Nikki's Banh Mi Shop — Restaurant in Portsmouth

We were curious about this place after trying the bahn mihs at Tet that just opened up in Somersworth.

I feel like this place is definitely for blue collar white people who work in the area. Not Portsmouth tourists (too out of the way, not distinctive enough) and not PoC or foodies who love southeast Asian cuisine (no flavor and over priced for the quality). It has not only Vietnamese offerings, but Thai dishes, a large boba selection, as well as a whole American pizza/sub shop type menu.

Like many of the other reviews mentioned, there's a lack of flavor, particularly for the vegetarian options. When you offer vegetarian options, you should actually pay closer attention to the flavor of the dish, not less. It's not just [insert meat dish] minus meat. I got the vegetarian summer rolls and they were no better than the ones I throw together at home. The peanut butter sauce was very watery and barely had flavor, not restaurant quality. It's like the sauce I make at home when I mess up and water it down way too much and also forget to add vinegar or any spices. The rolls were also $8 pre-tax.

The boba tea was a watery slushie made in a blender, not a tea, which I should have guessed when I saw that they offered 20 different flavors instead of just a few despite not being a dedicated boba place (never a good sign). I asked for black sugar pearls (the "standard" boba offered in most boba shops) and was given these weird "gel" pearls that had a fake plastic texture. It was really unappetizing and I normally love all the "different" and less common toppings offered at more authentic boba shops (basil seeds, grass jelly, pudding etc). I know the black sugar boba can be difficult to source, so I wouldn't be surprised if this gel boba has become an cheap alternative in times of need. Combined with the wateriness of the slushie, I couldn't finish it.

The drunken noodles were actually decent. I got it with tofu and thankfully there was enough (very sweet) sauce for it to soak up. I wish the cashier had asked me what spice level I preferred. I later saw on the website that you can specific spice level. Maybe they just assume "mild" unless told otherwise.

Service was not bad but a little awkward. There's no sauce station like you'd see at other Asian fast casual places, and this place should really have one. My husband had to ask for ketchup for his fries and it was brought out from the back like it was a special order item. The people working at the cashier are teenagers, which is the norm I suppose, but it took forever to flag one of them down for a to-go box.

Summary: Overall, I think they have potential, but they're trying to do too much. They should pick either pizza shop with fries and mozzarella sticks, or Vietnamese-ish cuisine and narrow down a target audience, and improve the quality of a...

Date night Saturday was a bit out of the ordinary for my wife and I. This trip took us to Portsmouth's West End at a place we had never been together before. My wife has enjoyed lunch, but this was our first dinner together. I'm talking about Nikki's Bahn MI at 801 Islington St(Pic 1).

After looking over the electronic menu board, we decided on our selections. We grabbed our drinks and headed to a booth. Like a precision time piece, our first dish arrived(Pic 2). The Steamed Buns were simply magnificent. These mouthwatering delectable Buns were made with Bulgogi Beef, Kimchi, Sriracha Mayo, Carrots, and Cilantro. Just incredible!!!

Shortly thereafter, we had our second dish delivered, Fresh Veggie Summer Rolls With A Peanut Dipping Sauce(Pic 3). Not only were they visually beautiful, we loved the fact you could see through the roll to the ingredients. Loaded with fresh veggies, these were a perfect follow-up to the Steamed Buns. They were fresh and delicious.

Then came the Drunken Noodles(Pic 4). We chose these fresh rice noodles made with chicken. It also included red & green peppers, string beans, carrots, onions and Thai Basil. There was a pleasant kick to the dish, but nothing that would keep anyone from ordering it. Just incredible flavor.

The atmosphere at Nikki's Bahn MI is bright, comfortable, and inviting. There is a wall that's dominated by an extraordinarily beautiful mural(Pic 5) that adds depth and interest to the space. If you haven't been to Nikki's Bahn MI before, I would encourage you to give them a try. This location is just down the street from their previous site. Better accessibility and a brighter, happier atmosphere. Believe me, it's worth your...

I struggled on a decision to post a review as I’m very supportive of small businesses and local businesses, especially businesses owned by minorities. However, I would l feel guilty not providing a honest review of my experience to ensure people know what to expect. Full disclosure, I’ve been to Vietnam several times and grew up in Chinatown Boston. I ordered a banh mi sandwich and it was not very good, looked nothing like the pictures they post on online magazine reviews. The sandwich had 2 small pieces of meat, the carrots were straight from a bag of pre-shredded carrots bought at a grocery store, chopped lettuce, cucumber, cilantro, and sweet chili sauce from a store bought Thai Kitchen jar, and mostly all sub roll. An authentic Banh Mi should have pate, Asian head cheese and bologna, and choice of meat piled high, w/ fresh julienned carrots, daikon, cucumbers, cilantro, Thai chilies all on a crusty baguette w/ a soft interior. Unfortunately this was not only unauthentic but not made w/ fresh...