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Banh Mi & Che Cali
Category: Restaurants Vietnamese Vietnamese [Edit]
318 Spadina AveToronto, ON M5T 2E7
Neighbourhoods: Chinatown, Kensington Market, Downtown Core
(416) 599-8948
- Price Range:
-
$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Alcohol:
- No
8 reviews for Banh Mi & Che Cali
8 reviews in English
-
Review from Zoe R.
11/5/2011
The price is right. For the longest time, I was really enjoying their veg tofu- mix sandwich (if you're veg, careful about their sauce tho - there could be fish sauce in it). Plus pickled white radish, carrots, and fresh cilantro/coriander. The bun's ok, but I don't bother eating the whole bun.
Desserts are great. Good selection.
Depending on my mood, I enjoy their small and large white floured balls w/ fillings (and ginger, in a syrupy base).
3 desserts for about $5.
Or, they have custard filled puffs. Sold in two sizes.
I've taken some friends here for lunch - they have a cheap lunch deal, and a decent enough assortment. Rice/noodles + 2 choices = about $5.
It's not "amazing" quality or gourmet food, but it'll fill you up (at least somewhat).
For a while, I really was satisfied in having *just* their tofu sandwiches, with every visit. -
Review from Sanzo L.
Scarborough, ON
5/4/2011
Seriously the Banh Mi is horrible compared to Nguyen Huong. This place mainly specializes in Che (sweet soup...not pudding.)
My favourites are:
Che Ba Ba (banana, sweet potato and cassava drowning in coconut milk)
Che Dau Den (black bean)
Che Dau Xanh (mung bean with seaweed)
and Che Ba Mau (three colors..actually forgot what's in it)
The banh bao (steam bun) are also pretty good for the price. They're nice and big so you actually stay full after consuming that monster of a bao. -
Review from Tony C.
8/7/2008 3 photos
Just another branch of the Banh Mi & Che Cali empire? Local Vietnamese/Cantonese Torontoans, can someone please verify?
They make a killer (and by killer, I mean cheap) Che Ba Mau (3 color pudding/ice). So instead of battling the INSANE line @ Nguyen Huong next door, get the banh mi next door, walk over here for the che. After all, che's in the name.
The banh mi baguette here, just like in LA / Wesminter, is a bit too airy, too dry, too flaky for me. Nonetheless, they make their own nem and it's still a killer bargain. -
Review from Neil T.
Toronto, ON
9/25/2009
Banh mi? Who needs banh mi when you have such a ridiculous amount of options at this Vietnamese 'all-in-one' shop! I'm a recent convert to this place, opting for this over it's yellow neighbor Ms. Nguyen something or other.
++Pros++
1. Super cheap. For $4.50 (taxes in) I can get an order of banh beo and banh cuon. Wicked!
2. Wicked variety - buffet table of prepared foods, banh mi, banh bao (steamed bun with egg and pork - hard to find in the city!), banh beo (my fav - little circular rice flour things with mung bean), banh cuon (rice flour rolls with pork and mushroom), spring rolls, desserts, even pho!
3. In-house seating for when you just want a quick bite and go. Since it's mostly DIY, no need to tip anyone...maybe tip if you get pho or something and someone needs to clean your dishes off.
4. Portions are bigger than next door.
5. It isn't as busy/loud/crazy as next door either.
--Cons--
1. Banh mi is best fresh. The bread doesn't keep as well as other banh mi places. Normally I keep banh mi and put them in the toaster oven the next day, but this doesn't work too well with the bread here.
2. The banh mi nem nuong (Viet sausage) is the flat variety, not circular.
3. Not enough cilantro on the banh mi.
Overall, this place is a definite hit. It is conceivable that someone could have a decent meal here for about $4 (thinking a banh mi and banh cuon), and that's coming from someone with a big appetite.
A TOONIE & A LOONIE RECOMMENDATION: any of their banh mi ($1.75), banh bao ($1.50), banh cuon (2.50), banh beo ($2) -
Review from Peter K.
9/16/2010 2 photos
I don't even know how to start this...I love banh mi's, A LOT.
i had 3 banh mi's here during my visit to Toronto. I didn't bother trying anything else but the bbq pork, they were that good.
Nothing is slathered in mayo or has old pate. Just clean pickled daikon and carrots, hot peppers, cucumber, and cilantro. And it's so cheap!!!!! -
Review from Thompson L.
6/5/2011
The Banh Mi is better next door. Get the Vietnamese desserts here. They always get me with the buy 2 get 1 free deal but I don't mind. You can bring this across the US border so always a nice treat even if you can't finish it there.
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Review from Connie T.
Toronto, ON
1/20/2009 4 photos
What's the magic dish here? Coconut milk puddings. Holy crap, let me at 'em!
Though these may require a certain palate to appreciate, once you get over the texture... homina, homina.
My favourite is the warm pudding, with the lotus seeds, tapioca and grass jelly. Get the lady to point that one out to you -- it looks like a bunch of eyeballs and seaweed drowning in milk, but gad, is it ever amazing.
I don't bother with the banh mis here anymore. I agree with Tony in that they're too dry, but I find that most banh mis in Toronto are pretty disappointing that way. However, their hot buffet is great, great value (3 dishes + rice for $4.75).
But back to the puddings: pour them in a tub and leave me alone for a few hours. I will be juuuuuust fine. -
Review from CE C.
9/21/2010
Cheap prices definitely but way over rated. Had the banh mi thit nuong, kind of disappointing when you see that the pork is coming out of a big tub and didnt have a great grilled flavor. The che is buy 2 get 1 free, which you should take advantage of, bc for one it costs 2.25. Had the banana in coconut, good nothing extraordinary. Oh well...at least we gave it a try.
