322086 Wed Aug 30 22:25:02 -0700 2006 19 2 Los Angeles Area 0 1844271 Sandwich Express opened about two weeks ago in Reseda, in the Vietnamese cluster at Sherman Way and Reseda. It's a new-style banh mi shop, like Mr. Baguette, Lee's, Paris Sandwich, etc, but not quite as fancy. They bake their own baguettes in house, unlike the other Valley shops, which toast the bread they pulled from a bag. SE has about 15 or so different banh mi, along with the usual assortment of cellophane-wrapped snacks, spring rolls, beef stew and boba, but no pate choux or other pastries. The restaurant is fairly good sized, with seven tables and 20+ seats. They have a couple of small flat-screen TVs and a monitor over the register (doesn't appear to be working yet...and the TV was playing Dr. Phil, so what's the point?). The banh mi are about 12" long, and are mostly hollowed out, with lots of fillings, including dressed carrot and daikon, cilantro, jalapeno, and thin-sliced cucumber. Tastes like they use a Kewpie-style sweet mayo as well. Banh mi prices range from $2.00 to $2.75, with baguettes for either $1.00 or $0.75. I've tried three banh mi over the past few days: --Special Combo (dac biet -- asst. cold cuts, pate, etc.): very loose, light pate, with good flavor. Loaded with meats and bits. --grilled pork: five-spice tasting pork. Somewhat fatty, but not gristly. --shredded chicken: regular old chicken, reasonably moist. The baguette was sightly stale one day, but the other times it was quite good; tender with a decent crust. The carrots were a bit thicker than I usually like them, and the daikon a bit sparse. On the whole, I quite liked them, with the Combo the best so far, but all quite edible. In summary, this isn't quite a Valley Blvd. or Bolsa Ave. banh mi shop, but it's a big step up from the existing banh mi shops in the Valley. Sandwich Express 18575 Sherman Way (Amigo...just west of Reseda Blvd.) 7:00 am to 8:30pm Wed Aug 30 22:25:03 -0700 2006 20545 yclops 1 1847323 Nice post. Thanks. Fri Sep 01 00:28:33 -0700 2006 1844271 10134 David Kahn 2 3509747 hey so i found out that the owners of Calimex opened a new place.Its called The Wok and Grill. They have all types of food like burgers, shrimp tempura, teriyaki, and so much more. I tried the pastrami sandwich and it was really good. Wed Mar 19 21:32:32 -0700 2008 1847323 176242 lambchops 1 1847689 Thanks -- banh mi is my new addiction and I'd love to try as many places in the area as I can! Fri Sep 01 03:55:08 -0700 2006 1844271 12384 boogiebaby 1 1854239 Man, this was driving me crazy when I first read it. I was just on that corner today, jonesin' for a banh mi, when I discovered my beloved La Baguette was closed. (I guess they have to take a day off sometime...) So I wandered into the Calimex grocery, remembering that someone here had recommended the banh mi in the corner of the store by the door not long ago. I bought it and ate it in my car, engine and AC running (it was 104 outside). It was a Grilled BBQ Pork. It was fabulous. I can't say it was better than La Baguette or worse; it was different. (I believe I always get the #4, BBQ pork, with all the pink stuff.) La Baguette's is sweeter on the BBQ sauce. This is more like the Vietnamese version of carnitas. More salty/peppery pork; the sweetness comes with the mayo and pickled radish/carrots. Anyhoo, the crazy part: Where is this Sandwich Express you're reviewing? Answer: Same address as Calimex grocery. It's the same place. Right? Tue Sep 05 05:14:30 -0700 2006 1844271 12451 pezworld 2 1868677 Nope. You've got another banh mi place to explore. It's about 1/2 block to the West. Calimex is at 18525, Sandwich Express is 18575 Sherman Way. It's a free-standing joint on the NE corner of Sherman Way and Amigo. Enjoy! Mon Sep 11 17:30:42 -0700 2006 1854239 20545 yclops 3 1981743 Thank you! I went today! (And the Calimex stand is gone, as is Calimex.) Sandwich Express vs. my beloved La Baguette: - Decor: Sandwich Express much better. New, two LCD screen TVs, lots of tables, windows, etc. - People: La Baguette -- a couple owns it and is very friendly. Sandwich Express has a bunch of kids behind the counter. - Price: Same same - $2.50 for a typical sandwich, both of comparable size. - Sandwich: it depends. I ordered a grilled pork sandwich at both places (#4 at La Baguette). - Baguette -- better at Sandwich Express, because it's freshly baked. - Pork: La Baguette. The BBQ sauce is orgasmic. It's sweeter than the sauce at Sandwich Express, which is saltier. That one is good, but La Baguette's is better. - Inside the sandwich: about the same. I give the edge to La Baguette, because of the pork. But they're close and both lovely. Mon Oct 30 02:21:33 -0800 2006 1868677 12451 pezworld 4 1981987 Calimex Market is gone? Say it ain't so! I think that I posted once before that when the Thai produce at Bangluck was awful a couple of months ago that I wandered into Calimex and was surprised to find that they had everything thet I needed with the exception of kaffir lime leaves. Even bags of the elusive, ripe and red Thai Bird Chilis! Oh well! The folks at LA Baguette are lovely and their banh mi with the assorted meats (including what GF calls mystery meat) is darn tasty when SGV isn't an option. Mon Oct 30 04:48:07 -0800 2006 1981743 10864 sel 1 2019760 Calimex is now an actual real Latin market, not just one in name only. It's called something else. No stands there - at least not yet. Hit the Sandwich Express again Saturday; original assessment stands: better bread, not as good pork as La Baguette. (Felt guilty passing on La Baguette on a Saturday, but noon-hour parking there is a bitch!) Tue Nov 14 05:34:35 -0800 2006 1844271 12451 pezworld 1 2189467 We thoroughly enjoyed the grilled pork banh mi today, Sunday. No, it's not Westminster, but it is a great choice if you are anywhere in this area; it's the real deal, and the best we have found in the San Fernando Valley. We were treated very nicely, and everyone is working hard to please. At our request, they sliced some jalapenos for us and placed them in a separate bag on the side, but all the other veggies were on the sandwich. The Vietnamese iced coffee was strongly delicious, and we will return! Sandwich Express 18575 Sherman Way in Reseda Just west of Reseda #818.757-7698 They are open every day, 7:30am-8:00pm, and -- as yclops, the original poster mentioned -- they do bake their own bread. Mon Jan 15 04:02:54 -0800 2007 1844271 14014 liu 1 2291072 A few months ago I first stumbled into a wondrous bread factory spewing out the freshest baguettes, made into the most original tasting sandwiches I was in "little Saigon" (Rosemead area I think) and I am still not sure of the name of the place. (a lil help please) Well after a little chowhound research I found out the name of the sandwiches at least: bahn mi. Of course this lead to the discovery that I could actually get these sandwiches in the valley! I went To Sandwich Express this evening for my latest addiction (is three sandwiches enough for an addiction?) Sandwich Express is a pretty good copy of the sandwich I had before, the fresh bread really helps and the pork was tasty but lacking in the "bbq" flavor that I love, I am going to have to make a trek out to Rosemead for some comparison tasting.... Is it worth checking out La Baguette or any of the other Valley locations? Tue Feb 13 23:50:17 -0800 2007 1844271 68007 wizardx 2 2291895 I alternate between La Baguette, good sandwiches from really nice couple even though they don't bake their own bread and the newer Sandwich Express where the sandwiches are tasty on fresh baked bread and I can get the baguettes for 75 cents each for my kids! Wed Feb 14 09:12:42 -0800 2007 2291072 10864 sel 1 2883006 Banh mi SFV update: Yesterday I was a little irked with Sandwich Express, which had run out of grill pork (#6) for my second visit in a row. (Girl behind counter apologizes immediately to me upon seeing me... I'm way too predictable!) As they were also out of sardines, I walked over to La Baguette, feeling guilty that I hadn't been there in some time. Naturally, BBQ pork (#4) was excellent, even though the baguette wasn't freshly baked like Sandwich Express'. But on the way back I noticed that market on Sherman Way, one block west of Reseda - the one that was Calimex but was an Asian market, that became a latin market, and that went out of business. It is reopening soon (Sept?) as Calimex Saigon, and it will be Asian. And it will have banh mi! OK, I realize what a banh mi geek I am, but whatever. BTW, the shop a block or two further west on Sherman Way (Banh Mi Van?) isn't very good, unfortunately. Sun Aug 26 11:59:46 -0700 2007 1844271 12451 pezworld 2 2883405 pezworld -- Thanks for the info on Calimex Saigon Asian market. Do you know anything about it? Is it a chain? What else might they carry? I will continue to do a drive-by until it opens, as I would love to have an Asian market within 25 miles of home! Sun Aug 26 14:46:45 -0700 2007 2883006 14014 liu 3 2883697 Hey liu, there is the New Bangluck Market on Reseda Blvd. that shares the same parking lot as Calimex. Usually their stuff is ok, very occasionally the produce is tired and none of it is labeled with more than "Produce" so you have to know what the items are (or speak Thai)! http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&um=1&q=bangluck+market&near=Reseda,+CA&fb=1&view=text&latlng=34201799,-118536040,12050438174598453491 Sun Aug 26 16:47:16 -0700 2007 2883405 10864 sel 3 2884274 I don't think it's a chain. It's about the same size as Bangluck market, mentioned above. I don't know if it will be any better, but it's yet another banh mi option in the neighborhood. As for nearby Asian markets, you also have: Greenland (Korean) on White Oak (and Vanowen or Sherman Way??? I forget) Galleria (Korean), Reseda/Devonshire in Northridge India Sweets and Spices, Sherman Way west of Topanga 99 Ranch, Sepulveda/Victory Sun Aug 26 20:21:11 -0700 2007 2883405 12451 pezworld 4 4322280 I stopped at LA Baguette on Sunday and looked for Sandwich Express but didn't see it. Is it still open? I almost missed LA Baguette too so I may have just not seen it. This was my first banh mi experience and I will definitely keep going back. Tue Jan 13 10:37:57 -0800 2009 2884274 163246 tofuburrito 5 4349277 Sandwich Express is still there. Hit it for lunch today as I'm back in town to escape the frozen tundra of Colorado (and do a little work in between meals to justify my presence). Didn't quite seem up to snuff, but that could be due partly to getting the last baguette of the morning batch and party due to the new sandwich artist behind the counter. You may want to give Van's Sandwiches a try as well. Usually not quite as good as La Baguette or SE IMHO, but the banh mi dac biet is worth chowing on. 18625 Sherman Way. Sad to see that CaliMex is shuttered again. In its brief second turn as a Vietnamese market, their banh mi were superb. The girl who made them claimed that she tried to source the best ingredients - I was skeptical but quickly convinced after a few bites. Oh well. So it goes. Thu Jan 22 17:22:39 -0800 2009 4322280 20545 yclops 6 4350675 Thanks, I found it on a second drive by. As the fellow chowhounders suggested the baguette rocked. The totality of the sandwich was very good as well. To me it's a flip of the coin between Sandwich Express and LA Baguette. Fri Jan 23 08:33:53 -0800 2009 4349277 163246 tofuburrito 1 4401373 I went for lunch today. The combo sandwich was very good. Should have asked for some nouc cham which I like on sandwiches. I appreciate that they scoop the baguette. I wish these shops would use a pepper other than jalapeno which I find imparts a taste different from those used in Vietnam. They use a red pepper that is much hotter. Mon Feb 09 12:42:51 -0800 2009 1844271 264615 hpyglf