Mendocino Farms, DTLA

Look for the Cow!

Ever since I had a taste of their sandwiches at the Project by Project Food & Wine event, I haven't stopped thinking about their sandwiches. I thought they had the best offerings at the Plate by Plate event.

Months later, I finally was able to find a way to get their sandwiches again. It's tough, since I don't live and work in Downtown. And the other issue is that they only open at lunchtime on the weekdays, from 11 to 3pm. And to make it worse, they don't have convenient parking available.

With all these negative points, I still had to have their sandwiches. Their menu features 20+ sandwiches with combinations that you won't find anywhere. Today, we called in our orders with Miss C had the recommended Kurobuta Pork Belly Banh Mi for $9.75 and myself having the The Pork Loin Sandwich for $8.25. Yes, I know these sandwiches are not cheap.

I confess anytime I see the words pork and loin, I am immediately drawn to it. I had to order it, even though the phone order taker didn't recommend it. The sliced pork didn't have the visual appeal of what I expected. The bread looked hard and too big for the thinly sliced pork. Yet, I wasn't all that disappointed, though I wouldn't recommend this sandwich to anyone nor would I order it again. The apple chutney and roasted potatoes actually made this sandwich better than I thought. The sweetness of the chutney provided balance to the flavors.

I wish I had ordered Miss C's Kurobuta Pork Belly Banh Mi. The big chunks of juicy pork was delish with the spicy peppers. The bread, a ciabatta, not the typical Vietnamese French roll held the sandwich well. Full of flavor, this sandwich made the Pork Loin pale in comparison.

Anyways. . .I hope Mendocino Farms has a better parking offering. Perhaps they should consider a delivery service in Downtown LA, as well.

What to Order: Kurobuta Pork Belly Banh Mi
What not to Order: maybe not the Pork Loin

Rating
2 pigs, $$

Mendocino Farms
300 S Grand Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 620-1114
www.mendocinofarms.com/
http://twitter.com/mendocinofarms

When you do decide to come to Mendocino Farms, call in your order. If you are going to pick up sandwiches, then have someone come with you and have them sit in the car - while double parked or in a loading zone, while you run inside to pick up the sandwiches.

The Kurobuta Pork Belly Banh Mi. Great sandwich.

Look at the large pork chunks. Notice the Cibatta bread holding everything together.

The pork loin sandwich.

Notice the roasted potatoes on the bottom.