Where Your Country and My Country Eat Together
January 15, 2016 11:37 AM   Subscribe

Saigon Deli Sandwich and Taco Valparaiso offers a lesson in cross-cultural communication. In 2011, Tony Torres, who owned a taqueria, approached Dieu Ngo, who owned the Saigon Deli banh mi shop, with a proposition that they join forces. The result was a classic multi-cultural fusion, and a budding romance.
posted by suelac (27 comments total) 32 users marked this as a favorite
 
1514 Km. from my office. God damnit.

I could be there for lunch on Monday though.
posted by Keith Talent at 11:53 AM on January 15, 2016 [2 favorites]


*checks airfares*
posted by LastOfHisKind at 11:54 AM on January 15, 2016


This, right here, is what makes America great. Fusion food, fusion romance, fusion people. This is the real America. You hear me, Trump, you asshole?
posted by Faint of Butt at 12:03 PM on January 15, 2016 [45 favorites]


Even more awesome? "Al pastor" is the Mexican fusion version of shwarma, which came from Lebanese immigrants.
posted by klangklangston at 12:07 PM on January 15, 2016 [18 favorites]


What an awesome idea!
posted by Ashwagandha at 12:15 PM on January 15, 2016


It's a sweet story and the food sounds really good. I have had quite a few fusion-y bahn mis, but not fusioned with taqueria food, and that combination sounds great.
posted by Dip Flash at 12:15 PM on January 15, 2016


zomg this is just across town. brb
posted by murphy slaw at 12:15 PM on January 15, 2016 [9 favorites]


Yum! Made me think of a food truck around here that served char-grilled beef, rice, kimchi etc. in a tortilla wrap. I wonder where that went?
posted by carter at 12:29 PM on January 15, 2016 [1 favorite]


omg its in Oakland! happy dance!!
posted by supermedusa at 12:41 PM on January 15, 2016


The Korean/Taco fusion thing has been pretty successful.

I really can't see how a Banh Mi/Torta fusion place is not an equally great idea.
posted by Seamus at 12:43 PM on January 15, 2016


Never realized how much I would want an al pastor banh mi until just now.
posted by drewbage1847 at 1:00 PM on January 15, 2016 [3 favorites]


Yes, please try the al pastor banh mi. It's great!

Also, Tony loves to yak it up and he's pretty awesome. He hooked me and my buddies up with free al pastor tacos twice, just to show off how good his pastor is. And it *is* good.
posted by cman at 1:10 PM on January 15, 2016 [7 favorites]


This is a great idea. Banh Mi, with it's French colonial history, was already a fusion food and now it's going further down the rabbit hole.
posted by cazoo at 1:14 PM on January 15, 2016 [1 favorite]


I was just trying to decide what to have for dinner. Alas, I am on the East Coast.

*Shakes fist*

MetaFiiiiiiiiiiler!
posted by GenjiandProust at 1:45 PM on January 15, 2016 [3 favorites]


This is really sweet. I love both banh mi and tacos, so this seems like a match made in heaven. I wonder if I could buy bread and banh mi fixings from my local Vietnamese bakery/sandwich shop and then get the taco bus folks to fill it with carnitas or lengua...or vice versa. Damn, why haven't I had lunch yet!
posted by friendlyjuan at 2:15 PM on January 15, 2016


Mmm, only a five mile bike ride from my house. I've always loved this super melting-pot part of Oakland- we tried to buy a house a few blocks away.
posted by oneirodynia at 2:30 PM on January 15, 2016


oh my god i've driven by that place so many times and had no idea they served tacos and stuff too, guess i gotta go there this weekend
posted by burgerrr at 2:55 PM on January 15, 2016 [1 favorite]


I've been wanting Mexican/Indian fusion for years. Make this happen, America.

It already happened, it's called mole, and the connection between Mexico and India seem to be Spanish Muslims
posted by danny the boy at 3:16 PM on January 15, 2016 [3 favorites]


I've been wanting Mexican/Indian fusion for years. Make this happen, America.

There was a Punjabi connection, though I don't think it made a big impact on the national cuisine.
posted by Dip Flash at 3:28 PM on January 15, 2016


MetaFiiiiiiiiiiler!

MetaFilet?
posted by slater at 4:19 PM on January 15, 2016 [1 favorite]


What a timely article. Tonight we decided last minute that we really wanted to finally try Banh Mi, even though it was on the other direction from the errands we had to run. It was incredible and I can't wait to go back. Does anyone have a white person guide to what to order at a Vietnamese restaurant where nothing is written in English? Also, are there any different customs/politeness tips I should know about?
posted by rebent at 6:42 PM on January 15, 2016


Going this weekend! Thanks, Mefi! I was sure this was going to be in LA, but turns out it's Oakland!
posted by honey badger at 10:32 PM on January 15, 2016


Wow, I didn't expect this to make MetaFilter (but then I didn't see this post coming, either). Hi, fellow Oaklanders.

I recommend the fish tacos.
posted by aws17576 at 12:12 AM on January 16, 2016


I've been wanting Mexican/Indian fusion for years. Make this happen, America.

My very Indian grandma who lives in Santa Clara makes a great guacamole chutney to go along with her dosas. She doesn't do non-veg, but I'm now thinking it'll be interesting to enhance that with an al-pastor filling and salsa to make a Yuca City Masala Dosa (Like a Mysore Masala Dosa)
posted by the cydonian at 5:47 AM on January 16, 2016


Yet another reason I'm happy to live in the East Bay.
posted by pipoquinha at 8:31 AM on January 16, 2016


And I can totally walk there from home, yay!
posted by donatella at 10:38 AM on January 17, 2016


"It already happened, it's called mole, and the connection between Mexico and India seem to be Spanish Muslims"

More than that. Other links include empanadas/samosas and rajma/frijoles Guatemalteca (most Guatemalan places just call them "frijoles," but it's a red bean stew with similar spicing). And, of course, everything with chiles in them in India — Mexico by way of Portugal, mostly.
posted by klangklangston at 4:05 PM on January 19, 2016


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