Sandwiches of New York #1

NYC is full of places that make amazing sandwiches and I love a good sandwich, they are one of my very favourite foods. I'm going to share a sandwich with you every month, I'll tell you what it is, where I bought it and write a mini review. Bon appetite!

What is it? Bahn Mi #1 Spicy (you can also get it non spicy).

Where is it from? Bahn Mi Saigon, 198 Grand Street (btw Mulberry and Mott).

How much does it cost?$4.50

What's in it? Barbecue pork, a slice of Vietnamese pate (which is actually more like a slice of luncheon meat than pate), cucumber, coriander, pickled daikon and carrots - and fresh jalapenos if you opt for the spicy one.

Bahn Mi Saigon is great! 

The baguette is made from rice flour and is light and crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. It is a little drier than a traditional baguette but it holds together well. The sandwich is generously stuffed  and the filling is very well balanced in terms of both taste and texture. It's also tightly packed so it doesn't fall apart when you eat it. Served slightly warmed, #1 spicy is generously sized and offers fantastic value for money - it's only $4.50 for goodness sake!

There's a whole range of different Bahn Mi on offer  here - chicken, meatballs, veggie, sardine to name but a few and a fridge with a good selection of soft drinks and a few other food items: some salads, baked goods and excellent summer rolls. There's also a warming cabinet with some fried foods such as spring rolls but these don't look great...

Originally operating a street cart the owner's then had a counter at the back of a tiny jewelry shop in Chinatown. A few years ago they moved around the corner and now it's the opposite way round -  sandwich shop with a small jewelry counter on one side. (I've yet to see anyone buying jewelry here!) 

Bahn Mi Saigon is now bright and modern with service that is brusque but efficient. It's normally very fast and even during the busiest lunch time you won't have more than a short wait. 

There is a counter with stools that runs along the sides of the shop, or you could take your food and eat it in one of the nearby parks.

It's apt to start this series with Saigon's #1 Spicy as it may well be my favourite sandwich in the whole of New York and it's the one that I eat the most frequently.