I recently enjoyed visiting Mi Sant Kitchen and Bakery at 1881 West Hwy. 36 in Roseville over spring break. I tried a couple of filled croissants from takeout in the past, and I decided to try a few other things on their menu. They have a variety of croissant variations, Bánh mì sandwiches, croissant breakfast sandwiches, salads, and rice and noodle bowls. The drink menu includes coffee, Vietnamese coffee, bubble tea, milk tea, and shakes.

I chose the grilled pork Bánh mì, a Vietnamese coffee, a fresh strawberry cream croissant, an almond chocolate croissant, and a coconut croissant. For the record, I didn’t eat everything at once, and I was sharing the food with someone else.

The pork Bánh mì was amazing with its lean, smoky, grilled slices of pork nestled in a crunchy on the outside yet tender on the inside baguette. The typical additions to the Bánh mì are mayonnaise, jalapeño, cilantro, cucumber, pickled daikon (radish) and shredded carrot. I added everything but the mayonnaise. I’m not a fan. The veggie combination with the grilled pork was a wonderful surprise because the veggies added a wonderful layer of crunch. I thoroughly enjoyed this choice and will gladly eat the grilled pork Bánh mì again. I may add more of the grilled pork to the sandwich next time. You have that choice for a charge of $2.50.

I washed the Bánh mì down with a strong, slightly sweet Vietnamese coffee because of sweetened condensed milk. I could easily drink this instead of my Starbucks standby, an iced caramel macchiato. The price point of this drink was comparable at $6.49 for a 16-ounce cup. I feel that it’s comparable because I usually get an extra shot of espresso in my Starbucks macchiato. Vietnamese coffee’s strong and rich flavor made an extra shot of espresso seem unnecessary.

After finishing the Bánh mì, I moved to the fresh strawberry cream croissant. This pastry was even more delightful in flavor than its visual presentation, with strawberries and whipped cream on the inside and a light dusting of powdered sugar on the outside. I was worried about making a mess with the first bite, but fortunately, the filling was well-balanced within the croissant, so nothing was lost. I savored every bite.

At home, I tried the coconut croissant but was disappointed because the coconut flavor never materialized. I knew I was eating shredded coconut based on its texture, but I couldn’t taste it. Lastly, I tried the almond chocolate croissant. The chocolate inside was dark and sweet. This flavor complemented the buttery flavor of the croissant and the slivered almonds on the outside. I enjoyed this, but my heart belongs to the strawberry cream croissant.                                                                                                               That is, until I find a new favorite on my next visit.

The service inside the restaurant was fast and friendly. I was concerned that my order would take a while because it was Saturday and the place was crowded. However, I had my order within 15 minutes. The space inside the restaurant was well arranged because even though it was crowded, I navigated the room easily. I recommend this place because you’re bound to find something you like. Mi Sant, in addition to the Roseville location, has a second location in Brooklyn Park at 8540 Edinburgh Centre Dr. The restaurant name at this location is Mi Sant Bahn Mi Co. The hours for both locations are Monday through Saturday, 8 AM to 9 PM.