Do you need cash to pay at Paris Bakery?

Cash is preferred—they take Venmo and Apple Pay too, but don't count on cards. Bring cash to be safe, especially if you're stopping by for a quick banh mi during your lunch break in Talmadge.

What should I order first at Paris Bakery?

Start with the BBQ pork banh mi or the meatball banh mi (a rarer find)—both hit with tender, juicy meat balanced by fresh pickled vegetables and cilantro on their housemade Vietnamese bread. Pair it with their strong, smooth coffee.

Is Paris Bakery good for breakfast?

Absolutely. They're a legitimate breakfast and brunch spot in Talmadge serving fresh banh mi, housemade baguettes, and Vietnamese pastries early. It's the kind of neighborhood joint locals grab from before work.

Can I get food delivered or is it takeout only?

Both. They offer takeout and delivery, so you can grab a banh mi in person or have it sent over—though going in means you'll snag fresher, hotter sandwiches straight off the counter.

Are there dietary options like vegetarian or vegan banh mi?

The reviews focus heavily on their meat sandwiches, but as a Vietnamese bakery, they likely have vegetarian options. Call ahead or ask in person about what's available beyond the pork and meatball varieties.

What's the vibe like—is it casual?

Yes, it's a casual neighborhood spot in Talmadge that feels like a locals' go-to. Don't expect ambiance; come for the quality food, friendly service, and the kind of place where regulars know what they want.

Is there parking near Paris Bakery?

The spot sits on El Cajon Boulevard in Talmadge, a busy commercial strip. Street parking is available, though it can be tight during peak times—getting there mid-morning or early afternoon usually means easier parking.

Paris Bakery — Bakeries in Talmadge, San Diego

“Paris Bakery bakes its own Vietnamese baguettes from scratch—a rice-wheat hybrid that gives every bánh mì the crackle and chew most shops outsource.”

While Phở Vân focuses on broths and Purple Mint reimagines Vietnamese classics without meat, Paris Bakery does one thing other Vietnamese spots in Talmadge can't: it controls the bread. The baguettes come out of their own oven daily, achieving that thin-crusted shatter with a tender interior that turns a $5 sandwich into something worth driving across the neighborhood for. The grilled pork bánh mì gets the most love—charred meat, pickled carrots and daikon that actually taste fermented, cilantro that hasn't wilted under heat lamps—but the sleeper move is the chicken loaf, a house-made Vietnamese mortadella that's become enough of a cult item that regulars ask for it by number.

The shop itself operates as half bakery, half Vietnamese grocery, with a refrigerator case stocked with bánh bao and other pastries that rotate based on what the family feels like making. Pho shows up on the menu, as does Vietnamese coffee strong enough to justify the walk from anywhere on El Cajon Boulevard. Service runs warm and fast, the kind of place where the same faces work the counter and remember your order after two visits.

The catch: cash only, though they've added Venmo and Zelle for the modern world. No seating to speak of—this is grab-and-go infrastructure designed for people who know what they want. But when the bánh mì bread comes from the same kitchen assembling the sandwiches, and when that bread is this good, you're not looking for a place to sit anyway. You're looking for the meatball bánh mì that other shops don't bother stocking, or the BBQ pork version loaded heavy enough that the baguette barely contains it. Talmadge's Vietnamese sandwich spot isn't trying to be a restaurant—it's trying to be the place you stop on the way home because nothing else tastes like this.