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Category: Sandwiches
Neighborhoods: Southeast Portland, Industrial District, Central EastsideMon-Sat. 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
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What's better than a buncha bunk? NOTHING! Before I would giggle when hearing people use the work bunk when referring to something false or exaggerated. Now ...? I DROOL!
I'm a big sandwich fan. Hot, cold, open-faced, veggie, you name it - I'll eat it. Bunk has me wishing I lived closer to Portland because I can honestly say their sandwiches are among the very best I've ever had!
I ordered a holiday special with mashed potatoes, roasted turkey and cranberry. I expected it to be great - but I was BLOWN away! Everything was spectacular and all the ingredients were made there on the spot. In fact, my sandwich was so good I was kind enough to share the other half with my friend. Of course, it was hard to see it go but I wanted to check out his sandwich too. Thinking nothing could be better on the menu than what I ordered, I was pleasantly surprised with the Cuban pork belly sandwich he'd chosen. Both were outstanding. There isn't really more I can say to win you over by now.. you've been WON OVER! ::waves hand like a Jedi:: Eat at Bunk!
When an old friend from New York really liked a certain food, she would say, "This is so good my [body part] fell off." For example, "This is so good my ear fell off!" The larger the body part, the better the food.
I took a friend to Bunk for his birthday, and the pork belly was so good my leg fell off. Loved the chalk board, the huge menu with new twists to old standards, the no-nonsense presentation of the sandwich and chips on red gingham paper on the tray, real sodas in real bottles, the compost and recycling bins, and the guys behind the counter who actually look happy to be there.
I'll be back to Bunk to lose another body part.
Sweet little SE spot with a friendly staff and promising chalkboard menu. I had the pork belly po boy. Not bad, but I'd rather eat this dreamy meat with a bowl of rice so I can really taste it. The flavor gets lost in the sandwich. Pretty bland for the anticipation in my mouthbrain. Adam had the pulled pork, which was good but not nearly as delish as *many* a pulled pork sammy I've had at other places.
After my first and (so far) only visit, I'm bummed they're living up to their name more than their reputation. But I'm not a quitter dammit! Plenty more to try before I write them off, but I already have itchy quill finger...
3 stars for the vibe and the promise of a better meal. Got there at 11am just before the 9-5 madness crew.
Alrighty. I get it. This place needs no more reviews. Everyone knows about this little secret in an unlikely place next to what used to be Brass Pole where any stripper can accessorize.
If you thought there was no such thing as an ultimate sandwich. This place will prove you wrong on all levels.
I finally ventured there because my friend lives in the apt above. He is definitely a regular (in fact he's in one of the other yelper's picture). We went for the sausage, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich (served all day) and pulled pork sandwich with apple slaw and pickles. We both got tamarindo jarritos. I loved how it was the only jarritos on the menu since it's my fave. Being a girl, I was forced to buy a strawberry cupcake simply because they were pink, cute, and on the counter.
Let's start off with the fact that I think you need a wet nap for every sandwich in this joint. Or a face nap would be ideal.
The breakfast sandwich was a greasy piece of heaven. It was on a poppy seed hard roll with melty smoky cheese, egg cooked over hard (I thought it'd be sunny side up for more gooey pleasure), and filled with a homemade herby sausage patty.
The pulled pork was moist, fall apart, and mustardy. The slaw dripped a little of vinegary dressing that mixed with the porky juices and the pickles added the tang to cut through the richness. It too was on a poppy seed hard roll. It was served with a handful of kettle chips.
The cupcake was good, but unfortunately I make a really good strawberry cupcake so I wasn't too impressed. The cake was tender (though not moist) and the frosting was airy and light. I might try a pie hole next time. They looked good.
I will definitely head back. The line moves quickly, but make sure you save a spot if you want a table. Not one will judge you if you're eating a drippingly delicious sandwich on the curb though.
I had me a cubano sandwich, and I would like to say the ham was good, the bread was did not take a back to anything else but the pork belly was just *YUMMY*. The proportion of pork belly and ham were good, not too salty or too much fat from the pork belly. My friend had the grilled cheese sandwich with the tomato soup and all was good, they did not skimp on the tillamook cheddar in that sandwich and the soup looked more like a bisque.
This is Portland after all so don't expect them to serve your regular sodas or mass-commercial brands here.
This place doesn't get all 5 stars from me because this place looks and feels like an old diner that has not been maintained, the seats were wobbly, the air had a feeling of stuffy but than again they don't want you to stay too long because when I got there at 145pm there was a line out the door, and when we left at 230pm there was still a line out the door.
The humble sandwich. It's low hanging fruit for the walking colostomy bags of fine dining, chasing the dream of high-volume, high-profit franchises (e.g. the 'wichcraft empire, growing as quickly as Tom Colicchio's waistline), and rookie cooks alike.
There's a lot you can squeeze between two pieces of bread, but few chefs understand that a transcendent sandwich requires an economy of ingredients. Less is more.
Bunk's is one of the few joints I've found in my travels that gets it. The Cubano is nothing short of a work of art. Fresh bread and beautiful ingredients, fused together in each harmoniously sloppy bite, compliment and balance each other. It's best with a can of ice-cold High Life.
If you can, sit at the counter. Watching these guys communicate in their own secret language and tap dance in what can only be described as a bare-bones kitchen will give you whole new appreciation for the best sandwich in town.
I should probably begin by saying that, to the best of my ability, I am not going to fault Bunk for the epic amount of hype surrounding their sandwiches*.
"Remember. This is going to be a _sandwich_. A saaaandwich" is what I told myself while waiting in line during my first Bunk excursion. Sandwiches. Not Chef Naomi Pomeroy's foie- gras bon-bon**. Don't get your hopes up.
Having said that (and considered that), it was a good sandwich. It was not, OMGWTFBBQLOL teh best sammich EVER. We opted for two sandwiches (the pork belly cubano and the pulled pork sandwich--the two that we had seen most prominently raved about).
The bread was tasty, particularly on the cubano (says me--though ma beau preferred the bread on the pulled pork). The pulled pork sandwich had a fantastically tangy apple and cabbage slaw on top of the moderate-sized portion of meat. The cubano was meh. Neither portion size resembled the promotional photo above.
Sure, I will eat more Bunk sandwiches. They are good sandwiches (and I am dying to try their cured meats sandwich). But will I pee my pants with anticipation at eating one (err, again?)? No sir, I will not.
* but inevitably, I will, because everyone seems to talk about these sandwiches like they're dipped in gold and smattered with a helping of angel kisses or something.
**the best thing I have ever put it my mouth, ever... totally lives up and surpasses any hype surrounding it.
The ambiance at Bunk is best described as Urban Grit. No effort appears to have been spent to provide a comfortable relaxing dining experience. The food, on the other hand, shows where the energy has been spent lavishly. Lately I have been showing up at about 10 AM, too early for the lunch sandwiches, but just right for not having to stand in line. At this early hour only breakfast sandwiches are available, and I find them all together delightful. It is a simple thing-egg, cheese and bacon on a really nice poppy seed roll, crisped up on the grill to the perfect, delicate level of crunch. It is not enough to scrape the roof of you mouth, but a perfect bit of additional texture.
This sammy shows how high quality ingredients prepared with care can lift something mundane to the extraordinary.
I will leave it to others to wax poetic about their lunch creations!
Just came back from yet another trip to Bunk and tried out the *new* "Sloppy Roast Beef" sandwich. I believe my description of the sandwich to my coworkers was "wow", "wow" and "wow that's good".
The roast beef has incredible flavor (hints of hoisin), and the lettuce, pickles and mustard are perfect compliments. If you're getting it to go - I hope you're going somewhere close because, as the name implies, it's "sloppy" and any amount of waiting time exponentially increases the sloppiness.
Whenever someone at the office says - "anyone wanna go over to Bunk & get lunch" - someone always… Read more »
I joined Yelp just to praise Bunk.
After a lifetime of looking, I've finally found the best sandwich place on earth. I eat here once a week and every single time I've walked out I've been over-the-top satisfied.
You've never experienced sandwiches like this. I've had them all by now and yet it's hard to pick a favorite. The Italian is always perfect. Perfect amount of peppers, perfect cheese and great meat. I didn't even like Italian sandwiches until I found my place. Meatball is perfect for a rainy day. Pulled pork is solid.
But the real star is the Cubano...if it's on the menu when you go you have to get it. I've just never ever enjoyed a sandwich so much. It will never be topped. And it makes it even more special that it's rarely on the menu. Tommy and the guys here have something great going.
Potato salad and rice and beans are perfect sides as well.
Don't forget the Mexican Coke.
On the way back to the airport and back home, made a run by Bunk. My wife gave me a look that did not need words as she saw the long line waiting in the rain for sandwiches...it was clear that she could not imagine any sandwich was worth 20 minutes in the cold, Oregon rain, in a divey part of Portland, at a run down looking shop.
But the sandwich was worth it. This place is great. A short list of sandwiches, all looked good. I'd heard that this was a sandwich shop put together by a serious restauranteur but this is not the case of where a simple thing is 'blown up'--you know, for example a place a that promises to deliver an over-the-top, reinvention the burger with Kobe beef and foie gras and the burger costs $50. Nope, at Bunk the sandwiches are $8 or less.
We had a pulled pork and a Cubano. Both excellent. The bread is amazing.
Bunk puts bacon in the potato salad. Nice.
Think Voodoo Doughnuts or Stumptown Coffee, only for sandwiches.
Rock and roll!
I have no choice, but to be critical about sandwiches because I must admit that I do make a pretty mean one myself (Come into a Nugget Market sometime and you'll know what I mean). I certainly have respect for Bunk who puts together some of our classic meat and cheese combinations in a jazzed up fashion. The menu stays pretty traditional, but leaves enough complexity to keep the foodies happy as well.
On our trip, we went with a mini tasting of sandwiches and ended up with the Tongue on Rye, Italian Combo, and Bunk's take on Banh Mi. The Banh Mi was made with a pork belly and dressed with house pickled veggies and of course Sriacha sauce. The meat was fantastically cooked and lent a nice sweet and salty balance to the tart veggies. Banh Mi to me though can be defined most by its super crunchy baguette exterior that always crumbles onto your face and Bunk just missed the boat in that aspect. The Italian Combo came thru with a lot of bold flavors and with the added anchovies was way messy and good. Low sodium dieters need not apply to this sandwich. The tongue sandwich on rye bread was also pretty tasty, mostly due to the amazing, melt in your mouth tongue that covered the bread. It was a little greasy and could have used a bit of sauerkraut or something sour to cut the richness of the tongue.
Though I was a super critic about the sandwiches, I'll be the first to say that we finished all the sandwiches and left nothing. Bunk does a great job on the sandwich innards, but I feel like the sandwich is literally the whole package. I realize their popularity presses them for time, but theres something about the taste of sandwich whose layers are perfectly layered, with bread that withstands all the meat, cheese and condiments. Bunk is a great little establishment, with great staff and tasty bites, but alas, I am a sandwich snob, and I can't say I was completely blown outta the water.
I made it to Bunk and wasn't disappointed. My husband got the meatball sandwich, came out piping hot! It wasn't too cheesy, had a nice amount of sauce, tasty meatballs and perfectly toasted bread. I had the Italian cured meat sandwich. The toppings plus the meat were just a wonderful, complex mix of spicy, peppery and salty. I do think the sandwich was a wee-bit on the oily side though, (my paper placement was drenched in oil by the time I was done).
Overall great sandwiches. It does seem a bit overpriced, but I'm assuming this is due to the ingredients which taste top-notch.
Bunk, pure and simple....
The buzz created around this place mystifies me. I did the line thing, paid the rather high tab, and ate the rather blah, rather small sandwich. The bread was excellent. Where was the filling? My dining companion felt the same way eating her eight buck banh mi, which, at an actual Viet joint on 82nd, would have been about three.
Uhhhhh, what am I missing? I don't have the need to feel like I'm hip and in the know by going to this place.
Bunk. Very fitting name.
Heelllooo Pork Fat!!
I'm a big fan of sandwiches, since they're perfect lil' packages of convenient deliciousness, and I'm always looking for an epic sandwich place. Bunk definitely fits the bill...
The staff is really friendly and the food is delicious...added bonus, they sell Mexican Coke which is far better than the Coke in the States cause it has pure cane sugar as a sweetener and not high-fructose corn syrup (yuck!)...
I digress...back to the food, I had the Pork Belly Cubano and my other half had the Pulled Pork Sandwich. Both were excellent! The Cubano had delicious melty cheese with ham as well as the pork belly, so yummy. If you're not a fan of gooey cheese the pulled pork sandwich came equipped with a tangy apple slaw that was a great complemented to the pork...this place has it going on!
As a side note...one thing I absolutely loved was their recycling system, not just glass and plastic, they have a compost bin which is awesome. I don't see that in San Diego a lot so it was pretty refreshing!
People have always asked me, "Where' s your favorite place to eat in Portland?"
I always responded with, "Well, it depends on what I'm in the mood for... pizza? Mexican? Thai?"
Now when people ask, it's just one word... Bunk.
Overpriced for a pulled pork sandwich that was just "so-so" in flavor and "no-no" in wait time (not including the line).
There is hardly any seating, parking is abysmal and the service was just mediocre considering how long one has to wait to even get their order in.
A 30 minute wait in line should at least get the customer a "thank you for your service" or "your service is appreciated" after they order but at bunk they don't make such statements they simply say "what do you want?" and "we'll call your name out.......next!". The food court people at the mall are more kind and considerate and most of the time I am just walking by, not even making a purchase.
Even after the wait in line it took a good 15 minutes to get our meal. That means 45 minutes from start to start eating.....I have been places so exceptional that this is indeed acceptable but 15 minutes for a renown sandwich shop to prepare a sandwich is embarrassing.
Now I have mentioned the taste and the price and the wait but I must move on to my the biggest problem with this place......THE MEAGER PORTIONS of the meal I got barely register on my "snack meter" even if you include the chips. I remember laughing at how small the whole thing was. I am not a big guy and I don't really require that much food to be happy but if I spend that much money and time trying to get a meal I expect it to not leave me hungry after I am done eating it.
I apologize if I am not one of these people who fell in love with the food because their wait in line increased their hunger to a point of decreased expectations but I cannot in good faith give Bunk more than two star rating.
If the meal had been a little larger, a little cheaper and delivered a little more quickly then I could excuse the wait in line and give this place a 3 or 4 but for the time being it just doesn't rank up on the list of places that I will return to any time soon.
This place is pure good ol hyped up bunk......I had just to say it!
I can't say too much beyond what everyone else had said. Good, damn good sandwiches. Stopped by and the line was down the block, so I ran a few errands, came back a few minutes after closing and begged for an Italian sub (not really begging I guess, since I did pay...) It was truly delicious, kinda small for the price I suppose, but I left perfectly content and satisfied. Like so many of the great food joints in Portland, prepare to wait!
Finally got the chance to make it over to Bunk today. It was a little after 1pm and there was still quite the lunch rush with a line out the door. My husband and I waited less than 10min to put in our order. We decided to share the soup (chickpea and curry), I ordered the Tuna Melt, my husband had the Pulled Pork w/Apple slaw. There wasn't much for seating options, so we decided to pull up some stools at the sandwich bar. Which was actually pretty cool, since we got to watch all the different sandwiches being made. Although it did solidify the fact that these sandwiches are everything But healthy! And ohhhhh YES my tuna melt was everything it was supposed to be! The bread it came on was so Delicious and Crispy!. If I could've changed anything, lil less mayo and a few more pickles that's it!
My husband's Pulled pork was okay, I wasn't a huge fan of the roll it came on when compared to the bread my Tuna was on. We both agreed my tuna melt was better! Chickpea and curry soup was decent, not enough curry flavor for my taste but it was was still all in all good.
We did see someone order the vegetarian sandwich, it was a torta with poblano peppers, pinto beans and guacamole. They added the extra toppings to the sandwich: applewood bacon and some additional variation of peppers. Anyway, it looked fricken Awesome!!! Gonna have to do that next time!
For refreshments, they offer a wide variety for being such a small shop. I was impressed. We just had the iced tea with mint and lemon ($1.50).
Dang it, I'm craving the tuna melt already!!!
"The pig is a wonderful magical animal" - Homer Simpson
I finally made it to Bunk after 2 months of waiting. I waited in a short line fidgeting with excitement. I really wanted to try the tongue sandwich but it was not being offered on the day I went so I settled on the Italian after much debate. Everything on the menu looked so good I already knew I would be back even before my first bite.
While waiting I took a visit to the bathroom. My eyes were assaulted upon entering. The walls look as if they were painted with Pepto Bismol and it was covered in Elvis pictures. Bathrooms and Elvis don't exactly get a long, kind of like me and pink. I found it hilarious and creepy all at the same time.
Heading back out, my name was called and I couldn't wait to undress my new Italian friend. In the heat of passion and meat lust I tore the foil off to find a meat coma awaiting me. I closed my eyes and took in its intoxicating smell. Laying my eyes upon its stunning naked body I found a tan toasted crusty soft roll. It was stuffed with layered salami, prosciutto, capicola and Provolone. It was elegantly accessorized with onion, lettuce, tomato and was topped with hot peppers.
I placed my lips upon it and it tore away so easily when I bit into it as if we were meant for each other. I moaned in ecstasy as we became one. My heart fluttered as I struggled to catch my breath.
Suddenly I struck an olive oil well. The oils dripped down the corners of my mouth and over my chin onto the foil dress it came in. It was gushing and spewing with delicious fluids but I liked it, oh no, I loved it. It was pure rapture.
As I licked my fingers I picked up my other half. The only way to do this sandwich justice was obvious. I was going to have to double fist it. It was overwhelmingly sublime and gone all to quickly.
I'll be back Bunk, you sexy magical beast you.
I waited in line for 45 minutes on Friday for a Bunk Sandwich.
It was better than I remembered, and totally worth the wait.
I love you Bunk, I really do. I blame Food Network and Guy Fieri for the line out the door and down the sidewalk, not you.
I will never hold your popularity against you. It's well deserved.
Bunk is anything but - Tommy Habetz is the man! Right before they opened Simpatica gave them a… Read more »
We arrived here right when it opened, and glad we did -- while we waited for our food, the line ran out the door. Of course that isn't very hard to do, since the counter is only about 3 feet from the door!
We had the pork belly cubano and the meatball sandwich. Pork belly was excellent -- lots of flavor. The meatball sandwich was just ok.... not too special. Wouldn't order that one again -- will try the italian meat sammie instead. But I can't give up on the pork belly -- I just can't get enough of pork belly these days!
Service was prompt and efficient, we had our food in less than 15 mins.
Eye-rolling, toe-curling good.
Sandwich heaven.
Saturday at 11 is not a long wait.
We got the pork belly sandwich, the pork shoulder sandwich, and the tuna melt. All of them were profoundly satisfying. Packed full of flavor.
Go! Now!
I guess I'm aspiring to live a more simple life. I finally paid a visit to the much-hyped Bunk Sandwiches. I indulged in the pulled pork sandwich with apple slaw, mustard and pickles, and a side of the potato salad (deliciously mustard-filled with chunks of egg and bacon!) While both were really good, I have to admit they were almost too flavorful. My taste buds were overwhelmed with all the yummy flavor combinations to the point of a complete taste sensation meltdown. It was pretty difficult to finish the entire sandwich. Never thought I'd be complaining about something tasting too good, but that's where I stand, and Bunk loses a star for not embracing the joy of simple flavor combinations, and letting the ingredients shine for themselves.
Also, the prices are a bit on the high-end. $12 for a sandwich and a side of potato salad? How on earth can the hipsters afford it?
Bunk Sandwiches would fit cozily nestled in the middle of Silver Lake, and for that fact alone I am docking a couple of stars. Maybe that's unfair of me, but the "delightfully" hip touches like Miller Hi-Life served with orange juice (a modified mimosa?), Mexican Coca-Cola, and the obligatory Blitzen Trapper playing overhead gave the entire endeavor a "trying too hard" vibe ... almost.
And I say "almost" because what saves Bunk is the food. Naturally, and rightfully. We shared the sloppy joe and the pork belly cubano, and I'm still not sure which I liked better. In fact, both were pretty freakin' awesome. The pork belly melted in the mouth and the spice of the sloppy joe was just right, and I mean just perfect, and both sandwiches were satisfyingly messy. The apple cabbage slaw was also tasty. So I don't know what the answer is to make the overall experience of being at Bunk better. Get it to go? Maybe there's your answer. Great sandwiches, though, bottom line.
I had visited Bunk Sandwiches on a previous visit and I was looking forward to trying their delicious sandwiches again. So yesterday on a whim, I decided to walk (not drive) from Portland Saturday Market to Bunk Sandwiches for Lunch.
Unfortunately, I picked a day (Sunday) when Bunk was closed (I should have paid attention the last time)! So after crossing the Burnside Bridge and walking down to Morrison (amongst the urban grittiness), I was a "bit" disapointed to find a dark (yet familiar) sandwich shop.
I also need to read up on the highlights of the East Side and how to better get around. That was illustrated again during my walk back across the Morrison Street Bridge, through a small homeless camp on one of the crossovers, heavy road traffic, and some confusing stairways along the way.
Okay, I've only had the bacon egg and cheese sandwich here and it was a while ago. I wanted to try it out because someone had told me they made "NY style" breakfast sandwiches, and I've never found those outside of NY. (They are a quick way to the grave, but O.M.G.) All in all, it was just ok. Close, but no cigar. They used the right roll (poppyseed) but it was not greasy enough- the roll, that is. Other than that, I can't pinpoint the difference. It just wasn't the same. KInda like when you ask yourself "What is the difference between a bagel and an NY bagel?" You're just not quite sure...(Except I think I've found the answer to that one: kosher salt)
So if someone tells you you can get a NY style bkfst sandwich here, just don't get too excited. That's all I have to say.
The Italian cured meats sandwich here is my favorite - so happy to be able to get a great version of this on the west coast. It's a big, messy, drippy beast with vinegar and peppers - just the way i like it. This sandwich is a lot of food for one person, I find that splitting it and a side salad makes a great lunch for two.
Other sandwiches I tried: Roast Beef and Horseradish - good roast beef but they went way overboard on the horseradish, I'll ask for it on the side next time. Meatball Hero was good too.
Can you say F@&king good wiches. Can take a bit at times and are a little pricey, but it is well worth it. If you don't eat there b4 you die, the devil will pee in your mouth and laugh at you.
Wow! Best sandwich I've ever had....and I've had some good sandwiches. Between entering the line (about 15 out the door) and collecting our food, 45 minutes elapsed but it was well worth it.
If you are grease-phobic or have overly sensitive taste buds, this may not be the place for you. Once you get past the fact that the sandwiches are obviously unhealthy, you will notice how tasty they are. I had the pork cubano with pickles, mustard, and yes, mayo. Loved every bite. Make sure to get lots of napkins.
Most of the sandwiches were priced $7-$8 which seemed fine considering how good they are. You also get some kettle chips. I think that they close at 3pm. Try to get there early as I hear that they run out of ingredients for the more popular sandwiches. The staff seemed very nice. The restaurant space is very small and somewhat stuffy. Try to get one of the coveted outdoor tables.
Delicious! Fatty Line! I was recommended by a friend who had read about it in GQ - go figure. But I can't say he was one bit wrong. This place is delicious and super-friendly, which is my kind of place.
I'm not from Oregon, so anytime I come back up with company, I'll be sure to bring them here.
I ordered the Pulled-Pork Sandwich and it had like something-apple-lettuce, or something like that. I remembered it at apple and lettuce in it and I remember questioning it, but it was delish! It was $8 and it came with kettle chips. They have about 6 or 7 lunch sandwiches; all ranging $7. They have a few breakfast items that serve all day, but I didn't get a really good look.
All in all a great place. A must for lunch in Portland.
Ps, I don't know it was me or it was just the lunch rush with business people, but I felt like the majority of customers were male. Hmm...
I should start out by saying that I love sandwiches. Well, I love great sandwiches. You can put nearly anything between two good slices of bread and make it delicious. When I was really poor, I even made a spaghetti sandwich once (noodles included). And that was even ok.
Walked in to Bunk for lunch. No line, contrary to what the reviews say. Maybe people are catching on that this place is not the best eats, but another hipster-hyped place. The fact that they have Mexican Coke and Miller high Life in bottles does not make it a good restaurant. The smell of the place should've been an indication (no hood system in the place. All of their "appliances" are plugged into the wall-convection oven, panini grill, steam table, etc.) They did what they could with the limitations, however, and had fans and a smoke eater going full blast. Still wasn't enough to curb the not-so-fresh smell.
Ordered the much talked about Pork Belly Reuben and the Tuna Melt. Was looking to compare two different ends of the Bunk sandwich spectrum.
The Reuben was small. I wasn't expecting a huge sammy for $8, but come on, pork belly is cheap, and sauerkraut is even cheaper. When placed between two very small pieces of rye, I expected it to be piled up a bit. There was two thin slices of belly, and just barely enough kraut to say that it was an ingredient iin the sammy. Had to add some deli mustard to make it a bit more exciting. Plus, it was falling apart when we got it. And the cheese that melted out of it was burned (not delightfully crispy like cheese gets when it just hits the grill). Once I chipped off the burned pieces and added mustard, it was pretty good, though. But I like rye bread a lot. Well, great concept, anyways. I'm a sucker for belly.
The albacore tuna melt still has me questioning how did they mess it up so badly?! It was both dry and greasy at the same time. And, again, very small portion. More bread than other ingredients. The tuna had been overcooked, hence the dry, but they put on so much oil on the sammy that it was greasy. Weird. And the pickle was the overwhelming flavor, not a subtle accompaniment.
I so wanted to love it here, as many of my supposed culinarily-enlightened friends speak so highly of it, but I was more than disappointed. I wouldn't even mind paying a couple bucks more if there was some substance to the sammies. And I don't mean just using larger pieces of bread...
I showed up with everybody else in Inner SE at the same time, it seems, today. It was a little over a half hour from when I got in line until I got my to-go order.
Placing my order with the cashier, I noticed a faded picture on the counter of a New York actor who left his fiancée to marry her daughter. Oh yeah, that's Woody Allen!
I ordered the sloppy beef "debris" sandwich and apple coleslaw. The beef sandwich was pretty good. Lots of meat on it, so I felt I got my money's worth. I think though that there was too much mustard, making it sour. I didn't care so much for the chewy sandwich roll.
The apple coleslaw didn't contain any apple so far as I could tell. It did contain ample horseradish giving it quite the bite, which helped liven up a slaw leaden with wilted greens. If you don't have Sudafed handy, this slaw will definitely clear out your nasal passages!
Would I come back? Oh maybe. I just would order different items than what I ordered today.
Oh, and where did they come up with the idea of the Bunkosa, which is Miller High Life and orange juice? I would hope this tastes better than it sounds!
Krakow! Holy Sandos! Batman! This place is ridiculously good. It's sooo good in fact that I saw a couple order THREE sandwiches today just so they could try a new special. Bunk can make you a believer in things you didn't even like: cold sandwiches, tuna fish, roast beef. Not high on my list, but the Tuna Melt that I downed today eradicated the memory of every grilled cheese sandwich that came before it. I now have a mental block and it's full of Bunk.
While not completely addicted yet, I found myself saying earlier today "you know, heaven can wait a… Read more »
I've been avoiding the line at this place for months by not going. I went by today and it looked okay, so was finally able to give it a try. I had the pulled pork sandwich (with apple/cabbage cole slaw, mustard, and pickles). It was awesome. I tried the tongue on Rye and that was good as well. After ordering, we got our sandwiches in about 5 minutes, which leads me to believe that even when there is a line, it probably moves fairly quick. We will see.
My wife (a pseudo-vegetarian) ate here first and seemed much more enthusiastic about the meaty fare she sampled off friends' plates than her own vegetarian sandwich. I'd been on the fence for some time- not just about Bunk, but the new school of sandwich joints in general. I spent a lot of time, growing up, in pretty seedy delis- sawdust on the floor (Phillipes in L.A.) moth-ridden, gassy old people (Moishes Pipic and David's in S.F.) to really feel completely trustworthy of a boutique, for lack of a better word, as a number of these places seem to be.
Needless to say Bunk did not disappoint. It looks like its been there forever and that alone immediately put me at ease. I really appreciate the bustle, the confined space, and the violence of conversation versus the Clash on the stereo. As far as atmosphere goes, for me, perfect.
I'm sure it would piss a lot of people off, but Bunk is the kind of place I could sit in for hours; pretending to read the Mercury, killing High Life after High Life and feeling almost removed from my own life through the wizardry of all those hands flying in the kitchen.
So I had the Pork Belly Po-Boy, a perfect example of what going over the top within the confines of a roll should be. Lots of mayo, lots of really great ground mustard, pickles, and of course an absolute load of tasty pork belly. I demolished a side of potato salad with bacon and egg too which was insanely good, but unfortunately it was before the Po-Boy which effectively erased the salad from my memory along with whatever else I had for lunch going god knows how far back.
Amazing Sandwiches for sure.... I've been there 3 times now. the first time i got the roast beef sando. Without a doubt the best roast beef sandwich I've ever had! Next time I went, I got a tuna fish sando.... this was really plain jane, and nothing special. the 3rd time I went I noticed the tuna wasn't on the menu anymore, I got the Roast Beef again.
This is a pretty special new "Portland" kind of place. The food is exceptional. The downside is the lines are super long, and the actual space is not ventilated AT ALL. so if you go there, get ready to smell like meat for the rest of the day.
Pork belly po' boy honestly wasn't worth the 30 minute wait in line. It was good, no doubt (nice, fatty, melty pork belly is always a winner in my book) but still left me feeling unsatisfied afterwards. Maybe it was the mustard in the sandwich...I definitely could've done w/o the mustard if I had known it was in it.
Great, flavorful Pork Belly sandwich. I did no research on the place, my buddy called me and told me to go after seeing Bunk's on Guy Fieri's food network show last night. It just so happened that Bunk's was on the way back from the Adult Soapbox Derby.
The line was pretty lengthy, but this was part in due to the TV appearance last night, I think. Even so, it's just a testament to how good the food can be, and the young woman working the register was very pleasant and efficient.
Portions are small for the price, but this is common for a good deli sandwich nowadays I think. I would definitely go again, especially if I knew I didn't have a 30-40 minute wait in line. Once you order the food, it comes pretty quickly- The cooks do their thing well.
Worth going to, even if only once.
OMG! The best roast beef sandwich I have EVER HAD!!!
I haven't been on yelp in a while but wanted something real good for lunch today and this place was at the top of the list and I can see why!!
NOM NOM NOM!!
WORTH THE WAIT!!!!
Neighborhood: Southeast Portland
Category: Sandwiches
Neighborhood: Southeast Portland
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Northeast Portland
Category: Sandwiches
Neighborhood: Southeast Portland
Category: Food
Neighborhood: Northeast Portland
Category: Coffee & Tea
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