Banh Mi Bar & Bistro
31 W Main St, Norristown, PA, 19401
Banh Mi Bar & Bistro Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Norristown for healthy meals suggestion.
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Visit below restaurant in Norristown for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
31 W Main St
Norristown, PA, 19401 - Phone (610) 239-1008
- Website https://www.bmbbistro.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
- Mon : 11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Shashank G.
This is one of my favorite places now. Really cost effective, and delicious! Don't even get me started in the care they take to bring you food.. Or the preparation style. 5 stars. Proper Asian inspired food. And quality service / food. This place should really be a lot more famous. As in not something i found through looking for cheap places to eat food. Amazing food, service, and cool ambiance as well. Good job guys! Keep it up! hey, don't just listen to me , here's a bbc article... bbc.com/travel/feature/2…
(5)Chaundra W.
I have been here quite a few times now and it has always been good. The banh mi and sweet potato fries are stand outs. I order the sweet potato fries every time I go because they are so delicious. The pho is good and the portion is generous and affordable but I have had better in the area. So for my pho fix I'd probably go elsewhere.
(4)Anna P.
I've been here a couple of times and I definitely recommend this place. First, this place is very clean which is extremely important to me because I wouldn't want to dine in an unsanitary establishment. Second, the service has always been great. Third, the food wait time is decent as in it doesn't take long to get your food. I've had the pork banh mi here, and it's super tasty. The Asian spread in the banh mi is really fresh. This place makes their own spread so it's always fresh. I also really like the Thai tea here too.
(5)Cathy B.
After hearing about this place for a year or two I finally made it today! I live close by and have no excuse for not getting here sooner, but I had to pay property taxes around the corner so I figured why not now? I walked in, it's clean, well decorated but hot! Their AC went out this morning. Per used the menu and ordered the marinated steak kimchi bahn mi, the marinated shrimp bah mi and sweet potato fries. No problem. Then the health inspector walked in and announced a surprise inspection. I don't know about everyone else but I've never been in a restaurant for that? Naively I thought my food would come out and I would be gone...turns out he has to do his job first. So I waited wondering what I would do if he had a sad face when he came out? This went on for about twenty/thirty minutes during which I was offered chilled water and really fun conversation by the waitress and owner. I had already checked their reviews with the county health department so I felt pretty good. The health inspector came out and said all is well and sat down to prepare his report. my order came out and I brought it home for my wasps family...it was outstanding! The beef was tender and beautifully spiced, the shrimp was sliced and expertly spicy spicy spicy and the fries, well maybe I would order them fresh when the health inspector isn't there! The county owes me fresh fries I give Bahn Mi B&B five stars, I can't believe how well they did under so much pressure and the food was excellent. I will definitely be back.
(5)Kerry A.
Hadn't been here in a year and craving a Bahn Mi ... This place NEVER disappoints and, in fact, surprises ... Like what I had to accompany my pork bahn mi ... wait for it WASABI fries ! Where have they been all my life ? Outrageous. Cooked crispy, just enough wasabi to clear out your sinuses while still enjoying the potato crunchiness. I would like to lay in these and just roll over with my mouth open and bite as I am moved to ... I cannot wait this long to return. Plus, the owners are just so welcoming and kind. GET HERE!!!!!!
(5)Kay B.
Guh! Such polarizing reviews for BMB. This review is for my first time dining here. Looks like I scored the A-team on a dreary Monday night when my regular Norristown pho place was closed. Interior is nothing special to look at, and the techno trance music left me confused. Is this a THING at Vietnamese places that serve bahn mi? Cue *ignorance*. The beef pho was tasty. I wasn't sure about the chunk like beef pieces, but enjoyed the thin sliced ones. Broth was on point and satisfying. Very good. I also agree with another reviewer that $10 for beef pho seems a bit much, but not a big deal since it's tasty! Shrimp summer rolls were moist and tightly wrapped. I enjoyed the tangy, delicate peanut sauce accompanying it. I was surprised that for 4 bucks I received 2 rolls. I'd come back for sure now that I know they serve pho as part of their regular menu. No expert in bahn mi, but I'd be willing to try theirs here another time based on my experience today.
(4)Kenneth N.
doesn't look like much from the outside, but once you get in you are introduced to a clean and spacious little restaurant. the server was kind, friendly, and knowledgeable of the menu as well as giving popular recommendations. he also provided attentive service that is always a good thing as a server. we ordered: steak and kimchee summer rolls that were fresh, tasty, and different. we also ordered their popular deluxe/shrimp bahn mi sandwiches that were delicious. this place also basic pho soup. it was nothing spectacular, but it was still good considering this place is more of a cafe than an actual pho spot. they also have Asian style tacos that was amazing. highly recommended trying those out. enjoy!!
(5)Maryssa L.
Amazing service! I called in late to place an order for delivery but the kitchen crew was already gone for the night. The man ended up calling back and his wife offered to make our order anyways so they delivered it on their way home. Great people and great food! Even the smoothie was outstanding. Night made :)
(5)Schuyler L.
The banh mis were very fresh, but there were serious service problems which cannot be overlooked. The fries were supposed to be flavored, but I would challenge anyone to find more than a teaspoon of flavor in the whole bunch. We ordered wasabi fries and tamarind fries and it looked like they forgot the flavoring. We asked and the server swears they didn't. Which leads me to my next point. After I started eating my banh mi it dawned on me that I had not received the right sandwich. I ordered the Special Banh Mi (Dac Biet), but clearly received the Classic (Thit Nguoi) Banh Mi. I could tell this because there was no Vietnamese sausage roll, pork belly, soy sauce, or chili paste on it, but there was Vietnamese cold cuts and pate. After confronting the server she told me I was wrong (I was not, thanks to yelp pictures) and refused to listen to me. She then because slightly hostile. Then, when a server uses an electronic device to place the order that's fine, but it should be a tool that helps not hurts. The server used an ipad and it was slower, less efficient, more difficult to customize orders, and less friendly for us because she had her face buried in it and didn't realize it. All around not better than pen and paper. Final point, when we sat down the server went through the whole menu with us. Sounds great, right? Wrong. She read and described every single item like we couldn't read. Very weird and never ending. She told us about eat drink and eat style of fries and everything. We won't be going back to Banh Mi Bar & Bistro again and I can't recommend it to my friends. We tried it only because the chef at Almaz Cafe across the street was apparently on vacation. Next time we'll go to KOP if Almaz isn't serving food.
(1)Chris S.
Awesome Vietnamese hoagies! I had the classic with egg rolls. The bread was crunchy on the outside, and soft in the middle, the way it should be. The meat was tasty, and the vegetables were crisp and fresh. Will definitely return soon!
(4)Michelle K.
I would never think to come to Norristown for Vietnamese food, but I was in the mood to try somewhere new. I started out with a strawberry smoothie then had the ginger salad. Both were delicious. After I ate the egg rolls, which came with a spicy sauce which added to the flavor. For my entree I decided to be a little adventurous and try the Seafood Vermicelli (soup). I have ordered Banh Mi way too many times, so I'm glad I was adventurous because the Seafood Vermicelli did not disappoint. If you never had Vietnamese food, you should start with the Banh Mi. Also, what stood out at this place was the great customer service. The staff made us feel at home and they were very helpful on what to order. If you're ever in Norristown you have to stop off here.
(5)Serena Z.
My husband and I decided to try this place after yelping what to eat for dinner and discovered a restaurant focused on banh mi. It's pretty difficult to find a place in Philly that provides quality banh mi so we were pretty excited. The food did not disappoint. We ordered steak and kimchi summer rolls which were very tasty. The only downside was that there wasn't much meat in it. For the main dishes we ordered the special banh mi and pork banh mi. The bread is crisp and toasty just like how it should be and the fillings were delicious and plentiful. The special banh mi has pork belly in it but it wasn't what I was expecting when I bit into it. Nonetheless it was still very good. Overall the place offers a good variety of banh mi sandwiches at a good price given the amount you get. Too bad we don't live closer otherwise we would be visiting sooner! Will probably come back here next time we have a banh mi craving.
(4)Sue K.
Bread: bahn Mi bread is french baguette (usually), however, this placed serves their meat on sandwich breads. Sliced white bread. I was a bit taken aback because the reviews were so great. As soon as I saw the bread, I was let down a bit. Meat: the waitress told us that the meat is great and recommended a few options. My husband who got their pork sandwich was not impressed at all. I got the korean bbq meat - with which i was confused. I am not sure which part was korean bbq - the marinade? or the kimchee in the sandwich? portions: generous! this deserves a star. there was more than enough amount of meat. service: we went on a saturday and was excellent. they were not busy - so we got a lot of attention. The waitress was very sweet and nice. What is it missing? almost everything that goes into a bahn mi - jalapenos, pickled veggies...the right kind of bread... I don't know if they call their sandwiches bahn mi - or just sandwiches. If they claim that they aren't bahn mi's then, it is my fault for thinking that they were going to be bahn mi - from their name. It's an interesting take on asian and american sandwiches.
(2)Napoleon S.
Really cool Pho spot in the middle of Norristown. The bowl of Pho was absolutely enormous. I didn't get any tendon (not sure if that is common in Pho) but I definitely enjoyed the meal. The service was the best part. Someone took my order really quickly and within 15 minutes, I was noodle slurpin'. Also, someone came and asked me if I was okay the perfect amount of time. They even waited for me to finish what was in my mouth before Asking me questions. It's the little things. I think it may have been family owned. Cool spot to go for lunch. Not too fancy, but very clean.
(4)Yoko K.
If you're familiar with Vietnamese food and you know what good Vietnamese food is supposed to taste like, you will not like this place. Bahn mi was very bland. Pho was very very bland. Milk tea tasted like sugar water with a hint of tea. I was super excited that there was Bahn mi in the area but it cannot come close to satisfying my cravings for Bahn mi. :/ But two stars for the super friendly service!
(2)Darcy G.
I'm always searching the N.W. burbs for pho places. I've got some pro's and con's about Banh Mi bar and Bistro. Pro: Waiters/Cooks/Misc. Guys running the place seemed o.k. Hot Viet Coffee was delicious. Bean sprout and Basil were fresh. Con: Waiters/Cooks/Misc. Guys running the place stayed behind the dividing wall out of site of all the customers in the dining area. No one asked if I needed more water. Banh Mi Fries looked so intriguing on the menu, but it took me a long time to realize that what I thought was pickled radish (or some veg) was actually the sausage promised on the menu cut in slices and then quartered, perhaps? Fries probably frozen. Not bad, but not worth what they were charging. Beef Pho was average. I could get that anywhere. Not much meat. Sriracha sauce color seemed off somehow, a little to orange. I did see a bottle of "rooster sauce" behind the counter when paying which was the right color. I ordered a "Special" Bahn Mi which has sausage and pork belly. I can deal with some average pho, but this hoagie sucked! It was exceptionally dry and had zero flavor except when I bit into the two jalepeno slices, a generous 1 per side of the sandwich. Made sure nothing was hot and gave the supermarket chicken breast on it to the dog. Lastly, I was not given an itemized bill. He just told me a number to pay. Seriously? I don't care if you are using one of those ipad register things, I asked for a check, you give me a check (pencil and paper guys!). Tear down the separating wall, get rid of the stupid patio umbrellas', and turn on the heat on cold, rainy days.
(1)David N.
A local Vietnamese joint?!?! Well,I had to give this place a try. We ordered the egg rolls as an appetizer -- it just came out on a plate plainly, with none of the usual garnishings (no greens)! It was also sour(!!), as if the taro (why is there taro in an egg roll?) had gone bad. Unnecessary "creativity". It was also soft, not crunchy/crispy, as if it had been frozen for awhile & just reheated in a microwave. Ugh & yuck. We also ordered several of the $5 hoagies -- and all concluded that none of the varieties were worth $5. The bread was a nice size, but there wasn't enough meat to fill it out properly. Otherwise, the hoagies were ok, but definitely nothing special. Conclusion: we won't be back. I had really wished for this place to be worth multiple trips, as it's much closer to home than a drive into Philly, but I'd much rather make the 35-minute drive into Philly than to give this place a second try (sorry).
(1)Joan V.
Went here for dinner and had a good experience. Ordered tofu banh mi and beef pho. Beef pho was flavorful, meat tender. I had several special requests for how I wanted the food prepared and they had no problems getting the requests right. The tofu banh mi was too big for me, next time I would order the half size. Tofu was chewy, could have done a better with this but otherwise ok. Had strawberry smoothy for desert and it was the bomb. I would definately go back for the pho and smoothies.
(4)Dave H.
Finally! Vietnamese hoagies have made it to the King of Prussia area, and they're actually good. If it's your first time here or your first time having a Vietnamese sandwich, get the classic. While their banh mi sandwiches might not be as awesome as the ones in South Philly, they're satisfying, plus suburbanites don't need to trek all the way into the city. Easy street and lot parking and friendly service makes for a seamless experience at Banh Mi Bar & Bistro.
(4)Dee T.
I've eaten at Banh Mi maybe 5 or 6 times in the last two months, and it has become one of my favorite restaurants. Everything I've had (various banh mi, various vermicelli bowls, shrimp, steak, and tofu summer rolls, Thai milk tea) has been delicious and fresh. The people who run and work in the restaurant have been unfailingly polite. I even brought my regular (elderly) dining companion, who hates anything unusual, and who walked in and loudly proclaimed, "Why do you always bring me to places like this?" (by which she meant the bare-bones décor, which in her mind did not bode well)...anyway, she ended up loving everything she ate, and by the end of the meal was saying that she had never said anything like those words. Anyway, a great restaurant. I just wish more people knew about it.
(5)Rob K.
My first experience at Banh Mi was outstanding. I ordered delivery online not knowing what to expect in terms of accuracy and service. I ordered: pork vermicelli, pork egg rolls, an iced "milk espresso" (what i would call Vietnamese coffee) and something new "Banh Mi" steak. This last item consists of marinated steak, Kimchee, fish sauce and other veggies on a high quality long steak roll lightly toasted. It was out-of-this world! Like a Vietnamese steak sandwich! Coffee was potent, sweet and on-ice. Everything was fresh and flavorful. Small containers of nuoc Cham and sirarchi, chop sticks, napkins and plasticware were included. Delivery took 40 minutes. Driver was courteous and conscientious.
(5)L B.
I'm really truly finding it hard to believe all of these positive reviews. Okay folks, Here It goes... Came here with my SO to try out the banh mi. I should've left based on first impressions. It's pretty bad when the waitress mispronounced every single thing on the menu. Seriously, people. It's not a good representation of your establishment. The second thing that happened is it took too long for two sandwiches and an order of fries to come out at about a half hour. That was terrible. Third, the food was awful. My sandwich was extremely salty and my date's was nasty and undercooked. In closing, save yourself and your money and choose something else. This place is a total let down.
(1)Brittany H.
I work in the Norristown area and am not able to go out for lunch. Most restaurants don't deliver in this area, save for Banh Mi Bar. I'm from philly, and while I have my favorite Vietnamese restaurant at home, I know I can count on BMB to deliver good, fresh food while I'm at work.
(4)May T.
Oh boy, a banh mi joint in Norristown?! GTFO! I've been hype about this place since I drove by it the first time months ago! So of course on their opening day I bought 3 $5 footlongs (the special for the soft opening). One was the classic, another was the pork banh mi and the last was the meatball banh mi. Yes, I tasted all of them within minutes and my conclusion is: All of the sandwiches were super delicious and flavorful and the bread was on point. The only thing I'd probably want them to add is a bit more meat and a lot more daikon and veggies. The bread to meat ratio was a bit off to me...there was more bread than meat but then again, this could 100% be attributed to the fact that I'm a fatty patty. As far as the interior goes, it was spacious and modern however the walls lacked decoration but I'm sure they'll be putting things up in no time. Seeing that today was their soft opening, I'm really looking forward to coming back here in the near future to see what else they have in store and of course I'd rather drive 15 minutes vs. 40 minutes into Philly to fill my viet hoagie cravings.
(4)Joey B.
So Banh Mi Bar and Bistro is rolling out a new menu, and I got the chance to have first crack at one of the new sandwiches, the Sesame Steak. Let's just get this out of the way now: it's phenomenal. The sandwich is Korean BBQ steak (think bulgogi if you've had that before) with kim chi and the Vietnamese style veggies you see on the other banh mi's. Look, I love bulgogi and I love kim chi and as I said in the original review, the bread here is fantastic. So add it up: Bulgogi + kim chi + awesome bread = killer sandwich. As before, this isn't your standard Norristown fare so don't expect cheap. This sandwich is gonna run you about $9, but the quality is on par or better with places you'd find in more foodie-centric areas. Definitely check this one out.
(5)Diana L.
Delicious. Hubby had pho while I ate steak bowl Bo Nuong. Yummy. Great meal. Would definitely come back.
(5)A B.
Interesting menu as it deviates from your typical Vietnamese restaurant. It has Americanized dishes that are unique and not deep fried crap like you'd find at your standard Americanized Chinese restaurant. I thought the Bahn Mi I ordered was skimpy as compared to the Bahn Mi's I'm used to getting in Philly which are more substantial most of the time. The Pho is pricey here as well-$10 for a bowl. Really? This is Norristown and you're serving broth and noodles. I would go back again if I were in the area but wouldn't make an out of the way trip. Service was good and the place is clean.
(3)Paradise P.
Lovely atmosphere, clean, and the items I ordered were delicious. Waitress was attentive to my needs and suggested a strawberry smoothie that was very good. Since my first dinning experience I have returned 3x more.
(4)Dannah F.
Good flavors and so clean and healthy, but I got pho and it was SUPER salty. Really good otherwise
(3)Brian M.
A decent bowl of Pho without having to go into the city? Well that's worth four stars alone! It's no secret that you can't get a decent bowl of Pho in the burbs. First there are almost no Vietnamese restaurants. And the pan-Asian places that serve some Viet food can't make a decent broth. But now there's a place in the burbs that gets it right. The best ever? Well that would be asking too much. But it doesn't hurt that they also serve up a good Banh mi.
(4)Joe C.
A great place to visit if you're in the area and need a pho fix although you'll find the portion smaller and more expensive than pho spots in the city. Service was spot on. The next time I'm in the area I'll definitely return to try some of their other offerings especially the banh mi.
(4)Steph Y.
I don't want to give this place a bad review because I don't want to hurt a small business that is legitimately trying to make it in an extremely bad economy in a newly developing part of town. I don't want to give a bad review because the food here is genuinely GREAT. I'm just going to ding off a star and never come here again because there is no customer loyalty at this place. They have utterly failed at their marketing campaign & loyalty program, and it's difficult to not take it personally after being such an advocate for the restaurant. I want them to succeed SO BADLY! I promote it on Facebook and Twitter constantly and tell everyone to go there. Anytime a client comes to town, the first place I take them is this Bahn Mi place. I'm involved in some of the downtown redevelopment of Norristown, so I think this place can and will be a staple-restaurant someday. When my husband and I got married last year, on my registry, I added " Restaurant.com Gift Cards to Bahn Mi". We run a volunteerism charity, so we were planning to use them to buy Bahn Mi treats for our volunteers and interns. We received ten gift cards. The first time my husband went to use one of the gift cards, the manager frowned, sighed, and said he should have never run the promotion. He refused to honor the gift card. I guess this is because he knew us (somewhat) personally and really only wanted new customers to use the promotion. Fine. He could have just listed that in the terms of conditions of the gift card. I spent about an hour going through each of the gift cards and re-allocating them through Restaurant.com to another place in King of Prussia - Peace of Pizza. They never give us any trouble with gift cards and are always happy to see us. After the Restaurant.com problem, the manager was nice enough to offer us a new promotion, a sandwich card where you can buy 10 sandwiches, get one free. This is a great idea! So over some time I accumulated 20 punches for 2 free sandwiches. I called his assistant to cash in the sandwich, and she said I could order any kind I wanted. Generous! I thought I would try a shrimp one for the first time. When I went to pick up the sandwich, she informed me that she was mistaken and the manager would not allow me to use punch cards anymore. There was no expiration date on the cards. but they had just started an "App" promotion. I got so frustrated that I thanked the girl for being a nice person, but informed her I would never be returning to the restaurant again. The manager ran out and said he would still make me a sandwich if I could wait a few minutes. Clearly, they were waiting to see if I would just pay for it. To them, I'm just a walking sack of nickles and dimes, so I walked away. And before you think I'm just a cheap customer, the last time I was there, we gave a $14 tip on a $40 bill because the food was so good. I would have still gone there if they NEVER any coupon/royalty/whatever offered. It's the condescending attitude and complete waste of my time that pisses me off. They now want you to use the Loyalty Tree App. Don't bother. You have one hour to scan your code. By the time you download it, confirm you e-mail e-mail, signed up for their newsletter, and scanned the QR code from a perfectly still location, i.e., not while a passenger in a car, the loyalty has expired. "To protect the restaurant from coupon fraud." What fraud? From my experience, this restaurant has never honored a coupon! The next time someone at the municipality asks me, "How are we going to get more young people to the area?" I'm going to cite this incident, along with the fake draft night specials the Ethiopian Restaurant runs across the street (Policy: "You must purchase, consume, and pay your bill within the happy hour or else you will be charged full price for your entire tab.") You guys! This is why the chain restaurants of the world are kicking our butts! It of course is harder and more expensive to run a small restaurant. But wouldn't you make more money over time if you offered consistency than luring in customers with fake specials you don't honor? I want nothing more than to support Norristown and fantastic local food. For now, I will continue feed my volunteers food from Peace of Pizza and enjoy weekly happy hour with re-occurring party of 12 friends at the Fox & the Hound - both King of Prussia establishments. Last week, F&H threw my guests a free happy hour party and gave us a $100 gift card because we had spent over $1500 annually at their restaurant. They have never - not once - given me attitude about buying one of their specials.
(4)Aaron G.
Exceptionally friendly and quick service from the husband and wife duo and the pho is perfect to warm you up on these cold Philly days.
(5)Jill M.
Nothing short of phenomenal. Excellent food and service. Good menu choices. The food was very fresh. My server, Carla was extremely sweet and helpful. I'll be coming back for sure.
(5)Josh G.
The food here is above average, it is tasty, flavorful, and colorful. But the prices have really gone up, AND the portions have gotten smaller. I just ate a $10 noodle bowl with pork, and there was probably one ounce of pork in it, and the shavings of 3 peanuts at most. I've come here for lunch during work hours maybe 30 times, but the last 4-5 times, I've been disappointing each time. I could have eaten four of these pork noodle bowls, I didn't get even the slightest hint of satiation. I'm not filled up at all, and I'm angry. I should have said something to the manager. Its honestly embarrassing how little food I just received. Their sandwiches ARE good, dont get me wrong, and the manager is a really nice guy, but the new waitress is not good at her job, and the portions are all appetizer sized for entree prices.
(2)Gia M.
Chris the owner is absolutely wonderful. Made my family feel like part of his family. Very welcoming. His wife Anna is in the kitchen. Everything was made fresh, nothing is frozen. And all is cooked to order. It was delicious! My 10 year old couldn't get enough. We ordered sandwich style Vietnamese rolls and also taco style rolls. All were amazing. If you like spicy this was the place to go. Decor is nice, place is small but very comfortable. Best part. BYOB with no bottle opening charge. Trust me. Try it. You won't be disappointed or hungry afterwards. Oh. And ps. Check restaurant.com to see if there is a certificate. We used one. Simply amazing. And great prices!!
(5)Raghavendra S.
Get the Thai milk tea!
(5)Khanh V.
I like the idea of a Banh Mi challenge and that is about it. The food is ok. Banh Mi was a bit dry and could use some mayo. The food is overpriced for the amount and average taste. This place wants to be fancy like many places but fail. However, it is cool addition for those who do not live in the city and wants to try Vietnamese food.
(3)Janice T.
Went out of our way to try this place out when we discovered it on yelp. Glad we did! Exactly how I like my banh mi's. Just enough crisp to the bread, just enough meat + carrot/radish, and just a hint of cilantro. I just wish it was closer to me in North Wales. They have a good variety of banh mi! Service was quick and friendly and they do accept credit cards. :) Only odd thing is that they only have pho on Mondays.
(4)Jessica M.
Had dinner there on a Friday night. Not busy at all. Staff was really nice and friendly. Menu has a wide variety of Vietnamese food - I had the vermicelli bowl with shrimp - very good - and the veggie summer rolls, really good peanut sauce. Don't park in the empty lot next door - they tow, park on the street.
(4)marc g.
Excellent!!! Did take out today. 2 sandwiches. Fantastic service and great food. This place is the real deal! Very happy to have this place nearby.
(5)Adam W.
A very nice and clean restaurant ran by a husband and wife team. It's a good alternative to the mundane western food in this area for me and some of my friends when we visited here for work. The Banh Mi (the original) was well made and delicious. The Vietnamese summer rolls were fresh and soft. The pork and vermicelli noodles were well made and had the right amount of flavor and spice. Recommend you try this place if you are in the area and want a change of pace.
(4)Micky L.
First impression, the restaurant had nice simple modern decor to it. The location was on a Main Street so it was easy to find and street parking is available. The pho was good and moderately portioned. Our favorite was the banh mi fries. It was very unique and flavorful. Definitely different than any fries we've had and you would wonder how different fries could be right? Well try it and you will be very happy you did. And I would say 'I told you so'.
(4)Cyrus M.
Went with a friend for a much better experience the 2nd time around. This time it was a little more busy and we switched it up a little. The chef/owner still had to translate again, but the one woman seemed to have figured out a lot more. Had the tacos, spring rolls and the beef with noodles soup. The soup is EXCELLENT, very tasty and a good amount of meat. The tacos and spring rolls also had a little more meat and made the difference. The one taco entree had a fried egg and it was a little too sunny-side up..next time I will ask for over-easy, but still oh-so tasty. Its tough to split an order of 3 tacos, but the owner added a 4th and chipped up the bill fairly for that entree, so we were happy. Will go back again readily and just deal with communication issues...based on other reviews, I am not the only one having this issue.
(4)Valerie V.
This is my very first yelp review. I've been a fellow yelp user for years but only used it to find places to eat and never really put in my 2 cents on my culinary experiences. My experience at Banh Mi Bar and Bistro was so great, I felt a strong urge to write them a stellar review. My BF and I ordered the special Bahn Mi and Beef Pho. The Banh Mi was excellent! Bread was nice and crispy with the perfect amount of sweet/spicy. The beef pho was great too. The broth tasted amazingly good and hearty. I'm a big pho eater and this pho was pretty good. EXPERIENCE: As I was eating my banh mi sandwich, I bit into a really spicy jalapeno pepper. I cannot tolerate anything too spicy. I struggled for minutes constantly drenching my mouth in water, while feeling my entire mouth burn and my body sweat. It was so painful, I couldn't even talk. The waitress comes up to see if we needed anything. My boyfriend asked for something milky to counteract the spicy sensation. Not even a minute later, the waitress comes back with an avocado shake. Turns out, the chef noticed my "struggle" and already made me something. He comes out later to ask how I'm doing and made the delicious avocado shake on the house. This act of kindness is something I will never forget. Thank you Banh Mi Bar and Bistro for an amazing experience! I can't help but laugh though. I must have put on a show :)
(5)Jamaica Y.
I will definitely give this place a second shot. I literally just polished off the $5 vegetarian (tofu) hoagie, and it was pretty good, but not great. I think the biggest drawback was that, unlike my favorite Vietnamese hoagie spot in West Philadelphia, this one was topped with bland tofu. The menu describes a "lemongrass soy reduction", but my taste buds never noticed it. I actually ended up adding some packets of sauce that I picked up at the Chinese carry-out across the street. This was my first avocado smoothie experience, so I cannot compare it to other avocado smoothies. It was cold, not overwhelmingly sweet, and creamy... but the flavor is incredibly mild. I wasn't impressed. The good: - ambiance--they really spruced the place up - reasonable lunch prices The sufficient: - the tofu hoagie, but ask for extra sauce - accepts cards, but they use an ipad console and those are always finicky The not-so-good: - The manager who may have also been the owner wasn't exactly warm - Dinner prices are higher than is typical for the area - I would skip the avocado smoothie next time, but there are several other options that sound worth trying
(3)Isra A.
The polite staff really make this bistro worth visiting. My husband and I visited this place after driving by many times. The Beef Pho and Chicken Tacos (seasoned with all spice and other savory flavors) were delicious! The portions are huge too. We ordered a few different things and shared. For dessert we ordered banana rolls (spring rolls filled with bananas, coconut, and jackfruit with hazelnut anglase on the side with a serving of coconut icecream). The dessert in itself made this dinner perfect. They also cater to pick up orders, as we saw several people stop in to pick up their dinners to go. Worth the try!
(4)Brett O.
Delicious sandwiches, the staff is extremely friendly. The food is eclectic and can satisfy both bland and adventurous taste buds simultaneously.
(5)Victoria L.
Holly cow!!! Being Vietnamese/cook, this nostalgic place brought me back too so much memories of what a good Banh/pho should be like. Normally I would have to travel all the way to Philly or cook at home for something this good! In addition to this, the restaurant is very clean and the staffs are so friendly and helpful! I definitely recommend this place!
(5)Cindy D.
I am really recommending this place. The service is nice.The food is nice as well. I have tried many pho places and this one is outstanding. The taco is creative and yet tasty. Really satisfied.
(5)Amy A.
Stopped in for lunch. I have been wanting to try this place for a while and I was finally nearby. It was worth the wait. I will admit I've never had Vietnamese food, so I didn't really know how or what to order. Their lunch menu is small, but nicely priced. I ordered the steak with rice and a side of eggrolls. It came out quickly and as fast as it took to arrive, it was gobbled down. The steak was tender and I loved the pickled vegetables. My lunch was about 10 and worth every penny. I can't wait to go for dinner.
(4)Percy N.
Great lil' funky, hip Asian bistro which seems to be so out of place at this location. Love the menu options like: - Quail & Waffles - Pandan Waffles - Vietnamese Sliders - Various Bahn Mi - Bahn Mi tacos - Head-on prawns with garlic, cilantro and lime Hours are a little challenging to get to. I believe they are now open M-F 7am (breakfast) to 4pm? and Sat 4pm-9pm for Dinner. Was there for lunch. Will be back to try more items. They also have a deal/coupon on restaurant.com Wish they were closer to me.
(4)Nico L.
So the manager offered my friend a free Banh Mi. Good enough for me to try again. Totally worth it. The banh mi was delicious and the delivery was prompt. The price is very cheap and they will certainly get my business again. This proves to me that businesses that want to try and want to do well for their customers will make the extra effort.
(4)Craig D.
(4) ~ very good food & service...and they're now open from 11am-9pm (M-thru-Sa:) ENTREES: * Brioche Pork Sandwich = (4) very good...LOVE the Brioche Roll;) * Classic Bahn Mi = (4) very good * Vietnamese Pork Panini = (4) very good * Turkey& Bacon Panini = (3.5) good * Beef Stew Bread Bowl = (4) very good * Sesame Steak Sandwich = (3.5) good * Beef Pho = (3.5) good SIDES: * Hot Sauce(House) = (4) very good * Sweet Potato Fries = (3.5) good..like the cinnamon;) DRINKS: * Vietnamese Coffee(hot) = (4) very good * Water(tap) = (4) very good...must be filtered;) Yes I rate the water too;-)lol NOTE: After 6 PM street parking should be free. And yes they take Credit Cards;-)
(4)Rachel H.
I would love to give this place 5 stars, but after over 5 take-out and eat in experiences, they just don't deserve it. The service is good and the cost isn't too bad, but the food needs some work. The chicken and classic banh mi are good, but we found the tofu and beef rather flavorless. Every time I have tried to order pho, they are out of something and I found their vermicelli severely lacking in flavor. If they worked on improving their stock of ingredients and flavor, I'd love to give them a better rating.
(3)David M.
Great place, great service, great banh mi.
(4)Kimberly K.
Use to work in Center City and now in the burbs -Plymouth Meeting. I miss the eclectic lunch choices. I ventured out 4 miles to Norristown for a Banh Mi and was worth the drive at lunch. BTW - they are on Grub Hub so you can order on mobile or web as well. Parked the car in a lot next door but street parking in front was available. i ordered the pork Banh Mi. Bead was fresh and crispy. Carrot and radish salad was crispy and the jalapeno was just enough to give it a kick. Cucumber and Cilantro was also fresh. The pork was deliciously seasoned with lemongrass and is what I expected from Asian tastes/cuisines - slightly fatty. Then again eating this sandwich is 10x healthier than a cheese steak. They were out of the summer rolls so my fall back was the spring egg rolls. They were not greasy and freshly made to order. The decor is very modern. If you want to eat solo, there is a counter/bar. I was impressed with the wireless mobile checkout process for my credit card - signing on a tablet. I have my fave Banh Mi place in the city but for the money and my Banh Mi cravings at work - I will be a repeat customer. I'll be checking out the Pho next Monday!
(5)Jonathan X.
We went there on Monday evening after reading the good reviews here and were not disappointed. We got there around 6:00 pm so there are a lot of street parking available. There are only a few people in the restaurant. We ordered: 1) Avocado smoothie: Healthy and tasty. 2) Tiger Prawns: nice appetizer 3) Sweet potato fries: OK, not a big fan of the sweet/sour tasting sauce. 4) Vietnamese hoagie with pork/lemon grass: A lot of hoagie; crispy bread and tasty marinated meats. A lot of food cheap; definitely will visit again in the future.
(4)Jim M.
Absolutely the best meal in Norristown. The banh mi sandwiches are fresh and delicious. I particularly like the tofu banh mi. The noodles are good as well. Recently tried the seamen steak bistros sandwich and I was impressed. Lastly you have not lived until you try the sweet potato fries. They are seriously good enough for dessert.
(5)Jeannie S.
So happy!! The food is delicious and fresh, and they deliver ( luckily I am in their 3 mile zone)! But worth the trip if you are not. So thrilled to have a great place like this right in Norristown. Can't wait to try everything! Also, I appreciate that they do not overpackage the food when delivering, it is nicely wrapped, hot, and ready to enjoy. Good portions, and priced well.
(5)Rick C.
I've only ordered from here once, but it was fantastic. In fact, it was arguably the best delivery experience I've ever had. The website is great, the delivery was quick and the food was amazing. I'll definitely be ordering from here again.
(4)Marc S.
My wife and I split a take out order: one classic, one vegetarian (tofu), lentil bites, and sweet potato fries. I enjoyed everything, but I will most likely skip the sweet potato fries for take out since they go super limp after even a short ride in the car. This is fairly characteristic of sweet potato fries from my experience. The lentil bites and the hoagies travel well. Everything was super fresh and the flavors all worked really well together. I'm excited to come back to sample the rest of the menu. Parking isn't too bad if you're used to paying for parking, or, I suppose, if you arrive for dinner (after 5pm) when the rear lot is available.
(4)Samantha M.
The portion sizes here are generous and it's really tasty. The only downside is that when I went it was pretty crowded. So I love to always leave room for something sweet and was so full that I just couldn't. I really have to go back now.
(3)Mike A.
I've been here 6 times and have never been disappointed. Their Bahn Mis are better than most sandwiches you've ever had. They also have great Pho. I would recommend getting a Bahn Mi on your first visit. I've had 4 kinds and they have all been good. Skip your wawa hoagie and get one here for about the same price.
(5)Bridget M.
So happy to not have to travel to south Philadelphia for good banh mi anymore. Banh Mi Bar and Bistro was awesome! Great, authentic banh mi! The tofu banh mi is wonderfully seasoned with crisp vegetables and smooth avocado, all on a crispy roll. The classic banh mi was delicious as well. For sides we had the salad with ginger dressing that was perfect for a spring day and the crispy egg rolls that had just the right amount of grease. To top it all off the fried banana desert was amazing. What's not to love about a deep fried banana with honey and peanut butter. Looking forward to riding our bikes along river trail and stopping in this place for a mid-ride meal.
(4)Lisa M.
I enjoyed having the vietnamese pork hoagie sandwich and this place has the BEST sweet potato fries!! They are really GOOD!!!!! I can't wait to tell my co-workers about this place. The service was great and friendly, and there's easy street parking. Looking forward coming back here for lunch :-)
(5)Abby I.
I am SO happy there is finally a place outside of the city to get delicious banh mi (Vietnamese hoagies). Banh Mi Bar & Bistro has so many filling options. It was hard deciding but I opted for the portobello mushrooms with avocado. DELICIOUS. I also had a side of the sweet potato fries, shrimp summer roll, and vietnamese coffee. All amazing. Delivery man was so friendly too! WILL BE BACK!
(5)Jason G.
My girlfriend and I were headed to a local thrift store in Norristown and wondered if we could find a local restaurant with good vegetarian options. Banh Mi Bar was listed as one of the first options and advertised those delicious Vietnamese Hoagies that we usually have to drive to Philly for. We tried the lentil bites which were very good, but it was the hoagies that made the visit worth it. The rolls were spot on, and the tofu and veggies tasted so fresh! The owner waited on us, and was such a friendly guy. He informed us they just opened, so this review will hopefully get more customers to come try out his new place! We will definitely be back for more!!!
(5)Kevin M.
Food was good - had the Pho which they only have on Monday. Probably would rate the food 4 stars. However, service was TERRIBLE. Nice enough young woman, but she was either overwhelmed or new to the job.
(2)Jason R.
I'll tell you what: the classic banh mi was very good, but it's worth going here just for an avocado smoothie. Sounds kind of weird, right? Maybe, and truth be told I only ordered it because I felt bad putting less that $10 on my credit card, but it was unbelievable. I've never had an avocado smoothie before, but I'm probably going to want one everyday now. If they filled up a big tub and let me bathe nude in avocado smoothie right in the middle of the restaurant I would totally do it. A little more on the banh mi: The bread was great, just as I'd expect for this type of sandwich. Contrary to the reviewer before me, I felt there was the right amount of meat and veggies on the sandwich. A banh mi should not be stuffed full of ingredients. There should be just enough of each that they sing together in a joyous harmony of Vietnamese-French fusion and that's exactly what this was. Definitely a top 5 banh mi in my book.* *I don't actually have a book, but if I did this would be somewhere in there.
(4)Christine Eric L.
So glad I don't have to travel in philadelphia to have a good vietnamese hoagie! Very nice service! Friendly. Clean. You will be seeing me again! Thank you.
(4)Anthony D.
Yelp failed me on this one... food was mediocre at best... Over priced for the quality... service was a 3 out of 10... I do not recommend!
(2)Kristin N.
Nice find! Just got back from a yummy lunch that only cost 2 of us $20. We had the chicken hoagie, vietnamese sliders, lentil bites, egg rolls and drinks. It's nicely decorated, the staff are quite friendly and most importantly, the food was good! Have found a new favorite spot!
(4)Vienette G.
Amazing portobello bahn mi! Friendly service and great prices. Must try the fried banana rolls. Credit cards are accepted.
(5)Sile A.
I was craving Pho for the past 4 days, so I decided to try this place for lunch. I ordered the beef pho and a classic Bang Minutes sandwich. The pho was average and the sandwich was very almost impossible to eat. The taste of the sandwich was quiet gamey. The service was unprofessional and made you feel as if you were bothering them by showing up. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone.
(2)A G.
Such an amazing find!! Beautiful restaurant, free parking, byob
(5)Jane V.
So I just inhaled their summer special - Vietnamese Sliders. OMG, so good and who would have thought, those pickled carrot/daikon slices with that special mayo would have made a simple burger taste sooo good. I definitely give them a super thumbs up for the creativity!
(5)Rita N.
We love BMB, it's down the street from us and we get take out and eat in. the tofu tacos are my fav. Its simple, clean and very tasty. I suggest them to everyone. Planning a group dinner there on 12/18 for some to try. I say try it
(5)Dan K.
Very disappointed with their sandwich. The price was higher than Brooklyn, NY and the portion of the meat they put in was about one third compared I had one when I was in Brooklyn. I am not going back to the place.
(2)Jim H.
Definitely a favorite lunch spot for days when I'm stuck in the office (which is about 100 yards away). Nonetheless, I would gladly travel much further to eat here if need be. The staff are always super-friendly, and the food is always super-good. I'm glad to see this place is doing well - they work hard to make this a nice restaurant, and I think they deserve every bit of good praise they get. Just watch out for the hidden jalapeños...there's a couple of small slices lurking in just about every sandwich, and they're sure to get your attention when you find one. Sure, it's easy to take them out, but I don't. I prefer my sandwich to be suspensefully delicious ;)
(4)Kevin P.
This place keeps getting better! Tried pho and all of their bang mi...and they are all good. Definitely one of my favorite spots for Vietnamese hoagies!!
(5)Samantha A.
We had really great food the last time we were here! Came back today and the store's neon open sign was on but no one is there! They're supposed to reopen at 4pm and its now 4:30! What a waste of time driving here :(
(2)Eric R.
Tremendous food. Small menu but very high quality. Had a hoagie, salad and lentil fritters. All excellent with just the right amount of heat. The place was empty. We felt very welcome and relaxed despite the empty store. I will be back there many times I am sure. Really excellent.
(5)Kevin S.
I work not too far from here and decided to try after seeing a discount on Restaurant.com . I love Vietnameese food and was shocked I hadn't stumbled on this place before. I had Chix hoagie, prawns, and an avacado shake and all were very good. Came back on Monday to try the Pho which was also good. Wish they offered this every day Will definitely be coming here again! Food is really tasty and very reasonable.
(4)Ashley H.
Best banh mi selection!!!! I'm so glad Norristown has some new restaurants like this one to fill a gap in local eateries!
(5)River O.
So impressed with this place! We went in tonight around six to order food for takeout. The server was very friendly and helpful. I ended up with the pork banh mi, which came with pickled veggie toppings. The vinegar flavor of the veggies and the crisp was the perfect addition to the sweet pork. The bread was also fresh and crispy. The apple slaw was absolutely perfect. I'm going to have dreams about this stuff later. Fuji apples, shredded red cabbage, carrots, poppy seeds, and a honey sauce. It was all fresh and beautifully prepared, not to mention the amazing taste. The thai tea was sweetened to perfection. Again, very impressed. My husband ended up with the chicken banh me. He thought it was very good, but there was a bit of a licorice flavor (fennel, maybe?) that he didn't love. That seems to be common with many people, so it might be worth mentioning if there is fennel or another licorice-like spice on the menu. He loved the egg rolls and my pork hoagie though. I'm so excited to find another locally-owned place in our area that serves something other than pizza, cheesesteak, and lunch meat! We will definitely be adding Banh Mi to our rotation.
(5)Jon K.
Place is incredible. Everything is so fresh, and meticulously prepared. The chicken, sweet potato fries, cucumber smoothies, everything we've had there is really great and ridiculously inexpensive.
(4)Adam F.
This place makes a killer Banh Mi sandwich. Normally you have to go to Chinatown or South Philly to find quality Vietnamese food, but Norristown area is lucky to have this place. They specialize in making Banh Mi (think Vietnamese/French hoagies) or they can make them into tacos. Classic Banh Mi is the way to go for your first time. Try to explore the whole menu. Prices are pretty cheap so try to order a few sides or apps to go with. Unfortunately, they only serve pho on Mondays. BYOB and they take credit cards... what's not to love?
(4)John H.
awesome food!!!! well priced and I second the comment about the best sweet potato fries! would gladly come again
(5)Kim Hung E.
Looks like Norristown finally got their own Banh Mi shop. I'd never thought I could find a Vietnamese hoagie in the middle of Norristown! So lets cut to the chase. I had their braised sardine banh mi and it totally hit the spot. It was smooth and not too "fishy". I always look for balance in a sandwich and it was definitely the right call for me. The only objection to the sandwich was I was hoping for a little more kick to the spice. Next time, I'll consider adding some Sriracha chili sauce to it or even bring some dilled chilli peppers that my mother in-law makes so well. My wife prefers the dilled veggies to be a little more sweeter than sour, but I found nothing wrong with it. The complete package goes for the win. I'll be sure to stop by again for dinner when I'm taking the backroads home or crave something different for lunch. Its also a BYOB which gives the place more brownie points . The experience there is definitely a steal.
(4)Fat G.
I had no clue what to expect from a Vietnamese restaurant, I never had it before. So I was cautious going in. The restaurant itself is very clean and modern. The staff is friendly and attentive. I ordered a classic chicken Banh Mi and a steak version as well for my family. The bread was crisp and very fresh! The sauce they use is fantastic, that mixed with the veggies and meat was the perfect combination. I wouldn't of minded more meat but thats just me. For $5 a sandwich, you really can't beat that. I also have had several of their smoothies, Mango, strawberry banana and Kiwi were very good but they don't come close to the coconut cream, its perfect! I highly recommend you give this place a chance.
(4)