I kept hearing about Pop Sandwich and finally got the chance to stop by for lunch.
According to East Bay Express, “POP Sandwich chef-owner Ian (pronounced “EYE-an”) De Leoz has worked at such esteemed San Francisco restaurants as Bar Crudo, Range, and, most recently, the Michelin-starred Ame.” And lucky for us, he’s gone out on his own and opened up shop in Oakland.
It’s kind of a permanent pop-up deli counter situation in the back of a convenience store named Chez Mado. Don’t go if you’re looking for ambiance or even a table. Go if you’re looking for deliciousness.
photo: Christina Mitchell
Even though I was alone, I ordered two sandwiches. All in the name of research, right? Mahi, Chicken and Squash Curry were on the menu, but I decided to try the Egg & Cheese ($6) and Pork Adobo ($8). The convenience store has bags of chips and bottles of water if you order one sandwich like a normal person and want to round out your meal. You just have to pay separately.
I took my lunch to the sidewalk outside where two chairs had been set up. There wasn’t a table, so I just tried to balance everything on my lap, snap a few pictures and and eat half of each sandwich without making a mess.
The first thing I noticed was the bread, which had a crusty exterior and was so soft and almost spongy inside. The Egg & Cheese Sandwich was gooey and tangy, but my favorite was the Pork Adobo.
photo: Christina Mitchell
It was incredible! Seriously, you guys – my picture doesn’t do it justice. Crusty-spongy bread, tender meat, crunchy pickles and balanced flavors, it was so satisfying I involuntarily murmured “mmmmm” after the first bite. It was so good, I started telling random people walking on the sidewalk to go inside and get one. And it was still delicious when I ate the other half for dinner.
378 17th Street, Oakland
Christina Mitchell
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That’s a bánh mì!
Yeah, it was kind of a Pork Adobo bánh mì!