Ky Duyen Cafe

Best $ 5 (cash only!) sandwich in Syracuse. Ate it so fast, I got the hiccups. No frills here so be sure to grab a paper towel if you’re grabbing it to go.

Ok, this place is the real deal. Crispy toasted bread, Marinaded pork, pâté, creamy mayo, pickled vegetables, ordered spicy with firebird chili peppers, topped with a bunch of fresh cilantro. An unrivaled flavor experience for only $ 5. Very nice lady behind the counter. Also room to eat inside and place looked very clean and comfortable.

Solid banh mi place. Super crispy bread, fresh pickled veggies, succulent meat, and creamy mayo… all for 5 dollars flat. The placed smelled kind if like smoke, but you know you’re in the right place when there are Vietnamese guys catching up over a cup of coffee and playing chess in the back. Not really a sit down place, but who cares? They make a fine banh mi. Great for a highway stop.

Are you ever on a highway, and you see another vehicle out of control, and you’re like… «man, what is that car doin’?» Well, the owners of this Bahn Mi shop feel the same way, only they don’t speal reel goud, so they named it «Wats thet ka duyen?» It was later shortened to the easier-​to-​remember «Ka Duyen.» So now you know. Please don’t tell me it was you driving that thing.
What to get: Bahn Mi with BBQ Pork
What’s on it: Pickled carrots, delicious cilantro, amazing crusty french bread, and delicious steeaming pork.
And?: Some of the loveliest service and best pricing ever
What else: Attack of the Bread
What does that mean: Patience, my dear. Patience
First of all let me say this is the best Bahni Mi I’ve ever had outside NYC and San Francisco. So basically the 3^rd best I’ve ever had. Absolutely delicious. And this is despite it being microwaved (the meat part… yes, I’m serious… but I still prefer this because the other options all have those weird Vietnamese cold cut sausages on them), and despite the fact that the sandwich f***ing attacked me and drew blood. I’m not kidding. Settle in, I’ll tell you the story.
So I go in, and the place looks like an 80s crack house. Well not really, but it’s very run down, on a street corner, and one of the oddest little places I’ve ever been inside. It smells kind of odd in there. The menu is tiny, almost to the extent of not existing. Is it just a front? Or a back? Or a middle? There’s space, but not really to sit. It’s just a very odd set up. So already I think I’m gonna be in a drive by. But I wasn’t. Little did I know, they don’t need to shoot people in Vietnam because they have «deadly bread.» I found out the hard way. The very very hard way.
I ordered my BBQ Pork Bahn Mi and waited for it while she microwaved the meat, then assembled the sandwich for me. It cost $ 5 total (what a steal!), and then I braved the rain and went back to my car to eat it. As I opened it up, smelled the crusty bread and steaming pork and fresh cilantro and pickled carrots and such, I began to fall in love. As I bit into it, I tasted the crunch of the bread, the deliciousness of the fillings, the orgasmic perfection of this Bahn Mi washed over me like waves upon a beach. Sorry I always wanted to say like waves upon a beach. Would you prefer I say «like water in a rainstorm.» I know some girls who would.
So anyway. I bit once. I bit twice. I bit three times a Bahn Mi. And I was lovin’ it like no McDonalds eater ever has, ever. And then…
It happened.
IT. BIT. BACK.
I was attacked by a Bahn Mi. I was assaulted by a Vietnamese Baguette and I lived to tell the tale. It’s true.
I don’t know how it happened, but the bread locked around my lips in a vice-​like death-​grip that even the KGB’s finest female assassin or Xenia Onatopp herself would have been proud of. The pinch was intense. Relentless. Unending. The pain was excruciating.
The bread would not let go of my lip. Blood exploded from me. It splashed all over my shirt* and I writhed and moaned in agony. Which is quite difference to writhing and moaning in ecstasy, and I can show you the difference if you come over to my place tonight.
*It didn’t get on my shirt, but we need to sell this to the major studios so we have to embellish a bit. Don’t call me on it. Don’t snitch. Don’t be that guy. Girl. Whatever.
I recovered slowly, with tears streaming down the face. Then I violently tore the blood-​drenched Bahn Mi to pieces with my teeth. And it never bit another human again.
However there are rumours that it’s not over. There may be a sequel to this movie. Because, shockingly, as it turns out, there are others out there. Other Bahn Mi’s. Ready to bite. Ready to kill. We must not let this happen. We must get our hands on all these Bahn Mi’s and eat them before they attack our children. Or our grandparents, even. Although if our grandparents are particularly annoying, or can’t feel pain anymore because they’re so old and take so many pills, then maybe it’s not as big of a deal. I dunno, that’s for you to decide.
So anyway, the bottom line here is quite simple. It’s the best Bahn Mi in the world outside NYC and SF.
And when you bite it.
It. Bites. Back.

I came here for lunch today after hiking. Usually don’t make my way near the downtown area, but I was freakin’ starving and wanted a Bahn Mi. I ordered the grilled pork (sub #1) and BBQ pork (sub #3) subs.
The bread for both subs was toasty. Like really toasty. Now that I think about it, it was goddamn toasty. I’m not a fan of toasty bread because I usually put more effort into biting through the bread than eating the Bahn Mi. With that said, the BBQ pork sub was absolutely delicious. The pickled vegetables along with mayo and pare really made quite the refreshing lunch. I did ask to make both subs spicy. For spicy subs, you get pickled Thai chili pepper in it. Thai chili pepper are usually really spicy, but these pickled peppers were lacking in the spice that I usually adore in my Bahn Mi. I didn’t quite enjoy the grilled pork option as much as the BBQ Pork.
Overall, I would definitely return to get the BBQ Pork. If you’re not a fan of toasty bread like me, I would recommend asking for nontoasted bread. I would also ask for extra peppers next time. Until next time, Ky Duyen!

You know what’s one of the best things in the world?
A good banh mi.
You know what Ky Duyen has?
Good banh mi!
That’s about all they have, too. Some of the older reviews mention pool tables, but now it’s nothing but a nice lady and freshly made, tasty banh mi.
If you’ve never had one, TRY IT. If you’re already hooked, and need your fix, this is your place.

OMG Banh Mi! First time ever having one. My daughter went with a friend and brought one home for me because she knows how much I love food! So, I can not speak to the actual setting but the sandwich was so good! I don’t even know which one it was, but I don’t care — delicious and I will be going there myself at some point!
For $ 5 — you should never go to Subway again for a sandwich! Not that I think you should to begin with. The roll was amazing, I am curious where it came from as I would like to get them for other meals and homemade sandwiches.
Go get some of this goodness!

I was inspired to check this place out based on all the positive reviews, and wasn’t disappointed.
Despite having an adventurous palate and experience with Vietnamese cuisine, I’ve never tried a Banh mi. I’m fascinated by the sandwich, as it’s an example of one of the few positive aspects of pre-​WWI colonial expansion — an infusion of the cuisine of two cultures (French and Vietnamese). The first time I heard of the concept, it sounded crazy — Asian food with a French baguette?
In application, it works really well. I had the grilled pork variety (first choice on the menu — I forget the name), and the mix of flavors was amazing. There was a crisp, clean flavor from the carrots and cucumber, the rich pork and pâté, and the crispy baguette. My only complaint about the sandwich would be that the bread was a bit tough, though that may have occurred when I walked the toasted sandwich a bit down the road in the cold weather.
Prices are insanely reasonable — $ 5 a sandwich — and they have some interesting beverages. I tried a melon drink, which wasn’t quite what I expected (very sweet and kind of caramel-​y), but it was nice to try something new. The cook/​checkout person was very nice — someone mentioned she apologized for a very brief wait, and I had the same experience.
Only downside, and the reason it’s not five stars, is they have a back room where folks sit and drink tea/​coffee/​whatever and hangout (I saw a checker-​style board), which is totally cool, but they’re definitely smoking back there. As a former smoker, I have a weird reaction now where it really makes it hard for me to breathe, especially indoors. I’m not uptight, and I’d never make a scene about it, but they should probably address that.
If they moved closer to downtown and pushed these sandwiches out a little faster, they could get $ 10 – 12 bucks each, easy. Great stuff — highly recommend.

Awesome little establishment! Very cozy, not crowded and you can enjoy a great meal. Sandwiches are fresh and the phở is delish! I think they give you Thai basil which makes the flavors pop!!! The owner is so sweet and always accomodating! Go, eat, enjoy!!!

One of the 2 best sandwich shops in Syracuse. This has been a go to for me for the past 4 or 5 years. It’s quick, close to downtown, and most importantly delicious. You’ll find me here at least once a week when the weather is nice.
Ky Duyen café has changed a lot over the past few years. It’s very clean and there are plenty of tables to sit at now. They also have 5 sandwiches and sometimes spring rolls and desserts. One thing that hasn’t changed is their great bahn mi.
So if you were here 3 – 4 years ago and turned off by the broken window and desolate interior I say give it another shot. You won’t be disappointed.

Solid 5-​Stars! I think I just found my favorite Vietnamese sandwich place! It’s not exactly situated in the best place but safe enough in the day time. Definitely a divey feeling to the whole establishment. We got 3 sandwiches for $ 15 ($ 5/​each), one of the best deals in town. There are five types of sandwiches, all $ 5. I am especially partial to the BBQ pork sandwich. Definitely would go here again for these sandwiches.

Had the best sandwich I have ever eaten at this gem. This was my first bahn mi experience and I can’t get enough!
It’s a thirty minute drive for me, but well worth it! I plan on revisiting on a regular!

Run don’t walk-​into this great place.
Six months or so ago we moved into a condo the down the block and around the corner from this place. Having moved from a place of great ethnic foods — we notice this hole in the wall place as we drove back and forth and wondered if it was any good. After reading the other Unilocalers’ comments we decided to try it. This place is the real thing.
Some years back we worked in Boston’s Chinatown and tucked into one of the alleys was an Asian grocer with a cart in the back of the store, run by an very old lady everyone called Lucy. We think that she was the mother of one of the owners of the shop. Lucy and her daughter or granddaughter when school was out — made the best Banh Mi ever. After leaving Boston — this is now eight years — I have been longing for a sandwich as good as Lucy’s. We found it!!! And we can walk there from home.
For our first adventure — we tried #1 Banh Mi Tith — with moderate spice. Next time I am going to go with hot. The sandwiches were perfect — the woman putting them together apologized for taking about ten minutes to put things together. Which of course is not a problem. Most of that time was spent — getting the bread just right. And it was crispy on the outside and fluffy and light on the inside. The mystery pâté and mayo — remain a mystery to me but who cares they were great. The veggies were crisp and refreshing compared to the spice of the meat.
We took our sandwiches home, but the room is nice — bright and there are comfortable chairs and stools. The décor is downscale but very clean and welcoming — like your average basement family room.
While this is a lunch place — it is open from morning to 5:00 pm — so there is plenty of time to get a sandwich.

Had Banh Mi on my list of sandwiches to try and Unilocal tells me this is where to go in Syracuse. You want «local» and not some chain? Have I got the place for you.
I’m used to visiting genuine immigrant-​run stores and restaurants so nothing out of the ordinary here. The restaurant is a former video store filled with locals having lively conversations. If you’re expecting a Disney style sandwich shop, you’ll be quite disappointed.
Five types of sandwiches served up at a counter. If you don’t speak Vietnamese, don’t expect to overhear much from the other customers while you wait.
I got the #1 Banh Mi, spicy. Don’t know anything about Banh Mi, but the sandwich translates well into my language as «good!» Forty years after the war ended, you would think Banh Mi would have become more well-​known earlier.
The place opens up at 8 a.m. and unlike Americanized places, «breakfast» means «same thing as lunch» so you don’t have to wait until 10:30 to get one.
Banh Mi #1 took a few minutes to make, so you know they’re not just microwaving or using shortcuts. Got my hot sandwich and finished it a few blocks away.
Add Banh Mi to your cheesesteak/​reuben/​weck lineup of go-​to sandwiches and you’ll be very happy.

The $ 5 spicy bahn mi is epic. Epic I say.

Hmm… I’m a little torn about this place. We went here (mistakenly) on a sweltering day because the reviews were really raving about the banh mi — I had a craving for Vietnamese but New Century was closed (it was a Tuesday). It’s a very nondescript building, at the corner of a busy intersection. Outward appearance didn’t really bother me though.
Inside, its also quite bare bones but rather cute with the flower decals on the wall. I didn’t mind the décor — I minded that it was just as baking hot inside as it was outside! I can understand if they didn’t want to turn on the AC (the place was empty but for the cook/​cashier) but I would think that they should have a fan or something to keep air circulating. They did have a door open but all that did was to bring some hot breezes in occasionally.
We both got the #1 sandwich, with grilled pork, pork paste and sausage. It was truly delicious, with the freshly toasted crusty bread and the great blend of flavors from the meat and veggies — however, all I could think about between bites was how my sweat was dripping down my temples and my legs were sticking to the chair. Still, a great banh mi despite my discomfort. What we should have done was gotten them to go and at least eaten them into the car with the AC on. Ha!
So, I would give a 5 for the food but a 2 for «customer comfort». Lesson learned — if you can’t take the heat, get out of the restaurant!

After seeing so many good Unilocal reviews, I decided to try Ky Duyen for lunch today! As everyone else has said, the sandwich I selected (#1 on the menu) was very tasty with grilled pork, a pork paste and some kind of Vietnamese sausage.
I thought it was great but if you are the kind of person who needs to know exactly what you are eating, this is probably not the place for you. Nor is it your kind of place if cigarette smell coming from the back room is going to bother you. The room wasn’t smokey but it smelled of smoke. I’m old enough to remember restaurants and airplanes when there was no smoking section so although annoying, didn’t stop me from waiting for my sandwich to be made.
As Daniel S. said, it is the contrasts of flavors and textures that make the banh mi good and mine was really good! I can’t wait to go back to try the other 4 kinds.

When I was first introduced to Vietnamese cuisine, in particular banh mi, I was in Tucker, GA, a suburb east of Atlanta, 15 years ago where many Vietnamese immigrants and refugees had formed a sizable community. My Vietnamese colleague was kind enough to go out of her way to introduce me to the many different foods.
Banh Mi is quite representative, in my opinion, of the marvelous characteristics of this wonderful cuisine. It is a series of contrasts in flavor, texture and temperature that compliment, balance and excite the palate. Since my first blissful taste 15 years ago, I have tried to find something in all parts of the country as good as my initial experience. I found better today at Ky Duyen Café. Good God, and in Syracuse of all forsaken places !!
This small café on a street corner turns out incredible gems ! They have a simple menu of 5 kinds of banh mi. I chose the Banh Mi Thit. This version features the french bread with a crispy exterior and a light fluffy bread interior with hot roast pork, some Vietnamese style sausage, cool crisp thinly sliced pickled carrots, cucumber, daikon and cilantro, a slight touch of while the bread was gently coated with a delicious mayonnaise. I asked for the sandwich to be mild so, there were no jalepenos although I expected a small amount. next time !
After a short wait, I exchanged my $ 5.00 for a treasure in a small brown bag and took mine to go. I could have sat at one of their tables, however, there is a side room where people were smoking (despite the No Smoking signs plastered everywhere) and I could not feel comfortable eating there because of this. So, off to my car and back to my place. All I can say is this one sandwich exceeded any banh mi I have ever had anywhere.
So, 5++ stars for the banh mi and, I’m sorry but, only 4 stars overall due to the smokey atmosphere.

I’ve been looking for a place that has banh mi in the Syracuse area and haven’t been able to find one, so when a friend came up to visit, we went to Ky Duyen Café. They make the sandwiches right in front of you and they’re perfectly toasted. For 5 $ a sandwich, we’ll definitely be going back

STILL the best banh mi in town. Banh mi thit marries the umami deliciousness of pork cooked in classic Vietnamese caramel sauce with the sharpness of the veggies, on a great sub bun. Oh yes.