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
But a smiling visitant here to share the love (:, btw outstanding style and design. “Reading well is one of the great pleasures that solitude can afford you.” by Harold Bloom.
1I’d have to examine with you here. Which is not one thing I usually do! I take pleasure in reading a post that may make folks think. Additionally, thanks for permitting me to comment!
2You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be really something which I think I would never understand. It seems too complicated and extremely broad for me. I’m looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!
3Virtually all of the things you claim happens to be supprisingly accurate and it makes me ponder the reason why I hadn’t looked at this with this light previously. This piece truly did turn the light on for me personally as far as this subject matter goes. Nevertheless at this time there is actually 1 issue I am not necessarily too comfortable with so whilst I make an effort to reconcile that with the core theme of your issue, permit me see just what all the rest of the visitors have to say.Nicely done.
4I must get across my gratitude for your generosity for those individuals that absolutely need help with this one content. Your very own commitment to passing the message along came to be incredibly functional and has always made somebody much like me to achieve their goals. Your new useful guideline signifies much to me and far more to my mates. Thank you; from each one of us.
5Enjoyed examining this, very good stuff, appreciate it. “Love begets love, love knows no rules, this is the same for all.” by Virgil.
6Howdy I am so thrilled I found your web site, I really found you by error, while I was looking on Google for something else, Anyhow I am here now and would just like to say thanks for a tremendous post and a all round interesting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to browse it all at the moment but I have bookmarked it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read much more, Please do keep up the excellent job.
7I really enjoy looking through on this site, it has got fantastic blog posts.
8Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back frequently!
9I conceive you have mentioned some very interesting details, appreciate it for the post.
10I was just searching for this info for some time. After 6 hours of continuous Googleing, at last I got it in your site. I wonder what’s the lack of Google strategy that do not rank this kind of informative sites in top of the list. Normally the top web sites are full of garbage.
11I was just searching for this information for some time. After six hours of continuous Googleing, at last I got it in your site. I wonder what’s the lack of Google strategy that do not rank this type of informative sites in top of the list. Normally the top websites are full of garbage.
12I’m not sure where you’re getting your info, but good topic. I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more. Thanks for fantastic information I was looking for this information for my mission.
13Howdy! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a collection of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us useful information to work on. You have done a wonderful job!
14Thank you a lot for providing individuals with remarkably nice chance to read in detail from here. It’s usually so terrific plus packed with a good time for me and my office mates to search the blog at the least 3 times per week to study the fresh stuff you have. Of course, I’m actually happy with your effective tips you serve. Some 3 points in this post are basically the most impressive we’ve had.
15Can I just say what a relief to find someone who actually knows what theyre talking about on the internet. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people need to read this and understand this side of the story. I cant believe youre not more popular because you definitely have the gift.
16I am not sure the place you are getting your information, but great topic. I must spend some time studying more or figuring out more. Thank you for excellent info I was looking for this info for my mission.
17I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself? Plz reply back as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to know wheere u got this from. thanks
18Nearly all of the things you assert happens to be supprisingly legitimate and that makes me wonder why I hadn’t looked at this in this light previously. This particular article really did switch the light on for me as far as this specific issue goes. But at this time there is actually one particular position I am not really too comfy with so while I try to reconcile that with the central idea of your point, allow me observe what all the rest of your subscribers have to say.Well done.
19Pretty! This was a really wonderful post. Thank you for your provided information.
20Hello! I just wish to give a huge thumbs up for the great data you will have here on this post. I might be coming again to your blog for more soon.
21Hey, you used to write magnificent, but the last several posts have been kinda boring… I miss your super writings. Past several posts are just a little bit out of track! come on!
22I like what you guys are up too. Such smart work and reporting! Keep up the superb works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my web site 🙂
23Some times its a pain in the ass to read what blog owners wrote but this internet site is very user pleasant! .
24I couldn’t resist commenting
25This is the right blog for anyone who wants to find out about this topic. You realize so much its almost hard to argue with you (not that I actually would want…HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a topic thats been written about for years. Great stuff, just great!
26I like foregathering utile info, this post has got me even more info! .
27Excellent goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you are just extremely fantastic. I really like what you’ve acquired here, certainly like what you’re saying and the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still take care of to keep it wise. I cant wait to read far more from you. This is really a terrific website.
28Very interesting info !Perfect just what I was looking for!
29I am glad to be one of many visitors on this great website (:, thanks for posting.
30As I website possessor I believe the articles here is really excellent, appreciate it for your efforts.
31Thanks , I have just been searching for information approximately this subject for a while and yours is the greatest I have found out so far. However, what in regards to the conclusion? Are you certain concerning the supply?
32You have brought up a very great details, thankyou for the post.
33I’ve been exploring for a bit for any high quality articles or blog posts in this kind of space . Exploring in Yahoo I finally stumbled upon this site. Studying this information So i’m glad to express that I have a very excellent uncanny feeling I found out exactly what I needed. I such a lot for sure will make certain to don’t disregard this site and give it a look on a constant basis.
34After study a few of the blog posts on your website now, and I truly like your way of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back soon. Pls check out my web site as well and let me know what you think.
35I’ll right away clutch your rss as I can’t to find your email subscription link or e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Kindly let me recognise in order that I could subscribe. Thanks.
36Hello I am so thrilled I found your webpage, I really found you by mistake, while I was researching on Bing for something else, Anyways I am here now and would just like to say cheers for a incredible post and a all round enjoyable blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to go through it all at the minute but I have bookmarked it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a lot more, Please do keep up the awesome job.
37I’ve recently started a website, the info you provide on this web site has helped me greatly. Thanks for all of your time & work. “Quit worrying about your health. It’ll go away.” by Robert Orben.
38Can I simply say what a relief to find somebody who actually knows what theyre speaking about on the internet. You positively know the right way to bring an issue to mild and make it important. More people must read this and understand this facet of the story. I cant consider youre no more common because you positively have the gift.
39The very crux of your writing whilst appearing reasonable initially, did not really work well with me personally after some time. Someplace throughout the paragraphs you managed to make me a believer unfortunately only for a short while. I however have a problem with your leaps in logic and you would do well to help fill in all those gaps. When you can accomplish that, I would undoubtedly be fascinated.
40Very interesting information!Perfect just what I was looking for! “I have a hundred times wished that one could resign life as an officer resigns a commission.” by Robert Burns.
41I conceive other website proprietors should take this internet site as an example , very clean and good user pleasant pattern.
42I was reading through some of your content on this site and I believe this website is really informative! Continue posting.
43Hey very cool website!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Superb .. I’ll bookmark your site and take the feeds additionallyKI am glad to seek out a lot of helpful info here within the put up, we need develop more strategies on this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .
44When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Thanks!
45Thanks for sharing excellent informations. Your web-site is so cool. I’m impressed by the details that you’ve on this site. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for more articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found just the info I already searched all over the place and simply could not come across. What a great website.
46great post, very informative. I wonder why the other specialists of this sector do not notice this. You must continue your writing. I’m sure, you’ve a huge readers’ base already!
47I like this website so much, saved to fav.
48Magnificent goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you’re just too magnificent. I really like what you’ve acquired here, certainly like what you’re stating and the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it sensible. I can not wait to read much more from you. This is actually a terrific web site.
49I’d have to verify with you here. Which isn’t one thing I often do! I enjoy studying a publish that will make people think. Additionally, thanks for permitting me to comment!
50