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Thi Thi Vietnamese Subs
Categories: Restaurants Vietnamese Restaurants Sandwiches Vietnamese, Sandwiches [Edit]
209 1 St SECalgary, AB T2G 2G3
(403) 265-5452
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 10:30 am - 6 pm
Fri-Sat 10:30 am - 5 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
23 reviews for Thi Thi Vietnamese Subs
Review Highlights
"The flavourfull beef satay is served in a baguette."
(in 5 reviews)
"Probably the best Sate Chicken Sub I've ever had."
(in 4 reviews)
"It's a must try for Vietnamese Banh Mi."
(in 3 reviews)
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23 reviews in English
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Review from Piers M.
Vancouver, BC
12/27/2011
If I had to choose one last meal before being executed the Sate Beef from here would make the short list.
Price has escalated with notoriety but it's worth it. Barring a trip to Vietnam this is the best Banh Mi on the planet. -
Review from Queenie M.
Calgary, AB
8/24/2011
Food: 3/5
Atmosphere: 3/5
Service: 3/5
Overall experience: 3/5
(1- Terrible; 3- decent; 5- Fantastic)
After hearing this place had the best Vietnamese sandwiches i just had to see for myself. This is definitely NOT the best Vietnamese sandwich I ever had. This place is only AVERAGE! I've definitely had better.
If you do come here for lunch though, I highly suggest getting there before the lunch rush at 12pm. There was already a lineup at 11:30am out the door. Then again it's a very tiny sandwhich stop where you can fit at most 4 people inside. Service was fairly quick, i waited for about 10 minutes after ordering and the workers were friendly.
The menu is small consisting of $5-$7 (incl. tax) subs with your choice of: sate beef/chicken, super sub (sate beef and chicken), peppered beef/chicken, cold cut, vegitarian, rib, and assorted traditional Vietnamese cold meats. I chose the sate beef and assorted which came on a nice crispy bun. All sandwhiches come with homemade mayo, and a choice of toppings like cheese (not 100% authentic), cilantro, pickled carrots, onions, hot red peppers, and soya sauce.
I was expecting to bite into a juicy, 'oh my god this is the best sub ever!', but both subs came up a little short. The sate beef was dry and bland and the mayo didn't hold up against the other flavors that well. The assorted meats was a much better sandwich since I could actually taste something. This is definitely not the place to go if you like saucy Vietnamese sandwiches.
Overall, the sandwiches are only OKAY but if you're in a pinch I say give it a try and pick the assorted meats. I will probably come back to try their rib sandwich since it's something I haven't seen before, but other than that I will go elsewhere. -
Review from Wendy P.
8/1/2011 2 Check-ins Here
When I look back, waaaaay back to when I first moved to this city, I had no idea what Vietnamese sub was. Why would a small town Alberta girl know such a thing? One day, one of my coworkers asked me if I wanted to go for a Vietnamese sub. "A what?" I asked with a puzzled look on my face. He did his best to describe it to me, but in the end he decided the best description was for me to sink my teeth into one. He was a Mexican guy and used to eating out of great little hole-in-the-wall restaurants. Thi Thi was where he took me for my very first Vietnamese sub. I remember thinking how delicious that sub was. It was also a bit of a drive from our NE office, so needless to say, I didn't make it back for some time.
Fast forward a few years to present day Calgary. I hadn't forgotten about Vietnamese subs, but Thi Thi was a distant memory. That is, until Nyssa R's review popped up back in January. "OMG! Thi Thi!" It was like finding that pair of favourite jeans you haven't worn in years in the back of your closet. Instant bookmark!
It was a while longer before I made it back. But I was in the neighbourhood just after the noon hour today and decided I should stop in. I ordered a sate chicken sub with everything on it. Was that a hot pepper they slide into my sandwich? You bet it was. Saucy and delicious, that sub was even better than I remembered.
Thi Thi, today you completed me... or rather, my lunch. -
Review from KAT N.
Edmonton, AB
5/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
Best ever! Someone please franchise Thi Thi to Edmonton! You would make so much money from me.
O so delicious! What can I say? Every time I go to Calgary I ALWAYS go to Thi Thi! Rain, shine, flood, hail storm,- I must get a beef satay, extra spicy so I can still taste it burning my stomach all the way to Edmonton.
Pssssst! If you plan on buying more than 10, call and order ahead because there's always a line up for them. And if you bought the last batch, the people in line will get mad so you better be a fast runner! -
Review from Nyssa R.
1/27/2011
OH MY GOODNESS. If you have not had the pleasure, definitely make time to try this place out. This is one of those places that if you don't know about it you probably won't notice it when you're walking down the street, so keep your eyes peeled for this one.
I tend to get the cold cut submarine and it never disappoints. The satay is good too. If you've never tried the cold cut one though because beef or chicken seem safer/more appetizing, I definitely advise you to step out of your comfort zone because the cold cut sub is amazing.
The service is quick, the line-up moves fast, but don't be that one person who doesn't have cash and holds up the line!
Amazing! -
Review from Colin S.
Calgary, AB
11/12/2010 1 photo
Thi Thi has to be one of my top guilty pleasure spots in Calgary. The subs are all sorts of delicious but my god do they take a toll on the body. If I eat a Super at lunch I'll spend the afternoon practically in a coma.
There is usually a pretty big lineup around lunch hour but it's worth it. As others have mentioned make sure you bring cash! -
Review from Kitty C.
Calgary, AB
7/12/2011
Delicious vietnamese subs...Ok...maybe it's not the most "authentic"...but it is definitely the most flavorful version I have ever had. Satay beef was addictive and nestled in the crustiest french baguette. Hubby prefers his mixed meats sandwich. Look out for the lunch line up...it can take up to 20 mins to get to the front and there's only pay parking. Over all, 2 thumbs up!
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Review from josh j.
Calgary, AB
11/25/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Thi Thi is an icon. With its hole in the wall (like finding a pizza joint in an alley in Greenwich Village) and obscure (albeit central) location, this place is a revered institution for those "in the know" about Vietnamese subs. Due to its cramped confines and its amazing subs, it is literally always lined up out the door. It is a family run operation (dad's a little gruff, but mother and son are always smiling and polite) and you can just feel the familial vibe that translates into home cooked yumminess. The Sate Beef, Sate Chicken, Rib, and Ultimate, subs are legendary. I lived in Vancouver and worked often in Toronto, and have yet to find a flavor equal to Thi Thi. Prices have increased quite a bit over the years, but the flavor has always been consistently WOW. Like another reviewer noted, don't mess up the line mojo by not having cash when you're ready to pay, people are getting cold while waiting in line!
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Review from Lesli K.
Calgary, AB
9/13/2008
I decided this year that I would eat more banh mi (Vietnamese Subs ) -afterall, they're healthy...Think cilantro, carrots, cucumbers...
If you're a fan of Vietnamese Subs, or you just want to try one because you've heard people rave about them, then you need to try one from Thi Thi's (pronounced tee tee) Vietnamese Subs in Chinatown.
Thi Thi Vietnamese Subs are made with beef satay, chicken satay or vegetarian. The flavourfull beef satay is served in a baguette. Packed into the baguette with the meat are marinated carrots, thin sliced onions, cukes, cheese, mayo, cilantro and jalapeno peppers. (Oops, just drooled on my keyboard...!)
Located across from the Harry Hays Bldg, Thi Thi Vietnamese Sub is easy to find. If all else fails just look for the lineup out the door! (It has a small storefront, so don't miss it!) -
Review from Starsia E.
Calgary, AB
4/11/2011
I dream of the next time I will get to have a sub from here. They just make them perfectly. When it comes to food I am extremely picky and this is the only place I will let someone else bring me a sub from without being there to order. I love that they put cilantro on the subs, I just love the subs. I suggest getting on to try. I don't even like sandwiches that much but I love these. Just a perfect mix of flavors.
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Review from Kathy J.
Calgary, AB
8/23/2008
I'm a huge fan of Vietnamese Subs, and without a doubt, the subs at Thi Thi are the best in Calgary. A block away from the Bow River, and in the heart of Chinatown, Thi Thi is consistently delicious and the service is always great.
I'm pretty sure it's run by a husband-wife team, and it's neat to watch them work together in such a teeny tiny shop. They've got it down to a science.
Thi Thi is strictly take out, but there is a park and a lot of benches nearby where you can enjoy your sub. Try to avoid going during lunch time if you can; it's a pretty popular spot during the work week.
My tip would be to order ahead of time by phone to skip the line. My favourite sub is the veggie with everything (even the hot peppers). -
Review from Jerry S.
5/10/2011
Thi Thi Sandwich is the real deal. I am from down South, Houston TX. We have the largest Vietnamese population / selection of Vietnamese food outside California and Vietnam (in that order). I know / love Vietnamese food. Thi Thi Sandwich is the best sandwich shop I found in Calgary. I lived in beautiful Calgary for a year
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Review from Trish L.
Calgary, AB
9/11/2008
IMHO definitely the best Vietnamese Subs in town. My favourite is the sate chicken sub. The bread is perfectly toasted. This place is consistent time after time. The flavours with the pickled vegetables is a perfect balance.
It is hugely popular, especially during the lunch hour. The long line-up all the way down the sidewalk is a good indication of that. The husband-wife team are not the most efficient... but the quality of the product speaks for itself and is worth the wait. Even in the middle of winter when it's -5 outside, you will still see a lineup down the sidewalk.
I now sometimes go to their sister-location on 8th Ave around 6St SW if I don't have enough time to wait. Their sister-location is pretty close to the "real" thing although I'm still convinced that the bread is toasted more to perfection at the original location in Chinatown. The sister-location on 8th is run a lot more efficiently by a younger team. They run it more like a subway shop and even if their is a line-up out the door, it moves fairly quickly. At the Chinatown location, I've waited as long as 45mins to an hour for a sub during the peak times. -
Review from C T.
Calgary, AB
12/7/2008
Thi Thi in Chinatown is the best for Vietnamese subs. Lines are definitely long but worth the wait.
Thi Thi on 8 Avenue is so-so for me. I found my sub to be a bit dry. Maybe not enough sauce?
They have brown bread in this location. Anyone know if there's brown bread in the Chinatown location? -
Review from Mame G.
Calgary, AB
4/15/2010
I've been going to this place ever since I was little and when they'd used to be $2.00 a sub. It was the first Vietnamese sub place to open in Chinatown back then. Back then they used simple ingredients, and had other Vietnamese dessert delicacies to offer, now their menu is quite different. It took a while for Vietnamese subs to catch up to the prices of regular Subway subs. I had always wondered why people pay $7 to eat there versus $2 when it was not adjusted.
Their subs still taste very delightful and authentic. I still get a sub from here every now an then when I feel like taking a walk to Chinatown. -
Review from Doug C.
Toronto, ON
12/15/2009 2 photos
I've eaten here a half-dozen times. Great sub (a much different take on the traditional for those of you unfamiliar with Vietnamese subs), prompt service (but beware of the long lines at lunch time) and cheap. The "super chicken" in my photo was $6.25.
CASH ONLY! Also- they're closing from Dec 20- Jan 19th for a vacation. -
Review from Hinano K.
12/29/2010
Oh I will always remember this place, this was a to go spot for banh mi when I lived in Calgary. I have always love their sandwiches. When you head over here around lunch time there is a long line of hungry people waiting outside the door and waiting to get their yummy sandwich and gobble it up. Well I was one of them haha. Every time I go back for a visit, I tried to head back here for some yummy banh mi I love their chicken or beef satay sandwich. If you live in Calgary or if you are visiting and would like to tried a different type of sub, I definitely recommend this place. Give this place a try, you won't regret it.
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Review from Ryan T.
7/14/2010 1 Check-in Here
This joint seems to be Calgary's answer to the ubiquitous Lee's Sandwiches chain dotting much of the west coast of the U.S. Fresh ingredients, lots of flavor, lots of options for additions such as chilis, different sauces, etc. Soups and salads in the same Southeast Asian vein are also available here. They do offer more Western-style desserts here, from what I remember. I believe my friend had one of the subs with chicken; I had a buddha veggie on whole wheat that included fried tofu and fresh veggies, and I had pickled carrots along with fresh chopped chilis added to that. Fresh ingredients, from the sandwich I had.. Great value for good portions, and this particular location is pretty much in Chinatown, walking distance from the downtown core.
Listed in: Good eats away from the bay
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Review from p s.
Calgary, AB
7/17/2011
The beef satay was delicious. I would go back any day, any time. Be aware, they only take cash and if they have run out of baguettes, then the shop is closed for the day. Take the risk, and see if they're open. It's worth the crowds that line up around the block.
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Review from Tyler b.
3/4/2010 1 photo
this is my new go-to lunch place in calgary.
$6.25 lands you a very good sandwich. the options are beef satay, chicken satay, rib satay. the sub is a solid 9-10 inches long (that's about 25cm for you canadians out there)
i agree with some of the other reviews that mentioned how perfectly the sandwich was toasted. it's something you take for granted until it's done incorrectly. these guys had their system down, and it works great.
they've been in the Let's Go (backpacker oriented) travel guide books off and on for the past 7 years.
they're definitely a bit hard to spot unless yo know exactly where your looking. check out the photo i added which will give you an idea of the sign to look for. note that they are tucked away in a corner. -
Review from Gordon L.
Calgary, AB
3/28/2010
Probably the best Sate Chicken Sub I've ever had. The staff puts a tremendous duty of care into there art. They are the real sandwich artists.
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Review from Calvin L.
2/9/2009
This is my only favorite place for Vietnamese (Fusion) sub. Very tasty!!!
My one and all time favorite is Sate Rib Sub that I wish they have it in California as well. Whenever I have a chance to visit Calgary, I would eat it at least once. My husband had tried it also and have fallen in love with it as well.
The original store was in downtown Calgary, however they have open other locations, one would be at 130Ave SE shopping area. Both location taste just as good.
It's a must try for Vietnamese Banh Mi! -
Review from Kim N.
5/23/2010
all i have to say is THAI TAI SUB 'N GRILL over thi thi
