Here, I’ll share my favorite bahn mi places in San Diego, probably with a bias towards the Kearny Mesa and Mira Mesa areas. I’m in those areas most often and they offer the densest concentration of Vietnamese restaurants and sandwich shops. If you know of another place I should try, I’m all ears – hit me up in the comments.

Bale French Sandwiches

Bale French Sandwiches is a takeout Vietnamese restaurant in Mira Mesa that makes some of the best bahn mi sandwiches in San Diego. One notable thing about their banh mi is that instead of a long baguette, they use a shorter roll and give you the entire roll. If you like crispier bread, this is the place for you. They also make an excellent Vietnamese iced coffee, fairly traditional in that it’s a darker espresso flavor and a smaller pour. It’s a family business and the people who work there are very friendly. They go out of their way to remember your name. There’s no seating, so you’ll have to eat elsewhere.

Need a break from bahn mi? Never. But in case you do, check out our guide to San Diego’s best Vietnamese pho places.

Cali Baguette Express

Another Mira Mesa restaurant, Cali Baguette Express also makes a terrific bahn mi. They use a long baguette with the ends cut off that tends to be softer than the short baguettes from Bale and some other restaurants.

Their iced coffees are more like milk coffees you get at boba tea places – not the darker expresso brews typical of Vietnamese coffees. The staff is always friendly and business is bumping.

Cali Bahn Mi

Cali Bahn Mi, located on Asian restaurant-lined Convoy Street, is my favorite bahn mi shop in the Kearney Mesa area. Similar to Cali Baguette Express, their sandwiches come on long, thin baguettes with the hard ends cut off. Of all the San Diego bahn mi places on this list, they seem to consistently provide the most generous portion of meat and other fillings.

The restaurant has a few tables inside, so you can eat there if you’d like. The staff is super friendly in my experience and they know my order by heart. Like I said, I eat a lot of bahn mi…

Banh Mi FAQ

Pho Cow Cali Express

If I had to give up one name for my favorite pho place in San Diego, it would be Pho Cow Cali Express in Mira Mesa. I may be biased, as it’s only a few minutes from my house. And it doesn’t hurt that there’s a Somsomi and Mochi Nut next door for dessert afterward. But I also really like their broth, which is anise-forward and savory. They don’t seem to thin it down as much as some places, and I like the heavier broth. Apparently, I’m not the only one: there’s always a line to get in during dinner hours.

Pho Duyen Mai

The saying goes that if you can make it in New York you can make it anywhere. When it comes the same can be said of pho in San Diego’s Kearny Mesa/Convoy neighborhood. This is the epicenter of San Diego’s thriving Asian food scene. You can pretty much throw a rock in any direction and it will hit a pho place. Pho Duyen Mai, located in a nondescript strip mall just off the Clairemont Mesa Boulevard exit of the 163, managed to stand out in this crowded pack. The rich beef broth is heavenly and the sprouts and basil are always fresh. It’s next to Quantum Brewing and a ham radio store (which is apparently still a thing).

Pho Cow Kitchen

If you are looking for a pho place in the Linda Vista/Moreno Boulevard area, Pho Kitchen is a great choice. This restaurant has slicker branding and an interior design that’s a bit more chic that the other places on this list. But there’s nothing pho-ny here…sorry, couldn’t resist. They make a mean bowl of pho with a tasty beef broth and fresh garnishes. They also have a location in Mira Mesa, at 6785 Mira Mesa Blvd Ste 144, San Diego, CA 92121.

Pho FAQs