Lee's Sandwiches
Encyclopedia
Lee's Sandwiches International, Inc., is a fast food
restaurant chain found in the American Southwest, specializing in Vietnamese cuisine. While originally famous for selling bánh mì
(Vietnamese sandwiches), the chain has expanded its offering to many other goods, including packaged spring rolls, desserts, and other food-to-go items. It has many different bánh mì and smoothie selections. The chain's Vietnamese-style sandwich
es use French baguette
bread.
, after immigrating from Vietnam
to San Jose in 1980. After several years of working in a catering truck, Chieu Le and Henry Le operated their own truck and later began their own mobile catering distribution business named Lee Bros. Foodservices, Inc. They anglicized their surname to "Lee" for business purposes. In 1983, Chieu and Henry's parents had success selling bánh mì
from their truck, and they decided to open a permanent store originally called Saigon Gourmet. Then in 2001, the family modernized their traditional Vietnamese bakery-cafes to today's concept of Lee's Sandwiches . They eventually expanded to many other cities in California
and were the first to franchise the Vietnamese deli-cafe concept.
By 2006, they have expanded into Arizona
, Texas
, and Oklahoma
and continued to focus on areas with significant Vietnamese-American populations. They have plans to expand in the Pacific states of Nevada
, Oregon
, and Washington.
In March 2006, the largest Lee's Sandwiches location opened in Houston, Texas
at 10,000 square feet. Prior to then, many Houstonians had visited Orange County, California
, and ate at other Lee's Sandwiches there. A manager of the first Lee's location in Houston said that many people were waiting in line before the Houston restaurant opened.
Many locations feature Wi-Fi
and drive-through
services. Many locations also have computer monitors that call out order numbers in both Vietnamese and English. In addition, most restaurants feature a large flashing neon-sign that lights up to show customers that hot baguettes are being served at the time, similar to the "Hot Doughnuts Now" sign at Krispy Kreme
.
come with a selection of traditional cold cuts
such as pork roll, head cheese
, jambon, and cured pork. They also provide sandwich varieties such as the Grilled Pork, Grilled Chicken, B.B.Q Pork, Pork Meatball, Shredded Pork, Sardine, and Vegetarian. All the Vietnamese sandwiches except for the Vegetarian sandwich come with onions, house pickles, jalapenos, cilantro, salt, pepper. Sandwiches also come with different sauces including soy sauce, fish sauce, pâté
spread, and house mayonnaise.
European-style sandwiches are provided on either a baguette or croissant with meat options of roast beef, turkey, salami, ham, and tuna. Veggies on the sandwich include lettuce and tomatoes, while on the side are red onions, a pickle, and a pepperoncini
.
called Lee's Coffee. They also provide Italian soda
, smoothies, and sweet teas in many flavors. Many of their drinks also come with the option of whipped cream, pearl tapioca, grass jelly
, passion fruit jelly, and coffee jelly
.
, muffins, and coconut waffles
.
. They also offer flan, cơm rượu, Vietnamese yogurt, and Rau câu
(gelatin dessert). Lee's Coconut, a coconut filled with coconut jelly, can also be found. While ice cream is discontinued at locations in California , it is still served at the Oklahoma City and Houston locations.
, as of 2006, 80% of the customers at some Lee's restaurants in California are non-Asian. About 20% of the customers at the Houston locations, as of 2006, were non-Asian. Ryan Nguyen Hubris, vice president of Lee's, said that many blue collar Hispanic workers go to Lee's because the menu items are inexpensive and cheaper than comparable items from some Mexican restaurants
and food truck
s.
Fast food
Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a...
restaurant chain found in the American Southwest, specializing in Vietnamese cuisine. While originally famous for selling bánh mì
Bánh mì
Bánh mì or bánh mỳ is a Vietnamese term for all kinds of bread. Bread, or more specifically the baguette, was introduced by the French during its colonial period. The bread most commonly found in Vietnam is single serve and resembles a torpedo, therefore the term bánh mì is synonymous with this...
(Vietnamese sandwiches), the chain has expanded its offering to many other goods, including packaged spring rolls, desserts, and other food-to-go items. It has many different bánh mì and smoothie selections. The chain's Vietnamese-style sandwich
Sandwich
A sandwich is a food item, typically consisting of two or more slices of :bread with one or more fillings between them, or one slice of bread with a topping or toppings, commonly called an open sandwich. Sandwiches are a widely popular type of lunch food, typically taken to work or school, or...
es use French baguette
Baguette
A baguette is "a long thin loaf of French bread" that is commonly made from basic lean dough...
bread.
History
Lee's Sandwiches was started by the Le family in San Jose, CaliforniaSan Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, after immigrating from Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
to San Jose in 1980. After several years of working in a catering truck, Chieu Le and Henry Le operated their own truck and later began their own mobile catering distribution business named Lee Bros. Foodservices, Inc. They anglicized their surname to "Lee" for business purposes. In 1983, Chieu and Henry's parents had success selling bánh mì
Bánh mì
Bánh mì or bánh mỳ is a Vietnamese term for all kinds of bread. Bread, or more specifically the baguette, was introduced by the French during its colonial period. The bread most commonly found in Vietnam is single serve and resembles a torpedo, therefore the term bánh mì is synonymous with this...
from their truck, and they decided to open a permanent store originally called Saigon Gourmet. Then in 2001, the family modernized their traditional Vietnamese bakery-cafes to today's concept of Lee's Sandwiches . They eventually expanded to many other cities in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and were the first to franchise the Vietnamese deli-cafe concept.
By 2006, they have expanded into Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
and continued to focus on areas with significant Vietnamese-American populations. They have plans to expand in the Pacific states of Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, and Washington.
In March 2006, the largest Lee's Sandwiches location opened in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
at 10,000 square feet. Prior to then, many Houstonians had visited Orange County, California
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
, and ate at other Lee's Sandwiches there. A manager of the first Lee's location in Houston said that many people were waiting in line before the Houston restaurant opened.
Many locations feature Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi or Wifi, is a mechanism for wirelessly connecting electronic devices. A device enabled with Wi-Fi, such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, or digital audio player, can connect to the Internet via a wireless network access point. An access point has a range of about 20...
and drive-through
Drive-through
A drive-through, or drive-thru, is a type of service provided by a business that allows customers to purchase products without leaving their cars. The format was first pioneered in the United States in the 1930s but has since spread to other countries. The first recorded use of a bank using a drive...
services. Many locations also have computer monitors that call out order numbers in both Vietnamese and English. In addition, most restaurants feature a large flashing neon-sign that lights up to show customers that hot baguettes are being served at the time, similar to the "Hot Doughnuts Now" sign at Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme is the name of an international chain of doughnut stores that was founded by Vernon Rudolph in 1937 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The parent company of Krispy Kreme is Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc...
.
Sandwiches
Lee's Sandwiches' bánh mìBánh mì
Bánh mì or bánh mỳ is a Vietnamese term for all kinds of bread. Bread, or more specifically the baguette, was introduced by the French during its colonial period. The bread most commonly found in Vietnam is single serve and resembles a torpedo, therefore the term bánh mì is synonymous with this...
come with a selection of traditional cold cuts
Cold Cuts
Cold Cuts is a 2002 live album by English acoustic roots duo Show of Hands. It was their first live album to be released in a gatefold/digipack case...
such as pork roll, head cheese
Head cheese
Head cheese , or brawn , is a cold cut that originated in Europe. A version pickled with vinegar is known as souse. Head cheese is not a cheese but a terrine or meat jelly made with flesh from the head of a calf or pig , and often set in aspic. Which parts of the head are used can vary, but the...
, jambon, and cured pork. They also provide sandwich varieties such as the Grilled Pork, Grilled Chicken, B.B.Q Pork, Pork Meatball, Shredded Pork, Sardine, and Vegetarian. All the Vietnamese sandwiches except for the Vegetarian sandwich come with onions, house pickles, jalapenos, cilantro, salt, pepper. Sandwiches also come with different sauces including soy sauce, fish sauce, pâté
Pâté
Pâté is a mixture of ground meat and fat minced into a spreadable paste. Common additions include vegetables, herbs, spices, and either wine or cognac, armagnac or brandy...
spread, and house mayonnaise.
European-style sandwiches are provided on either a baguette or croissant with meat options of roast beef, turkey, salami, ham, and tuna. Veggies on the sandwich include lettuce and tomatoes, while on the side are red onions, a pickle, and a pepperoncini
Pepperoncini
Peperoncini , common names Tuscan peppers, sweet Italian peppers, golden Greek peppers and Kyle peppers, are a variety of the species Capsicum annuum...
.
Beverages
Lee's Sandwiches offers their version of Cafe Sua DaCafe Sua Da
Vietnamese iced coffee, also known as Ca phe da or cafe da is a traditional Vietnamese coffee recipe."Vietnamese iced coffee with milk", also known as ca phe sua da or cà phê sữa đá...
called Lee's Coffee. They also provide Italian soda
Italian soda
An Italian soda is a soft drink made from carbonated water and simple syrup, usually flavored. Flavors can be fruity An Italian soda is a soft drink made from carbonated water and simple syrup, usually flavored. Flavors can be fruity An Italian soda is a soft drink made from carbonated water and...
, smoothies, and sweet teas in many flavors. Many of their drinks also come with the option of whipped cream, pearl tapioca, grass jelly
Grass jelly
Grass jelly, or Leaf jelly, is a jelly-like dessert found in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Southeast Asia. It is sold in cans or packets in Asian supermarkets.-Preparation:...
, passion fruit jelly, and coffee jelly
Coffee jelly
is a popular gelatin dessert in Japan. It has the color and flavor of black coffee, though it is a somewhat translucent gel. It is often cut into cubes and served in a variety of dessert dishes and beverages. Cubes of coffee jelly are sometimes added to milkshakes, at the bottom of an ice cream...
.
Pastries
In addition to french baguettes, Lee's Sandwiches bakes an assorted array of pasties including butter croissants, danishes, almond croissants, and coconut raisin croissants, ham & cheese croissants, french horns, pâté chaudsPâté Chaud
Pâté chaud or Bánh patê sô is a Vietnamese puff pastry that means "hot pie" in French. The pastry is made of a light layered and flaky outside with a meat filling. Traditionally, the filling consist of a pork meat, but today, chicken and beef are common used...
, muffins, and coconut waffles
Pandan waffle
Pandan waffles or as referred to in Vietnamese, Bánh kẹp lá dứa, are different from other waffles because of the use of pandan flavor and coconut milk in the batter. Unlike most waffles, pandan waffles are eaten plain. They are also characterized by their spring green color and browning when cooked...
.
Desserts
Many locations offer various types of hot and cold Vietnamese dessertChè
Chè is a Vietnamese term that refers to any traditional Vietnamese sweet dessert soup or pudding.As such, it may, with the addition of qualifying adjectives, refer to a wide variety of distinct soups or puddings, which may be served either hot or cold...
. They also offer flan, cơm rượu, Vietnamese yogurt, and Rau câu
Gelatin dessert
Gelatin desserts are desserts made with sweetened and flavored gelatin. They can be made by combining plain gelatin with other ingredients or by using a premixed blend of gelatin with additives...
(gelatin dessert). Lee's Coconut, a coconut filled with coconut jelly, can also be found. While ice cream is discontinued at locations in California , it is still served at the Oklahoma City and Houston locations.
Clientele
While the majority of customers at the restaurants are Vietnamese AmericanVietnamese American
A Vietnamese American is an American of Vietnamese descent. They make up about half of all overseas Vietnamese and are the fourth-largest Asian American group....
, as of 2006, 80% of the customers at some Lee's restaurants in California are non-Asian. About 20% of the customers at the Houston locations, as of 2006, were non-Asian. Ryan Nguyen Hubris, vice president of Lee's, said that many blue collar Hispanic workers go to Lee's because the menu items are inexpensive and cheaper than comparable items from some Mexican restaurants
Mexican cuisine
Mexican cuisine, a style of food that originates in Mexico, is known for its varied flavors, colourful decoration and variety of spices and ingredients, most of which are native to the country. The cuisine of Mexico has evolved through thousands of years of blending indigenous cultures, with later...
and food truck
Food truck
A food truck, mobile kitchen, mobile canteen, or catering truck is a mobile venue that sells food. Some, including ice cream trucks, sell mostly frozen or prepackaged food; others are more like restaurants-on-wheels...
s.