It's summertime and it is hot outside. You know the story. You don't want to eat something heavy that will end up in your stomach soaking up the acids, so what is tasty, lightweight, and satisfying at the same time? The perfect summer food just might be bánh mì, the Vietnamese sandwich.
These sandwiches are a culinary marriage of French technique, Chinese ingredients, and Vietnamese ingenuity; the remnants of failed colonialism and influence on Vietnam and its proud people.
It is an explosion of flavors combining just enough meat, sweet carrots, icy cucumbers, fresh cilantro, and hot chilies. The key also is having the flavors contrast and play off each other. Another key ingredient is the slightly toasted, and buttered baguettine (small baguette). Although an ordinary French baguette can be used, traditional Vietnamese baguettes have some rice flour mixed in to give the bread a lighter texture, and crispier crust. Here in NYC, however, nearly all places use some sort of italian, or french style bread.
For something light and summery, these sandwiches are perfect. Add a cool drink and you are set.
The places listed here are small shops specializing only on sandwiches even though you may be able to get a sandwich from a Vietnamese restaurant with a full menu.
by RK Chin, 08 July 2001
See also vietnamese restaurants
more photos below..
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(click to enlarge) photo by rk chin Ba Xuyen in Sunset Park, Bklyn.
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(click to enlarge) photo by rk chin Num Pang in Union Square.
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(click to enlarge) photo by rk chin Paris Sandwich in Chinatown.
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Á Châu |
closed 82A Mulberry St (btwn Canal and Bayard)
i've had some bad experiences here. |
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An Đông |
closed 5424 8th Ave, Brooklyn (corner of 55th st)
owner's daughter has opened Nicky's Sandwiches (see below) |
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An Choi |
85 Orchard St (btwn Broome and Grand) 212-991-9880
Summer rolls, salad, and $8 banh mi. |
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Ba Xuyên |
4222 8th Ave, Brooklyn (at 43rd St.) 718-633-6601 Ba Xuyen
Huge, juicy sandwiches on toasty italian heros. Fruit shakes, and bubble tea also available. plenty of seating. |
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Bánh Mì Zòn |
443 East 6th St (btwn 1st Ave & Ave A) 646-524-6384
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Baoguette |
61 Lexington Ave (btwn 25th & 26th St.) 212-518-4089
Michael "Bao" Huynh's gourmet banh mi on good quality baguettes. Pork terrine, or bbq chicken $5, curry corned beef with mango, or spicy catfish $7. very good, but even better if the baguette is toasted more. some seating available |
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Baoguette Cafe |
37 St. Marks Pl (btwn 2nd & 3rd Ave) 347-892-2614.
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Bối to Go |
800 Second Ave (btwn 42nd & 43rd St.) 212-681-6541 Boi to Go
$8 a sandwich; they gotta pay the rent somehow!!.. mixed reviews. |
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Boi Sandwich |
708 Third Ave (btwn 44th & 45th St.)
Boi's newest store. |
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Hanco's |
85 Bergen St, Brooklyn (at Smith St.) 718-858-6818
Seating available. |
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Hanco's |
350 Seventh Ave, Brooklyn (corner of 10th St.) 718-499-8081
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Nhâ Saćh Khai Trí |
145 Canal St (btw Forsyth & Bowery) 212-343-2657 Nha Sach Khai Tri
Consider this place the last stop for drinks and food before you board the fung wah bus to boston because the bottled sodas at this place are overpriced, buy them from the hot dog stand next door. |
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Nhà Tôi |
160 Havemeyer St (btw S 2nd & S 3rd St.) 718-599-1820 Nha Toi
traditional and cross-cultural banh mi. |
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Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches |
150 E 2nd St
An Dong's banh mi lives on at Nicky's
update: Nicky's owner Quynh Dang have sold this location to new owners, the new banh mi shop has been renamed Vicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches (nov 9 2011, evgrieve). |
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Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches |
311 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn (btwn Smith and Hoyt) 718-855-8838
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Num Pang |
21 E. 12th St (at University Pl.)
Ratha Chau's Cambodian num pang cafe. Peppercorn sweet catfish, coconut tiger shrimp, hoisin veal meatballs, cauliflower eggplant, and grilled skirt steak are just some of the gourmet flavors available served on well-toasted Parisi Bakery mini baguettes at ~$7. Chef Chau's bacon num pang is not available here due to insufficient prep space. here's their coconut shrimp num pang recipe. |
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Num Pang |
140 E. 41st St (at 3rd Ave.)
Num Pang's 2nd location |
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Paris Sandwich |
113 Mott St (at Hester St) 212-226-7221
Baguettes freshly baked on premises. they have the traditional banh mi menu, and a smaller menu in the back with american deli meats. plenty of seating available. |
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Paris Sandwich |
213 Grand St (btwn Elizabeth & Mott) 212-226-7221
Paris 2nd location. |
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Saigon Bánh Mì |
198 Grand St (btwn Mulberry and Mott) 212-941-1541
Remember the tiny food stall they started with at the East Broadway Mall years ago? Now they are on Grand Street! |
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Sáu Voi Corp |
101-105 Lafayette St (corner of Walker) 212-226-8184 Sau Voi Corp
Newsstand/video store with a small sandwich counter. located near all the courts. |
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Silent H |
closed 79 Berry St, Brooklyn
$6 banh mi for hipsters featuring a cross-cultural mix of ingredients like sloppy joes, and kielbasa for filling. |
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Tan Thanh Bakery |
5818 7th Ave, Brooklyn (at 58th St) 718-469-1690
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Thanh Đa |
6008 7th Ave, Brooklyn (at 60th St) 718-492-3253 Tranh Da
Rice dishes, and pho available. plenty of seating. |
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Thanh Đa II |
5624 8th Ave, Brooklyn (at 57th St) 718-492-3760 Tranh Da II
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Tú Quỳnh Center |
closed 230 Grand St
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V-Nam Cafe |
20 First Ave (btwn 1st and 2nd st) 212-780-6020
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Vicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches |
150 E 2nd St (at Ave A, east village) 212-388-1088
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Vietnam Bánh Mì Sổ 1 |
369 Broome St (btw Mott & Elizabeth) 212-219-8341 Vietnam Banh Mi So 1
Freshly squeezed juices are available. Here's their banh mi recipe |
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World of Taste Seafood |
closed 2614 Jerome Ave, Bronx
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Xe Máy |
96 St. Marks Pl (btwn 1st and A)
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