Becky L.
Yelp
I've been coming here for years now, and I keep coming back for their bahn mi, bao buns, and drinks.
The bahn mi is always fresh and the bread is perfectly crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. My usual go-to favorites include #1 the works and #4 Korean bbq. Most recently I decided to try the #7 grilled chicken bahn mi and it did not disappoint. The chicken was well marinated and not too dry, and still had their classic veggie toppings like cucumber, cilantro, pickled carrots/daikon, and jalapeño. I like that there are specific options for cutting the sandwich in half, toasting the bread (normal, extra, or not at all), and adding/taking out ingredients. Bao buns are loaded with ingredients, and my favorite is the pork belly.
There are so many drink options and you can get the combo price in-store (bahn mi + smoothie/milk tea/sugar cane juice for $11.50). It is unfortunate that you used to be able to save a little more with the combo (like around 50¢) but now it can still save you up to 20¢. Also based on the menu, you might not save money but end up spending more on the combo compared to ordering as separate items, so I'd advise you to check the math before deciding to choose the combo. My favorite drinks are the Vietnamese coffee ($4.50 for a small coffee, and well enjoyed by my friends who love their crushed ice) and taro milk tea. My friend recently got the #16 brown sugar milk boba, and he said it was good as well.
Whenever I'm deciding where to eat with friends, this place is usually an option. My vegetarian friends have eaten the tofu bahn mi and are usually satisfied--I've had it too and even though I'm not vegetarian, I still like it (flavorful and even better with sriracha). I saw that their menu now has tofu bao, so I'll have to come back and try it.
Very convenient as you can order online. If you decide to order inside and the line is long, you can also order with their self-order station that's also inside.
Although prices have risen over the years, this place has been reliably good. It is unfortunate that there is no longer any indoor seating but there are ~2 tables outside (don't expect anything fancy as you'll have a nice view of the strip mall parking lot). The benefit of bahn mi is that it's so convenient so I've taken it to the beach and friends' houses. Thank you 545° for helping me easily satisfy my bahn mi cravings. My priority is their food, so I'll definitely will keep coming here for now.