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Cafe Dolci
Categories: Food Coffee & Tea Restaurants Vietnamese Restaurants Sandwiches Coffee & Tea, Vietnamese, Sandwiches [Edit]
740 Market St(between 3rd St & Grant Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94102
Neighborhood: Union Square
(415) 392-9222
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7 am - 4 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
300 reviews for Cafe Dolci
Review Highlights
"Worth searching out for delicious, inexpensive Banh Mi."
(in 71 reviews)
"The grilled pork sandwich is freaking awesome."
(in 34 reviews)
"The ham and pate were plentiful and the cilantro fresh."
(in 10 reviews)
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300 reviews in English
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Review from Derek N.
San Francisco, CA
1/8/2012
So I walk by and yelped for a decent cup of coffee.
Cafe Dolci came up. Voila!
This is a tiny tiny shrimpy shrimpy place.
Don't let that detract you as it adds to the charm.
I ordered and receieved a decent and affordable caffe americano, as part of my caffeine-addication madness.
They carry Viet snacks, yet I detect a guangdong accent.
My hearing was off that day. The owners are so nice.
They have asian breakfast and lunch options.
I'm gonna try some lunch items the next time.
(ie banh mi if I can't get to Saigon's in the 'loin).
It's right next to the behemoth called Walgreens.
The owners have been there for 16 years.
Support your local businesses!Listed in: Powerful Coffee!
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Review from Preetesh B.
San Francisco, CA
1/11/2012
The default Yelp summary of what a 2* review means ("Meh, I've had better") is spot on. This is my fourth time to Dolci in the past few months so I feel comfortable saying this is not an overreaction.
I ordered the chicken banh mi and asked if they could make it extra spicy. When they handed the wrapped sando up for me to take-out, I immediately could tell by the weight that I've had heartier banh mi's before (more on that later). Usually, the bread is busting open and cucumber, carrots, jalapenos and chicken are popping through. But I could tell without even opening it up that this wasn't going to be the case. And when I did finally open it up back at the office, my worst fears came true. There was hardly any filling, especially chicken. And to top it off, it didn't taste all that great and definitely had no extra spice.
This confirms it for me that in the greater financial district area, the banh mi rankings are the following:
1. Les Croissants
2. Saigon Deli Express (once the people working there get to know you, they really hook it up)
3. Munchboxx
4. Cafe Dolci
BUT, I will say the mom and pop that run Dolci are super nice! -
Review from J. P.
San Francisco, CA
12/10/2011 10 Check-ins Here
Back in the day when I worked downtown in retail, I'd be at Cafe Dolci at least twice a day! Linda and Danny are phenomenal. They knew my coffee habits and knew what to fix for me based on the time of day - large coffee in the a.m., double latte in the p.m. They got me through many holiday seasons as well as the rest of those years.
I'm no longer in retail and no longer downtown but once a week I hop the Metro for a few stops to pick up lunch from Cafe Dolci. They've got a great selection including Vietnamese sandwiches, spring rolls, dim sum and pastries. My current fave is the pork and shrimp spring rolls with peanut sauce. Yum! Usually I call in my order ahead of time but sometimes when indecision strikes, I walk in and ask Linda to decide for me. But whatever I have, they know I almost always have a double latte with it. If its one of those rare hot days in SF, iced Vietnamese coffee is the way to go. -
Review from Liza T.
San Francisco, CA
10/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Got the Shrimp Spring Roll ($5.75) and it was delicious. Portion was good (three big rolls) and everything was fresh.
Definitely go back there for their Vietnamese sandwich. -
Review from Eugene C.
1/19/2012
Just for reference, this is not really a Cafe, in the sense that there is no place to sit down and have coffee or a meal. It is a place to get a quick take away meal. If you're in this area and thinking maybe Quizno's or Subway, do yourself a favor and come here instead. It's amazing what they are able turn out in this closet sized kitchen. Everything inside serves a purpose. There is even a small bar where one can rest and eat. I am a fan of meatball Banh mi, generally speaking, and the ones here are exceptional. The meatballs are moist, flavorful, and delicious. The accompanying bread is the perfect combination between crispy and chewy. The accompanying pickled veggies are phenomenal. One of the best Banh mi I have ever had. They also have a small offering of dim sum/dumplings which were all good, and comparable to ones I have had at stand alone dim sum joints (although not as fresh). Prices on all items are extremely reasonable (around $10 for a decent sized banh mi sandwich, 3 pieces of large dim sum, and a soda). To top it all off, the lady who owns the place/works here has been here for decades and really seems to take pride in her work and enjoy serving her customers. If I worked in this area, I would definitely become a regular.
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Review from mo L.
San Francisco, CA
10/14/2011
Inexpensive and delicious! Definitely worth going to the bank to get cash out.
I have just tried the grilled pork banh mi so far but for sure going back to try more! -
Review from Aaron F.
9/21/2011
What a find! The only thing more impressive than the food is the fact that they can make it in such a tiny space. The prices are also beyond reasonable.
So far I've had:
1) The best Americano coffee I've had in San Francisco.
2) The best bagel I've had in San Francisco
3) An outstanding meatball vietnamese sandwich - a hearty lunch for only $4.50. (note: I'd say the best vietnamese sandwich I've had in SF, but it's the only one I've had).
Love the owners, too. So glad I found this place - a great escape from the craziness of downtown. -
Review from Nho H.
9/21/2011
I think the Vietnamese subs here are just ok. While they stuff up the sandwich with all the goods, the banh mi (bread) is too hard and they cheap out on the pate! $4.50 for a Vietnamese sub is a little on the pricey side but given the location, they gotta do what they gotta. Just get better banh mi please!!!!!
The couple who owns this tiny shop are extremely sweet. I said thank you to the guy in Vietnamese and he was pleasantly surprised :) -
Review from Andrew M.
San Francisco, CA
10/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've only been here once, but I had a great roast pork banh mi, and it seemed cheap in comparison to nearby places. The pork was delicious and well-spiced, the bread had the right lightness and crunch, and the veggies were fresh and plentiful.
I'm looking forward to going back again - I really want to try the fried rice with chinese sausage, and maybe the fresh spring rolls with shrimp. Everything looks delicious, and the proprietors seem extra-nice. -
Review from Trevor D.
Fremont, CA
9/26/2011
I loved the Vietnamese sandwiches sold at this place! I only had it once, but I would totally recommend this to others and come back often.
I ordered #8 which is the a combination of pork and pate on a short baquette. I got to say, I grew up eating banh mi on a small little baquette, I'm not sure when it changed to these long, skinny ones. After the first bite, it gave me a very nostalgic flashback to my childhood. Most of these cafes I've been to don't offer pate in their sandwiches. Finding one that had such delicacy, I definitely hit the jackpot.
Did I mention the sandwich was around $5? Very cheap compare to almost every place around market street so it's definitely woth checking out. -
Review from Cara D.
9/2/2011
I probably don't have anything new to say, but this place is awesome. I would not have known it if not for Yelp because it is so tiny, it would be easy to miss, especially with all the traffic and pedestrians on Market Street. However, the tofu sandwich I had for lunch for $4.50 recently was delicious, satisfying and cheap, which is more than I can say for some other places in the area.
Tip: It is CASH ONLY. I did not know this. Luckily had enough money, but sheesh, would have been good to know!
The Verdict: Expect a line out the door, but they're pretty fast and it's worth it! -
Review from Carolyn K.
Burlingame, CA
7/28/2011
You can't beat the price. Sometimes there's a bit of a wait. In my opinion, the sandwiches here are twice as filling as the "fancy" ones served at Boxed Foods. Twice as filling and half the price. Definitely better than the Urban Picnic bahn mi.
Only suggestion---they should chop up their cilantro. Last time I was eating it in the office, a coworker laughed at me because a cilantro stalk was stuck in my braces and I looked like I was playing tug-o-war with my sandwich. -
Review from Claire R.
11/4/2011
Any of the sandwiches are delicious and so is the mango pudding. I wish this place had somewhere to sit and eat but truth be told, the food is good enough to stand in the middle of market munching on banh mi. Relatively well-priced for San Francisco and the bread is always fresh and tasty.
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Review from Peter H.
San Francisco, CA
8/23/2011
Danny! Linda! My best friends. Firstly: this power couple goes the distance to make your sandwich. There is no door that leads to their tiny kitchen behind the counter. They crawl under the counter to access the rest of this 10x10 Vietnamese sandwich bliss. They make everything with the exception of the dim sum on the counter, which Danny says are too good for him to replicate. I am in love with the grilled pork sandwich. The BBQ pork bun is the best thing to spend $1.85 on. The mango pudding is made by Linda, and my goodness, it will be the death of me. (You can find me swimming in a pool of this stuff on my 21st birthday.)
Popular among Union Square retailers, Financial Square robots, and the people who work in this building whom Danny and Linda know by name, denomination, and preferences. These are people whom you can build a relationship with, and food that suits every mood, every lunch. -
Review from Anya R.
7/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is a really random small window next to Walgreens and you would never guess that it sold Vietnamese sandwiches with the name Cafe Dolci.
Cash only!
Got my pork Bahn Mi sandwich which was so good for less than 5 bucks but couldn't resist getting the dumplings that were sitting there by the counter for 3 bucks.
Overall really good and pretty quick when I went around noon.
Would go back to try other sandwiches. -
Review from Tee Jay R.
6/9/2011
This is essentially a telephone booth that slings respectable banh mi.
The affable proprietor and the lovely woman who assembles the sandwiches do a brisk business in a tiny space without somehow constantly smashing elbows. The pork banh mi is above par, and the hot option is unabashedly spicy, crammed with raw fresh chili. Good pickle, good quantum of cilantro, not too much sauce. The sticky rice is excellent, as are the curry-and-ginger-infused steamed potstickers.
Cheaper than you'd expect for financial district Vietnamese food, although expensive in absolute terms.
Looooooong lines during lunchtime. Expect a 15-20 minute wait. -
Review from ruggy j.
4/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Sometimes you just need a quick and easy lunch, and that's exactly the purpose served by Cafe Dolci. There's nothing overly remarkable about their sandwiches as far as I'm concerned, but if I'm on the go and need an affordable Jon Banh Jovi fix, they do it up right.
The woman behind the minuscule cafe counter is as sweet as rhubarb pie, so if you're having a bad day, the warm glow emanating from her chakra will cheer you up in a flash! -
Review from Elena N.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 11/2/2011 66 Check-ins Here
I come here every morning when I'm at work. It's a small mom and pop shop, but the owners are super friendly and I love that they offer sticky rice and dim sum. I still need to check out their Vietnamese sandwiches. Maybe when it's warmer I'll grab one and go to the park for lunch. But for breakfast, this is a great stop to grab your coffee and bagel before heading off to work!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/30/2008
I've been going to Cafe Dolci for several years now since it's right around the corner from where I… Read more »
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Review from Bill H.
10/8/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The sandwiches are great, but they carry a Financial District premium (sandwiches are $4-$5, and small). The folks at the front of the stand are friendly, and handle the crowds well (and, there are crowds. I've usually had to wait seven or eight minutes for my sandwiches).
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Review from Len N.
New York, NY
8/29/2011
The place has the best banh mi in the city. At the very cheap price of $4.50, the sandwich ingredients are always fresh and delicious. The place is run by couple and I love giving them business. THey deserve my business and yours as well.
I love the Meatball banh mi. I'm gonna go get one right now. -
Review from Lolia S.
San Francisco, CA
3/23/2011 1 photo
Part of the charm of downtown SF are tiny closet sized cafes like Café Dolci; Dolci is so small that only 2 customers can comfortably fit inside at a time and there isn't any place to sit. The menu is limited to 8 kinds of banh mi ($4.35, e.g., meatball, BBQ chicken, tofu, combination - the usual). They also have Chinese steamed and baked buns, potato chips, drinks, and dumplings.
* Grilled pork banh mi ($4.35): I really liked the softness of the toasted roll but that was the best part of the sandwich. The bread/roll seemed hollowed out which is good - they're paying attention to the bread to fillings ratio. The cilantro stems were tougher than average and the marinated meat was okay (average quality and flavor, on the sweet side). The pickled carrots and daikon were crunchy. The sandwich was doused with too much Maggi?, making it unpleasantly salty.
Service was pleasant and very fast.
Cash only. -
Review from Sara S.
San Francisco, CA
8/20/2011
Two words: Taro pudding.
What a tiny cup of creamy cold goodness.
They really should chop up the veggies a bit more for their sammiches,but overall good. Wish it wasn't cash only but a great choice for a quick lunch. The staff is always friendly and efficient. The prepackaged spring rolls and potstickers are great and at a good price. Teeny place so no tables/chairs. You gotta bounce and sit and eat somewhere else. -
Review from Andrew H.
San Francisco, CA
7/20/2011
Incredibly warm and friendly service, big sandwiches, and the cheapest lunch near Union Square.
I do their breakfast bagels a bunch and the ladies smile is more filling than the food.
You do need to call ahead for lunch sandwich or you'll be waiting 20min. -
Review from Andrew W.
4/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is a little hard to find. It shares the same awning as Walgreens. It is very small. Easy to miss.
The sandwiches are very tasty. They give you a lot of meat and the bread is fresh and crisp. It is definitely pricier than the banh mi places in San Jose. But, considering rent, it is dirt cheap. The people here are nice. The pate has good texture, but it could have more black pepper. The roast pork is tasty, but it isn't crisp out of the oven. It tastes more like shredded pork. The vegetables are fresh and flavorful. They don't put a lot of jalapeno in it, which I prefer.
My only complaint is that they don't do combo meats. You have to pay extra. (50 cents per meat) and extra for more veggies also (25 cents).
Overall, this place is great though. I am a fan. -
Review from Geo D.
Daly City, CA
3/11/2011
Whenever it's bad lunch day at work, I come to Cafe Dolci! This place reminds me of Cheers where everybody knows your name. The couple running this place is so sweet and it's cute how they greet regulars .."Hi Bob" "Hi Suzy" I'm usually greeted by a lady who reminds me of a favorite auntie. I wish I could kidnap her!
The main attraction would definitely be the Vietnamese sandwiches. I normally order combination sandwich with pate at other places but I get the bbq bacon. It's not crispy bacon but' more like slices of fatty goodness. Hee hee, they add Maggi sauce to it..so asian! The bread is really good here and they toast it. I should wear a bib because the crumbs get all over me when I bite into the bread. Yea, I can't really think of any place in the Financial district that makes really good Bahn Mi and cheap!
They also have other stuff like Dim Sum after 10 a.m., BBQ pork buns, fresh shrimp spring rolls, sticky rice and chinese sausage, pastries, halo halo, and a wide array of asian drinks such as grass jelly, coconut juice and flavored green tea. Dang if they surprise me one day with Pho, I would give this place 5 stars!
The salmon lox bagel is also good (I prefer more lox than cheese). It's amazing how you can find all of this good stuff in a tiny little space.
Over all 4.5 stars -
Review from Vero K.
San Francisco, CA
5/3/2011
Yes--Vietnamese banh mi downtown!! I have been working less than a block away from here for months, and I just discovered this place. Their bread is crunchy, the fillings are tasty, and they load up on the pickled carrots. This place is so small, it's easy to pass by. There's about enough space for 2-3 customers inside. At the counter, they have other food items like fried rice and goi cuon, which I haven't tried, but look good.
This place does get kind of busy with some waiting time during lunch. I try and go around 11am to avoid the rush. -
Review from maria K.
San Francisco, CA
4/14/2011
This place is teeny-tiny so keep your eyes peeled or you'll surely miss it!
Good things come in small packages don't they cafe Dolci?? Cheap and good. Ill take that ;) I have a thing for spring rolls and Dolci's gottem. But get there fast cause they run out! That BBQ pork bun hits the spot pretty good too.
Cafe Dolci I Heart you! -
Review from Mariela D.
San Francisco, CA
I've walked past this place countless times and thought they only served coffee and pastries. And even though it's barely larger than a closet, the owners are so efficient that customers can get in and out in minutes. So space doesn't matter.
I got:
- Chicken banh mi ($4.50) - the baguette was a bit hard and I had a bit too much cilantro for my taste, but it was no big deal. It was still really tasty.
- Pork potstickers, shu mai, and shrimp dumpling ($3.25) - They offered to warm it up for me!
The dumplings were good, but I wouldn't get them again since they're only 40 cents a piece in Chinatown.
Cale Dolci also carries prepackaged Vietnamese shrimp spring rolls. And of course, coffee and pastries. They seem to know all their customers, which I think is awesome especially in a big city like SF.
Bottom line:
When I think about what kind of a lunch I can get for downtown for under $5, I can't think of many options besides the Dollar Menu at McDonalds ((gross)). But here, you can get a filling, healthy lunch on-the-go from a couple of smiling faces :)Listed in: $5 lunch in downtown SF
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Review from ellen w.
Oakland, CA
6/29/2011
Such a sweet sandwich making duo fill this closet of a restaurant.
The sandwiches are BIG AND FILLING AND TASTY AND CHEAP.
The spring rolls are FRESHHHH and the peanut sauce is SO FUCKING FRESH AND SEASONED PERFECTLY AND IS A BIG HIT IN YOUR MOUTH.
I almost choked on a jalapeno and I was OK with it. -
Review from Peter C.
San Francisco, CA
7/8/2011
Hole on the wall, seriously! Decent bahn mi (I've been attempting to find a place that sells them for years). I got the pork which was good but waaaay too many pickled carrots. Also the cilantro wasn't well distributed so I had a mouthful of that and bread in one bite.
One thing you can't complain about is the price - $4.50 for a sandwich (the size of which would cost you almost 1.75x that in any regular sandwich shop in SOMA/Financial).
Will be back. -
Review from Joe S.
San Francisco, CA
6/20/2011
GREAT FRIENDLY SERVICE
Mom & Dad run the place & do everything.
yes its not the best sandwich but for the prices they offer few can compete.
PLEASE help them & grab a bite to eat the place is TINY & you may walk by like I have & never even see them
A hidden price gen in SF -
Review from Colleen W.
Decatur, GA
4/21/2011
Cafe Dolci, you've got a new regular!
I love this little mom n' pop shop. The guy ringing up the orders and managing all of the restocking, deliveries, and customer service is just a darling. And the nice lady who busies herself up toasting baguettes, heating up meat, and churning out killer hot drinks is so dedicated. Together, they're the cutest couple in the world.
A few weeks after my craving for a scrumptious banh mi was disappointingly met with a substandard Lee's sandwich, my taste buds sent me hopping to a much loved-on-yelp place.
The bread was fantastic. Dense, great crunch, very filling, and delicious. The grilled chicken was definitely aromatic. Good amount of charred taste. And my favorite part of all... THEY DON'T SKIMP ON THE CILANTRO! I'm a big sucker for cilantro and Cafe Dolci is heaaaven for me. The thick cut pickled daikon and carrots gave the banh mi a really satisfying crunch and the marinade they pickled them in wasn't too acid nor sweet. They hit it spot on with the vegs! Really generous portion too. Fills you up good for less than five bucks.
Beautiful assortment of Torani syrups lining the wall on the right... Not to mention how clean the whole place is. Very well- organized and well-lit, quite impressive for a little shop no more than 50 square feet!
Love.
I'll be back. Again. And again. And again... -
Review from Andrew Christian C.
San Francisco, CA
9/13/2011 6 Check-ins Here
Such a good little quick lunch option. It's a tiny little place, cash only. Grab it and go. Chicken sandwich is so tasty. AND CHEAP!
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Review from Mei C.
San Francisco, CA
4/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Eh. The Tofu Bahn Mi was Bland. I had high expectations for this place having read so many favorable reviews. I was completely disappointed. The wait was terribly long for one bland sandwich. There were no jalapenos, no kick, and little parsley.
I have had much better vietnamese sandwiches for less. -
Review from Erika G.
Updated - 2/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm addicted!
Banh Mis so delicious and just perfect here!
I come in just before the lunch rush and then try to find a spot to sit and eat. usually end up near sutter and market and sit on the cement wall. Oh lookie there it so happens to be the same spot as the creme brulee cart..... ;)1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/9/2011
Ordered the grilled pork bahn mi and it was perfect! Crunchy warm roll and fresh ingredients SO… Read more »
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Review from Nicole L.
San Francisco, CA
9/28/2011
Their bread is consistently dry!! No banh mi is good with dry bread...toasting doesn't help either. Their Vietnamese iced coffee is also super sweet and tastes too strong of condensed milk, but you can ask them to make it less sweet.
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Review from Christine H.
San Jose, CA
I was sooooooo ecstatic that I work right near a place that sells Vietnamese sandwiches (banh mi) and also even more ecstatic that it wasn't in China Town like I would usually suspect.
I walked merrily to the cafe and bought a cha banh mi and couldn't help but buy a pork bun too. "How much is that??" I asked about the che. "$2.50" was the man's response. Eh, way too pricey. No thank you.
I walked back to the office and scarfed down the whole pork bun. It was just as good as I know them to be. Mmm! Perfect bread and innards. Mmm, innards.. sounds kinda gross. Ha!
Anyway, as I got back into the office, I opened the sandwich and was excited to eat it. I sat at my desk looking at my coworkers talk/interact. One of the superintendents was eating his lunch and one of the owners of our company said...
"Whatever you're eating, you better brush your teeth after."
Shoot! I had totally forgotten that banh mis wreak of fish and vinegar and also that my entire office is comprised of mainly white people! Oopsies!
"Uh, I think it's my sandwich..." I said.
"What's in it?!"
"Um, pickled stuff... and stuff..."
Then someone else says:
"What'd you get? The DIRTY SOCK SPECIAL?!"
How embarrassing! :(
Any who, I ate as much of it as I could, as quickly as I could.. and did NOT brush my teeth afterward. HMPH.
$4.50/banh mi cha
$2/pork bun
P.S. CASH ONLY and SUPER TINY EENSIE WEENSY CAFE. NO CHAIRS, BARELY ANY STANDING ROOM. Barely any breathing room for that matter.
P.P.S. It was good and is a Vietnamese owned place. -
Review from Shannon L.
Fremont, CA
3/7/2011
For many reasons, I loved the banh mi:
1) Bread was lightly toasted on the outside, soft on the inside.
2) Carrot and daikon pieces were big... not julienned, more like carrot and daikon sticks. Okay, maybe not that extreme.
3) Grilled pork flavor is on point except when I got to the end and was only left with bread and meat, did I realize that the meat is a little salty.
4) I was eating so fast that I didn't realize I ate a banh mi that was three quarters of a foot long!
For two reasons the taro sago dessert didn't impress me:
1) Price - $2.25 is more than I've ever paid for this. Are times that tough?!
2) Taro - Pieces were just slightly too hard. -
Review from Jessica C.
San Francisco, CA
12/8/2010
3 plump shrimp&pork spring rolls with peanut sauce/fish sauce for $5.00.
banh mi.
dumplings.
bagels & muffins.
extremely friendly people, the lady is always smiling - and once when i asked for hoisin sauce, honestly advised me that it would not go very well with my spring rolls, and gave me extra sriracha instead. she's totally got your BACK! (and she was right too) -
Review from Shayne S.
San Francisco, CA
5/28/2011
Blink and you'll miss it.
Worth searching out for delicious, inexpensive Banh Mi.
Dim Sum, Pasta, Sticky Rice, and breakfast items can also be found.
Lines can get long so get there early.
