Travy P.
Yelp
I would have to say that the name Banh Mi Love accurately captures the care taken in preparing one of the best Banh Mis I've ever had and can't stop buying.
Banh mi is one of my favorite foods, and there are a lot of different elements to judge to determine if a banh mi is worth buying. For me, it's what's on the inside that counts, and Banh Mi Love has options for everybody. Whether you like spicy or mild, vegan or meaty, traditional or a new spin, their menu can accommodate anybody, and they are very kind when it comes to substitutions. I religiously order the Lemongrass Chicken Banh Mi, but I can not have egg whites, so they are always willing to swap out the aioli on that sandwich for the Sweet Ginger Vegan "Aioli" that they offer for the Gingery Tofu Vegan Banh Mi (which I have also tried and really enjoyed). After ordering whichever banh mi you would like, they ask if you want jalapeños or not which is an easy way to control the spice level, and additionally all sandwiches come with pickled carrots and onions, cucumber, cilantro, and their house soy sauce. Any of these can also be left off to further customize your banh mi. Finally, you can't have a sandwich without bread, and it's not a banh mi without a baguette. The baguette they use at Banh Mi Love is perfect. It doesn't fall apart and crumble everywhere like at some places, and it holds up to all of the great sauce, aioli, and other fillings while still being easy to eat (and they do not short you on fillings as you can see in my picture). I need to try the other menu items, but I need to get a few more Lemongrass Chickens before I switch up my routine.
If you're a student at SF State or just need a meal after running errands at Stonestown Galleria, then Banh Mi Love is one of the easiest, closest, and best options. Once you get past the very minor issues of limited parking and trying to locate where to go, you will see that Banh Mi Love is worth the visit. There's also a bus stop right outside for the 57 bus, and the stop on 19th Ave for the 28 bus is just a two or three minute walk away. Just enter the medical building lobby, turn left before the elevator, and you're at the right place for a banh mi.