Paseo vs Un Bien

The Great Debate- Paseo vs Un Bien

This is the first of our Seattle Food Wars series. It’s safe to say, the most popular sandwich in Seattle is Paseo’s Caribbean Pork Roast Sandwich. With apologies to Salumi, Tats, Delicatus, Rain Shadow Meats, Mammoth, I think most locals would say Paseo is the king. But which “Paseo” sandwich? First a little history lesson about Paseo.

The Scandalous History of Paseo

Who would have ever thought that a sandwich place would have such a scandalous soap opera-like story? Here’s a short version of the history of Paseo

• Paseo opened in the late 1990s and quickly garnered attention for their Caribbean Pork Sandwich. There were lines out the door and if you arrived too late in the day, they would often run out of bread to make the sandwiches. Once the bread ran out, you were screwed. No sandwich. The place was so successful that they could afford to close down for a month every year, so the owner could take a vacation. The other thing you always had to remember, is that they were closed on Sundays and it was cash only.
• In 2014, Yelp came out with their top 100 places to eat in America. Paseo was ranked #2!!
• Over the years I took out-of-towners to Paseo and told them that I would put Paseo sandwiches up against any sandwiches in the world for best sandwich and more times than not, they agreed. If it wasn’t the best sandwich they ever had, it was in the top 2 or 3.
• In November of 2014, Paseo suddenly closed without explanation! My heart sank. I remember being at work and news spread through the office and we all wondered, how it was possible? With lines out the door every day, how could they have been in financial trouble? I won’t go into the sordid details of the closing, but you can read about it here:

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/allyoucaneat/2014/11/11/beloved-sandwich-shop-paseo-abruptly-closes-doors/

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/day-after-closing-paseo-files-for-bankruptcy/

• I’m not exaggerating when I say this was front page news in the Seattle Times for at least the next 3 or 4 days after the announced closing and sleuthing by reporters as to why Paseo closed. That’s how popular this place was.
• This is where it gets good. About a month and a half later an investor bought the Paseo name, building and equipment for $91k in a court house auction. He hired the old Paseo workers, who helped him recreate the recipe and worked with the exact same bread and meat suppliers from the original Paseo. He didn’t change anything on the menu and then opened back up in January of 2015.  There was much rejoicing!

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/allyoucaneat/2014/12/12/paseo-to-reopen-new-owner-plans-no-changes/

http://seattle.eater.com/2015/1/8/7518153/paseo-is-open-again

• So what does the family of the original owners of Paseo do? In July of 2016, the sons of the original owner of Paseo decided to open their own place with the original recipe and called it Un Bien.

http://www.seattletimes.com/life/food-drink/paseo-and-un-bien-a-tale-of-two-sandwiches/

Now there’s always been a debate amongst my local friends, which Caribbean Pork Sandwich is better. Paseo with its recreated sandwich or Un Bien with the “original recipe” sandwich. Without tasting the sandwiches side by side at the same time it’s impossible to determine. Well we’re putting this damn debate to rest.

Both places are small and I don’t think either place would want the rival’s food in their establishment, so a neutral field is picked. The venue-Reuben’s Brewery. I met up with friends and we had a taste test to figure out once and for all who had the better sandwich.

The tally:

The Winner!!  Un Bien

Update 9/22/19: Un Bien just made Seattle Met’s 100 Best Restaurant

Related Articles:

• Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Seattle Coffee Shops
• Battle of the Best Ramen in Seattle
• Battle of Seattle Doughnuts(or Donuts?)- Top Shop vs Mighty O
• Best Seattle Bars For Each Stage of Dating
• Best Seattle Coffee Shops For Each Stage of Dating