My Sister’s Cafe

Staff is super friendly! Everybody in my office now comes to this place for their turkey sandwich on the Bahn Mi bread & chipotle aoili spread (so yummy!) definitely check in & try the iced black and mango tea

Love the purpose of this place. Awesome bahn mi, pretty good Chinese chicken salad (chicken a little dry, but veggies were good and fresh), the soup of the day (lemon grass chicken) was meh. Portions large and cost low.

This little café had a delicious menu including bahn-​mi and vegetarian options. Plus they have boba tea, including staple flavors like taro and avocado. It’s yummy, affordable and the proceeds go to Asian and Pacific Islander women and children escaping domestic violence. All of the employees are actually volunteers. Thanks for doing a great job guys!

This place happens to support an important cause, AND the food is delicious. My beet soup with coconut milk was flavorful with the right hints of spice. Pairing any meal with one of their teas or coffee drinks makes for a satisfying experience.
I would also recommend the chicken curry! They offer an array of exotic flavors that make for a more exciting dinning experience than some of the more uninspired alternatives.

The only thing near my work is a Subway and I refuse to eat Subway, so I thought I’d give this place a shot.
The pro about this place is that it’s very homey and is as if your friend is making you a sandwich. The con about this place is that it’s as if your friend is making you a sandwich. I got the chicken curry sandwich and asked for no-​mayo, but instead they gave me mayo and forgot to add red onions. Which isn’t that big of a deal, but I really would’ve liked those red onions. Had the mess up been different maybe I would’ve said something, but I didn’t think it was worth making a fuss, like if my friend presented me with a sandwich with mayo when I asked for no mayo. I’m not gonna tell her to make it again. I eat the sandwich. So that’s how I felt about it. I know that sounds odd, but I felt like it’d be rude to bring up the error.
I got some legit vanilla chai boba milk tea, unsweetened which was delicious. You can’t get all of their tea unsweetened so be sure to ask in case you’re trying to limit your sugar-​intake like myself.
In summary, I’d go again and get the chicken bahn-​mi. They help domestic violence survivors get back on their feet financially so I’m all for supporting them. When I was there, one of the ladies brought in a cake to celebrate her getting her green-​card and was grinning from ear to ear. It was real cute. I think this is about to be my lunch spot.

I love the idea of this Café! I have always wanted to try this café because I knew where the proceeds were going to and who it would help, since it is very dear to my heart. I finally was able to convince my coworkers to come with me here for lunch today!
When we first got to the area, it was kind of hidden in the back behind a few banks… I think they were banks. haha. Anyway, once we entered the establishment, it was quite small. We probably got there when lunch rush was just about to end (12:40pm). It took quite some time to order. Per one of the workers, they were short staffed. I was able to order the My Sister’s Bahn Mi with chicken and if you check in on Unilocal,you receive a free drink! I asked my cashier if I would be able to use it and she said they aren’t making any drinks right now, but as I read the fine print, it also stated that you can also get a drink from the fridge. So I asked if I could get a drink from the fridge and she asked one of the other workers and they agreed that I could. Hey, I wanted my free drink! haha.
I waited about 10 minutes for my food to come out. The presentation was pretty and the sandwich wasn’t too bad at all. The only thing I probably didn’t like from the sandwich was the bread. For me, the bread is probably the most crucial part (because I’m such a bread lover) that the bread wasn’t cutting it for me. It wasn’t soft and didn’t seem too fresh, but overall it wasn’t too bad.
I definitely want to come back to give it another shot and/​or another try. Possibly their phở or another type of sandwich.
So my opinion is for you to try this place out… not only because it’s for a good cause, but also because then you know you are helping someone out who is in need ;)
#MakeADifference

Went here for the first time last week, had the house Banh Mi with chicken. Although the bread was perfect, I didn’t enjoy it that much as it had too much mayo. I had to take some off. The service was good and I like the charitable concept of the place and so I will try it again and hopefully will enjoy my food more.

Delicious food, especially the pork banh mi and the udon soup (on special). Very friendly service. Tucked away in an office building but well worth seeking out for a workday lunch. Best of all, its proceeds benefit an excellent cause!

I ordered a chicken banh mi. It was just shredded white chicken meat. I prefer grilled chicken. I should have asked first. It did not have as much flavor to it compared to the real Vietnamese sandwich, of course. It tasted plain. They did packed on the veggies as I requested. The bread was not as crisp and fresh. I also ordered a strawberry milk tea. It tasted average. Never order that flavor again.

First time here, went with the lemongrass noodle special and what a good idea it was! Portion was huge with juicy chicken and lots of tangy sauce and garnished with green lettuce. The workers are friendly and efficient and the atmosphere is very clean and welcoming!
So nice to have some Asian food on this end of Capitol mall, I’ll definitely be back to try the Banh mi!

This is my first time here, I know of this place due to my training for work nearby. I’ve always wanted to try the food from here.
I ordered a Turkey & Cheddar Cheese on wheat bread with lettuce, tomato and pickles. I also ordered a cup of soup.
The young girl who took my order, could not remember what my order was regardless of the many times she asked me to repeat it. Lol besides that, service was very quick. I was in and out in 5m.
Simple Sandwich was fantastic.

My Sister’s Café is hidden behind a business office and cannot be seen from the street (except for the sign). I get the pork Banh Mi and it comes with pickled carrot & daikon, cucumber, cilantro, jalapeños and mayo on a toasted baguette. Considering the staff are most likely not trained chefs, their food always looks really good and fresh. Their portions are sized well and I think it’s a good value for the price. My only complaint is that it’s somewhat inconsistent… some days, the pork is salty and other days, I only get 2 slices of jalapeños. (insert frown emoji here)
Nevertheless, I keep coming back for the Banh Mi… it’s a yummy sammich and it fills my belly. And a full belly makes a happy Chica!
TIP: Save time and call in your order.

Where can you get a banh mi around here? Star Ginger on Alhambra. Revolution Wines has a veggie banh mi. Pushkins has a vegan banh mi. Something more on the downtown side? My Sister’s Café!
You can see «My Sister’s Café» on the side of a building on Capitol Mall. You go up some stairs and a few doors down is Suite 110. You’re there. There’s a fridge on your left with some ready-​to-​go packaged food and drinks. There’s the counter you order from with a barrier of other goods on and around it. Tables, high and low. If you follow the counter around the corner, you’ll find utensils, napkins, and there’s also a water station.
My Sister’s Café is volunteer based and benefits the My Sister’s House, an organization that serves domestic violence survivors.
They have a regular menu but they also offer weekly specials written on a board. Breakfast and lunch. Café food with an Asian edge. I like that they offer whole and half sandwiches/​wraps. They also have boba drinks.
I’ve only had a banh mi and a banh mi wrap (tofu with no mayo) and they were ok. Lots of veggies and I like that but the pickled veggies weren’t very pickled and I wished the tofu was marinated in something for more flavor. The food is okay.
The ladies are super nice and I hope that one will step up the food. So, really I would rate 3-​stars but an extra star for the community service it provides.

Their pork banh mi is delicious and filling. Would love to see the standard pâté types of banh mi :)
They had coconut juice yesterday and it was very refreshing with tiny chunks of coconut. I’m really picky about coconut juice (sometimes it has a weird metallic taste) and was very pleased.
Good price, good organization. Will definitely be back!

My first visit was when I searched boba on Unilocal.I didn’t think that this café actually had other things. I like their chipotle turkey wrap and their drinks. You can add boba to any drink (does that include soup… just kidding).
They have different specials each week which they post on social networks. Whenever they have ramen or phở on their special week I like getting that because they are both healthy and yummy.
The service is great because the ladies are very friendly and my order always comes with a smile.

Great food for a great cause! I’m happy paying a bit more if my money is being donated to charities like My Sister’s House.
Conveniently located on Capitol Mall, tucked away just enough to miss most of the lunch rush crowds, My Sister’s Café offers salads, coffee, tea, bubble tea, sandwiches, and wraps.
Today I had a Honeydew Milk Green Tea with Boba, and a Chicken Banh Mi sandwich. Might have to give them another chance on the Boba since it was way squishier and softer than I’ve ever had before, and I’m not sure I like that. The Banh Mi is not the most traditional I’ve ever had, but it made me miss my old favorite in Oakland a little less, and will be a good substitute while I track down other local Banh Mi spots. They use a very tasty mayo spice spread and the veggies are fresh. Much bigger portions than typical Banh Mi, which was also a nice touch. So I’m not going to be a purist because it was delicious!
Just be warned that the sign on the door now states that the café closes at 2:30 daily, and although I reported this to Unilocal!,it’s not showing up on the business page as of yet. Not sure if this is a temporary change or not.

I’m a bit conflicted with this review because My sister’s Café is a non-​profit that supports My sister’s House, organization which helps women escaping domestic abuse situations which is a very near and dear cause for me. With that being said putting their mission aside, the food is just ok and the service though polite, on busy days they are slow and overwhelmed.
The pork Banh Mi is not a traditional Banh Mi which is fine but the pork was salty and the mayo was plain mayo and way too much. I drowned it in sriracha and only ate half. The curry chicken salad sandwich was missing something, I can’t describe it but it felt like it needed more seasoning or another ingredient. My-​co-​workers seems to like them a bit more than me. So it could be my taste buds.
The service: everyone is very polite and sweet. We have called in orders or just walked in to order to-​go, and the few times I have been the turn around time has been over 20 minutes. This café is pretty small so being in and close to business buildings can cause the location to get pretty chaotic and overwhelming.
Great Cause but Ok Food/​Service. For the cause I am willing to go back and try something else, at least once.

This tiny café is located on the bottom floor of my office, so of course I come here regularly. At first I thought I was just coming out of convenience, but now I come every day for the food and the staff.
My Sister’s Café is a non-​profit café serving soups, sandwiches, and salads as well as coffee, tea, and baked goods in the 455 building of Capitol Mall. Their mission is to support My Sister’s House, a shelter for women escaping domestic abuse. Their slogan is «Good Food for a Good Cause, with an Asian Flair.»
All the ladies who work here are friendly, but none more than Jenny and Andrea. I see their smiling faces each day, and we chat about work, life, and food as I get my coffee (which is organic and supports the farmers who create it!). It’s a nice start to my morning to see these lovely ladies and get such great service and feel so welcomed.
Now, the FOOD! Aside from their regular menu, which boasts several sandwich and salad options, they also have specials which run about 2 weeks. I love to check out what’s new (the chicken green curry bowl I had a few weeks back was delicious!!) but their pork banh mi ($ 6.25) (you can get chicken or tofu as well) is hands-​down my go-​to lunch. It is served on warm banh mi bread, baked locally, and it never lets me down. NOTE: they do add soy sauce, and the sandwich is rather salty. I love salty food, but if you are sensitive to salt, ask for no soy sauce! I also crave their delicious homemade quiche ($ 4.50), which Andrea makes herself several times a week. My kingdom to know how to make quiche like that! They always have lemon/​lime/​mint-​infused ice water available, and I love that as well. :)
Overall, My Sister’s Café is a great addition to the downtown lunch scene. They serve tasty food at great prices. The service is sometimes slow (keep in mind they are mostly volunteers), but you can order ahead of time and your food will be waiting for you. They also have a fridge of salads, parfaits, and quiche you can grab and go. The icing on the cake is the friendly service and the great cause they support. I will continue to patronize this café and I hope you do as well.

If you’re looking for a quick and simple lunch, this is the place to stop by at!
Came here for lunch one afternoon with a co-​worker and decided to order a deli turkey sandwich. I was very impressed with the fresh produce and ample meat packed in my sandwich! Simple and delicious. The staff here was very welcoming when we walked in. They have a decent menu selection available — from deli sandwiches, salads to even banh mi sandwiches! They also have an array of drink selections to choose from. There were a few brochures on the counter that is a good read for those who are not aware of the start-​up of My Sister’s Café. :)
Definitely will be back next time to try out their salads! :)

I left this place feeling very sad.
I was excited to discover this place through word of mouth that they sold boba milk tea here. This café has a moderate menu that can satisfy and breakfasta and lunch munchies with coffees, teas, sandwiches, salads and many more but to my knowledge of writing, there really isn’t any place around downtown that sells boba milk tea so I was glad to walk the 4 blocks to try this place out.
For my main review, the boba milk tea. I ordered the large (larger of two) boba milk tea with honeydew (they have about a half a dozen flavors to choose from). The milk tea honeydew flavor itself was really good; I’d order it again if it was just by taste. My main complaint is the boba. Everyone who knows boba knows that it’s always has a soft chewy texture. However this boba has a tough chewy texture meaning that it was not properly cooked. While this could have been a possible bad day, it really sucks they happened to have it on my first try. As a closing thought for the boba milk tea, by the time I was done drinking it, about ¾ of the cup was still filled with ice. This added to the difficulty in maneuvering the straw to eat the boba as well as taking away more tea you could of had. (Minus 1 star)
I came here for lunch so I ordered the Bahn Mi Pork, there is chicken and tofu I believe you can order. Over-​all this sandwich brings the standard quality you might find this anywhere else, which is by all means good, so I do agree with most reviews that the Bahn Mi here is good. I had a tiny gripe, now this may be personal preference, and I can even tolerate eating slightly salty foods but it seemed like they added some soy sauce or something that made portions of the sandwich way too salty. If they had added anymore, it may have borderline inedible. And for some people that may a bit more sensitive to salty foods, they may have had a harder time eating the sandwich. (I could have gone either way with this portion of the review but the saltiness of the sandwich pushed me over the fence so another minus 1 star)
My main overall review and rating is about their boba milk tea. I will visit this establishment again to retry their boba milk tea as I am looking for a place downtown here where I can get my boba fix. I even had asked them when ordering if they had frequent buyer cards (not referring to boba specifically) and they said at the moment but possibly in the future.
So I will give this place one more try in the future, however, the boba is not up to par on my next visit, I may not return to this establishment.