*** Lee's Deli
I was doing some shopping at Minh Huong Market recently, when I noticed that a new shop had opened up in that always packed to the gills strip mall across the street.
Curious, I crossed the street and walked into the tiny little take out place.
And I do mean little. There are three tiny tables in the place, that look like they could barely hold a cup of espresso.
The woman running the place was very friendly and chatty, telling me what were the best sellers on the menu in between the stream of take-out customers, almost all older men. When she handed me the menu I almost fell down.......
Three-fifty? For bun? For Beef Sate noodle soup? She told me that I could have regular or broken rice (which is ironically usually more expensive)for the same price. I just had to find out what a $3.50 Char-broiled pork with Com Tam would look like..... ready?
Here it is.
It was actually not bad. In terms of portion size, this looked like what I grew up eating.....some protein, lots of starch. The pork wasn't too bad either, good flavor, it was actually better than what I had recently had at the San Diego location of Com Tam Thuan Kieu. The rice was decent, not too dry, the nuoc mam cham wasn't watered down......a nice deal for $3.50. It's not going to win any James Beard awards, and I'll for the inevitable ridiculous comparison of "it's not as good as xxxx" which will be three times the price and supposedly specializes in Com Tam. You know what I mean, right? Talk about lack of perspective.....
Anyway, I think this was worth $3.50, what do you think?
Lee's Deli
4748 University Ave #B
San Diego, CA 92105
Open Daily 8am - 10pm
looks perfect for $3.50!
Posted by: kat | Sunday, 30 October 2011 at 10:15 PM
I think it's worth $3.50! And not that it matters but did it come with soup? ;)
Posted by: Dennis | Sunday, 30 October 2011 at 11:31 PM
perfect old men meals--decent quality, decent quantity, and above all, CHEAP! :)
Posted by: santos. | Monday, 31 October 2011 at 06:29 AM
It's well worth $3.50 Kat!
Hi Dennis - Sorry, this is a really pared down version...though I bet they would give me broth if I wanted it.
Hi Santos - Perfect on three counts!
Posted by: Kirk | Monday, 31 October 2011 at 06:44 AM
At first I was $8.50! then I was :-) $3:50! get out of here. At least you get sauted green oinions that's a premium ;-)
Posted by: nhb | Monday, 31 October 2011 at 10:25 AM
Totally worth $3.50! and $5 for duck soup. For that price, you can order a second one if the first one wasn't enough.
Posted by: Carol | Monday, 31 October 2011 at 12:18 PM
Hi Bill - It does look like an 8, doesn't it?
Hi Carol - I agree!
Posted by: Kirk | Monday, 31 October 2011 at 05:56 PM
Reminds me of that breakfast post you did a month or two ago of that dive bar (I'm too lazy to search for it). One of those places where the food might not be the best, but for its price it's terrific.
Posted by: Jason | Monday, 31 October 2011 at 11:07 PM
Hi Jason - You mean Stadium Club? This was actually better......and priced right too.
Posted by: Kirk | Tuesday, 01 November 2011 at 09:17 AM
I've been here before, I bought a box of goat meat stir fry (not sure if that's what it's call, but it's the only goat meat dish there)... around 15-20 bucks can't recall, but it's decent.
East san diego has alot of places with cheap food, and they're not bad. I mean these days what can you get for 3.50... the material for the dish is probably in the 2-2.50 already, plus the gas/time to cook. East san diego is a heaven for those that doesn't cook at home. I just made pho, 8 bowl for around 30 bucks, without accounting the gas costs, I can't even cook for cheaper at home (yeah it's real depressing lol).
Posted by: clocky | Tuesday, 01 November 2011 at 09:04 PM
Hi Clocky - Actually, I've been to many of those places and some are pretty bad. This one is worth the price.
Posted by: Kirk | Tuesday, 01 November 2011 at 09:12 PM