Review of Sau Voi Deli at the Ranch 99 Market in Clairemont, San Diego, California

Its location inside the big Asian Ranch 99 Market on Clairemont Mesa Blvd just west of Ruffner St practically ensures that there is plenty of parking available for the patrons of Sau Voi Deli in Kearny Mesa part of San Diego. This little Vietnamese eatery whose dining facility consists of a long table and 3 chairs is a good spot to pick up a quick and delicious lunch to go while you are in the area.

The small menu offers a variety of submarine sandwiches, combination meat & rice plates, spring rolls, and Vietnamese noodle soups. All ranging in price from $5.25 to $7. Portion size is very good and the food very fresh and healthy (no cheese or heavy sauce but a lot of fresh vegetables to keep your cardiologist happy!). The Pho bo vien rice noodle soup with beef balls is as good as I've ever had anywhere. The noodle is perfectly cooked, the beef balls flavorful and chewy (being composed mostly of meat with some tendon but not a lot of fat).

The beef sandwich on sourdough bun doesn't require any additional condiment (don't even think of applying ketchup to this thing!!). It's a perfect combination of chewy bun, tender and flavorful meat, and crisply fresh onion, carrots, celery, and sweet pepper (not bell pepper but the long Asian sort). The thing is as taste bud-friendly as a good Italian sausage sandwich is but is infinitely easier on your arterial walls.

The counter is full of Vietnamese sweets and pre-packaged food (sticky rice with chicken, sweet sticky rice with mango, spring rolls, etc) for very good price. I bought the mango-sweet sticky rice combo on my last visit and the lovely lady behind the counter gave me some extra coconut milk to bath the thing with. Absolutely awesome! The place also sells boba drinks (sweet drinks like Thai iced tea or Vietnames coffee and other milked juices with chewy beans in them) and they also offer super fresh sugar cane juice (squeeze right in front of you on a little silver machine) for $2.25 per 8 Oz. There is also a cooler of canned juices and some soft drink to choose from.

The service is quick and friendly. All the items on the menu are numbered so it is easy to order even when you can't pronounce the Vietnamese name of the dish you wanted. To go order is generally ready within 10 minutes. A great place to grab a quick and delicious lunch that is friendly to both the wallet (less than $10) and your coronary arteries!

Sau Voi Deli (at the Ranch 99 Market): 7330 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, Ste. 109, San Diego, CA 92111. Tel (858) 292-0986. Opens daily 10AM - 7PM.