A Banh Mi Retrospective

A while back I promised Joseph E, a listing of the various Banh Mi's I've had the pleasure of eating in San Diego. So finally, I've gotten my act together and here it is. First off, I need to apologize for taking so darn long. I only recently purchased some removable storage, and finally started copying all my back-up photos from CD to storage.

One of the really fun things I noticed as I dug up all these photos, and looking over my posts, is how much my taste in Banh Mi has changed since I did my first Banh Mi post back in June of 2005. I used to be strictly a BBQ Chicken/Pork Guy, and now I say "bring on the head cheese/sausage/pate!" Anyhow, I'm including links to the original posts, a short note on the visit(s), notes on follow-up visits, and such. I hope you all enjoy, and for those expecting a brand new restaurant/food post, please excuse.....I'll have something new tomorrow!(Note all prices reflect the cost at the time of the original post.)

June 13, 2005 - A Chau

Impressions: Alot of filling, though I never did get the Dac Biet(special). The bread was too soft and doughy. Nice amount of chilies and pickles. Very filling sandwich.($2.50)

Notes: I need to revisit A-Chau soon. I used to grab a sandwich there all the time, but when I started doing the food blog, I got caught up in trying new restaurants all the time. I haven't revisited since this post....my bad!

A-Chau
4644 El Cajon Blvd Ste 111
San Diego, CA 92115

June 28, 2005 - Cafe Dore

Impressions: At the time I had this sandwich, I thought it was the best I'd had in San Diego. The bread was toasted and crusty, and there was a great balance of vegetables, cilantro, chilies, and fillings. Well maybe a little light on the chilies..... I loved that the cilantro was mostly leaves and not tough, chewy, stuck between your teeth cilantro.($2.50)

Notes: Follow-up visits(last one in December of last year) were not quite as good. There is a tendency to "over-toast" the bread making it disintergrate into a crumbs when you bite into the sandwich. I still enjoy the fillings at Cafe Dore.

Cafe Dore
4135 University Ave
San Diego, CA 92105

June 29, 2005 - Bale French Sandwich Shop

Impressions: Before K Sandwich, the most "accessible" Banh Mi. Mild flavors, crusty bread, and very consistent. I've always thought that Bale "hollowed out" their bread a bit to increase the crust to bread ratio, but it's probably the product of a too active imagination.($2.75)

Notes: Still very consistent, I've found Bale to be doing very brisk business on my last visit(December 2005).

Bale French Sandwich Shop
6937 Linda Vista Rd
San Diego, CA 92111

July 15, 2005 - Sorrento European Bakery

Impressions: Sorry, probably one of the worst photos I've taken thus far.... Actually, this visit was a mistake, I didn't follow instructions, and thought that this was the Banh Mi place. Very light, low on vegetables, I felt this sandwich was missing a certain "something". The fillings were very tasty, but I could eat 3 of these. I did think the bread was nice and crusty.($2.50)

Notes: I was soon corrected on the location of the correct Banh Mi purveyor, I've never returned.

Sorrento European Bakery
6755 Mira Mesa Blvd #117 - in the Sorrento Plaza Shopping Center
San Diego, CA 92121

July 19, 2005 - Linda Vista Food to Go

Impressions: Hidden away from most of the traffic on Linda Vista Road, this sandwich was on the small side, and had too much cucumber, and not enough cilantro. Very little meat in the "Dac Biet", and to add insult to injury, the sign at the time said $2.25, but they charged me $2.50.

Notes: I've been back for the pretty good spring rolls. Needless to say, I haven't had another sandwich at this little shop. Nice people though!

Linda Vista Food to Go
2405 Ulric Street
San Diego, CA 92111

August 23, 2005 - Fusion Food & Boba Cafe

Impressions: Don't know what to make of it; lot's of meat filling, but the ham tastes like the packaged stuff from the supermarket, sometimes the bread is toasted, sometimes not; the rolls differ from time to time too. Alot of people like this place, so it must be me...... The BBQ pork did taste good.($2.50 - $3.50)

Notes: Haven't been back.

Fusion Food & Boba Cafe 
8038 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92111

November 2, 2005 - K Sandwiches

Impressions: If you've never had a Banh Mi before, this is a good place to start. Safe enough even for my co-workers who enjoy them. The sandwiches are also quite large:

And very inexpensive($1.99 - $2.99). Do ask for extra "pickles"(I've never had to pay for them), because they can be really stingy with them. The bread is baked on the premises which can be a plus.

Notes: Think of it as San Diego's version of Lee's Sandwich's.

December 28, 2005 - Kim Chan Sandwich Shop

Impressions: A favorite of Ed from Yuma, the BBQ pork was terrible, but the meat in the combination (Dac Biet) is excellent. I've had both stale bread, and perfectly toasted bread here, but portions(for the combination) are always well balanced, and flavorful.($2.50)

Notes: When this place is "on" the "combination" is very good. Only a few items in English, but they must have about twenty or so in Vietnamese. A real Mom-and-Pop operation.

Kim Chan Sandwich Shop
4712 El Cajon Blvd Suite N
San Diego, CA 92115

March 19, 2006 - Pho' Viet Cali

Impressions: This was the sandwich I was supposed to get when I mistakenly went to Sorrento Europena Bakery. A decent sandwich, though on the expensive side($2.95). I enjoyed the pate, though there was way too much mayo all over the bottom of the sandwich. Also, not enough pickled vegetables, though good meat. No hot chilies either!

Notes: I haven't been back.

Pho' Viet Cali
6755 Mira Mesa Blvd. #113
San Diego, CA 92121

March 27, 2006 - Express Deli in Lucky Seafood Supermarket

Impressions: Kind of skimpy on the meat, but lots of pickled vegetables. I really didn't enjoy the bread that much, not crusty enough. Worth the $2.25 price for sandwich, but not much more.

Lucky Seafood Supermarket
9326 Mira Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92126

Whew, so there it is. Only ten different shops, I'm a bit disappointed. Well hopefully, I'll do better in the future!

Comments

[elmomonster]

Holy geeez! Kirk, I bow to you! You've outdone yourself! Bravo!

I never realized there were so many places for banh mi in SD. Who knew!

[Jo]

::sigh:: Nope, no banh mi here. Kirk, can you believe there isn't even a BAKERY in this town? NObody appreciates decent bread enough to support one! That's the worst thing, you have to go a couple towns away for good bread?!?!

[ed]

Well done as usual. I still like Kim Chan (perhaps partly because I was lucky enough to happen upon it). I recently had the bbq beef and it, like the bbq pork, was just a thick (by banh mi standards) slice cut off of what looked like a formed chunk of bbq flavored meat. Not my favorite, but interesting sweet flavor notes. They also have a fancier combo with milder, fattier meat. There is a picture of it on the wall that I point to if I want it. I am still fascinated that they always steer me away from the choices listed only in Vietnamese. It makes me wonder if they are intestines or dog or some other things "you no like." I wish I knew someone who spoke or read Vietnamese.

I suspect that there are other banh mi spots in that neighborhood that are as good as Kim Chan - I've never seen a long line of customers wanting banh mi's there - but I am happy enough with Kim Chan (or too lazy perhaps) to keep searching the area.

[Joseph E]

Kirk, if 10 different Bahn Mi places isn't enough for you, I don't know what to say. Thank you for the excellent overview of all these different sandwich shops! I've now tried out four of these places (I ask for the Dac Biet most every time) and I've liked K Sandwiches and Kim Chan best. Perhaps your next project could be a huge Pho comparison!

You're right, ed; there must be quite a few good Banh Mi joints along El Cajon. Kim Chan doesn't have the best location, but there must be some other place people are heading for lunch in the area. A vietnamese friend gave us a couple of recommendations recently about that area; I'll let you know if they are worth a look.

[Emily]

Kirk,

this is just such an oh-so-useful post...someone must set the standards and so,I've saved it all and will use as a reference for all those banh-mi to come as I discover Asian food.

you are indeed a "ressource inépuisable" and I gotta say milles mercis encore et encore....
Emily

[JASON]

Incredible post!! I was just talking to a co-worker about where the best sandwiches in town are, and it looks like Kirk has a ready made "try" list for us. Thanks for all the great postings!

[Kathy]

Now we know who's had their share of banh mi! - excellent job :)

[Passionate Eater]

I hope you don't mind, but I just sent this link to all my friends and family! I love this "compare and contrast" style of post. And are those bean sprouts in some of the Banh Mi? Interesting if so. Or are they just white onions?

[Kirk]

Hi Elmo - It's just a rehash, no biggie - the biggest problem was finding all those CD's.
I think there are At Least a good dozen more places to get Banh Mi in San Diego.

Hi Jo - I'm sure you'll find "something".

Hi Ed - Kim Chan is good, though I wish they were a bit more consistent. I think there are 4 Banh Mi "joints" within a 4 block radius of Kim Chan; it's just a matter of getting there.

Hi JosephE - Let us know what you find. So many restaurants...so little time.

Hi Emily - Well I know you're going on a "big trip" soon - so I look forward to what you find.

Hi Jason - Not to say these are the best; they are just the places I've visited.

Hi Kathy - And it's settling around my waistline.....

Hi PE - I think you're talking about the pickled radish (daikon)? The julienned carrot and radish called something like Ca' Rot......

[Jo]

I'm not so sure about Vietnamese... Heck, "Rainbow" is the best Chinese we got going and they are a hybrid Hawaiian/Chinese. Their chicken katsu and loco moco is pretty darn good by my standards at least. But even there, when it comes to dumplings and noodles... well... let me just tell you that our first visit included an order of saimin. I heard some wild discussion between the cook and the waitress about it... I know the saimin was the topic only because that was the only word I understood and it was used several times. Then, what we got was broth (that I didn't even bother to taste) with spaghetti noodles! What does THAT tell you?!?! Well, soon and very soon I'll need some rice paper wrappers to make my own spring rolls and you'll have to figure out how to make Vietnamese style grilled pork so you can pass it on to me and I can make 'em here. The grilled pork is our favorite... I already know how to make the baguettes. ::wink::

[Kirk]

Hi Jo - I remember getting Chinese Food - made with spaghetti in Georgia - so nothing surprises me.

[caroline]

Kirk, this is all your fault. I have been to 5+ Vietnamese resturants in the past month. I've been on a Banh Mi and Pho kick specifically becuase of your blog. Yum. My addiction actually led me to a recipe (I made a few modifications on it) I found on another blog http://gourmetish.blogspot.com/2006/01/steak-banh-mi.html to make a steak banh mi sandwtich that is not at all authentic but satisfies my craving if I can't drive down to Linda Vista. :) But I still can't make a bowl of pho myself. Luckily summer is coming and I won't crave it as much?

[Reid]

Hi Kirk,

I can't believe that there are so many bahn mi places in SD. I'm sure there are a number of places that serve bahn mi here as well, but I can only bring myself to eat at Ba-Le.

[Kirk]

Hi Caroline - Sorry for having fueled an obsession. But it sounds like your having a fun time with it. Kady does have some really nice recipes on Her site.

Hi Reid - There are quite a few more Banh Mi places that I haven't gotten to yet. So it's been a fun little project.