Cali Baguette Express - A First Impression

I noticed that a new, bright and shiny restaurant opened in the former location of El Metate Mexican Restaurant on El Cajon Boulevard. I thought the logo looked a bit familiar.......

And after a look at the menu, I was pretty sure.

With sandwiches like the Cajun Shrimp and Turkey with Pesto, this appeared to be a new location of Baguette Express. I've eaten at the location Valley Boulevard in San Gabriel. I can tell you this, the place is already pretty popular.

There's a section selling grocery items, and stuff like baguette "ends" which are pretty good for croutons. Why are the ends trimmed? Well much like the mega-chain Lee's, or San Diego's own K's Sandwiches, BE uses the extra long bread, and I figured the sandwiches would top 10 inches.

I placed an order, and after a short wait....well, it was a bit of a long wait, it looks like this place is still trying to get all the pieces in place. I received my sandwiches.

I ordered the Dac Biet(special - $2.99):

And yes, here it is. The bread is about 10 inches, and is much more "stuffed" than the usual Banh Mi. As with my previous visit at the LA location, the pickled veggies edged toward the sweeter side, and cross-sliced cucumber was added. The bread is lightly crusty, which is good, but overall, the Banh Mi doesn't have much flavor or chew to it. I do think it is better than K's bread, which sometimes ends up on the mealy/crumby side. Thin slices of routine Cha Lua and moist and mildly flavored BBQ pork were layered on the top and bottom of the sandwich respectively. The head cheese was tasteless, with hard, inedible bits that reminded me of toenails. There was a decent, unobstrusive amount of mayo on the sandwich. Mediocre overall, but it will really fill you up.

For some reason, I ordered the Xiu Mai (pork Meatball - $2.69) Banh Mi:

In retrospect, I should've ordered something else, perhaps the Cajun Shrimp, which I rememebred being pretty good, or the Nem Nuong. This was a really terrible mishmash of flavors, think mushy, mealy, sour, mystery meat. It was also a bit too heavy on the mayo.

In spite of this, I'll probably be back. I enjoy the menu, which you can think of as K Sandwich with attitude . Items include Banh Mi Ca(sardine), Banh Mi Trung(egg), in addition to even Bun Bo Hue(not sure I'll try that though). And it looks like this place is going to have a drive-thru. I can just see Ed from Yuma grabbing a coupla Sardine Banh Mi's, extra Peppers on the his way out of town!

Cali Baguette Express
5215 El Cajon Boulevard
San Diego CA 92115

Website here.

Comments

[janfrederick]

Mmmmm....drive-thru tonail sandwiches!

Seriously though...drive-thru banh mi? I'm all over that since mi-so-lazy!!!

[Kirk]

Hey Jan - I've got a my clipper out, let me know when you want to drive through... ;o) Yes, drive-thru banh mi, just don't drop those sardines in your car! What will they think of next?

[elmomonster]

TOEnails! Eeew! I can just imagine that. Although, I think I'd be liking that Xiu Mai sandwich, but I guess I always seem to like it. I even sluice it with extra Kewpie mayo when I get home!

The front of that store looks gaudy as hell though.

[yummieyummy]

My cousin went there and he had the same experience. He told me to wait a few more weeks cause they are not ready yet. I'm excited about the coffee more than Banh Mi.

[Kirk]

Hi Elmo - I mean we've all bitten into a burger, and got that hard piece....of "bone" that was like biting into a toenail or somthin', right? ;o) Did you ever check out Baguette Express when they were on Valley?

Hi YY - Yes, not quite ready for prime time yet. Hopefully, they'll get it together.

[nhbilly]

Thanks a new perspective on headcheese or is it nail cheese now. Never the less bring it on I still love it.

[kat]

now that I have a cool julienne gadget, I'll have to try making bahn mi again :)

[Captain Jack]

Been eating your toenail clippings again huh? I guess the hypnotherapy did not work as well as we all hoped ;)

[Kirk]

Hi Billy - I love head cheese - except when it is hard as.....toenails!

Hi Kat - I look forward to checking it out!

Hi CJ - Didn't you hear? We all need more calcium in our diet! Think of it as recycling....

[Tammy]

Hey Kirk,

I haven't been to this sandwich shop but my parents been buying baguettes there. The regular baguette doesn't taste very good the next day. I haven't tried any thing else though=(.

[mizducky]

Aha! I saw the new signage on that building and had it on my mental list of places to check out, so thanks for doing the advance scouting. I guess the advent of non-traditional banh mi fillings was only to be expected, given how many enterprising souls have taken and stuffed all kinds of non-standard food items inside a tortilla, a pita bread, a nori roll, a you-name-it.

[kevinkool]

kirk did u know u have 1.2 million views now?

[Kirk]

Hi Tammy - Many people in line were buying the baguette's since they are baked fresh...it doesn't sound like it has staying power though.

Hi Mizducky - So long that it tastes good, more power to them. And everything tastes better in Banh Mi, right?

Hi KK - Thanks for pointing that out. And thanks for visiting as well! ;o)

[foodhoe]

what? drive through banh mi? sardines and cajun shrimp filling sound way better than toenails do! hope they expand their operations up north...

[Kirk]

Hi FH - If they can pull off the drive thru Banh Mi thing, it'll sure be a coup!

[22cards]

yummy bread that doesnt cut the roof of your mouth!!! and a drive-thru? im in love

[Kirk]

Hi 22c - You know what...I need to follow-up and see if the drive thru is open. Thanks for the reminder!

[Loan]

I was there two weeks ago and you must try the coconut jello (inside a young coconut). It's so refreshing and you get to eat the coconut afterward. As for the banh mi, the bread is chewy yet crunchy. I like it very much. It's my new favorite place for banh mi in San Diego.

[Kirk]

Hi Loan - Thanks for the recommendation. By any chance did you notice if the drive-thru open yet?

[22cards]

yo! the drive thru is open! but only from 9pm-6am. theyre open 24 hours.