Marvin M.
Yelp
I happened to be near Little Saigon and felt like a little Banh Mi for lunch. When I searched Yelp and found that Mommy's in downtown was highly rated, I headed right over.
Once there, I found out that street parking in that neighborhood is ridiculous but there are paid parking lots around. Being cheap about parking, I let my partner jump out to grab us some sandwiches while I went and parked a couple blocks away on W Sta Clara.
I got the Porchetta Banh Mi ($11.95). I'm used to banh mi sandwiches costing less than $10. HOWEVER, this is not your typical little banh mi! The roll is definitely larger, and it contains about twice as much meat as many other banh mi shops give you. The flavors are so good too. The porchetta was exactly what I was craving, and the pickled veggies were so flavorfully bright that they sparkle in your mouth.
We also had Twirly Fries ($5.49) on the side. Even though the sandwich is filling enough by itself, these are a treat. Twirly Fries are not your normal french fries. They are potato pieces cut in sort of a curled wedge shape. They are kind of thick and fluffy inside, like steak fries. There are a couple of sauces on the fries, and it comes with a different dipping sauce, not ketchup. And there are fried onions sprinkled on top. A total flavor bomb!
Although I didn't get to go inside, it was reported back to me that the guy at the counter was super nice. And there is hardly any room inside to sit down. So, this is a great place for a grab-n-go lunch! Speaking of which, if you click on the "Website menu" button above, you can order and schedule a pick up time, so that you can go in, grab your lunch, and be out of there in a minute.
I'm already thinking about what I want to try there next time. I'm thinking about the Vietnamese Chicken Wings and Twirly Fries Combo, $11.95. Now, I'm trying to think of an excuse to go back to San Jose soon...