Finally reaching the Apex of my Banh Mi quest, and having eaten an average of two rolls a day for a couple of weeks, I land upon Banh Mi Phuong. I felt like Wilson and Penzias accidentally stumbling across Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation, and falling ass-backwards into the Nobel Prize. Except instead of something gold and shiny, I got something, well… gold and shiny.
Customers pack the busy shop, reminding me more of Sardines than Pork. I was lucky enough to have had a shine taken to me by the sandwich architect, who seamlessly multitasked between the fine art of bread-filling, and asking me whether I was in a motorbike accident. All Vietnamese people think I was in a motorbike accident. I play along because it’s my best shot of getting out of there alive, with my Banh Mi. Doubling down on my bullish fortune, I order an extra sandwich before leaving.
The roll was crispy on the outside, shattering glass-like debris in all directions once bitten down upon, while remaining soft on the inside.. The fillings, balanced perfectly in almost every possible dichotomy of flavour and texture.
Everybody has their own preference when it comes to foods containing as many variables as Banh Mi does. Particularly when a dish is prepared differently in various regions. The sheer amount of possible flavour and texture outcomes exponentially explodes in these situations. But for me, at that moment, in that place, Banh Mi Phuong made the absolute best Banh Mi in Vietnam.
*** SPECIAL MENTION ***
Banh Mi Queen (Hoi An)
I should take this opportunity to make mention of another highly renowned pedlar of Porky goodness in this tiny town: The Banh Mi Queen.
While not completely meeting my standards of preference as much as Phuong, we did go back for seconds, and if you’re staying in town a while and want some variety, Banh Mi Queen is definitely a serious contender for the crown.
Don’t go to Vietnam for Pork Rolls without visiting this stunning city. Avoid the tourist busses, and grab yourself a sandwich.
Here ends the Banh Mi Diaries.
Bánh Mì Phượng
Address: Phan Chu Trinh, Cẩm Châu
Hội An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam
Madam Khanh – The Banh Mi Queen
Address: 115 Trần Cao Vân, Phường Minh An, tp.
Hội An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam