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Saigon Express
Category: Restaurants Vietnamese Vietnamese [Edit]
2045 Shattuck AveBerkeley, CA 94704
Neighborhoods: UC Campus Area, Downtown Berkeley
(510) 486-1778
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 10:30 am - 9:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
117 reviews for Saigon Express
Review Highlights
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"and the banh mi are great $3/ea." In 17 reviews -
"I had the shrimp spring rolls with peanut sauce ( my..." In 15 reviews -
"The clay pot dishes are great." In 5 reviews
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117 reviews in English
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Review from Nick D.
San Leandro, CA
4/28/2012
Discovered the owner of Oakland's BC Deli (http://www.yelp.com/bi...), had recently expanded and took over management of this Vietnamese Restaurant. Since BC Deli has always been a favorite for delicious authentic Vietnamese Cuisine and sandwiches, I was very eager to give this place a try.
Turns out, the service and food are just as great as BC Deli!! I am very picky with Vietnamese food, especially with noodles; this place definitely didn't disappoint me. Every thing is cooked to order and they make the sandwich right behind the counter so there's no secrets there. Thai Tea is a must there, my GF ordered the lemon juiceeeee and it has so much flavor while it preserves the lemon taste without the sourness.
This is a great location for Berkeley students because the university is literally behind the restaurant. The younger lady (who I believe is the owner), is very nice and engaging. She had told me there are plans to remodel the entire place to fit the environment of Berkeley, creating a more welcoming atmosphere. In addition, the menu will be upgraded, keyword "upgrade"! That means they will keep the menu but adding additional tasty dishes to the list.
Haven't tried their sandwiches yet, but the staffs told me they had done a single order of 250 sandwiches the first month they took over the spot O_O
This is my one stop location when I am in town for some great Vietnamese food! -
Review from Tony W.
Oakland, CA
4/13/2012 2 photos
I tried their Vietnamese sandwich earlier this week. They are fresh and very inexpensive. My grilled pork sandwich was only $3.25. I also tried their Saigon Express Grilled Combo. Overall, I am impressed at the quality and price of their food.
The staff is very friendly. I didn't realize it at the time but I went there 15 minutes before it opened. They took my order immediately, unlike other places that turn you away. -
Review from Mason T.
North Hills, CA
3/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
It's cheap and gets the job done. The vietnamese sandwiches are really cheap at, and when I first ordered it I thought I would be getting some tiny cold sandwich, but to my surprise it tasted pretty good. The bagette was warm and crisp on the outside, yet fluffy on the inside. The bbq pork was also soft and chewy and overall very pleasing. The pho was sort of lacking -- average at best, but at little over 5 bucks a bowl it's still much cheaper than other pho places in the area.
If you sit at the back of the restaurant you can get pretty good wifi, so if you come at a time when business isn't too busy you can eat a sandwich and get some work done as well. -
Review from Ana D.
Berkeley, CA
5/3/2012
If you are looking for some delicious and reasonably priced pho this is the place. I have tried both the beef and chicken and they were both agreeable to my palate. The portions are filling and you must try it with the plum sauce. I like to sit in and listen to the music playing in the background, overall the environment is very chill. Recently the place underwent a change of management and the service has greatly improved. As a student I would definitely recommend this place which is located close to campus.
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Review from Rod M.
San Francisco, CA
5/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
hot food, but I wont go back
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Review from Diana S.
Oakland, CA
2/28/2012
I've been a SE customer for 14 years. The folks behind the counter, they know me and I know them. Once I left my wallet there and came back 2 years later, they had kept it for me behind the counter, bless them.
My faves are the noodle bowl and tofu spring rolls. Satisfying in hot or cold weather. I've never had food poisoning in all the years I've been eating there. Don't drink the Vietnamese coffee past 5 pm, though, or You Will Be Up All Night.
I tend to agree that the 2-item plates are not that great--on the greasy side with a dollop of white rice.
The Pho is pretty good, maybe a touch bland. I just like the rolls and the noodle bowls. It's always clean and well-lit with a healthy gathering of UCB students & staff in the back, so they're doing something right. -
Review from Jen R.
12/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Needed to eat and was in the 'hood. Not much else open and I've been on a pho kick lately so, why not? Sat and read yelp reviews while waiting for our food and began to get worried because a few people are talking about food poisoning in their reviews. But then I got to thinking and I remembered something I knew that you may not know:
It can take anywhere from 1 to ***72*** hours for the poisoned food to have its poisonous effect after ingestion. I know it seems reasonable to blame the last thing you ate before you got sick, but many strains of bacteria need more than a minute to work their magic on your system.
Also: food poisoning shouldn't last more than a couple days. So if you're sick for longer - that's more likely a flu or some such.
So reader beware: unless a reviewer only ate once every three days, it would be pretty hard to narrow down which meal made them sick. Or maybe it wasn't the meal? Maybe it was the alcohol they consumed before the meal? Or not. Who knows? I don't. All I know is I went in to the place with a stomach ache and left feeling fine. That's right: this place's Pho Ga cured my tummy ache!
Take that, food poison-claimers.
Other than that, it's not the classiest looking joint but the price is right and the service was friendly and the food weren't bad tasting, neither. That's a very middle of the road A-OK to me. -
Review from Sung L.
Berkeley, CA
12/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had started a review for this with a good score but I have to change it due to a pick up order last week. On a night in their closing hour, when I went to get some bahn mi sandwiches with my friends, the two chicken ones that we ordered both had raw chicken in them. Noticed too late because we took them to go. I had ordered the fishcake one for myself but it just wasn't that tasty.
The other few experiences I've been were good, fair prices and the food was decently good. I've had a pho dish, the sandwiches prior to this night, and the moon crepe. These are all during the lunch hour on a weekday.
The raw food accident was done on a weekday around 1/2 hour before close. I understand its near close, but you still shouldn't let raw meat pass by. If its too late for quality service, just close earlier... I would have appreciated it more if they just said they couldn't make it any more for the day. -
Review from Jessica P.
Emeryville, CA
12/6/2011 6 Check-ins Here
Hi, my name is Jessica and I am an addict. A pork bahn mi addict that is!
I usually hit up Saigon Express after a grueling gym session in Berkeley. It's my carbtastic reward for a job or jog well done.
You can't beat the prices. I only get the bahn mi - I've tried the combo and the bbq pork -- both satisfied my needs. I can't comment on the rest of the menu but I would like to try their salads.
It's a small, family run corner joint with fast food and a no frills menu. You can sit inside if you want but I usually get my goods to go. They don't go too heavy on the spread or veggies, so ask for more if you want a heartier sammy. They do not however, skimp on the spice! -
Review from Javier G.
Berkeley, CA
3/28/2012
Awesome !!! and Great !! Pho , spring rolls, and vietnamese sandwiches!!! I am super happy to know that the new owners of Saigon Express are the same owners of my favorite vietnamese restaurant in chinatown oakland. And now their wonderful food is closer to home !!! Go Saigon Express !! you will be seeing me regularly :)
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Review from Sarah W.
Oakland, CA
3/6/2012
Good chicken pho in a convenient location near Bart.
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Review from Derrick H.
South San Francisco, CA
I passed by here a few times, but never had the opportunity to try it until today. The place is pretty dingy looking. Poorly lit, even though it was midday and the sun was out. This place is definitely family run which is a major plus!!
I looked at the menu for a while and decided just to try the combination sandwich. I mean, you have to try the combo and make sure that's good before venturing out into the other sandwiches.What puzzled me at first was the price. Why was the combination a bit more expensive than the others?? It made no sense to me, but whatever.
I waited a few minutes for the girl to make my sandwich. I was a bit hesitant when I saw them pull a giant bag full of baguettes that seem to have been sitting in the front, near the window cill. Meh, I got my sandwich and was excited to open it up since the roll was nice and toasty.
At first, I was disappointed by the amount of meat and vegetables in the sandwich. So little compared to other places. I took my first bite and the bread crunch and bits and pieces flew all over the place. After a few more bites, I realized it was lacking moisture. Not enough pate or mayonnaise to help lubricate the baguette. Halfway through, I was less impressed.
Few bites into the second half, I hit a piece of Jalapeno and my mouth caught on fire. A surge of heat resonated and I finally felt like I was eating a Vietnamese sandwich. My palate cleared, and I could finally taste the richness of the pate and freshness of the cilantro and carrots. The last bite was entirely pate and mayonnaise. The piece de resistance I was looking for!
All in all, the sandwich was satisfactory. Only being $3.20 +tax and a short walk from campus, I definitely see myself trying other things on the menu. If you're a pate/mayonnaise lover like me, try asking for extra. I will do that next time I go! -
Review from Rob W.
Seattle, WA
2/9/2012
The pho was good, although not quite as tasty as my favorite place in Seattle. When I looked up how many ingredients go into making the broth (star anise, roasted ginger, roasted onion, black cardamom, coriander seed, fennel seed, clove...) I realized there are bound be lots of variations. Anyway, the place was clean, and service was quick. And you can't beat the location, just a block away from BART.
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Review from Daniel P.
Northridge, CA
2/13/2012
I have only tried the sandwiches they sell here. So my rating is only a reflection of them and the service. The sandwiches are great and the fact that they are priced really low is an even larger plus. The service isn't amazing, but the staff is very nice and if you go there enough they start to remember you. I once misplaced an expensive MP3 player there and a few days later when I came back to get a sandwich they promptly returned it.
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Review from Eddie H.
Sacramento, CA
9/15/2011
All I remember about the place is the pho. It wasn't very flavorful, and just tasted watered-down.
I haven't tried any more pho in the area because I've been discouraged by this place.
I'll continue to make my trips to Oakland as needed... -
Review from Lynn L.
North Hollywood, CA
8/7/2011
I came here after a tiring evening of yoga at Yoga to the People. Exhausted and in dire need of good protein I stopped in since my Vietnamese senses were tingling. Speaking to the cook, I ordered a light Vietnamese cabbage salad with chicken breast and citrus vinaigrette. It is my absolute favorite place that makes this thus far.
They DO NOT skimp on the chicken in the Goi. Tastes like how my Ba Noi used to make it. And I do miss home after that. Awesomeness. Healthy and filling.
Vietnamese food :) How I adore you. I have yet to try their other menu items so this review is simply for the salad. -
Review from Augusto T.
Berkeley, CA
5/17/2011
Delicious $3 Vietnamese sandwiches. SE is an under appreciated restaurant in Berkeley.
You have to come to Saigon Express for one thing, and that is their sandwiches. If you are looking for a quick lunch, stop by and order one to go. The sandwiches are tasty, spicy, and served on fresh bread. Their grilled chicken, grilled pork, and combo (pâté, head cheese, ham) are all great. Did I say they are only $3? -
Review from Andrew C.
** Banh Mi review only **
Small menu with about half a dozen each of Banh Mi, Pho, and Bun dishes plus some steam table items. Banh Mi range from $2.75 (pate or ham) to $3.20 (combo) with vegetarian & tofu options to go with the meat choices.
I ordered a grilled pork (thit nuong) & a combo (ham, head cheese, pate) with no cilantro for just under $7 including tax.
When I first unwrapped my sandwiches I couldn't see any filling (Yelp lost my picture due to a network error. Does it save the pictures somewhere secret on my phone?), just a baguette with a slice down the side.
As I ripped them in half I could finally see something other than bread (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). The baguettes themselves were nicely toasted with a crisp crust and soft insides.
I started with the grilled pork. The pork was very thinly sliced and a bit dry and underseasoned. The pickled daikon & carrots also were both not very strongly flavored and limp with not much crunch. Overall the bread to filling ratio was too much for the bland fillings and the strongest flavor came from the soy sauce sprinkled on the sandwich.
The combo sandwich was more flavorful with the cold cuts and pate being more assertive, but the flavors were a little off like maybe not the freshest ingredients. Again the weak veggies and large bread to filling ratio didn't provide the flavor contrast you find in a great (or even very good) Banh Mi. -
Review from David G.
Berkeley, CA
3/13/2011
Good prices, good food, kind of slow service.
The sandwiches are an excellent value and very tasty. Need a cheap $3 lunch? Here it is. -
Review from Naseem E.
Granite Bay, CA
1/6/2011
Yelpers I'm disappointed in the lack of love for Saigon Express.
I am Vietnamese, and while I am sometimes a Vietnamese food snob, my mom is a lot worse worse. Saigon Express is of the few places I feel comfortable bringing my mother.
This one of the most authentic Vietnamese places I've been to. Food is great. The meat is always high quality. This isn't a fancy restaurant, but If you're looking for authentic Vietnamese food for a value, this is a great place to go.
Saigon Express is one of my favorite Vietnamese places of all time. The restaurant is run by a Vietnamese family and they've had it for years. Very nice people and I feel good coming here and supporting them. I eat at Saigon Express whenever I'm in town, and I'm never disappointed by the food or service.
Pros:
The food at great prices
Quick service
All the Vietnamese "fixins"
They don't "skimp" on the food. You feel satisfied after every meal.
Cons:
Ambiance: It's humble, but don't be fooled by what the restaurant looks like on the outside.Listed in: Northern California Reviews
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Review from Josh W.
Berkeley, CA
12/7/2011
Great price quality combination. I recommend the combination sandwich.
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Review from Ryan K.
Oakland, CA
3/2/2011
Ack -- update. You need to tell them to hold off on the Mayo to get either sandwich vegan. Not really sure if this is worth the trouble. What is the tofu cooked in again? Dine at your own risk :)
Lots of meat and cheese going on here, but if you need a three dollar vegan sandwich in downtown Berkeley, it is hard to beat. There are two vegan options, the "Veggie" and "Vegetarian." Despite the generic names, both are completely vegan. The "cutting board" factor might not be perfect -- you could get stuck with some meat juice on your bread, but just keep an eye on it and you should be good. -
Review from Bryan S.
Los Angeles, CA
2/20/2011
Come here for banh mi, but nothing more.
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Food: Out of four possible stars: two stars.
With how many Vietnamese restaurants there are in Berkeley, most everything Saigon Express has is not good enough to distinguish itself from the pack. The two item rice dishes don't really give much in regards to the items. The pho broth is not rich, and the noodles are often overdone.
But the banh mi are a complete opposite. Fresh bread, fresh meat, crisp vegetables, and sharp kick from the peppers. For the price (2.50-3.50), they are a bargain as well. A bargain worth two stars.
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Miscellaneous: Out of one possible star: zero stars.
The restaurant is dirty and not very well laid out. The entrance way is narrow and right next to a food counter, so it is often cramped. On top of that, there is just that general feel of Berkeley filth.Listed in: Northern California, Pot-sticky Note
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Review from Kevin L.
Berkeley, CA
9/16/2010
It was a great day, the sun was shining, and I decided to go to Saigon Express, guess what? TERRIBLE IDEA! I had food poisioning for the next several days!
Mhmm does lightening strike twice? In Saigon Express it does!! I decided to give it another try and order something different. And what do ya know, same thing happened! Food poisoning for the next several days.
So I looked up their Food Inspection Rating and it was a "C" .... not very good considering that they've had a "C" for several years.
STAY AWAYYYYY! Unless you want to get food poisoning (basically vomitting for several days)Listed in: Banh Mi! Grilled Pork! Pho!…
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Review from Helen T.
Manhattan, NY
1/10/2011
You can do better Saigon Express. Temporarily, you are three stars but there's so much room to grow!
As for their sandwiches, hands down not a bad choice for three bucks. BLAH BLAH BLAH you can get better ones for $2.50 in san jose BLAH BLAH we're in friggin Berkeley dudes! Vermicelli bowls are bad ($6.45, perhaps pricey?) and I'm not going to die from the pho.
What I really want them to improve is their ready-to-eat "2 item" rice dishes, commonly known as "com chi" for my vietnamese homies. When I went there, there was basically 1 imperial roll, a large spoonful or ginger chicken and some large chunks for meat. SO much potential! I did come by at 1:30 so maybe everything was sold out... I'll keep you updated... I'll be swinging by there tomorrow.
Love that it's run by a Vietnamese family. Wish it was livelier there though..
Bring cash or spend over $10.00! They charge a whopping $1 if it's less! -
Review from Jamie L.
Oakland, CA
6/28/2011
$3 was actually overpriced for this mostly empty sandwich. There was almost nothing to put in my belly! And the ham tasted old. I've gotten better for less than $2...
Still, the space is so darling and little. It makes me want to come back and try the banh xeo (cutely translated as "moon crepe" here) -
Review from Matt G.
12/14/2007
Matt doesn't know that the city of Berkeley in finding at least a decent restaurant to "get his grub on!" is a bit of a challenging task. Inside his heart and mind, they say "Get lost, and go home!" But he needed to try another one of UC Berkeley popular spots for lunch.
This corner Vietnamese Deli/bakery makes assorted items including the famous Vietnamese Banh Mi sandwich. Matt took a chance and bought the Pork Banh Mi. The $3.00 sandwich had slice-up pork, cilantro, Julienned carrots and daikon compressed in a Kaiser-roll. The meat in the sandwich was bland and not too tasty. Matt also had the $2.50 Iced Vietnamese Coffee and the drink was very thin in flavor. Oh my god!
The Saigon Express of Berkeley is definitely not Saigon Sandwiches in beloved San Francisco's Tenderloin. Sadly, finding a decent restaurant must continue. -
Review from Justin C.
2/11/2009
Not great. Not terrible.
Good service. Food hits the spot. It's occasionally hit or miss, but usually of decent quality.
I just went back after many years and it's the same as it was before.
Truly a 3 star "A-OK" experience. -
Review from David P.
Berkeley, CA
9/29/2011
This place gave me food poisoning. Sick all day after eating here. GROSS! *Service sucked too.
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Review from Ruby H.
San Francisco, CA
5/15/2008
Screw the pho here, its so bad! Just walk two streets down to Pho Hoa & you'll be much happier.
However, if you're craving banh mi, Saigon Express is going to be your buddy. If all of their sandwiches came with the requisite pate, they would be much improved. My favorite sandwich is the combination, which comes with authentic Vietnamese shiet, like pate, "meat pie" & cha (Vietnamese ham). They're about $3 & I think is a pretty good deal for a lunch in downtown. Nonetheless, from one sad Vietnamese girl who misses $1.25 supermarket banh mi from Sacramento, this place manages to get props for their sandwiches. -
Review from Ramon E.
Berkeley, CA
2/5/2009
There aren't too terribly many Vietnamese places in Berkeley, so I was disappointed that this wasn't better. The food sitting in the warming dishes was basically crap. There's no way I'll go here again when People's (on the same block) makes good sandwiches, and any number of little Chinese places can match/beat them for quality in similar items.
The bathroom wasn't filthy filthy, but it could stand a cleaning. -
Review from Paul M.
Berkeley, CA
1/11/2012
Their cubed beef steak and prawn clay pot are ALWAYS amazing! Get it. Love it. You're welcome.
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Review from Roger G.
Berkeley, CA
2/23/2007
I got a pho ga and a pork banh mi to go last night, my third visit.
Their banh mi was big on the bread and light on the fillings, but toasted bread is still pretty good.
The pho was mostly (boring) broth, very little meat or noodles, with a bag of sprouts and tired looking (not particularly aromatic) herbs. I had no desire to continue having any broth after I'd finished the noodles.
Although the quality was just so-so, they make up for it in speed and convenience. If you look at Saigon Express as a ethnic version of Subway, you won't be too disappointed.
Price is on the high side compared to better places in Oakland, but you'll still have plenty of food for under $10. -
Review from Charles C.
Walnut Creek, CA
6/26/2011
Typical for a pho place. Good price
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Review from Linda T.
Updated - 6/28/2011
Cubed Beef Steak. Enough said.
Listed in: How to Fall in Love with…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/13/2010
How do they do it?? Their *Cubed Beef Steak* is utterly orgasmic. It is a special dish you wouldn't… Read more »
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Review from Emily L.
New York, NY
2/27/2006
It was a dark and stormy night....
and Viv and I were hungry, so we escaped the rain and got our grub on at Saigon Express.
Overall, it was pretty okay. We got the moon crepe, filled with shrimp, bean sprouts and onion. It was pretty tasty. The crepe was just the right thickness, chewy but not gooey. Viv got this tamarind hot and sour soup. It sounded good in theory, but ended up being too sweet. I got seafood pho. The broth was flavorful and the noodles were good, but the accoutrements provided did not include any thai basil or lime/lemon.
In previous visits, I had always ordered the bahn mi (that's Vietnamese sammies to the unlearned) and they were always good. The bread has a nice crisp crust and soft insides and the proportion of meat to veggies was spot on. And at $3.00 a pop, it's a pretty good deal. -
Review from Kel C.
8/2/2010 2 Check-ins Here
[A-only review]
I come here at least once a week. It's right next to the shuttle stop, so it's very convenient. And because I need to catch a shuttle, the service speed must be spot on-- otherwise, I'm walking up to campus and that isn't fun!
I've had the Pho and spring rolls. I like both. The broth isn't incredibly rich nor bland. The noodles are inconsistent. Sometimes, it seems like they have been sitting in a strainer for an hour. Other times, they feel chewy and fresh like they just got boiled.
The owners are really nice. Normally, I'd give unimpressive places two stars, but Saigon Express is a staple to me. The fact that I come here repeatedly suggests that my subconscious is very satisfied with them. Either that or there was an inception and I wrote all of this because of a dream. -
Review from Christina J.
San Francisco, CA
8/2/2009
Worth going in for a quick snack if you're passing by, maybe on your way back to the apt from BART. It's tough to find parking on Shattuck.
++ | Chicken Bahn Mi (Vietnamese Sandwich) |
BEST vietnamese chicken sandwich. Toasty roll, a juicy piece of chicken thigh, pickled veggies full of flavor, & a few pieces of jalapeno to watch out for. The only note is that you have to eat this quickly; the baguette isn't made fresh on site, so it'll get brittle if it cools too much.
-- Pho
Not their forte. Stick w/the sandwiches.
Cheap quick snack!
$2.75 Bahn Mi (made to order) -
Review from Rebecca K.
Albany, CA
3/4/2007
This is a no-nonsense Vietnamese restaurant conveniently located in Downtown Berkeley and close to UC campus.
Just went by there today for some late lunch of pho and the combo Hot and Sour Tamarind Soup with side order of rice.
It's one of the only noodle soup places in this part of Berkeley; probably need to go to Oakland Chinatown for pho next to this place.
The pho is flavorful although I've had better. Tried the tamarind soup for the first time today alongwith the cube steak rice place. It passed my Vietnamese gf's standards for food so I trust her judgment.
The service is decent (although my waitress got my order wrong today) and the place is friendly overall. It's never crowded since it's more of a take-out place but it's clean.
The Vietnamese ice coffee was pre-prepared however so not as fresh as I usually have it.
Overall, the food and drink it the spot...Listed in: Cheap Eats!
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Review from Jojo L.
Berkeley, CA
7/3/2011
Yes, they make a good banh mi sandwich. They really won me over with their banana tapioca pudding though. I scarfed one down while waiting for my banh mi, and bought a couple more to bring home for sharing.
