Holy Banh Mi Batman!

We've been going to the same banh mi place in Toronto (Banh Mi Nguyen Huong) since before Yen and I were married... back when they were quite literally $1.00. Despite the inflated prices, 25 years later it's still a staple for us and the kids when there's a good opportunity (e.g. long flights to Vietnam). Obviously, we made it a priority to hunt down a highly recommended banh mi shop in Ho Chi Minh! And so it was...

• Bánh mì Huỳnh Hoa

This place has great reviews and is only a 10-15 minute walk from our hotel. We headed over and as we turned onto the small side street, we saw the crowds around it. A bunch of little shops and restaurants and a massive line up just for the banh mis. Two lines actually: one for people ordering take out and one for food delivery people picking up.

Yen and Steph got in line while I went across the road with the rest of the crew to pick up bubble teas and iced coffees. We got the goods and began walking back to a park to eat. En route it started light raining and we were all hungry so we decided to cut the walk, huddle under a nearby building's canopy and just have at it.

Next. Effing. Level.  

These banh mis were off the charts fantastic! It's not even in the same food category as those we've had before (which is actually quite good because I'll still be able to enjoy them when we return). The bread was so amazing - crispy on the outside and oh so soft and fresh inside. 

The pate, meats, veggies, and other fillings were perfectly and generously arranged and wonderfully proportioned. So many flavors and textures to delight the palate. I was in heaven.  So much better than I could have even imagined.

Mine was done before I realised I had been full since about halfway through. They were massive. Double what they needed to be. I wasn't ready for the celebration in my mouth to end though so I finished 2/3* that was remaining of Yen's as well, and while thoroughly wonderful on the way down it didn't feel great for the next couple hours while my body dutifully absorbed the monstrosity deliciosity.

Everyone else had about half left so we packed them up for the next day's breakfast, which seemed like a great option, and headed back to the hotel to toss them in the fridge before hitting up the Metro to head to the zoo for some historical photos. 

For the record, the banh mis did not translate well from the fridge the next day. It was an unbearably disappointing moment to bite into what we knew to be the same heavenly morsel that in no way lived up to the memory of the day before. Sadness.

*Yen claims she ate 40% of it. Evidence does not seem to corroborate this story. Depending on the moment and audience the percentage has also been relayed as 45% and 55%. Documented here to ensure everyone's version of the truth is permitted some space.