149119 Fri Sep 17 12:02:46 -0700 2004 11 12 Boston Area 0 799824 The Asian/Vietnamese truck by the Biology building, off Main Street and near Kendall - in search of a healthy lunch yesterday I ordered the papaya salad and it far exceeded my expectations. A big serving with shredded papaya, red onion, cilantro, ground peanuts and your choice of chicken or tofu. I went for chicken - moist shreds, seasoned with salt and pepper. The salad comes pre-dressed plus a side of rice (not necessary) all for $4. I will go back. Fri Sep 17 12:02:46 -0700 2004 0 MB 1 799827 They do a really good banh mi, as well.... Link: http://www.bistrodraw.com Fri Sep 17 12:24:59 -0700 2004 799824 0 galleygirl 2 799830 Aha! I was wondering and now I know what's for lunch today. Good looking out, girl. Fri Sep 17 12:48:58 -0700 2004 799827 0 MB 2 799862 I have to say that in spite of the long lines and long menu, I have yet to see what everyone else does in this one. (Banh mi in particular was dried out and skimpy on the veggies and seasoning, at least the day I got it) Salads are OK, it's true, but many of their other dishes seem to be "Pan-Asian'ed" to death. Bland lifeless curry, completely awful pad thai. Having just moved here from california, I often crave asian street food-style lunches (would much prefer it to felafel or pizza), but somehow, this truck has always disappointed me. What should I be ordering? Fri Sep 17 19:52:01 -0700 2004 799827 0 adam 3 799863 The salad that the OP described is great, and the tofu banh mi...That's all I get....This is as good as Asian street food gets in Cambridge, I guess.... Boston just doesn't have the street-food culture that some cities do; cheap Asian lunches are easier to find in Ctown restaurants, and the Vietnamese cafes of Dorchester. Link: http://www.bistrodraw.com Fri Sep 17 20:18:43 -0700 2004 799862 0 galleygirl 4 799945 I tried the bahn mi last week and hated it. Eh. Good enough for a $3 lunch in Kendall, but I wouldn't have it again. I also tried the tofu fresh rolls which were pretty darn good. 3 for $3 I think. I'll stick w/ the salad and the fresh rolls, I probably wouldn't even bother trying anything else. Is Pho Lemon down the street still around? Was it on Broadway? At least it's another option in the area. Mon Sep 20 10:01:54 -0700 2004 799863 0 MB 5 799947 Sorry, I should have mentioned I had them do a tofu banh mi, with the same tofu as on the salad, and probably on the fresh rolls...They looked at me a little funy, but they did it...Sorry to here that their regular one doesn't measure up. Was it a dac biet? ("special", usually cold cuts?) Link: http://www.bistrodraw.com Mon Sep 20 10:22:39 -0700 2004 799945 0 galleygirl 6 799960 I get the chicken banh mi (which is their default meat, I don't think they have the porkish stuff) regularly, it's quite good, especially with a liberal application of hot sauce. Mon Sep 20 11:38:49 -0700 2004 799947 0 Ruprecht 7 799962 Ew. Not me man. It was an overcooked, dried-out hunk o' chicken. I ended up throwing the chicken out and eating the veggies w/ sauce. I bet it would be far better w/ the tofu, but not sure I even want to take that risk. Good service there, though. When I got the salad plus fresh rolls they gave me a drink for free. Mon Sep 20 11:49:17 -0700 2004 799960 0 MB 8 799999 You're right, the chicken is usually rather "well done", but somehow that doesn't bother me in this particular application. Mon Sep 20 16:04:46 -0700 2004 799962 0 Ruprecht 9 800079 I am amused that this particular truck has not changed since I met and strongly disliked it several years ago... NOBODY is on the fence... they either love it or hate it, no so-so opinions... and that's exactly how it was described to me before I tried it the first time. Wed Sep 22 08:49:26 -0700 2004 799999 0 J Bert 10 800117 Oh, I certainly don't love it. Aside from the banh mi, there's only one or two other dishes which are at all interesting. Mostly it's just quick and cheap. Wed Sep 22 18:01:36 -0700 2004 800079 0 Ruprecht