mmm-yoso!!! is a food blog. Kirk has been blogging most of the year and is taking a break. Cathy is writing this post.
August 4, 2015; K Sandwiches burned. It was a sad day for many, even us here at mmm-yoso; Kirk wrote about this Vietnamese Snack and beverage corner first in July 2005 and again in November 2005. I first wrote about it October 2008 and again in 2012. There have been numerous mentions within our blog posts concerning sandwiches.
After the great fire, it took more than two years for K to re-open…January 5 of this year.
Since this was a former bank, the primary walls remained and so did the footprint; the remodel was not a complete rebuild. Now there's bit more modern feel.
The wall to the right when you walk in is Instagrammable.
The menu boards are clear and with only a few photos. Of course, prices have increased.
The grab and go area at the front has some interesting items.
Like my favorite brand of Chinese sweet sausage in links and in bulk.
As well as fancy refrigerated desserts including artistic jellied items.
The bakery area in the back carries the same items, especially my favorite item to grab when in a hurry-ham and cheese baked in bread (now it is $2.75, the price of some banh mi sold at K Sandwiches years ago)
Pate chaud and other baked items are on the counter being kept warm.
The center island is filled with various snacks and day old bread ends; easy to grab.
Opposite the counter warmer is another warmer with more fresh items and also another refrigerated area.
But, for my first visit back, the order was the same: a Number 9 (grilled pork banh mi)($4.25) and a cup of black coffee ($2.75)
The cilantro still has stems, the pickled carrots and daikon are just lightly pickled, the grilled pork is properly cooked and seasoned, house mayonnaise is just enough and the bread is so very fresh. I had been looking for these flavors for so long and only K Sandwiches seems to do it the way I like it. My comfort food is back.
K Sandwiches 7604 Linda Vista Road (at Mesa College Drive) San Diego 92111 (858) 384-7373 Open Mon-Sat 6 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday 8-8 Website
That’s good your comfort food is back. I’ll have to try a sandwich and the Chinese sausage.
After numerous drive-bys to see a long line outside, I finally stopped in at K Sandwiches a couple of weeks ago. It may have been the time of day, and I didn’t ask, but they didn’t have the banh bot chien. I didn’t remember that the location was a bank, but I do remember when it was a pho restaurant. I do need to go back and try more items; I’m glad that they re-opened and are doing well.
It’s good the long lines during their initial grand opening have subsided. Was Grandma there?
The bread is just a bit better here, Soo; the way I like it. The combination of meat, mayo and vegetables is just to my taste. The Champ brand of sausage was a favorite the first time I tried it.
That was my luck, too, Sandy-not seeing a line was the reason to (finally) stop in; had been trying for so long. The location was a bank that turned into a Pho place that turned into the (satellite topped) Sandwich building; pretty sure that’s why it didn’t burn to the ground. It looks like the menu is still undergoing incremental expansion, based on the website.
I think a lot of the hype was by people who never experienced the Original K Sandwiches, cc. It’s very good, but not worth a long wait. Did not see Grandma, but the waffles were there.
The crowds have subsided but it still gets busy during peak times. I like that they open early. Good to grab a sandwich before a morning hike.
Fortunately, I have a tendency to be too busy with work during peak times, Junichi. The crowds were there at all hours when K re-opened; it was crazy just trying to get into the parking lot-I drove in and straight out, twice. Early open places are the best…I’m such a morning person…you know, because of crowds.