Song Huong Food to Go

Song Huong Food to Go is another little Mom-and-Pop hole-in-the-wall Vietnamese Diner/Snack Shop located on the corner of Menlo Avenue and El Cajon Boulevard.

This intersection of ECB, must feed a heck of alot of people. A Chau and Minh Ky, are right across the street, and Song Huong shares the strip mall with Thien Thanh Restaurant. Which is how we came to eat at Song Huong. After a recent visit to Thien Thanh, the Missus walked on over to Song Huong to order an Avocado Shake(which she thought was good, BTW). She noticed the Young Lady working there, who turned out to be the Owner's Sister eating a pretty large bowl of Bun Rieu. So a few days later we dropped by for a quick meal.

The interior of  Song Huong is small, and spartan, with a mere six tables, and boxes of supplies, and a cooler, along with the requisite high bar counter taking up most of the space.

The large middle table is usually occupied by family and friends, either reading, eating, or on one occasion participating in a very lively game of cards.

Song Huong also boasts an interesting variety of Banh Mi, all priced at $1.99:

I'm still waiting for Ed from Yuma's opinion on the Sardine Banh Mi!

One quick look at the menu, and you'll make an interesting observation. Most items are under $4.99!

In the mood for something spicy I ordered the Bun Bo Hue, the Spicy Noodle soup($4.50) without blood. A plate of "garnishes" soon arrived at the table.

The plate of herbs and veggies varies for Bun Bo Hue varies from restaurant to restaurant, and this version included mint, tiet to(purple perilla), shredded cabbage, bean sprouts, basil, and lettuce. Pretty much a little bit of everything.

A few minutes later the noodle soup arrived.

Like the garnishes, Bun Bo Hue varies from restaurant to restaurant. For example, many restaurants will serve the Bun Bo Hue, as an almost clear broth with chili oil added for heat, and a bowl of fermented shrimp paste and chili paste on the side. Pho Hoa Hiep, and Convoy Noodle House serve their Bun Bo Hue in this manner. I prefer having all the flavorings already added and mixed into the broth, like Pho Ca Dao does. This was the latter version. The broth for this Bun Bo Hue was very straightforward and to the point, nice and spicy, but not very complex. The shrimp paste flavor was also quite muted. In what I found to be a unique touch, Lean Pork Sausage(Gio Lua) was added to the various cuts of meat in the soup. The meats(Thick cut beef, tendon, and some inedible pork parts) were not the best, most were tough and dry, but there was a heck of alot of noodles. The Bun Bo Hue succeeded in filling me up, and then some.

The Missus ordered the Bun Cha Gio Tom Nuong(Vermicelli with Egg Rolls and Shrimp - $4.50):

Like the Bun Bo Hue, this dish accomplished what it should. It really filled you up. The Cha Gio were stuffed with alot of pork, and the Missus poured two little bowls of Nuoc Mam Cham over the generous portion of noodles, and chowed it down. And left quite satisfied. Not quite the level of the Bun at Thien Thanh, but $1.50 cheaper.

A few days later, I decided to grab a Banh Mi, so I headed over to Song Huong, looked at the photos and placed my order for the Dac Biet(special). Now this is where I ran into a little miscommunication. This is the Banh Mi I received.

The bread was nicely toasted and had a combination of a crusty exterior, combined with doughy bread. I didn't care for the tough cilantro twigs, but there was a good balance of pickled vegetables and cucumber. Beware the stealthy jalapeno, just when you don't expect it, you'll munch on a huge piece of jalapeno, hot enough to stop your heart. Of course, if you're like Ed from Yuma, and driving while eating your Banh Mi......

What I thought was strange were the meats, which basically consisted of Char Siu, though there two types of Char Siu in the sandwich, pieces that were fatty, and looked like pork belly, and slices that were lean. I loved the thick "smear" of pate', but didn't care for the amount of mayo on my sandwich. But still, for $1.99, who's going to complain.

Also, the Gentleman who took my order was neither the person who I believe is the Owner, nor the tiny Young Lady who speaks perfect English. Or maybe it was just the "Dac Biet" du jour?

Undeterred, I arrived back at Song Huong a few days later, and ordered the Banh Mi Dac Biet again($1.99). And this is what I got on this occasion.

So it was basically the same sandwich as before, but without the mayo, and this time with Gio Lua? Damn good sandwich, whatever it is. One thing I did notice; you should eat these ASAP, the bread goes downhill very quickly. Also, these are not the super long K Sandwiches style Banh Mi, but I think they have much more flavor.

One last thing, when ordering, grab one of the plastic menus, you'll find that the numbers on the display, do not correspond with the numbers on the menu. Recently, I ordered some Buon Cuon($4.99) to go, using the numbers off the board, when I got to my destination I was shocked to find Bun Thit Nuong(Vermicelli with BBQ Pork)! Sorry no camera, but it wasn't too bad, just not what I intended to order.

Song Huong opens at 6am in the morning for coffee and drinks, but the kitchen doesn't get going until 730 or so. I think I'll drop by one morning for the Scrambled Egg Banh Mi.

The folks are quite nice, though as mentioned above the are some communication issues, and other "quirks". Of course, if you speak Vietnamese, you'll have no trouble. Song Huong is a well priced, take-out joint, so if you're a bit low on cash.......and in the area, you can always grab a Sardine Banh Mi for two bucks!

One quick note: As with many parking lots in the area; it can be hell! I've been blocked in twice in this particular lot, and had to go from shop to shop to find the driver of the car that blocked me in.

Song Huong Food to Go
4650 El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA 92115

Comments

[jeni]

haha...I'm not into the thick cilantro twigs either! Baaaah!

[Green Turtle]

Not related directly to Song Huong, but I noticed a change of ownership notice sign in the window of Golden City. When that acquisition is complete, another review may be in order. Perhaps the new buyer is that poster who inquired about that location on here a couple of months ago.

[Jeffrey C]

Hey Kirk,
I'm impressed by your knowledge of Vietnamese cuisine. I love Banh Mi and always on the lookout for the ultimate sandwich. I used to be quite impressed with Mr. Baguette and Mr. Lee's but after having an authentic Mom and Pop food store, I know that I'll probably always be searching for those little food stores for these gems of baked goodness.
My brother introduced me to the cracked rice specialties at a restaurant in Garden Grove on Brookhurst. Similar to the cantonese style clay pot rice dishes that my father ( a Hong Konger) loves to cook when he's feeling he needs some comfort food. Anything that you haven't tried, that you want to? I've been perusing Noodlepie's blog and it seems like Vietnamese street food looks great.

[Kirk]

Hi Jeni - Thanks....makes me feel a bit more "normal". When I mention the cilantro stems, people give me this really weird look......

Hi Green Turtle - Always on top of it! I'll check it out soon.

Hi Jeffrey - Hope things aren't too hot in your neck of the woods. There are many dishes that I'd love to try...and probably twice as many that I've never heard of, and will want to try in the future......

[Rachel]

LOL Kirk, I am one or rather used to be one (since I don't live in banh mi city anymore) just like Ed from yuma and loved to happily much on banh mi (at 7 am inthe morning, the bread just out of the oven) in the car on the way to uni.

mmmm drool I so miss vietnamese food. I am so surprised (read: jealous) by the variety over there in the US. Over in Sydney, it is either cold pork, chicken or just the salads. I am told in melbourne they have the grilled meat variety but this rumour has yet to be checked out :D

[Kirk]

Hi Rachel - My only question is "how do you handle all those crumbs?" Some of these little shops get quite creative with their sandwiches

[ed (from yuma)]

You're right. No matter how tasty it is, it's never good to have food that brings tears to your eyes while driving.

Haven't tried the other stuff there yet, but would happily have the banh mi there again. There was no mayo on mine.

By lean pork sausage, do you mean that pale colored slice of pork loaf peering up out of the right side of your bowl of soup? If so it is also in the bun bo hue at Thanh Thiet.

[Kirk]

Hi Ed - Yes, the Gio Lua is the lean pork sausage - it's in both the Bun Bo Hue, and the Bun Rieu at Thien Thanh.

[Jack]

Hi Kirk,
Nice looking Banh Mi Dac Biet. Have you ever tried one at Sau Voi Deli? That is where I usually get mine and I am curious what you think of them.

[Kirk]

Hi Captain Jack - That would be the one in the 99 Ranch Market Food Court, right? I haven't had a Banh Mi from there in ages.....so I guess I'll need to have one soon, huh?

[CJ]

That is the one and if you do try one e-mail me and let me know what you think.
Thanks

[Kirk]

Hi CJ - I will.....find some way to let you know!

[Rachel]

We don't have jalapenos much here in Aus, apart from subway. (We need to educate these aussies) I always get extra jalapenos when in subway, but the banh mi places in aus will offer sliced red chilli which goes so well too!

Anyway, the cumbs ... well I used to have a weekly cumb vacuum of the car... i considered getting a japenese invention, a giant bib that you could sticky tape onto the dashboard under the steering wheel, however, I thought i would get too many strange looks. Good vietnamese rolls are always crusty on the outside and chewy on the inside hence, good question kirk ... the crumbs do get EVERYWHERE! Magic would somtimes help hoover them up for me ;)

[Kirk]

Hi Rachel - I see...you use the "Magic Hoover" technique! ;o) I gotta find me that bib......

[Kady]

There's nothing better than cheap and trustworthy Vietnamese food! I really wish I lived in that area! I'm dying to try some banh mi's!

[Kirk]

Hi Kady - It's really hard to complain about a $2 Banh Mi....

[Jd]

I tried banh cuon, and it wa by far the best.