Katrina Hauser 
On August 9th, 2025, the Montclair community celebrated the opening of Bánh Voyage, a fast-casual spot serving Vietnamese classics. The restaurant is the culmination of nearly a year’s worth of hard work from founders Kevin Zaballero and Deborah Wang, who operate Local Coffee, another beloved neighborhood establishment. Read on to learn more about Bánh Voyage, the newest addition to Montclair’s Watchung Plaza located at 54 Fairfield Street.
The Dream
While working together at Local Coffee, which is also located in Watchung Plaza, Kevin and Deborah noticed a lack of readily available and traditional Vietnamese food. Hoping that locals shared their cravings, the pair conceived a new business venture, looking to bring a casual Vietnamese eatery to the area.
“We spent a lot of time talking about whether we could really do this, or if it was a crazy dream,” said Deborah. “When we finally committed to taking the leap, we found one of the biggest challenges was sourcing the ingredients we wanted, as we were committed to keeping our food authentic.”
With the help of Kevin’s wife Nancy, who developed much of the Vietnamese menu, and many supportive friends and family members, the pair was able to realize their vision after nearly a year of preparation.
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Inside a Voyage to ‘Bánh Voyage’
The cafe has a clean, vibrant atmosphere with elegant blue-and-white decor. Countertops and tables are available, with limited outdoor seating. Bánh Voyage is accessible through the street as well as Watchung Booksellers, as the two businesses share a building, and employees and patrons embrace the open layout. Deborah and Kevin said that many of the employees at the independent book shop have actually been coming into Local Coffee for years, and they have formed a friendship with the team there.
“There’s a lot of synergies between the foot traffic for both businesses and [we] find that our customers can browse the bookstore when they’re waiting for their orders, and a lot of people visiting the bookstore will pop their head in and discover our space,” Deborah said.
When they do, they will be greeted by a calming atmosphere and the smell of delicious food. Unsurprisingly, the restaurant makes a fantastic rendition of its namesake, the bánh mi, a traditional Vietnamese sandwich that includes pickled carrots, cilantro, cucumber slices, daikon, jalapenos, mayo, and the diner’s choice of grilled pork, beef, chicken, shrimp or tofu. The other main dishes are platters over Vermicelli noodles, or bún, and rice, known as cơm dĩa.
The owners also stacked the side menu with delicious accompaniments. Small bites include summer rolls and egg rolls with vegetarian options for both. While handcrafted beverages such as Thai iced tea and Vietnamese coffee are available, a mini-fridge located conveniently by the register has cans and bottles of imported teas, juices, and sparkling waters. Specials such as mango sticky rice and seasonal beverages are also offered; two refreshing recent options were a lychee fizz spritz and basil mint lemonade.
With prompt and organized service, the food is well-suited for both dine-in and take-out orders. Though there is not a lot of seating, employees do a great job of quickly cleaning tables between guests. The team is also thorough when taking orders, inviting patrons to choose their preferred spice level.
The Future
With its connection to the bookstore and proximity to Watchung train station, Bánh Voyage is set up to garner attention from both groups and solo visitors. With delicious food, a comforting aesthetic, and a commitment to engaging with the community, they are no doubt likely to capture the hearts of every enthusiastic eater in Montclair.
“We are looking forward to continuing to bring new Vietnamese flavors to our menu and to grow based on what our community is asking for,” Deborah said. “We really wouldn’t be here without our patrons, so we want to be sure to take the feedback we are receiving to heart.”
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