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Sau Voi
Categories: Restaurants Delis Restaurants Vietnamese Restaurants Sandwiches Delis, Vietnamese, Sandwiches [Edit]
101 Lafayette St(between Walker St & White St)
New York, NY 10013
Neighborhood: Chinatown
(212) 226-8184
- Nearest Transit:
-
Canal St (J, N, Q, Z)
Canal St (4, 6, 6X)
Canal St (N, R)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 9:30 am - 7:30 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Dive-y
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
67 reviews for Sau Voi
Review Highlights
"The only words you need to know here are "Banh Mi."
(in 47 reviews)
"The pate smells great and tastes even better."
(in 18 reviews)
"...is 20% cafe and 80% video store, the baguette (heated in a..."
(in 5 reviews)
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67 reviews in English
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Review from B W.
Bronx, NY
1/22/2012
The sandwiches are great! I have been back three times even though I live way uptown. Love those sandwiches!!!!!!
This is a bodega with no place to sit and eat. They still sell cassette tapes here. Why?, I have no idea. -
Review from David L.
12/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Eating at Sau Voi, I've felt a very happy feeling in my stomach three different times now. From the food of course, but also from the very friendly and generous service. Each time I've ordered something, these very warm and efficient women continually stuff my sandwich with more and more carrots, more and more radishes, more and more cilantro, more and more sriracha. Without me even having to ask or hint. Like they sincerely want me to be completely satisfied. When there's genuine courtesy and care, and the food is also good, sign me up, count me in, I'm all over it.
Try the sour pork hash. Try the barbecue pork meatballs. The baguettes are crunchy and flaky, and the vegetables are about as fresh as you'll find anywhere in the city. Combine everything I've already mentioned with a really unique atmosphere, and you should be able to understand why I wish I'd discovered this place much sooner. -
Review from Jonathan T.
New York, NY
8/19/2011
I work in this area quite often and am usually in the mood for a banh mi.
Although their bread isn't 100% there for me, everything else rules it out. I usually get a meatball of some kind; with sauce or the garlic marinade and without fail, I still finish this sandwich too quickly because it tastes so good. If only there was decent seating somewhere (in amongst the DVDs, cassettes, rolls and rolls of scratchies) I would enjoy it even more.
The Iced Coffee viet style has been the best I've had in the city. I like it strong with a punch of sweetness and this is perfect. Literally, I can not complain about their iced coffee.
Have yet to try their deserts and small appetizers of food but every time I go in, my mouth orders before I think; Banh Mi Xiu Mai. -
Review from Marc M.
Norwich, CT
1/14/2012 3 photos
Is there another place in New York City where you can buy an astonishingly wondrous banh mi, a pair of socks, a cassette of VietNamese pop music, a pack of cigarettes, a cup of Ovaltine, a ball point pen and even a nail clipper? Answer: You can't do it. I asked the woman behind the counter what was her favorite Bahn Mi and she cheerfully smiled and said "number 1". "Number 1" included freshly baked bread with a combination of pork, turkey and an array of fresh vegetables. And all for only four dollars! Among other things on the menu was a barbecued meat ball Banh Mi, which sounds interesting but must wait for another day. If you are looking for tables and chairs at Sau Voi, you have come to the wrong place. There are none. It is strictly takeout. But the fun of Sau Voi is browsing before and after ordering your meal. The cassettes of VietNamese pop music line one wall and the assortment of goods you can browse is entertaining. It's a tiny place and may fit about 8 people at one time, if they are not fat. And nicest of all is the cheerfulness of the employees. With me, cheerfulness goes a long way. Just walk through the door and say "number one" and you are halfway to heaven.
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Review from Steve M.
4/26/2011 4 photos
A very decent place, overall. These banh mi are quite okay. This used to be a good place to go if only for some delicious Vietnamese sandwiches later in the day when the original location of Saigon Banh Mi (the one under the Manhattan Bridge) had run out of bread. They're still pretty darned good and have a lot of different types, but with the option of going to the newest incarnation of Saigon which is now amply supplied over at their new location on Broome, I would opt to go to Saigon instead for a great Vietnamese sandwich, these'a days.
Still, if you're in the general vicinity of Sau Voi and can't get over to Broome, they make a very serviceable banh mi . Can't beat the price, either. -
Review from Steve B.
Brooklyn, NY
1/3/2012
The store is strange but the two old ladies making sandwiches are friendly and somehow manage to both add to and minimize the awkwardness while serving you. I've tried the Banh Mi Dac Biet (aka your usual Banh Mi) and the Banh Mi Bi (shredded pork skins with fish sauce) and enjoyed both. The Banh Mi Bi might be more of an acquired taste for some but the No. 1, Banh Mi Dac Biet will make any typical Vietnamese sandwich lover very happy. The veggies were fresh and well-marinated and the meat was solid. Their baguettes are perfect. I'm hoping to try their meatball sandwich sometime!
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Review from Helen L.
5/23/2011
It's an Asian music and video store with a Banh Mi counter. I don't see very many of these multi-functional spaces in the US, but back in my homeland, it's actually quite common.
The menu freaked me out a bit since I saw items like "ham" and "turkey", not items I'm accustomed to seeing on a Vietnamese menu. Trying to give them the benefit of a doubt, figuring maybe they use different names because they didn't know which English words to use to describe the content. Um, no, it was plain ol' American ham and turkey.
I was disappointed, but what saved this place from falling into my "One-Star-Wonders, East" list was their sauce. I can't put my finger on it, but there was something in that sauce that reminded me of a sweet roasted pork dish from Taiwan, my homeland. I wish I could do a better job at describing the flavor, but how does one describe their own nostalgia? I can't tell if I liked the sauce because it was good or if I liked it because of my personal reminiscence. All I know is I didn't completely hate my sandwich, but I sure wouldn't recommend this place to anyone else. -
Review from Crystal W.
New York, NY
2/27/2011
I love that the take out menu at Sau Voi says "sandwiches and records." That means that the incongruous mix of V-pop cassettes, CDs, magazines, lotto tickets and banh mi is not an accident - the owners are fully aware and proud of their business model. And hey, it looks like it's definitely working, so more power to them.
I ordered two of the classic Dat Biet with hot sauce and a Vietnamese coffee - the total came to just under $10. I enjoyed the coffee as I watched the steady stream of customers who passed through the store - only one or two actually ordered sandwiches, while the rest were paying a dollar to dream and browsing through the record collection. The coffee was excellent, lightly sweetened with just the right amount of condensed milk.
When we unwrapped the sandwiches at a nearby bar (you need to have a post-purchase sitting strategy if you choose to buy sandwiches here, since there is no place to sit), my mouth actually dropped open when I saw how hefty these sandwiches were. Value is the name of the game, with taste quickly following suit. The bread was crusty and fresh, and the sandwich stuffed with a well-balanced mix of cilantro, pate, ham, turkey and carrots. While I still prefer the pork from Saigon Banh Mi on Grand, Sau Voi definitely takes the cake for value and ambience. -
Review from victoria c.
New York, NY
1/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was so freakin' excited when I saw the outside of Sau Voi! It reminded me of a great banh mi shop in Boston, half sandwiches, half jewelry. Only in this case about 2/3 of Sau Voi is taken up by cassette tapes, DVDs, CDs, and lotto tickets. Oh yeah, you can pick up a pack of smokes while you're here.
I knew what I wanted before I even left my apartment, BBQ meatball was calling my name. I got my sandwich, went outside to lean against the wall and eat (which was possibly the best way to consume the sandwich). There was some very angry fellow screaming at the top of his lungs across the street from us. Dinner and a show, fantastic!
Overall, I was very pleased with my banh mi, but most of all with the pork meatball. So fatty, so delicious. The sandwich was nearly bursting with pork. Yes, this sandwich ($4) was nearly twice what I was used to paying in Boston (this is my first banh mi in New York), but it pretty much evens out when you consider how much more meat was on this sandwich.
I wish there was pate on all the banh mi (only some listed pate, I could have asked if I realized it was going to be absent), maybe a bit more cilantro, a better butter:mayo, and hot peppers instead of sriracha. Ok, so I probably would have done the sandwich totally differently, but I still was very pleased.
I heard that New York had pretty good banh mi, despite having rather poor Vietnamese food in general. I think the sandwiches here are pretty much on par with the level of the food available; decently good reasonably authentic renditions.
In any case, Sau Voi is just my first stop on my sandwich eating journey.Listed in: VietNOMese
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Review from Adam C.
New York, NY
4/19/2011
I work in then neighborhood and this is the best bahn mi available. $4 will get you a good sandwich on a toasted baguette. Might I suggest number 11? When the nice ladies behind the counter see me coming, they start making it and I am never dissapointed. If you ask, they will add some hot suace and fresh birds eye chili.
While you are there, pick up some batteries, tapes, women's underwear, cigarettes, pornography, or one of those weird electric belts designed to shape your tummy. This place has it all.
No seating available, but just walk one block south and two blocks east and sit in the bustling nearby park. -
Review from JP B.
Updated - 10/15/2010
Now that banh mi joints have sprung up all over town like mushrooms I decided to revisit an old favorite to see how they held up. I'm happy to report that Sau Voi holds up very well.
If you're used to more upscale takes on this sandwich Sau Voi will bring you back to basics for $4. Their #1 is a Vietnamese sandwich at its most elemental: crunchy baguette, a smear of pate, a smear of mayo, slices of mystery cold cuts applied with a hand neither stingy nor generous, pickled carrots and daikon, a large wedge of cucumber, a squirt of Sriracha and a sprig or two of cilantro. Perfectly balanced and just large enough to be a satisfying lunch.
This is my benchmark for a good banh mi. I know where to go for a posher version, but I'm not always in the mood for upscale takes on junk food. No reason to gild the lilly. Like a burger, a torta or a plate of fried dumplings, a banh mi is perfect in its most humble form. In this case that form can be found at a counter in a Vietnamese CD/DVD shop a mere three steps from the lotto machine. The perfect accompaniment is the real Viet coffee they serve.2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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7/13/2009
The sandwiches are now $4, but fortunately that's all that has changed here. I find it hard to be… Read more »
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Review from Jade N.
New York, NY
6/21/2010
I feel very "meh" about this place. After trying all the local Banh Mi spots, Sau Voi is really at the the bottom of the litter. Compared to Banh Mi Saigon or Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich Deli, this little convenience shop seriously skimps on the filling. I love the crunch of carrots and daikon and the fresh aroma of the meat but when I come here, I get neither. I end up ripping off pieces of bread to throw out since there's not enough filling to go with it. This is only my emergency Banh Mi spot because it is so close to the 6 train. I've even tried the papaya salad and I would never get it again.
Sorry, I can't recommend this place other than for convenience. Real food needs some semblance of a kitchen. -
Review from dice-K S.
Brooklyn, NY
10/25/2010
Banh mi. F-Yea!!
So, I ordered a meatball sandwich and I got the special ham and turkey.
So, I can order a sandwich turn around buy a cassette tape, turn again buy some ladies undies, and a lotto ticket.
So, I can spend $4 to fill my stomach and be highly entertained.
So, So why not.
not only is the meatball banh mi addicting and I think about it until lunch the ham turkey ain't to bad either. -
Review from Vannaluck H.
Holbrook, NY
2/26/2011
No trip into Chinatown for me is complete unless I can get my mitts on some Banh Mi. What a find this place is.
First and foremost this place looks like a corner store bodega, I must have walked past Sau Voi 2 times. It wasn't until I read the sign (darwin award winner?) that I realized that there are lovely delicious sammiches inside!
When you walk inside don't get distracted by the vast collection of CD's, DVD's and cassette tapes, I assure you the Banh Mi is there. It's not particularly large. If there is more than 5 people inside it's cramped but it's worth it. Gaze upon the big yellow menu board to the right and pick your fancy. I went with the # 1 (Banh Mi Dac Biet - Special Sandwich w. Ham, Pate or Slices Of Pork Roll, I swiped a menu) Actually I ordered 4, I wanted to stretch the experience into my work week. The ladies at the counter were very nice and made them quickly.
Now onto the Banh Mi, the bread is perfect. It has that nice crunch on the outside and the soft, chewy inside. The pickled veggies are plenty, the shredded carrots, radish & cucumber spear have a nice balance of of sweet/sour. Oh and don't forget about the meat! Nice and flavorful, good amount not overwhelming and not skimpy in the least bit. Let's not forget about the Pate', usually I am put off by anything liver but this spread is fantastic it has a nice flavor with hints of black peppercorns. Every now and again I will get a peppercorn in a bite and not every bite and that's okay with me. Slap it all together throw on some cilantro, mayo and a sprinkle of black pepper and your Banh Mi is served.
I'm going to go back and venture into other Banh Mi's and bring home some of their appetizer dishes. I strictly went there to curb my Banh Mi craving that was about 3 months in the making. -
Review from Janet B.
Forest Hills, NY
2/7/2011
This little sandwich counter in a video/tape/lotto/cigarette shop will always be my paradigm for what banh mi should be. I know it's not my secret, but it's my favorite.
I used to come here for a $4 sandwich big enough for two meals, several times a week, and tried not to burn out on them. Meatballs are good, #1 is good, but these days it's usually the sustainable sardine (SATIN) fish sandwich, and one of the canned teas with jelly in them. Spicy spicy!
There's nowhere to sit, or sometimes even stand while waiting, and the service is little-Vietnamese-lady brisk. But the price can't be beat and it will make your mouth very happy. -
Review from iza p.
From the outside looking in, you would not dare think this place makes a mean Banh Mi. But it does. And I'll keep coming back to it.
True to it's neighborhood, Sau Voi Corp (as the sign says) appears sketchy and offering patrons everything but food. Even upon entering, despite the clear view of the food counter, you still wonder if you made the right decision. And I'm telling you now....YOU DID.
They offer a good variety of Vietnamese sandwiches, and I also hear their iced coffee is pretty good too. But really, for a Snapple drink and a sandwich larger than Subways 6inch subs for about $5.50...how can you not go wrong.
And without the drink the sandwiches range from $4-4.50. I mean really, how can you not go wrong. And another reason why I particularly like this spot...it's the easiest to find in China Town. I've tried a few other places (and still need to try a few more), but when I don't want to bother weaving in and out of China Town just for a sandwich, I'll make that quick turn out of the subway station and head straight to Sau Voi. -
Review from Judy K.
Queens, NY
7/20/2009
"Do you want some porn with that?" I don't think the sweet ladies behind the counter would ever utter those words, but it could happen. This shop sells banh mi with porn videos, among other eclectic things. If they were anyone else, say, a hipster store in the east village, that might not sound out of place, maybe uttered with a flirty wink or spoken all too seriously, who knows? But we are in Chinatown and I'm thinking these ladies would probably blush if I pointed out that such videos even exist in their store.
Of course, I don't come here for the porn. I come here for the sandwiches. By now, I've tried several sandwiches off their extensive list, and trust me, the classic is the way to go.Listed in: Tribeca and Chinatown lunch…
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Review from Deborah H.
New York, NY
7/30/2009
I was across the street, waiting for my friends to get their hair did, when I came to the realization that it was 4PM and I hadn't yet had lunch, and dinner was at 11PM. I ran out in the rain, looking for something fast and delicious, and saw an oasis on Hester: a video store that sells Vietnamese sandwiches.
It was indeed odd. But I ordered the standard sandwich (pate, pork), and it was great. I used to live in California, so I know the rules of Vietnamese sandwiches:
1. Cheap (check)
2. Pickled vegetables (check)
3. Soft baguettes (semi-check)
4. Lots of cilantro and jalapenos (check)
Of course it's not the most delicious sandwich I've had, but for the price and being in NYC, it was pretty good. -
Review from cassandra n.
New York, NY
3/27/2007
Probably a bit intimidating for the non-viet speaker, but i wouldn't worry about it. The only words you need to know here are "Banh Mi."
And in my opinion, some of the best Banh Mi in all of New York right here. The ladies are always nice and i can browse the cds and giggle at the covers while i'm waiting.
Also theres a ton of little viet dishes that make me home sick that i can't really get in a restaurant anywhere else. Choices vary and i kinda like that. Its a surprise every time!
Annnnnnd its cheap. Really cheap for such wonderful deliciousness and happiness. And i think thats part of real vietnamese food-- the food is mostly street food (certainly banh mi is) so the prices shouldn't be way overpriced. It loses authenticity somewhere if it is.
So, what are you waiting for! Go! -
Review from Gabe C.
Washington D.C., DC
7/12/2011
Definitely was wierd ordering a sandwich at a counter in a cassette tape store. However, it was the best BBQ pork banh mih I have ever had.
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Review from Alice C.
6/20/2010
I have no idea how I haven't rated this place yet as I come here pretty much at least once a week-- I'm an banh mi addict, what can I say?
The interior of Sau Voi is definitely weird. Upon entering the store, you have two ladies at the banh mi counter to your right, someone selling lottery tickets to your left, and an assortment of Vietnamese movies and CDs directly in front.
But at ~$4 for a delicious viet sandwich, all that other stuff doesn't matter. Just go forth and place your order, and get a refreshing viet iced coffee while you're at it-- your lunch will cost you under 7 bucks, and it'll only take about 10 minutes from the time you place your order to the time you take your last bite. Or maybe I just devour my banh mis way fast-- with all that deliciousness, how could I not? -
Review from Joan H.
2/8/2007
It's a deli and it's a CD shop; but come here for the deli for sure. They have a very wide variety of banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich), and you can get a super sweet VN coffee too (hot or iced).
The sandwiches are now $3.50!! (I miss the $2 ones I used to get in Boston - anyone know that supermarket/deli/jewelry store in the alley?) This is actually quite pricey for a mediocre banh mi. However, to its credit, they are amply filled (not overstuffed), good and spicy (although you can ask for no spice, and they always ask if you want it hot), includes all the usual VN fixings (picked veggies and cilantro) - but no fresh hot peppers (at least none that I can discern). They throw Sirracha sauce in it to give it kick. I love Sirracha, surely, but I need them fresh hot peppers!
But I love this place - it's right by the Civil Court, so I pop in here frequently if I have to cover a case in the morning. The ladies here are very nice, and can speak English well (I usually speak Cantonese to them), so any gwai lo who want to go should feel free...
I've had the Saigon, the #1, turkey, and the meatball -- all hearty meals. I've also tried some of the side dishes they sell pre-packaged - they're fair but nothing to write home about. They even have one with vegetarian ham - so veggies, don't be afraid, and come experience the beauty of the banh mi!Listed in: Vegetarian-Friendly
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Review from Serena C.
Burlington, VT
6/25/2009
My co-worker took me to this place the very first day I started my (then) new job last July, and I've been coming back since. However, I hadn't been able to think of anything to write in a review of Sau Voi that hasn't been said already.
Yeah, there's no where to sit, the place is chockfull of random DVDs/CDs/bras/lottery tickets/cigarettes, and the Vietnamese coffee is small and expensive ($2.50!). But the banh mi is fresh, reasonably priced and portioned ($3.75), and the ladies are so, so friendly.
My favorite part? I often order multiple sandwiches, some with cilantro/hot sauce, and some without--and they always do a great job of helping me successfully differentiate between the two types while packing them up for me (a rubber band around the non-spicy ones, or a napkin stuffed into the wax paper bag, for instance).
Tip: Avoid the cakes/snacks on the counter...another co-worker brought some banana rolls back to work once, and all i remember is that they were considerably stale and tasteless...Listed in: Places I frequent for lunch
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Review from Rey P.
Manhattan, NY
5/29/2009
Okay, so they're not exactly vegetarian-friendly, but the two veg banh mi they have are damn good and quite cheap! At the time of this review, all banh mi are $3.75.
They've got a straight up veggie sandwich that's pretty good and a vegetarian ham one that's very tasty. Don't be tricked by the seitan banh mi -- it's got fish sauce on it.
Anyway, aside from the main filling, the bread is nice and crusty, the cilantro is fresh, and the pickled carrots and daikon are delish. And those little ladies sure are speedy.
There are also all kinds of bean and rice sweets on the front counter that were very tempting. If I head back again when I'm hungrier, I'll be checking them out. I don't know when that will be, though, because I find the veg banh mi options at Lan Cafe far more satisfying.Listed in: A Veg living in an Omni World
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Review from ju l.
5/19/2009
First Fried Dumpling (on Mosco), and now Sau Voi. Or maybe the other way around. What is it with my obsession with food establishments that consist of three unsmiling Asian women in horribly cramped and inappropriate quarters? Is it a deep desire to indulge in a stern and delicious maternal safety that has been otherwise absent from my life? This is unlikely, as I love my mother and she has provided me with great food for most of my existence.
No matter the reason, I adore Sau Voi and their banh mi is the BEST. Somehow, even though this place is 20% cafe and 80% video store, the baguette (heated in a regular toaster oven mounted on the wall) is always fresh, crisp, and warm. They don't skimp on the fillings but they don't overload it either such that the bread turns into merely a vehicle for eating insides of stuff (and I charge many places and foods with this sacrilege). Each sandwich used to be $3 --alas, I have been frequenting this place for nearly 5 years!-- but I'm only vaguely reluctant to dish out the extra 75 cents for my vietnamese sandwich fix.
My favorite banh mi is the classic: ham, turkey, pate, cilantro, carrots, and plenty of Sriracha. Everything has always been fresh and the flavors very well-balanced (this is also the only form in which I will voluntarily eat raw cilantro). My boyfriend likes the BBQ meatball, which is delicious and hearty, but the ingredients just don't mix as elegantly. I can make better Vietnamese coffee and their jellyfish salad was mediocre, but hey, as far as I'm concerned, this is a banh mi joint, and might as well never sell anything else.
Speaking of selling other things: Aside from music and movies, Sau Voi is not shy about the porn videos lining the back wall, or the lacy white bras piled haphazardly in a dirty glass display case behind you when you order. Good stuff to note awkwardly while you wait. -
Review from Scott R.
3/30/2008
Came here on a recommendation from one of the better Vietnamese reviewers on Yelp. Odd choice for a Banh Mi sandwich as the food portion seems an afterthought with most of the space dedicated to Vietnamese CDs (unfortunately, no Saigon - http://video.google.co... - or Hanoi Rocks CDs - http://www.youtube.com...).
My friend and I ordered our Banh Mi to go along with some mochi dessert (one red bean, one coconut). I liked the Banh Mi a lot. Fresh roll. Veggies tasted fresh if light on the pickly taste. Could've used a little more heat (maybe more cilantro). Definitely filling. I thought it compared similarly to Saigon Banh Mi (which doesn't appear to be the Yelp consensus) and was a notch above Nicky's.
The mochi was just so-so. As in so, so dense. We tried cutting the mochi up and it felt like each square would reform to the original shape like an amoeba going through binary fission. I'll try a different dessert next time around.
Note: If you live or work in East Village, this place is a quick couple stops on the N/R or 6 to Canal St. Round trip only 40 minutes. -
Review from Vivian L.
7/2/2010
Tasty banh mi and the location can't be beat (I live right around the corner), but I was not wow-ed. Bread was a little hard and not the nice crusty but soft texture that I've had at Baoguette (although to be fair I didn't eat it right after I bought it). Unlike Baoguette though, they will not overdo it with the cilantro stalks, which I appreciated.
Cute little ladies working the counter and a cheap, filling meal, so I will most likely be back.
My search for the best banh mi sandwich in the city will continue! -
Review from Colin N.
New York, NY
7/22/2009
Over the past year I've put a lot of Banh in Mi. I'd rate Sau Voi Corp in 2nd place. That's either 1st runner up or 1st loser depending on if you're a glass half full or half empty person. I really like Saigon Banh Mi (Jewelry shop) but the CD shop / convenience store has a different feel. There wasn't a huge line and the ladies making the banh mi are really nice.
One suggestion for Sau Voi would be to number their menu. My vietnamese pronunciation rocks but my colleagues were struggling with how to order their sandwiches.Listed in: Downtown Office Lunch Rotation
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Review from Nathan M.
New York, NY
4/20/2009
The only time I patronized Sau Voi, I ended up glued to the filthy toilet at a desolate Brooklyn bar a few short hours later. I knew something wasn't right with the meat just minutes after I finished my unimpressive sandwich. While it was a pretty light case of food poisoning, I felt terrible for the rest of the night and had to make a harrowing subway trip all the way back to the Bronx, feeling weak and worrying that I was about to lose control of my bowels all over the D train. Of course, this sort of thing can happen at any restaurant; I don't know if there is a chronic health problem at Sau Voi or anything. Your mileage may vary.
The banh mi here isn't terrible, but it's pretty lackluster, and there are much better options within a very short walking distance. I found the bread to be unimpressive (compare to the fantastic bread at Paris Sandwich, a stone's throw away). The filling was light on the meat, overly heavy on the pate, there were very few vegetables to give the fresh, light flavor that a good banh mi should have. The sandwich was, overall, too flat, greasy, and heavy tasting. It sat like a lump in my stomach even before I suspected that it would soon give me the runs. The portions are a little on the small side.
The sandwich counter itself is shoved into one corner of a tiny music store. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it means that if you want to actually sit down, Sau Voi isn't the place to go.
You might feel that I'm being too generous by giving two stars to a place that gave me food poisoning. Maybe I am, but I'm trying to be objective and grade based on taste. Even so, there are banh mi places a five minute walk away that are easily four stars, so why go to Sau Voi? -
Review from Alexander v.
New York, NY
9/25/2010
I love hole-in-the-wall places where no one speaks English. I come here and get a sandwich every time I am in the neighborhood whether I am hungry or not. Warm bread, fresh veggies and tasty ham, pate & turkey. And the Vietnamese coffee isn't bad. And aside from some prepackaged treats, that's the entire broken-English menu. Tasty post-colonialism.
The place is a tiny corner store that's dominated by racks of CDs and tapes of Asian pop music for sale, and food service seems like an afterthought in the place. There is nowhere to eat inside, so your best bet is to walk four blocks south to the less than totally pleasant Foley Square to grab a seat. -
Review from Jando S.
10/14/2007
Had it not been my eternal quest for Vietnamese music, I would have missed this little deli shop/store time and time again. I had seen it coming out of the subway during many of my visits to Chinatown, but the unassuming part of me kept me from wanting to go in as I saw nothing redeeming of their food from the window.
The banh mi sandwiches here were lacking during the few times I had them. Bread was almost too hard, the meats tasted a bit stale, and the other ingredients could've been packed in a little tighter as my sandwich nearly fell apart after a couple of bites. Their banh xeo was pretty decent and their spring rolls tasted great with a little of their homemade nem nuong.
The Viet Kieu (overseas Vietnamese) here speak Chinese as well, however, I'm told many of their staffers are also Chinese-Vietnamese (hua qiao). All of them are quite nice and very patient. The selection of Vietnamese music isn't stellar, but a good core of their collection is based on hits between 1989-2001. They even have a good portion of cassette tapes, which is a collector's find for the eternal Vietnamese music fan out there.Listed in: Bun Mee aka Banh Mi (NYC)
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Review from Vivian H.
2/12/2010
PROBLEM: ISO of a tasty lunch near Civic Center without breaking the piggy bank
HYPOTHESIS: I think there is a Vietnamese deli on Lafayette sandwich. I hypothesize I can get a banh mi sandwich for lunch.
METHOD: I walk on Worth St and make a left onto Lafayette St. I walk for about 2 blocks and Sau Voi is on the left side of the street at 101 Lafayette St. I walk in and notice that the store also sells music CDs and lottery. I walk up to the small counter and place an order for a banh mi with pate and ham. While I am waiting, I am asked if I want sriracha. I nod and say yes. Three minutes later, the lady hands me a brown bag with my goods inside. BTW...the menu overhead did not have prices.
RESULTS: One hefty sandwich with a toasted bun, pate and ham, stuffed with pickled carrots and radishes, sprig of cilantro, a slice of jalapeno, and a squirt of sriracha. The sandwich cost $4 and I was only able to eat half of it. Tasty, and filled my fat snack hole.
CONCLUSION: Found tasty banh mi sandwich during lunch for $4. Can't beat that. Will be back when I am in the area and need a fix! -
Review from Mike K.
7/19/2008
Though I never bought lotto tickets or Asian music and movies here, I did get Banh Mi pretty often. I worked nearby, and when I had no time to run to (and wait at) Saigon, Sau Voi was an acceptable substitute.
If you want a veggie Banh Mi, you really have to make sure they understand (which they usually do.
I've enjoyed their custard and spring rolls as well, but typically stuck to the sandwiches.
Thumbs up over all, especially for speed and economy, but they're just not on the same level as Saigon and Banh Mi So 1. -
Review from Robin G.
Brooklyn, NY
8/18/2008
Cheap, easy, and close to work.
I am also very pleasantly amused by the selection of other items for sale. It looks like they carry Mary Kay cosmetics and itchy white bras, in addition to many tapes of Vietnamese music/entertainment.
But yeah. I just go for the $3.25 bahn mi. -
Review from Tam N.
New York, NY
6/12/2007
Of all the Chinatown banh mi, Sau Voi's is the most lacking. Lacking in flavor, lacking in ingredients. True, their Nem Nuong is fresh, but you could have given me a meatball formed with bread and eggs, and I wouldn't have known the difference.
What I will be coming back to Sau Voi for is their fantastic Che Troi Nuoc. This dessert ranks highly among my Vietnamese faves and is sold on the counter amidst a number of other deli snacks. Che Troi Nuoc consists of mochi balls, often filled with mung bean, floating in a broth of ginger, rock sugar, and coconut syrup. Though Sau Voi's has no coconut milk, the sugar manages to give the syrup a luxurious mouthfeel. But who knows, maybe it's just lard. I mean to come back 'n give the beef jerky and Xoi Bap (Sticky Rice with Hominy and Mung Bean) a try. Deli snacks are hot & fresh on Saturday mornings, yes!
The sandwich, in sum:
filling: 2. Okay texture but wholly tasteless.
bread: 3. Neither fresh nor stale.
pickles, peppers, cilantro, etc.: 2. Skimpy with the veggie ingredients. Cilantro absent. And no Maggi seasoning, either!
assembly: 1. Depressing.
perks: 4 for the Che Troi Nuoc. Goi (Papaya Salad) is okay, but not nearly as lively and delicious as Bangkok Center Grocery's. -
Review from Andrea L.
11/13/2008
I don't believe in paying more than a few bucks for a Vietnamese sandwich, so it's basically Chinatown or bust. And bust (or burst, as I am wont to do after eating these giant sandwiches) I do at Sau Voi, my fave banh mi place. I've been known to do lunchtime runs from Rockefeller down to Ctown just to get me some of 'em grubbins. I like it better than the other banh mi spots in Ctown -- maybe it's the convenient location near the trains, or the sweet ladies who work there in their labcoat-like attire, or that I like the undercover feel of a sandwich shop tucked in a tiny odds 'n' ends music / media store that I would never walk into otherwise.
I usually order the same thing in Chinese, and am actually not sure which item it is on the English menu overhead, but it amounts to $3.75 for the mystery cold cuts, some lightly spread sauce (resembling mayo?), cucumbers, pickled radishes and carrots, and cilantro on a long baguette, toasted lightly while you wait. I defer to other reviewers on the treats packaged in small plastic containers on the counter though. I'm hesitant to try them again, since I once got the sweet rice cakes (I forget their real name), which I usually love, and they tasted old and yucky. Boo that. -
Review from Wendy C.
Honolulu, HI
10/1/2008
This is my alternative option whenever BM Saigon on 138 Mott St. run out of their daily supply of fresh bread. Sau Voi's Banh Mi sandwich is good but not as superb compared Saigon's. It used to cost $3.25, but with prices rising almost everywhere...it's $3.75 now (same as Saigon's roast pork BM).
The ingredients are different from Saigon's except for the picked carrots, cucumbers, and cilantro. They use baguettine bread, a combo of cold cut ham+turkey+pate slices, and hot chili sauce. The meat portion can be small, but it's also filling being such a large sandwich.
Service is decent even with their limited English. They share space with a Vietnamese video store/lottery ticket vendor. Since there is no room for seating, I always take my meal to the park bench on Centre Street. -
Review from judy n.
10/17/2009
So... I haven't had a vietnamese sandwich on the east coast.... in a LOOOONG Time...
And this kind of hit the spot.
Super yummy
- Banh Mi Dac Biet. it's the special, has all the meats in it and pate and the sauce and jalapenos. the sandwich is the best when u get the jalapenos!
- Cafe Sua Da. It's like a cortadito but iced. or shall I say its the other way around? It's great! :) and fulfilled my craving for a nice iced coffee in the 40 degree weather of NYC
Good
- Banh Mi Cha. My niece got this, and I noticed that the Cha looked like turkey... so I tried a slice. It even has the texture of turkey... kind of light, kinda flimsy. nothing like california cha, at all! I'm still not sure if I like it or not....
- Banh Bo. it's these colorful little balls of dense cakey-ness. i'm still not sure. my family loved it. I don't think i've ever really liked these pastries. but they did. so that has to mean its good.
and the sandwiches are $4 each. I was a little surprised. but I guess nothing is as cheap as it used to be...
:) A good place. next time I find myself in NYC I will have to come back, unless there is another spot recommended to me. :) -
Review from Tanya N.
New York, NY
3/24/2010
We came here for a Vietnamese sandwich, and just in case I needed to buy some CDs or panties - just kidding. The place is really tiny and can fit about four customers, at most - this is because they have mountains of old Asian CDs, a lottery machine, and supposedly some underwear for sale. On one wall of the store is a counter that will quickly give you sandwiches and other miscellaneous pre-packed food.
We both ordered 2 sandwiches and some "wet cake" (banh ouc?). First bite of the sandwich was extremely crispy and fresh. I peeked inside: the ingredients were all simple, just like it should be. All the meat was really fresh - crunchy in the right areas. My only problem, which was my fault, was the peppers that seemed to come out of nowhere! It was spicy, and if you aren't ready for it, you'll spend a few minutes crying.
The wet cake was really good, even when I had it the next day for lunch.
The place is great for kids on the go and it's super cheap so you can try it for yourself. Overall, I'd definitely go back if I'm in the area. Maybe pick up some new tunes while I'm there. -
Review from Nelson X.
New York, NY
6/3/2009
While on lunch break from jury duty, I stopped by to browse through a video store and noticed they also sell sandwiches and candied snacks.
What the hell, I'll try a number 1 - ham/turkey/pate sandwich. They will ask if you want it "hot". They are not referring to the bread (which is served toasty). They are actually asking if you want a dried hot pepper and a squirt of siracha.
Yowza - that was great. The hot pepper is not for the faint of heart since you will not notice the heat at first but 30 seconds later it will hit the back of your throat like a ton of bricks. The heat actually is a great contrast against the sweetness of the carrot, daikon, vietnamese sweet sauce, mayo and salty meat. I am not a fan of cilantro so I asked them to leave it off. The bread is hot and crusty. Just a fantastic sandwich with unique flavors. There is not a lot of meat on these sandwiches - I can easily eat 2. Makes a great snack or a light lunch.
Unless you live in this neighborhood, you will not find a sandwich with this combination of flavors. This place deserves a special trip and for that it gets 4 stars. This is a tiny carry out only place.
Cheers!
N
