Banh Mi & Che Cali Bakery

Way better sandwiches than lees sandwich. They take cash only and have a wide variety of other food you can buy. Spring rolls and nem nuong rolls are made daily, but the older ones sit on top, so choose wisely. They have a buy 2 get 1 free deal, so I always end up with 3 of everything. Their chè selection is abundant. Try them all! They also sell nuoc mè at this location. Banh mi Dac biet is my favorite and you can order the pickled carrots/​radish on the side if you want. They also put jalapeños in it, so beware if you can’t eat spicy. This is one of the best banh mi places in little Saigon. It’s a little crowded at this location, since the store is kind of small, but you can get your grocery shopping done at the same time! The store is not the cleanest, but it’s a to go store, so you just get in and get out. Also get the Vietnamese iced coffee! It won’t let you down!

Greedy!!!
I often go there to buy cha gio trays.
Depending on which employee, the price change.
When I order 60 cha gio, some count as 60×0.55, some as 50×0.55+10×0.6, and some as 60×0.6 even though I buy 60 or way much more sometimes like hundreds.
I expect with that amount it would be 60×0.55 because at night they often give discounts to get rid of extra «almost no more eatable food» if not eaten right away (some are often already no more edible)

The lines here are horrible. People dont know how to wait in line here. Place needs to be more coordinated

I remember a time (probably a decade ago) when banh mi was very, very good here. Sometimes it had a weird smell to it, like they refrigerate everything together without covering em properly. But, most the time, banh mi was tasty n satisfying. Now, they’re skimpy with the meats and the baguette bread sucks. I got two cold cut thit nguoi baguette and a bbq pork thit nuong baguette… they all suck. Well, not yak it out suck but they’re the definition of mediocrity. I was super hungry n I was mad that I stuffed my face with that crap.
Their only saving grace are the other things they sell: the snacks n sweets. I love the sweet wine rice com ruou and pound cake banh bong lan with whipped cream. My brother got some che, which were yummy.
Oh, they will hustle you into their buy 2 get one free deals with the che and banh mi (not the baguettes, the shorter fatter loaves)… and I usually get hustled. It’s all good. Not their banh mi though, they ought to return to their old ways, minus the bad refrigeration.

Buy two get one free Banh Mi deal!!! The Banh Mi’s are really good! You can ask for the veges on the side (I recommend you doing that if you are not eating it right away or that same day), extra sauce, etc! And they will do it for you! They also sell drinks and desserts (che)! Some baked goods too! But their Banh Mi is a must! They only take cash, so make sure you come prepared, if not, they have a supermarket right next to where you can probably get cash back!
However, it is really really really hard to get their attention unless you speak vietnamese… Often times, the ladies will overlook you and the wait will be extra long due to that! Sometimes you just have to speak up, or else those people that come in 5 – 10 minutes after you will get their sandwiches or egg rolls before you even ordered yours! Be patient!

We loved this place back in high school (like a million years ago) so I had to stop by while I was in the area. The prices went a up a bit (haha, as it should) but it’s still super cheap, and, seriously, how great is that all sandwiches are buy 2 get 1 free! They have a lot of other snacks here and they are all very tasty and cheap. I was there on a Monday afternoon so it was empty, but I remember back when it was always jammed packed out of the door on weekends.

This restaurant is ok. Not bad. Though could have been better.
What I like:
1) Menu variety for various types of sandwiches.
2) Menu variety for various type of dessert Che & other desserts like Cream Puffs
What needs works:
1) Taste of sandwich. Although you got everything in the standard Banh Mi Dac Biet, the bread needs work & the meats needs more spicing. Keep in mind, working with pork is like working with lamb meat — pork & lamb meat have a tendency of releasing a funky odor & that odor can only be extinguished via putting in lots of spices to marinate the meat such as lots of black pepper, etc…
Overall, not bad. Though could have been better.
Therefore, ³⁄₅ stars from me.

This is my go-​to spot when I want banh mi or che. I’ve never been a fan of Lee’s…their bread is a little too hard for my taste. Bread here is always nice and soft, but still has that crisp outside. I will say, it’s a bit overwhelming and coming in to order. There is no rhyme or reason, there is no line. If you don’t speak up and just jump right in and start ordering, you’ll be passed up by all the older ladies cutting right in front of you (my friend and I experienced this first hand).

As long as you understand the culture here, the place is good. Obviously if you are going to Unilocal a Vietnamese business in OC, you are going to have to throw out ‘customer service’ out the door and realize that doesn’t play here.
Keeping that in mind, the food was amazing. They have a buy 2 banh mi, get 1 free deal. The Banh Mi is way better than Lee’s (who’s becoming more like Panda Express, focused on quantity and not quality).
–Bread was amazing, not too hard and not too soft.
–Meat was fresh and flavorful.
–Packed with plenty of veggies (even more for leftovers).
Why does my review matter? I walked in, ordered 40 Banh Mi (with no reservations)-, paid cash and left satisfied.

I love this place, it’s full of buzz and activity! Famous for their Banh Mi and choose your own adventure desserts, there are quite a few other things to purchase.
They have pretty good egg rolls (spring rolls for non Americans), pork cakes (cha chien and cha lua) and numerous soupy noodle dishes. There are heaps of sweets to pick from the fridges including jellies and cakes.
My find of my most recent visit is the excellent freshly made Pâté Chaud. Crispy puff pastry with a choice of pork or chicken fillings. $ 1.75 each or buy 2 and get one free — bonus!

This place is a must go if you’re in the Bolsa area and you’re into Asian/​Euro sandwiches.
This place upgraded a little bit buying the unit next door since the last time i’ve been here. But when im craving Che or Sandwiches, this is the place to go. The food is always fresh and Made to order. I never had a problem in this place besides waiting in an endless line of asians throwing money at the workers to make them fresh sandwiches. This place is so alive.
This is place is really packed, not only is the parking bad, but the line as well. But its all worth it for their desserts and sandwiches! I know i know, not only the price is good, but Buy 2 sandwiches and get 1 free??? WHAT? WHAT A DEAL!
and also the Che Desserts are also Buy 2 get 1 free!
Nothing really beats asian vietnamese Deals! JUST TAKE MY MONEY!
Highly recommend stopping by if you have cravings for Sandwiches or Sweet Desserts.

Awesome deals, if you’re willing to fight your way through the asian crowds all trying to buy something all at the same time! Lol.
Drinks/​Teas are buy one get one free. They are $ 3 each.
Vietnamese Sandwiches are buy two get one free. They are about $ 3.25 each.
And they also have other snacks, and foods too.
Overall, not bad for a small little establishment in the same plaza with so many other businesses.

Felt like I was in Vietnam…
This little store or deli is in the plaza of where all the Vietnamese food places at. It was kind of weird since the workers inside didn’t speak any English. Lol good thing my friend was with me and he spoke Vietnamese or else I’ll never get what I wanted correctly. They serve soft drinks like the 3 color drink, banhmi, milk tea, sausages, and lots of Vietnamese traditional desserts that looks like mochi.
I bought banhmi here and the dessert (green mochi looking but also looks like jello). I believe the dessert is a pandan cake jelly. It was so good and have a strong flavor of coconut smell. It tasted like a coconut jello but chewy style. The banhmi (sandwiches) here are so cheap. The bread was good and came with fresh veggie.
+bring a friend with you that speaks Vietnamese so your transaction here will be smooth and fast :)

New found gem! Great prices and great variety for sandwiches, miscellaneous prepared foods, desserts, and coffees/​teas. Fresh fresh fresh!
Make sure to be assertive when ordering and paying, otherwise you will be there a long time.

Love the crispy bread. I’d come for their bread alone. They offer French baguette and French bread sandwiches. The baguettes are shorter and fatter, while the other option is leaner and longer. Or maybe I have it the other way around… either way, two different sandwich sizes, both feature excellent bread.
The fillings are decent, but I did wish for a more special mayo-​Maggi sauce. My vegetarian banh mi, #12, stuffed with pickles and vegan ham was tasty but not exceptional.
They also carry a wide range of Vietnamese foods, including different kinds of sticky rice, banh gioi, banh bao, egg rolls, and so much more.
I’d still recommend Banh Mi & Che Cali for its efficient staff, who managed to move a long line pretty quickly despite the chaotic scene of many people screaming their orders, scrambling to get their buys, and a clear shortage of workers (possibly as a result of the Lunar New Year).
The open kitchen exposed a relatively clean work area, which was comforting. And seeing the sandwich assembly line was rather fun.
Limited seating is available if you can’t just can’t wait to get home to enjoy your sandwich.
Maybe not the best of the best, but for sure a safe and dependable spot for your banh mi fix while in the area.

PROS:
— CHEAP!!! For $ 16 my brother and I ended up buying 3 banh mi sandwiches, 2 thai tea bobas, and 2 packs of spring rolls (3 in each pack). Compared to going to a restaurant, we got our money’s worth here. We brought it to Universal Studios for the day and didn’t have to spend for food at the park!
— Don’t be intimidated if you’re not used to ordering from a place like this. Just go up to a worker and tell them what you want or bring them the item you would like to purchase. They will tell you how much it is but don’t expect a receipt. CASH ONLY.
CONS:
— The façade isn’t the greatest looking but don’t be afraid to step in. There are monks outside the store asking for donations. Don’t be obligated to if you can’t afford it.
Overall, their food was good and it kept my wallet feeling fatter. Wish we had more of these places in San Diego!

YUM YUM YUM! What i love about cali is cheap and good eats!!! I wish I was able to try everything in this little store! They have stuff from banh mi to Che to bobba, EVERYTHING! It smells absolutely amazing in here! They make their food fresh daily and they deff sell quick! I love Thai tea (something I tried here) but it was overloaded with sugar made my stomach upset. If they could make it more on the tea side that would be awesome but it seems like they make a huge thing of it to serve. I would deff. Recommend this place and will deff. Be back whenever I’m in Cali!

**FAVORITE BANH MI AND CHE CHAIN**
BUY 2 GET 1 FREE = CHE (DESSERT)
BUY 2 GET 1 FREE = BANH MI (SANDWICH)
= $ 10, what a bargain, eh?
PARKING
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Not too bad, plenty around.
AMBIANCE
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Deli-​style.
Lots of yelling, pushing, and cutting lines.
Place your order at the cashier first.
Not a sit-​down place.
FOOD
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SANDWICHES
— — — — –
#1 COMBO MEATS
#5 MEATBALL
#8 BBQ PORK
All sandwiches were good for what it was worth, but the baguettes weren’t the best I’ve had.
RATING: ⁴⁄₅
DESSERTS
— — — — –
BANANA
Not too sweet, warm, fresh, and delicious.
RATING: ⁵⁄₅
WHITE BEAN
Texture, fresh, and wonderful with the extra coconut milk sauce.
RATING: ⁵⁄₅
SERVICE
========
Love the women here.
Hardworking and they are yellers; very maternal.
RATING: ⁴⁄₅
OVERALL
========
Like this location the best because the sandwiches and the desserts come out within 5 minutes. Hate waiting for 15 – 20 minutes at the other location.
Solid sandwiches and great desserts.
Good prices.
RECOMMEND.

Great deals here!
Buy one get one free for some of their teas. Buy two get one free for their che that you can customize yourself.
The Asian woman helping us was very nice and patient since I’m indecisive.
They also have great looking banh mi and other items that I didn’t get to try.

AMBIANCE: So they’ve expanded, but it’s still very crowded with locals. It is cleaner than it used to be so that’s a plus to the expansion. But though they have expanded, its still crowded, possibly due to the middle island of to-​go foods and cold drinks. So really the expansion didn’t do much but add some seats to sit down more comfortably.
SERVICE: The ladies work extremely hard. The customers are the ones that are extremely rude and impatient. Its pretty much, try and get eye contact with a worker, yell your order out and hope they get it! It will be somewhat difficult to speak with a worker if you don’t speak vietnamese, but its definitely do-​able, they try their best to understand you!
FOOD: They have a variety of items. From vietnamese sandwiches (banh mi), pastries, drinks, desserts (che) and much more vietnamese food. We always get the banh mi’s to bring back to san diego and also enjoy their hot che’s to go. This place is very affordable and food is pretty good. Below are some great daily deals they offer.
Cha Lua $ 4.50 for one big one, but they also have the smaller ones and squared ones
Buy 2 get 1 free Dac Biet Thit Cha for $ 3
BOGO boba, jelly, pudding milk Teas and Che drinks for $ 2.75
Buy 2 get 1 Pâté chaud for $ 1.75
Buy 2 get 1 Che for $ 1.75
Baguette $ 1 loafs
Banh mi $ 1 for 3