Banh Mi Zon — Restaurant in New York

We just got Banh Mi's catered from Banh Mi Zon for our weekly office lunch. Shoutout to our office manager for getting Banh Mi's for lunch. That's so gangster.

I love Chris Voss's book "Never Split the Difference," which details how to negotiate well and get what you want in life. I negotiated my way to half a beef sandwich and half a Zon sandwich (house special), as I wanted to try both. Would I have been able to do this without using tactically empathy that Chris Voss preaches? I guess we'll never know...

The beef was decent, but nothing to write home about. The Zon on the other hand, was the one. It was made up of pate, Vietnamese ham & salami, and shredded pork jerky wrapped in a crispy baguette. 8.5/10 for me.

We were all seated around the rectangular table discussing life, liberty, and quotas over our Banh Mi's. A beautiful sight really.

I must note that many other reviews say they charge different prices than their menu states, and that's just a great way to piss off the consumer. Just change the menu prices... I didn't experience this first hand though, so it's not affecting my rating.

My favorite Banh Mi in the city still comes from Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli in the Lower East side. $10 for a BOMB Banh Mi that was better than any Banh Mi I had in my time in Vietnam... Oh you haven't been to Vietnam!?!?!? Couldn't be me...

IG @jnov_ Tiktok...

I’ve been a regular customer here, enjoying their sandwiches for a few years now. However, my recent experience was disappointing. Today, I brought a friend along, and when I went to pay, I was charged almost $4 extra. I asked the cashier about the extra charge, and he told me it was a service fee but offered to reverse it. I’m not sure if he actually did, as the reversal didn’t show up on my account.

What really bothers me is this kind of hidden charge. When the menu states one price, I expect to pay that price—not something higher. I should decide if and how much I want to tip, not have it essentially forced upon me. The new payment terminal, with its suggested tips starting at $1 and going up to 30% or more, feels incredibly pushy.

Why should anyone tip 30–40% on a simple sandwich when there’s no real service being provided? It’s not a sit-down restaurant. The employees are just doing their jobs, and I don’t think it’s fair to push customers into tipping for counter service. This experience left a bad taste, and I’m reconsidering...

The purpose of this review is not to hate or harm this restaurant in any way, shape, or form. That being said, I hope you take this review as an informative review.

Atmosphere: Tiny restaurant. Seems like they have changed indoor dining experience compared to some years ago. The entrance was a bit disorganized. I'm not sure if this was just a season thing where they only offer indoor dining when it's summer. Other than that, it had a neutral atmosphere.

Service: They were welcoming and attentive. They had my order ready by the time they said it was going to be ready.

Food: I ordered the Catfish bowl. The food was well portioned, and the flavors from each ingredient complemented each other. I also ordered the Lychee smoothie. Although it was not the right weather to drink it, it still tasted really good. I believe it will taste twice as good in summer.

Price: Honestly, their prices are fair. The quality and flavors of the food compensate...