Ever since my friend Josh began working directly above V+P’s offices, we’ve been having a little bit of a lunchtime competition. Josh thinks his favorite Vietnamese sandwich shop, tucked behind a cheesy cellphone and jewelry store in Chinatown, is better than mine, a casual affair a few blocks closer to home base.
Recently, I gave in and made the trek to Josh’s culinary crush, Bánh mì Saigon Bakery, and I have to admit defeat once and for all.
For those unfamiliar with Bánh mì, it’s a simple Vietnamese sandwich that has gained cult following in New York, thanks to its big taste and tiny price tag. The main components are a crispy, flaky, fresh-out-of-the oven baguette topped with cilantro, cucumbers, pickled carrots and daikon radish, mayo and a choice of proteins including pate, roast pork, sausage, chicken, or tofu.
Josh and I made our way to Mott Street, passing by open storefonts stocked with exotic fruits and vegetables, cheap souvenirs and mysterious herbs before arrving at 138-01 Mott Street.
If you blinked, you’d miss Bánh mì Saigon Bakery–the place is nondescript, and the sandwich counter is partially hidden by the aforementioned jewelry counter (which is well-stocked with jade trinkets, Swarovski-studded doodads and cellphone charms, if you’re into that sort of thing).
In the end, I had the roast pork and Josh had the chicken. We both got our sandwiches spicy, which means a generous squirt of very hot chile sauce on top of all the crispy, crunchy, salty, cool goodness. The total bill came to a whopping 8 dollars for the two enormous sandwiches, which we both enjoyed when we got back to our desks, just one floor apart from each other, emailing “mmmmmm” and “MMMMMMM” back and forth the whole time. In the end, we both prefer Josh’s joint, but mine is worth a try too.
Bánh mì Saigon Bakery
New York, NY 10013
212.941.1541
I also like:
Viet-Nam Banh Mi So 1
369 Broome St, New York NY 10013
212.219.8341
Read more about New York’s booming Bánh Mì culture here.
Bánh Appetit!
