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Categories: Sandwiches, Vietnamese [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Little Italy, NolitaBowery (J, M)
Spring St-Lafayette St (6)
Grand St (B, D)
"ok... very good food here. I would say, bordering on 'home style/ gourmet', because the taste has that very personal thought-out feel. And…" read more »
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My East Coast Saigon-Saigon ( the $2, or is it more now? version in SF ).
Tasty fresh bread, yummy spiced sauce, crisp veggies, flavor-burst in your mouth cilantro and well-prepared pork.
Definitely check this out as your downtown sandwich option!
For under 5 bucks you are fed and fed well.
This is easily a Five-Star-Bahn-Mi Spot in NYC!!!! Hand down!
I"m talking Five Star like 5 Star Basketball Camp. This place is the cream of the crop that rises to the top. If you haven't given it a shot, I strongly urge you too.
The 5 Star Reasoning:
5 Star for Value
5 Star for Quality
5 Star for Service
5 Star for Taste
5 Star for Awesomeness (That's right I said it!)
As a child, I remember my parents buying sugar cane My dad warned me not to touch the top of the stalk but of course, I didn't listen. Next thing you knew, I was crying from the pain of something stuck in my eye. To this day, I have no idea what the culprit was and of course my dad doesn't remember.
The sugar cane juice experience I had here was not nearly as eventful. Ho hum. But the real reason people come here is for the sammiches, which are A-OK. I found the bread to be too flaky, though.
Quite simply, Banh Mi Saigon does it better. The flavors are bolder, which is crucial to the complementary nature of a banh mi sandwich. They also cut the sandwiches in half, which means you can bite right into those intense flavors instead of having to first gnaw past the crusty ends of the bread. And finally, the service is lightning quick.
But ignore what you just read so that there's more Banh Mi Saigon for me.
My friend took me here and it was the first time I ever ate banh mi. Shame on mi for taking so long to try it. It is crazy delicious. I think I spent $5 on something called the house special. It was delightful and surprisingly light but filling. I look forward to my next trip here. Cheap eats FTW!
When I was a vegetarian, I loved this place because they had vegetarian options. I LOVED LOVED LOVED the Veggie Curry Chicken and the Vegan Chicken with Lemongrass. So good, so filling, so cheap. Their bread is always the best!! I love this place.
No longer a vegetarian, I always go for the #1. Always fresh and tasty and meaty!!!
I want one right now!
I came the day before yesterday for dinner, after a long walk from my apartment... I had the Bahn Mi with Fish -- it was really good. The bread was fresh and flaky.The meat was tender and flavorful. There was a lot of tasty cilantro. There was an extremely long slice of wonderful cucumber. The radish and carrots were just right... I asked for my sandwich with both hot sauce and hot peppers, mmm... I ate it sitting in one of the chairs out front, the crumbs fell all over my lap but I didn't care -- I enjoyed a basil seed drink which was great, the seeds were large and delicious, the juice was neither too sweet nor too watery mmm... I walked back home completely satisfied... 4 stars.
I came the yesterday for lunch, after a long walk from my apartment... I had the Bahn Mi with Pate & Chai & Vietnamese Salami -- boy oh boy did I love this sandwich, everything was perfect... Both hot sauce and hot peppers made it pretty much the best sandwich ever... I really like Cha (which is a sort of a big pork roll that's sliced), I've actually bought about a dozen of these over the years, and the one they use on the sandwich here is really good... And the pate, which isn't exactly what I'm used to, was incredibly flavorful -- not at all sweet or salty, seasoned just-right... I enjoyed a large coconut water and walked back home extremely satiated... 5 stars.
I'm coming back, probably tomorrow afternoon, I have my set on the Bahn Mi with Vietnamese Meatballs and a side of Papaya Salad.
The service is really friendly... There can be a bit of a line, but the wait is never very long, thankfully they work quick in the kitchen. .. 4 stars.
So, an overall average of 4 stars -- though with a few more visits I'm starting to get the feeling that perhaps it'll sometime soon be moved up to 5 stars, because I really like this place a lot -- it just might be my new favorite place to grab sammys, though I wish it were a little more grungy or "exotic" to add a little zing when I bring friends and/or dates.
It was pouring so my friend and I ducked into the closer Banh Mi place out of the two I had in mind. As a first timer for Banh Mi I really had no complaints. It didn't exceed my high expectations but met them considerably with the $3.95 house special. (+4)
First thoughts: the bread was deliciously toasty and crispy and the pork was juicy and warm. Because of the rain, we stood inside near the entrance to eat and in a lickety-split a friendly worker quickly brought out two mismatched chairs for us to use. How nice! It is this small gesture that makes me give this place 5 stars.
Despite recent renovations and slicking-up, this is still the favorite of Manhattan banh mi delis for me. You can't go wrong with the sandwiches or the friendly family that serves them. With the renovations, came a new awning which simply reads "Saigon" now, but this is still the same place and people.
This is what banh mi should be. The bread is right. Toasted right and shaped right. It works but does not hide or mask the ingredients. The secret is definitely in the sauce, which is mixed in with the ground beef so perfectly on the #1 House special ($3.95).
The best in Chinatown is of course not the best in the city, but is definitely a close second.
Got the roast pork...I literally could not have been happier the rest of the day, even after the screen to my iPhone got smashed, I was riding a pork/baguette/pickled veggie high that wouldn't quit.
-1 star for no seats and minimal cukes on sandwich...other than that..:awesome,
"Banh Mi....She…
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Oi choi oi, what a sandwich! I've eaten Banh Mi from Ho Chi Minh City to San Francisco and, I've gotta say, I really love this spot! Crispy-on-the-outside-chewy-on-the-inside baguettes, tender roast pork, fresh cilantro (a ton of it!), pickled carrots, lots of jalapenos (if you ask for them, which I strongly recommend) and a nice long slice of cucumber all held together, in true Banh Mi style, by deli paper and a rubber band.
My only complaints are about the pork pate (too mild) and the mayonnaise (it doesn't have the sweet, almost hazelnut-y taste that you should expect from your Banh Mi).
Finally, the service is friendly and efficient despite the sometimes hectic pace inside the cramped storefront. Also, the older guy who has been there every time I've gone in is a real sweetheart, so give him a big smile!
Best vegetarian/vegan banh mis. Can't go wrong with any of the vegetarian choices -- tho I think the curried vegan chicken might have a slight edge over the reg vegan chicken.
Only reason it gets 4 instead of 5 stars is that the bread could be better. That said, the quality of the sammies and the pickled vegetables can't be beat.
This place is great, my 2nd favorite banh mi place (after the one in Sunset Park Brooklyn). The only down side is that there is no bubble tea, which is a downer.
My second attempt to find a replacement Banh Mi joint in chinatown now that my favorite place closed (A Chau). The place is tiny but packed with people waiting or ordering their Viet sammiches. I ordered the number 1. It was good with pickled carrots and daikon, cilantro and even a cucumber. The bread was nice and crispy. What failed for me in this sandwich was the "grilled pork" which didnt taste fresh or as high quality as I am used to. While it is cheap, viet sammiches usually are but I have definitely have had better. It was decent but I feel I need to keep looking for something that comes closer to the lovely sandwiches I would get at A Chau!
They also have a nice selection of more vietnamese food such as dessert, pork rolls, and sugarcane drinks! I will definitely have to try the sugarcane on my next visit.
SHHHHHHH!!
Don't tell McDonald's about banh mi sandwiches...
Or else they might try to sell something called a McBanhwich, and that would be bad.
At least, it wouldn't be nearly as good as the grilled pork and Vietnamese salami sandwich I had here today.
Best Bahn Mi sandwiches in Manhattan! I was introduced to this hidden treasure long ago and was intantantly befallen with an insatiable crave! At one point, I was having these once a week - alas, I don't frequent the shop as often anymore, but when I'm in the area I always try to get my fix. Starting at $4/sandwich, you can't beat the price and quality here. The ground pork mix is great, the bread is just right - well toasted to give it that nice "crunch."
There is no seating here, but I wouldn't really consider it a minus. These sandwhiches are meant to be easily transporteted to a location of your choosing. I recommend taking a short walk to the nearby Roosevelt Park - pop a squat on any of the benches there and enjoy a soccer game whilst devouring the freshly made goodness!
Mmm.. I think I'll go get one soon! You should too!
had the #1 again. this time the spice sauce was across the whole sandwich & they put some moderately hot peppers inside as well
so up to 4*
really 3 and half stars
i had #1 spicy
bread was awesome, sandwich was yummy, nice pickled cukes and…
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Saigon used to be a sunny staple in the neighborhood.
Whenever you would fancy a lemongrass or chicken sandwich or the house special (pleasantly overloaded with pork) you knew you could always walk into this reliable little deli, overflowing with inexpensive sandwiches, rolls and neon colored sweets.
Their delicious hot coffee with condensed milk was $0.75!
It feels like a million years ago...
Now you can watch a Sergio Leone movie on the TV that hangs on the wall by the window while waiting in line, but I believe this improvement doesn't justify the new prices.
Every time I visit NYC, I really have no idea what to do. First I wonder around to see if I bump into anything interesting. But I always & eventually turn back to Bostonains' vice - Irish pubs and Dunkin' Donuts, .
This time I tried my best of my best to stay away from those. And when my patience ran out after wondering around Manhattan aimlessly, I found myself standing in front of this place.
For $4.25, I was already getting almost foot long bread which I found wicked reasonable. And inside, quantity of pickled veggies, cilantro, BBQ pork and Vietnamese salami was so generous.
Pardon my rude manner, I started eating it while my aimless wandering in Manhattan. But when I took the first bite, I had to stop. Crustiness of outside of the bread, chewiness of the inside, crunchiness of pickled veggie, nerve calming scent of super fresh cilantro, seductively sweetness of BBQ pork...
It was too much for me to carry on walking.... :)
My Favorite NYC Banh Mi!
I ordered the #1 ($3.95) and it was delicious. At any Vietnamese place, be it a Pho place or Banh Mi joint, sticking with #1 is usually a safe bet. The bread for the banh mi was really good and the grilled pork + pate made me think I was in Cali eating a Vietnamese sandwich.
Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich (mis-labeled on Yelp as "Banh Mi So 1", that was the old place, same address) has 17 different types of banh mi, none of which will break the bank!
I also ordered a salty lemonade ($2), which was okay. I might order one of their pre-made side dishes, like the green papaya salad ($3).
I just wish there are more than two seats out front. Inside there are no seats. I hate to go around the corner to sit on a stoop to chow down my Vietnamese 'wich. Chow down I did.
i've been coming here for years, long before the current banh mi explosion, and i think it's still the best in the city, even with the kitchen upgrade. banh mi's are truly one of the world's great sandwhich experiences. chicken is my fave. it's take-out only. and CHEAP. i like to walk up to the little park on the corner of mulberry and spring to eat on a bench.
went back 9/2/09 for lunch--packed with hipsters, so bit of a longer wait, but sandwiches are even better (bigger, better baguette, thus more filling(s)). the house veggie left us more than full.
a wonderful banh mi. it was my first banh mi experience, and immediately became a lunchtime staple when i worked in soho. even when my colleagues were being snotty and antisocial they'd still hand me a five to pick them up a sandwich, because it never fails.
they use small, truly hot peppers, and will add extra if you like. the meats are top notch, especially the cha, and the bread is fresh, airy and tender with a crisp crust. they also often have shrimp rolls to buy a la carte, busting with herbs, shrimp and rice vermicelli- a lovely accompaniment.
sometimes there is a bit of a wait- if you are starving you can duck into the chinese bakery next door and get a pretty bangin bbq pork bun for 75 cents to tide you over.
variety, value, friendly service, but most of all, one of the world's most perfect sandwiches. a wonderful thing.
My girlfriend and I got two sandwiches and a coconut water ($3.00). We got a #1 House Special ($3.95) and a #7 Meatball ($4.50).
Why am I giving equal emphasis to the price as I did to the food I ordered? Because price is integral to this review. If the food had cost more, the star rating would be less.
But the cost wasn't more and the food was pretty damn tasty. I feel fuller and more satisfied than I do after eating a $5 Footlong from Subway, and I have as much as $1 extra in me ol' pocket!
Good flavors. Crunchy bread. Upstate New York prices.
Hell yes.
At least one day a week I go here for lunch. It's cheap, it's small, and what they do, they do well.
It's one of those sandwiches where each ingredient is completely distinct, but once it all hits your tongue, it comes together so harmoniously you come-to 15 minutes later with an empty wrapper wondering what happened.
And 4 bucks? Can't beat that with a stick.
I guess there's some sort of rivalry among the yelpers about which banh mi place is better: this one or Banh Mi Saigon (BMS) the place around the corner and a block down on Mott St . I've tried both and I like the place on Mott St better. Here's why:
The pork at this place, while being more abundant, has a strangle flavor. It seems overly seasoned and spiced. Whatever the taste is, I don't like it.
The bread is better at BMS because it's slightly toasted. I believe a banh mi is supposed to be crusty on the outside and warm and light on the inside. That can only be done by having a proper baguette or slightly toasting it. The flaky crust is indeed a plus, but I know some will beg to differ because it can tear up the roof of your mouth. Plus, BMS serves the sandwich cut in half.
More cucumber and cilantro at BMS.
Service was the same at both places. Friendly and efficient.
Best banh mi in the city, pretty much hands down. Perfectly crusty bread, pork is delicious, pickled veggies added some great rice vinegar tang, and the extra chilis rounded out this winner
Banh Mi right in the face!
Unreal sandiwch
So I came here because I couldn't find Banh Mi Saigon down the street. I got a house special, I was disappointed that there's no liver pate in the sandwich. All in all, this place is just okay. It gets 3 stars.
Boyfriend and I have been on a bad streak with fancy restaurants and always disappointed. So after our usual meandering down in Chinatown for groceries, we stopped by this place for the first time after being super duper intrigued and curious about the banh mi.
I love me a good sandwich and this was the best freaking sandwich I have ever eaten in my entire life.
We split a #1- the meat was well seasoned and salty sweet enough to complement the perfectly slightly pickled carrots and radish. The bread was crusty on the outside, and gave way easily with a satisfying crunch to the plentiful filling.
We also had the chicken salad which was also really good as well as the taro and coconut milk dessert. The dessert we were not super into- being Filipino, it wasn't like our coconut milk based desserts (which are awesome). We washed everything down with a fresh coconut water drink.
After trying the Jewelry store banh mi (which was also quite good), boyfriend and I decided that we liked this place's banh mi better. Plus, the old guy behind the counter was super cool in explaining the desserts.
Let's just say I'm eagerly anticipating the next time we meet again, #1 banh mi. Very eagerly.
Had the #1 today since I was in the neighborhood. This place has been hyped so much that I was prepared to hate it--ready to cite any number of places in Los Angeles that would handily dispatch Saigon's sad little attempt at banh mi.
I was wrong. It kicked ass. I'm glad I was wrong. Crusty bread, fresh fillings, nice service, I am already thinking of when I can roll down there next.
I am a biiiiiig fan of Vietnamese sammitches. Especially when they're
1.) Good
2.) Cheap
3.) The previous two combined
$3.95 got me a grilled pork and cha (sliced pork) sandwich, loaded with meat. With sliced carrots, fresh cucumber and a tasty sauce, this was a ridiculously good deal. Add a soda, $4.80 for lunch. Who says NYC has to be expensive?
Boo-yak-ah-shaw. (that's the borat sound)
awe F yeah.
this was the much deserved break that i needed from my paleolithic diet.
BREAD
yeaaaaaaHHHHh.
spicy vegetarian special and the beef too.
oh yes.
so good.
so cheap.
delicious.
ok. I'm vietnamese. From california (the largest vietnamese population outside vietnam). I've tried banh mi all over and I have to agree with a few reviewers, this place is ok for your banh mi fix, but nowhere near 5 star worthy.
I have a few problems, mainly the fact that they don't have xa xiu (bbq sliced pork), but a xa xiu like ground pork.
Personally, I don't like the standard large breads that most american banh bi places use. There are a few places in California and in Paris that use french style baguettes, which are a bit thinner. Just a small preference. But other than that, not a bad place. I'd say the Dac Biet (#1) is the best of all the ones they offer.
Hands down my favorite banh mi place. The vegan lemongrass chicken sandwich kinda makes me cry a little bit it's so good. Also, seriously? We're in a recession and $5 for a sandwich the size of your forearm is a pretty sweet deal.
This was my first experience with Vietnamese sandwiches and I have to say it was one of the best sandwiches I have ever had. I only rated 4 because this was my first time so I have no point of reference.
The sandwich I got was the #5, two types of pork, carrot, cilantro, cucumber and chili sauce all on a hot baguette. Somehow the bread is hot but the stuff between the bread is not, pure magic! and pure yumminess.
There are 3 chairs out front for sitting and chomping but I'm not sure that counts as outdoor seating in the traditional sense.
I will be back for more, hopefully soon!
This is the same review that I wrote for "Saigon Vietnamese Sandwiches" and I'm re-pasting it here because 1) this is the most amazing sandwich place ever, 2) I'm not sure which one is the actual name of the store, but they're the same place.
"Yesterday I spent $21 on a delicious lunch that left me full and happy, today I got the same feeling for $3.95. Delicious sandwich with fresh ingredients and a very good roll. The size is more than enough for a healthy meal, especially considering the price.
If only this place was closer to my work, I would be here much more regularly. As is, a 30 minute walk is almost too much, but not quite. Since they have no inside seating, as it gets colder outside, I'll probably be less likely to come here. But this is the ideal to-go sandwich."
Seriously, if you want your mind blown, come here. If you'd prefer your mind left alone, stay away.
Yesterday I spent $21 on a delicious lunch that left me full and happy, today I got the same feeling… Read more »
Ordered the Classic Banh Mi. I must say it is pretty good a definite competitor to Banh Mi Saigon. I must agree with Vivian H. in that the bread is better (softer), the pork/pate mix is better (not as hard and sweet) than Banh Mi Saigon but lacks the tastiness of the pickled carrots and daikon radish of Banh Mi Saigon.
The Vietnamese iced coffee is better than Banh Mi Saigon because it is less diluted.
Decisions, decisions.
Verdict: Yay! I'm a fan.
The business card I grabbed says Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich, not Viet-Nam Banh Mi So 1. Same address. This bothers me. I'm calling it Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich.
I refuse to ever spend $5.25 again on banh mi (thanks Hanco's) unless it's year 2060 and inflation has finally effected the price of banh mi. The big contenders for best banh mi on yelp are Banh Mi Saigon Bakery (BMSB) and Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich (SVS). Today I got banh mi from both for an impromptu banh mi throwdown. I'll tell you upfront that they're both excellent and better than that ripoff Hanco's.
Stuff to know about Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich:
- Service without a smile
- They sell Snapple Apple (happy happy joy joy)
- They don't cut the banh mi in half
- They understand that no veggies means no veggies
- They are more generous with the meats
- They sell Men's Pocky
BMSB SVS Notes
Price X - $3.75 v. $3.95
Bread X - SVS was a tad too chewy
Flavor X - bolder flavor at BMSB
Service X - Much friendlier at BMSB
Order Correctness X - I asked for no veggies
Meat Quality X - SVS pork very moist
Meat to Bread Ratio X - SVS gives more meat
Presentation X - BMSB cuts it in half
Speed X - BMSB is super fast!
Cantonese-owned X X - What is up with that?
The meat categories are weighted heavily so it's a tie for me. I suppose I'll just have to alternate my banh mi runs between the stores.
Yep. It got the 5 stars. Well done gentlemen behind the counter! The only thing I must do next time is ask for the sandwich to be extra-spicy as I feel that they held back thinking "this white kid can't handle the heat". I wanted the heat!!
Great and amazingly cheap food!
Let it be known that I have officially found the BEST VIETNAMESE SANDWICH ever.
I don't take my food lightly. In fact, I take it a little too seriously sometimes. When my guy told me that this was in fact, the BEST he'd ever had...I was admittedly a little skeptical. I never believe it until I taste it.
Again (this is becoming a theme)...he was right.
I took one bite of their #1 (house special) sammich and was done for. My mouth watered for more. I could hardly come up for air in between bites. I'm talking, down and dirty good (and dirt cheap at that - $4 a pop). Unfortunately they were out of the fresh sugar cane juice that I'd also heard raves about. But the guava juice more than did the trick.
I can only hope, in my heart of hearts, that I will find a place as good as this in the Bay Area.
'Cause if not...you very well might find me packin' up my bags and heading to the Big Apple. All because of Saigon.
Are you looking for a delicious snack or small meal that won't strain your recession-tightened wallet? This bahn mi shop will offer exactly that.
A bahn mi is a Vietnamese sandwich made from a crusty French baguette filled with meat, fresh cucumber, marinated carrots, cilantro, and a sweet mayo. My favorite meats are the roast pork, chicken, and pate with sliced pork roll.
If you cannot decide between which of these cool and savory sandwiches to eat, treat yourself and buy two--as most sandwiches are only $3.95.
Neighborhood: Little Italy
Category: Vietnamese
Neighborhood: Chinatown
Category: Delis
Neighborhood: Chinatown
Category: Vietnamese
Neighborhood: Chinatown
Category: Bakeries
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Vietnamese
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