Van Hoa Vietnamese Restaurant Part 1

Were you the same kind of kid I was? My Mom would have fits trying to wake me on most school mornings. I should have trademarked the phrase "just 5 more minutes" since I used it so much.....our alarm clocks didn't have "snooze buttons" in those days, otherwise I'd have worn that out. Once up, I'd dilly-dally, even volunteering to do chores (gasp), in order to avoid school. Finally, worn down by the irresistible force that most Mothers are, I'd be on my way. Lucky for me, I lived only a half-block from my Elementary school....

Unfortunately, there's still some residual "dilly dailiness" left in me. Some mornings, I'll be up very early, but am not very motivated at the  prospect of work. I'm trudging around, trying not to wake the Missus up, wondering how I can justify taking my own sweet time (make te-de te-de...). Reluctantly dragging my procrastinating self out of the house and to the car, I eventually find myself on the freeway. But wait, I don't need the freeway to get to work! Taken over by some other-worldly force, I get out on El Cajon Boulevard, and end up at a destination like Van Hoa Restaurant.

There are a few Vietnamese restaurants like Van Hoa, which resides in the shopping complex on the corner of 54th and University, that open early...I mean early, as in 6am early. At 630 am the sometimes psychotic parking lot of the shopping center(which houses a location of Vien Dong Market) is empty, and you need not worry about having to park next to the last demolition derby Ford Fairmont in existence in North America. At 635 in the morning, I'm not sure you can get Pho at Van Hoa, but as you enter the restaurant, everyone is hard at work, making Goi Cuon(Spring Rolls) and various packaged snacks that you see at places like 99 Ranch Market. There are sacks labeled with "La Chef Bakery" lining the tables, and I place my order for the Egg McMuffin of the Banh Mi world, the Banh Mi Trung(scrambled egg banh mi - $2.75):

For some reason the bread feels more crusty in the morning, and the scrambled egg is lightly doused with a soy sauce concoction, that is both salty and sweet. I readily admit, that for some, the combination of pickled veggies, cilantro, and scrambled egg is a bit odd, but I enjoy it. I sometimes just have the sandwich in the car, at the risk of strewing crumbs everywhere.....

But there is one thing that never changes, sustenance puts me in a much better mood, and the world is a much nicer place. I also feel guilty for not being fired up for work after watching everyone in the restaurant working so hard. Maybe I'll be able to face the world today............

A word of caution; like all other versions of Banh Mi, this one has Jalapenos, so if you do not tolerate hot peppers for breakfast, or not at all, please proceed at a careful cadence.

Van Hoa Vietnamese Restaurant
4016 54th Street
San Diego, CA

Open at 6am Mon-Sat
Open at 7am on Sundays

In part 2, we'll check out the Pho at Van Hoa, along with several of the other Banh Mi.

Comments

[Cathy]

We haven't been to Van Hoa since the mall sort of burned...and never had a breakfast bahn mi. Thanks for this one; it is something we will be trying soon. I can never eat bahn mi in the car. The crumb factor is way frustrating.

[Trent]

Nice alliteration: "Dilly-Dalliness...careful cadence", banh mi reviews rarely wax so poetic!

[nhbilly]

You left out the cha lua.
I think it the integral part of the whole sandwich the cha lua and eggs. Just image bacon but healthier ;-)
So yummy.

[Thess]

Hi Kirk. Yep, I was like you when I was a kid. It was difficult for anyone to make me get up for school.
BUT, I wish I have to drive to work so that I can also make breakfast trips to some restaurants.

jalapeno in the morning? I admire you :)

[Carol]

Your dilly-dally description is me to a tee, even today. I sometimes lie there in bed, before the alarm goes off, thinking what I can use as an excuse to call in sick. ;-)

I'll have to find some place to stop in for breakfast on my way in to work. Maybe it'll help, can't hurt!

[penny]

aw. I saw nhbilly's comment and was gonna say the same thing but along the lines of SPAM! would make this the PERFECT breakfast sammy.

[Chubbypanda]

Kirk, you mad genius. I usually only have time for a bowl of oatmeal in the mornings before dashing off to work. A spicy banh mi would really perk me up.

[Kirk]

Hi Cathy - The only person I know who has perfected eating Banh Mi in the car, is Ed - he does it all the time.

Hi Trent - Ha.....LOL! You know sometimes it just comes. Thanks, BTW.

Hi Billy - Only one other place makes their Egg Banh Mi with Cha Lua, most here in San Diego don't.

Hi Thess - It's good to know I wasn't the only one. For some reason, eating spicy food for breakfast doesn't bother me.

Hi Carol - A nice pleasant breakfast puts you into such a good frame of mind. So long you don't eat too much and have a food coma!

Hi Penny - mmmmm Spam Banh Mi, now that sounds really good!

Hi CP - Yes, it works for me all the time!

[Michael]

Hi Kirk, that is one of my favorite little hideaways out here in the east county. The nicest family runs it.

[Joseph]

Kirk,
You mean, you head south on 805, decide not to take the 163, get off at El Cajon and turn left instead of right? Now that's the long way to work! It must take you 30 minutes to get to Van Hoa. $2.75 for the sandwich, and $10 for gas and mileage.

That's commitment.

I think I know what job you really want.

[Kathy]

Chee, I didn't even know such a thing as 'Banh Mi Trung' existed!
...But I like that image of strewing banh mi crumbs all over the car seat, hehe! :)

[Jeff C]

Kirk,
Banh Mi, next to Pizza and fried rice and katsu don are my favorite comfort foods. But you know the more I read your blog, the more I have to add to my list of favorite comfort foods.

[Kirk]

Hi Michael - Nice, hard working folks.

Hi Joseph - Nah, I don't even use the freeway to get to work. But this would be the I-8 to the 15, to the ECB exit......Actually, I should be committed.....

Hi Kathy - Better to feed all the little critters living in my car???? I like Egg Banh Mi's.....

Hi Jeffrey - Ooooh Katsu-don!