Finding cheap food in London is rare - so rare, in fact, that £15 'meal deals' at restaurants no longer shock me. I've grown accustomed to a main and a side costing an arm and a leg respectively.

I hate it, but it feels inevitable in this city we love to call home. So when I found out about a Vietnamese spot in Dalston serving £7.70 sandwiches, I was sold. Bun Bun Bun is 'inspired by authentic Vietnamese cooking', and their menu looked rather convincing.

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The Dalston branch is a mere minute away from Dalston Junction station, which left me just enough time to glance at some reviews. Though I've seen more impressive than 3.8, attitudes seemed generally positive for the bánh mì, which I had my sights set on.

Inside, Bun Bun Bun resembled every Vietnamese restaurant I've been to: minimalistic, clean, and with steaming bowls of food everywhere. Upon placing my order, I realised their website prices were out of date - I paid £8.80 for a bánh mì rather than the advertised £7.70.

The interior of Bun Bun Bun
The spot was classically Vietnamese

As I waited, I heard what nobody waiting for a meal wants to hear. A diner raised his hand, opened his mouth, and in a thick Scottish accent he professed: "Excuse me mate, I think I've got a bit of glass in my food."

With great concern, I watched the apologetic waiter bring over a new dish along with my sandwich. Ready to eat, I carefully peeled back the paper to reveal a mercifully glass-free sarnie.

I expected an abundance of shredded vegetables concealing succulent meat. While the beef did look pretty juicy, it was partnered with only a few cucumber slices and some lettuce.

A Vietnamese bahn mi sandwich with cucumbers, lettuce, and meat
The sandwich was more than a little sad

Granted, I had nixed the pickles - but usually, a vivid salad accompanies the meat. Biting into the stale bread, I earned a mouthful of overly sweet meat.

The meal was an ordeal, offset only by the cheap price and thankfully fresh cucumber. By the end, my mouth was dry and my spirits were crushed.

I wanted to love Bun Bun Bun, I wanted to make the spot my go-to for lunch and I wanted to crave their noodles. Maybe I just chose the worse of their two branches, but sadly, I won't be returning to either.

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