William T.
Yelp
I heard about East Borough seeing it listed as one of the best Banh Mis in OC, so I had my hopes up. Sadly my expectations weren't met.
I visited on a Sunday around 3:00 PM. The place itself is tucked away in a corner and is a bit of a struggle to find, especially if it's your first time visiting The CAMP like it was for me. Upon arriving, there were maybe 6-7 patrons seated amongst their tables and chairs. A small family and a couple solo diners. The decor made me worried as I immediately knew I wasn't going to get something traditional. But I held my reservations and walked up to the counter to place my order for their grilled pork banh mi and Vietnamese iced coffee.
When the food was brought out, I complimented the staff member's hair and they immediately beamed with a smile and even referred me to where they got their haircut. When going up to the counter to grab napkins, we overheard them talking to the back of house giddy about having their hair complimented. Unfortunately that was the best part of my experience.
Their coffee missed the mark and tasted watered down, both lacking in the strong roasted notes you usually get from dark roasted Robusta beans, as well as the creaminess that you usually get from the condensed milk in a well-executed cup.
The grilled pork banh mi was also lacking a lot, and is sadly on the lower rankings of the banh mis I've had. The pork itself was over cooked. The protein was leaner a cut, sliced into strips, and ate like pork loin. The sandwich also lacked in pate and the rich yellow Vietnamese mayo both of which are what I feel defines a great banh mi. The marinade was a slightly sweet soy base - different from the usual lemongrass you see at other banh mi shops. The combination of all these things made for a very dry sandwich that was lackluster in flavor and seasoning.
The clear highlight of my visit, and what truly made it worthwhile, was brightening a staff member's day. Unfortunately, the food was a distinct lowlight, and for that reason, I will not be returning.