$10 Lunch (for two!): Cali Baguette Express

Elizabeth Salaam, January 31, 2012

Say the word “sandwich” and my first thought is, Blah. I eat them, yes, but rarely do they move me. The banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches) at Cali Baguette Express, however, do move me. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. They are that good.

So far, I’ve tried the tuna, shrimp, pork, egg, and chicken sandwiches. All delicious.

Banh mi is all about the bread. Cali Baguette makes their own on the premises, and it’s super flaky and delicious. While Mini Me and I dined inside, we watched people come and go for the bread alone.

This $10 lunch features:

One egg sandwich (hold the vegetables): $2.75; one chicken sandwich (hold the jalapeño): $3.25; one giant bag of Shrimp Flavored Crackers: $1.50; one Thai iced tea: $2.50.

Though your lunch date might want her own drink, mine was happy with water.

Nhung takes the orders. Hai makes the bread.

Bizarre dolphin sculpture greets visitors at the City Heights location.

The City Heights location has a drive-through, but if you use it, you’ll miss out on the kitsch and goodies stacked on the shelves inside.

Ian Pike Jan. 31, 2012 @ 11:45 a.m.

Those shrimp crackers are the business.

Is the flakiness of the bread in the crust or the crumb? In the picture it looks like, if I were to take a bite out of it, it would have a hard, crisp crust with a soft, chewy inside. I sometimes like a moister, chewier bread on a sandwich, sometimes I prefer a crumblier one, as long as it is fresh and has a nice, crispy crust.

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