Bánh Mí – the Vietnamese Sandwich – is my all-time favorite lunch item. Growing up in Southern California, I could always get it freshly made at any sandwich shop in Little Saigon or my Grandma’s house.

Perfection in quality and taste from every single ingredient – from the meat, veggies, sauces to bread. The glazed, crispy pork belly had a lovely, warm, dark color. I also liked the bright colors from the veggies, herbs and Sriracha sauce.

A mouthful of flavors from every angle of the sandwich! The juicy pork belly was evenly seasoned and well-cooked. The savoriness of the pork with the saltiness of the pickled carrots and cucumber, spicy kick from the chili mayo and Sriracha and subtle sweetness of the Asian pear exploded in my mouth every time I took a bite.

The Semolina baguette was perfectly toasted and held the entire sandwich well. (No sogginess)! I liked the nice crunch from the baguette and veggies from each bite. It was bittersweet by the time I finished my sandwich. I was a little disappointed that my meal was over, but my belly and soul were so satisfied. I had this sandwich during my lunch hour at work. The sandwich was very light, though filling, so I didn’t feel sleepy or any heaviness when I went back to work. However, it did make me think about how delicious that sandwich was!

Nam Pung Sandwich Shop has several locations throughout NYC and a wide range of sandwiches as well as many more items in their menu. Check out their website at http://www.numpangnyc.com/. Happy Eating!

All images and content © 2016 Carol Vu.