If Pho, the national noodle soup, is the number one dish of Vietnam then the ‘Banh Mi’ surely runs a close second. This humble Vietnamese sandwich consists of a small crispy french baguette traditionally filled with pork, pate, cilantro (coriander) leaf, cucumber, pickled veg and several special spicy condiments. Depending on where in the States you hail from, think of this sandwich as the most elegant sub, grinder or hoagy you’ve ever had!
Many, including CNN, have declared Hoi An the Banh Mi capital of Vietnam. So there are bound to be strong opinions as to which establishment makes the best Banh Mi, and there is a clear rivalry between 2 restaurants in particular: ‘Madam Khanh-The Banh Mi Queen’ and ‘Banh Mi Phuong’.
Chef Anthony Bourdain, when in Hoi An filming an episode of his food travel show No Reservations, sampled the banh mi at Banh Mi Phuong and declared it Hoi An’s best and “a symphony in a sandwich”. While Banh Mi Phuong may have become more popular since the Bourdain endorsement, Banh Mi Queen also has many loyal local followers who believe her banh mi is by far the best.
After sampling both Banh Mi restaurants, we both found ‘The Banh Mi Queen’ to be our favorite. Simply put, the marriage of flavors was more balanced and the atmosphere was less frantic and more welcoming.
Video clip of the ‘Banh Mi Queen’ team creating a classic Hoi An Banh Mi:
P.S.
Back when I lived in and around New Haven CT, there were similar arguments over who had the best, most authentic New Haven style Neopolitan pizza: Pepe’s, Sally’s or Modern. You fell into one camp, and these loyalties were serious and often generational. For the record, I contend that nothing beats a pie from Pepe’s coal fired brick oven.
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