Lee's Sandwiches (Rolando)

mmm-yoso!!!, a food blog, usually has posts written by Kirk.  However, He and His Missus are enjoying each other and doing research for future posts.  Cathy is writing today.

The corner of University at 58th used to house a great little Chinese restaurant.  The Mister and I went there many times when we first moved out here in the early 1980's.  Its signage has been preserved and the area has expanded into University Square, a shopping area anchored by a Food 4 Less, 99 Cent Only store and Marshall's. On this corner to the right of this famous sign, is Lee's Sandwiches, which began in 1982 as a family venture with 500 food trucks in Northern California and currently is a franchise in four states with 60 Brick and Mortar locations.
 The Menu Board includes six inch breakfast sandwiches (on baguette or a croissant) served all day.
  Beverages and Korean Rice dogs are available; quite a variety.
 Asian Sandwiches, served on ten inch baguettes as well as 
 European Sandwiches ("American" fillings) served on a large croissant or baguette.
 There's also a hot food display case and some offerings on the counter.
The Pate Chaud ($2.75) is offered in chicken or pork and both fillings are excellent.  
 The herbs and flavoring in the ground chicken and also in the ground pork are fresh and flavorful.  The pastry is crispy-flaky and each bite is quite nice.  The egg rolls sold from this case (five for $6) also have the same fillings and are a crispy snack.
 As mentioned, the breakfasts served all day are smaller.  
 The #82, ham, bacon, egg and cheese on croissant ($5.49) was quite hearty and filling.  The six inch croissant appears to have been baked in the baguette tray, so it's the dough but not the shape of a croissant.  Everything on the sandwich is good. 
 The #90 ($5.49) sausage, egg and cheese on a baguette was also filling.  The bread/crust ratio is good, bread is fresh baked and the sausage was a better quality than I've had in other breakfast sandwiches.  

 We returned for lunch.  I've been choosing yogurt drinks lately and the mango yogurt ($6.25) was a great choice; just enough sweet from the mango chunks and tart from the yogurt.  Of course, we had to have a Lee's Cafe original (Cafe su da)($4.49).  The strong coffee and sweetened condensed milk over ice is indeed a perfected beverage.
 The #1-combination ($6.99) is made on a ten inch baguette and includes house pickled daikon and carrots, onion, jalapeno, cilantro, mayonnaise and soy sauce. 
 Jamon-Head Cheese-Pate are the meats.  

The cured ham is not smoky, the Head Cheese has a black pepper heat which is cooled by the Pate.  Each bite was a great combination of complimentary flavors. 
 The #35  Roast Beef European ($9.49) included lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise and cheese (I was not asked which type of cheese I wanted, but the menu shows a choice of American, Swiss or Provolone).  Condiments are on the side (mustard, onion, pepperoni and pickle).  Plenty of roast beef on this fresh baked, soft crusted croissant.  Satisfying. 
 The matcha green tea ($5.99 large) is another favorite beverage; a nice strong matcha flavor and not very sweet.

A good place to stop if you are in the neighborhood.

Lee's Sandwiches 5801 University Ave Suite B1 San Diego 92115  Open daily 9-8 (619) 915-5562 Website

Comments

[kat]

yogurt drinks sound refreshing

[Cathy]

I don't like sweet beverages, Kat. I found a purple rice yogurt a few years ago and really liked it...sort of substitute boba along with that yogurt tang. Probiotics have been one of my dietary additions.