Dinosaurs Sandwiches

Is this an In-N-Out versus McDonald’s thing? Personally, I like Lee’s sandwiches better. There is only one Lee’s location in the city. This restaurant has much fresher ingredients comparably. The bread is freshly baked. But, it just doesn’t have the taste that Lee’s sandwiches do. Tried the avocado smoothie.

shaking beef banh mi is delicious!!! lowkey pricey (16.79) but i devoured it. quick service!

The best Banh Mi I’ve ever had—especially the pork, my favorite. And I’ve been to Vietnam many times!

I got in line(there was one person in front of me) and I noticed that even when the space is small the place is clean and organized. There is one fridge with different drinks to choose and they also have some snacks. Outside there are 4 small tables for outdoor dining. I ordered the Pork special sandwich, pork&shrimp spring rolls and a mango mint smoothie. I am really impressed with this place, to be honest I have no complaints everything was delicious and fresh. When I say delicious I mean EXTREMELY delicious and mouth watering plus the portions are great. The pork special is not your regular sandwich and I would recommend it. The spring rolls where fresh, chewy and tasty. Finally the drink was very refreshing. What are you waiting? Come and taste this delicious food.

Decided to try this literal hole-in-the-wall bahn mi joint. Parking outside is pretty much non-existent or luck is on your side and the surrounding area can be a bit dodgy. We got the special, grilled chicken and one Vietnamese ice coffee. The grilled chicken was tasty but a bit spicier than I can handle. The special was just okay - felt like eating mystery meat. The amount for both sandwiches were plenty. The coffee was okay (bring your own straw bc the paper straw did not hold up at all). I am curious to try their mango mint drink next time. I think it's a good option to grab a quick bite if you are in the area and don't want to wait in a long queue for food or you are planning to picnic at Duboce Park which is a short walk.

Love the banh mi here! The Thai tea and mango mint smoothie are also delicious. P.S. Please bring back the Kare Kare Banh Mi special, literally one of my favorite fusion foods ever

Been coming here for years for good reason. The pork and shrimp springs rolls with peanut sauce are sublime. Paired with the also exquisite pineapple flavored potato chips…. You have a meal fit for a king…. Or whatever gender less/ nonbinary system of government you happen to identify with. Cheers!

8-6-21: Ordered sandwiches and spring rolls for lunch! I split the shaking beef and the special sandwich. Everything was really tasty. The shaking beef didn't have a lot of ingredients. But the flavors were delicious. The pork special had a lot of filling and was very tasty. I would get the special again! Also split the shrimp spring rolls and they were excellent! Thank you for the great lunch today!

Food is always amazing. I get the chicken bami every time with extra carrots. The service is A1. The ladies are always friendly, nice, and helpful. The ambiance is just a store front.

I came for the Vietnamese Iced Coffee; it was not good. Three strikes on this one: 1) The coffee tasted burnt and was not freshly-steeped (the cashier simply poured it out of a jug that had clearly been sitting out). 2) The cup wasn't filled to the top. Look, I understand we're in tough economic times, and I also asked for less ice, but 1/8th of my drink was missing (see pic), and for the prices they charge (see #3), it's simply unacceptable. 3). It cost $7. As with #2, I understand these are trying times. But if you're going to charge me this much for a cup of joe, at least brew it fresh and fill the damn cup to the top (see #'s 1 & 2) Unfortunately, I won't be coming back, and I suggest you don't waste your time or money either.

The bahn mis here are SO good. The Special bahn mi has it all- The bread is fresh and crispy, the veggies are fresh and pickled, the meat/pate is tasty and generously portioned. The Avocado smoothie is also smooth, creamy and delicious. Highly recommend this delicious gem in the Castro!

What a wonderful Viet spot! Their banh mis are delicious and they do not skimp on their ingredients. Spring rolls are well made and a great value when you get a set of 3. The only caveat was I've had much better Viet iced coffee. Service was quick and friendly. It's more of a take out place than a sit down but there's two or three tables outside.

I am someone who loves a lot of pickled veggies in my banh mis, and Dinosaurs really hit the spot! I got the Shaking Beef sandwich ($12.95), and the highlights were the amazing bread and bountiful veggies. My biggest pet peeve with Banh mis is when the bread is too hard and hurts to bite on/chew, but this one had perfectly crispy on the outside but soft interior texture. The beef was super flavorful as well. The sandwiches are all around the $13, and drinks were ~$7. Not super cheap, but overall solid and I'll be back to try the rolls/drinks! Seems like a dependable fast casual spot to pickup food for Dolores! The outside had about 3 tables that could seat ~10 people, and service was very sweet and fast.

It can be hard to stand out as a Bahn Mi shop in a city full of fantastic Vietnamese establishment, but Dinosaur has stolen my heart nonetheless. Definitely more geared to take out orders since there's not much seating available and the decor is utilitarian. I've always been satisfied with their prompt service. I've never had to wait longer than 10 minutes for my order so it's perfect if you''re in short on time and crave a huge, highly-customizable sandwich made with fresh ingredients.

this location has been closed since at least September. A sign in the window says that they need to do some renovations or something, but nothing has changed since then and it is still closed. Does anyone know what's going on? They make the best sandwiches and rolls.

Dinosaurs, tucked away in the Castro, is a hidden banh mi gem. The space is small but they offer sidewalk seating on 16th! The Shaking Beef sandwich is a flavor-packed delight, sautéed to perfection with onions and a vinaigrette. The accompanying red hot sauce, possibly a unique blend of sriracha and soy sauce, adds a spicy kick that I thoroughly enjoy. The taste is distinctive and delicious, perfect for spice lovers. On the downside, the Grilled Chicken sandwich falls short of expectations, often turning out dry and lacking flavor. Despite this, the Mango Mint smoothie adds a refreshing touch to the overall experience. With the exceptional Shaking Beef, Dinosaurs has the potential for a 5-star rating, but the chicken sandwich and the Chicken/Shrimp spring rolls need improvement. A solid 4 stars for now, with hope for an upgrade in the future. The team and chefs are always so sweet, stop by and support the restaurant. Don't forget to treat yourself to a bag of their irresistible honey butter chips!

Still in love with this place, always consistent and it's become my standard Dolores Park lunch. Just messy enough for eating on the grass. Service is quick, but also wanted to flag that vegetarian friends do love their tofu sandwich. They also have a kare kare beef special these days.

Seems like a newer location..went with the shrimp rolls, and shaking beef banh mi. It was huge..prob more veggies than actual meet if that's your thing. I'd prefer more meat. Also went with the watermelon lychee smoothie which was raves about on Yelp but lackluster at best for me. The bits of lychee were off putting. Service was meh. The actual sandwich maker was nice and friendly. The lady taking the order wasn't. Prob won't return here.Banh mi is $13 btw..which seems pricey.

3.5 Got the shaking beef banh mi and it was pretty good! My only qualm was that the bread hurt the roof of my mouth because it was a bit hard.

The Vietnamese sandwiches here are very delicious! My favorite is the grilled pork one, the meat is marinated well and they give a generous amount of picked veggies! Service is pretty fast as well, I got my sandwich shortly after ordering. There is a nice little outdoor seating area so it's a perfect place to stop for a quick eat!

I was close by hiking at Fort Funston. My friend lived in the area for college and came here a lot during that time. It's a very tiny store, with outside seating. I do think it's expensive for Banh Mi. It was a good sandwich, I got the grilled pork, which is my go to. The meat was marinated with all the right flavors. They also had vegetarians/vegan options that's always a plus. The bread was still warm which I think made it even better.

Yummy banh mi in a low key shop off Market! My favorite sandwich is the special since it comes with the classic Vietnamese fillings, but the grilled pork is also super tasty. There's just a few small outdoor tables, but Dolores park is nearby if you want to sit down and eat. I also love their watermelon drink - so refreshing on a sunny day. There's street parking around but it gets a little full on weekend afternoons. The address says it's on Market, but it's actually off a little, so the area is nice and quiet.

tried the limited edition beef kare kare banh mi and loved the peanut sauce and beef but they gave so little sambal chilli and I feel like there are more value for money banh mis out there

This place is always delicious, I don't know why Yelp needs me to write a review to post my 5-star rating. Good food, fast and friendly service. I highly recommend this place!

God I LOVE this place. Finally tried it after being in the area for such a long time, and now I crave it alllll the time. The portion is really good, everything is super fresh and delicious. Service is very fast and always friendly. There's a few tables outside, but no indoor seating. It's a small place, so best for to go orders!

The spring rolls are amazing and I love the freshness of the vegetables and the mint! The banh mi was nice and crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. The meat is a little too salty for me but the vegetables help balance it. The staff are super super nice and engaging and accommodated to everything. It's a small shop but there is some nice outdoor seating.

Dinosaurs is a little tucked away in a small plaza in the Castro district, but don't be fooled by the small interior! The Banh Mis were delicious, super flavorful and not dry at all. The bread was especially fresh and the balance of meat to veggies was perfect. It seems like a mom and pop shop and the ordering experience was fast and the food was ready for pickup quickly. I'll definitely be coming back and recommending this banh mi spot for a simple and filling meal!

1000th review! I've been to all location and love them all. Best bread in the game! Chewy airy and crispy!

I love the pork and shrimp spring rolls here -- they're big and fresh, and that the filling includes green apple along with the other standard fillings (lettuce, cucumber, rice noodles, cilantro, mint). The peanut sauce never fails.

I've loved Dinosaurs' rolls for many years. I used to get shrimp as well as the tofu+taro but this time, I only got the latter (not sure shrimp alone was available, I didn't notice it on the menu) I got the tofu and taro. It was delicious! The only trouble was it completely fell apart when the rice paper kept tearing. It was a bummer as it made it much harder to eat... I had had the avocado shake in the past but not for a very long time and it tasted too sweet to me.

Honestly Dinosaurs changed my view on Bahn Mi. Growing up I had my fair share of Bahn Mi from a chain that rhymes with Sees Landwhiches, which had super dry and flaky bread and skimped on the meat. Every bite would be filled with stale, dried flakes with little addition from the meek portion of the fillings. Dinosaurs changed this completely, using a roll that has a good crunch but maintains its structural integrity when you bite into it. I got The Special which had a generous serving of different pork and the pickled vegetables. Don't be fooled by the cute 8" sandwich as it's amazingly filling; I barely finished.. Highly recommend for a quick lunch or something to bring to a picnic!

Pricey for overall okay food. Not terrible but I probably wouldn't go out of my way to get again.

I stop here often, usually for lunch. I feel like their banh mi is a little untraditional, but in a good way- the bread seems a bit more dense and the sandwiches are packed. Since I'm normally dropping by after hitting the gym, I usually go with the chicken, but they've got a ton of options- fried tofu, to shaking beef, and pork. They even have a kare kare banh mi (which I'm pretty sure came with bagoong), though it's been a few years since I last had one. The rolls are good, but I feel like the sandwiches are a better value. Peanut sauce is good. They have a few drink options as well- I'll normally grab the ice coffee or the watermelon lychee. I believe they had some rare Crush flavors at one point, haha, and they also have a bunch of different snacks to compliment your order. They get busy especially during lunch, but I have no complaints about their service. Not a huge shop, but they do have outdoor seating. All in all a great place for lunch, or any meal really. Thanks Team Dinosaur!

Delicious sandwiches, spring rolls, iced coffee, and avocado smoothies! Always great!

$28.93 for 1 grilled pork sandwich, pork & shrimp roll, and a watermelon slush. The prices on their online menu still reflect $8 sandwiches so I was pretty shocked when the total came out to that. The watermelon litchi smoothie is really refreshing! I love the drinks here. The grilled pork sandwich and pork and shrimp rolls were both alright but I feel like I can get a better deal elsewhere with the same taste. I get that times are tough all around and prices have gone up for ingredients. But I just can't justify a $13 (?) bahn mi sandwich from anywhere considering the sandwiches itself are pretty small. I didn't get to eat it right away so I can't really attest to how fresh it was because by the time I got to eat my sandwich the bread wasn't crunch anymore. *sigh* Had I known about the price hike beforehand, I don't think I would've continued with my order. I hope they update their online menus because it's pretty misleading.

There is a lot better Vietnamese sandwiches anywhere else . Over priced for an average sandwich . Service was mediocre didn't expect much on that end . I only ate there to try it out

Insert joke about dinosaurs being dynamite. Prices have increased over the years, but feel like that's a part of life and pandemic and fair wages. I love the no fuss of this place and how consistent their sandwiches are. Small seating outside, some merch inside, and minimal menu. The Special is my fave because I love pate, but you can add it to any of your banh mi's - so can't go wrong. Also recommend trying the not-on-main-menu Kare-Kare, super tasty.

I'm writing this review to voice my displeasure at hearing that this restaurant only serves Dinosaurs! I find this behavior revolting, and hope that the owners change their minds for the better. The rest of the community deserves a nice place to eat too! I am leaving a 5 star review because I'm a good person and just hope that this inspires you to be a better person too. ‍‍‍

Pick up a quick and easy sandwich from here to take to your next picnic (at Dolores) or hike. This crispy tofu banh mi is exactly everything you want in a banh mi - pickled carrots, flavorful tofu, and some buttery veganaise. This place only has a few outdoor seats so don't expect to get seating or be able to eat at this restaurant. Although I didn't find this place on Doordash, if I'm in the area, I'll definitely have it again.

they are so nice here. filled my hydro when he saw it was empty & the orders are made fresh, but still in a timely manner.

I've tried almost all the popular banh mi spots in San Francisco, given this spot 4-5 tries and it still failed to impress me. Being the only banh mi spot around the neighborhood helped with the good reviews I guess? The better things are pickles and the banh mi ( not too thick, not too thin). The meat in the Special banh mi always tasted bland to me. I asked them to put a little more soy sauce but that didn't seem to help. I can't justify going to this place while there are way better banh mi in the city: Banh Mi Viet in Divisadero (the best, closest to what I got in Sai Gon) or Saigon Sandwich (not a huge fan of the thick baguette but it's still decent).

This place never disappoints. My go-to is the Crispy Tofu Banh Mi and a Thai Tea! This is a long over-due review, I've been coming here since 2018 and the flavor remains just as delicious. Love the mayo and the crispy tofu is so tasty. Jalapeños can be a bit spicy but it adds the perfect flavor. The staff is always so efficient and kind. Their chip selection is also so good, it complements the banh mi so well!

Not a sit down place, it was cold and we sat down at some tables lining the store outside. My vegan daughter liked the food, my 15 year old boy was okay with shrimp and pork spring rolls, my 9 year old did not like the chicken and shrimp spring rolls, had to get him some food at Oceana market. I wish they had other type of sauces, like sweet and sour, besides Hosien, peanut and fish sauce. The tofu and taro spring roll was okay, but, I've gotten better spring rolls elsewhere. Kinda wish we had gone elsewhere for what I paid. However my vegan 18 year old was very happy with the food. The young cashier was very nice and friendly.

I owe Dinosaurs an updated review because I recently went there again and felt like I had a completely different banh mi?? I had both the shaking beef banh mi and the special again, and they were both so moist, packed with flavor, and the proportions were *chef's kiss* perfect. I wonder if my banh mi was just made by a different person or if they recently changed their assembly - but either way, there is no denying the difference in flavor. And although it wasn't cheap, I had one of the best banh mi I've had in the city so far. I will say the spring rolls were sort of bland - I recommend sticking with their banh mi!

got the special- so good. pate and mayo and combo of bread was perfect and meat and veggies. i can still taste it...

I ordered the grilled pork sandwich and an avocado shake to go along with it. The sandwich itself was good, but I do wish there was more meat in it. My first few bites into the sandwich were mostly bread and carrots. The grilled pork was good, but there wasn't much in there. The avocado shake was delicious, and I honestly enjoyed it more than the sandwich. It was a perfect creamy consistency, and I could taste the freshness of avocado in there. Overall, my rating for the meal comes to 4 stars (3 stars for the sandwich; 5 stars for the shake)

3.5 stars I got the grilled pork sandwich, which had good flavor (loved the ample pickles and cilantro) but I found the pork a bit dry at times. I was hoping this pork would be like the style of pork that you usually get with a pork vermicelli bowl, but the style here is cut more thinly and has a stronger smokey flavor. Also got a pork and shrimp spring roll - I loved how stuffed it was with veggies (not much filler vermicelli) but I didn't love the addition of the pork because it brought a strong smokey flavor that overwhelmed the roll. Peanut dipping sauce is solid though.

I got the tofu bahn mi. It was crazy good. They slick the tofu into noodles and fry them.

Definitely smackin! Shaking beef Banh Mi- hitter with the minced meat. Worth doubling up on the protein. Spring rolls got that marinated cucumbers and they're fresh! Even at the end of the day. HELLA BOMB! Mango smoothie- amazing and fresh!

Delicious sandwich! Came here for the first time and tried the grilled pork. The bread was perfect. Texture was soft on the inside and good filling of meat and veggies. Everything was well balanced. The flavors were bold but didn't overpower each other. The spread/sauce had good flavor and didn't have too much on the sandwich. I went closer to when they opened on a weekday so it wasn't busy. It was all nice and fresh and I'd definitely come back!

This was my first time coming to this location, it could be pretty hard to find if you are following maps. Parking is not the easiest either. (Don't worry that's not why I gave it this rating) I tried to call the store and the person who answered the phone told me to please hold. All I heard was music blasting really loud in the background and was on hold for 10 min. I ended up hanging up because I felt like he just forgot. It was a weekday between lunch and dinner so I don't know if they were super busy, there was no one there when I arrived a few minutes later and they weren't making any other orders. I usually order the beef or chicken at other locations but figured I'd try the pork combo. The sandwich was super bland. All the meets were dry and didn't taste like anything. Even the pate didn't taste salty. I was bummed because I feel like the pork combo is usually the star.

My partner and I decided to try this spot out while I was in town and it did not disappoint. I had the special and it was amazing. The bread tasted fresh and the ingredients were warm and blended the flavor nicely. Of course I had to get some Pork and Shrimp spring rolls with peanut sauce. I must say these were even better than my spot back home. The flavor was on point. And last I also got a Watermelon Lychee Smoothie, this was perfect with everything I had. I'm definitely saving this spot so when I come back up I'll know where to go. The service was great. Thanks!!!

Clean and modern storefront with both new & traditional banh mi options! Dinosaurs makes a fantastic banh mi for about $8. Sure it's not Tenderloin prices, but it's SF and the fact that you can get a filling meal for under $10 is still a steal. Their bread is great-crispy on the exterior but soft on the inside. They use quality ingredients for their fillings. I always grab the tofu banh mi as a vegan option (no mayo), but they also have eggplant as another plant-based option! They can take a little bit of time to make, so I recommend calling in or ordering online first to expedite pickup. Definitely one of my top spots for Banh Mi in the city. Definitely a must-try!

I ordered the chicken sandwich and it tasted great. I loved the chicken and the bread, and the veggies had a nice flavor as well. If I come here again, I think I would get extra meat, because there wasn't that much chicken. I love how simple and clean the menu is here, and the sandwiches are reasonably priced under $10!

I'm here every week, the workers are friendly, & service is quick! Everything is delicious, don't miss out on the Kare-Kare Banh Mi. Good chip selection & drinks are cold. Eat here.

I have been to this place about 5 times. I tried the shrimp rolls and they are delicious and refreshing. They have green apple, which gives them a very tasty touch to them. The Crispy Tofu Sandwich is also very delicious! The bread is soft on the inside but crispy on the outside. I give it 4 stars because I feel that the crispy tofu in the sandwich is a bit overpowering and a little more on the dry side. My suggestion is to add a little more cilantro and/or sauce to make it easier to swallow. Otherwise, the sandwich is pretty good! The staff has been friendly every time and they don't usually take long to have the food ready (even during lunch hour).

Went back again and the quality was consistent for my shaking beef bahn mi. My boyfriend wasn't wowed by his last time, but he said it was so much fresher and had more meat in it this time. He can't stop talking about it now. That deserves another star. Yummy! Check it out! Also their mint mango smoothie was really yummy.