Lee’s is like that guy you meet for the first time through a friend who is quiet and nice but you don’t really think much of. Then the 2nd time you meet, you notice that he’s really interesting and want to hang out all the time.
Taken from their site, Lee’s concept is “…a mixture of bright, energetic restaurant sandwich environment, entertainment cafe and Asian-American cuisine. In addition to the traditional Vietnamese “banh mi” sandwiches, there are traditional American sandwiches such as ham and cheese served on baguettes or croissants”.
My first encounter with Lee’s was at this location. Sadly, I live in the SFV, so a trip to Lee’s is a good half hour away if not more. I believe I chose this location because it was the newest and largest at the time. This Lee’s location is the pinnacle of sandwich perfection. As soon as you swing the door open, a wave of delicious smells overwhelms your olfactory system(aka yer schnozz). The entrance gives way to the main atrium of the store with high ceilings and a roped off line off hungry customers. As you walk towards the front counter, there is a small fridge on your left with bottled drinks and perishable foods to go. On your right are bulk preserved foods and giftwrapped Vietnamese treats.
Before you step into line, make sure you have 2 things: your cash and your mind made up! Cash is the easy part, but deciding what you’d like to order may take some time, especially for 1st timers. Of course the main draw to come to Lee’s is the sandwiches-Asian or European/American. All the baguette sandwiches are served on a slender 10 inch baguette which are baked fresh daily.
So far I’ve tried the shredded pork baguette, grilled chicken baguette, ham & cheese croissant, veggie avocado croissant, and the tuna almond croissant. The slightly crunchy baguettes surround the meat with a variety of lively ingredients. Most Asian baguette sandwiches here include some or all of the following: house mayo, house pickle(daikon & carrot), green chili, cilantro, onion, soy sauce. The meat in the grilled chicken baguette was moist and tender with just the right mixture of fresh garnish. It must have been an off day for someone when I ordered the shredded pork baguette. The baguette was hard, the pork was dry and the usual mix of spices and mayo were lacking.
The croissants deserve their own paragraph. They are HUGE, flaky, and buttery. A sandwich made with a Lee’s croissant can do no harm. By far, my favorite is the classic ham & cheese, with the tuna almond closing in for 2nd. The tuna sandwich is overflowing with tuna salad which will inevitably get scooped up by fork. Same story with the veggie sandwich. There is so much good stuff piled into it, that half of it will end up on your plate with plenty still tucked away in the bread.
With such delicious sandwiches, you’ll need some moisture to digest those carbs. Lee’s also mixes up Cafe Sua Da (Lee’s Coffee), smoothies, hot tea, iced drinks, and Pepsi products. I’ll have a durian avocado smoothie with whipped cream, please!
Just as you think you have your cash and order memorized and ready to recite, you notice a plethora of fresh pastries and appetizers spread out at the counter. Doh! Think fast and order some Vietnamese spring rolls, a couple pork & egg steamed buns, and a couple croissants. You can purchase the baguettes separately also. These are a steal because you “buy one get one free”. 2 baguettes for $1? Right on!
After loading up on your goodies, take your number and head for a table. A few short moments of anticipation later, a computerized voice will call your number over the intercom. You pick up your order from a separate counter and realize that Lee’s has ice cream TOO! Oh, god have mercy. If you’re like me, by now you realize you have far too much food to eat and vow to return some other day for their delectable looking desserts. And what is that Deli Manjoo cake? Gotta try that sometime too.
