Mei Sum
36 Beach St, Boston, MA, 02111
Mei Sum Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Boston for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
36 Beach St
Boston, MA, 02111 - Phone (617) 357-4050
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :7:00 am - 7:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : No
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey, Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : No
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Lauren L.
Without a doubt, Mei Sum is hands down my favorite banh mi place in Boston. The meat (I usually get beef) is always tender and not 'mystery-meat'-like, the veggies are super fresh and crisp, and the sauce moistens up the bread just a tiny bit. The bread is toasted after you order, and the whole sandwich is just all around deliciousness for $2.75! Despite the somewhat questionable interior of Mei Sum, every ingredient in the sandwich tasted fresh and not sketchy at all. Admittedly, I wasn't quite sure if this was the right place after stepping in after reading Yelp reviews. Every table inside was occupied by an old man clutching a mug of hot tea and it was a little dark and dingy looking inside. I didn't have any desire to try the baked goods in the glass case (they didn't look terribly fresh) but the big heated glass case behind the counter with the pineapple buns looked promising. The only minor quibble I have is that there is no menu inside for banh mi or anything else. There's simply a sign outside that states they have banh mi. What kind of banh mi is up to you to find out from the super nice ladies from behind the counter. But $2.75 for an amazing sandwich, I really can't complain at all. I'll be coming to Mei Sum for my banh mi needs as long as I'm in Boston.
(4)Mcslimj B.
My favorite banh mi in Chinatown, and one of the better ones in Boston. The kindly Chinese lady invites my friend, another bánh mì neophyte, behind the counter as she meticulously assembles pâté, spicy beef, and tofu sandwiches ($2.50). "Here is cilantro, here is onion. Beef gets fish sauce, tofu gets mayo." We repair to a nearby park to feast and watch toddlers romp in the cold October sunshine. "This is just incredible," says my buddy, a lanky Oxford divinity scholar with a bottomless appetite. "Veggie crunch, chewy roll, salty and sweet and sour and fiery flavors...." His voice trails off; he is beaming, eyes half-closed, ecstatic: now that's what I'm talking about. The beef is especially satisfying, like good fatty brisket with contrapuntal chili fire, while the pâté offers the darkly rich, slightly grainy creaminess of pork liver. The bread is wonderful, fresh from the oven, with a hint of crispiness from a little added rice flour. We finish with yolky egg tarts and dense, coconut-oil-rich melon buns ($1.50 each). That's my idea of a great, cheap, fresh lunch.
(4)Jared O.
Five stars for the tofu banh mi, which is the only flavorful one I've had in the area. As for the meat banh mi, I'd go with another place like 163.
(5)ana l.
I really love coming here for Banh Mi and Pineapple Bread (best when still warm). The ladies at the counter are always patient and nice. Last week I dropped by at closing time and unfortunately couldn't get a Banh Mi. The owner gave me a business card. She told me to call ahead 15 minutes before closing to let them know I wanted a sandwich and they'd have it for me. Works for me!
(5)Cary C.
Best Banh Mi in Chinatown, and one of my favorite places to get lunch. Good fillings (Cold cut, beef or tofu), Good veggies (Although they could stand to add more cilantro), Good Pate (with the coldcut). But the secret? It's the bread. To be honest, the bakery is pretty middle of the pack, but their banh mi more than makes up for it.
(5)Eva W.
The Banh Mi was disappointing because the bread was not the traditional crisp French Baguette that has is crispy crust outside and soft inside. The flavor of the meat was descent but very skimpy on the patte. Also tried the Sticky Rice (Chee Fahn) which was also disappointing because the rice was too wet and mushy. The filling was okay but they could have used a little more of the pickles. I wouldn't go back since there are other places make the Banh Mi and Sticky Rice better.
(1)Jeremy K.
They have great buns! The bakery itself doesn't look like much at first but the food is really great. I especially love the egg custard and taro buns. Also they are so cheap! Like under $1
(4)Ethan R.
If you go into Mei Sum just for the sweets, you are gravely mistaken. Yes, they have a huge display of cakes, sweet buns, and other sticky things, but as far as I can tell they are only tasty to real-deal Vietnamese folks. Everyone else finds them mediocre. Go to Mei Sum for the Banh Mi. Perfect bread (crackling and light), deliciously fresh fillings, great Asian mayo sauce, and incredibly friendly service. Don't expect to get a table, because they are mostly taken up by elderly Vietnamese men maximizing their bottomless cups of coffee. Pay your $2.50, get your banh mi to go, walk up to the Common, and experience the best sandwich in Boston. And then walk back and do it again because you want another one right now, and at that price, why not?
(5)Lana H.
I think the sandwiches here are the best in Boston chinatown.
(5)Lnc T.
Been going to this bakery since I was a little girl. They have great pastries. My favorite is the egg custard bun (always warm and fresh in the oven) Their fruit cakes are also yummy, the cream is so good! My boyfriend and mom loves the green coconut cake. My family has been ordering cakes from here since the ice ages, I swear. They also offer a parking rebate here, so don't hesitate to ask! The workers speak a billion languages, which is no surprises considering all asian shop owners do. Love this place, you won't regret giving it a try!
(4)So S.
Not really a big fan of this place. Its nice that they have a few things that other Chinese bakeries don't have such as Banh Mi, some cheap dim sum and rice pastry all in one roof....however, none are that good. Don't have the right kind of bread for Banh Mi--should be crispy and the fillings were not as fresh. Dim sum is subpar. Rice pastry is not bad. Pastries are not as fresh or good. Go here if you are too lazy to walk around for all that other good stuff and want everything under one roof.
(1)Stacy Hao T.
This place gets very busy sometimes, but I still enjoy coming here especially their Banh mi! I absolutely love the bread, its amazing, and a different kind of bread. The ladies there speak both Vietnamese and Chinese so it helps me a lot to speak Vietnamese to them. Things I love there 1. Banh mi 2. Chao thit (pork congee) 3. egg tarts 4. hot dog buns (my siblings loveeee these) Everytime I come here, I get exactly those 4 things. People may get turned off because the place looks old, but compared to the newer bakeries in Chinatown, this one is very nice to go to, and my opinion certain pastries are better tasting and original.
(5)Betty P.
So my husband and I were in the area and I told him that I had to give in to my banh mi craving soon or explode. I could probably eat one everyday and I had not had one for weeks! I have been meaning to try this place and Mike's for the longest time, having read MCslimJ B. talk about them constantly on every talk thread revolving sandwiches, banh mi, Chinatown, cheap eats, etc. The only problem is that this typically organized and planful Yelper had forgotten where either Mike's or Mei Sum was exactly located. So I dragged my husband down random streets in Chinatown (luckily this is Boston Chinatown and it's pretty tiny), with an inkling one of them was on Beach Street. Suddenly it was like when Harold and Kumar find White Castle . . . there right in front of us was a neon sign that read "Banh Mi Vietnamese Sandwiches." Eureka!!! At this point, I have no idea what shop we are at because I don't think there was actually a sign in English, but nonetheless, our search was over. I didn't care if we were at either shop, but was just happy to have a Vietnamese sandwich in the immediate future. We get inside and there are elderly men sitting around enjoying their tea and coffee on hard metal chairs that look like they were borrowed from a school. I still have no idea where we are until I spot a mooncake box that lists Mei Sum Bakery, Inc. on the side. I get so giddy that I have serendipitously found the place that my husband backs away a few feet. I was seriously like a kid in a candy shop. Although it doesn't seem to be listed, there are only 3 options for sandwiches: bbq beef, cold cuts, and tofu. We both get the beef. While we are waiting for the bread to be toasted, we of course, decide on other goodies to try. Char sui bao (roast pork bun) -- 3 steamed and 1 baked -- as well as a coconut pie. For $10.30, that is not bad for today's lunch and tomorrow's breakfast! Cheap eats indeed. The counter ladies were really sweet as well and I was glad to see that they spoke Cantonese. Side note . . . As we are waiting for our banh mi, a Caucasian guy comes in and orders up a storm. Everything from shui mai and har gow to buns . . . I suddenly wonder if that could be MCslimJ B. I tell my husband and he has no idea what I am talking about since he doesn't yelp. He thinks it is funny that I am on the lookout for Yelp's very own version of the Phantom Gourmet. I decide the guy is probably not MCslimJ B. after all as he orders extra soy sauce and that doesn't seem like something he would do. But it was fun pretending for the moment and it was a diversion as I waited for our banh mi to be created. On to my sandwich . . . since the men occupy all of the chairs and it's a nice day, we opt to take our fare and eat outside. We head to a nearby park and bite into our sandwiches. The bread is nice and crisp AND warm! I have never had a banh mi with warm bread so it was good we ate them right away. It made the sandwich that much better. The beef was good, but in smaller pieces than I am used to so I was afraid they would fall out and I would lose some precious pieces. The sandwich was good, but I didn't taste much buttery goodness spread or spiciness until I got to the last 1/3 of my sandwich. The veggies and cilantro were fresh though which made the sandwich seem healthy. Overall, it was satisfying and a great deal and one of the best banh mi's I have had, but my heart still belongs to Pho Viet's in the Super 88 food court in Allston/Brighton. There is just something about their sandwiches that I have not found in any other banh mi! However, I will return here especially since it's inexpensive and I can pick up other items, such as dim sum, cakes, and buns at the same time.
(4)Alan Y.
I was introduced to Banh Mi this year, being a student in the area, and I have become hooked. I'm usually not a sandwich-fanatic, but there is something about Banh Mi sandwiches that is extremely appetizing. I have been scourging the Chinatown area in search of a really good Banh Mi store, and I think I found it in the Mei Sum Bakery. The bakery, by most standards (even Chinatown standards), is fairly old and dirty. Don't let this discourage you, as the products are of good quality. The bakery does have a special Banh-Mi section, which is usually watched over by the same, sweet lady. They offer three different types of Banh Mi: beef, tofu, and cold cuts. I have only tasted the beef one, but my friend who has tried all of them tells me that the beef is the best. Unlike most of the Banh Mi shops in the area, the sandwich-lady usually takes very good care in making the Banh Mi. There are not many customers seeking Banh Mi sandwiches here, so she is usually not in a rush to making them. She warms both the bread and the meat in their small oven and then places ample amounts of vegetable/topping on them. The bread is very good; it does not crumble like that of nearby Banh Mi shops (New Saigon), which makes eating them a lot easier. The sandwiches are decently priced a $3 a piece. The bakery also sells baked goods, naturally. Their selection is bit limited compared to Bao Bao Bakery and they tend to sell mostly essential baked goods; they do not sell any special cakes for example. I cannot comment on the quality of the baked goods because I usually do not purchase them. I have tried the coconut jelly, which is decent. I have no basis for comparison, though. If you are ever in the area, please make an effort to visit Mei Sum. It usually is not very busy, so you can be assured of good service. Although it may not seem like the typical Banh-Mi shop, you will not be disappointed and will most likely leave craving more.
(5)Pete D.
Very big fan of the tofu Banh Mi.
(5)H L.
The only reason to come to this place is for the banh mi. There are much better places to get chinese bakery items. The banh mi, however, really rocks and probably is the best in the area. They don't have the variety as some of the other shops but they have the standards (grilled beef, pork cold cuts, and I believe tofu). Easy on the wallet and yummy for the tummy.
(4)candice g.
needed a moment alone when eating my cold cut sandwich. super crispy, warm bread. crunchy vegetables. just spicy enough. so delish. i used to come here with my mom back in the late 90's. i picked up a sweet bun just for old times sake. the women that work the counter are so nice and patient. i love all the old guys that hang out here and drink their coffee. coolest place ever. LOL!
(3)Boston F.
Word is that Mei Sum is to re-open soon now that repairs on the building above are moving along -- great news!
(5)Susan D.
My favorite place for traditional Vietnamese pork subs. For only $2.50, you get a very filling and scrumptious meal minus the artery-clogging unneccessities of American fast food joints. I swear, there are veggies in there! In this particular case, they make their sandwiches with a softer, yet still crisp baguette. I enjoy these much more. I like spicy, but if you don't, request "No chilis" because the standard order comes with them. The counter service is done right with a smile. Other strong points are the chow fun (fried rice noodle with delicate pink shrimp layered within), which unassumingly sit in styrofoam containers on the front counter with a petite sign "$2.50." I dream about their egg custards and beef in buttery French dough. Oily, yet marvelous. Yum! Plus, the atmosphere here with the old Asian men from the neighborhood gathering together for the morning gossip is really adorable.
(5)A M.
Just polished off my tofu banh mi an hour ago and I am inspired to write a review because it is SO GOOD. Crunchy and salty and cold and amazing. The combination of flavors has an incredible unami taste that completely hits the spot. Also, I love that they are not huge, I feel perfectly satisfied after instead of suffering from food hangover. The only reason I only give it four stars is that I've only ever eaten banh mi from Mei Sum so I have nothing to compare it too! I keep considering going elsewhere, but it's so hard to pass up an amazing $3 sandwich to try someplace else. Someday.
(4)Joyce K.
I slobbered and drooled all over their glass cases as I carefully calculated which pastry would bring me the greatest pleasure especially since the rules of inflation haven't seem to have hit Chinatown yet - meaning the average cake square or bun will be $.85-$1. "Uh..gimme one of those melon buns..and two of those chocolate cakes...Let's go with this spongy mushroom-looking cupcake on steroids. A coconut bun and a coconut jelly roll...and that's it." Melon bun was like they injected the damn things with oil-filled syringes...and it was so weird how frickin' greasy and oily that thing was considering it was so dry! Remarkably bad! The coconut was a little better but I only think that's because the coconut distracted from the oily, crackly mess of the bun. The chocolate cake looked so much better than it tasted. I think it was old and stale...and pretty tasteless... The coconut jelly roll was moist and yummy but the real winner was the bulbous "cake" thingy that looked kind of like a mushroom cloud after an atomic bomb goes off. It was heaven... it wasn't overly sweet (Chinese baked goods are traditionally less sweet than American ones) and super moist. It was like a sponge cake but more dense...delightful. Um...are you impressed that I ate all these things in one stroll around Chinatown? They should take my polaroid and put it up on the wall.
(3)Kiki W.
OMG. I was looking for a great Vietnamese sub place in Chinatown and read some of the reviews. I just took a bite of my Vietnamese sub and it's sooo delicious and perfect. Thank you fellow Yelpers for your honest opinions! This is definitely the place to go!!!
(5)Venus l.
The ladies behind the counter are very kind and there's always old Asian people here, which is a sign that it's good haha. My go-to for Vietnamese subs! I don't really know what goes in them (Vietnamese ham? Pickled veggies?) but they're so yummy and a great price!
(4)Byron M.
Mei Sum is a Chinese/Vietnamese Bakery/Food Shop. It is a old place in an old building. It is a bit run down, but they are usually busy. Very busy. They have tables and chairs that look llike they bought from a elementary school that was remodeling, and their clientele tends to stay there a long time drinking coffee or eating food. Mostly senior citizen men. Despite things that may detract you from entering this establishment, you should visit this place. They have probably the best viet banh mi in New England. They also have a variety of pastries and cakes. Their cakes are on par with the best chinese bakeries in Chinatown. I don't particularly care for their egg custard tarts, but their deep fried crullers are great.
(4)Jaime V.
I'm giving it 3 stars simply 'cause I went on a recon mission to try out their mah binh. My boss had raved about them so we hopped on the T and headed towards Chinatown. $2.50 later, we were out in no time, and I wish I could've tried one of their high-calorie egg tarts - they looked like food porn. Needless to say, I'd hop on the T again in two shakes of a dog's tail.
(3)James S.
The bahn mi here is a good deal at 3 bucks and it tastes extra good when you get it spicy. Good balance, makes for a delicious light lunch. The atmosphere is a little dead and weird because the old chinese men just stare at you while you wait for your order...
(4)H T.
There are plenty of other places nearby to get banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches), you don't need to go here. I was asking this lady about a cake there and she was so rude. The other baked goods aren't that good either.
(3)Jen R.
I did not care for this place. I ordered some coconut bread thing which was dry, lacking in coconut and crumbly.
(2)jenilee p.
this is the fourth establishment in chinatown that i've tried that offers banh mi, and once again, i am duly impressed. mei sum differs from the other places as it is a bakery, and you can get some mighty sweets in addition to your sandwich. they also offer a variety of savory buns. though i did not try these, another woman had ordered them at the counter, and they looked very enticing. i'll have to make a return trip and binge a little bit. but i digress. back to the sandwich. unlike the other banh mi places, this bakery had softer, fresher bread, with a nice crunch on the crust, and a slightly buttery flavor finishing the whole baguette. the beef filling i had ordered was very similar to that offered by new saigon and 163, as are the vegetables. the sauce was again very similar, but here, the nice lady at the counter offered to put spicy chilies in the sandwich, and that's an option not offered at the other sandwich shops. (i didn't try the spicy variety on this round, but will be back for the bonus level... if you catch my meaning.) overall, i can't decide whether i like mei sum more than 163, but definitely another great place in chinatown to visit for an uber cheap lunch.
(4)Melissa B.
My absolute favorite place for a bahn mi. Get the BBQ beef, ask for it extra spicy and you get it. While you wait order the shumai - 3 for $1. That and the sandwich will run you $3. You can't lose!
(5)Julie A.
I just went here today and got the pork sub, some sort of meat and cheese filled Pastry and a 3 pack of sponge-cake in muffin papers. The pork sub was delicious - I will100% be going back for that, and will probably try the beef one too. And for $2 why not? The meat may have been spam, and there may have been a spam-pate spread in it - questionable to say the least, and I got a couple pieces of meat which did not go down my throat, but all over it has a very good taste, and the crusty bread was really good with it. I ordered it spicy but it definitely could have been way spicier for my taste. Totally satisfying, quasi-adventurous meal. I also ordered (out of the oven because i wanted to make sure it was fresh) what was described as a meat and cheese pocket. It looked like a circular roll with sesame seeds on top. I was very surprised that the roll was sweet which may have seeped into the meat filling. A weird combination that I didn't totally enjoy, but didn't totally hate - I ate about 70% of it. I wish the bun were regular dough, not pastry sweet dough. I also ordered a pre-packaged 3-pack of sponge-cakes that were in muffin papers. These are pretty awesome. Perfectly spongy, not sickly sweet. I think it will be great mashed into ice cream - strawberry maybe, or cut in half and spread with nutella for a nutella-wich. My 3 items cost me $4.65 and was probably about 1800 calories. Definitely a great deal. The sandwich-making area was partially obstructed from my behind-the-counter location, so I couldn't be totally sure what they put on it, next time I will pay better attention. Maybe I don't want to know though. I really loved it, but I like weird stuff. Anyway, go there, try the pork sub - it's called Banh mi. Also - the address is 36 Beach St, not 40.
(4)e p.
i wouldn't buy the pastries in the glass case because they might be really old, but the buns they keep warm in the oven behind the counter are very delicious and fresh! and cost 50 cents! a tofu bahn mi plus a fresh bun for dessert is a delicous, filling, and incredibly cheap lunch.
(4)Nina S.
This is my go to place for Chinese pastries and snacks. The pineapple bread (no actual pineapple is used in the making of this product, it's given the name since the eggy crust topping gives it a pineapple like exterior) is usually fresh out of the oven and is pillowy doughy on the inside and crunchy on top. A little sweet a little savory, perfect snack for anytime. Their egg custard are a good choice too. Recently tried their dim sum to go and it was not bad..
(5)Sarah A.
I freaking love Boston's Chinatown because of amazing little shops like Mei Sum. I get their Banh Mi every now and then and it is always so satisfying and at only $3.50 per sandwich!! I usually get the beef and everything in it is bomb. Warm beef, tons of veggies, ask for it spicy and they'll add little chili peppers mmmmm. I wish I got more daikon and carrots but at $3.50, who's complaining?? I also got their shrimp cheung fun and it was really good! Keep doing what you're doing Mei Sum!! Next time I'll ask for extra carrots and daikon ;)
(5)Samantha L.
This used to be my go to Banh mi place. As in I'd order a half dozen to take back and disperse to family and friends because they were at one point so good. This past weekend I stopped by to pick up just 1 pork banh mi. And low and behold I take a bite.. they have red onion, no daikon, carrot or more than 2 pieces of cilantro in the sandwich. Oh how far they have fallen from the days where I would praise this shop with copious amounts of meat and veggies in this over stuffed sandwich. No longer can I look at you with joy and glee, but only sad sad disappointment and heartbreak. Their egg tarts are also tasteless and not flaky. Using uncleaned tin pans as I see a lot of black flakes on the outside of my egg tarts. The sponge cake lacking in flavor, they they are big and fluffy. I also get nervous seeing all the pork dumplings, shrimp dumplings sitting on the counter tops covered in questionable plastic wrap. Oyvey to food safety. Oh Boston Chinatown... please stop breaking my heart. It is time again to hunt down banh mi from a better place.
(2)Nisreen G.
An open love(ish) letter: Dear Mei Sum, Sum babay. Mei my love. Mei sum doll. I really want to like you so much more than I do, but I just can't. I've come here several times in the last couple weeks and after careful consideration, and multiple purchases from your pastry counters and hot food selections, I am sadly only still in a "mm, that was O-K" phase. And it's not that you didn't try! I mean your Bahn Mi breads are toasted to a crunchy exterior and soft chewy center. Your spicy tofu Bahn mi has the small bits of jalapenos instead of the giant slices from other places that sends my mouth to a delicious spicy hell. Your pineapple buns sit in an oven all day and stay relatively warm and are amazingly cheap. It's just... and don't take this the wrong way, but your kind of basic. Your beef in the Bahn mi is mysteriously chewy if I must say so. There's practically no mayo or spicy sauce on your sandwiches. You leave UNCOOKED DUMPLINGS on a non refrigerated counter. It's just, Mei Sum, baby, you're not making it easy with your endless rows of black bean cakes, pies, and pastries, but I think we're going to have to see each other a lot less. Your just not meeting my sandwich needs and your pastries are inconsistently fresh / stale. Wipe away those tears though. I'll be back! Really I will. Even if it's just to grab a pineapple bun and maybe some red bean bread, but I'm going to start looking at my other options.
(3)Yuk L.
My stomping grounds were the chinese coffee shops in Chinatown, NYC. This little place (albeit bigger than most dives back home) brought back childhood memories of trying to get my order in with the ladies behind the counter. They could tell I'm an ABC. But they accomodated when I managed to whip out the names of food items in cantonese. The banh mi was good not the best but they get 5 stars from me for having all the standards and extras. I can't even describe in english the stuff I was surprise to find and bought on my first visit. I even asked about a certain bun that is hard to find. The lady asked me how many i wanted. i told her anther time since I had already bought enough to last me for the next two weeks. This shop is the real thing. Nothing fancy but solid buns, sponge cakes, dim sum, steamed desserts, etc.
(5)Christine L.
With so many bakeries in Chinatown, it's hard to pick a favorite! I've been slowly working my way down Beach St., and I walked ALL THE WAY DOWN to Mei Sum last week. Yeah, I know it's not that far, but I was on a bus layover in South Station, so it's a teeny tiny bit far (esp in the wind and rain)! Based on friends' reviews, I decided to try their Pineapple buns. The place was very cozy in a typical small, Asian bakery kind of way. It felt so Asian that I felt obliged to actually speak Chinese when ordering my buns! I grabbed three, they weren't too pricey and I think I got an extra 5 cents back or something. I bit into my first one as I was sitting on my bus headed to NY, and the top was warm, flakey, and delicious!! Super delicious!! However, the inside was a little bit moist and the dough didn't feel cooked all the way through. I ended up enjoying the outside and picking out the middle.
(3)Edgar L.
Their little white buns (made of sticky rice) with shredded coconut on top and peanut/sugar filling ("law mai chee") - located in the glass case in front of the server - is mainly the reason I come here. It's only $0.80 and they're quite tasty. The other stuff that I've tried here is just ok. I've gotten their white sponge cake thing several times hoping it'll be good but it's just ok or not great.
(3)Lan K.
Cheap and delicious desserts? Super nice ladies serving you? Yes please! This is my sister's go-to place for durian cake. I also enjoy their creamy and rich chocolate cake. There is not a lot of seating so take these goodies to-go.
(4)Deb E.
Very nice banh mi - made with care. A lovely elderly lady made my BBQ beef banh mi. Mayo beef then warmed up - topped with pickled veggies & onion(!) must be a Boston thing because nyc banh mi is onion free. Chilis, Some kind if light dressing on top. All on all not the biggest banh mi but very delicious.
(4)Peter K.
Best tofu banh mi in Boston. Sandwhich is vegan when ordered without butter. You can also get some vegan desserts here like jin deui (sesame seed ball) and jianshui zong (sweet sticky rice dumpling).
(5)Theodore B.
They have the best Viet Subs in Chinatown and my goto fav is the tofu banh mi The limited selection of Dim Sum items are decent for on he go and readily available and of course they are a bakery so they have to have spot on varied Bao and other baked items. My goto is the whole loaf coconut bread You can even call in your order beforehand and pick it up.
(5)Veronique L.
I have always liked coming here as suspect as it might first appear. You get used to it though because the two or three ladies behind the counter are friendly and quick. I bought a coconut tart and a banh mi for $4! Woo. The best thing is the banh mi can be served with pork or beef and I think vegetarian style. You can also have it spicy or not, and if you want spicy, they will put it on the side. The bread is fresh, and I believe from the South End and is heated up with the meat. I really like the sandwich and was actually surprised only one other gentleman was here sitting at the table. Usually, the place is packed.
(5)Heather G.
I have a hard time with this one. In the great debate of bahn mi, the super-elitist-but-refusing-to-call-themselves-Âfoodies-foodies say Mei Sum all the way. Me, i'm a 163 gal myself. Always have been, always will be. Yes, Mei Sum is basically the only hole-in-the-wall bahn mi shop that has seating, but it's 2 small tables places precariously in their respective odd locations: in the middle of the small foot-traffic-way and pushed up against a back-room-access door. Between the two tables, there are only really ever 2, three MAX chairs to share between them. WHY? The prices and food quality are comparable to the other shops in town, but I find the people less nice. The shumai is solid, the spicy pork bahn mi is on par with the others, and the vietnamese cold-cut-type sandwich usually tastes a bit slimy and off. Overall, I prefer the smaller, no-seating places that have 1. more choices, 2. less odd-vibes, and 3. nicer staff. Maybe I'm just not foodie enough to get the joke on this one.
(3)Vicky H.
This bakery is pretty small with some seatings. It's not one of the better but their stuff is pretty good. I've gotten their BIG BUNS (Dai Bao) and it was still hot and delicious. I've also had their ball-law bao (pineapple bun but there is in fact no pinepapples in it LOL), tun bao (Dinner bread?) and hot dog bao, gai may boa. Oh, so many buns.... The only thing i didn't like is the place doesn't seem like it's clean. Things are scattered all over the place. I suppose that's just how it is, as I've been to other places and they're very similar. The folks that frequent here are regulars.
(3)Paloma B.
I had been really wanting to try a Vietnamese sandwich. I was visiting Boston for one day and staying in a hostel near China town so I googled Vietnamese food and set out to try a restaurant called my siagon. it was early in the morning and the sandwich shop I wanted to go to was closed. I was disappointed but I can be flexible so I walked around Chinatown a little bit until I stumbled upon Mei Sum bakery. they offered Vietnamese sandwiches and have decent reviews on yelp. I usually eat vegetarian so I ordered a tofu sandwich. the counter ladies were nice. while I was waiting for one lady to make my sandwich I ordered coffee from another woman. I got the sandwich to go and took it to my hostel. I bit into it there and this is my impressiom. the baguette tasted fresh and it was crispy ( I watched the lady toast it at the shop) and I didn't mind the tofu, it was steamed triangles laid across the baguette. the pickled veggies and the cilantro were tasty. the thing is; they put some nasty sauce on the bread that tasted to me like mayo. it overwhelmed any other flavor and I couldn't finish the sandwich. I will look else where for Vietnamese sandwiches!
(1)Paran Y.
There is a new banh mi king in town...well its not new, but shit, why hasn't anyone told me about this place earlier. Those old guys with newspapers are my new family. The menu-less counter makes you order with your nose. Your nose is telling you Beef Bahn Mi and 2 Taro Buns for under $5.
(5)Kristina L.
I went in search of Mei Sum after reading the rave reviews here on Yelp. I mean, $3 for a bánh mì sandwich? I had to see this with my own eyes. Unfortunately this tiny bakery is kind of like Platform 9 3/4 in the Harry Potter movies: tricky to find unless you know exactly what to look for. The cramped space is filled with old Asian men and boxes piled to the ceiling. With no menu in sight, I felt like a silly white girl when asking for the bánh mì (I had to repeat myself 3 times before the pleasant lady behind the counter understood lol). The barbecue beef bánh mì is FILLED with really fresh sweet-and-sour carrots, cucumbers, daikon, onions, hot peppers, and tons of cilantro. In fact, the veggies were so crunchy, I was surprised to find out they're actually "pickled". Whatever they are, they're delicious. The marinated beef was perfect. And the bread is just redonk - toasty golden and crispy on the outside, super soft on the inside. The ONLY downside to this delish sandwich was the heavy use of a sweet mayo...most likely Miracle Whip? Now, I LIKE mayonnaise, but too much Miracle Whip on anything is a no-no in my book. The first bite is fine, but after awhile it gets to be too sickeningly-sweet. Next time I return to Mei Sum, I'll ask them not to add so much to my sandwich.
(5)Jennifer B.
I had been searching for some egg custard tarts and since this place didn't have a menu online I was skeptical. It looks really tiny but people were buying pastries & desserts like crazy. The line wasn't long at all & I was there on a Friday night. Those egg custard tarts were just what I was hoping for. The custard was perfect & the crust was flakey around the edges & really enhanced the custard.
(5)Eric F.
Ahh...coming to Mei Sum brought me back to my MS1 days when I was making my way through all the bakeries in Chinatown. The visit was even more nostalgic when I came in to see a gaggle of OG's at the back tables babbling to each other in Cantonese - straight outta the hood that is SF Chinatown. But I'm digressing here... What I do want to get across is that the Banh Mi here knocks 163 and New Saigon out of the water. The bread is fresh, crispy on the outside and a little chewy on the inside - the way it should be! Both the roast beef and cold cut versions are very good and sooo worth the $3. The pineapple buns on the racks in the back looked good too so I nabbed one of those as well and it did not disappoint. So for all the students at Tufts that need a quick, cheap and tasty lunch - say no to 163, New Saigon, etc. and come here instead =D
(4)Mike v.
The food is pretty good. I had a barbecue beef banh mi, a black bean roll, a pineapple cake, and a pork bun for $6.75. The price is impossible to beat so I really have no business complaining. For the price it is phenomenal. However, I kind of want to buy their business and renovate it. People would pay slightly more for slightly better food. The is good, not GREAT, but they seem to have everything you need to make things great. The sandwich had too much bread compared to other ingredients, the pineapple cake had too much dough and just a sliver of honey pineapple glaze (I threw out most of the cake after eating the top). The black bean roll was actually pretty perfect, a little greasy, better if warm. I saved the pork bun for later. Long story short though, the price is the driving point. I will probably come back for another banh mi some day, but I would probably be coming back to try another assortment of their items that are not banh mi. It is primarily a bakery, after all.
(4)Ambrose C.
Is it really possible that the Chinese Cha Siu Bau (Roasted Pork Bun in Cantonese Chinese) and the Vietnamese Banh Mi (Vietnamese style baguette sandwich) could possibly live together in harmony at one place? Apparently, this bakery can make it happen at a pretty good price. I got a steamed Cha Siu Bau for $.80 and a Beef Banh Mi for almost $3 for lunch. The beef in the Banh Mi was okay, the beef itself was a little rough to chew, but still tasty. I also had it spicy, so it definitely made a significant difference in the taste. Bread was somewhat tasty and somewhat toasty. I noticed that the bakery uses Quinzani Bakery's (located in the South End) baguettes in order to produce the Banh Mi. I was able to tell because I saw their huge supply of bread in the back of the Banh Mi counter and read the bag label. I came back again, and I also found out that they serve a few dim sum dishes. They serve two varieties of Cheung Fun (Cantonese Chinese term for rice noodle roll), and you can get the shrimp and the beef version. I ordered the Ha Cheung Fun (Shrimp rice noodle roll) and it was $2.50 a container for four large pieces. You have to ask them to heat it up for you. The Ha Cheung Fun was okay, nothing spectacular. I tasted more rice noodle than shrimp, even though the shrimp is of average size and kind of meaty. I ordered a Ha Cheung Fun and a baked Cha Siu Bau for lunch, making the total to be $3.40. As for the two versions of the the Cha Siu Bau (Roasted Pork Bun), the steamed version was decent, it was not really meaty enough for my tastes. I tasted more of the white bread than the meat. I also had the baked version at $.90 a piece, and that was definitely better than the steamed. It was more meatier, and the bun was warm, soft and chewy. If you want the steamed version, you have to ask them to heat it up for you. The baked version comes out of the oven. Overall, I would say that this bakery is somewhat of an attempt to become a "jack of all trades" bakery. Other than the traditional buns, cakes, and pastries, they can serve some rice noodle rolls (something that Ho Yuen Bakery down the street cannot) and even better, they can even serve the Vietnamese Banh Mi (something that May's Cake House cannot). Although I have had better Cha Siu Bau, Ha Cheung Fun (shrimp rice noodle roll), and even slightly better Banh Mi, this is not a bad choice if you want to have Cha Siu Bau, Ha Cheung Fun AND Banh Mi at the same time in one place.
(3)Caroline R.
This place is great! I first came here a while ago when I searched on Yelp for cheap banh mi sandwiches near my workplace. The sandwich was really good, maybe not THE best I ever had, but very good and highly recommended. Plus, for $3 you can't beat it. But what's kept me going here are the bakery items. They are superb! BBQ pork buns for 80 cents, egg custards for 80 cents, rice cakes and red bean cakes for less than $1...all reasonably priced and all delicious. I'm planning on trying some of their other food items too like shumai and the shrimp rice noodle rolls. One time I went in and got 5 steamed BBQ pork buns but when I got home I found out they were the regular pork buns with egg inside. I was a bit disappointed about that and in my opinion they were definitely not as good or tasty as the BBQ ones. But in all I love this place!
(4)Shannon D.
Mei Sum can be slightly intimidating the first time. The tables are always full of old Asian men that stare you down and there is no menu but after you get over that you'll be so happy! My work is right around the corner so I probably come here a little too often but its SO CHEAP AND DELICIOUS. I get the tofu banh mi and if I'm feeling like a fat kid I'll also get a snack for later. The bread is fresh and crispy, veggies have that sweet savory thing going on and whatever that sauce is mushes into the bread with the tofu and its like heaven in my mouth. Their pork buns are awesome. Taro bun, I wish I had never even tried one because they're so good. And CHEAP. Did I mention that? 3.90 for a sandwich and a bun, that's like two meals This place is so amazing, I'd say the best banh mi in Chinatown and you kind of feel like you have an "in" when you go here because it's not as main stream as Vietnamese Sandwich shop.
(5)Hiro T.
What a great discovery. Who would have thought walking under all that scaffolding would result in the discovery of a delicious banh mi? It is easy to miss due to the current construction going on at the parking deck in Chinatown, but it's totally worth looking for. The place itself isn't anything amazing, just your average Chinatown "deli." I've only tried their "Bird Nest Cake" out of their display case and all I can say is...DO NOT GET THIS!!! It will be tempting due to the cheap price of $1, but it's totally not worth it. Just think, how bad would something have to be to be not worth a dollar!? What you go here for is the COLD CUT sandwich. It is amazing! And, it only costs $3, now this is totally worth every penny. Go check it out!
(4)Pete J.
To the uninitiated a visit to Mei Sum would be a challenge - no menu and no clear indication that there is anything available other than the cakes on display. The old Asian men sitting at the tables drinking coffee do kind of stare too. Fortunately, the ladies at the counter are very welcoming and confirm that they do indeed sell Banh Mi and they will make it while you wait. She started by toasting the bread. It is a crispy on the outside, soft and light on the inside French baguette. The first time I went I got the pork (cold cuts) which consisted of random cuts of meat, cucumber, fish sauce, daikon, onion, thai chilis and of course cilantro. It was amazing. Spicy and full of flavour. Generous portions. For only $3 this is an amazing deal. The second time I got the beef, and while I really enjoyed it, I preferred the cold cuts. I also got a pineapple bun which was only 75c. Now I have to try the egg custard.....
(4)Kelly C.
Delicious - never would have gone in if it weren't for Yelp! The Bahn Mi was good and when they say spicy they mean it! I also tried the Shrimp Noodle and they were ok, but probably better fresh out the cooker. I will definitely add into my lunch rotation! I want to try some of the bakery goodies
(4)Skye G.
My favorite bakery is at the end of the block but well worth the walk. I usually pay with cash. I can't even remember any more if they take credit card since I've always paid with cash so keep that in mind. There are three women who have been there every time I've come and are super sweet. Most times people believe I speak fluent Chinese and begin talking until I smile and ask for something in English and get the hairy eye ball, but not here. Maybe because I've been coming for so many years. They all smile at me and come over to take my order. They are patient and kind and explain things to me when I can't quite remember what it is that I want. Recently I spoke to them in what broken Chinese I know and they humored me by speaking slow and clearly. It was quite fun! Of course the more I speak the more comes back to me but not really enough to hold any type of a real conversation. Yes, there are many older men sitting around drinking coffee and I smile at them as I remember my dad. He was scruffy like them but harmless and full of love. I brought a troop of girl scouts here from the sticks of Vermont (their parent's actually trusted me to bring them around the city and into "Chinatown". I got one of almost everything. The girls were nervous but excited and all of these kind old men got up and made space for all of us to sit. I think they liked the idea that I was introducing and having them sample some what we considered our everyday pastries. The pastries are not "sweet" compared to cookies and cakes. They are fairly light and not dense and are sweet but not sugary. Our favorites: The white steamed sponge cake The lemon roll The almond cookies (over on the rack by the window) The coconut cream bun The hot coconut bun (in the warmer oven) and of course the Pork Buns (Steamed or Baked) Cha Siu Bau I also get the mini egg custards with the flaky crust The prices are reasonable so even when I think I am getting a lot it doesn't cost me too much. The place is old and run down but busy and that is just how it is and how I remember things in most Chinatowns I went to when I was just a kid.
(5)Damien S.
First visit: "Are they still unpacking? The drinks cooler is at 10% capacity and the bakery counter (ooh yum!) looks transported from the 80's. Which 80's, I have no idea. The five folding tables are occupied by elderly Asian gentlemen sipping coffee, eyeing me, gauging my trustworthiness. Maybe they want to sell me a Mogwai. Just smile, order and leave. What do I get? A sign - yes! Ok, banh mi $3. I got this." Um, one banh mi sandwich please. Yes, beef. Yes, spicy. Second visit: "Hot damn, that sandwich hit the spot. I never thought to ask what was in it, nor did I care. Onions, I could do without. The baguette was toasted perfectly, the slightly sweet and sour carrots and cukes cooled the heat of the chili-laden beef, the fresh cilantro and that spread? It's like meaty lard. Whatever, I'm getting another." Spicy beef banh mi, no onions... "Pineapple bread? Lotus bean pie?" ... aaaaand a pineapple bread. Third visit: "It's raining and I don't care. I've tried other local Saigon subs, and this one takes the mooncake. Same guys at the table. Did he just smile at me? Am I no longer the new guy? YES, Damien rules! Brought a friend so I get to show off a bit." Two beef banh mi, one spicy no onion, one non-spicy with everything, and two pineapple breads. And a lotus bean thousand year egg yolk pie. Here's exact change. "Baller."
(4)Jennifer S.
I confess I was a bit surprised when I first walked into Mei Sum bakery. I knew other reviewers had forewarned that it's a hole in the wall but I was still not convinced that it could possibly live up its reputation for being one of the best banh me places in Boston. On the way other banh me joints in the area tried to lure me in with glossy photos in the window tempting me with promises of grilled beef and crunchy pickled vegetables on a crusty baguette, but still I pressed on to the non descript building with the red awing getting slightly unnerved that nothing it's appearance indicated the promised banh me could be found here. I ventured in -thankfully I knew that I wanted the bbq beef since there is no menu anywhere and gave my order to the lady. She took a baguette out, put the meat in and put in the toaster oven for about 30-60 seconds. I told her I didn't want any onions, she understood but asked if wanted it spicy. I did. A few minutes and inexplicably only $2.75 later I had one of the nicest most satisfying sandwiches ever. Tender marinated savory meat, topped with very fresh pickled vegetables (shredded carrots and daikon radish) a crisp spear of cucumber, some sprigs of coriander, thin slices of green hot peppers that give off just a mild amount of heat, and just enough fish sauce and mayo to make it juicy and moist without being the least bit soggy or greasy. Bread was crusty on the outside and soft and warm on inside. Beef would have been better if it had in fact been bbqed and had a grilled taste to it but it was still tender and very very flavorful. Bring cash, don't be put off by the lack of atmosphere or menu and enjoy!
(4)Art B.
Wow. That's one. good. sandwich. As per the prior reviews, the place is not much to look at, but the woman behind the counter is kind and pleasant, and - while I don't yet know diddly about banh mi - the sandwich (I had the tofu) is ridiculously tasty. Great flavor, fresh ingredients, warm bread ... for three dollars. Definitely going back. Maybe even tonight on my walk to the train ...
(4)Adam A.
The best Banh Mi in CTown. The bread that they use is PERFECT. Be careful if you order it spicy since they toss a bunch of the little green chilis in there. The $1 pastries are perfect for dessert. Coconut Roll all day $3 Banh Mi + $1 Coconut roll = Happiness
(5)Titi T.
ok..i am a major Banh mi fan..I have had banh mi in over 15 different states not about to count the cities.. But everywhere I go, it is a must for me to find a good Banh mi.. So after all the reviews i read..i had to go try it here...What a Disappointment... Yelpers, what is wrong..drive a little to dorchester and try the 1 of the 4-5 different Banh mi places there and you will never come back here again..or walk down the street to new saigon sandwich and you will get a better tasting one there... i got the beef banh mi here and the beef had no flavor and was so chewy..and as a yelper had mentioned he found a chunk of hair, white hair coming out of the meet...I found the same thing.. ugg..threw it out...gross... I do give 4 stars to the green coconut cake though..it is the best..so flavorful and just the right amount of cake, filling and coconut... Plus it is the most uncomfortable atmosphere...old men sitting around, staring at you...another gross...
(2)Julia C.
Now that New Saigon Sandwiches has picked up the rather cruel and unusual habit of staying closed for my 8am breakfast/lunch purchase (AHEM!), I've been on a hunt to find a new banh mi supplier. And Mei Sum is the one! I routinely come in here a few mornings a day on my way to work to pick up 1) a cold cut banh mi for lunch, and 2) fresh har gow (shrimp dumplings) and shu mai (pork dumplings) for breakfast. It really makes my day! And let me say this, Mei Sum's shumai is the only place that I could actually taste REAL ground pork bits, not just some meaty paste ground up to oblivion. In regard to the cold cut banh mi -- The ladies at Mei Sum do not skimp on the meat portions here! The veggie portions are slightly smaller, but I'm entirely okay with that. The baguettes are delicious and crisp; if left in the break-room refrigerator until lunchtime, the pickled veggies will soften the bread up just so that it'll be wonderful to bite into without scraping the top of your mouth with sharp, crispy edges. The one caveat is that there isn't a printed or posted menu for banh mis. Read the reviews here to see what options are available, or ask the lady behind the counters. I'm unfairly biased toward cold cuts with extra spicy! Dim sum for breakfast. Banh mi for lunch. Makes for another perfect day.
(5)Long N.
Love the baked goods and good prices as well
(4)Paul M.
I like me some Mei Sum. In my continuing quest to understand the Banh Mi phenomenon (sorry, Pho is like so 2 years ago *sticks his nose up*- alright still super tasty too but let's get back on track) that started at the food trucks on Boston City Hall and last took me to New Saigon, I was directed by other yelpers to Mei Sum. Mei Sum is actually a bakery as opposed to a sandwich shop. In other words, aside from the neon sign in the window that mentions sandwiches, when you walk in you probably wouldn't know they serve anything other than cakes, sweet buns, cookies, etc. Oh, but they do. Just to the left of the main counter is a separate sandwich station. You go and you ask for a sandwich. There's no menu so I relied on other Yelpers who provided there are 3kinds: beef, tofu, and nasty-bit/pate. I'm not quite ready to go all headcheese on it so I stuck with the beef. These sandwiches are even better than New Saigon. They actually put spicy (sort of) chilies on your sandwich when you ask. They veges are super yummy, and they give a more ample layer of beef (at 3 dollars I almost question the source of the meat but then I take another bite and I don't really care). I went 2 days in a row. I also got the coconut bun per some suggestions here and for 70 cents I got this warm, slightly sweet bun roughly the size of my forearm stuffed with coconutty filling. Very tasty. Today I got a box of almond cookies for my office for $3.75. They were a little on the blander/savory side of the spectrum tasting more nutty/salty than sweet but I liked em. Others didn't, but they can do their own review darn it. So why not 5-stars? or why the same as New Saigon? Well, I feel like 5-stars is an honor only bestowed upon the select few places I come to time and time again for a long time. 2x in a row doesn't qualify, but I thought about it. I still like New Saigon and their wider selection, but man Mei Sum is pretty special. P.S. What IS the deal with like three tables full of 80-something Vietnamese (I presume) dudes gabbing away in there everyday?
(4)Ladyjane S.
The Banh Mi here is very good. As others have mentioned, the bread is perfectly crispy and chewy. The meat is yummy and not as sweet as others I've had but nice and savory. If I had any complaints at all it would be that my "spicy beef" banh mi was not spicy. At all. The ladies here do take their time making your sandwich, which just gives you more time to salivate over their baked goods. I've had the hot dog roll (awesome) and the egg tart (good, but not as good as Eldo's). Next time I'm getting that damn cocunut bun that everyone's talking about.
(4)Amanda B.
I came here for banh mi after reading reviews on Yelp. The following things are true: 1. There is a gaggle of elderly asian men hanging out reading the paper and talking. 2. There is no menu. 3. The ladies there are super nice. 4. Stuff is super cheap. 5. It's a bakery and the only hint that they make anything other than baked goods is a sign in the window advertising banh mi which is currently well-hidden by construction scaffolding. 6. I'm pretty sure I don't like banh mi. Let's get one thing out of the way: I'm a picky eater. I know this. Still, I've wanted to give banh mi a try. I mean, $3 sandwich?!? Sign me up! But this is my second experience and I just don't think I'm into it. I need to order without cilantro because I fall into the NO category with that one. So there's one flavor bit missing. I got the cold cut here and it is truly mystery meat. I had NO idea what I was eating. Still, I pushed on. I tried. I really did. It's me, banh mi, not you. I give this place three stars because the staff is great and I tried some sponge cake (3 for $1!) and I'm sure I'd come back for some baked goods.
(3)Katie B.
So delicious! Kind of an awkward set up as many other yelpers have noted lol (long table wih random old men sitting and talking ) but fully worth the moment of initial doubt. I ate the best bahn mi ever (beef - awesome bread, as many others noted - totally makes or breaks it!) and also had a pork bun (fantastic!) for the total cost of $4.90. Wish I'd found this place sooner! The pork buns were so delightful that I ordered four more to go to share with friends, as well as a few of the other more unusual items in the case. Everything was delicious! And so incredibly cheap, it's practically baffling. Highly recommended!!!
(4)Terry B.
A Oh, my God. That's what I said when I bit into my first bang hi sandwich here. The best banh mi I ever had. Better than NYC definitely. 3 DOLLARS for HEAVENLY DELIGHT banh mi. I came back 30 minutes later because I just had to eat both the cold cut banh mi and the barbeque kind. Both are amazing. Such fresh flavor from the veggies, great meat, nice crispy bread. I'm so glad I found this place. I recommend you go around the corner for some good passion black tea with tapioca to go with the sandwiches.
(5)Blue K.
Love this place. They make the best bahn mi in Boston. The tofu bahn mi is the absolute best. They also have delicious baked goods - their red bean buns are amazing!
(5)Steve S.
IT"S TRIVIA TIME!!! Can anyone name a place in Boston where 2 people can go eat a yummy lunch for under $10 dollars total? Wait a minute now, there is more to this question. It is illegal to name a place that starts with Mc.., Wen...Burg.. or any other cheap ass fast food place. Ready...GO! So the gf and I go to Mei Sum to try the Banh Mi and some pineapple cake. The bread was toasted to perfection in a small conventional oven. Then the sandwich is stuffed with beef (in one) and pork (in the other) along with cucumber, onions, carrots, cilantro, and hot peppers. The meat mixture with the soft bread and hot and cold veggies are the perfect combo that simply melt away as the go down. Also ordered some pineapple cake that was moist, soft, and delicious. If you are looking for something that is not too sweet, this is the perfect dessert for you. In fact ,the overall meal was very light and easy on the belly. We also ordered 2 mango/carrot juices. It was good. They tasted somewhat like a V8 splash. So, let's tally it up. 2 Banh Mi sandwiches: $6 dollars 2 Mango and carrot juices: $3 dollars 1 pineapple pound cake: $0.90 cents Total: $9.90 dollars. It looks like we have a winner to my above question. If this was a Mastercard commercial, now would be the time where I said PRICELESS! BTW, cash only peeps.
(4)Dor Z.
Their banh mi bread reigns SUPREME!! That's the only thing I've had so far. It was so good.
(4)Tim J.
I've come here dozens of times and had a great experience. The banh mis, in all 3 kinds (beef, cold cut, tofu), are great, as are the pork and pineapple buns. But today, in my cold cut banh mi, one of the pieces of ham had a clump of hair follicles growing out of it that grossed me out nearly to the point of trauma. It looked like about 20, half-inch long, stiff, white hairs coming out of the meat. So I probably won't go back. The 3 stars is representative of my average score. several 5 star experiences, and one -25 star experience.
(3)Mo C.
Don't be fooled by the appearance, yes you walk in and you are being looked at by a sea of elderly Asian men but the banh mi is quite tasty. every time I go to Chinatown my boyfriend asks me to get him a spicy beef from this place. What's even funnier is I never knew the name, because I have always approached it from an angle at which I cannot see the sign on the top of the awning (poor marketing if you ask me, but hey, im there for the food, i dont give a crap about the name..its Chinatown people..) My pull to this dingy place....the pork buns, dumplings, shu-mai, spring rolls, and just about anything you see in the case (pork cakes, melon cake, strawberry cake...you name it.) 6 good sized shrimp dumplings (best ive tasted since moving to boston) for 1.80.......I'm never getting dumplings anywhere else. The buns are beautiful on there own when warmed but i like to take it to the next level, and eat them with fresh cilantro and siriacha ...i almost make a sandwich out of the bun...and it is worth the extra effort. Other than the fact that im obsessed with small, ma and pop operations (call it divey, call it quaint, call it whatever...its not p.f changs, thats all i care about) this one definitley has my vote
(5)Steve W.
The "cold cut" banh mi was perfect. I thought most banh mi in chinatown were about the same. but afer eating one today from Mei Sum I was wrong. Wow, this was the best I've had - bread was fresh, crunchy on the outside, soft inside...not stale. And there was a lot of meat inside w/ pate spread...so good. I've also gotten their pork buns which are above avg also, they have a hint of ginger in them. And their cream rolls are good too. I'll be back for other goodies. It doesn't look like much when you walk in, but it's good stuff.
(5)Temurkin C.
While no Wawa Italian hoagie, the Banh Mi has found a special place in my heart as it is always cheap and usually delicious. That special combo of pickled carrot and daikon, cucumber, cilantro, fish sauce, mayo, and your choice of meat/tofu blends together exquisitely and for $3, you would be hard pressed to find a better deal. So as a newly arrived student in Boston I set out to find the best Banh Mi in the Chinatown area, and Mei Sum has come out on top. Hardly noticeable except for its red awning, you could easily walk past Mei Sum and never know it existed. And even if you do manage to find it, there is no menu to let you know that they serve the best Banh Mi in town. While other shops may serve more varieties of Banh Mi (Mei sum offers beef, tofu, and cold cut), Mei Sum blows away the competition by having the best bread hands down. Their hoagie roll is expertly toasted, resulting in a chewy texture rather than the crunchy mess of most other shops. The marinated (teriyaki?) beef they serve is delicious, and the cold cuts are always fresh and yummy. My only complaint would be that sometimes the cilantro is wilted, but for $3 this is only a minor issue. Mei sum also offers a wide variety of Chinese pastries, and while I'm no expert they seem to stand up against the larger bakeries in town. So if you're in the Chinatown area and seeking out an inexpensive food option, come to Mei Sum and try a Banh Mi. You will not be disappointed!
(4)Chris B.
$0.80 for a red bean pineapple-crust bun, still warm! I really enjoyed the cheap, tasty thrill. Bread was a little chewy (I have no opinion of this), but I wasn't a big fan of the red bean filling -- it was a little more fibrous than I'm used to; a different style than the Japanese treatment of red bean. Since I'm guessing this preparation is a cultural difference for which no stars should be deducted, I'm awarding full points of 4 stars. One aspect which made me happy -- at 9am, this restaurant had a good number of little old people eating breakfast.
(4)Serena L.
I've only really visited this place for some good daan tat (egg custard) when i get that craving. it's pretty good, with the light crust. i'm always on the lookout for good daan tat! after reading other yelper's reviews, i suppose i'd need to try their banh mi as well. it's just a shame that i no longer work in the area and need to make a special trip to chinatown for yummy pastries from my childhood! the ladies are always very nice (and more attentive if you speak cantonese).
(4)Lindsay E.
I needed to try a new Banh Mi place, so me and the BF grabbed a quick weekday lunch. We both got the beef prepared by a lovely sandwich lady. The beef was nicely marinated with lemongrass, but the cut was super, super fatty. I liked the bread and the peppers especially. There was head cheese in it, which was good and not overpowering. We went on a Wednesday at 12 and there was not a seat in sight, it appeared as if a geriatric men's conference had taken over. We found a park bench in the common and ate in the cold. We also split a custard bun warm out of the oven. The pastry was deliciously crunchy on the top and the custard was good, but closer to vanilla pudding than the egg custard I am used to. Pho Viet at Super 88 definitely has the best Banh Mi in my opinion, the meat is better quality. I'll definitely give them another try.
(3)Lindy L.
If you know Banh Mi, you know that this will be the best Banh Mi sandwich in Boston. I like to consider myself a Banh Mi connoseur -- I work in Chinatown/Downtown Crossing, and Banh Mi is the quickest, most delicious and cheapest lunch there is... I've been to 163 and to the newest addition to the Chinatown Banh Mi circuit, "Sub City", both of which are good, but I prefer Mei Sum to both. They also have tasty treats that you can take away, although I've not tried them. The tanginess of the pickled vegetables, paired with the yummy mayo and choice of "meat" (either tofu or beef), is simply divine. The baguette is exquisitely toasted and the staff is friendly and knowledgable. You won't regret trying out this spot if you like Banh Mi. It is sure to rock your world!
(5)Raymond W.
A little grimier than some of the other bakeries, and filled with old Asian mean sitting and chattering. I got a banh mi and some meat filled bun with god knows what meat (pork mostly). The meat in the banh mi left a lot to be desired, so take a pass on it when you visit and stick with 163 Vietnamese Sandwiches. The Bun was actually a lot tastier and even had an egg in it. God where is my mom to remind me what this bun is called. Other a chance if you're ok with less than stellar atmosphere. At least the lady at the counter was patient with my indecisiveness.
(3)Thi V.
I don't understand what all the hype is about, but this place is not worth going to if you are looking for authentic Vietnamese banh mi. Trust me, I was born in Viet Nam (see how I spelled it?), grew up in a Vietnamese household, and have had wayyyyy too many banh mi from Sai Gon to New York City to count. 1. The bread is ALL wrong. It's skinny and too dense, not flaky or crumbly or crispy enough to hold the deliciousness of the fillings. The ends were hard and chunky, I couldn't even consume them. 2. No matter what you get, the filling is rather skimpy and the size of the sandwich is on the small end, but then you're only paying $3.00 so why not? Why of course not!! Spend the extra 50 cents and go a block elsewhere for a bigger sized stuffed with filling banh mi! I usually can only finish 3/4 of a banh mi, but I finished this and wanted more - of something else. 3. Depending on what you get, the filling might not be tasty or authentic. The cold cut sandwich (is that what they refer it as in English? I'm more used to banh mi thit gui) is proper and good, not worth raving about but still good, but the BBQ banh mi drove me insane. Technically the sandwich should be called a grilled meat banh mi, because the meat is marinated in a special seasoning and grilled over charcoal to get a smokey, charred flavor, but this was not even grilled! Its like stewed meat with more of an Indian/Chinese inspired seasoning, which is nothing at all like any of the BBQ banh mi I ever ate. It was like American BBQ meat with an odd seasoning, that wasn't even tasty, and in the end its all about taste folks. So that's my two cents, and my first review on yelp, yes, I have never been inspired enough to write about a food visit, but this certainly warranted it. As a side note, if your going for the baked goods, sure, they look tasty and its worth occasional drop in, but I've had better, fresher, and cheaper in the area so be adventurous and look around.
(2)Daniel M.
Their banh mi makes it worth it to come in here and be stared down by all the regulars. It takes a bit longer than the other banh mi stops in the area but that's ok because they toast the bread to order rather than having it sit there drying out all afternoon. The sauce applied is delicious and really makes my whole day better. I can't speak to anything else in there as I hardly dawdle but the sandwich my god the sandwich is delicious! If they had more variety this would be four stars all the way...
(3)Whitney R.
5 stars for being able to pick up a sandwich and some pork buns at the same time without sacrificing quality in either or paying more than one should for banh mi. They didn't skimp on the pate and the baguettes were just the right consistency. It's not trendy and doesn't have boba, or even a menu, really, but the product speaks for itself. The place lacks 'atmosphere' though, so get them to go.
(5)Megan S.
Mmm.. banh mi. This one offers the option to make it 'spicy' ..go for it! But, trust me, it is spiiiiicy. :) A nice toss of additional flavor to the sandwich to go along with the pickled radish and mmm cilantro. Anywhere that offers a banh mi is pretty sweet. I still place some other establishments before this one for my favorite, though. :3 ^.^
(4)Ben L.
THUMP THUMP THUMP What's that? No I'm sorry ma'am, I'm just all toki doki about because I can order banh mi and steamed pork buns from the same place could I have a beef banh mi and a pork bun I wait in anticipation. It's perfect. I almost want to stuff the banh mi and pork bun into my mouth at the same time. but no, it would be too much, everything would be ruined. it's simply aces. Both items are just as they should be. Staff was all perfectly friendly and, though a white guy that walked in after me got a git of the gaijin look, I felt perfectly welcome. On top of the luxury of having baked goods and Vietnamese sandwiches they also have CHAIRS and TABLES!!!!!! Yay!!!!! :runs around for 5 minutes then abruptly stops: There is little that can be done to improve this spot. While still being a basic place it has most of the things that you could want. Now if they could just manage to hire the girl that used to work at Lu's..........
(4)Jay R.
The tofu banh mi here is amazing! I recommend getting the "spicy" version.
(5)Cece K.
So, this was the first viet banh mi I have ever had in my life... which means I have nothing to compare it to... but it was damn good! The bread was soft and amazing, the pickling was really tasty, and the combination of the meat and veggies was effortless. The other thing that made it great were the ladies who worked at the counter. They were very friendly and welcoming (which is not my typical experience in Chinatown). They clearly knew that it was my first time and were really interested to see how I liked it (not frustrated when I asked questions). For those of you who don't know (I didn't) a banh mi is a traditional Vietnamese sandwich with pickled carrots, cucumbers, cilantro, chili peppers, mayonnaise, pate, and your choice of meat or tofu. I chose pork. And it was only $3!! Find yourself wanting to try something new in Boston? Go explore Chinatown... but be sure to grab a banh mi from Mei Sum's and maybe a custard bun or some bubble tea from some traditional Asian bakeries.
(5)Vivian C.
Had to try their vietnamese sub after hearing it being touted as the best... the cold cut sub was good, but a bit more savory than the version had at 163. A well packed sandwich. A nice lunch for $2.75. You order it at the metal sandwich counter just beyond the bakery counter.
(3)Lauren P.
I'm not sure what is going on with this place. A few months ago I had one of the best bahn mi I have ever had. Today my sandwich looked like it was filled with spam and dog food. So disappointed. They must have given me the wrong sandwich. Back to 163 Vietnamese sandwich.
(1)H. G.
I continue my quest through Chinatown for banh mi sandwiches. Most of this review will be a comparison to New Saigon, the only other place I've tried. On the bright side, the bread is toasted, which gives it a very nice crunchy texture. The spicy version (ask for it) has a decent kick. And this place actually has seats (although they are often filled up with old Asian men drinking coffee and talking). On the dark side, the sandwich is smaller than New Saigon, and can leave you a bit hungry. I tried the tofu here, and it was pretty good, but didn't have the flavor of New Saigon or as many crunchy veggies. I also tried the pork sandwich, which was disgusting. My fault to some extent for ordering it, but I pictured a nicely cooked pork rather than a slimy pork liver and pate with mayo.
(3)Allison w.
Two things about this place - first, I came here because of the rave reviews for the banh mi sandwiches, and Mei Sum sure lived up to them. Fresh, zippy fillings, chewy french bread - perfect! But while I was waiting for my sandwich, I noticed the ladies putting out pans of huge raisin-studded sweet rolls. They smelled so good, I had to buy a pan. And OMG. The sandwich could have tasted like dirt and I'd STILL go back just for those rolls. I go every week, and always keep a pan in my freezer. Deeelish!
(4)Kupkake K.
Went back to try the vietnamese subs again and I have to upgrade it delicous! This time everything was fresh and plentiful! Can't 2.50 for a sandwich. Also went to get some pasteries over Chinese New Year's week and the sweet counter lady gave me a free bun and wished me a happy new year...that's great customer service and appreciation...
(4)Festher C.
My best friend and I have are banh mi obsessed. One particularly hungry afternoon, we went to 4 or 5 different banh mi joints in Chinatown and ate at every single one of them. This is something that I admit with no shame. We have a rolling scale/point system for which we rate our banh mi experience and this place has the BEST banh mi sandwich in town. I didn't realize this bakery had a name, for the longest time we just called it 36 on Beach Street. Anyhow, their banh mi is great, especially the spicy cold cut kind. You must eat it with sriracha sauce. If you ask, they will also give you a small container of fish sauce for dipping. We have also tried other items in the bakery (aapple pie, spelled like so: aapple pie, shao mai, shrimp dumplings) all are not nearly as delicious as the banh mi. Not much in terms of drinks/beverages lest the occasional Vita drink (boxed tea, so refreshing) in the coolers towards the back, but who cares, their banh mi is THE BEST!
(5)Ryan M.
Best banh mi in Boston! And for only THREE DOLLARS! Not much in ambiance, but it's Chinatown. You didn't come here for ambiance. You came here for good, cheap food. And it doesn't get better or cheaper than Mei Sum's banh mi. Hot crispy bread. pate, pork, pickled vegetables with fresh cilantro and little green chilies that pack a punch. Oh, man, this is good stuff. Definitely check this place out.
(5)