Best office lunches in Saigon!

Big Boss Bistro

After the last lockdown, a new kid burst onto the sandwich scene in Saigon. Big Boss Bistro, the brainchild of Derek Jay (Next Level) and James Jolokia (Brick & Barrel), operating out of Next Level gaming bar, has in that short time become one of the best sandwiches in the city.

Being a gaming bar, they drew inspiration from popular games to name their sandwiches. They feature the Mario (Super Mario/Mario Karts), the Hadoken (Hadoken Street Fighter), and the Bebop and Rocksteady (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), among others. 

I decided to go with the classic Bebop (ham and cheese sandwich) for my office lunch. Set on freshly baked in-house made ciabatta, this sandwich comes with a mountain of delicious thinly sliced ham, your choice of American, Swiss, or cheddar cheese, and delightful mayo with finely chopped peppers and pickles. 

Needless to say, the sandwich did not last long and left a deep sense of satisfaction. Their sandwiches range from 140.000d to 250.000d, but rest assured, you will be getting all the “bang for your buck”.

Juicesy

We’ve all been endlessly scrolling through our preferred food delivery app while our stomachs groan. Well, this is how I stumbled across this gem. Juicesy, a humble sandwich shop situated in Thao Dien, is one of the sandwich scenes’ best-kept secrets. Huong, the owner, a self-proclaimed Vietnamese housewife, is a one-woman show, making delicious sandwiches, smoothies and juices using organic, high-quality ingredients with an eco-friendly footprint. 

Huong started Juicesy in November 2020 after her kindergarten of 80 students was forced to close down due to Covid 19. Her initial thought was to provide simple but healthy food and drinks for her customers, and boy, does she hit that nail on the head. Operating out of her home and only doing delivery orders, Huong has used more of her profits for top-quality ingredients.

I have the same order every time. The bacon and egg sandwich with extra cheese. This may sound like just an ordinary sandwich, and you’ll be asking yourself, “What’s so special about it?”. Well, not only are the ingredients as fresh as the day they left the farm, her sandwiches arrive as an art form. Tomato and cucumbers are sliced and layered in perfect symmetry, creating a mirror effect. The sandwich is cut in half and individually wrapped, so no messing on your office clothes, and the gentle sprinkle of salt and pepper brings it all together. Simple, healthy food, perfectly executed.

Overall, Huong provides a very affordable, healthy, and delicious solution to the office lunch conundrum. Nothing exceeds 75.000d on her menu, from sandwiches and juices to smoothies and salads, meaning it’s never been easier to grab a healthy lunch at the office.

Tywi – House of Croissants and Baguettes

Tywi is a relative newcomer to the food scene in Saigon, having opened during the pandemic, but boy have they got the goods.

For lunch, I decided to try the salami and arugula croissant. I usually prefer my croissants at breakfast with some strawberry jam or marmalade. However, after the first bite, I’m now more inclined to swap them out for lunch. 

The croissant was buttery and moist on the inside with a perfect crisp outside, taking me right back to Maison Pichard (voted Best Croissant in Paris 2011) on the streets of Paris. The salami and sun-dried tomatoes are robust but beautifully matched flavours masterfully blended with fresh arugula (rocket). However, upon taking the last bite, I was gripped by the instant regret of not ordering a second one. As a quick and light office lunch, this is a winner.

I have no idea how I didn’t find Tywi B sooner. However, I know that the mastermind behind this menu has executed it perfectly. And with a range of sandwiches and croissants between 60.000d and 77.000d, the question is, why haven’t you ordered yet?

Kashew Cheese

As a meat-eater, I am ashamedly not too savvy for vegetarian cuisine. So when I walk into a vegetarian restaurant, I feel hopelessly lost when looking at the menu. However, I thought that ignorance of an entire cuisine was beneath me, and I decided to take the plunge with one of the most talked-about vegetarian/vegan restaurants in the city, Kashew Cheese.

So for my lunch, I chose the Cheese and Chutney sandwich on sourdough bread. I must confess that I was not expecting to be wowed by this sandwich since I would add bacon to everything. But to quote Thorin Oakenshield, “I have never been so wrong in all my life”.

Kashew’s mozzarella, aged cheese, caramelized red onion chutney, rucola, sun-dried tomatoes, and balsamic vinegar layered between delicious, fresh sourdough. The mozzarella and aged cheese worked superbly together, the one providing a heavenly creamy texture while the other hit back with a lovely tang. The red onion chutney was delightfully sweet but was reined in nicely by the acidity of the sun-dried tomatoes, while the rucola gently brought all the flavours together.

Upon finishing my sandwich, I must say I was in awe of the uniqueness of Kashew’s cheese. So many people roll their eyes when they see vegetarian or vegan imitations of meat or animal products. But I can say with confidence that Kashew does not imitate. Instead, they have carved out a unique and new world of cheese, where they sit firmly upon the throne.

Kashew’s sandwiches range between 120.000d and 220.000d, so there’s something for everyone. 

Written by Courtney Ruth.