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
Thank you for some other informative website. Where else may just I get that type of information written in such a perfect way? I’ve a project that I’m just now running on, and I’ve been on the glance out for such information.
1I will right away grasp your rss feed as I can not to find your email subscription hyperlink or newsletter service. Do you have any? Please let me recognise in order that I may just subscribe. Thanks.
2Hi there would you mind letting me know which hosting company you’re utilizing? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 completely different web browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot faster then most. Can you suggest a good web hosting provider at a fair price? Kudos, I appreciate it!
3Hi there, I found your website via Google while searching for a related topic, your web site came up, it looks good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
4great post, very informative. I wonder why the other specialists of this sector do not notice this. You should continue your writing. I’m sure, you have a huge readers’ base already!
5Hello, you used to write magnificent, but the last several posts have been kinda boringK I miss your tremendous writings. Past several posts are just a little out of track! come on!
6Hi there, just become aware of your weblog via Google, and located that it is really informative. I am going to be careful for brussels. I will appreciate in case you continue this in future. Lots of folks can be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
7My brother suggested I would possibly like this website. He used to be totally right. This post truly made my day. You can not imagine simply how a lot time I had spent for this information! Thank you!
8Hey, you used to write great, but the last few posts have been kinda boringK I miss your great writings. Past few posts are just a bit out of track! come on!
9Real fantastic visual appeal on this site, I’d rate it 10 10.
10I simply desired to appreciate you once again. I’m not certain the things I would have created in the absence of these aspects shown by you regarding such a area of interest. It was before a real scary crisis in my view, nevertheless encountering the well-written tactic you handled the issue forced me to jump for contentment. I am happier for this work and then hope that you know what a powerful job you happen to be doing teaching many others all through your site. Probably you haven’t got to know any of us.
11Magnificent goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you are just extremely great. 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 entertaining and you still care for to keep it smart. I can’t wait to read far more from you. This is really a tremendous website.
12I have recently started a website, the info you provide on this site has helped me tremendously. Thank you for all of your time & work.
13Hello my loved one! I wish to say that this article is awesome, nice written and include almost all important infos. I’d like to peer more posts like this.
14Appreciate it for this post, I am a big big fan of this web site would like to go along updated.
15Hi there, simply become aware of your weblog through Google, and located that it’s really informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels. I’ll appreciate in case you continue this in future. A lot of folks will probably be benefited out of your writing. Cheers!
16I visited a lot of website but I think this one holds something extra in it in it
17Definitely, what a splendid site and revealing posts, I will bookmark your blog.All the Best!
18I really like examining and I think this website got some really useful stuff on it! .
19I’m really enjoying the design and layout of your site. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more pleasant for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a designer to create your theme? Great work!
20Some genuinely superb posts on this internet site, thankyou for contribution.
21Super-Duper website! I am loving it!! Will be back later to read some more. I am bookmarking your feeds also
22Rattling wonderful information can be found on weblog. “Even if happiness forgets you a little bit, never completely forget about it.” by Donald Robert Perry Marquis.
23hello there and thanks for your info – I have certainly picked up something new from proper here. I did however experience several technical points using this website, since I skilled to reload the website a lot of instances previous to I may just get it to load correctly. I have been puzzling over in case your hosting is OK? No longer that I am complaining, but sluggish loading cases times will sometimes impact your placement in google and could harm your high-quality rating if advertising and ***********|advertising|advertising|advertising and *********** with Adwords. Well I am including this RSS to my email and can glance out for a lot more of your respective intriguing content. Make sure you update this once more very soon..
24Woah! I’m really loving the template/theme of this site. It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s tough to get that “perfect balance” between user friendliness and appearance. I must say you have done a amazing job with this. In addition, the blog loads super fast for me on Firefox. Outstanding Blog!
25I like this website very much, Its a very nice billet to read and obtain information. “Misogynist A man who hates women as much as women hate one another.” by H.L. Mencken.
26It is actually a great and helpful piece of information. I am satisfied that you shared this useful information with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
27Usually I don’t read article on blogs, but I wish to say that this write-up very forced me to try and do it! Your writing style has been surprised me. Thanks, very nice post.
28After 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.
29whoah this blog is great i love reading your articles. Keep up the great work! You know, lots of people are hunting around for this information, you can help them greatly.
30Can 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.
31Hey, I think your site might be having browser compatibility issues. When I look at your blog in Firefox, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, wonderful blog!
32I have recently started a website, the info you provide on this site has helped me greatly. Thank you for all of your time & work.
33Its great as your other articles : D, thankyou for putting up. “The rewards for those who persevere far exceed the pain that must precede the victory.” by Ted W. Engstrom.
34Hi there, I found your website by means of Google even as searching for a comparable topic, your site came up, it seems to be great. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
35Hello there, simply was aware of your blog through Google, and located that it’s really informative. I am going to be careful for brussels. I’ll appreciate if you proceed this in future. Numerous other people can be benefited out of your writing. Cheers!
36Its superb as your other content : D, thanks for putting up. “The real hero is always a hero by mistake he dreams of being an honest coward like everybody else.” by Umberto Eco.
37But wanna tell that this is extremely helpful, Thanks for taking your time to write this.
38Almost all of what you articulate is astonishingly legitimate and that makes me wonder why I hadn’t looked at this in this light previously. This particular piece truly did turn the light on for me as far as this specific subject goes. Nevertheless there is actually 1 point I am not necessarily too comfy with and while I try to reconcile that with the actual main idea of your point, allow me see exactly what all the rest of your subscribers have to say.Nicely done.
39Almost all of the things you claim happens to be supprisingly appropriate and that makes me ponder the reason why I had not looked at this in this light before. This particular piece truly did turn the light on for me as far as this topic goes. However at this time there is one particular point I am not really too comfortable with and whilst I attempt to reconcile that with the actual central theme of the issue, permit me observe exactly what all the rest of the visitors have to point out.Well done.
40