Cheap Food Critic

19915 64th Ave W, Ste 101
Lynnwood, WA 98036

Mon-Fri 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Sat 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

Hidden behind a little strip mall on Aurora you can find some truly unique and delicious Banh Mis. Located a little North of the city in Lynnwood, Yeh Yeh’s has created quite a following despite only being in business for a few years. I guess that’s what happens when you make great food…if you make it, they will come.

The first time I came here was before all the foodie hype about this place. I though I was just going to any old cheap Vietnamese deli. This was dispelled very quickly as I was surprised to find out how how much more in price the sandwiches were compared to other place in the Seattle area. I just assumed it was a premium for not being in the International District. However, after getting my food I realized the price difference was actually because you get a much larger sandwich filled to rim with meat and veggies. Although still cheap I can still remember the good old days when you could get banh mis for $1 each and if you bought 5 you would get one free.

As I stated, the banh mis themselves are a little different from other places in Seattle, don’t come here expecting the same sandwiches like Seattle Deli or Saigon Deli. Some of the the more noticeable differences include the use of a different bread than most of the other local Vietnamese delis, the much larger sandwiches, as well as a different ratio of fillers for their sandwiches. Overall its a nice little twist to the Vietnamese sandwich without sacrificing its authenticity.

My most recent trip here I ordered the Grilled Chicken and the Grilled Pork Sandwiches.
My order did take a little longer because of the lunch rush. Next time I will definitely call it in first. For both my sandwiches it was $8.42 after tax. The sandwiches were both filled with meat, cilantro, jalapenos (optional), onion, as well as pickled daikons and carrots. Also, the bread was fresh, soft in the inside, and crunchy on the outside if eaten right away. But the bread may get a little soggy if you wait a little bit to eat it.

If these guys were not unique enough they also have a Pastrami and Philly sandwich…I am intrigued. I can’t wait to come back and see what type of Vietnamese twist they added to these classic sandwiches.

Note – Parking maybe a little tight; the tiny parking lot is shared with the Asian grocery store next door.

Yelp – 4.5/5.0 Stars (166 Ratings)

900 Rainier Ave
Seattle, WA 98144

Mon-Fri 9:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sat-Sun 11:00 am – 2:00 am

20815 67th Ave W
Lynnwood, WA 98036

Tue-Sun 11:00 am – 9:00 pm

After having Peruvian chicken in the DC area I remembered we also have a really good place in Seattle.  San Fernando Roasted Peruvian Chicken in the Rainier/MLK area just outside of the International District is Seattle’s answer to Peruvian food.  All of the other Peruvian restaurants I’ve been to focus the menu on the roasted chicken.  Here at San Fernando they have roasted chicken also but its the other items that I would keep coming back for.  A lot of the food is a mix of Asian and Hispanic food (including the Arroz con Pollo and the Tallarin Saltado listed below).  So far I’ve tried the following items:

• Papas Rellenas – which is mashed potatoes stuffed with seasoned meat, formed in the shape of a mini football, and than fried.  Papas Rellenas is good for a very filling appetizer.
• Arroz con Pollo – which is quarter chicken with seasoned rice (taste kind of like curry fried rice).  My favorite at this place!
• Tallarin Saltado – is a sort of like a Peruvian chow mein, spaghetti noodles fried with chicken, tomatoes, and peppers.
• Arroz Chaufa – Peruvian fried rice!  Don’t order this expecting Chinese fried rice.  There are similarities for sure but there are different seasoning used in this fried rice.  I really like the huge chunks of chicken and the moistness of the rice but come here with an open mind and try it yourself.
• Lomo Saltaldo – Fries and white rice with sauteed beef, red onions, and red peppers.  Sounds simple but it is seasoned amazingly well.

Notes – Come here ready to eat with your fat pants.  They really load up on food here.  Also, don’t forget to try both the sauces.  Both add a little something special to the food.  If you can’t do spicy avoid the orange one, it’s habanero.

Update – I finally had a chance to get back to the Lynnwood location and get a few pictures of the place. The food is exactly the same as the Rainier location but a tad bit more expensive (about a dollar).

Seattle (Rainier) Location:
Yelp – 4.0/5.0 (53 Reviews)

Lynnwood Location:
Yelp – 4.0/5.0 (51 Reviews)

11064 Lake City Way NE
Seattle, WA 98125

And

4400 168th St SW, Suite 201
Lynnwood, WA 98037

Mon-Sat 10:30 am – 7:00 pm
Sun 11:00 am – 5:00 pm

My old friend Tubs. As newer sandwich places have come and gone you have always been there serving up some of the most consistently good sandwiches in Seattle. Although I have never had a sandwich I did not like here my two favorites here are the Firecracker and the Godfather. The Firecracker is a jalapeno turkey sandwich served with hot BBQ sauce…yum. The Godfather is a roast beef sandwich like no other I have had before. Along with the roast beef, the sandwich also contains pesto and salami…double yum.

For under $10 you can get a small Firecracker or Godfather and a drink. Don’t let the word “small sandwich” fool you. This should be filling enough for most people. The small is actually the regular/medium sandwich and the small was the mini (before they took the mini away).

Lake City Location:
Yelp – 4.0/5.0 Stars (134 Ratings)

Lynnwood Location:
Yelp – 4.5/5.0 Stars (89 Ratings)