I don't want to say Vietnamese sandwich shops are a dime a dozen these days, because that would imply I just don't value them popping up everywhere. And I do value them. I love me a good banh mi and my accessibility to an assortment of them is both comforting and mouth-watering. But they all seem to follow a very similar formula and any variance from one place to the next may be slight (better meat, better bread, etc.), but also may make all the difference in finding your favorite.
Banhmigos is certainly campaigning for Park Slopers to pick them as their go-to banh mi joint. They've got the friendly name (but Spanish?) and the friendly service, even if this place itself isn't asking you to stay very long - it's built more for delivery than dine-in, given there are all of four stools in the small space.
For whatever reason, I always gravitate to the shredded chicken banh mi option when I'm at places like Banhmigos. I'm by no means anti-pork or pate, but in a sandwich, maybe chicken just speaks to me more. At Banhmigos, they call this meat option a Da Foon. Its innards were fine, the usual suspects of cucumber, cilanto, pickled carrots, and daikon. There was a tinge of sweetness to the mix, probably something in the butter-mayo blend. But it's the bread that threw me, frankly way crustier than I typically like.
Most, if not all, quick service Vietnamese places offer some sort of summer/spring rolls, which are greens and vermicelli wrapped in rice paper, some with shrimp, some with just veggies, and served with a peanut hoisin sauce. Banhmigos offers the same, but adds Smoked Duck Breast Rolls to their roster, so I gave 'em a try. I'd guess they're no better or worse than the shrimp offerings I get elsewhere if we're talkin' taste test here, but the one slice of duck per roll does seem a bit skimpy. I'm thinking two slices might be ideal to really bring out the flavor. Still, it's a nice addition and good to know they have 'em here - anything duck-related is always noteworthy in my book.
I feel like I housed this meal no problem, where other banh-mi-and-summer-roll-sit-downs have sank like a stone. In the fight against gluttony, I suppose this should be a plus. But in reality, should I really be walking away from a chicken sandwich and duck rolls even the slightest bit still hungry? I didn't feel like an asshole afterwards, just hungry. Still can't decide which is worse, but hey, that's my own internal struggle.
We can be banhmigos, Banhmigos, but not like tight banhmigos. Sorry to get all Mean Girls on you, but I've got other places better and closer to me that I'm going to call up first when I need my banh mi fix. Unless one day, you help me move, Banhmigos, because that's just on a whole other level. And then we can totally be banhbros, bro. read more