Daniel B.
Yelp
I am always on the lookout for a good, cheap, Vietnamese sandwich.
Like the Cuban sandwich, the rise in popularity of the banh mi is such a mixed blessing. Yes, you can now find these incredible flavor combinations in a much wider range of places. However, when these sandwiches get recreated something often gets lost in translation.
For me, one of the defining characteristics of a banh mi is that it's inexpensive. Have I paid $10 or more for a banh mi style sandwich? Yes. Yes, I have. But I'm not proud to admit it. Sometimes the heart wants what the heart wants.
The better banh mi joints, like White Castle, sell 'em by the sack. Once, I got a bag of six sandwiches for $20. It may have been one of the happiest days of my life.
VKitchen isn't quite up to that value proposition, but at five bucks, it's pretty close.
Let's address the issue of size, because there seem to be some people who are dismayed at the length of this roll. Can you find a larger banh mi? Sure. But I've had rolls this size from one of the classic banh mi shops in Falls Church, VA. And frankly, I'm into this form factor for the roll, because it comes to crunchy points on either end. Plus, at VKitchen, they go to the extra step of toasting it. Merci.
Now, it's just a question of finding the right filling. Remember this. Not every great banh mi shop makes dynamite versions of every filling. Here's what I've learned about VKitchen: Skip the grilled beef and go for the succulent lemon grass satay chicken.
There may be other winners too, but I like my fillings to be tender. I also like extra hot peppers, and they are more than happy to oblige.
Ordering on the Yelp app is super easy, and then when I arrive, my sandwich is wrapped up, ready, and already payed for.
I suppose I could get a bag of four sandwiches for about $20, which would certainly be a lot of fun. But now that I'm older, I've stopped binging on sandwiches. One sandwich, on its own, is perfectly satisfying for a modest lunch. Don't forget, it's filled with homemade chicken pate. So while it may not look like much, that thing is nutritionally dense.
Enjoy it. And if you find any other great fillings, please let me know.