Best Banh Mi
Thanh Da
6008 7th Ave., Sunset Park; (718) 492-3253
Technically speaking, banh mi refers to bread in Vietnamese. But in America, we have adopted the phrase to describe a particularly delicious sandwich filled with various pork products, pickled vegetables, cilantro and mayo. At Thanh Da, right off the main drag in Sunset Park, they put the emphasis back on the bread, which is moist and light inside, and perfectly toasted on the outside. And the Vietnamese sandwich’s fillings are tasty, too. Thick slices of pork belly complement crispy cucumbers and pickled daikon, all of which are covered in a mystery sauce that tastes like heaven and could easily be eaten with a spoon. Be sure to ask for your sandwich spicy. The jalepeño peppers are so hot they come with a complimentary glass of iced oolong tea. At $4.50 a sandwich, Thanh Da is by no means fancy, but the food is delicious. After all, you’re coming for the authenticity, not the ambiance.
Saigon Shack, 114 MacDougal St., West Village; (212) 228-0588
Shack is a bit of an understatement for this cozy Vietnamese restaurant in the heart of the West Village. Sure, there’s a tin ceiling and worn wooden floors, but Saigon Shack is decidedly not rundown and neither are its sandwiches, all of which are served with mayo, cucumber, cilantro, carrots and daikon. The basic S.S. Classic features Vietnamese ham, bacon and paté. That’s an incredible amount of flavor for only $5. The bacon is crunchy; the bread is soft and warm, and the cilantro plentiful. Plus, when it comes to spiciness, you can order it to your liking or grab one of the many bottles of sriracha sauce that pepper this cash-only restaurant that opened in 2010. Those who like to see their food prepared in front of them, sit at the bar and check out the open kitchen, which is small enough to fit into a shack.
Banh Mi Zon, 443 E. 6th St., East Village; (646) 524-6384
Here’s a Vietnamese sandwich shop proving once again that big things come in small sizes. Located in a closetsized storefront near Avenue A, Banh Mi Zon (cash only) serves up big sandwiches with bold flavor. At $6.25, the Zon Sandwich practically explodes with Vietnamese ham, terrine, shredded pork floss, mayo, cucumber, cilantro, soy sauce, pickled carrots and daikon. And unlike other, more cost efficient establishments, Banh Mi Zon goes heavy on the paté, giving their sandwiches a rich, creamy flavor that sticks to the top of your mouth long after the meal is over and you are left in a food coma, staring at the owner’s photos of Vietnam which hang on the restaurant’s walls.