Don Café & Sandwich

After eating Bánh mì in so many places from Pearland and Sugar Land to Katy, I began to wonder why I haven't tried many in Bellaire. I guess I'm usually focused on other Vietnamese foods when in the area. Shoutout to David Lu on YouTube for giving the inspiration to check out some Bellaire bánh mì shops. After hopping in the car and taking the twenty minute drive, I arrived at Don's, I walked in and it was busy and alive with action. I started for the counter and a young man politely stopped me and asked if I was eating there or to go. I decided to eat in there to catch the vibe. He showed me to a table. Every time I'm in Bellaire, I'm taking the opportunity to practice my Vietnamese. So while ordering my sandwiches, with a combination of Vietnamese, Spanish and English, I ordered a Bánh Mì Bò Nướng and a Bánh Mì Đặc Biệt. Both of these bánh mì were excellent. The bread tasted fresh and was crispy on the outside and so soft on the inside. It's one of the best baguettes I've had so far. The meats in both were delicious. The Bò Nướng was tender and packed with flavor. The Đặc Biệt was excellent as well, with all the meats tasting fresh and flavorful. The Vietnamese mayo and veggies combined for a creamy crunchy inside that satisfied my desire for complex simplicity. After devouring the first two, I decided I should get a couple more for the road. I wanted the Bánh Mì Cà Tuna but I was informed they were out of Tuna. No problem. I ordered another Bánh Mì Bò Nướng and Bánh Mì Gà Xé. In retrospect, I should have gotten either the Bánh Mì Pâté or Bánh Mì Xíu Mại. Next time for sure along with a ca phê sữa đá. I heard its strong here and that's how I like it. One last note on the service. I thought for the amount of people coming in and actually eating in there , the waiter did very well. He was polite and efficient. The cashier seemed polite as well, although very busy with all the to go orders coming in. The people behind the counter seemed to be very good at making the bánh mì quickly and efficiently. I was surprised to see some negative reviews later when I looked it up. I'm not a regular (yet) but I didn't notice any issues at all, while I was there. The food was great , the service was good and the vibe was cool. I enjoyed seeing the mix of diverse cultures in there while I was eating. From the Vietnamese and Mexican/Central American staff to the 80's tunes like Journey playing over the speaker, it was truly a mix of culture and cuisine in the heart of the city. I'm always impressed to see Vietnamese cuisine and culture be introduced to new audiences and I thought Don Cafe was doing that really well that evening.

Truly a staple in Houston's Chinatown, the food here can't get any more authentic. I was so shocked when I found out the workers here who are of Hispanic descent, can speak fluent Vietnamese. Make sure to bring cash and they'll bring out your food which comes out pretty fast and fresh. The portions are good for the prices and there are plenty of seats. There's never really a crowd as people come and go. You can see everything being made in front of you behind a clear glass screen and they have a lot of variety on the menu. The place is usually clean and neat.

Their banh mi is still a popular taste in the asian community. Cash only! The price did increase a lot so 4 star for this reason.

Wow I was surprised by how packed the place is on a Wednesday morning! Place is built out like a small cafe. I had to be in line for a while to order my sandwiches but they are really fast to take orders and fulfill the orders. I ordered two special combo bahn mi, it's most recommended by others. I would give that a 9/10, it wasn't "woww" when I eat it, but overall it's a more balanced bahn mi. For example, I've had bahn mi that is more buttery, or bread too hard to chew, or too less veggies to balance out the meats and paste; but Don's bahn mi is very balanced. Bread is crunchy too, and huge. For the price I paid for I would come back again. Their noodles smelled really yummy too maybe I will try that next time. Forgot to take a picture of my bahn mi because I was too hungry, but they packed my sandwich just saying.

We always make a stop when in town, the bahn mi can't be beat here, tasty and great price. The bread is exactly how it should be, crispy on the outside but yet holds up with the sandwich within. The filling is perfect and just the right amount. The way the bahn mi is made, makes every bite just perfect. The place is cash only so be prepared with that if you want to grab a bunch of Bahn mi to eat. Though it won't set you back that much, around $5 or so for each bahn mi depending on the filling.

Ordered a bbq pork sandwich. They were clearing everything out , probably was 4pm. I paid for the food and sat down. There were flies everywhere and I really wanted to just ask for my money back because I was realizing they were clearing everything out because there were so many flies. (Doors were open I guess they were getting their ac fixed) next day I had food poisoning and haven't felt well for the past 5 days. This used to be a go to spot but I'm never returning. I'd recommend everyone stay away from this place.

Don Café & Sandwich makes the best bánh mì sandwiches in Houston! Each sandwich is made with exceptionally fresh ingredients - the pork is flavorful, the pâté creamy, the veggies crisp, and the baguette lightly brushed with butter and toasted.We called ahead and placed an order for pick up because Don's can get very busy, especially on the weekends. The service is always fast and friendly, and many of the staff members speak multiple languages.The inside of the restaurant is fairly typical of a locally owned Vietnamese restaurant in Bellaire. It combines function and typical Asian decor - traditional money plant, lucky cat, and a tribute to Buddha.Note: Make sure you have cash on hand because Don's does not take credit cards!

I grew up with Don Cafe since childhood and love seeing the familiar employees! I like looking through the banh mi window and I'm always amazed at the speed the employees made the sandwiches. This is my absolute fav place to get the special (combination) and shredded chicken sandwich. If any of my friends ask me where to get banh mi, this is the place. The dining area is super casual but it works well for the food served. My husband loves the beef stew noodle soup here above all other places too but enjoys it dining in only (not to go). The eggrolls and iced viet coffee are great additions to eating banh mi too! The restroom was outdated last time I checked but I tend to avoid it so I'm not sure if it has changed in the past year. Plenty of parking when it isn't prime time lunch. It's located within a shopping complex. I always get to go banh mi for the next day too.

Love Don's! It's my first place I go to for Banh mi when I'm in town. The prices posted is exact price you pay. Cash only, $5-$5.25 a sandwich. The bread is crunchy, the pickles add the right crisp, and the meats are savory goodness. I think it's good value and my kids devoured theirs.

Disappointing Decline at Don's CafeI used to love Don's Cafe for their Vietnamese po'boys, but my recent visit left me disappointed. The banh mi "thit nuong" and "dac biet" lacked flavor and were dry. This was a letdown after five years of loyal patronage. I hope they can improve, but for now, I'll be looking for better options elsewhere.Overall Rating: 2/5 - Disappointing Decline from Former Excellence