Banh Mi Anthony – Banh Mi Phuong in Hoian

Banh Mi Anthony – Banh Mi Phuong in Hoian

The BBC reporter David Farley has written in his article in 2014 “Is the banh mi the world’s best sandwich?”. Banh Mi has become more and more famous among tourists coming to Vietnam. This is a must-eat food for any visitor and everyone tries to hunt for the best Banh Mi in Vietnam. Banh Mi Phuong (or Banh Mi Anthony) in Hoian – the ancient town is the most delicious Banh Mi as recommend by Anthony Bourdain – the famous American chef and host of “No Reservations” travel show on television. What makes Banh Mi Phuong win the heart of this chef? How does it taste and look like? Let me tell you about this famous Banh Mi.

Firstly, the bread to make Banh Mi at Phuong stall is airy and soft inside but crispy outside. The fillings are made from pork floss, grilled pork, pork patty, paté and mayonnaise. Madam Phuong also adds pickled papaya, tomato, chili and cucumber slices, spring onion, cilantro and mints… to make the Banh Mi less greasy. All of the ingredients are chosen carefully to be freshest and tastiest. The Banh Mi Phuong is a perfect blend of all ingredients with a sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and spicy taste. The portion of Banh Mi Phuong is just enough for dinner and they still would like to come back to enjoy the food again. The food is an ideal choice for breakfast because it’s flavorful and healthy. One of the highlights of this food is the amazing sauce which is called magic sauce by madam Phuong. It’s her family’s secret recipe and couldn’t be told to anyone except for family members. When you bite the Banh Mi, the sauce comes out from the bread and you’ll try your best to eat this kind of liquid to its fullest.

Coming to the Banh Mi shop at 2B Phan Chau Trinh street, near the crossroad of Phan Chau Trinh and Hoang Dieu, you’ll see a wooden name board on which written Bánh Mì Phượng. There is a simple stall in which all kinds of ingredients, knife, cutting board, chopsticks are put. Some plastic tables and chairs are put in front of the shop. One thing may surprise you is that customers are waiting in line to taste “the best Banh Mi in the world”. The seller must stand and do as fast as possible to serve Banh Mi to customers because the bread shop is always crowded. Madam Phuong wakes up at about 3:00 am to prepare and check everything to make sure the Banh Mi is the most delicious. She is the one who serves the first Banh Mi to the first customer. After that, relatives of Madam Phuong help her to serve Banh Mi. In Vietnamese culture, the first customer will bring luck to the eateries. The owner believes that she can sell as many as possible products if she has a good start with first customer. The Banh Mi shop of Madam Phuong serves a wide range of Banh Mi’s flavors for your choice. I’d like to recommend Bread with Grilled Pork, Bread with Pork Ham and Paté, Bread with Mixed Fillings. For more information, the shop is open from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm.

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