Saigon Express – catching up with the sandwich
Another day, another banh mi.
And another. And another. I couldn’t decide whether I wanted thịt nguội (Vietnamese cold cut, also called “ham”), chả lụa, or pâté, and I didn’t want to settle for the special ($3.20) which has all three, because that means there is less of each. Like a good girl I got all three ($2.75 each), then mixed and matched. Cha lua is nothing beyond expectation, smooth and pure, sliced as thin as chicken skin. To its left is the firm rosy thit nguoi, made from cured pork and fat strips, similar to pork belly. To its right is pork liver pate banh mi. The brown spread looks like nutella with pepper, feels grainy and silky on the tongue, and tastes magnificent. In one bite of oozing goodness, you can find something nutty, something sweet, a bit fatty and rich, a lot of salt, no sign of bitterness, all tempered by the mildly sour pickled carrots. Pork liver pate is my favorite.
Although most scoffers stay at Saigon Express for no more than 10 minutes, just enough time to grab a quick sandwich or a phở to-go, I dined in just to sample more food. Seemingly everyone comes here knowing what they want, I wonder if some of the dishes are forever hidden in the multipaged menu. I dug one out from the clay pot section: tofu and prawn claypot, served on white rice. For only $7.75, I can’t complain that its quality isn’t up to par with Le Regal’s ca kho to. There’s plenty of thin, almost broth-like sauce to soak your soft fried bean curd and wet your rice. The shrimps are plump. Mushy onion slivers encase tiny, juicy, salty outbursts.
Having stationed here for fifteen years, Saigon Express weathers the ebbs and flows of the competitive eatery market by setting its price low. The most expensive items are $7.75, easily portioned into two meals unless you’re preparing for football practice or something of sort. It also takes credit card.
Address: Saigon Express
2045 Shattuck Avenue (at the corner with Addison St, and in the same block as Biryani House)
Berkeley, CA 94704
Older posts on banh mi:
– banh mi ba chi pate (pate pork belly sandwich)
– banh mi thit nuong (grilled pork sandwich): from Lee’s Sandwiches and Huong Sandwiches
I intended to write you a very small word to be able to thank you so much again for your personal incredible information you have contributed on this website. It is simply open-handed of you to offer openly precisely what most of us might have marketed as an e book in making some profit for themselves, precisely since you might have tried it in case you decided. Those good ideas likewise served to become easy way to fully grasp that many people have similar zeal just as my very own to know the truth many more pertaining to this condition. Certainly there are lots of more fun opportunities in the future for folks who examine your site.
1Real nice layout and excellent content material, nothing else we need :D.
2I am delighted that I detected this web blog, just the right information that I was looking for! .
3Howdy! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this website? I’m getting fed up of WordPress because I’ve had problems with hackers and I’m looking at alternatives for another platform. I would be great if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.
4Some really interesting information, well written and loosely user genial.
5After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader.
6Wonderful paintings! This is the type of info that are supposed to be shared around the internet. Shame on the search engines for not positioning this put up higher! Come on over and discuss with my web site . Thank you =)
7I think you have observed some very interesting points, thanks for the post.
8Your place is valueble for me. Thanks!…
9I like this site its a master peace ! Glad I noticed this on google .
10You are my aspiration, I own few blogs and rarely run out from post :). “To die for a religion is easier than to live it absolutely.” by Jorge Luis Borges.
11F*ckin’ awesome things here. I’m very glad to see your article. Thanks a lot and i’m looking forward to contact you. Will you kindly drop me a mail?
12I do agree with all the ideas you have presented in your post. They are very convincing and will definitely work. Still, the posts are too short for novices. Could you please extend them a bit from next time? Thanks for the post.
13Good day! Would you mind if I share your blog with my myspace group? There’s a lot of folks that I think would really enjoy your content. Please let me know. Thanks
14I genuinely enjoy looking at on this web site, it holds great articles.
15Someone essentially lend a hand to make critically articles I’d state. That is the first time I frequented your web page and so far? I surprised with the research you made to create this actual post incredible. Wonderful task!
16Keep functioning ,great job!
17You need to take part in a contest for probably the greatest blogs on the web. I will recommend this website!
18I got good info from your blog
19Greetings from Idaho! I’m bored at work so I decided to browse your site on my iphone during lunch break. I really like the information you present here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m amazed at how quick your blog loaded on my cell phone .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, wonderful site!
20Hi! Someone in my Facebook group shared this website with us so I came to look it over. I’m definitely loving the information. I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting this to my followers! Terrific blog and outstanding style and design.
21As a Newbie, I am continuously exploring online for articles that can benefit me. Thank you
22I really like your writing style, fantastic information, thank you for posting :D. “I hate mankind, for I think myself one of the best of them, and I know how bad I am.” by Joseph Baretti.
23Wow, fantastic blog layout! How long have you been running a blog for? you make blogging glance easy. The entire glance of your web site is excellent, as smartly as the content material!
24Valuable info. Lucky me I found your site by accident, and I am surprised why this accident didn’t came about earlier! I bookmarked it.
25This website is my breathing in, real wonderful design and perfect written content.
26I’ve recently started a website, the info you provide on this website has helped me tremendously. Thanks for all of your time & work. “The man who fights for his fellow-man is a better man than the one who fights for himself.” by Clarence Darrow.
27Way cool, some valid points! I appreciate you making this article available, the rest of the site is also high quality. Have a fun.
28you’re in point of fact a just right webmaster. The web site loading pace is amazing. It sort of feels that you are doing any distinctive trick. Moreover, The contents are masterwork. you have done a excellent job on this topic!
29Only wanna state that this is very beneficial, Thanks for taking your time to write this.
30I am always thought about this, thanks for putting up.
31I’m very happy to read this. This is the type of manual that needs to be given and not the accidental misinformation that’s at the other blogs. Appreciate your sharing this best doc.
32You have noted very interesting points! ps nice site. “The empires of the future are the empires of the mind.” by Sir Winston Leonard Spenser Churchill.
33I like what you guys are up also. Such intelligent work and reporting! Carry on the excellent works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my web site 🙂
34Its such as you read my thoughts! You seem to know so much approximately this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I believe that you simply could do with a few percent to pressure the message home a little bit, but instead of that, that is excellent blog. A great read. I’ll certainly be back.
35Lovely just what I was searching for.Thanks to the author for taking his time on this one.
36I’m now not sure the place you are getting your info, however good topic. I needs to spend a while learning more or understanding more. Thank you for wonderful information I used to be in search of this info for my mission.
37Respect to op, some superb information .
38I see something really special in this internet site.
39Good write-up, I am normal visitor of one’s site, maintain up the nice operate, and It is going to be a regular visitor for a long time.
40Exactly what I was looking for, thanks for putting up.
41Very interesting points you have mentioned, thankyou for putting up.
42Thank you for any other fantastic article. The place else may anyone get that kind of info in such an ideal approach of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I’m at the look for such info.
43Someone necessarily assist to make severely posts I’d state. That is the very first time I frequented your website page and to this point? I surprised with the analysis you made to create this particular put up extraordinary. Excellent process!
44Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive learn something like this before. So good to find anyone with some authentic thoughts on this subject. realy thanks for starting this up. this website is one thing that’s needed on the net, somebody with a bit of originality. useful job for bringing one thing new to the internet!
45I saw a lot of website but I think this one holds something extra in it in it
46I have been exploring for a little for any high quality articles or blog posts in this sort of space . Exploring in Yahoo I finally stumbled upon this site. Reading this info So i’m satisfied to exhibit that I’ve a very excellent uncanny feeling I found out exactly what I needed. I most unquestionably will make certain to do not disregard this site and give it a look on a constant basis.
47Hello would you mind stating which blog platform you’re working with? I’m going to start my own blog soon but I’m having a tough time deciding between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design and style seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something unique. P.S My apologies for getting off-topic but I had to ask!
48I was very happy to search out this web-site.I wished to thanks to your time for this glorious read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I’ve you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post.
49Heya i am for the primary time here. I came across this board and I to find It truly helpful & it helped me out much. I hope to provide one thing again and help others like you aided me.
50