Y & Y Vietnamese Deli

I also miss Y&Y. My husband and I would frequent you a few times a week. I miss your Bun Mi, Bun Rieu, Chicken Noodle soup, Spring rolls and of course the Sticky rice with Taro desserts. The new people who have taken over your space makes me miss you even more.
The Café Bunn Mi does not hit the spot at all. So where have you gone?

I miss you Y&Y. You left me a sign saying you would be moving to a new location in the hood. The people who have taken over your old place lack your yumminess, and there is now a hole in my lunch rotation.
Where have you gone? Anyone know?

BBQ Pork banh mi and an order of spring rolls to go.
BBQ pork banh mi was normal. A-​OK The bread is not very toasty/​crunchy.
The spring rolls I thought were a big fat jip! There is 3 pieces of shrimp and hella veggies and noodles. What happened to the pork? Spring rolls are suppose to have pork! At about $ 2 a pop, they would have to include more than that! Not getting that again.
I always come here for banh mi. It’s very consistent.

Initially, this place was a bit tough to find. The address says that it’s between 7^th and 8^th, but it’s actually on the corner of 8^th and Clement. The deli is merely a small counter sandwiched (ha!) inside a corner produce market.
The menu appears fairly extensive given how small the place is. Ordering was easy, though there was a good 5 minute wait. I had the #1 banh mi (the combo), which included various meats of whose origin I’ve admittedly never been able to identify. Their sandwiches are served on slim (ish) ~6″ baguettes, and are much smaller compared to other places that use French rolls. This is highly unusual, and I’m not sure I like it. The flavor of the meat didn’t come out, and wasn’t anything that screamed fantastic. Thankfully, it’s hard to go wrong as long as the requisite pâté, cilantro, cucumber and pickled daikon/​carrots, and yes indeed, they save the day. Overall, not bad for a $ 3.50 sandwich.
You probably want to take your food and head elsewhere to eat, although if you really want to, there are two or three stools and tables by the storefront window. Where else can you can enjoy your food AND watch shoppers haggle over the price of their bok-​choy?

A nondescript Vietnamese deli stuffed into a corner store, the sandwiches here are about the best around (barring a 50 mile detour to the South Bay). I had the roasted chicken, with spring rolls on the side. The warm baguette was crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, just as a loaf should be. It housed the chicken, peppers, pickled carrots and other fillings just right, and with an industrial strength jug of chili sauce at the ready, Y&Y delivered the banh mi fix like few else can. The staff was really nice, and it was a great lunch. A slow, but a little bit of a wait to get your sammies is a small price to pay (and the price you actually pay is well under $ 5 for a sandwich).
The corner store also has a decent selection of Vietnamese goods, like Trung Nguyen or Café Du Monde coffee which will keep you buzzing all day.

I have to admit. I’ve walked past Y&Y for years. always thinking it was grimey… BUT today I was jonesing for some banh mi but I didn’t feel like driving to sunset for Irving Deli since I was already on Clement.
After picking up some stuff at May Wah I walked over to Y&Y with the intention of just getting a bbq chicken sandwich. and then I saw YUMMY YUMMY MENUS behind the counter. Yes, YUMMY YUMMY. My FAVORITE place Vietnamese restaurant also owns Y&Y. I was immediately sold on cha gio. I watched patiently as my bbq chicken sandwich was made. She asked if I wanted spicy and I said yes and requested no mayo, as usual. A couple minutes later I was out the door.
I got home and my fried egg rolls and sandwich were still hot. I analyzed the bread before eating… the bread is everything (that is why I don’t eat I Little Paris sandwiches anymore… gross man). DELICIOUS! The chicken was not fatty at all! I had a few chunks of skin but I didn’t mind. I think it was a little on the salty side but that might have been the fish sauce added at the end. Cilantro was put in the bottom of the bun! YES! I hate it when it falls out. Spicy jalapeño, wish the cucumber was sliced thicker.
Egg rolls were pretty big but nothing to write home about. They tasted just like the ones I make at home.
I found my new Vietnamese sandwich shop in Richmond. HOLLAAAAA!

Y & Y had the most different veg bahn mi I’ve ever tasted. While it had the staples of carrot and cucumber it came with fried tofu and other veggies (cabbage, mushroom) that had been sauteed and chopped up on the grill. I’ve never had a bahn mi with sauteed veggies involved, it was almost like the filling of an imperial roll met a bahn mi. The bread was good but it didn’t scream vietnamese to me, it was like something you could cut up and serve toasted with bruscetta. I like my bread light and less dense than this variety. Service was friendly, sandwich was only $ 3.25 or so and seating is bare. Wasn’t my fav but was unique.

Y&Y?
YY. «Wai-​Wai» in Japanese.
SF Public Health Cord is 91.
I always check for any too ethnic lookin’ Asian place especially Vietnamese.
So, 91? That’s I think honest and eatable.
But why it’s so dark inside?
Saigon Sandwich is also dark inside.
Also up stairs of Tu-​Lan is dark too.
I must say that the darkness is part of their «charms». I think.
The sandwich was good.
I like the thin toasted french bread.
And the grocery area, I found fresh ginger.
Every time I see fresh ginger, I got to get a bunch for my pickled ginger.
$ 3.99 for a lb.
I like this place.
I’ll be back.

So here I am trying to think of an awesome way to start a review that wont get lost in all the noise of the SF Unilocal*population and then it occurred to me…
This place has Phở-​king fantastic Banh Mi.
And you know what, I will reuse that joke. You can use it too as long as you foot note this Unilocal*review. Because you know, Unilocal*is clearly a scholarly peer reviewed journal.

After a co-​worker told me about Y&Y…I had to give it a try.
I think they are ALRIGHT… can’t beat Saigon or Irving Deli.
It’s not just a sandwich and vietnamese food joint… it’s actually a market as well.
BBQ Pork — #7
Fancy Pork
(Saturday, June 12, 201)

Its decent. I dont’ prefer their sandwiches given all teh options onthe block but they are competitive. They do have the largest the selection of asian greasy spoon food.
NO eat in space really. they even have a small market and a phone card lady. I almost feel like Im back in SE Asia backpacking with al my expat friends with my trust fund. «Roughing it»
Not a bad place. Solid food for a pretty decent price.

This place IS hard to find… I was actually looking for it along Clement, but I walked right past it before I realized, «Oh, phone card stand — doesn’t that mean the sandwich place should be somewhere in here?»
Anyway, I like this place in part because they pan-​fried the pork for my BBQ pork sandwich once I ordered — I feel like it gives the sandwich a bit of freshness, as compared to some places where they microwave their meat o. o
The prices are pretty average (my sandwich was $ 3.75), and the woman working there was quite patient as I took a long time making up my mind. I appreciate the care she took in assembling the sandwich — toasting the bread, cooking the meat, assembling the ingredients, packing them in, cutting the sandwich in half, and then wrapping it up nicely. [And she wore a glove while handling the food, taking it off when handling money — simple hygienic moves that some places neglect.]
All in all, I’ll definitely come again — the sandwich tasted great, and the service was definitely good!

Thit nuong translates into «grilled pork», but they don’t grill their pork here. Instead they pan fry it per order. It’s not necessarily a bad thing.
These sandwiches lack that charbroiled-​marinated in fish sauce taste. But it has something better. It tastes just like sandwiches my mama would whip up on a lazy Sunday afternoon using ingredients laying around any typical Vietnamese household.
Fresh baguette from a local bakery cut up into 6 sandwiches smothered with mayo. Thinly sliced meat thrown with some lemongrass on a fry pan. Carrots and daikon pickled in fish sauce. Cilantro. Dash of ground pepper. I could taste my childhood in every bite of these sandwiches. That’s why it gets 5 stars in my book.

To me a good Banh Mi (Vietnamese Sandwich) is all in the BREAD. I like my bread with an airy soft center and a crunchy crust. I’m not talking about the crunchiness from the over-​toasted crust that can injure the roof of my mouth or the mini French roll I can buy a bag full at a Vietnamese store. I’m referring to the long French baquette that some deli cuts into sections to make a sandwich. This place does just that and the crust is incredibly crunchy.
I ordered Banh Mi Dac Biet (combination) and Banh Mi Cha Lua (fancy pork) at $ 3.50 each. Dac Biet comes with head cheese, otherwise both sandwiches come with the same ingredients (cha lua) & standard condiments that make a Vietnamese sandwich — pâté, butter spread, house sauce, jalapenos slivered, pickled shredded carrot, julienne cucumber, sprinkle of black pepper. The sandwiches have just the right amount of meat & condiments to give the perfect balance of a great Banh Mi. The bread is so fresh and good, the crust was still crunchy when I ate the second half of my sandwich 3 hours later.
Y&Y has over 100 items on their menu, from sandwiches to appetizers
like egg rolls and chicken salad, steamed rice noodles, cold noodles «Bun», rice plates, special noodle soup «Bun Rieu» and «Bun Bo Hue», desserts like mango sticky rice, tapioca drinks, sago desserts, and Vietnamese dripped coffee. Party trays are also available to order.
This place is so obscure. It’s hidden in a small corner grocery store called New May Cheung Co. I never would’ve thought there’s a deli hidden inside that I can order great sandwiches. But I lucked out to have found a gem on this busy street when my boss asked me to pick up sandwiches for lunch. Now I know where I can get my workday lunches from.

The key to a good Banh Mi is THE BREAD and Y&Y delivers just that!
I have to admit, I avoided Y&Y for some time now because it looked sketchy being located in a small Chinese grocery store. But, do NOT make the same mistake as I did. Aren’t all treasures hidden?
So far I’ve tried the following:
*BBQ Pork w/​Shredded Pork and Sunny Side-​up Egg ($ 6.45): The BBQ pork is cooked-​to-​order on the grill. It’s tender and very well seasoned (slightly sweet). It’s topped over white rice with shredded pork which is a mixture of cold sliced pork and sliced pork skin. The egg is cooked with the yolk a bit runny… YUM!!! Top it off with nuoc cham and jalapeños and you have a variety of flavor combos: savory, salty, smoky, sweet, tart, and creamy (from the egg yolk)
* Bánh Mì Thit Nuong (BBQ Pork — $ 3.50) MmMm… it’s one of the best Banh Mi’s I’ve ever had aside from Saigon Sandwiches. The BBQ Pork is also cooked-​to-​order and generously filled into the baguette with pickled carrots and daikon, cucumbers, jalapeños, cilantro, mayo, and I requested to add pâté. With each bite, you get an explosion of different flavor combos: savory, salty, tart, sweet, spicy, creamy! And, makes it even better is THE BAGUETTE which is toasted to perfection. The baguette is crusty and when you bite into it, it’s fluffy, yet still holds up well to the ingredients. It has a slight hint of buttery goodness. It’s a MUST to eat it IMMEDIATELY! (There are 2 small round tables to the left of the counter.)
Y&Y has an EXTENSIVE menu: Imperial and spring rolls, taro shrimp cakes, phở, bun, rice plates, sago with fruit, sweet black sticky rice, and fresh squeeze juices and shakes!
PLEASE NOTE: The menu on the top wall is DIFFERENT from the one on the glass countertop, so make sure to use the item # from the menu on the wall when ordering.
PRICES: Apps/​snacks are $ 2.50-$ 4.25. Sandwiches are $ 2.75-$ 3.50. Phở, Bun, and Rice Plates are about $ 6 – 7. Desserts are about $ 2 – 3. Juices and shakes are $ 3.25-$ 3.50.
SERVICE: I normally don’t rate service for hole-​in-​the-​wall takeout, but the ladies here ROCK! There can be a long line, but they’re efficient. They’re also sweethearts and always have a smile on their face which is a refreshing change from service at typical Asian hole-​in-​the-​wall joints.
Although Little Vietnam Café is across the street from me, Y&Y’s food quality, quantity, and pricing makes it worth a couple of steps further (2 blocks to be exact). Depending on the menu item, Y&Y is about $ 1 – 1.50 cheaper than LVC.
Ehh, I’m NOT suppose to be eating carbs, but dammit, Y&Y’s baguettes are too good to resist! What’s another 1 hour on the elliptical for 5 minutes of pleasure? :)

This is a small banh mi sandwich and noodle shop (also has a few rice plates, fresh juices, & Vietnamese desserts), inside a grocery store. They have a few seats in the limited space by the window.
I usually drop by this place to get a quick bite (just banh mi sandos), while shopping on Clement street, unless I have other dining plans. The place is decent and the menu prices are affordable (most items under $ 5, plates are under $ 8). I give the sandos 4 stars, while the rest of the menu only gets 3 stars.
The banh mi sandwiches ($ 2.75-$ 3.50) are well made, excellent crunchy baguettes, with good balance of flavors — the best in this area (better than both Little Vietnam Café and Eternal Springs). The BBQ chicken sandwich (#8) will satisfy any hungry appetite.
The BBQ pork sandwich (#7) is also good, flavorful and not too fatty.
The combination sandwich (#1) is okay, but not the best I’ve had in the city.
Menus:
Hours: daily 8:30am-6pm
Cash only

Howdy folks. Bumping my FTR here and updating it to 4.5 stars. (This is a relative 4.5 stars for SF — I ding ‘em half a star for not making their own baguettes.)
Y & Y is still just a counter inside a weird Chinese vegetable market, and it still serves the best Vietnamese baguettes on Clement.
BUT, since my first review, they’re now using actual baguettes to make the sandwiches — the only place in the Richmond that actually uses baguettes! Red A Bakery across the street is the only place on Clement that actually bakes their own bread, but the crunchy baguettes at Y & Y are tastier than dry, fluffy hoagie rolls.
They also addressed my other complaint in the first review: they now add the option of fresh green chilies.
TLDR: go here for the only real Vietnamese baguettes in the Richmond.

This is my secret spot for my beloved Vietnamese sandwiches. Everyone knows about Irving Café & Deli and those popular joints in the TL, but nobody ever bothers to come out to the little neglected Richmond District for these things.
I discovered this place the week it opened, back in 2007. It used to be a small, family-​owned grocery shop, and when it closed down for renovation, I guess they decided to reopen it as… another small, family-​owned grocery shop. This time with a Vietnamese sandwich counter inside.
Best. Decision. Ever.
You’d never be able to guess from the outside that inside this tiny little shop exists the key to happiness. Their Vietnamese sandwiches are fantastic! The #1 (Combo ham) is perfection.
It’s all made to order, of course. You tell the nice lady behind the counter what you want, and she grabs the bread and toasts it. Afterwards, she cuts it open, and she puts some type of special mayo-​based spread on one surface of the bread, and some great pâté on the other side. Then she starts filling the inside with three or four different kinds of meat, some shredded carrots, cucumber slices, some cilantro, a dash of pepper, and some type of special soy-​saucy-​looking sauce.
Then, she closes it tight, cuts it in half, wraps it in plain white paper and tapes it shut. She gives all this to you in a little plastic baggy with two napkins for wiping your mouth. :) Cute and thoughtful too.
It’s an art.
And for $ 3.20, it sure is a bargain!
Note: Eat it IMMEDIATELY. The toasted bread is only good within the first 30 minutes or so. And really, it’s all about the bread. Toasted so that it’s crunchy on the outside (it makes that SOUND!) and softer on the inside.
This sandwich can make any girl happy.

A produce store with a Vietnamese restaurant inside and a phone card stand in the outside. I guess they do it all here. I guess of the three… one of them have to succeed. You know the old Chinese adage… if our competitors sell it… we’re going to sell it as well and sell it cheaper. hahhahaha
Today…I’m talking about the restaurant. You would never think there would be a restaurant in here because it looks like a regular grocery store. I swear to you this is probably the cheapest and best deal on Clement st. Tony H., the owner of Hard Knox, I guess my best friend for the last three days told me that the bread is what makes the sandwich. Vietnam never had bread before until the French brought it over. I guess this was probably the first sign of fusion cuisine.
This is probably the best Vietnamese Sandwich in town. Yes… it’s better than Ellis st, better than any of the Irving st ones and probably most of the tenderloin ones. There are two bar like stool tables near the front. I don’t recommend it if you have more than 3 ppl. I don’t recommend it if you are skirmish about cleanliness. Do not order anything else other than the sandwiches. The rest of the food is forgettable
The bread was toasted to perfection
It wasn’t oily
Meat was made to order. We saw them grill the pork and chicken in front of us.
The combination sandwich was great.
Most if not all of the sandwiches were 2.95
Will have to come back for the noodles.
I really don’t think these prices will last that much longer. I even picked up some baby gailan and Chinese broccoli on the way out.

The pictures of the food they have up on the wall don’t look very appealing, but the deli is decent. It’s inside a small Chinese grocery store and they have a few seats. They sell banh mi (10 kinds), salads, spring rolls, steamed rice noodles, vermicelli bowls, rice plates, desserts and Vietnamese beverages.
I had the BBQ chicken sandwich ($ 3.25) — on the pricey side. I liked the bread because it was more baguette like — chewy, slightly crispy on the outside. A hundred crumbs don’t fall off with each bite. The carrots are sweet but not crunchy — either their too finely shredded or they’ve been sitting around too long (or both). The cilantro and jalapenos were present but lacking in flavor (maybe it’s a freshness issue?). It also comes with cucumber and generous amounts of mayo and black pepper. The sandwich was moist and good enough but needed more crunch and more flavor.
Eternal Springs has the best banh mi in this area (Clement St.), but it doesn’t have noodles and rice plates like Y & Y has (ES is more of a dessert place that recently added banh mi). Cash only.