Banh Mi Cafe • Bukit Jalil — Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur

There aren't many great Vietnamese food in town but this place has certainly built a reputation for itself over the years. I knew I visited their other outlet many years ago but I recalled the food was nothing mindblowing. Nevertheless, I decided to give their food another try today. We ordered the recommended beef pho noodles, grilled pork rice and pork banh mi as well as their signature Vietnamese iced coffee. The pho broth was savory and sweet with noticeable beefy flavors. The beef cuts were tender enough with good beefy taste. The load of beansprouts served along my bowl of pho added that refreshing crunch. As for the grilled pork rice, the pork meat was well marinated but I wished that it was more smoky and charred. The dish itself also came with a serving of preserved vegetable and a minced meat egg as well as a bowl of soup. The highlight for me was the sweet fish sauce with red chillies which was served with the rice. The sweetness really helped to enhance the overall dish especially the pork and rice, making them really appetising. Not much can be said about the vegetables, egg and soup as they were pretty ordinary to me. Next, the pork banh mi was commendable in my opinion. The banh mi bread was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside unlike those awfully rock hard baguette bread that makes it a truly unpleasant chewing experience. The pork slices weren't the most tasty but it had some fat to give it more flavors. The sliced carrots and coriander added crunchy texture and freshness to counter balance the savory pork slices and ham. While it wasn't an instant hit on my first bite, I find it to be rather delicious after taking several munches of it. I love the clean and light taste of the banh mi. The Vietnamese coffee was also tasty with its earthy taste and lush coconut aroma. Overall, the food here may not instantly grow on me but I would still recommend this when you have cravings for...

Drove by this place many times & finally decided to give it a try. Bright, clean & well laid out with Vietnamese decor. Indoor & outdoor dining. Friendly staff. Reasonable prices. Parking can be difficult.

We ordered a few items to share - bo bit tet, grilled chicken wings, thit nuong & stir fried bitter gourd with egg. Portions were good & all came freshly made.

The sizzling beef was really nice. Tender meat with soft creamy pate & just enough gravy. Went really well with their crunchy yet soft baguette. One of the nicer banh mis around.

The bitter gourd dish looked simple but had a really nice flavor to it. Quite addictive on its own.

Both the grilled items were also stellar. Freshly made, tender, juicy & packed with it's own flavor profile. They went well with their respective sauces especially the spicy citrusy green one.

We washed it all down with their must have ca phe sua da. Thick dark coffee which wasn't too sweet. Condensed milk on the side so you can adjust accordingly. The side of iced tea that came with it was a plus as many places don't provide that.

It was a great lunch. One of the better Vietnamese restaurants around. Will surely return to try...

We made the decision to drop by for an early lunch to avoid the crowd, so it was easy to get a table. The banh mi was delicious - the bread was flaky, the filling was well seasoned, and the entire meal was good. Drip coffee was enjoyable, and the meatballs and bread dish was really nice, so we'd want to revisit to try other items on the menu. Other plus points are the generous portions and affordable prices.

Service-wise, we weren't too happy though. Our group consisted of four adults and one baby. On one hand, the staff were friendly and helpful, with one of the ladies helping to pick up the baby's toy car that had fallen, and coming to explain that the water which came with my drip coffee wasn't sugar. However, the same cannot be said of the lady manning the cash register, whom we think is the boss. Our friend had gone to pay the bill and carried her baby with her, and when the boss gave back the change, the baby took hold of the money. But as the change was the wrong amount, the lady tried to yank the money out of the baby's hand, in a somewhat irritable manner, so that left an unpleasant taste...