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- David T.San Francisco, CA59 friends90 reviews13 photos
1/30/202019 check-ins
Dinosaurs is a fantastic little spot that does Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches right. A good banh mi has to start with great French bread, and the bread they used here is fantastic. Just the right texture and crust, just the right flavor. The wrong bread can ruin an otherwise-good banh mi, but Dinosaur's gets it right.
The ingredients inside are perfect too... the grilled chicken, the pork, the beef, they're all great. Just the right amount of kick from the hot pepper (but tell them to leave them off if you don't like spicy.)
They also do a great job with fresh spring rolls, tropical smoothies, and a variety of other stuff. It's not a fancy-looking place at all, but it's good food and a good value. - Tito G.Belmont, CA48 friends111 reviews42 photos
8/14/2019This place has been my go to spot whenever I'm out at work for lunch. I order the Shaking beef and sometimes the pork and shrimp rolls. Their sandwiches are toasted and the meat with the sauces have an amazing flavor.
Services has been really nice! Everyone that works there are really friendly and polite and they are quick in getting your order. The little dining area is small but clean.
I would highly recommend to come out and try this place if you haven't been here yet. I will definitely will be dropping in soon. - Aa B.Walnut Creek, CA0 friends6 reviews10 photos
2/2/2020The owner is super nice guy and they have a crispy tofu sandwich if you wanna go vegan. Local sandwich shop recommended for delicious meal.
Thanks - Ivan R.San Francisco, CA
7/16/20191 check-in
Dinos is a great hole in the wall sandwich spot. I've had every kind of sandwich here and my favorite is the pork special - I really enjoy the pork pate and the pickled veggies. My vegan friends LOVE the crispy tofu sando. I am not a vegan myself but grew to enjoy it as well. The rolls are also quite good. Heard good things about their smoothies as well, but haven't tried them personally. Overall Dinos is a good value.
Vibe wise it's a bit dirty on the inside, but that comes with the territory. Service wise I've been here when old vietnnamese ladies are making sandos to great 90s throwbacks and that's always a good time. Lately they had a few younger people working here - they seemed a bit apathetic, but maybe I just came on an off day.
Overall a solid pick me up if you wanna keep it simple and get a solid banh mi. The flavor is there, along with the value. - Umang D.Palo Alto, CA
12/10/20181 check-in
Tried this place recently. The have a Yelp Check-in offer, which is great.
I am a fan of Banh Mi sandwiches and loved that they have Vegan protein options which were Tofu and Mushrooms. I wanted to try both and so ordered the Tofu Banh Mi and added mushroom to it. Overall the sandwich was pretty flavorful and not bland like most vegetarian / vegan sandwiches. They also have Spring rolls for a healthier option. - Christine P.San Francisco, CA190 friends10 reviews
12/29/20191 check-in
I love this place: used to be my go-to, affordable lunch spot when I used to work in the Castro. Great tasting Vietnamese sandos with a good variety to choose from. Good for on-the-go (maybe on ur way to sun bathe at Dolores Park?).
- Rich O.San Francisco, CA
6/11/20191 check-in
One of my favorite Bhan Mi spots ever. Quick, quality ingredients, and the sandwiches taste great every time. It was a super hot weekend, me and the lady thought it would be a good idea for a quick bite outside of the shop. I usually order the tuna, which i recommended to my partner, which she instantly fell in love with. I noticed the special they had on the menu, which was the Kare-Kare. I was a little skeptical, more so curious how this meat would taste with the pickled veggies and jalapenos. Surprisingly, the meat was really good, and i recommend getting extra bagoong(shrimp paste), If that flavor is your thing. Since it was more hot this day, we decided to order the mango mint smoothie which really hit the spot and was super quenching.
- Amy C.Newark, CA
8/29/20186 check-ins
Yummy Sandwiches!
Ok, so I've only tried their Shaking Beef Sandwich so far because I'm a creature of habit so I tend to just stick with the same food if I really love it!
I've been to Dinosaurs probably about 4xs now, and every time I've been happy with my sandwich. I think the 1st time I was there I got it with an Avocado Shake which was light, creamy, refreshing, and slightly sweet. I think I would prefer it being a little sweeter, but this was nice too. Then the other times I've tried the Thai Iced Tea (which was good), and my last time I tried the Mango Mint Smoothie which was delish! I think so far my fave would be the Mango Mint Smoothie.
They have other sandwiches selections, but I just can't get myself to try other ones yet. They also have spring rolls as well if you're into that.
Pretty cute little sandwich place with a few seatings inside and outside. There's a small little vintage-y arcade game with lots of chip options. It's also pretty hidden with not a very obvious signage. It seems like they get break-ins often because of the wooden plank to cover where the windows were. That's not good that they have to keep on dealing with that.
But yes, I'm a fan of this place. Love the name of the place. :)
Ps. Don't forget to check-in & show them the 10% check-in offer *before* ordering! :D - Mike R.Sea Cliff, San Francisco, CA0 friends17 reviews1 photo
12/15/2019Maybe I caught them on a bad day but my Crispy Tofu sandwich was bad. The wait time was very long. The tofu was shredded so it didn't feel like you got much tofu. It was cold, the bread was really hard, it seemed like there was no brown sauce, just mayo and not enough so it was just super dry. I won't come here for bahn mi again.
- Han S.Chinatown, Las Vegas, NV
12/27/20181 check-in
Enjoying a beautiful rainy night with my girlfriend in San Francisco, having had a couple drinks and looking for some food to put us in a nice place, she found dinosaurs. The name lives up to its reputation: big ass banh mis.
Setting: A little bit hard to find at first, its store front is small with the entrance in a hallway underneath a building. There are from my memory... 3 tables to eat at? but luckily we were able to secure a spot.
Food: Now I usually try not to open my banh mi cause lets face it, the meat tends to look a little suspect but that wasn't the case here. The vegetables looked fresh and the meat was great! As per usual the bread will tear apart the insides of your mouth but it was worth it!
Overall: Whether you're having drinks or just looking for a quick place to eat, look no further. - Steven M.Tustin, CA3 friends38 reviews13 photos
8/11/2019Best banh mi sandwich ever!!! The place is very small and may get hot cuz circulation isn't great, but the food is delicious!! We got the beef banh mi! Definitely recommended this place!!!
- Daria B.Pasadena, CA12 friends2 reviews2 photos
8/2/2019I got poisoned with their spring roles. Flies all over the place. No cooking hats. Avoid this place.
- Travis V.San Francisco, CA
11/29/2018It's been a while since I've had a good banh mi since moving up from the San Gabriel Valley in LA. Thankfully this place isn't too far from my new apartment so I gave it a shot.
I wouldn't say the sandwiches are mind-blowing, but the execution is solid and exactly what it needs to be. I ordered the bbq pork and my SO the shaking beef. Both were very good, although if I forced to choose it would probably be the beef. Ordered some vegetarian spring rolls on the side as well which were legit.
The best part about this place are the prices though. Sub $10 for a meal in SF? Stuff like this exists? I could care less if the store is smaller than a coffee shop when is that good. I'll definetely be back next time I need my fix. - Diana M.Pasadena, CA82 friends80 reviews54 photos
7/8/20191 check-in
Stopped by on Saturday July 6th. First time trying Dinosaurs. I got the chicken and shrimp spring rolls. The spring rolls were fresh and tasty. It came with a choice of sauces for the side and I chose the hoisin sauce.
Took a couple of stars off because the tables and seats were kind of dirty and there were several flies flying around in the restaurant which kind of concerns me since it's an open kitchen format and I wonder how they keep the flies off the food?
Also, the guy at the register and the gal working in the kitchen was pretty unfriendly. No smiles, nothing. I get that it's not some high end, white table cloth place, but hey, a little customer service wouldn't hurt. Oh well, at least the food was decent! - Gina K.Spring Valley, Las Vegas, NV244 friends185 reviews254 photos
12/11/20181 check-in
Ended up a bar that didn't serve food and this place was walking distance. Definitely was a pleasant surprise :)
Usually when I order Banh mi, the meat is questionable, but since all the other places serve it that way, I've never second guessed it...
This place changed that perspective.
First off, the bread is toasty warm and ginormous. (Yes, that means the roof of your mouth will be scraped)
The ingredients were fresh and the meat was recognizable and tasty!
They were quick with the order and there was enough space to sit without having to hear everyone's conversations.
There is a restroom nearby, just ask an employee for the key!
After checking, there are several locations throughout which I wouldn't mind visiting again if I'm ever back in town. - Rebecca L.Arcadia, CA
1/2/20191 check-in
Hands down best Banh Mi Sandwich I've ever had. I don't even like sandwiches to be honest haha. But this one is soooo bomb. The bread is soooo hot and fresh and they give u soooo much Pate. I didn't get to try their mint mango ice cause it was wayyyy too cold. But can't wait to come back next time! I wanted to buy like 20 home freeze them lolll.
- Anthony L.San Francisco, CA27 friends201 reviews
10/6/2019If you don't care about price, then Dinosaurs is without a doubt the absolute best banh mi in San Francisco. And let's be honest, $5 at the other joints vs. $8 here just doesn't matter in SF in 2019. Other people may be attached to other places because they have more history or they like the people who work there or WHATEVER, but, you just cannot argue with the Dinosaurs Banh Mi.
Dinosaurs uses higher-quality products than the other joints, and they nail the preparation and the ratios of the ingredients. This is an incredibly well-executed sandwich. IT. IS. THE. BEST. - Paulina F.San Francisco, CA
4/13/201836 check-ins
The bahn mi I bought here today is easily the best I've had. At over $8 plus tax, it's also the most expensive, I think, but I've now discovered that there's 10% off with check-in, which is something. The bread is crunchy, the veggies perfectly pickled, the dressing savory as can be, the meat so tender and juicy, and, oh, that cucumber. I had had a few kinda bad Vietnamese sandwiches lately, so this was even more of a treat.
I had walked this block numerous times, as my tanning salon is very close, but I had never ventured inside this little hidden gem location which houses a few other shops as well. I really enjoy coming across such spots in the city, especially as a long-time resident. Nothing fancy, but the feel is comfortable. Service is friendly and efficient. - Camille L.San Francisco, CA
12/17/2018It really is difficult to find the perfect banh-mi in San Francisco; I haven't found it yet but this place is one of the better ones. Good, fresh Vietnamese banh-mi sandwiches, one of my favorite lunchtime meals. Ask for extra mayo and jalapeño.
Slightly challenging to find but once you do, no big deal. - Sherry L.San Francisco, CA
11/9/20181 check-in
Decent banh mi outside of Little Saigon. The meatball with pate is pretty yum. The bread is not super authentic.
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