Bien Hoa

This store has the best coffee ! I go there every morning. I would prefer this over even starbucks! if your just into simple coffee. They also serve vietnamese coffee. The area and store looks a little sketchy due to the neighborhood, if your from san francisco you know how it is in tenderloin ! but it wouldn’t be bein hoa if it wasn’t ! i love this place, they also sell a variety of other beverages. The coffee shop is run by vietnamese ladies who are very nice and hard working. They are really nice, and they work from 6:30 till 10pm. sometimes they stay till 12am ! everyday including sat and sundays. I would suggest anybody in the Tenderloin area to visit them for coffee everymorning !

The exterior is covered with bars and can be easily missed if you’re not TRYING hard enough to find a new place for Banh Mi. I walked in and spoke with a lady holding a chubby baby on the counter. Told her I wanted «One sandwich to go, please.» I don’t even ask these lil’ places what varieties they serve anymore. I figure they’ll let me know there are options when and if they ask me, «What kind?» She passes the chubby baby off and rinses her hands, no soap. Let me just focus on the sandwich…
Baguette was soft and fluffy. Fine for an American sandwich, but not for my Banh Mi. Two bites in and the sandwich was flat. Ingredients: mayo, cilantro, not-​so-​pickled carrots, pork roll, and… what is this? American-​style ham? Yes. Yes, and that is all. No other ingredients, no other meats, no pâté, no sauce, no spices (not even black pepper), this was it! The most flavorful thing on that sandwich was the mayo. This was hands down the worst Vietnamese sandwich I’ve ever had in my life! WTF?! How dare you advertise Banh Mi on your awning? You can’t call this Banh Mi! One Unilocaler said the Banh Mi was «unmemorable.» I disagree only because it was so bad, I will ALWAYS remember how bad it was! That makes it very memorable!

Tasty Vietnamese in the tenderloin. Nothing special about the phở or prices, but good service and all around pleasant experience. I do feel my cold is getting better…