Saigon Le Vendeur

Had to leave a review for the wonderful experience I had here today. The banh mi is amazing with an egg. The spicy chicken is spicy!!! Bring your friends.

My order: spicy chicken vermicelli noodle, which had fresh vegetables, lots of chicken and great flavor. What is unique about this dish at this particular food truck is that they put in fresh mint as the main herb, instead of the traditional cilantro or Thai basil. I personally prefer Thai basil, but all in all, the food here is well made and tastes pretty good!

A fun, trendy, shipping container restaurant with plenty of outdoor seating! There’s a cute little cat that guards the register, so I hope you’re not scared of cats!
Saigon Le Vendeur is aesthetically appealing from the physical container design, menu design and food presentation. I tried the grilled pork vermicelli bowl and will definitely be returning to try the remaining menu items. The menu is pretty simple and consists of vermicelli bowls and banh mi with your choice of meat.
The grilled pork has a distinct flavor — slightly charred, sweet, savory and just the right amount of smokey! The veggies were fresh, and I loved the occasional crunch of the fried garlic/​onion scattered throughout the bowl. Their house sauce, garlic chili fish sauce was delicious as well and not overly salty.
The serving of meat was extremely generous and I loved having a few spare pieces of pork to end the meal on a high note after finishing the rest of my bowl.
The distinct flavors, beautiful food presentation, and trendy ambiance all together make this place an affordable 5-​star place to frequent that won’t break the bank!

Simply amazing! My friend took me here straight from the airport. The ingredients here all seem very fresh. I got the shrimp vermicelli (it was a special) and my friend got the pork vermicelli. Both meats were amazingly seasoned. The noodles were cooked just right. The vegetables seemed like they came straight from the garden.
The next time I’m in Austin, I’m definitely going back!

For some reason, the price of banh mi across the city is a bit more expensive considering you can literally get 2 for $ 5 in place like Houston that are absolutely phenomenal. However, if you are going to pay for $ 6 banh mi, come to a place like this over some overrated spot like Elizabeth St Café. I had the grilled pork and the spicy chicken and both were really good. I’ve always judged things in terms of quality to pricing and here you will find an equality in both. Saigon Le Vendeur is solid. It’s not good or great, but it hits the spot if you’re itching for your banh mi fix.

Amazing Banh Mi. Both the OG (typical style) and BBQ pork were great. They’re generous on the pickled veggies and also throw in the cucumber spear – something you don’t always get.
Noodle bowl is nice, but really doesn’t compare to the Banh Mi. The spicy chicken in the bowl and the BBQ pork banh mi really are spicy (BBQ pork had jalapenos + seeds in them), I had a hard time finishing them both! Probably Medium/​Hot.
Slightly pricier than regular banh mi, but seriously premium quality. $ 6.50 for a sandwich? Absolutely worth it.

Best Banh Mi I ate in Austin!!! I tried spicy chicken and grilled pork, had their awesome jasmine tea with fruit too. The atmosphere is super chill and cute too! I am totally coming back and would recommend it to anyone!

The best Bahn mi in Austin.

I came here with friends recently and between the báhn mí and the vermicelli, it seems the consensus was that the vermicelli won out over the báhn mí. It’s not that the báhn mí was bad, just that between the two, the vermicelli was a bit more substantial. I’d also say their egg rolls win out over their spring rolls. I found their peanut sauce to be a bit too sweet for my liking.
I got the grilled pork vermicelli myself and added a fried egg. The vermicelli was pretty good. I wouldn’t call it great, but it got the job done. It may not have been enough to bring me back, but I’m glad I tried this truck. They have a nice seating area and the weather was beautiful the day I was here.

BEST Bahn Mi in Austin, Texas people. If you go to Elizabeth Street Café and pay $ 11.50 for a bahn mi, then you need to be drug into the street and beat down. I have friends from Vietnam who say this as authentic and close to the street sandwhich that you can get over there for a $ 1.50.
If you’re in East Austin at lunch time, you owe this to yourself to stop in and try the Bahn Mi. I like the grilled chicken with Siracha all over it. IF you’re not into the Bahn Mi, order the vermicelli noodles with an egg on top!

I have been on a 14-​year long search for authentic bánh mì that truly satisfies my craving. I wish I were exaggerating. None of the phô or vietnamese restaurants I have ever been to sell anything similar to the «OG» cold cuts sub. Thanks to Saigon Le Vendeur, I’ve finally been able to relive a magical part of my childhood.
An ingenious business model: they sling delicious street food out of a bright red shipping container, they’re portable if need be, and the seating is gleefully bohemian. There are waste bins each dedicated to trash, organics, and recycling; a hippie’s wet dream. (I definitely appreciate the option to help save the planet!) Picnic tables, benches, and chairs are littered throughout the back of the lot. It’s oddly welcoming because there is plenty of seating, but seems intrusive to whoever they’re sharing the lot with. Make no mistake however, we did not pass up the chance to have the dog pose next to the various buddha and mermaid statues placed haphazardly throughout the yard.
My mom raved about the vermicelli plate. The pork bánh mì topped with an egg sent my sister into complete ecstasy. The «OG» bánh mì indulges cuts of cold meat slathered in duck paté and is bursting at the seam with pickled vegetables, jalapeños, and cilantro. The baguette is served warm with an audible and inviting crunch. Before my sister and I headed back to Dallas, we stocked up on these bad boys. No joke. Dedicated to the foodie movement. Peace.
–xoxoxo

Basically: the Bahn Mi are big and delicious and the staff are friendly and it’s in a super cool location next to a thrift store so you can shop while you wait or sit in their cute little garden.
@Elizabeth St. Café: so you’re probably going to compare this to to much more expensive Elizabeth St. Café… and man… these are so much better and ~½ the price, ¹⁄₃ larger.

I hopped on my motorcycle put on my gear turned my music on and had a beautiful ride through the city on a beautiful day and ended up here. I had two different types of Banh Mi. I wish i had a larger stomach so I could have gotten a third (one is enough for a regular human).
I took my number and looked for a seat in the odd urban garden filled with statues of what I can only assume are spiritual beings. I waited patiently and admired the scenery around me. Then they brought my food out. I was not prepared for what I saw. I stared at my food for a second because I was unsure of which one to eat first so I just chose the one on the left for reasons unknown. My first bite was spectacular my last bite was depressing I didn’t want the meal to end. I cursed my fullness and hopped back on the motorcycle to return to my office and plan out the next time I would be coming here.
I think this place is owned by a father and son. The food is authentic the trailer is clean and well kept. Saigon Le Vendeur helping keep Austin authentic and delicious!

Came here last week for lunch on a beautiful day and wow was I happy I stopped by.
The food truck is located right off east 7^th– but after ordering your food, you can sit in this awesome back garden filled with neat little statues and sculptures. It was like a hipster dream house.
I got a pork banh mi and a pork spring roll. I think, looking back on it, it was a way too much food– but it was a Friday and nice out so I decided to YOLO.
Pork spring roll: This was pretty boring, to be honest. The pork was a weird shade of red that was reminiscent of spam to me and it kind of had a non flavor. It was the first thing I ate and I got a little nervous for my YOLO meal, until…
Pork Banh Mi: OMG y’all this shit was delicious. Like, meth face, eyes widening, my mouth is watering while I write this, d.e.l.i.c.i.o.u.s. The pork was cooked perfectly, the vegetables not too acidic (hate that about banh mi sometimes), but most importantly the bread was on point. When I talk about carbs I am serious– this bread was freakin’ delicious. Crunchy on the outside and soft, buttery melt-​in-​yo-​mouth amazingness on the inside. Get the banh mi. Just do it.
I will be back.

Wow! Great tofu Bahn Mi and egg rolls. The bread is absolutely perfect. Fantastic quality, serving size and location. My only complaint is that I wish they were open later! Most people don’t eat dinner until 8pm or so and this place closes at 7pm. Also, I always crave it on Sundays and they aren’t open! I’ll continue to grub here as much as I can with the hours they keep, but if they were open more I’d definitely be eating here on a weekly basis.

Best tofu banh mi in town! The French bread was so soft and tofu full of robust flavor and the buttery goodness between the bread with a good helping of pickled veggies! my new go-​to Viet sandwich place in downtown
Oh, and the egg rolls were very authentic as well as the spring rolls.

A very solid meal that requires an adventure to an unusual location. In a bright red shipping container that sits next to the MetroRail tracks, these folks are spinning up some authentic eats that will leave your heart, wallet, and taste buds content. I was a bit confused by the blue truck that has the business’ name emblazoned on it, which sits on the adjacent side street and is always dark and empty when I drive by. This is not where you order… if only I’d figured that out the first time I tried visiting! Anyway, the actual eating area is a bit pieced together. The shipping container was redone with wood paneling on the front, which makes it look more odd and appealing. There are a few picnic tables next to it, and a long narrow seating area stretches out in the shaded back part. Kind of a like a mini-​oasis.
As for the food, it’s got plenty of flavor. They offer cheap banh mi sandwiches and cheap vermicelli noodle bowls, and a few sides like egg rolls. I tried a grilled pork banh mi, and it did not disappoint. All the usual condiments — carrots, daikon, cilantro — were super fresh and piled on. The meat was tasty, a little tough or fatty in places, but a great blend of saltiness and sweetness. The bread soaked up the seasonings and elevated the whole experience. One of the better banh mi dishes I’ve had, though not the best. Don’t count it against them.
They clearly have a good business going. The service is friendly, the prices are perfect, and the food is basically as delicious as advertised. Definitely check it out.

If you don’t look closely, you will miss Saigon Le Vendeur. If anything look for a red shipping container next to a vintage shop with about 4 parking spots.
The Vermicelli bowl with grilled pork was refreshing and was a good portion size. Best way to describe the dish is the Asian version of a salad.
The Vietnamese coffee was strong, nothing to complain about.
I want to try the Banh Mi next time. Although I know that it’s pricey for a banh mi (no banh mi should be $ 6 – 7), I’ve heard great things about the taste.
What I like about this place is that they have ample seating that extends behind the shop. Think a backyard full of random tables/​chairs with weird greek sculptures laying around… yea I know… real descriptive Gary.

Came here randomly for a vietnamese iced coffee a yr n a half ago. I told myself, «This place looks cool– gotta try their food soon» so approx 18 months I came back. They’ve revamped the whole place. The seating area feels communal yet private from the busy east 7^th street. So now onto the food…
I ordered a pork bahn mi with an egg and extra meat (I don’t feel like I needed the extra portion of meat in hindsight), an order of pork spring rolls and that kickass iced coffee.
I was blown away. Soooo good. Such a value and even in the TX heat (it was 95 at the time) I felt cool in the shade. I’ve been to the old lulu B’s trailer which I thought was the best.
Next time I will try a vermicelli bowl.

Might have found my favorite banh mi in Austin. A couple of things that describe their food: fresh and delicious.
I got an egg on my grilled pork banh mi. The portion size is good for the $ 6.25 price. Their vermicelli was also very good. They’re definitely spot on with the meat in terms of flavor, amount and freshness.
It seems like they’ve been open for a while, but due to the location, visibility has been off the radar. The parking is small, but there are streets where you can park nearby.
The only bad things are the flies! So many flies. The last time I’ve seen this many were in Cambodia in 100 degree weather!