05/16/09

Good Sandwich

by Cushsf

I am not used to writing reviews for places but felt I do this one. Last time, I logged into my yelp, it gave me a list of reviews just written and the top review was for Saigon Sandwich on Larkin. I had seen their name in yelp searches because it comes up way close to the top for having too many good reviews but always assumed they got lots of good reviews because they were cheap and people were being nice to grade them good all the time. The first line of this review stated how delicious the roast pork sandwich has been, etc. I decided to check it so I can check my own assumptions about their high score and if the food is really that good. I did today and it turned out almost as I had expected. The place is a small space with room for a few people to stand and maybe a couple to sit comfortably. It is well-stocked and the two ladies behind the counter moved (almost ran) to do orders. Every person in there was ordering multiple sandwiches ($3 for 90% of them) and once the line cleared, I was at counter when the tall fat guy in front of me ordered. He wanted 3 pork sandwiches and went to sit. He came back later to add a meatball also and his soda and they were all togo. But he sat and started eating them there. I ordered the world-famous roast pork togo and nothing else. I expected it to be a typical Vietnamese sandwich and it was. White roll with enough hot roast pork to make a medium size sandwich and the vegetables that make it Vietnamese. I avoid white bread but the sandwich was good. I wouldn't eat two nor would head here just for it. I put it on my no-destination list. Sometimes, a person has no specific destination and wander. If someday I end up there this way, I have nothing against eating there but I don't know if it is worth going all the way there. If a person eats more than one, he/she just gets a lot of bread. Not??? I gave them 4 stars because they do a good job as a business start to finish but the food is not awesome. Some simple sandwich places kick as#$# and I have to give them credit by holding one star here. Try it.

• Pros: Clean, Well-lit, Efficient Service, Cheap, Good EAt
• Cons: Half-the-Meat

05/13/09

Good Vietnamese Sandwich

by kooshyar

I am not used to writing reviews for places but felt I do this one. Last time, I logged into my yelp, it gave me a list of reviews just written and the top review was for Saigon Sandwich on Larkin. I had seen their name in yelp searches because it comes up way close to the top for having too many good reviews but always assumed they got lots of good reviews because they were cheap and people were being nice to grade them good all the time. The first line of this review stated how delicious the roast pork sandwich has been, etc. I decided to check it so I can check my own assumptions about their high score and if the food is really that good. I did today and it turned out almost as I had expected. The place is a small space with room for a few people to stand and maybe a couple to sit comfortably. It is well-stocked and the two ladies behind the counter moved (almost ran) to do orders. Every person in there was ordering multiple sandwiches ($3 for 90% of them) and once the line cleared, I was at counter when the tall fat guy in front of me ordered. He wanted 3 pork sandwiches and went to sit. He came back later to add a meatball also and his soda and they were all togo. But he sat and started eating them there. I ordered the world-famous roast pork togo and nothing else. I expected it to be a typical Vietnamese sandwich and it was. White roll with enough hot roast pork to make a medium size sandwich and the vegetables that make it Vietnamese. I avoid white bread but the sandwich was good. I wouldn't eat two nor would head here just for it. I put it on my no-destination list. Sometimes, a person has no specific destination and wander. If someday I end up there this way, I have nothing against eating there but I don't know if it is worth going all the way there. If a person eats more than one, he/she just gets a lot of bread. Not??? I gave them 4 stars because they do a good job as a business start to finish but the food is not awesome. Some simple sandwich places kick as#$# and I have to give them credit by holding one star here. Try it.

• Pros: Clean, Well-lit, Efficient Service, Cheap, Good Eat
• Cons: Half-the-Meat

04/22/09

It's good but not the best

by davleus

I've eaten here since I was in high school. They've definitely raised the price and put in less meat. It's still good for the price and I still come by at least a couple of times a month when I'm craving for it. I wish they would put in more meat.

• Pros: Pork
• Cons: Not enough park

10/17/07

Best Vietnamese sandwiches I've ever had

by sallyvjj

The price is very very reasonable and the variety of selection is great too. I had chicken and my friend had pork sandwiches, both of them are very tasty! This is definitely a very cheap eat and fullfilling too!

08/29/07

Lives up to its reputation

by schnorr

Really good sandwich. I'll defer to the other learned reviewers for the specifics, and just say try it, it is really one of the best restaurants in San Francisco.

• Pros: Food! Service is busy but accurate
• Cons: Lousy neighborhood. Usually a line (but it moves pretty fast)

02/07/07

Simply the Best!

by lex72_98

I Love SS! The best Banh mi Ive had to date! When I visit SF its the first place I go after dropping off at the hotel!

• Pros: Fresh consistant ingredients!
• Cons: Can't eat more then 2 in one meal!

02/04/07

A must for any self-respecting foodie in San Francisco

by enjoythemoon

Like their peers at Truly Med and in the legendary fleet of Tonayense taco trucks, Saigon Sandwich Shop offers some of the finest "street food" in the city. The "Vietnamese sandwich" is the world's first "fusion food" - the very best of French and Vietnamese cuisines in one convenient package. The sandwich construction is essentially the same for every item on the menu (fresh French roll + jalapenos + carrots + cilantro + special sauce), but there's something here for everybody. The chicken sandwich is juicy and sweetly comforting. For the more adventurous, the pork combination with pate and sliced loin is the ultimate sandwich experience. Although they're cheap as hell ($2.25 to $2.75 each), a single sandwich easily satisfies for lunch. And yes, do try the layered green and red drinks in the cooler - a heavenly combination of sweet coconut milk and various beans, this is the forefather to Odwalla's Super Protein drink (although far superior in taste!).

• Pros: Best sandwich in San Francisco
• Cons: Beware the smelly rubber band around your sandwich!

01/29/07

The best sandwich you've never had.

by gjagiello

Maybe you, like I, consider yourself a fan of sandwiches. Maybe even an expert on them. In all my sandwich hunting, I've never had a sandwich like this, and I'm hooked. <p>The combination of cilantro, jalepenos, and carrots is the magic ingredient, and the bread choice (mini bagutte thingie) was spot on. Naturally the $2.50 price tag is welcome, but the flavor is what will bring me back more often. <p>Be sure to investigate the interesting selection of imported canned beverages, and home-made desert beverages. I had one that was colorfully layered, and tasted like strawberry coconut, with tons of coconut meat and tapioca packed in. Like Vietnamese horchata...yum!<p>Highly recommended!

11/28/06

Oops

by mgv94102

Sorry, I wrote a review about this place and realized it was the wrong restaurant...I have seen this place and the crowd does tell me one thing...I need to try it!

• Pros: Great cheap and fresh food
• Cons: only one small table...

09/15/06

Cheap Delicious Sandwiches On-The-Go

by jkregear

Hello! The cramped sandwich shop two blocks from city hall has a line out the door. Walking by you might miss it but keep your eye open because for $2.50 you can get a french roll filled with roasted meat, shredded carrots & onions, jalepenos and cilantro. The spicy fresh taste with the sweet roasted meat is a mouth-watering combination. In addition to your sandwich you have a choice of various Vietnamese pastries, candies, snacks and other pre-packaged meals. Yeah, the line is long but the wait is short and well worth it. The three women that work there are fast and methodical. The shop is small so there's no where to sit but whether you work for the government or scrounged the money to eat, you can't lose.

• Pros: Great food, fast service
• Cons: no where to chill