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
Hi there, simply become alert to your weblog via Google, and located that it’s really informative. I am gonna be careful for brussels. I will appreciate for those who proceed this in future. A lot of other folks shall be benefited out of your writing. Cheers!
1I haven’t checked in here for a while as I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are good quality so I guess I’ll add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂
2I simply wanted to thank you very much all over again. I do not know the things I would have done without the entire methods revealed by you about such problem. It was actually an absolute horrifying crisis in my position, nevertheless noticing the professional fashion you dealt with that made me to cry with contentment. I am just happy for the advice and as well , sincerely hope you comprehend what a powerful job you happen to be accomplishing educating people today through a blog. Most likely you’ve never come across all of us.
3Hello my friend! I want to say that this post is awesome, great written and come with approximately all significant infos. I’d like to see more posts like this .
4I was very pleased to find this web-site.I wanted to thanks for your time for this wonderful read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post.
5Great, I should certainly pronounce, impressed with your web site. I had no trouble navigating through all the tabs as well as related info ended up being truly easy to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it at all. Quite unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or anything, website theme . a tones way for your customer to communicate. Nice task.
6GELATIN HORSE TRICK
7GELATIN HORSE TRICK
8Good info. Lucky me I reach on your website by accident, I bookmarked it.
9My brother recommended I might like this website. He was totally right. This post actually made my day. You can not imagine simply how much time I had spent for this info! Thanks!
10I and also my guys came digesting the good strategies located on the blog and so all of the sudden developed a horrible suspicion I never expressed respect to the site owner for those strategies. These women were definitely absolutely joyful to read them and have actually been taking pleasure in these things. Appreciation for actually being quite kind and for settling on these kinds of notable areas most people are really desperate to learn about. My sincere regret for not expressing appreciation to sooner.
11I got what you mean , regards for putting up.Woh I am pleased to find this website through google. “Those who corrupt the public mind are just as evil as those who steal from the public.” by Theodor Wiesengrund Adorno.
12I’ve recently started a website, the info you provide on this web site has helped me tremendously. Thanks for all of your time & work.
13Perfectly indited subject material, regards for selective information. “In the fight between you and the world, back the world.” by Frank Zappa.
14This is a topic close to my heart cheers, where are your contact details though?
15Great post. I was checking constantly this blog and I am impressed! Extremely useful info specifically the ultimate phase 🙂 I handle such information a lot. I used to be seeking this particular info for a very lengthy time. Thank you and good luck.
16Neat blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A theme like yours with a few simple adjustements would really make my blog jump out. Please let me know where you got your theme. Thanks
17Hi, i think that i saw you visited my web site so i came to “return the favor”.I am attempting to find things to enhance my website!I suppose its ok to use a few of your ideas!!
18horse gelatin trick
19horse gelatin trick
20Excellent goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you’re just too wonderful. I actually like what you’ve acquired here, certainly like what you’re saying and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it sensible. I can not wait to read far more from you. This is actually a terrific site.
21Great work! This is the type of information that should be shared around the web. Shame on Google for not positioning this post higher! Come on over and visit my web site . Thanks =)
22Horse Gelatin Trick for ED
23Hi there! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!
24It’s actually a nice and helpful piece of information. I am satisfied that you shared this useful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
25Precisely what I was searching for, thanks for putting up.
26Very interesting topic, thankyou for putting up.
27Good day I am so grateful I found your blog, I really found you by error, while I was searching on Askjeeve for something else, Anyhow I am here now and would just like to say kudos for a incredible post and a all round thrilling blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to look over it all at the moment but I have bookmarked it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read much more, Please do keep up the superb work.
28Hello there, You’ve done a great job. I will definitely digg it and personally suggest to my friends. I am sure they will be benefited from this web site.
29Horse Gelatin Trick
30I like reading through and I think this website got some really utilitarian stuff on it! .
31Hey there are using WordPress for your site platform? I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and set up my own. Do you need any coding knowledge to make your own blog? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
32Hey There. I found your blog the use of msn. This is a very smartly written article. I will make sure to bookmark it and come back to learn extra of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I will definitely return.
33Perfectly indited content material, Really enjoyed reading through.
34I really appreciate this post. I’ve been looking everywhere for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thank you again
35Hello there! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could locate a captcha plugin for my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having trouble finding one? Thanks a lot!
36I am usually to blogging and i really recognize your content. The article has really peaks my interest. I’m going to bookmark your website and preserve checking for brand new information.
37Thanks for every other informative blog. The place else could I get that type of information written in such a perfect method? I have a challenge that I am simply now operating on, and I’ve been on the glance out for such info.
38wonderful post, very informative. I wonder why the other specialists of this sector do not notice this. You must continue your writing. I am sure, you’ve a great readers’ base already!
39I have learn several excellent stuff here. Certainly value bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how a lot effort you put to create this sort of wonderful informative web site.
40he blog was how do i say it… relevant, finally something that helped me. Thanks
41I regard something really special in this website .
42Heya i am for the primary time here. I came across this board and I to find It really helpful & it helped me out a lot. I’m hoping to give something again and help others like you helped me.
43There is evidently a lot to realize about this. I feel you made some nice points in features also.
44Pretty! This was a really wonderful post. Thank you for your provided information.
45Hey very cool website!! Man .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your blog and take the feeds also…I am happy to find numerous useful information here in the post, we need work out more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
46Hi, i think that i saw you visited my website thus i came to “go back the favor”.I’m trying to find things to enhance my site!I assume its adequate to use a few of your ideas!!
47There is visibly a lot to identify about this. I think you made certain nice points in features also.
48Wohh precisely what I was looking for, appreciate it for posting.
49You are my aspiration, I possess few blogs and rarely run out from to post .
50