Comments on: WTF: Hing Won Now Selling Chinese “Banh Mi”

By: Archi-Kent

Archi-Kent — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:02:23 +0000

Love the roast pork banh!
I heard that the guy that runs Hing Won and set up this banh stand, is a friend of the guys that run the Banh place on 12th and University.

Soy sauce chicken over rice is also a favorite.

If you feel like you’re coming down with a cold, I recommend roast duck noodle soup and add dumplings.

By: trang

trang — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:18:20 +0000

Don’t let the lack of pate deter you! I was born and raised in Vietnam, and had banh mi for breakfast every other day for 15 years. At first sight of the news, I was thinking, what, Chinese people trying to make banh mi, pttf. But the roast duck sandwich swiftly won me over at first bite. The meat is tender, the bread is warm and moist despite the lack of pate, and the flavor is spot on. As a native, I can tell you right now that this is closer to the real banh mi than Boi To Go ever gets. That one is really a disgrace of banh mi.

By: T.C.

T.C. — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:19:52 +0000

I think size is def. very important. There’s no such thing as too much good food (The bigger-the better minus any easy spoilage and add the possibility of saving it for later) – only when there’s too much of bad food (like muffin bottoms – not even the homeless want it.)

Not only quality of the midtown lunch but also quantity of it adds the value of the meal. That’s why I can’t eat expensive fancy sandwiches often. Taht’s why I prefer the cheap, delicious and huge street meat plates.

By: falafel king

falafel king — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:43:55 +0000

It’s really not the aunthenticity that’s the problem i guess its the bread … too chewy not crisp. All in all though glad I have this lunch option now.

By: Tom

Tom — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:27:12 +0000

As a point of reference to the size comment, I also find Hing Won’s roast pork over rice and noodle soups to be a little on the small side. For me. For most people I’m sure it’s fine.

By: jiggy

jiggy — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:10:16 +0000

Perhaps you are unaware that probably half of the “Vietnamese” restaurants in New York are run by Chinese people? There are also a fair number of Chinese run sushi and Thai places, not to mention Mexican. I would say authenticity always take a back seat to quality especially when it comes to a modern fusion food like Banh Mi.

By: deanlo

deanlo — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:57:00 +0000

you’d be surprised how pitiful banh mi is in vietnam outside of the major cities/tourist traps :(

By: falafel king

falafel king — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:35:25 +0000

Ok … this definitely isn’t “real” banh mi, but I like the idea of Chinese-style meat served this way. I had the roast pork and it definitely worked with the pickled veg and the cilantro. Needed more hot stuff and the bread was very weak. I disagree with some posters about the size of the sandwich, mine was pretty big. Nice to see someone serving something kind of like banh mi in this area.

By: Tom

Tom — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:04:06 +0000

@Zach/Tanman: The first paragraph was about the pork belly, the 2nd/3rd were about the banh mi. Should have made that clearer

By: saraht

saraht — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 06:09:21 +0000

Authentic or not, it looks yummy.