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Dinosaurs
Categories: Restaurants Vietnamese Restaurants Sandwiches Vietnamese, Sandwiches [Edit]
2275 Market St(between 16th St & Prosper St )
San Francisco, CA 94114
Neighbourhood: Castro
(415) 503-1421
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 10 am - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
299 reviews for Dinosaurs
Review Highlights
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"Destroy a crispy tofu sandwich, you won't regret it." In 38 reviews -
"In my book, the Asian drink and Banh Mi is a great pair." In 45 reviews -
"The Special - Roasted Pork, Fancy Pork Loaf and Pate." In 5 reviews
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- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
299 reviews in English
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Review from Faye D.
San Francisco, CA
5/17/2012
Finally I have found the ONE place in San Francisco that has amazing Vietnamese Sandwiches. Honestly, I am doing back flips!
YUM! -
Review from Arthur C.
5/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great Vietnamese Sandwiches. Good prices for the quality ($5-$7). Friendly little place. I've heard good things about 'The Special'. I went with the Spicy Tuna. Well made and toasted to perfection. Usually Vietnamese sandwiches don't fill me up, but these are pretty hearty. They don't look big, but they pack a punch.
10% off for check-ins. -
Review from Jen W.
5/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
i was pleasantly surprised after finding this cute little cafe in the castro area. the sandwiches were pretty authentic for the most part. the ingredents were fresh and tasty...each sandwich was around $5. there are a few tables inside and a handful of tables outside.
i ordered a vietnamese iced coffee, the chicken, and the special. the coffee was good and strong...but it was mostly ice. wifey and i enjoyed both sandwiches but the bread just didn't cut it for me...it wasn't bad...it just wasn't what i expect for a 4 or 5 star banh mi sandwich.
the guy at the counter was nice...although there seemed to be so much confusion between him and the guys making the sandwiches. there were a couple of scuffles here and there while i was waiting for my order.
parking is super difficult around here...and it's really hard to go anywhere else with the prices and the junky, delicous, and dirty quality of saigon sandwiches...i do love the hours and that this place has the ability to satisfy a late night banh mi craving. if i'm in the area and want my banh mi fix...sure, i'd come back again. -
Review from Daniel B.
San Francisco, CA
4/28/2012 19 photos
RAWR RRR RAA RRWR
STOMP STOMP STOMP
GROOOOA RWARRWR
translation:
Liked it. Will be back.
(moves around a bit)
Indeed open past 7.Listed in: Asia is Huge, Artwork / Decor, Small Shops, Craveworthy, Good Morning Vietnam
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Review from T L.
San Francisco, CA
5/11/2012
These Bahn Mi's are the sh!t. The wifey brought me the pork combo and it was one of the best ones I've had. Great meat quality (real pork), and not just the plain processed meat you find in most places. It had a good amount of pâté and the bread was spot on. Little pricier than most but worth the $$$.
I have to go back to Saigon Sandwich on Larkin to see which is the best Bahn Mi in the bay area. -
Review from Sofia R.
I was getting lunch with a friend and her sister who had never had Dinosaurs before.
It's been a while since I've stopped by and it's been a while since I've chosen something other than the Special sandwich so I chose the Meatball. My friend and her sister chose the Pork and the Special respectively. We also got the new Thai iced tea that they're serving and a Vietnamese iced coffee.
I'm not partial to meatballs but I remember liking the meatball banh mi. This sandwich was good. Plenty of meatballs and lots of pickled veggies (almost too much). I still stand by my favorite, the Special.
I'm very picky with my Thai tea and I judge places harshly on how they give me their Thai tea but the Thai tea here is awesome. Sweetened with agave sugar and pure in ingredients. A little heavy on the ice, but I plan on getting this every time I go there now.
I didn't get to try the Vietnamese iced coffee but they told me it was great. I might get that next time.
Great place for sandwiches. And on a nice day? Perfect to take to-go for the park!10 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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4/7/2012
Some friends were visiting out of town and they wanted to try something new. They've never had banh… Read more »
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Review from Kameron K.
San Francisco, CA
4/22/2012 4 Check-ins Here
Best bahn mi sandwiches in the area!
I'm mostly a regular here and you can get them for pretty cheap (around $5-6)
I've had the spicy tuna which was awesome until I realized its most likely canned tuna with siracha sauce (lame), but still good! Just don't expect anything too fancy.
Pork patte is also really good. I'd suggest the BBQ pork which is standard banh mi for most places but still pretty good.
The folks here are fast and friendly. I'm not really sure when all of a sudden Dinosaurs became really popular but I used to remember there were no lines long time ago but it seems like the popularity is catching on and every time I come here now there is a line almost outside the door. Good for Dinosaurs for getting more business.
Highly suggest. -
Review from Saran R.
San Francisco, CA
5/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great value for money ($4.75). Use Yelp or Facebook check-in for 10% discount!
I had the pork banh mi. The pork could have used more grilling and marination. The bread, spread and pickles are really good. I found the iced Vietnamese coffee ($3.50) to be on the weaker side.
Not bad for a quick bite. -
Review from Blake H.
Napa, CA
5/16/2012
Found this place on the Yelp app because of their check-in offer (10% off when you check-in on Yelp). So glad I did because this is a great alternative to the famous Ike's Place down the road. To me, Dinosaurs is a nice alternative to Ike's because it's not as crowded and the sandwiches aren't as heavy (not to knock Ike's Place, because they are terrific if you're hungry and alright with a bit of a line). The tofu sandwich is excellent and the service is always great, so this is my new favorite sandwich spot.
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Review from Jeremy G.
5/8/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I used to not care for Vietnamese food. Recently, I have been experiencing a whole new side to Vietnamese cuisine. These sandwiches are out of this world. I love the crispy bread, the sweet and spicy flavors mixing with some solid slices of meat. No one ingredient rules this sandwich; they all blend together and I dig that type of cohesion. Killer deal for lunch. Or really any meal.
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Review from Nick S.
Western Addition/NOPA, San Francisco, CA
5/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
I appreciate that, aside from Kasa, they're pretty much the only $5 lunch option in the Castro (and their portion size is more reasonable than Kasa's single kati roll). I actually like their Bahn mi better than Saigon, which always seems to be dripping in some sticky soy sauce concoction, but I prefer the BBQ Pork at Two Tarts or, even better, the offerings from the Lil Green Cyclo food truck. Dinosaurs also has very friendly young staff who seem genuinely nice, which is impressive considering I'm sure they're no stranger to the entitled attitudes of many men who populate the neighborhood.
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Review from Jeremy B.
San Francisco, CA
4/6/2012
Decided to stop at this place after sitting in the left turn lane near 16th and Market. Good choice. Yes, there's cheaper. The guys here put together a tasty pork special for me. Plenty of veggies and a nice combo of pâté and mayo.
Wife ordered the chicken. Just as good. Bread was lightly toasted and almost perfect. I'd love it if they had something a little softer on the inside. -
Review from Marc K.
5/6/2012
what they have is a straightforward menu and simple, no fuss vietnamese sandwiches. not too complicated and cheap, really. although, something special that they do with their sandwich.. they have their own blend of sauce on their sandwiches.
eventhough i still prefer those vietnamese sandwiches in San Jose, this is unheard of in the neighborhood. not really hard to find this place, but it took me a little while to know that this exist. oh wells. -
Review from Amy D.
Fremont, CA
5/8/2012
I came to Dinosaurs a few months ago to check out their version of the banh mi, but thought the sandwiches were just okay. However,they are still way better than Lee's!! The banh mis here aren't very authentic, but their pickled vegetables are solid, and I think I liked the chicken (Grilled Lemongrass Chicken $4.75) the best (this is what happens when you don't write a review right away.. doh). I definitely remember the Special (Roast Pork, Fancy Pork Loaf, Pate $4.75) being disappointing, but pork (Grilled Lemongrass Pork $4.75) wasn't bad either. Parking can be tough in this area, but they make your sandwich very fast. Worth stopping by here if you're in the mood for banh mi!!
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Review from Mark A.
3/5/2012 6 Check-ins Here
Go now, because it's only a matter of time before Dinosaurs has the same lines that plague any decent SF sandwich place within walking distance of a park.
They're a tiny bit more expensive than other Banh Mi places in the city, but the ingredients are all super fresh and service is stellar. These aren't super traditional Bahn Mi, but the changes they make are all improvements in my book (chief improvement: your sandwich does not smelling like a dirty diaper 10 minutes after you unwrap it).
Seating is fairly limited, so grab a Special and head over to Dolores on a nice day. Make sure you pass by the folks in line at Ike's and take a big bite out of your sandwich as you strut by. Nothing tastes better than being the subject of sandwich envy.Listed in: Sandwich and the City
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Review from Melissa N.
San Francisco, CA
3/12/2012
We (my husband and I) came here a couple weeks ago on our quest to try 52 new places in 52 weeks.
This is as good as it gets. I don't even LIKE sandwiches, but this one was amazing. I had the pork sandwich (which is supposedly the most popular). AND ONLY $4.50. But according to other reviews apparently $4.50 is a lot....I'm ok with it though :)
Please don't get too popular like every other tasty spot in SF!! I will return. -
Review from Emmie B.
San Francisco, CA
4/23/2012
LOVE this place. dont know how i never knew abt it, living in the hood for 4 years. its REALLY GOOD. light sandwiches with perfectly cooked bread- have tried pork chicken and spicy tuna, all were good, i think the chicken was the best, followed by spicy tuna. even the apps are tasty. the food is pretty cheap and the food comes quickly (for take out or not) and i will certainly be coming back here often. its a gem
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Review from Unicorn g.
San Francisco, CA
2/21/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Yum!
I didn't want to wait forever at LIME to fill my tummy so I walked down the block and paid a visit to Dinosaur and left happy. I enjoyed the Chicken Bahn Mi which was about $5 (a tad bit pricier than most bahn mi). The bread of the sandwich was crunchy and soft at the same time which in my opinion, pretty close to perfect. Bonus points were given because the bahn mi had a hefty amount of meat and just about the right amount of dressings! My hat goes off to you, Dinosaurs! -
Review from Kat F.
The best thing I've eaten all week, and this is after a steady diet of San Francisco's usual suspects (La Note, Mama's, Ike's, Rosamunde, Dottie's, La Taqueria, Souley Vegan) owing to hungry out of town visitors. Absolutely smashing, and under $5 for a substantial sandwich.
Since this is the first time I've ever eaten a 'banh mi' in my life I have nothing to compare it to, unlike the other reviewers - I don't know if this is the typical bread used (French roll), but it was tasty. I don't know if it's usually this size, but it was more than filling, and really, as much as I love bread I don't need to consume more than a foot of it in one sitting. My spicy tuna was as described - zesty, spicy and jammed full of pickled veggies - and handed to me with a smile within five minutes of ordering. What more can I ask for in a sandwich shop? -
Review from Seung Hyun Y.
Everett, WA
2/28/2012
DINOSAURS!!! *ROOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWR*
What an interesting name for a sandwich shop!
Would the lady making my sandwich be considered a dinosaur because she looks like one?! Just kidding. xP
I had the Spicy Tuna Banh Mi here. I gotta tell you this place is bomb!
The prices for a Banh Mi..eh..$5.. I guess its the location since this IS the Castro. -
Review from Annie C.
Berkeley, CA
3/12/2012
Maybe I chose the wrong sandwich to get but my banh mi was just okay. The cashier was extremely friendly and told me that his favorite was the chicken banh mi so I got that one. Usually I prefer pork but I thought why not try something new.
The bread was toasted but a little rough, which led to scraping the roof of my mouth. The chicken was alright, nothing special. I liked how there were plentiful amounts of veggies but I felt like it lacked some more cilantro and jalapenos. They put a good amount of mayo in it for a moist sandwich but I have to say I've had many better vietnamese sandwiches. The sandwich was good but didn't taste as authentic as I had hoped! -
Review from Scott G.
San Francisco, CA
2/6/2012
It's quite simple. You can either...
1) wait in line for an eternity at Ike's for an $8.00 stomach-killing sandwich that will ruin the rest of your day
or
2) simply stroll up the street from Ike's for an amazing, simple (yet delicious) 'Nam sandwich for less than $5
PS: As all my fans know by now, any place that provides Sriracha automatically gets 5 stars.
Done! -
Review from R. S.
San Francisco, CA
2/28/2012
I love this little place. All of the sandwiches are very good and fresh tasting (my favorite is the pork). They are also under $5 which is a pretty good deal.
I'm a little sad that they've changed the staff and there are no more cute guys behind the counter. -
Review from Stephen V.
San Francisco, CA
4/23/2012 6 Check-ins Here
A small seating area and great sandwiches. Not huge in size, but tasty.
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Review from Nick S.
Updated - 2/11/2012
Meh. I've experienced better...at Dinosaurs way back when. The chicken banh mi must have been boiled with no seasonings. It relied too much on the condiments for flavor - spice from the jalapenos and mayo. I did appreciate the cucumber, though.
If this sounds super debbie downer, the real downer is how slow these guys work. There are 5 people working and prepping, but for some reason the only guy who works the register is also the guy making sandwiches, while one guy portions tiny amounts of sauce into equally tiny little containers and another girl works at a snail's pace rolling spring rolls.
Perhaps Saigon Sandwich has spoiled me with its flavorful sandwiches and quick service. I don't know. But if 50 year old ladies at Saigon Sandwich can take orders and hand over a cheaper, better tasting sandwich in a minute, than certainly Dinosaurs could do the same.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/4/2010
Saw an ad for this place in the Bay Guardian and decided to try it out. It was a longer travel than… Read more »
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Review from Jean K.
2/24/2012
It's been a long time since I've had banh mi - perhaps too long. I know Dinosaurs is in a weird location for banh mi and most of the reviews talk about the
special or tolu banh mi but in my mind it's the meatball that makes it worth eating at. The special is not as good as many other places (not enough pate) but the meatball, oh the meatballs! Warm, soft and tasty. Great stuffed inside a good french roll (soft bread and crunchy crust) with the pickled veg. I only wish there was more as my taste buds were craving it for a long time after I finished. Hubby and I agreed the meatball was the way to go. Yes the prices are higher than in the TL, but if an extra $1.25 is a big deal to you ($4.75 for banh mi versus $3.50 in the TL) then you should rethink your eating out frequency. -
Review from Tom H.
San Francisco, CA
4/10/2012
Excellent food, no line. Friendly service. Would come here every time over that ridiculous *ke's on the corner.
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Review from ed h.
Palo Alto, CA
2/11/2012
Crispy bread, fresh ingredients. Tasty
Pork and chicken are equally good. Rawred them like a dinosaur. -
Review from Shirley D.
San Francisco, CA
4/22/2012
There's no other place like Dinosaurs! At Dinosaurs, you can get a delicious sandwich for $5. Can't beat that! As someone who's eaten Vietnamese food growing up, I can say Dinosaurs sandwiches are among the best Vietnamese sandwiches I've eaten.
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Review from Alexa J.
Daly City, CA
2/24/2012 3 Check-ins Here
I cannot get enough of their spicy tuna sandwich! I usually just eat half, and when I eat the other half a few hours later, it is just as tasty! They always put just the right amount of veggies/meat in my sandwiches. Very calm and extremely CLEAN place. They also have a great variety of chips, drinks, candies, and other side items (like deliciously fresh spring rolls) available.
Don't have time to dine in? Give them a call and place an order for pick up. They always make sure that my orders are correct and ready by the time I get there (: -
Review from Alex R.
San Francisco, CA
4/20/2012
Yummy spicy tuna sandwich for only $5,25. Great service!! These guys are so nice! Good atmosphere!!
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Review from Michael W.
San Francisco, CA
2/28/2012
I've been coming to Dinosaurs since they opened. The most critical thing I have to say about these guys is that they recently reconfigured their shop and stopped offering Mountain Dew in the process, while adding a soda fountain of Coke products. Oh noes.
San Francisco is a city of great sandwiches, and Dinos belongs at the top of anyone's Sandwiches To Eat list.
Is it the most authentic banh mi, just like you might get off the cart in Vietnam? Nah. But I'm here for taste, not for authenticity. Dinos kicks up the sandwich a notch with AMAZING bread, delicious mayo, and fresh and crunchy vegetables. Don't forget the sriracha.
Next time you're headed to Ike's to stand in line, turn around and head to Dinos instead. No line, half the price, it's not so huge that you'll want to puke afterward, and authentic enough that you won't come here and think "This isn't banh mi!" unless you're really snooty.
Eat this. Seriously. Soon you'll be evangelizing just like me. -
Review from Andrew T.
San Francisco, CA
2/12/2012 5 Check-ins Here
The actual shop itself is really nifty. It's fun to walk inside and see the different T-Rex pictures and paintings. It really gives the shop some character.
The one tiny downside is that Vietnamese sandwiches are supposed to be cheap. At 5 dollars a sandwich, that's about double what I usually expect to spend.
But rarely do you ever find Vietnamese sandwiches with this much heft. They don't skimp on the meat, which makes up for the usually sparse sandwiches you get for half the price at other, more traditional shops. The best thing about them? The rolls are baked to perfection. Crunchy on the outside and crispy on the inside.
If you haven't done so, at least try it out once! -
Review from Thomas S.
San Francisco, CA
2/22/2012
I'm amazed at how often I find myself here, ordering the crispy tofu sandwich. You don't have to be vegan to enjoy. I bring all my friends here, and enjoy this sandwich almost daily for lunch.
*Quick
*Friendly staff
*Good eats
*Clean space
*Simple menu
*Vegetarian/Vegan options
I will continue to be a loyal patron. LOVE LOVE LOVE! -
Review from katherine c.
San Francisco, CA
3/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
taste wise, its definitely 4 stars. but price wise... im thinking more like 3 because for $5.50, i can get TWO sandwiches from saigon sandwich but i guess its understandable for its location in the castro.
tried the special - roasted pork, fancy pork loaf, and pate. the pate tastes a bit different from the others ive had, not in a bad way, just different but cant quite put my finger on it. everything tastes really fresh and i love how they put a lot of veggies in the sandwich.
even though i consider it to be pretty pricey for a vietnamese sandwich, its still a good sandwich nonetheless and would recommend people to check this place out. -
Review from Stacy Y.
San Francisco, CA
1/30/2012
I love 'The Special'. Oh my god is it good!
They recently did a little remodeling and added a soda machine with a variety of teas as well.
They are all very nice and get your order ready quickly.
But seriously....The Special! You have to try it! -
Review from Lana N.
1/3/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Red light #1: $5 banh mi sandwiches?! I am not accustomed to paying more than $3 for a good banh mi sandwich...
Red light #2: This is a Chinese owned and operated Vietnamese sandwich shop...??
Red light #3: No more bread?! It was about 2pm Saturday, and they had somehow ran out of bread and were waiting to be restocked...
Skeptical of the operations going on here and the high prices... I ended up going for it anyway - to see if it was worth any of the current Yelp hype, and more so just to appease my BF's persistence in me trying his new great find, in combination with my previous 3-4 underwhelming visits with Ike's down the street...
We ended up sharing the last of the bread Dinosaur still had, and doing half spicy tuna and half grilled pork. I've never had or seen spicy tuna in banh mi, but the girl behind the counter recommended we go for it, and so we did. Out came two tiny little baguette ends that would make you feel like a giant dinosaur in comparison... hmmm, I guess the name "Dinosaur" didn't come from nowhere??? Expecting only dissappointment at this point, the grilled pork was actually not too bad and the spicy tuna was actually down out delicious. Served with fresh pickled daikon, jalapenos, and cilantro... these provided fresh takes on my once narrow view of a good banh mi.
Despite Dinosaur's banh mi being a good $5 a piece and being TINIER than any sandwich/banh mi I've ever eaten - though possibly due to it being their last bits of bread, I find myself craving their (spicy tuna) banh mi more than any other sandwich I've ever had... I know, the blasphemy!!~ But really, Dinosaur may be on to something here... so if you're getting tired of Ike's, or even if you're not... come give this place a try! Dinosaur may not compare to the epic-sounding world of Ike's sandwiches - with their menu of hundred different calorie-bombing sandwich combos that range from $10-20, but Dinosaur does go beyond Ike's when it comes to overall taste, imo... and is still a great meal find for under $10! Yay for this new SF sandwich find! -
Review from Pani P.
San Francisco, CA
2/6/2012
THANK YOU! Thank you for being Vietnamese and not "sugaring" it for the American pallet! Thank you!
Everyone! Best Vietnamese in the city! I will bet my very expensive hair extensions on this place! Thank you!!!!
And to the men who "thinks" they like asian sandwiches, you don't know Asian until you come to this place :) Just saying,..... -
Review from Maximillian M.
San Francisco, CA
3/24/2012
Had the special sandwich and a spring roll... I couldn't help but think how someone used to the Little Saigon prices might think they're overpriced at $5. Well, they're definitely worth it here.
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Review from Maciej G.
Streamwood, IL
1/23/2012 1 photo
I'm very much torn between 3 and 4 stars for this place. It's a bit disappointing for a banh mi restaurant when there are some really damn delicious banh mi places pretty close by but not walking distance close.
As for the food, itself, it's a little on the bland side probably to not turn people off to the normally sharp, bold flavors you'd find in a banh mi. The ingredients seemed fresh even late at night though. I would definitely rate Dinosaurs higher if not for better sandwiches elsewhere, and I'm not even really considering price.
