[ Dining Index | San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]

Sandwich Shop How Now Stale Bao? Thanh Mai, 1156 Story Road, San Jose By Kelly Luker TALK ABOUT WASTE NOT, WANT NOT! By the time Environmental Health got through with this sandwich shop and restaurant, Thanh Mai was ordered to deep-six enough food to feed a starving army. In February of 1999, a half-dozen trays full of food, as well as 11 lunch plates, hit the trash can for the crime of hanging around at unsafe temperatures. Then another seven trays full of food and 26 lunch plates were sentenced to death by inspectors in December of 1999 for--yep--unsafe temperatures, then sprayed with Windex to keep anyone from resurrecting them. But Thanh Mai has the solution for lukewarm food--toss it in the microwave! Although the bowl of bún oc (won-ton-like soup) was delivered hot and piping from the kitchen, the cha ca (deep fried fish stick) and xá xíu bao (pork-filled bun) visited the microwave before my tray. Unfortunately, no amount of radiation energy would resuscitate the bao; it was pronounced dead on arrival. Dry, dessicated and flavorless, Thanh Mai's bao was an insult to the honor and glory that is the bun. The good news is that a big billboard across the street announces that the vacant field behind it will soon be the future home of "King Egg Roll Plaza." Sounds like happy hunting for all kinds of Asian yummies, including our beloved bao. RATING: Introduction: Bottom Feeders. Making The List: The methodology and ratings. Not on the Menu: Gruesome complaints and bizarre things allegedly found in food. Wok on the Wild Side: Asian restaurants still get disproportionately high rate of poor inspection reports. Chew Fly, Don't Bother Me: Tory's Restaurant in Cupertino. A Fowl Feeling: Mai Garden Restaurant in San Jose. Fast Food Frightmare: Mr. Chau's Chinese Fast Food in Palo Alto. Overly Greasy Spoon: Bob's Surf 'N Turf in San Jose. Not Cool Enough: Gordon Biersch in Palo Alto. Pastor Its Prime: El Mexicano Taqueria in San Jose. How Fresh? Fresh N Healthy Vegetarian in San Jose. Chill Is Gone: Nola in Palo Alto. Coffee To Go, Please: My My Coffee and Sandwiches in San Jose. Vermin in the Vermicelli: Florentine Restaurant in Mountain View. Off-Screen Horror Show: Century Capitol 16 Theaters in San Jose. [ San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]