Mini Cafe

Stumble on to this place and this place worth coming back. There Banh Mi sandwicheswas very good. Worth going back to this small mom and pop shop. Their Banh Mi sandwiches is made very good toasted bread.

i love this place. I go in the am usually for a bagel sandwich– best deal in the city for a great breakfast. the people are also really nice. i come here at least once a week and will continue for the foreseeable future.

Good chicken. Conveniently close for lunch time to go. Good price good meal good deal.

Since I had too much time on my meter left from my super fast UPS adventure on the other side of Van Ness, I decided to come here for a sandwich. I ordered the combination sandwich with everything. I’m part Vietnamese and definitely have eaten way too many Vietnamese sandwiches in my life (from west coast to east coast. even in Vietnam). This one was pretty good for a hole-​in-​the-​wall, quick order. I am use to long french bread and a bit more meaty. especially for the price of 4.65 (dayum pricey for hole-​in-​the-​wall).
This was equivalent to a chubby: D. short with not too much substance but it did it’s job until next time…

Time: 12:23pm/72°F mostly sunny
Purpose: What can I say? Cherylynn N check in here at least 2 – 3 times a week. Each time she said, this was the place for cheap on the go eats when time is questionable.
Ambiance: Place was confusing to me. Outside awning said Boston Café with same address listed under Mini Café. Place is somewhat shoe box size a little run down and dated, but passable. Inner back counter seating with five high back chairs and one table sits two. Beverage fridge was behind counter tippy toe needed to see the whole selection of drinks. Overhead menu board with etched up acrylic display cases. Everything was kept behind counter leading me to believe theft might be a problem. Only thing out on counter were tootsie pops and peanut sesame brittle. No tv or music better bring something to read, if not take it to go. It just don’t feel cozy enough for me to mandate staying. Not bad or good ambiance just kinda afraid of the crazies in front of muni stop. Peering in vehicles, panhandling, mumbling among themselves. As soon as I step out front, a guy ask if he can have $.65 for a burger. I’m thinking tell me where I can get a burger for that amount too?
Staff: Friendly quiet Vietnamese couple. Man tends the register while lady does cooking and prep work. I didn’t have any problems here. Just tell them what I wanted, pay and wait. When ready the clerk says, «thank you» handled over my sammie.
Cleanliness: Grade B-​, window front had sun drenched cardboards now attracting dust and insects. A little here and there areas of concerns, but very minor. Better to close one day out of a month just to clean, it’ll do wonders for this joint, but not necessary though. Passing score posted.
Eats/​Drinks: BBQ chicken sandwich $ 4.95. Baguette roll use was perfect. Soft inside with slight exterior crunch. The ones I always seek out when buying banh mi. Wrapped in parchment paper this sammie was hot to warm when held. Enough time to bring back to office and still enjoy. Seems well made just right, good balance of meat/​veggie ratio. Wasn’t dry or soak with juice or vinegar. Veggies had a clean crisp snap to it. However, missing were the yellow mayo, pâté spread and julienne daikon radish. Either it was on there and I couldn’t taste it or, it was altogether voided. Will find out on next visit as, I’ll deconstruct to get better view. Nothing wrong with sammie, it was satisfying!
Main Features: There are other sandwiches here too, but I came specifically for BBQ chicken sammie base on (Cherylynn N recommendation).
Products/​Services: Breakfast, pastry/​danish, cookies, donuts, bagel, chip, candy, energy bar, cold/​got beverages, salad, soup, phở, Vietnamese/​American sandwich, CYO (extra pricing), grab n go items. Cash only, didn’t see CC/​EBT stickers so don’t run in with plastic in mind.
Punch Lines: Pleasing flavors, inexpensive, seats are minimal, drool-​worthy, budget-​watchers, warm service, devotees, sumptuous, well-​prepared, lackluster ambiance, zippy service, best cheap eats around, always a homerun, can’t go wrong, causal and delicious, unpretentious, satisfactory, parking (impossible).
Tradeoffs: You can get a cheaper banh mi in another part of city, but is it worth going across town to save $.75−1.25 on a sando?
Final Thoughts: So finally! I’ve made it here. The only reason I’ll come is for their banh mi only. Other items seems just like standard goods that could be had anywhere. For me parking isn’t an issue because I’m in a official vehicle with media plaque on dash. However, I don’t suggest anyone to follow me and park in the red or blue zone out front. Some buses comes equipped with camera that read plates now. A ticket will be sent to registered owner of vehicle without them even knowing what took place. For what ever reason, if you can’t make it, don’t risk it.

I’ve been coming here for a year. The quality and the price of their sandwiches and Vietnamese spring rolls with rice are great. This place is great for those dining on a budget. You can call your order in and it’s ready when you arrive. The husband and wife who run it are total sweethearts.

oops, i got the american food… granted I was in a hurry and lacking in the cash money department, so that influenced my food selection… grabbed a coffee & egg and cheese on an english muffin (that they kindly warmed up for me) for a quick lunch and had to head out the door. will be back (and hopefully up the star rating) sometime soon to try the vietnamese & chinese dishes everyone else is getting (again, oops).
as for the english muffin sammie, it was solid– $ 2 for egg on english muffin + a melty kraft-​like cheese product slice to round it out. bit in to find a thin layer of tasty ham encased within too — bonus! $ 1.75 medium coffee was fine and caffeinated. i asked about credit cards and the nice couple/​family? behind the counter said yes, but being a mom & pop type of shop, i didn’t want to stick them with the fees. also the cash gods smiled down upon me and revealed $ 2 and then a $ 10 hiding in my bag. :clouds part:
yay for a place near work that has what looks to be banh mi! and rice plates. i heart rice. to be continued…

I really enjoy their chicken flat rice noodle soup. I request for extra orders of bok choy, scallions, ginger and cilantro in my soup. It is such a delectable dish that it reminds me of the way my mom used to make it for me. For $ 8, the price is pretty reasonable, and the portions is enough to feed two people.

ca$h only.
quick.
fast.
huge portions.
TINY GREASY DIVE.
DO NOT and I repeat, DO NOT come here for the American sandwiches or food. This is not what they specialize in. You know what they do here? Vietnamese sandwiches (still have yet to try) and old school Chinese dishes.
laap mei fan. think Chinese cured sausages over rice. Traditionally I believe it’s done in a clay pot but I highly doubt this spot has clay pots hahhahaa.
hom yue fan. salted fish rice.
the «bbq chicken over rice» is actually 5 spice chicken. the portion is so damn big that I can’t finish. the rice is sprinkled with green onions and they give you a tiny container of fish sauce to pour over the chicken. personally, I am a fan of dunking it and then dousing a bit of the rice with the fish sauce. SOOO GOOD. The meat is juicy and tender,
I’ve been told they do the sizzling rice soup but I haven’t had a chance to dine in.
It’s super tiny and a greasy dive so if you dine in, you WILL leave smelling of grease.

I work near this place so I keep giving it chances over the years as I cycle through all local places to avoid boredom. I am a beef eater. So far I have yet to have a good beef sandwich there. Clearly some of the locals really like their food so I will not disuade you from trying it. For me as a beef guy, I would just be standing near the entrance whispering «avoid the beef» to you as you go in. From the other reviews I reckon some of their food must be far better.

For some reason, if it looks unconventional or hole-​in-​the-​wall, I am attracted to it. This place is no exception.
People say BBQ chicken, which I have not tried yet. I get their BBQ pork sandiwches all the time, and recently had their BBQ pork rice place. All fo it is so good, and the pork chunks are hearty with lots of delicious fats.
Coffee here is generally cheaper than any other place around. Cash only. This is a small operation. In the morning you can see the guy flip eggs and ring you up all at once.
The place kind of looks like an Asian home kitchen, which puts me at ease actually. The prices here are cheap and very right.

This hole-​in-​the-​wall is great for take-​out. Don’t let the name fool you, this café serves great Chinese rice plates and Vietnamese sandwiches. I came here for lunch last friday and had the roast chicken with rice plate and was fit for a champ. The chicken was moist and the rice was good. Sodas are only 80 cents there, which makes it a steal in San Francisco. Can’t wait to try the spring rolls and curries next time.

On a day when I want something simple, I wander over to Boston Café!
It’s conveniently close to work, open at 7:30am until 4:00pm, and is a little mom & pop hole in the wall. They offer various items in the morning for breakfast, lots of different kinds of sandwiches, and most of them are under $ 4-​$ 5! My order of choice is always the chicken congee. The man who works here in the morning laughs at me whenever he sees me coming in to pick it up (I order it over the phone as I walk over).
Their lunches are pretty good too. Not only do they have your typical american BLT sandwiches, but they also have Vietnamese sandwiches and Chinese rice plates. I had the curry one once, and it was decent. Their wonton soups are pretty good too.
My only complaint is that the place is cash only. However, if you don’t have cash, just wander next door to Walgreens, purchase something and get cash back!
PS — the phone number listed on Unilocal is incorrect! It takes people to the corporate chain Boston Market’s main 1 – 800 line!

I don’t like being early to work. I already live out ~40 hours of my waking life (sometimes borderline-​awake life) there every week, so why tack on the additional 5 – 10 minutes? However, walking in late may result in beady, hall monitor eyes scorning my tardiness.
That being said, I discovered Boston Café is the perfect spot for me to pick up a quick and cheap breakfast without being late. It’s located very close to the Van Ness muni station entrance on Market, just a few doors down from the Walgreen’s.
Coffee here is the cheapest I can find it outside of a vending machine. $ 1.25 for a small 12 oz. coffee. You only have one choice — French Roast — but hey! Caffeine-​dependent cheapskates like myself can’t be choosy. It’s actually a reliably good brew.
I must also drop praise for the breakfast bagels and sandwiches. These babies fill you up. A bagel with cream cheese (last I checked) is $ 1.75. Get yourself a small coffee with that and you’ve got a filling breakfast for $ 3 even! Not bad, huh?
Cash only, as if you couldn’t tell once you looked inside. As other Unilocalers have mentioned, the café… she ain’t much to look at. Still, I am a Boston Café forever faithful when it comes to grabbing breakfast on-​the-​go. I’ve only tried one of their sandwiches for lunch (BLT), but it was decent! One day I’ll have to try their Vietnamese rice plates. I think I’m just there too often for breakfast that I try not to repeat myself in the afternoons.
So stop in sometime, audibly clear your throat (the guy who runs it is often distractedly working on something in the back), and order yourself a HOT DEAL.

It’s amazing what you can get for your money as this place. You definitely get the most bang for your buck here. I love their breakfast sandwiches.
I’ve had their grilled chicken as well and it’s pretty good.

Poor branding. Great Vietnamese sandwiches.
I have no idea what the official name is. Boston Café on the exterior signage. Mini Café on the menu inside. The guy helping me really didn’t seem all that interested in choosing one or the other. Since you all need a name for your food adventures, going to Unilocal here. Other confused Unilocalers can be found here:
We could end all this confusion if they just called themselves Pretty Darn Good BBQ Chicken Vietnamese Sandwich For $ 3.90 Café. Bet no one else has taken that. And no one makes them as cheap, good and fast.
Hoisin sauce available on the side. Maybe they can work that into the name too.

The place looks sketchy but their food is decent and reasonably-​priced. I wouldn’t recommend their Chicken Curry because it has very little chicken and is mostly soup/​sauce and potatoes. Their grilled chicken is pretty tasty (either over rice or as a sandwich). Warning: I have a low tolerance for spicy food and the jalapenos they use are PAINFUL! I always ask to have them on the side, and i wimp out and put one or two bits on my entire sandwich. The man behind the counter is super friendly to me and it’s always a nice experience picking up food from him.
ALSO: here’s is their number if you want to call-​in for pick up: (415) 436‑0177.
P. S. CASH ONLY!

Love them as well

A co-​worker recommended this place to me and I am so glad she did! The first time I came here, I got a turkey avocado sandwich. Very fresh they definitely do not skimp on their ingredients. Then, I was pleasantly surprised that they serve vietnamese sandwiches, rice plates, and CONGEE. Yessssss. I love congee
Their bbq chicken sandwich is also really good. Not as good as the vietnamese sandwiches I’ve had at Cam Huong in oakland, but it will do. My chicken was a bit dry once, but I’ll forgive them for that.
I will definitely come back considering it’s across the street from where I work and is super cheap.
I’m a bit worried since Subway is opening up right next door to us and will probably be giving BC some competition, but my loyalty will always lie with Boston Café/​Mini Café!
Final advice: This place is CASH ONLY.

Banh Mi NOT in the TL, Richmond, or Sunset area???
I just recently discovered Mini Café aka Boston Café (signage still indicates the latter) 2 weeks ago after over a year of working just half a block away. How I failed to notice this little hidden gem among all the other «FAILED» sandwich places nearby is besides me.
Mini Café is located on the same block as Walgreens on South Van Ness and Market Streets, right next to a small convenience store.
For a «Mini» café, they have a wide range items including:
*Bagels Sandwiches
*Breakfast Sandwiches
*18 different American Sandwiches: Chicken Salad, Egg Salad, Turkey Club, BLT, Pastrami, Roast Beef, etc.
*Chinese Food: Sui Mai, Potstickers, Won Ton Soup, and Jook
*Viet Sandwiches (5 varieties) and Viet Food: Spring rolls, Curry Chicken over rice, BBQ Pork over Rice, BBQ Pork Chop over Rice, and etc.
See Pics for Menu and Prices. CASH ONLY!
FOOD:
*Combo Banh Mi ($ 3.65): It was ok. While it satisfied my banh mi craving, it wasn’t very authentic. The banh mi was served in a warm crisp baguette with slices of fancy pork and pork, American sliced ham, mayo, radish, cucumber, carrots, and cilantro. It was missing some major components that gives banh mi’s its distinctive flavor; pâté, pickled carrots and daikon, cilantro and soy sauce/​vinegar mixture.
*BLT ($ 3.90): YUMMY! The bread was lightly toasted leaving the center soft and chewy and was generously filled crisp, smoky bacon. The lettuce and tomato was fresh and added a nice crunch and tang to the sandwich.
*Sausage and Cheese Breakfast Sandwiches ($ 2.25): YUMMY! I opted for the soft roll which was toasted, soft, and airy in the center. It was packed with 2 sausage patties which had a slight kick from the seasoning. The cheddar cheese added a slightly sharp creaminess. It’s a good deal, considering All Star across the street charges $ 3.75 for the same sandwich.
OTHER ITEMS:
*Drinks: Sodas, Juices, Snapple, Vitamin Water, Coconut Water, and Grassjelly Drink.
*Candy: The ones that says, «Not for Individual Sale» Lol!
*Chips: 3 – 4 varieties
SERVICE:
A Chinese couple runs the place and the wife normally does the cooking (which may be the reason why there’s a lack of authenticity for the Viet items?) and her husband manages the cash wrap. Both are very nice and friendly. They greet you upon entrance and before leaving. They are quick and it normally takes 2 – 3 minutes to get your order.
AMBIANCE/​DÉCOR:
MC is a straight hole-​in-​the-​wall café. If it were empty, I would have mistaken it for an abandoned establishment. There’s 2 small tables w/​chairs w/​a furry pink back (from the 80s) where you can sit and eat, although, I don’t think you would want to after seeing the place.
Pictures of Dachshund Puppies «For Sale» line the back right wall, which I find a bit odd.
PARKING:
Street metered parking. I don’t think I would make a point to come all the way for a sandwich; however, it’s one of the BEST alternatives if you work nearby and don’t want to wait in line at Ted’s.
Thanks, MC for showing me that decent sandwiches w/​pleasant service do exist in this area!