Aina's Vegan Banh Mi

All I can say is wow. The food was super tasty. You can tell that the owners are super proud of their business. The whole menu is vegan friendly while still honoring the taste of traditional banh mi and spring rolls. Personally, I am not vegetarian myself but would 100% say the flavors are amazing. My friend who is vegetarian loves all the menu items and will also vouch for all their items. The owners are super sweet and welcoming and will forsure be a regular here. Can't want to come back again. There is plenty of seating inside while sharing space with a vegan donut shop. Aina's vegan banh mi shop also provide services with to go menu. They separate all the banh mi components to assemble later to avoid bread or veggies becoming soggy.

The vegan Banh Mi were excellent! The service was friendly helping us pick the ideal Banh Mi for our tastes. We went with the Cheerful BBQ and Spicy Lemongrass. Both of these were flavorful with plenty of fresh vegetables and vegan protein. Also, these are spicy!! We liked the spice but you should definitely let them know if you aren't ready for the heat! The shop is fairly simple with a simple seating area with a wide windows showing the street.

I'm not exaggerating when I say that the Cheerful BBQ/Char Siu banh mi at Aina's was the best banh mi I've ever had. I came here for the first time on Sunday while stopping by at the Vegan Bistro Donuts cafe. I was craving something savory, and this place definitely delivered. It was so tough to choose between all of the options because everything sounded so good. They had a seafood style banh mi, fresh spring rolls with vegan shrimp, a meatball banh mi, a breakfast banh mi...the list goes on! I also loved that they sold vegan candy bars and vegan jerky on the side. Now on to the banh mi itself! The Char Siu style vegan meat was so tasty and well-spiced, and the flavor was spot-on. The baguette was very fresh and crispy while still being fluffy and light on the inside. I really enjoyed the pickled carrots and radish; they were perfectly crunchy. The sauce was delicious as well, and the jalapenos added a nice kick. I also loved that the banh mi not only had cilantro but also some Thai basil, as that added a unique element to the flavor profile. My partner hadn't planned on ordering a banh mi, but when he saw me ordering mine, he got curious and got one for himself to go. As he watched me eat mine, he couldn't resist trying a bite of his, and he ended up loving the banh mi as much as I did.I also appreciated how kind and friendly the man at the register was. I unfortunately didn't catch his name, but he had such a great energy and was very welcoming when I told him it was my first time trying Aina's banh mi. He even came by our table to check what we thought of the banh mis. The friendly service added even more to our already wonderful experience at Aina's. We will definitely be coming back to try more menu items!

Ordered three bank mi and all of them were delicious. Lots of flavor and texture with the bread being chewy and crunchy. I recommend trying this place if you are vegan.

Let me start with my "gripe". I WISH THEY WERE OPEN ALL WEEK!!!! I absolutely love Aina's Vegan Banh Mi! There is not one sandwich I've tried that I didn't love. Each visit, I'm faced with the dreadful challenge of having to pick just one sandwich because every sandwich is so good! I have purchased Banh Mi here for myself as well as for non-vegan people in my life. Needless to say, everyone is a fan! This spot is simply delicious whether you are vegan or not.Sorry I can't recommend a sandwich as I've basically resorted to just ordering down the menu in sequence with each successive visit. I just need to have each flavor in my life! Plus, their bread is super crispy, crusty on the outside and pillowy soft right when you crunch past that outer layer. You are not fighting tough french bread here. It's so easy to eat... too easy!Aina and Tri are so wonderful to see every visit. It's like stopping by your best friends' house and grabbing a bite to eat. They are so warm and welcoming, and the food is always made with attention and care. -not to mention, the bread is bursting at the seams with so many delicious flavors and textures.The space is quiet and roomy. It's great for posting up to get some work done with the company of a delicious sandwich and a bag of donuts from Vegan Donuts (in the same space) for later.Also available for your enjoyment are boba drinks! There's no vegan upcharge here, just your usual crowd-pleasing flavors made with plant-based milk. I highly recommend becoming a regular here if you live nearby. I know I would be if I did!!

Aina's Banh Mi's are the absolute best! It's our go to place to eat, she's super cool and is particular about her sandwiches to get the best ingredients

Delicious banh mi, fully vegan with no compromise in flavor or quality! Excellent variety of flavors and also super tasty tea drinks. The owners are extremely friendly and hospitable and it was great meeting them and getting a chance to talk with them.Highly recommended, and they have samples of the banh mi and juices and teas for you to try before you decide. Or be like us and order a couple different sandwiches and split and eat there, and get a couple different other ones for to-go!

My favorite place!! Sandwiches are so delicious and seeing Aina is always a bright spot in my day. Absolutely recommend trying Aina's.

Both the sandwiches I ordered are a 10! - B1. Celestial Combination- B2. Cheerful Xa-xiu (BBQ)The B1 says it comes with Just Egg but it wasn't included on my sandwich. Regardless of the missing "egg" the sandwich was super yummy. Definitely a favorite!! The B2 was very good as well. The vegan bbq "pork" tasted very similar to non-vegan char siu. The added jalapeño made it even better. I took off 1 star because I asked for no cilantro but both my sandwiches had lots of cilantro in them (pic attached showing the cilantro I picked out, had to take out the other herbs as well to be safe). I had a full conversation with the women taking my order about how I have the gene that makes cilantro taste like soap so I trusted that they'd exclude it and didn't check before I left. Definitely going to go back to try other sandwiches. Hopefully they'll exclude the cilantro next time.

Great banh mi! Bread is light and crusty, proteins are chewy and flavorful, and the vegetables are fresh and crisp. Overall great quality sandwiches at a price superior to most banh mi shops in DTSJ. Sandwiches take ~3-10 minutes to prepare. Parking on 10th street is recommended during off-peak hours.For comparison, Mommy's, Lee's, and Banh Mi Oven are more expensive and only have a single vegetarian option; Tofoo Com Chay nearby is less expensive, but sandwiches are smaller.Overall, great quality banh mi that is also vegan, a variety of menu options, and affordable relative to nearby competitors. Highly recommend the Simple Delight (savory, umami), Spicy Lemongrass (spicy, tangy), and the Xa Xiu (sweet, salty).