Banh Mi Cali

Honest review, the banh mi is sad here. Plenty of meat but barely any veggies. I paid $9 per banh mi so I expected a filling meal. The bbq pork wasn't like char sui, more like a boiled pork with sugar. Small inside, don't expect to sit in.

We place our order and returned 10 mins later to pick up. Not much room in the store for more than 2 customers at a time. The owner was very friendly and helped me choose my sandwich. She said, “chicken is very good. If you try you will know”. We ordered a vermicelli noodles with chicken and a Banh mi sandwich chicken. I tried it and now I know. It was very good although the sandwich was a little light on meat. The vermicelli was a good portion and flavorful. Next time I would try the pork or beef.

Very delicious bahn mi's! The bbq pork was excellent and huge! The bread was very fresh and had a great crunch on the outside, soft on the inside. A bit spicy but the flavors are just so fresh and delicious! Highly recommended

Amazing. We had the vegetarian hoagie and the Vietnamese sausage hoagie with vegetarian rolls. The food was amazing. The bread was really fresh. Just the right amount of crisp in every bite. Loved it.

Authentic banh mi. The #6 could be sold on the streets of Ho Chi Minh. The bread is so fresh and has the flaky crust of a really good baguette. Toppings are fresh and spicy. And only $8? Wow! Mom and pop restaurant and they are very friendly. I ordered a ham #6 and a BBQ pork #4 banh mi and a delicious iced Vietnamese coffee. Quick service and great quality. Not much seating is the only downside. Otherwise, if you like banh mi you need to try it out!

This place has a great opportunity to become a fantastic hole in the wall place. Unfortunately it’s just not there yet, the wait was long but when we got our banh mi I knew it was freshly made. Sadly it lacked substantial filling and some flavour, especially for $8. The avocado smoothie was nice but it’s what you get for $5, the tapioca seemed slightly off as well. Perhaps the point for improvement is adding more filling to the banh mi. Nonetheless a small mom and pop business that ain’t too bad

This place used to be great, with a substantive banh mi. But recently, they’ve been putting little to nothing in their sandwiches, making the $8 sandwich basically bread with almost nothing in them. I’m really disappointed. This place used to be great.

Really underestimated Vietnamese restaurant. You can easily drive right past this place, but our love of Vietnamese cuisine was the cause of our visit. Super inexpensive with delicious selection of plates and bahn mi sandwiches. Super small, only a few tables, but don't let this deter you from making an order. Would definitely stop by again when local.

Not sure how I've slept on Banh Mi Cali all this time. Totally unassuming hole in the wall making great banh mi for what could be considered pre Covid prices. For the $8 I spent on #6 it was a steal. From my first bite of #6, it was bliss, I think I finished my warmed sandwich in 5 total bites. Perhaps it was a shorter hoagie but it certainly made up for it in taste. First bite, the combination of flavors was delicious and there certainly was a healthy smear of Vietnamese mayo to add to the richness. I typically eschew a large helping of carrots in my Banh mi which they were able to accommodate. In the future I'd ask for double meat if I could. I called about 10 minutes before closing and waited minimally for my order upon arrival. Most likely you'll grab yours to go as there isn't seating from what I could tell. The experienced couple that run this place cannot be any sweeter. Every time I come in, they always welcome me back next time. I'll be back again for sure. Cash is preferred.

Banh mi was very good! I got the chicken banh mi and my husband got the pork. Very flavorful and bread was crispy/flaky. Quick and easy lunch.

Stopped by for lunch and it was great. Fantastic chicken Banh mi with the freshest bread, delicious chicken, and the spiciest chili. Server was very nice and helpful. And good value for money. Do Attend.

The employees speak Vietnamese so food is authentic. Viet sandwiches are $8. The French bread was very good.. soft and fresh. I do wish they would put just a bit more meat but overall they were good. Viet coffee is $5 and pretty decent too. Employees were very nice. Only has a small table with 3 chairs. Small sink to wash your hands.

Conveniently located at 9th and Arch, sandwiches are traditionally tasty and coffee is straightforward and not too shabby. Staff is friendly even though may be a bit hard to understand. It was raining out and the female staffer really cared about my safety. There was a small Place to sit at but I opted not to. They also offered a number of non-hoagies too.

The best banh mi in the city! Simple ordering and grabbing it to go. Love the toasted bun, grilled pork, crunchy veggies, and sauce, a perfect ratio of everything. Service is fast and friendly.

Best tofu banh mi around! Best price for any sandwich in the area. Nice, hard working owners!

Delicious Banh Mi. I got a bbq chicken hoagie which is served as a banh mi style sandwich. The woman who works there is so nice! I ate it too fast to take a picture. It is cash only.

I went here on a weekday around lunch. An older man was sitting up front and got up to take my order and was pretty friendly. It also only took like 5 minutes to pull together my vegetarian hoagie which was great. Heads up that it is cash only. I took it over to Franklin square since the weather was nice and I was happy with the fresh bread. I didn't get the spicy version but I think I will next time because I think it could use just a tad more flavor. It was still a great lunch for $7.

I ordered the #6 Vietnamese ham banh mi which has ham, pate, carrots, and some other veggies inside, which was $7. It was super delicious and the pate wasn't too liver-y and was nice and smooth. The carrots & veggies were marinated really well and added a great flavor that helped cut into the flavor of the ham & pate! Like many others have said, the bread here is so great!!!! It's crunchy on the outside (but not too crunchy where it can hurt your mouth) while the inside is nice and soft. I also got an iced Vietnamese coffee which was $4 and amazing!! It's nice & strong coffee and the condensed milk blends super well with it! All in all, a great meal for $11 - what else could you ask for?? Just make sure to bring some cash and you'll be in for a treat

Overpriced and poorly made banh mi. They charge $8 for a horrible banh mi with minimal fillings. This is not how Vietnamese sandwich should be! For other non-Vietnamese customers who have know idea what it should be, it may be acceptable! For us, NO!!! A perfect example of greed trumps customer satisfaction. Our first time here and also our last. Do not recommend it! Try elsewhere.

I've been trying different Banh Mi spots and this is my second favorite out of the ones that I've tried. I had the BBQ pork banh mi and it was exceptionally tasty! The roll had just the right amount of crisp, the veggies were fresh and the pork was tender and juicy. It was so good that I ate it while my mouth was still numb after my dentist appointment. I was hungry and this was perfect. The pricing is a bit better than average. $7 is great considering it's a full roll and most places charge a little more. Some even charge more with a shorter roll. That's not gonna work for my inner greedy guy! I'll be back!

this a very straightforward banh mi shop that seems family owned. Most of their Vietnamese hoagies are under $10 and very filling. They kindly ask if you're okay with spicy when you're ordering. They have lots of drink options (soda, tea, bubble tea, Vietnamese coffee, etc) and do have dishes other than the banh mis but the sandwiches are so good that it's all I tend to get. The bread is always just right, fluffy but crunchy. The toppings don't look like much but all the flavor is there so it's not skimpy.

Owners are friendly. The banh mi is good but i would agree with the other review that's the filling is very minimal. Ordered drinks which were mostly big chunks of ice, the tea basically just filled the in between of the ice. So I agree, it's pricey for the quantity. I think these are easy fixes if they would like to.

I had to pick up a passport at the Passport Agency, and walked past this place on my way back to the car. Who doesn't like a great Bahn Mi? So I decided to try. It's just a little counter with some chairs to wait in, but it was nice, if not utilitarian. Overall, I was disappointed. First of all, the people in there were really nice, and the prices I saw were very good. I ordered the "traditional" sandwich, with Vietnamese Ham and paté. My first disappointment was the bread. It was a Liscio's roll, which is excellent for a Philly Hoagie, but not for a bahn mi. It was not a French style bread, just a soft hoagie roll. It just wasn't the right fit, no crispy crust. Also, the pickling of the vegetables was either too light, or they weren't pickled at all, and there were no jalapeños, even though I was asked if I wanted spicy, and I said yes. The pâté was too soft, almost a liquid and running out the side, and a very light taste. The only things I could really taste were the bread and the ham. Those were fine, but just not that great. I was bored of it after a few bites. I really wanted to like it, but it just wasn't right for me. Some of the places on Washington Ave. are just so much better, but I guess if you're on this side of the city, it's not the worst, just not spectacular.

A very nice place to grab a Banh Mi Sandwich and a Vietnamese Iced-Coffee! Yes, this place is small, but it is also authentic. I highly recommend this little hole-in-the-wall establishment, which you could easily miss if you do not know where it is. It is not even a couple blocks away from the Chinatown Arch, also!

I love that their sandwiches aren't too much, starting at $7. Their bread is very fluffy and slightly flaky. I am not the biggest fan that there isn't a whole lot stuffed in the sandwich, but it is cheaper than most banh mi joints. There is a lot of drink options and they offer very fair priced Vietnamese coffee (cold or hot). Cash only!

Can I give it 10 stars? Maybe we're biased since we used to live around the corner. This is the best banh mi in Philly. Best banh mi in the US. Best banh mi outside of Vietnam. Bread, amazing. Pate, amazing. Mango slush, amazing. Summer rolls, amazing. Service, amazing. Ms. Ly, amazing. Every year or so when we go back to Philly we make a visit like we're visiting our Vietnamese mother. Cash only. Sometime it does get busy but worth the wait. There's a small sitting area in the restaurant. Have to eat it fresh for maximum effects.

I was looking for a quick bite to pick up after a 2-hour bus ride from NYC and am so glad I found this gem. Oftentimes, I find myself craving banh mi and all the shops I like are not walking distance from my house. When visiting Philly, I thought it'd be a great lunch to curb my cravings. Upon entering the shop, I've noticed how homey it feels. It's quite small and a little movement can trigger the motion sensor doorbell (I'm guilty of it multiple times). The nice lady came to greet me as I entered and took my order: Number 6 - Vietnamese ham hoagie. It took some time since it was one lady taking all the orders and the food is made to order so it's understandable. After she's done making my banh mi, I paid in cash and headed to a park to enjoy it. Let me tell you this, I've eaten many banh mi's in NYC from numerous shops throughout my lifetime. This is the first time I've had banh mi crispy on the outside yet so fluffy on the inside. I've never had this texture of baguette from other banh mi shops before. Most of the other banh mi's I've had has a very hard exterior, to the point where it scratches the top of your mouth. I thought those were the best I could find until I found Banh Mi Cali. The filling was really good as well. There was a great amount of pate and ham but I would love it more if there were more pickled carrots. I honestly wish I could bring this shop to NY with me. It's definitely something I will miss and my cravings won't be as satisfied as it used to be because my standards have been upped. If I ever visit Philly again, you'll find me here.

I love their hoagies !!!! So authentic. I'd order from them every time I'm around the area to get my nails done.

I was having a craving for Bahn Mi and so I called ahead to order for pick up. After 10 mins walk, I got my BBQ Pork Bahn mi as soon as I arrived. The protion size is decent. The bun is slightly toasted, so it's crunchy on the outside. Veggies are fresh and BBQ pork was very flavorful! I finished it so quickly that I didn't get a chance to take a picture of the delicious Bahn mi.

This place is close to my office and I was craving a banh mi for lunch so I called ahead and placed my order. I got the standard Vietnamese ham hoagie with everything on it. After a quick walk, I stopped in and my sandwich was ready to go. They put it on a nicely toasted hoagie roll that get very crispy on the outside and still fluffy inside. Inside, it had ham, pate, picked carrots and cucumbers, and some jalapenos (I think?). The pickled veggies were a great balance to the fattiness of the ham and pate. Overall, it's a delicious sandwich. The only thing that could possibly be improved is the ratio of filling to bread, but I would definitely go back for another. Might try the BBQ pork next time!

Stopped by to pick up a bahn mi to go before my bus back home from Philly. This is a small hidden gem in the tip of Chinatown. You can tell that it's authentic when you walk in and you hear the owners of the shop speak vietnamese while playing vietnamese music in the background. You can find sandwiches for less than $5 here which is super affordable! I wish I picked up more before I went back home but based on the one I got, it was enough to land them a 5 star rating on yelp. I got the BBQ Pork Bahn Mi which is #4 on the menu. It came out to $4.75. I got it spicy as well. It took a couple minutes for them to make my sandwich even though I was the only customer so I assumed they were making it fresh. When I finally received my bahn mi, it was still hot. I could not wait till I got home to NYC to finally try the bahn mi. I tried it first thing when I got home after a 3 hour trip home. There was a generous amount of pork in the bahn mi and the spicy sauce that went inside of the bahn mi was what really made the sandwich great. Would definitely recommend this hole in the wall for someone who is in need of a bahn mi fix. FYI this is a cash only store!

!!! This place is it. I've been looking for that hole in the wall, authentic, family owned Vietnamese shop to get my bahn mi fix. Well folks, the look is over! Bahn Mi Cali provided everything I was looking for. Great prices, good quality sandwiches and the sweetest lady/man to top it off. Definitely going to make this a frequent pit stop.

Cheap and delicious banh mis. Their bread is delicious and has the perfect crunch to it. Super small shop, so once you order they do have a sign that request you wait outside. I recommend calling ahead to place your order. They do have a special of buy 5 banh mis, get 1 free (great deal). I typically get their Vietnamese ham hoagie and it's delicious. It's pretty big and overall such a great value. The pate and their bread really makes it something special. Their fried spring rolls are pretty great too. Remember to bring cash since they don't accept card. They don't really have definitive hours listed, but when I went on a Friday they said they close at 7pm.

Good is great, customer service is also great! Nicest family owned business in Chinatown I've been to so far.

One of the best banh mi I've ever had. Got the regular pork BBQ and it was SO good! At $7, can't beat the quality for the price. Would rather go here instead of the other banh mi place in Chinatown.

When you need a quick meal and you are in or near Chinatown, Banh Mi Cali is a good place to know. This Vietnamese take-out place offers a variety of tasty Banh Mis. Though they are made to order (which is good of course) your order never takes too long to prepare. One of my favorite Banh Mis here is the Vietnamese sausage. Its flavorful and filling at the same time. I'm sure I'll grab another Banh Mi at Banh Mi Cali before too long.

When you are tired of the ever emerging bubble tea and smoothie storm happening right now in Chinatown and you want some old school Vietnamese ice coffee of the jet fuel variety, Banh Mi Cali is the jawn. They also have bubble tea and smoothies. I like to get stuff from here as often as I can. When I say I, I mean- I send my wife here all the time to pick me up some. When she brings it back it is all that I hope for... strong, rich, and delicious. Supporting small business every chance we get for this Mom and Pop shop!!!

Ordered the traditional (ham) banh mi and the Viet ice coffe. Genuinely the most authentic banh mi I've had so far in this city. The filling isn't what I'm used to but the flavors are the same and reminds me of home. Will definitely be coming back

I had a Banh Mi craving and was in Chinatown so stopped by Banh Mi Cali since I heard good things. The shop is small but has a very extensive menu (sandwiches, platters, boba) and a well stocked drink case. The woman who rang me up was so sweet and nice. My combo with ham was delicious. The bread was very good, flaky and light, and the fillings were fresh and generous. I wish it had more veggies for crunch but was overall happy. I'll definitely come back for a banh mi. Cash only and you can get one free if you buy 5 sandwiches- great for a lunch run!

This is a tiny little place with few seating. This place is a perfect example of not to judge a book by its cover. I had the chicken Banh Mi and omg it was the best. Really good food and the woman working there is really sweet too. And the price is 5$ but the food is worth so much more.

Don't let its looks fool you! I've been a frequent customer of Banh Mi Cali since I moved to Chinatown area years ago and have developed a good relationship with the owner, who is the sweetest lady on Earth. I'll have to say that some of the Vietnamese dishes (like the rice vermicelli with bbq pork dishes) aren't what I'm typically used to in authentic Vietnamese cuisine but they all taste pretty good. They're probably her own home recipes that she's been making for years before she opened this place and the dishes really do give me a very home cooked meal vibe. As far as the banh mis go... I've been very disappointed by the bread at other banh mi establishments in Chinatown. Often I've seen banh mis made on a soft hoagie roll that looks like its from amorosos but not at Banh Mi Cali! I think it may have the best bread for banh mis in Chinatown and the bread is one of the most important parts! Try the traditional Vietnamese cold cut or the meatball banh mi if you want a more authentic taste. But if you're weary then the BBQ pork and the sausage ones are also pretty good. And don't forget to get the Vietnamese iced coffee to go along with your meal! Warning: don't have it in the evening if you're trying to get to bed early.

I discovered this place a few years ago, and their food is still amazing. Their food is pretty cheap when compared to other places but I think it's the best! Just make sure to call ahead of time to order, and make sure you have cash when you're paying !

There appears to be only one vegetarian option (fried tofu) but it's a home run. The tofu was fried but not greasy, the bread was perfectly, the toppings were spot on, and the size was enough for two meals (or to share with a friend) . Quick and friendly service. Note that it is cash only.

Amazing vietnamese hoagie place, best in Chinatown Philly. I recommend #5 or #6. A full hoagie for only $7 is definitely worth it

I was really craving a fruit smoothie with my dinner and Banh Mi Cali was one of the closest places where I could get both, so I finally stopped in for the first time. First, the strawberry bubble tea was amazing. The bubbles were soft and on the smaller side so they were actually suspended in the drink, and not at all rubbery or slimy, which are always my biggest fears when agreeing to bubbles. The smoothie itself was made with fresh strawberries, milk, and a little ice, so it was more akin to a lighter, healthier milkshake than the smoothies you can get elsewhere. I also got a bbq pork banh mi, and the bread was easily the best part. A perfectly toasted baguette that was crispy on the outside and still fluffy on the inside. Someone needs to teach me this toasting wizardry, because while the bread itself was still very good by the end of the meal, it was no longer magical. But yes, eat this immediately while it's fresh! The pork itself, well, compared to a good American bbq or the cha shao (char siu) of Chinese places, the pork here was average, but I look forward to coming back and trying a different filling. :) Cash only, listed price on the wall is tax inclusive. This is not a fast food joint, plan for a ten minute wait even if the shop isn't busy.

Since I really don't do much pork my bahn mi selections are usually bbq chicken or vegetarian. Discovered this place while out for lunch during jury duty The chicken bahn mi is very good. Not served on a baguette, they use Liscio's rolls. Definitely tasty and worth the $4.50. Skip the summer rolls, which were not much more than noodles lettuce, 2 very thin slices of shrimp balls, and a forgettable sauce. Do get the homemade yogurt, which is a little sweet, and made from condensed & "American" milk according to the owner. They also offer various noodle dishes which are pictured on the wall. Expect friendly, fast service. Very small inside. Although I used to go to QT, I find this place has bigger sandwiches that cost less, and are just as tasty. If you're in Chinatown, and are craving a solid bahn mi, I say give this place a chance

This corner banh mi shop is not much to look at. Maybe 150 square feet with only 2 tables for eating in, and the rest of the space totally utilitarian for the production of Vietnamese fast food. There is a wall menu with photos of their offerings and a cooler full of fruit for their various smoothies. The ladies of the house are pleasant, courteous and very deferential. I love that they bowed when they delivered my food. My Spring Roll arrived after the Banh Mi, but that was of no concern. They were 5 lightly fried, tightly wrapped, logs full of ground shrimp and pork with veggie filler. The dipping sauce was clear with a sweet vinegar taste. Very nice. The Banh Mi was loaded with BBQed Pork, Cucumber, Carrot, Cilantro and a good Peanut Dipping Sauce. The Roll was not quite a crusty baguette, but was fresh and complementarily soft and chewy as the palette on which the other flavors were painted. Quite good. Banh Mi Cali is primarily a take out joint for those wanting a good sandwich or one of their many handspun smoothies or bubble teas. Still, as a solo traveler this night, it suited me perfectly as the place to relax with a good light meal in a small corner of Vietnam.

This is a cash-only, mom & pop, banh mi store in which almost everything is made in order and served piping hot. While the service speed may not compare with that of an efficient assembly line, the quality and quantity of the food is definitely top notch. We had the bbq pork banh mi and it was served on a sub-foot long french baguette and all of the trimmings associated with the banh mi. If you're hungry, have about $5-7 to spare and are willing to wait about 8-10 minutes for a sandwich, then this is the place for you!

Really friendly owners and great food! The fried spring rolls were probably one of the best I've ever had. It was seasoned and fried perfectly. Highly recommend this item. The banh mi had generous portion of meats and the veggies were fresh. The pate was especially delicious as it gave the sandwich a peppery taste. Only issue is the bread did not have a good bite to it. A little too much dough in the middle and not even crispy crust. Didn't seem like a true French Vietnamese baguette.

My favorite lunch spot. Food is great, coffee is strong and the owners are so sweet. Recommend the traditional banh mi, the bbq, or #19 or 20 off the vermicelli menu. Really can't go wrong for the great value!

I love their sandwiches! The filling was tasty, and the baguette was the perfect texture in addition to being pretty big. The owners were also very friendly. As others have mentioned, there are only two tables there, so it's more of a carryout place. I can't wait to come back and try the fried spring rolls and Vietnamese flan!

There's 7 folding seats here, on two tables and 4 on the bar ledge thing on the window. It's on the corner of 9th and arch, really close to the 8th and market Patco stop. I got a BBQ pork banh mi sandwich for 4.75, as per recommendation of some other yelp review. It looked like one of those skinny foot long sub breads you get at some places, but it was prob about 7-8 inches long. I also got a Vietnamese flan for 2 dollars. The flan was thicker and creamier than it looked, but had the expected syrupy goodness on the bottom. The flan portion itself wasn't super sweet which I liked. It looks like it was made directly into the paper cup bowls they had, since the top of the flans skin started to scrunch up. This is probably from the sides of the flan sticking to the ends of the cup as it cooled, which kinda implies it was poured in hot. The sandwich itself was fresher than I expected. And honestly, together with the flan I was more satiated than I was expecting to be. I really wanted some banh mi and this was the closest one that I saw on yelp. There's no bathroom but there is a sink for you to wash your hands in. Which is a total+++ for me. I'm kinda a messy eater and love rinsing off my hands after fooding. The place itself is quite small and it looks like a cute little local mom and pop store. There are plants and figures scattered around the store, typical for little old Asian ladies to do. However, it does show that their business doesn't seem to be as great as it could be. Stop gap fixes like the styrofoam backing to prevent the chairs from scuffing up the wall, and the janky door that doesn't close all the way by itself shows the gradual dilapidation of local mom and pop stores as 'mom the pop' get older. The store front starts becoming less store front and more storage. Function over form. While I was eating there, the (presumably) 'pop' mentioned to the 'mom' how they needed to get the door fixed as it was letting the cold air in. It was kind of saddening. It's stores like these that I believe people should support, favoring local places instead of chains. What's the point of visiting somewhere if you're going to get something you could just get at home? Gotta have the local experience man. And for 4.75 that sandwich was damnnnnn cheap. Try it out!

Good Vietnamese hoagies. Just stay away from the shrimp hoagie. I've had bad experiences with with. It's not really shrimp but made of shrimp paste. The pork hoagies are great. Stick with that! Their Vietnamese coffee is definitely one of the best and it's only 3 bucks!

Honestly the best hole in the wall bang mi around. I like my original banh mi and it was absolutely delicious. Reminded me of Vietnam. The old lady in there is also very sweet. It's nice to support mom and pops restaurants.

The sandwiches are ok, not the best banh mi I've ever had, especially for $4-5. If you wants real banh mi, just go to Washington Ave in South Philly and you can get a great sandwich for $3.50. The lady there is certainly nice, so I'm not complaining about the service, but the sandwiches themselves are meh. I got the BBQ pork sandwich, and there wasn't that much meat, and it was a bit too sweet. There was not any pate that is signature of bahn mi sandwiches, and no peppers (although they did have pickled carrots and daikon and cucumbers). Instead of the spice coming from the peppers, they just add sriracha, which I think is a cop out. I love banh mi, so this place isn't too bad if you just want a sandwich from a convenient location, but the sandwiches could be a lot better.

Really good pork Banh Mi sandwich for 5 dollars. Quick service and tasty relish, definitely recommend as a quick bite while enjoying the sites in Philly.

Walk by this place a lot and thought I would try it today. Simple interior with a few seats. Family run. Ordered the Pork BBQ Bahn Mi which was very fresh and tasty. Large portion for $4.50. They also offer many types of bubble tea for $3 (a good price), which appear to be made from real fruit (fruit case in the front of restaurant). I will try one another time. Owner was friendly to me. Note it is $ only.