This unassuming Linda Vista sandwich shop serves up delicious, exotic, inexpensive and satisfying sandwiches, along with some of the best coffee drinks in town.

From the first time I heard about Vietnamese bahn mi sandwiches, I was fascinated. With marinated grilled meats (or deli meats and pâté) and sweet tart pickled veggies piled on a crisp French baguette -- I couldn’t imagine how they could not be absolutely fantastic. The first one I tried was a “fancy pants” version from Out the Door -- the takeout branch of the much-celebrated Slanted Door in San Francisco. While it was good, I was pretty sure it wasn’t the authentic experience I was looking for. I had heard that “real” bahn mi are smaller than traditional American sandwiches, and quite inexpensive. (The Slanted Door’s version cost about $8.00.)

Back at home and determined to satisfy my curiosity, I made it a point to visit K Sandwiches in Linda Vista, just off the 163 freeway at the Mesa College exit. On my first visit, I was a little intimidated by the unfamiliar menu and surroundings, but I quickly got over it when I took the first bite of my grilled pork bahn mi (bahn mi thit). On that visit, I also ordered a boba milk tea. Vietnamese milk tea is similar to Thai tea, but not quite as sweet. It was good, but on my next visit I discovered the Vietnamese milk coffee (café sue da) and I’ve never looked back. In fact, I’m addicted.

The sandwiches are made with a somewhat thin but long baguette -- crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. For the grilled meats, the bread is smeared with a very light coating of slightly sweet mayonnaise. Thin slices of your choice of meat are added, along with slivers of marinated carrot and daikon, sprigs of cilantro and a few slices of jalapeño. The sweet-savory combination of the meat and marinated vegetables is unusual and delicious. Be warned though: the slices of jalapeño can sneak up on you. I like to take them out and nibble them on the side. If you order one of the “lunchmeat” versions, the bread is smeared with pâté before the meat is added -- then topped with the same marinated vegetables, cilantro and jalapeño. They also have tuna and vegetarian versions. My personal favorites are the above-mentioned grilled pork and the grilled chicken (bahn mi ga). At around $2.50 apiece, all of them are bargains.

The restaurant is counter service -- when you walk in, you'll see the various sandwiches pictured over the cash register. A self-service bakery offers bins of the baguettes they use for the sandwiches, as well as croissants and rolls. Next to that, a refrigerator case displays rows of plastic cups filled with exotic desserts made with fruit, coconut, rice, beans and various multi-colored jellies. The middle table is stacked with sweets, including crepes filled with deep purple rice and blocks of brightly striped jelly candy. Another wall is occupied by a cooler offering dozens of soda selections.

At busy times, ready-made takeout containers are stacked on the counter, filled with Vietnamese specialties from the nearby steam table. A large case filled with flaky pate chaud -- pastries filled with pork pâté -- sits on the other side of the cash register area, and on my most recent visit an elderly woman was turning out stacks of fresh waffles from a Belgian waffle iron.

While waiting for your food, you may notice patrons sipping brightly-colored drinks through thick straws. These might be shakes made with mango, avocado, green tea, jackfruit, sugar cane or lychee -- for a small fee, you can add jelly, boba or coconut. I myself am partial to the tea and coffee drinks, but the shakes are popular and look like they would be especially fun to try on a hot day.

The central location of K Sandwiches and easy freeway access make it a snap to stop by for a quick lunch or beverage. Parking is usually easy, even when there’s a crowd, and the service is unfailingly friendly, helpful and fast. With all that going for it and delicious, satisfying sandwiches to boot –- how could it not be absolutely fantastic?

I do not have any connections with this business. I've been here five to ten times.