 3pm to grab a bbq beef bahn mi and a shrimp summer roll. the bread wasn't the best, it was a bit hard, beef a bit dry (even with it being saucy), the veggies were pretty standard. the summer roll was pretty standard. based on the bread and the meat, i probably won't be back.

**NOTE: CASH ONLY!!** This review pertains to their bahn mi subs only! I used to come here every few weeks or so back during my school days. Since then I found myself lacking the time to stop by in Chinatown to grab a bahn mi sandwich. Unfortunately, I don't know if it's the nostalgia or if something else had changed, the experience was just okay. First off, don't ever expect to grab a seat here. There's literally 3 tiny tables and 2-3 chairs. Hardly enough room to enjoy your meal (plus the ambiance of the place is quite lacking.. though to be fair, the kitchen is literally 2 feet from you). They're a great place to stop by to grab something quick for lunch since they have numerous lunch box options to grab and go. The price (much like everything else these days) have gone up from $3.50 for the beef sandwich up to $4.50. I got both the cold cut and beef sandwich. The cold cut was okay (think deli meats) but didn't have much flavor. The beef sandwich was quite tasty BUT the portion of beef was extremely lacking. They put it only a few strips and do be honest, there was too much bread vs the fillings it contained. Overall, this place isn't a bad option if you're in the area or need something fast to grab but I wouldn't expect you to be blown away by these two sandwiches.

Been coming here for years. Love the food and bubble tea. Prices have definitely gone up but it's still worth it. Just be aware they're not open as late as they used to be. Hoping this place survives COVID

Delicious!!! Quick, so flavorful and affordable. I can't wait to come back and try more.

Satisfies that craving, but definitely not the best banh mi you'll have. Cash only, $4.50/per, no special bundling prices. We ordered two cold cut banh mi and two white meat banh mi. Bread was good, but a little dry and much too large for the portion of meat inside. The pickled veggies were carrot and onion, which are different from the traditional carrot and daikon. We haven't tried any of the other banh mi, so I can't speak for other options, but this is a definitely a no-frills environment.

Closed!!! Without obvious notice to the public! Please at least post a sign in front. So the public don't have to keep going back and wait and wait and get upset.

When you crave a Vietnamese sub, you got to get one. No one can beat the cart that first sold Vietnamese subs, which was located in the main floor of what used to be those little Chinatown eateries, which was upstairs. Anyhow, I got the good old cold cut sub. I haven't had one of these bad boys in a long time. So I enjoyed it very much and loved the taste of the Maggi sauce they put in the sub. It's so good. I got the Bbq Beef but saving that for another day to eat. Like tomorrow! I'm just happy there are these sub shops still around so when the craving strikes it can be fixed.

I try to avoid using hyperbole in my reviews but I can't help it this time. This place makes THE BEST banh mi sandwich in the entire universe, including the multiple dimensions of time and space in which I am concurrently writing the same review as this one. Let me try to break this down to the best of my ability THE BREAD: What can be said of their bread....crunchy on the outside yet so soft and delicate on the inside....perfect amount of space in between asking for it to be filled with delicious ingredients.....oh. my. heaven. MEAT: Oh the variety of meats to choose from...shall I go with the cold cuts? BBQ beef? shredded pork?? what shall I do??? THEY ARE ALL SO DELICIOUS Veggies: Oh just the right amount of veggies in the sandwich..not too overwhelming, not too underwhelming...literally PERFECT portion. Every bite is sprinkled with that gorgeous tasty smell from fresh veggies. AHH! Wait....all this for just $4.50??????? you got to be kidding me. I mean you really got to be kidding me....it's just way too good to be true. For those who are still not convinced, let me put it to you this way. If I were a convicted killer with a death sentence, I would request my last meal to be a banh mi sandwich from 163 Vietnamese Sandwiches & Bubble Tea.

Visited during the pandemic. Still serving up solid sandwiches, I got the cold cut sandwich as well as the bbq pork sandwich. Bread is very good. Very tiny store and not much room inside to order and pick up.

Amazing Banh Mi for only $6.06. Bread was still soft even after a few hours of sitting on my table. One of the best low price but still good foods in Boston Chinatown.

Lovely hole in the wall found and recommended by my friend who lives in Boston. They are a no frills, affordable, quick and delicious Bahn Mi restaurant. They're simple in what they offer but they do it well. You also can't beat the $4.25 price. Great find!

Went here today with a friend after I've heard many of my coworkers in Chinatown raving about this place it didn't disappoint!! I got the xiu mai, which is similar to meatballs but they were super tender and delicious. The bread was also the perfect ratio of soft to crispy. Will be back again and can't wait to try the other options!

i ordered the vegetarian duck banh mi- it was super fresh and tasty. food was done quickly, and the lady behind the counter was nice. cash only and take out only spot!!

the bread was so thick it was impossible to fit my mouth around it and there wasn't much filling. also there was an incredibly putrid smell happening inside.

Now this is a first...fake duck vegetarian meat sandwich that I've ever had. The vegetarians next to me are complaining that their bahn mi sandwiches don't taste like duck or chicken and instead taste like tofu. Um, no duh Sherlock Holmes. That's why it's fake meat. But as they're talking about vegetarianism I'm just laughing since I can hear what they really want is some real meat. Nothing replaces real meat. The sandwiches here are okay. The fake duck thing was chewy and covered in veggies so that if you pretend hard enough you may believe it's real duck or chicken or whatever fake meat you ordered. I'm no vegetarian, and they had real meat, but I just wanted to try their chewy fake tofu duck just for kicks.

This place is a very small Vietnamese place with only three chairs inside. Do not let its simple decor fool you - the food here is very good. Their banh mi sandwich in particular was excellent and very cheap ($3.75 to $4.75). They offer vegetarian versions and also several meat options (cold cut, BBQ beef, BBQ chicken, roast pork, and more). The bread is kept warm and was very fluffy, and the meat deliciously seasoned. They also have rice and noodle plates as well, as well as bubble tea.

Tried this place on a whim. Honestly pretty disappointed here. From the bun (weirdly/poorly cut and stale), to the amount of toppings within the sandwich. Nothing special here. I'll get my Bahn Mi somewhere else from now on.

Discovered this place a couple years ago when I was looking for a smoothie, and although it didn't look like your average smoothie vendor, I was surprised that they have some good options and multiple fresh fruit flavors. Found out subsequently this is also a great spot to pick up a quick bite at a good price. Whenever I head to South Station for travel I always drop by on my way and grab a meal to go. They have lots of Vietnamese food options--I've tried the grilled pork and grilled chicken over rice vermicelli and enjoyed both. Moist and well seasoned meat--you can tell they don't skimp on the herbs and spices. Also the summer rolls are good too. It's convenient that meals are packaged for easy consumption instead of regular take out boxes that are unwieldy when traveling. And each dish is under or around $5! What more could you ask for?