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# Yen Cafe & Sandwich – Vietnamese restaurant in Honolulu, HI, offering delicious banh mi and more
Yen Cafe & Sandwich, located at 1227 Keeaumoku St, Honolulu, HI, is a vibrant Vietnamese restaurant known for its authentic banh mi and other traditional dishes. Opened on July 19, 2025, this cozy eatery has quickly garnered attention for its generous portions and flavorful offerings. Nestled between popular spots like Itchy Butt and Keeaumoku Seafood, it has become a favorite among locals and visitors alike. With a focus on takeout, Yen Cafe provides a convenient dining option for those on the go, and its commitment to quality has earned it numerous positive reviews highlighting its excellent service and delicious food.

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Service was excellent. Man was easy to understand over the phone, he got my order the first time i said it. Called ahead of time to order and food was ready to be picked up in 10-15 minutes. Parking may be a pain if it's lunchtime but good thing it's all take out restaurants there so you could get lucky when a spot opens up. There's only like 5 stalls right in the front of like four restaurants. Foodwise all the flavors were there so I could appreciate that. We ordered bun Bo hue, hu tieu mi and beef combo pho. Bun Bo hue had major BBH flavors but the beef was so tough and chewy!! If you want to grow your jaw muscles then this could be the dish for you! The other two dishes were for other family members so I don't know how those were. However, with three different noodle dishes, we only got one bag of fresh veggies that I don't think were enough for all three, in my opinion. Wish they gave more fresh veggies since I like the bean sprouts and herbs but it was missing the shredded morning glory that is usually eaten with bun Bo hue. I guess times are hard so understandable. Overall, I liked that we tried this new location.

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We've had a lot of banh mi. No name, Le's, Niu Baguette, Pate, Pho Viet Manoa, etc. So when a new banh mi place opens up, it gets added to the list of places to try. We got the crispy pork and the yen special which consists of pate, ham, jambo and mayonnaise, plus the usual pickled vegetables. Both of these banh mi were large. This is definitely a first world problem, but I straight up asked my better half where do I start because it was so stuffed full of food. No one else gives this much food for $12. Both sandwiches were stuffed full of meat and pickled vegetables. The crispy pork was a bit dry, but it crunched and had good flavor. The ham and jambo were fairly standard for what you'd expect from a banh mi. Vegetables were pickled, crisp, and tasty. Bread was fluffy on the inside and crunchy on the outside. Too much mayo for our tastes, but you can always ask for less mayo. Overall the quality is better than Niu Baguette and Pho Viet Manoa, but less than No Name, and Le's, but for the quantity, Yen's is in a category all on its own as we were struggling to finish the sandwiches and we were hungry coming from a gym session. They do sell non-sandwich items, which we'll be back for, but it may be a bit messy to do some of the broth based items as takeout. We also got the spring rolls, which came two to an order for $7. Good balance of shrimp and meat to veggies and noodles and sauce was very flavorful. Parking is shared with Itchy Butt and Keeaumoku Seafood. Be careful backing up as you're backing right into Keeaumoku street. No bathroom, but there are a few seats and a tiny table inside. The owner and his wife were efficient and polite. They take electronic payments including AMEX.

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Stumbled upon this place while visiting Honolulu and seemed like a delicious option for a late lunch! As a vegetarian, I appreciated the variety in 2 options of tofu or vegetarian ham - I went with tofu. It was such a great deal for the price in terms of size and only $11! My boyfriend got the pork one and we both devoured our food. Only thing is there is no seating if you are looking for a place to sit down and eat, but we just grabbed them to go! Service was great, hardly took more than 10-15 mins to get both our sandwiches. Would definitely go back if ever in town.

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Amazing Vietnamese food, it's off to the side of keeamoku street, right side before hitting over the bridge going towards Makiki area. Parking is very limited, be sure to phone order. Food is very good , has very different lover from other Vietnamese restaurant. Very good service and clean on the inside too. There's no inside tables , so it's take out only.

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Yan Cafe & Sandwich is located in the same building as Keeaumoku Seafood and Itchy Butt. Their parking situation is a love and hate situation. It's great they have parking but the traffic in that area is hit or miss. Sometimes I feel that the street metered parking on the side streets might be easier to get in and out of. When you enter, the restaurant is clean and bright with an easy to read menu. This is a take out type of restaurant. Knowing the parking situation, I called in my order. They told me 10-12 minutes and got my name. I'm so glad that I called in my order because when I arrived, they were packed with a ton of people waiting for their order. Customer service on the phone and when I picked up my order was friendly. I ordered 1 Yen Special Combination Banh Mi and 1 BBQ Beef Banh Mi. My order was ready when I arrived. Both banh mi sandwiches come with the typical pickled veggies, cucumber and Chinese parsley on a freshly baked baguette. Surprisingly they didn't have jalapeño slices and the sandwiches weren't cut in half. Both sandwiches came with a lot of meat and were generously filled. The BBQ Beef was a quite dry as the beef was overcooked for my taste. Their Yen Special Combination was my favorite between the two. The hot sauce I asked for was rather salty and wasn't really spicy for me. Good thing I have a lot of hot sauce options at home. Nice new addition to the Makiki area and wishing them all the best! 3.5 stars

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Takeout lunch in Honolulu, Hawaii... Yen Cafe & Sandwich opened this second location on Keeaumoku Street on July 19, 2025. (The original location is in Waikiki on Kalakaua Avenue.) This new location is between Itchy Butt and Keeaumoku Seafood. Enjoy 20 percent off NOW during their Grand Opening! There are a few free shared parking stalls right in front of the cozy shop. If you want to dine in, they have three folding chairs inside, but no tables. Service was pleasant and efficient. I had called in my order and waited a few minutes for my fresh meal! I took my vermicelli with spring rolls and grilled pork to enjoy elsewhere... because I really need air-conditioning! My food was beautiful and tasty! I would return again!

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We gave this place 2 chances and both times they've let us down. The first time we went, I got the pork and spring roll vermicelli and my fiance got the ten combination banh mi. The spring rolls were really unique! They were wrapped in rice paper and then in rice noodle so they were really light and crispy. My fiance however did not get what he ordered. They gave him the crispy pork belly banh mi instead. So he was pretty disappointed. The second time we went he got the yen combo banh mi, successfully this time! It was really good, lots of flavors packed into it and the sauce was really good. I asked the guy if the spring rolls appetizer wax the same as the spring rolls in the vermicelli. He said yes. So I ordered the shrimp and spring roll vermicelli and a side order of spring rolls, expecting the same spring rolls as the last time I ordered them. Nope, they switched them to normal spring rolls with regular spring roll wrapper. DEVASTATING! To make matters worse, the shrimp were peeled but not cleaned, even though some of them were cut open along the spine, so the poop from the vein diffused throughout the shrimp. Resulted in a rather dirty tasting shrimp unfortunately. I rarely lose my appetite but the dirty shrimp really did it for me. The guy working the register has kind of bad attitude, like he doesn't wanna be there. He also doesn't seem like he knows the menu at all. Their sauces they make in house for the banh mi and the fish sauce are so delicious and I want to like this place SO BAD. Especially since it's within walking distance from my house. But it's been a let down so far. Please bring back those other spring rolls!!!

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This place is located on the same strip as Itchy Butt and Keeaumoku Seafood across from Cartwright Field. They sell mostly Vietnamese food with a few plate lunches thrown in. Most importantly they sell sugarcane juice. Yes! It's a grab and go place. There's nowhere to dine on the inside. Our whole family ordered dinner from here. We got the Summer Roll $6.50, Grilled Steak $18.99, Vietnamese Hue Beef Noodle Soup $14.99, Crispy Roast Pork Banh Mi $12, and two cups of sugarcane juice $5.50 each. The soup base for the beef noodle was very good. It had a nice flavor and aroma. The banh mi was on a toasted baguette. The roast pork was crispy, but also very dry. The sugarcane juice was right up my alley. I am a sugarcane juice lover. They also sell my favorite oxtail pho. I'll definitely be back to try that. It wasn't the best Vietnamese food that I've had, but it's a solid choice for a take out spot. The food was decent and the prices reasonable. They should give Itchy Butt and Keeaumoku Seafood a run for their money. They're also giving 20% off the entire menu until 10/31/25. You know that I'll be taking advantage of that.

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I was craving a banh mi and my to go place was closed so I decided to go to yen and try it out. I got the number #13 yen speical. The sandwich felt heavy. I like that the aunty loaded it up with all the deli meats and pickle veggies with extra pate and mayo. It was so thick. The bread was crispy outside and soft on the inside which is how I like my sandwich bread to be. Anyways the banh mi is super good and the price is reasonable!! Definitely coming back here. Please come support this small mom n pop shop. They serve good food with good customer service.

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Who remembers back in the late 80s/early 90s when Ba-Le was everyone's go-to spot for bahn mi, etc.? Fast forward 35+ years and there are soooo many more Vietnamese options (good and bad). Now you can add Yen Cafe to your growing list of Vietnamese food places (very good). Located on Keeaumoku Street, in between two popular eateries - Itchy Butt and Keeaumoku Seafood. Awesome food corner!!! Mostly Vietnamese fare - bahn mi and pho. Also offers a variety of other dishes to satisfy most cravings - fried rice, chow fun, plate lunches and more. There are also sweet drink options - Vietnamese coffee, milk tea, etc. We tried a couple bahn mi sandwiches and vegetarian spring rolls. Sandwich bread was toasted and crispy on the outside and soft on the inside - as it should be. (I wonder if they buy their baguettes from the Ba-Le guy?) Generous fillings. Super flavorful. Nice that there are a few vegetarian options. Our family members have very diverse eating preferences (carnivores, herbivores and omnivores) so finding a spot where everyone can find something is always appreciated. Take out. Few parking spaces in front, but easy to find street parking around the corner. Reasonable prices (plus 20% off for their grand opening!) Support local businesses! We hope this one sticks around.

Discover Yen Cafe & Sandwich in Honolulu for delicious, fresh sandwiches and local flavors. Perfect for a quick, satisfying meal in the heart of Honolulu.

Yen Cafe & Sandwich in Honolulu - Best Local Eats

Honolulu

Yen Cafe & Sandwich

Honolulu County

Discover Yen Cafe & Sandwich at 1227 Keeaumoku St, Honolulu. Enjoy tasty sandwiches, local flavors, and a friendly vibe. Visit us today!

Yen Cafe & Sandwich in Honolulu - Delicious Local Eats & Cozy Atmosphere

Learn about Yen Cafe & Sandwich in Honolulu. A beloved spot for delicious sandwiches, friendly service, and a welcoming atmosphere. Come see why locals love us!

About Yen Cafe & Sandwich, Honolulu - Your Favorite Local Spot

Opening hours for Yen Cafe & Sandwich, Honolulu. Find opening hours for Yen Cafe & Sandwich, 1227 Keeaumoku St, Honolulu on your visit.

Yen Cafe & Sandwich – Vietnamese restaurant in Honolulu, HI, offering delicious banh mi and more

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