Sandwich Saigon Cafe
93 East Coast Road
http://www.sandwichsaigon.com/
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| Flat Lay |
Authentic Vietnamese Favourites
(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 7
Ambience & Setting: 5
Food & Beverage: 8
Service: 6
Value for Money: 7
Spent about SGD $16 per person.
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Sandwich Saigon Cafe was founded in May 2012 by Vietnamese born Kelly Nguyen, whose family operates a bánh mì factory in Vietnam. Having learnt the family trade of making and baking bánh mì, she insists on making it from scratch, baking it in-house from 5am daily. Naturally, their bánh mì sandwiches are amazing. But Sandwich Saigon Cafe also has other delicious and authentic Vietnamese street food favourites as well.
Ambience at Sandwich Saigon Cafe is plain and unassuming. The place is a hole-in-the-wall, a small and cramped outlet neatly lined with a few wooden tables and stools. Simple in style, it's warmly lit, with ample natural light during the day. Vibrant turquoise and white hues, along with small photographs, lend life to the walls. It's actually rather easy to miss this place if you're walking by, as there's nothing outstanding about its looks.
Service at Sandwich Saigon Cafe is completely self-service. Ordering, payment, and collection of orders is done over the counter. There isn't much opportunity for staff interaction, as you basically check-off an order chit after referencing from a menu, which is helpfully detailed with its descriptions. However, I do note that staff are quick and efficient are clearing away empty / dirty plates and tables after diners leave, and if asked, will offer recommendations on what to order.
Food at Sandwich Saigon Cafe is all about Vietnamese cuisine, in particular, their street food. Expect a variety of noodle and bread dishes. True to form, there is an emphasis on using fresh ingredients, and preparing dishes to order, which result in a short wait. Portions are large, but sized for individuals, and will fill you up nicely. Taste is above average, authentic enough to compare. Prices are affordable, even for students. Budget about SGD $16 per person for a meal here.
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| Sandwich Saigon Cafe Signage |
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| Sandwich Saigon Cafe Exterior |
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| Sandwich Saigon Cafe Interior |
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| Menu |
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| Menu |
The Beer Sapporo Premium (SGD $8.80) is an American style, bright straw golden lager, brewed by Sapporo Breweries Limited in Shibuya, Tokyo, in the Kanto region of Japan. It has mild aromas of grass, corn, hops, and malt, with a crisp, clean, and light body texture. Flavours of rice, metal, green apple, and wheat husk, with a moderate carbonation. Finish is quick, clean, with little bitterness but slight metallic undertones, yet still remains refreshing.
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| Beer Sapporo Premium (SGD $8.80) |
They charge for Iced Water (SGD $0.30) here, which is understandable, as they don't have GST or service charge, and prices are already affordable enough.
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| Iced Water (SGD $0.30) |
The Goi Cuon / Fresh Spring Rolls Prawn (SGD $3.50) features a tightly wrapped, fully stuffed, translucent and thin rice paper wrapper. Within are chewy rice vermicelli noodles, crunchy cucumber and lettuce, along with sliced fresh shrimp / prawn, having a meaty savoury sweet flavour. Bright and refreshing on the palate, it's served with a mildly spicy dipping sauce of fish sauce, light soy sauce, sugar, lime juice, and chili, on the side. Good!
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| Goi Cuon / Fresh Spring Rolls Prawn (SGD $3.50) |
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| Goi Cuon / Fresh Spring Rolls Prawn |
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| Goi Cuon / Fresh Spring Rolls Prawn |
The Pho Bo Dac Biet / Beef Noodle Special (SGD $15.90) is a hearty bowl of chewy rice vermicelli noodles, crunchy fresh vegetables (bean sprouts, white onions, spring onions, mint leaves), tender beef brisket, chewy beef sirloin, bouncy beef meat balls, and lime juice for garnish. The delicious and robust soup / broth is made by boiling beef bones and oxtail for about 8 hours, and features 5 spices; cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, star anise, and coriander seeds. The result is a bold savoury meaty flavour, with a hint of sour salty spicy herbal. Yummy. Have had better elsewhere though.
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| Pho Bo Dac Biet / Beef Noodle Special (SGD $15.90) |
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| Pho Bo Dac Biet / Beef Noodle Special |
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| Pho Bo Dac Biet / Beef Noodle Special |
The Bun Thit Nuong Cha Gio / Grilled Pork And Spring Roll Rice Noodle (SGD $11) is hearty with its generous portion. A bowl of chewy rice vermicelli noodles, crunchy fresh vegetables (lettuce, bean sprouts, cucumber, carrots), tender grilled pork chop slices, and crisp fried spring rolls, topped with peanuts. A little chili oil helps make the noodles slippery and easy to eat, while the smoky savoury herbal flavour of the marinated pork is so delicious. The filling of pork within the spring rolls is decent, but the enticing bit is the lovely crunch it has. Actually, this has more ingredients than it does noodles, slight imbalance in the ratio. Highly recommended!
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| Bun Thit Nuong Cha Gio / Grilled Pork And Spring Roll Rice Noodle (SGD $11) |
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| Bun Thit Nuong Cha Gio / Grilled Pork And Spring Roll Rice Noodle |
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| Bun Thit Nuong Cha Gio / Grilled Pork And Spring Roll Rice Noodle |
Loved the Banh Mi Saigon Special With Egg (SGD $9.80), which has a home made, crisp outside soft inside French Vietnamese baguette bread. Cracks softly when bit. Stuffed generously with juicy cucumber, crunchy carrots, tender ham, chewy sliced pork belly, and a spongy egg omelette, garnished with coriander. Notes of vegetal sweet savoury salty, with a touch of refreshing. Good!
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| Banh Mi Saigon Special With Egg (SGD $9.80) |
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| Banh Mi Saigon Special With Egg |
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| Banh Mi Saigon Special With Egg |
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| Banh Mi Saigon Special With Egg |
The Banh Mi Pork Meat Ball With Pate (SGD $9.80) features their signature, crisp outside soft inside, home made French Vietnamese baguette bread. Cracks softly when bit. Stuffed generously with juicy cucumber, crunchy carrots, meaty minced pork meat ball, and a meaty pork pate, garnished with coriander. Notes of vegetal sweet savoury salty, bold and robust in taste. Will satisfy meat lovers. Highly recommended!
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| Banh Mi Pork Meat Ball With Pate (SGD $9.80) |
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| Banh Mi Pork Meat Ball With Pate |
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| Banh Mi Pork Meat Ball With Pate |
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CONVERSATION