Serves meat, vegan options available. Local Vietnamese bakery café selling banh mi and take-away deli items. Has a veggie "ham" sandwich and a tofu sandwich. Open Mon-Sun 4:00am-9:00pm.
The deli items can be bought as a combo: white rice plus any four of about ten items for only $7.50 (as of 12/28/2022). Today there were two tofu dishes, eggplant, mushrooms, bitter melon, pumpkin, bamboo shoots and others. Most were pretty bland but not bad for the price.
I was craving a good banh mi on the drive back to LA and figured Che Cali would be a good spot. There was really only one option I could have which was their "Veggie Ham Banh Mi." I rarely find a sandwich being offered with mock meats so I figured that this wasn't a bad choice.
While ordering inside, I did ask the ladies if the sandwich was vegan. I'm pretty sure they didn't understand me and I couldn't really ask whether it contained fish sauce or other hidden non-vegan ingredients. I trusted my gut that the veggie ham was vegan friendly.
Great baguette, fresh veggie toppings, and a solid mock meat made this $5 sandwich a perfect one for the road. I shredded the sandwich on the car ride up. There was no pate or spread in the sandwich so I'm fairly certain it was vegan compliant in the end.
Cash only (as expected) so make sure to bring a couple of greenbacks with you if you're intending on grabbing a sandwich.
A lot of languages don't have the word vegan, but they have the word vegetarian, since sometimes before vegetarian meant vegan before they started reintroducing some items like eggs, dairy, and so on back in. Vegetarian in Vietnamese is chay, pronounced like yay, but with English ch sound instead of the first y. Sometimes 12 and 32 are made with/without dairy butter without saying anything and sometimes they ask.
2 Reviews
First Review by andyjng
PaulSeattle
Points +60
10 veggie deli choices - Edit
The deli items can be bought as a combo: white rice plus any four of about ten items for only $7.50 (as of 12/28/2022). Today there were two tofu dishes, eggplant, mushrooms, bitter melon, pumpkin, bamboo shoots and others. Most were pretty bland but not bad for the price.
Read moreGuest
andyjng
Points +5372
Veggie Ham Banh MI - Edit
I was craving a good banh mi on the drive back to LA and figured Che Cali would be a good spot. There was really only one option I could have which was their "Veggie Ham Banh Mi." I rarely find a sandwich being offered with mock meats so I figured that this wasn't a bad choice.
Read moreWhile ordering inside, I did ask the ladies if the sandwich was vegan. I'm pretty sure they didn't understand me and I couldn't really ask whether it contained fish sauce or other hidden non-vegan ingredients. I trusted my gut that the veggie ham was vegan friendly.
Great baguette, fresh veggie toppings, and a solid mock meat made this $5 sandwich a perfect one for the road. I shredded the sandwich on the car ride up. There was no pate or spread in the sandwich so I'm fairly certain it was vegan compliant in the end.
Cash only (as expected) so make sure to bring a couple of greenbacks with you if you're intending on grabbing a sandwich.
Pros: Open extremely early, Affordable sandwiches
Cons: Vegan items aren't clearly marked
EvaAlcantaraPentecost
A lot of languages don't have the word vegan, but they have the word vegetarian, since sometimes before vegetarian meant vegan before they started reintroducing some items like eggs, dairy, and so on back in. Vegetarian in Vietnamese is chay, pronounced like yay, but with English ch sound instead of the first y. Sometimes 12 and 32 are made with/without dairy butter without saying anything and sometimes they ask.
Read moreEvaAlcantaraPentecost
Chay items will say it.
Read moreGuest
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