*** Fusion Food and Boba Cafe has closed.
I guess I'm a bit con-"fused" about Fusion Food & Boba Cafe. A reader of this blog and Chowhound lurker Renee, sent me an Email (Thanks Renee!) about Fusion. She specifically noted that the Banh Mi at Fusion was very good. With this info I made a trip to Fusion. What I found was a "hip" Cafe, doing a brisk business in Boba and other snacks. It reminded me of all those "tea" places that I saw young Asians going to in Los Angeles.
Like I mentioned Fusion was doing a brisk business, people playing board games, watching the plasma television, or just hanging out at the outside tables; eating steamed buns or "banana rolls" , which looked like a take-off on turon (banana lumpia) with ice cream, all drinking various slushies and coffee drinks. The posted menu also said that Fusion offers free wireless internet access with a purchase. So automatically this place was totally what I was not; young and hip. Also, I couldn't find "Banh Mi" on the menu. What there was is something called "Fusion Sandwiches". I figured that this must be it. The prices of the sandwiches ranged from $2.50 (one item) to $3.50(two meat combo), to $4.50 for a Chesseburger Deluxe and Fries(?). Because my Banh Mi "standard" is based on the "Dac Biet" , I thought that I'd order the special with Ham and Pork Loaf, though at $3.50 it would be the most expensive Banh Mi type sandwich I'd ever have ordered.
Sure looks like a Banh Mi, doesn't it? The good; the carrot and radish pickles were tasty and the amount of veggies was generous and I enjoyed the jalapeno. The bad I'm afraid, outnumbered the good. The bread wasn't toasted, the meats were tasteless and disappointing. I pulled out the ham and it looked and tasted no different from the cheapie packaged 79 cent ham I'd buy at the market. The strange? It really looked like this was french roll, but not a baguette, but a french dip roll! Very strange indeed, though it never said anywhere that this was a Vietnamese Banh Mi, did it? At this point I thought that I'd cut my losses and let Fusion fade into the back ground.
What changed my mind was an Email from Renee, and she included a photo! And darn if the photo of the Veggie Sandwich didn't look like a Banh Mi! So I found myself back at Fusion, and this time I ordered a simple BBQ Pork Sandwich ($2.50):
This was a bit more like it! The roll was toasted, though still not a baguette, in my opinion. The pork was tasty and as before the veggies were good and there was a nice piece of jalapeno. Overall a decent sandwich. I especially liked that there was more cilantro leaves than stems, makes for an easier eating sandwich. There was mayo on this version as well, this actually added to the taste. Not bad at all. Unfortunately I ordered the Popcorn Chicken ($2.49):
On the menu it says "spicy & crispy". I can tell you in this case it was neither of those. The crispy I can understand, I live 15 minutes away. But even if the what looked like the corn starch based batter couldn't stand up to a 15 minute drive, all would still be okay if the chicken tasted great. Unfortunately, it wasn't even mediocre. The chicken was really bland with hardly any seasoning. I was hoping for something, give me the slight sweetness of mochiko, maybe some salt, maybe some herbs, chili pepper, anything….. I hate to say this, but KFC is better than this. The aioli included is a must, just to give this some taste. I think something was lost in trying to please all palates on this one.
So what's the verdict? Seems that certain sandwiches here are pretty good, and the snacks seem to be what to get. There are some dishes that are "dumbed down" to make them somewhat con-"fused". The menu is very extensive, everything from vegetarian items, to curry, to noodle soups. It's a really difficult to manage a menu like this. All the drinks here seem to be really popular. The service is really friendly and helpful. Maybe someone has an idea what I should order here?
Fusion Food & Boba Cafe
8038 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92111
P.S. Thank You for the recommendation Renee!
You know what? I think I’ve been here. Or maybe every boba place looks the same.
Is this place next to Pho Bolsa? Or a Vietnamese restaurant called something like that?
Hi Elmo – Ha, guess all these Boba places do look the same. This one is on Clairemont Mesa Blvd – next to one of those something-Berto Taco shops.
Here a Bahn Mi is on what I would call a vietnamese roll not a baguette and they have a type of mayonaise on them.
Hi Clare – So there are “regional” differences in Banh Mi, I guess….
hmm
have you had a look here?
http://www.noodlepie.com/blog/sarnies/index.html
The bread rolls we get are pretty much identical to these
Hi Clare – hmmm – it says “The vendor hacks up a kebab and stuffs it inside a banh my (baguette).” Looks like a baguette to me, maybe the one’s here are not quite as large – but looks like a baguette??? The first roll here was not a baguette, like I’m used to, but was instead a soft doughy almost french dip style roll.
Of course I don’t think that the French would consider this a “baguette de tradition”. But from Wikipedia: “Bánh mì (pronounced ba-EEN mee), sometimes also referred to as a “Vietnamese hoagie”, is a Vietnamese submarine sandwich made with a French-inspired baguette, small slices of pickled carrots, daikon, onions, cilantro, and choice of barbecued pork, paté, and other meats. The constrasting flavors and textures of the sandwich — as well as its relative low cost — make it a popular dish.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banh_mi
Hi Kirk,
That really does look like a disappointing banh mi. Too bad… I still love the ones at Ba-Le.
Hi Reid – Well, I’ll keep eating until I find one. And guess what, I’ll just keep on eating after as well! So I guess I’ll keep on eating!!! 🙂 There’s a place called K Sandwiches opening this week, so I’m anxious to see what’s up with that place.
You know what they say about the NFL….”on any given Sunday”….that, one team could defeat another despite their respective reputations and rankings. That’s the same with restaurants….”on any given day”….the utility person could be sub-ing for the regular cook, fumble your steak on the floor, then plop the same steak on a plate. Bon apetite’, and all that.
In the process, the “special formula” gets deviated from during the musical chairs or the weekly schedule rotation. There’s no excuse for the restaurant management to allow this to effect the food, itself, but restaurant dishes have that vulnerability.
Hi RONW – Like your Football analogy. Sometimes I’ll give a restaurant another shot, especially if there was a credible recommendation.
so their food isn’t good huh? actually i thought they have one of the best bobas i ever had in san diego– at least from the last few times i went there — the boba was really fresh! or maybe i’m just comparing this place with the rest of the boba places i tried in san diego which is even more dismal in comparison! oasis lounge is pretty good too — for boba — haven’t had their boba in awhile though… but the best boba i had in california so far is boba world in westwood. i think it’s a chain — but their boba is nice, sweet and chewy! (chewiness being a sign of freshness if you’re not a boba conossieur!)
Hi Annie – Well the second sandwich was pretty good, the chicken had nothing going for it. How was the food at Oasis, I’ve been curious? I’m not really a Boba drinker and the Missus enjoys Taiwanese Shaved Ice – do you know of a place here in San Diego that makes this? There used to be a stand in 99 Ranch Market, but it’s gone – looks like we’ll have to go to LA to get some. Perhaps you can do a Best of San Diego Boba for us?
Yeah, I was thinking about doing a blog entry on a boba theme. This weekend is certainly a good time huh with the hot temperatures!!!
I haven’t tried the food at Oasis, usually head over to boba places after dinner somewhere else!
Taiwanese shave ice huh? There’s a boba place right across of ranch 99 (across the street, not right next to it) — you’ll know it’s the right boba place when you get greeted by a little device that says “thank you!” or something like that when you enter the restaurant.
Hi Annie – Sounds good – I’ll be looking forward to it! We just got back from LA, the Missus got Taiwanese Shaved Ice, as well as a Taro Shake with Boba ($1.25). I’ll post later tonight.
haha I can’t get over wikipedia’s pronunciation of “banh mi.” makes me wonder who told them that it’s pronounced like that! but if you have been pronouncing it like “ba-EEN MEE” try saying “bun me.” that’s probably the closest sounding english words i can think of that sounds like “banh mi.”
Hi Christine – Hadn’t noticed that! Well that’s the thing about Wikipedia, huh? Well you should shoot them an Email and let them know. I think it like bahn (instead of Banh)…..
I must say that the Fusion Slush with extra boba is the best boba tea I’ve ever had. The boba is always very fresh and the atmosphere is really nice. I’ve never tried the food but I’ve heard that their fried rice is very good. Anyway, give the Fusion Slush a shot! So good…