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Link: http://sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/profile/41740260/san_francisco_ca/le_cafe.html?specialty_id=43

On this day, I knew exactly what I was craving: a Vietnamese-style sandwich. There used to be this place on Howard near 11th back when I worked for the city that had them, but I knew that place hadn't been in business in years. So I just typed "Vietnamese sandwiches San Francisco" on the old idiot machine here, and as it happened I hit the jackpot.

Le Cafe is way out on Clement Street at 31st Avenue, a bit further than the denser-populated business district on this street, and almost to Lincoln Park Golf Course. It has a schoolbus yellow canopy, and two windows with identical Vietnamese signs, one on each street. On the front door, which is at the corner, is a piece of paper with the title "New Saigon Sandwiches" and the hours (7am, I believe to 5pm Tuesday through Sunday). This place is clean and simple. There is one sign describing the sandwiches they sell, and one describing the tapioca drinks. They also have a glass display case filled with donuts, a separate display with Asian snacks, and a display refrigerator with both Western and Asian softdrinks (the kind that come in a can, like sugarcane or grass jelly or guava juice). All their sandwiches are slightly different prices, from about $2.75 to, I think $3.50 tops. They are all real bargains, considering what you get.

I ordered a barbecued chicken sandwich with no cilantro ($3.25) and a lychee tapioca drink ($2.50). The (I can't deny it) super-cute girl suggested I try mango, because she doesn't like lychee, but I insisted. She was very eager to ensure I enjoyed my lunch. So, the sandwich was, in a word, perfect. They definitely took a lot of time in care in preparing it. The meat was tender and perfectly cooked. The pickled vegetables (carrots and daikon) were not too wet and only added to the flavor. Then there was a sauce (like pesto, or something like it) and fresh cucumbers. The bread was nice french bread with a substantial, but not at all chewy crust. It was heaven. The lychee tapioca drink was as I was hoping, just the right amount of sweetness, and the server was relieved that it tasted ok for me. I will definitely be coming here again, perhaps even regularly, as the price, ambience, food quality, and service have not one single fault.

Rating: 5 Godzillas