(This venue is closed.) You won't find another banh mi like it in New York.
Not at Banh Mi Saigon Bakery, my favorite Vietnamese sandwich shop in the city, and not even in Ho Chi Minh City itself (though to be sure, during my visit sandwiches were generally far from my mind). The baguette, usually brittle, is here more supple than most; julienned pickled cucumber, carrot, and daikon are supplanted by cucumber relish and pickled red onions; a spicy, sometimes fish-flavored mayo is replaced by honey mustard aioli; and in place of the most common mainstay, pork (roast, grilled, in meatballs, as pate, sometimes alone but generally in combination), you'll find moist, fleshy hunks of catfish.
At $7, Baoguette's spicy catfish banh mi is about twice the price of a more traditional version, but after your first taste, you won't give it a second thought, unless your friends ask to share.
Baoguette
61 Lexington Ave. (25th-26th)
212-518-4089
Closed Sunday
www.Baoguette.com
I tried a pork banh mi at Baoguette yesterday, it was very tasty. Catfish is next on my list.
Posted by: jp | December 23, 2008 at 03:50 PM
shucks I walked past here tonight and chose to walk a block more to curry leaf (?) of kalustyan's, which turned out to be a disappointing $50 dinner for two.
Posted by: Hungry Mama | December 24, 2008 at 12:02 AM
I'll have to try this place... particularly since it's easily in walking distance from my NYC office.
My favorite Banh Mi in the city, though is A Chau Deli on Mulberry. Amazing. have you tried?
Posted by: adamclyde | December 30, 2008 at 12:31 PM
Ok, a quick report back. I just tried this place. Very good and only a block from work. Double benefit. Thanks for the pointer!
Posted by: adamclyde | January 06, 2009 at 01:57 PM