Mommy's Banh Mi

If you're looking for a solid bánh mì with a little twist, Mommy's Banh Mi is the place to visit. Conveniently located next to San Pedro Market, I often stop by for lunch if I'm in the area. During my recent visit, I ordered the porchetta bánh mì to go, and it was perfectionnnn--the porchetta was flavorful and tender, the pickled veggies added just the right amount of tang, and the bread had the perfect crunch. But what really tied it all together was the green sauce (cilantro aioli)--creamy, herby, and just the right amount of kick. It took everything to the next level. The service here is amazing--super friendly, welcoming, and they give great recommendations. I tried their Thai tea, which was perfectly sweet and refreshing, and if you need a strong caffeine kick, their Vietnamese iced coffee is the way to go. Also, their lemongrass chicken vermicelli bowl is another favorite--fresh, flavorful, and a good variation of textures. Definitely coming back--great food, great people, and a spot worth supporting!

Great experience! Plenty of street parking nearby and it was easy to order by walking up to the counter. I asked the friendly staff what their most popular banh mi is - the lemongrass chicken banh mi was excellent! Plenty of chicken (not rubbery), pâté, fresh veggies, and toasted bread. I appreciated how the bread was toasted correctly. (That can make or break a banh mi IMO.) The green sauce was a nice touch, slightly sweet, and thicker in texture than expected. I also enjoyed the jasmine passion fruit ice tea with a fresh lime slice. Without the slice of lime, the iced tea would taste a lot like the same item at many popular boba tea shops. I will definitely eat here again for the great value!

The place is decorated well with good soft lighting and friendly staff. We ordered the fried chicken with vermicelli noodles, the porchetta banh mi, and the Vietnamese coffee, all of which came out quickly. Vietnamese coffee is very sweet and creamy. Fried chicken was a little too crispy/slightly burnt for me but tasted great, despite being lukewarm. It takes up its section of the bowl (top to bottom) and portion size is probably around 200-250 grams/7-9 oz or so. The vermicelli noodles came in an almost flat sheet (possibly retained packaging shape) and were difficult to fish out from underneath the salad/carrot mix/cilantro. The vegan "fish" sauce is very sweet and tastes just like normal imo. Porchetta/pork belly banh mi was also seasoned well with medium tenderness. The banh mi is about a foot long overall and already cut in half. But the meat also came lukewarm which I guess is the intended temp for sandwiches. The strips are on the thinner side, different from thick and tender pork belly slices. It comes with pretty much the same ingredients as the bowl - refreshing cucumbers, carrots, lettuce, some jalapeños, and crispy onions. The green sauce (cilantro aioli) is definitely amazing! Each entree comes with a small 1 oz container. There's also a faint hint of maybe peanut butter or tahini mixed in.

I ordered the lemongrass chicken Bahn Mi that came loaded with dark meat chicken. There is no shortage of cucumber, carrot, daikon, and cilantro all topped with a flavorful green sauce with more green sauce on the side. Just order extra sauce. You'll be addicted and want extra. The bread was hard and crusty but not so much so that it ripped the top of my mouth. It maintained its form while I was eating and didn't fall apart. If you're hungry for a substantial meal packed with flavor, this place will deliver!

While the price was on the higher side, the food portions and quality helped to justify it. We stuck with the Lemongrass Chicken options for the banh mi and noodle bowl options. All were happy with their food. I myself had the noodle bowl but look forward to trying the banh mi on my next visit. Yes, I plan to go back! And that green sauce...do make sure not to forget to use it with your meal. And if you forget to use it because you were starving and just devoured your food, bring it home with you. =)

My boss bought banh mi here and it was SOO GOOD! I ate the porchetta one and I usually dont go for pork, but this changed my mind! The green aioli (?) sauce was perfect with the sandwhich. I would come back here to try their lemongrass chicken one next time. This place will probably beat duc huong once I try their lemongrass chicken one!

Honestly, I thought the banh mis were going to be overpriced and not tasty, but actually they're quite large and have really premium ingredients so it's a very good unique set of flavors that are a nice change of pace compared to going to standard, traditional viet banh mi shops! We ordered the fried chicken, lemongrass, and the two pork banh mis. Each were tasty and worth the buy! Happy I took the chance and came here with my family, and was very pleased!

I absolutely LOVE Mommy's Banh Mi! I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did, but it is so unique and delicious. Sometimes I am in the mood for a sandwich and sometimes a bowl, and it's so nice to have a place with both options. In my opinion, I prefer getting a bowl because of the layout of all the items and the flavors. The vegan fish sauce is so so good and gives the bowl such a nice flavor when added! Overall, the bowl by itself is very mild in flavor (which is nice when you don't want something super heavy) and the vegan fish sauce elevates it that much more! The hours are a bit different, so be sure to check before you stop by. The staff is extremely kind and very friendly. I will be stopping by Mommy's Banh Mi for lunch more often and highly recommend checking it out!

I came by Mommy's Banh Mi for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. I give Mommy's Banh Mi a 4.5 but am rounding up to 5. $12.95 for a banh mi is steep, but you definitely get what you pay for in this case. I ordered the porchetta banh mi and twirly fries ($5.95). The bread itself was crisp with a soft interior that held in all the fixings. Every banh mi comes with pickled veggies, paté, scallion oil, jalapenos, cucumbers, and cilantro. My banh mi was absolutely stuffed! Everything tasted great as is, but a little drizzle of their house cilantro mayo made it even better. The cilantro mayo was herbaceous, rich, and had a touch of sweetness. Since I ordered porchetta, I found myself missing the crisp pork skin but I still enjoyed my banh mi. I also loved the twirly fries which were fried to perfection and tossed with scallion oil, fish sauce, and crispy shallots. They were flavorful and fried to perfection. Overall, I'd return to Mommy's Banh Mi. It's a great shop if you want something better than your average Lee's Sandwiches banh mi. They also have bun/vermicelli and rice bowls. It's in downtown San Jose so we parked at a nearby meter. The service was polite and the shop was clean.

Amazing bánh mì place situated right across the parking garage downtown. Couldn't be at a better spot. It took me a total of 18 minutes from the time I entered the garage to the time I got back. I came here last Tuesday around 1 for lunch and it was poppin. Tables full, patrons patiently waiting for to-go orders, and kitchen bustling. Luckily there wasn't a line so I got my order in and out really quick. Service from the girl at the cashier was friendly. Staff overall seemed chill. I had DoorDash'd from here a few weeks ago and it was so good it convinced me to head downtown to check it out in-person and I hate going downtown. Porchetta banh mi is the thing to get. Thick tender slices of pork belly, plenty of pickled veg, pliable tasty baguette roll. The green cilantro-based sauce was very tasty. I wouldn't mind a second. I do find myself longing for the familiar pate & viet mayo but it wasn't a huge deal. I really wish they had a cold-cut style to mirror a thit nguoi because that's my favorite banh mi. Would skip on the twirly fries. Just not my vibe. I'd prefer straight or curly fries. Not the messy middle. Overall a dope modern spot with a cool food-truck style take on a banh mi. Something different to shake things up from the usual Duc Huong or Lee's for banh mi lovers. I'll be back.

Yum!! Was here for lunch and ordered the vegetarian banh mi! It was delicious! The bread was crunchy, soft on the inside, and packed with ingredients! Came with a little green sauce that was great as well. Want to come back and try the bowls! The service was awesome too! It was busy during lunch and we were able to get a seat! Overall, awesome spot! Check it out :-)

NorCal is renowned for Vietnamese food. And specifically, San Jose has some of the best options around. That's why I was excited to try Mommy's Banh Mi for lunch while home visiting friends and family. Simple, fast-casual shop (that's a good thing, fussy exteriors usually cover mediocre food), with a limited menu of sandos, fries, rice and noodle bowls! Keep it simple and focus on what you do well. I split the Medallion and the BBQ Chicken sandwiches and a side of fries! First of all! OK NOW MOMMY!!! First impressions are always the quality of the bread. It should MAKE A MESS when you bite in (check) but then give away to a chewy middle (check)! Second, the veg game should be kept tight! Just enough for the bright flavors and crunch, but not eating a salad!!! (Double check)! Then the chicken, succulent and bursting with flavor! I had to stop myself from housing my half so I could try the other sandwich before I was full! The Medallion....HELLA BOMB! The sweet pickles, the onions, the savory patty. It all came together perfectly! And famz, don't sleep on the secret green sauce that comes with the fries. It will live forever in my dreams; and the fries were perfectly seasoned and crispy! Everything tasted fresh, came out fast and was ample in size. I'm a 'high calorie individual' and I left at least 2 bites of each half to the ancestors!! If you are a friend of texture and flavor, you have to crush these Banh Mis!!

Came here for lunch on a Thursday and we ordered the Medallion Banh Mi (lemongrass pork patties), the chicken lemongrass Banh Mi, and also a fried chicken rice bowl. I've had a lot of Banh Mi's in my life and have tried many different places so I didn't have the highest expectations. Oh man the Medallion Banh Mi had me nodding with big eyes at first bite. I was thinking "wowa this is really good, is it the pate? Is it the pork patty?" It was really good and exceeded my expectations. They also came with green sauces that really complimented the sandwiches. I'm hungry again just thinking about it. The fried chicken bowl was also very delicious. The chicken was freshly cooked and the crunch was amazing and very satisfying. It didn't take me long to say that I'm 100% returning again soon for more Banh Mi and also to try more items on their menu. The prices here are also cheaper than the Banh Mi you would be paying for at San Pedro square just a block away, so that may be a factor to sway you to try Mommy's Banh Mi if you're in the San Pedro downtown area.

They've moved locations a couple times and the current location. I actually haven't physically been to yet. I've been ordering from DoorDash, but the food quality and taste have definitely not changed. I still highly recommend the lemongrass chicken bowl. Also a number of my coworkers, highly recommend swear by the banh mi.

I came here twice within 3 days because I went without my husband the first time and he neeeeded to try it fresh LOL. Ordering line is to the right and the menu is very straight forward. You have banh mi options and then your bowls. I tried: Bbq lemongrass chicken with vermicelli : this was sooooo good. Typically I'm not big on lemongrass but the flavor was subtle. Chicken was super juicy and huge portion size! They also serve it with banh hoi (vermicelli sheets? Lol) which was a nice surprise! The pickled carrots and daikon are super tasty and all the flavors of the bowl are so well balanced. And YOU MUST get the green sauce! It's soooo delicious with everything Vietnamese wings: perfectly flavored and battered perfection. Crispy and juicy even towards the end of the meal. Fries - they use like a twister fry / wedge? And their glaze sauce over it is super tasty. Even my toddler enjoyed it Thai tea - sweet and creamy. There's plenty of parking in a garage across, the lots next door, or street parking. Good amount of seating inside too and very clean. Staff are all friendly and you'll find the owner / chef in the kitchen too! Can't wait to come try the other items. O

Quality Bánh mi spot right in downtown SJ. Came by for lunch and got the lemongrass chicken and pork medallion sandwiches. The green sauce they give you is AMAZING. Baguette was 7/10, chicken 8.5/10, medallions 9/10. Would definitely come back when the next craving hits!

Heard that San Jose has good banh mi and found this place near my hotel while on a business trip. I asked the staff which banh mi was the most popular and she mentioned the bbq lemongrass chicken and porchetta. Decided to get the former along with twirly fries and iced Vietnamese coffee. The portion was very generous for the banh mi and really enjoyed the sweet and savory fish sauce that drenched the fries but was crispy at the same time. The green sauce and sriracha went well with the banh mi. I'd come back and try their vermicelli noodle bowl.

Bottom line: new storefront location, chill friendly staff, FLAMEY food. Vibez: located on market street, north of Santa Clara, south of St James, sits the shop across the street from the parking garage. Side of the building has a sweet Islander Vibe mural, and inside the music matched this vibe. Staff was friendly when we walked in, accepted a few customizations to the order with pleasure. Seats for about 20 people, but most orders looked to be to go. Food: sandos, bowls (rice or vermicelli), viet coffee, Thai tea. Fries too! We enjoyed two bowls, porchetta and vegetarian. Servings were generous (maybe tooooo generous I was stuffed!) and food was fresh. Rice was moist, cucumbers were crisp, porchetta was freshly grilled. Vege mix is low key FLAMEY, even for non vegetarians, even lower key was great with a bite of porchetta. Would go back.

Noticed Mommy's Bahn Mi after parking across the street in the public garage. Since it was my first time ordering here, I asked the staff. "What's the best seller?" He replied, "Medallion, hands down!" Wow, I had millions of Bahn Mi's in my lifetime. I can honestly say this is one of the best I've ever eaten. The star of the show was a tie between the medallion and the green sauce! The sauce was incredible! You have to ask for extra sauce! It was creamy and smooth, similar to an Aioli. The green sauce coated the bread, offering a creamy texture, served on a crusty baguette that's warm and toasty. The medallion was probably marinated. It was tender, with a crispy exterior that added a satisfying crunch. The pickled carrots and daikon brought a sweet and vinegary contrast to the richness of the medallion. After I ordered, I waited maybe 10-12 mins, wasn't too long. There were 2 customers who ordered before me. Also, they take credit cards.

I got the Vegetarian Banh Mi and it was good! I've had better bread though. The Green Sauce (their signature cilantro aioli) was really tasty!! I ordered online for pick-up and the food was ready on time. When picking up the order, the restaurant also looked really clean. Give this place a try!!

metered street parking, but takes coins or credit card...putting a few coins and walking in...casual counter-order restaurant...simple menu above...liking the simple menu...banh mi (sandwiches), vermicelli noodle bowls or rice bowls...wings or fries for sides, and some drinks...taking the bbq lemongrass chicken vermicelli bowl $14.95..fried chicken rice bowl $14.95..banh mi $12.95...iced coffee $5.95...short wait for food and ready....some tasty green sauce on the side...no wonder they charge extra for more....everything was flavorful, seasoned right and tasted great...the green sauce is addicting...the bowls are filling and the sandwich was the perfect size....no complaints...except having to run back outside to feed the meter...

The banh mis are reallly good. my fav by far is the porchetta, with extra cilantro aioli! the twirly fries are also delightful and great to share. generous portions, if you eat a whole sandwich you might be full for most of the day. I have also tried the vegetarian, lemongrass chicken, and fried chicken banh mis, but I will always return for the porchetta. Up there with duc huong, although very different

I only went here once but I recommend it to everyone. The portions, flavor and food was so good. We tried the BBQ Lemongrass vermicelli noodles, the Porchetta Bahn Mi and the Twirly Fries. 10/10 recommend the vermicelli and bahn mi. Their green sauce is phenomenal, I would add it to everything and anything. The staff was nice and super helpful with suggestions.

Great little Bahn Mi spot is a casual place in downtown San Jose. The bahn mi was tasty. The bread was crispy and the chicken was fresh. The twirly fries were crispy and tasty. The restaurant is also clean and the staff are friendly.

Been following Mommy's Banh Mi for about 5 years now and they've been soooo consistent with the ingredients and bread. Swung by today with a friend to get lunch and I gotta say, their sandwiches still taste the way they did when I first tried them at the Stanford University Farmer's Market! The location has changed but the food is still great! I just wish the space was a little bigger since they're inside of Rec Room. If you plan on getting food here and eating inside, seating can be a problem, just a heads up. Overall the service is great, the staff is super friendly and the food is still awesome!

Mommy's Banh Mi in San Jose was a pleasant surprise! I didn't expect much, but the banh mi was delicious -- and the green sauce is the real MVP. It's got an amazing kick that totally elevates each bite. It's a bit pricey for banh mi, but if you're into these sandwiches or just love a good twist, this spot is worth a try!

Again I went to mommy's. Today October 29th about. 11:30 (third visit) Again amazing customer service .. again early greeted (and it was not robotic ..genuinely honest) .. I was wondering what to try I asked about the fried chicken Again the team member explained why he like he liked the fried chicken with fish sauce .. he should real commitment to this to choice ...and he suggested it in a bowl presentation..and it was great ..the chicken was freshly prepared it was warm and with the fish sauce was great ...if you are unsure of this type of food ( as I am when trying something new) go you will be In good hands with this team

I placed a large group order a few weeks ago . It was a hit for sure . Food was delicious.. they had it ready and fresh at the requested time.. definitely recommend this place. Also the Thai ice tea is amazing .

Love everything about this place! Owner was so nice and considerate of our 3 y/o. He made a customized BBQ lemongrass chicken rice bowl for her. My daughter loved it!!! Hubby & I got the BBQ lemongrass chicken banh mi and it was sooooo good! Tip: request for an extra cilantro aioli and mix it with sriracha Food was brought to our table within less than 10 mins. (Got there around 8:15-8:20pm). Ambiance gives you "the lofi girl" vibes cafe! I can't wait for their waffles and espresso which is coming soon per owner Restroom is clean and well maintained as well, which is great especially with kids needing potty! Definitely coming back for more!!!

The best chicken banh mi I ever had. This place is going to be my favorite place for banh mi. Fast service too.

Worth the hype! We ordered the bbq lemongrass chicken vermicelli bowl and the porchetta banh mi. Both were huge portions for the price - it left us super full but we probably could have split! It came with a green house sauce that was so unique and tasty. Ordering online was easy and our food was ready for pickup in ten minutes. They're operating out of Rec Room right now with a few tables if you want to eat there. While looking at their instagram, I saw their last day out of Rec Room will be February 27. I hope they stay close because now I need more!

Their house sauce is amazing, I need like a liter of that! O R D E R E D - Porchetta Banh Mi x3 V E R D I C T I can't rave about their porchetta banh mi enough, it's so good we ordered 3 between 2 people. One for each of us and one for me to eat on the ride back home. Why did I enjoy it so much: 1) it's PACKED with porchetta and flavor and you can tell from your first bite - YUM! and 2) their cilantro green sauce is MOUTH WATERING. I even asked for more because the sauce inside, + an extra 1 or 2...was just NOT enough. If it was closer to me, I would come more often but since it's in San Jose...I just get a bunch to go when I make my way down here. If you don't believe me, try it yourself and judge it yourself - it's not your "typical" banh mi.

Shut yo MOUTH! Killer Banh Mi - Italian pork belly if you please. Let us not forget the curl fries and Passion Fruit Jasmine tea. The person at the counter was super sweet and accommodating. Sandwiches came out pretty quickly and the restaurant is clean and the decor was casual and comfortable. Two thumbs up!

Big fan of Mommy's Banh Mi. Loved them during their Rose Garden farmers market days to now. Sent my husband to grab a banh mi and a vermicelli bowl today. As always, super delicious. My favorites are their lemongrass chicken and wings. My son loves their curly fries. Love their proximity to San Pedro Square now so we can utilize free parking too. So happy they have a permanent spot now and I look forward to frequenting them many many many more times.

Great little addition to downtown San Jose! I love their bowls and their "green sauce" is absolutely delicious. I could eat a whole tub of it!

This was our second time at mommy's banh mi. My kids love this place! My teenage daughter describes the wings as "heavenly". My son drinks the green cilantro sauce because he loves it so much. Our take out order today was missing rice from the wings rice bowl we ordered. Unfortunately we were already on the freeway home when we discovered this. I called the shop and kept getting the voicemail and resigned to leaving a message. I was dubious that I'd ever hear back from them. But within a few minutes I got a call back. He apologized for the mistake and offered to refund the dish. I was appreciative of the quick response and resolution. We'll definitely be back. Great service and food, what's not to love.

I happened to be near Little Saigon and felt like a little Banh Mi for lunch. When I searched Yelp and found that Mommy's in downtown was highly rated, I headed right over. Once there, I found out that street parking in that neighborhood is ridiculous but there are paid parking lots around. Being cheap about parking, I let my partner jump out to grab us some sandwiches while I went and parked a couple blocks away on W Sta Clara. I got the Porchetta Banh Mi ($11.95). I'm used to banh mi sandwiches costing less than $10. HOWEVER, this is not your typical little banh mi! The roll is definitely larger, and it contains about twice as much meat as many other banh mi shops give you. The flavors are so good too. The porchetta was exactly what I was craving, and the pickled veggies were so flavorfully bright that they sparkle in your mouth. We also had Twirly Fries ($5.49) on the side. Even though the sandwich is filling enough by itself, these are a treat. Twirly Fries are not your normal french fries. They are potato pieces cut in sort of a curled wedge shape. They are kind of thick and fluffy inside, like steak fries. There are a couple of sauces on the fries, and it comes with a different dipping sauce, not ketchup. And there are fried onions sprinkled on top. A total flavor bomb! Although I didn't get to go inside, it was reported back to me that the guy at the counter was super nice. And there is hardly any room inside to sit down. So, this is a great place for a grab-n-go lunch! Speaking of which, if you click on the "Website menu" button above, you can order and schedule a pick up time, so that you can go in, grab your lunch, and be out of there in a minute. I'm already thinking about what I want to try there next time. I'm thinking about the Vietnamese Chicken Wings and Twirly Fries Combo, $11.95. Now, I'm trying to think of an excuse to go back to San Jose soon...

Love the atmosphere, very tiny inside but chic & cozy. Service is nice and vermicelli and banh mi are all solid and will come back!

I was going on a little road trip and needed something to eat while driving. Saw this place on yelp and decided to come check them out. This location is actually located inside a bar. So they sale sandwiches by day and alcohol and night! Right when I walked in I was greeted right away by a young man behind the counter. Very courteous and helpful young man. I ended up ordering the porchetta banh mi. Definitely different from any other banh mi shop in San Jose. The meat was pack with flavor and really tender. And the other condiments that comes with the traditional banh mi was there and very fresh. Definitely recommend this shop and I will definitely be back to try other sandwiches.

Not your average banh mi, delicious and substantial. And the sauce that comes with it was a perfect addition. Service was great. Definitely coming back to try out some of the other things on the menu.

Located underneath a club, Mommy's Banh Mi could be easily missed in downtown San Jose. If you have a sandwich or itching for thick and crispy fries, do not overlook this place! Pricing appears to be steep for a banh mi but when the sandwich was actually opened up, we were impressed. They did not skimp out on the veggies or protein. Thankfully, because the restaurant is under a dance floor, dining is used until it switches to club mode. The service was efficient and smooth. We didn't wait long for our two sandwiches and fries to be ready, about 7-10 minutes of waiting. Also, sandwiches were so big that we only ate half and saved the other half as a linner meal.

2nd time having their food. Excellent. Their fried chicken is crispy, tasty, and moist. It's so ono! We also had the pork belly sandwich and extra green sauce. Online ordered. When we walked it, it was slow and they asked if I was Roleen. They are so nice. Doubles checked my order - made sure I had my 2 extra green sauce. Food and service just the best!

Incredibly flavorful pork banh mi. The pork was silky and the herbs fresh and crunchy. And only for $11!! Vietnamese coffee was also top tier - perfect blend for strong and sweet. This is a corporate to go lunch spot so there's only two high tables inside for eating and hours are limited. Food is worth though!

Stopped by today for the first time and got a medallion banh mi with a Vietnamese coffee. Sandwich was really really good. The patties were super flavorful and tender. Good mix with the pickled veggies and cilantro. The Vietnamese coffee was strong and kept me awake for the rest of the day. Good seating inside, super friendly staff and very clean.

Fantastic Vietnamese food. We live hours away from San Jose, but since discovering Mommy's Banh Mi, we always make it a point to stop by for their delicious and freshly prepared meals/sandwiches. The portions are generous and the staff are courteous, professional and attentive. Such a great experience every time. We can't wait to visit again.

The store charges $15 for a sandwich, It is way overprice compare to other stores in San Jose. should be 7-10. The yelp review is mis-leading.

I got a vegetarian banh mi here, and it was very good - the filing was tasty and the roll was excellent. It was not a good as some of the vegan and vegetarian sandwiches at Lee's, but it was very tasty. The sandwich was also very large and well-stuffed, and quite expensive. This may be considered a positive; however, when I think of banh mi, I imagine a sandwich that is smaller, less-stuffed, and less expensive. It's an attractive place and service was excellent. I might go back some time with a meat-eating friend with a big appetite, but probably not on my own unless I'm really hungry.

The Banh mì are different than other traditional ones. We had the medallion and vegetarian bánh mì, and curly fries; We enjoyed all of those. They were delicious! We're back for more today.

Such a cute place with very friendly service and super yummy food! Nothing but good vibes all around - go check them out!