Banh Mi Thit Xien

Unlike the OG Vietnamese Banh Mi Dac Biet, which is typically filled with cold cuts such as Vietnamese ham, sausage, liver pate, pickled veggies, and cilantro garnishing, Banh Mi Thit Nuong (Grilled Pork Sandwich) gained popularity much later among younger crowds. 

For me, Banh Mi Thit Nuong holds a special place in my heart. I remember it became so popular when I was in high school (2003). You could find a street food cart selling Banh Mi Thit Nuong in front of any school in Hanoi at the time. These vendors only came out especially after schools ended in the afternoon, right before dinner time, when the students would be so exhausted and starving for food. I would buy one whenever I had to stay late for night classes. We always had a 15-minute break in the middle of the class so I used that time to dash down to entrance as fast as I could to get a Banh Mi. What’s unique about Banh Mi Thit Nuong is the smokiness of the grilled pork pairing with the sourness of the pickled vegetables, which makes the perfect combination of flavors. I took one bite and both my stomach and my heart were full. It wiped away all my stress and fatigues from school, replacing them with happiness. One star ingredient in Banh Mi Thit Nuong is the minced lemon grass. When charred by the hot grill, it adds such a fragrant flavor that will satisfy any taste buds. 

We feature Banh Mi Thit Nuong in our menu, hoping to bring an explosion of flavor and taste packed in the crusty French Baguette. Try it out for yourself and you will surely fall in love.