What happens when your regular Banh Mi shop is closed in Wednesdays, and you have a craving for a delicious Vietnamese sandwich? You leave your comfort zone and find something new. In our case, something better.
Hoang Viet Bakery is a very unassuming hole-in-the wall type place situated in a small plaza. They sell fresh-baked pastries, mouth-watering Banh mi sandwiches and various Vietnamese soups.
There are a few tables inside this this tiny store though eating-in is not really an option with Covid.
There is also a couple of tiny plastic chairs right outside, if you just can't wait to get home to eat your meal.
I ordered some sandwiches and a variety of pastries. Each sandwich was under $5.00 and all are some variation of pork and/or chicken. If you buy 5, you get one free.
The baguettes are baked fresh and the veggies and meat filling are very flavourful. The other toppings are what you would expect in a Banh mi (cilantro, carrot, cucumber, mayonnaise etc...).
The pastries are out of this world and were still warm when I picked them up. They are $1.00 each or 6 for 5 bucks. I don't remember the last time I had a croissant this good! Like we are talking melt-in-your mouth good.
I also grabbed a Vietnamese iced coffee which didn't disappoint. Cold, sweet and strong.
They take all the pandemic precautions with plexiglass, face shields and gloves. This is of course reassuring.
I am very glad to have discovered this restaurant! Will try the pho next time. read more