Anne A.
Yelp
My first impression of this place was that it was really dirty. The dining area was unkempt, with trash on the floor and crumbs on the tables. The glass doors had smudges and fingerprints all over them, and the restroom was filthy. It seems like nobody is assigned to keep the dining area clean.
The restaurant was also uncomfortably hot, even with only a few tables. The air felt cooler outside whenever someone opened the door. One positive note was the self-serve iced water station, which was much-needed during this heat wave.
Despite the unkempt dining area, I was willing to give the food a shot. I ordered the crispy pork belly banh mi based on a recommendation, but the person taking my order seemed distracted. I asked for a recommendation and told him my order was for here, but he ended up charging me for two sandwiches--the pork belly and the grilled pork--and packed both to go. I had to call a friend to help me eat all that food! It was an expensive and frustrating mistake. Also, be prepared for a "guilt tip" when you pay by card.
As for the sandwich, it was worth the mess and the mix-up. The banh mi here is delicious. At around $8-$10, it might seem a little high for some accustomed to lower prices for banh mi, but in this economy, it's still a steal compared to the $15-$25 sandwiches you'll find at other places in LA.
The combination of crispy pork belly, fresh pickled vegetables, heat from the chili, and crusty baguette was a flavor explosion. It was more satisfying than any sandwich I recently had from a popular Italian deli in Pasadena.
Ultimately, you have to decide if the incredible banh mi is worth dealing with the lack of cleanliness and careless service.
It's kind a joke when you see a cluttered restaurant, kids doing homework or staff eating at the dining area or experience cold service, you know the food is going to be great at an Asian restaurant.
The food is a definite five stars, but the atmosphere and service bring the rating down. You can always take your sandwich as take away for home, office ... or the beach.
It's a gamble on whether the kitchen is cleaner than the dining area.